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 …
Nonsense or silly words are a big thing in early education these days, and practitioners are looking for more ways to teach them successfully. If this sounds like you, then you have come to the right place. I have been attempting to teach nonsense words for ten years, and in this post I condense all …
One of the core skills that makes up the foundation of early math, is the ability to rote count. Rote counting is simply saying the numbers in order, usually starting with one, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc. It does not mean counting objects, or counting actions, although it is connected to these skills. …
The concept of symmetry is something that young children can begin to explore through practical activities, even before they can really put into words what it is. It is definitely better to start with experimentation with objects, rather than give them symmetry worksheets, printables or folding pictures. What are the best symmetry activities for kids? …
Washing lines are a fantastic and simple resource to develop maths skills in a fun and play-based way. Children really enjoy pegging things on lines: it is great for their gross and fine motor skills, as well as benefitting their communication and teamwork skills. Over ten years in the early years I have used washing …