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Play ideas

Have a read of our Hot Topics articles on kids play ideas. Fun activities for you to try with your baby, toddler or preschooler to help encourage learning through play.
8 Sandpit play ideas for toddlers & preschoolers

8 Sandpit play ideas for toddlers & preschoolers

Toddlers and preschoolers LOVE to dig and play in sandpits! Have a go at some of these fun sandpit activities. Creative ways to engage your toddler and preschooler in sandpit play.
7 Sensory play ideas for toddlers & preschoolers

7 Sensory play ideas for toddlers & preschoolers

Sensory play activities challenge toddlers and preschoolers and provide them with experiences that are often outside of their everyday activities. Sensory play is lots of fun and helps young kids to develop their understanding of the senses of touch, taste, smell and sound in a safe, stimulating play environment. It also helps them to widen their vocabulary, to develop coping mechanisms and to learn by feeling.
25 Fun activities to keep your toddler busy

25 Fun activities to keep your toddler busy

Finding fun activities to keep your toddler busy isn’t always easy! Toddlers have a short attention span and are always on the go, so we have put together some tried and tested ideas. Things they will love to do and don’t need a lot of preparation or cleaning up afterwards.
Sand and water sensory play activity

Sand and water sensory play activity

No time to go to the beach? This sand and water sensory play activity is easy to set up at home and provides hours of imaginative play for young kids. Whether it’s shaping the sand into castles or splashing in the water, it offers endless opportunities for fun and learning as your kids explore these different natural textures
Boredom busters

Boredom busters

Your kids have all the toys in the world, but still they cry, “But I’m bored ....”. Here are some great ideas which will have you fully armed for next time they think they have nothing else to do!
Outdoor learning fun for under 2s

Outdoor learning fun for under 2s

Have a go at some of these fun outdoor activities with your baby or toddler to help encourage learning through play.
Getting creative with your under fives

Getting creative with your under fives

As the weather gets cooler, now is a great time to get into arts and crafts with your kids. It’s not just fun, they’re learning too. Whether you enjoy getting messy and trying new things with your kids or have never explored art activities at home before, there will be something here for you.
Kids traditional party games

Kids traditional party games

Kids traditional birthday party games are still so much fun! Everything from Pass the Parcel to Musical Chairs, Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Stuck in the Mud and everything in between. Check out our list of fun party games and how to play them. They’ll keep the kids amused for hours!
Kids birthday party treasure hunts

Kids birthday party treasure hunts

Treasure hunts (or scavenger hunts) are lots of fun for kids of all ages! Perfect to play at birthday parties or when they have friends over for a play date. Looking for hidden treasure will get them thinking and it’s something that can be played indoors or outside. Check out our different treasure hunt ideas and keep the kids entertained.
Indoor activities for toddlers

Indoor activities for toddlers

Here are some fun indoor activities for toddlers that you can do to encourage learning through play. As a parent or caregiver, let your inhibitions go, be silly, forget the mess and play with your toddler.
Rainy day activities for toddlers & preschoolers

Rainy day activities for toddlers & preschoolers

Looking for fun rainy day activities for toddlers or preschoolers? Things you can do indoors when it's raining outside? Have a go at doing some of these ideas. Being stuck inside with young children on cold wet days is hard on both children and parents. Here are some fun, cheap and educational things that you can do that use everyday materials you have around the house.
Preschool bucket list ideas

Preschool bucket list ideas

As adults we often think about what would be on our ‘bucket list’ or list of things to do and to try before we grow too old, but what about a bucket list for preschoolers too? Here are some fun ideas for your little one’s bucket list; things for them to do before they reach 5 years old.
Putting fun back into family life

Putting fun back into family life

Sometimes it seems we’re just so busy! Busy shopping, busy working, busy cleaning the house, busy taking pre-schoolers to daycare and lessons. Have we gotten too busy to have a little fun? An early childhood teacher shares ways to help you put some fun into family life.
Make your own autumn tree decorations

Make your own autumn tree decorations

Hunting and foraging is a great fun autumn activity. The kids will love being outside and collecting all sorts of treasures. It also helps teach them about seasonal changes and to enjoy the different types of nature that surrounds them.
15 Fun winter activities

15 Fun winter activities

Just because it’s cold and wet outside, doesn’t mean kids can’t have fun during winter. Here are 15 fun winter activities that will keep your toddler and preschooler entertained during the colder months.
4 ways to make play dates fun

4 ways to make play dates fun

Play dates needn't be stressful! Next time you arrange a play date for your toddler or pre-schooler, remember to keep things fun and simple with these 4 quick tips.
Kids indoor & outdoor party games

Kids indoor & outdoor party games

All kids love playing party games! So here are some tips and suggestions on fun-packed indoor and outdoor games which are sure to be a big hit.
Teaching kids to ride their first bike

Teaching kids to ride their first bike

Learning to ride a bike is quite a milestone in a child’s life. When you start to teach them is up to you, with some kids starting to learn as early as 3 years old. Generally though it’s usually around their 4th or 5th birthday or sometimes even later. Follow these easy steps to help them on their way.
Scooter buying guide & safety tips for toddlers

Scooter buying guide & safety tips for toddlers

Our buying guide to kids scooters has some useful information on what to look for when you're out shopping for your toddler's first scooter, along with some important scooter safety tips for toddlers too.
Keeping kids entertained inside during winter

Keeping kids entertained inside during winter

Check out these kids winter activity ideas and keep your baby, toddler or preschooler entertained and busy inside when the weather turns cold and wet. Fun things you can do together during those dreary winter months. The activities have been separated into approximate age groups, but some activities are great for all ages to try.
6 Tips for organising an Easter egg hunt

6 Tips for organising an Easter egg hunt

Easter just isn’t Easter without an Easter egg hunt! Whilst Easter egg hunts are lots of fun for kids of all ages, you may need to scale it down a bit when it comes to toddlers and preschoolers so that they enjoy it just as much as the older kids. Check out these 6 tips for organising a fun Easter egg hunt.
Make your own sensory board

Make your own sensory board

A sensory board or busy board is a fun, hands-on activity for babies and toddlers to help them touch, explore and learn about different objects all in one place. They have lots of developmental benefits too and are really easy to make at home with things you have to hand.
What's all the fuss about heuristic play?

What's all the fuss about heuristic play?

Heuristic play is about playing with real-life, everyday objects and providing kids with an opportunity for open-ended discovery. When children are involved in heuristic play, they are using familiar objects in different ways. It is the process of exploring the different ways to use the objects that is important in the play.
Exploring Science & Nature

Exploring Science & Nature

Exploring science and nature can be so much fun for little ones. When toddlers and preschoolers are engaged in learning about science and nature, they are also learning strategies for active exploration, thinking and reasoning and develop working theories for making sense of the natural, social, physical and material worlds.

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