Loose parts play is one of the most exciting and versatile ways of getting children to become motivated, independent and excited about their learning. They become fully involved in what they are doing and develop their own ideas and sense of self. In this post, I am going to list 40 of my favorite loose …
Loose parts play comes with some small associated risks. As either an educator or parent it is a good idea to be aware of what these risks are, and how to either prevent or manage them. In an educational setting, you may also want to have some form of written risk assessment for any loose …
If you see children being engaged in loose parts play, you can see for yourself many of the obvious benefits. Children get really involved, much more often than in adult-led activities. They seem to be having fun, and surely learning at the same time. But have you ever wondered, what are the benefits of loose …
There are so many children these days that are obsessed with superheroes. Superhero play infiltrates everything: games involving the Three Little Pigs are suddenly invaded by the Hulk and Spider Man. Many practitioners are learning that superhero play is probably something better to work with, rather than stamp out. If the children are so passionately …
Tool play is so important for children, and develops many key skills and abilities. Using tools in forest school allows children to experience danger in the form of risky equipment. You can find out many more examples of risky play in this article. It helps them to manage risk, and become completely involved in the …
In preschool fun and engaging circle time games can teach many crucial skills that children can then use to deepen their play. Eye contact, turn-taking, understanding emotions, and listening are all key skills in life and they are reinforced during circle time! (As well as working through gross motor skills, cognitive skills, language development, social …
It seems kind of intuitive to us all that risky play comes with lots of benefits. When we see children climbing trees, rolling down hills, jumping off logs, and just generally having good physical fun, it just seems clear that good things are happening. But what are the main benefits of risky play? The benefits …
Risky play. That’s an outdoor experience, right? Well, yes it can be, and it is certainly found more in an outdoor context. But risky play can definitely also be an indoor experience as well. The instinct for risk in play is a continuous one, and does not just turn itself off when children go indoors. …
Risky play is all the rage at the moment on social media, which is great because it has tremendous value for children. There is also quite a bit of fear about it, mostly because people don’t know what it actually looks like, and what it entails. So what exactly are risky play activities for children? …
Geoboards are one of the ultimate resources. They are great for even extremely young children. One of my daughters could use one brilliantly when she was only one. They can be used from that age until they are probably at least eight or nine. They develop great fine motor, concentration, and a range of imagination …