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Toys Books Play

Have a read of our Hot Topics articles all about toys, books and play ideas for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers.
 
  • Make your own homemade kids paints, dough, slime and toys for them to play with.
  • Have a look at the book reviews and tips on reading and writing.
  • Discover some of the benefits of playing, songs and music.
  • Find the fun and benefits of water play, messy play and sensory play ... and more!
Make your own bath paints

Make your own bath paints

This homemade kids bath paints recipe will turn their bath time into a colourful painting session. These kids paints are lots of fun to use and cheap and easy to make with everyday ingredients.
Edible mud sensory play activity

Edible mud sensory play activity

Your kids will love this edible mud sensory play activity. Edible mud is easy to make at home using items from your pantry and safe for your kids to put into their mouth. It’s a really fun messy play activity which comes with lots of sensory benefits too.
Magic Mud Recipe

Magic Mud Recipe

Dirty, mucky, grubby fun! Check out this messy play idea from our friends at Mud Mates and learn how to make your own magic mud for the kids with erupting bubbles.
Make your own mud pies

Make your own mud pies

Who remembers making mud pies? Making mud pies is sadly not as common as it used to be, but here’s a very easy mud pie recipe you can try at home with the kids to help bring back their revival. Making mud pies is a great learning activity too and perfect for messy playtime in the garden.
Tapioca pearls sensory play activity

Tapioca pearls sensory play activity

This tapioca pearls sensory play activity is lots of fun and cheap and easy to do at home. The tapioca pearls are soft, squishy and sticky and kids will have a blast mixing them altogether then scooping them out into bowls, ice cube trays and containers.
Painting with water

Painting with water

Toddlers and preschoolers love painting with water! A fun and simple outdoor water play activity that’s quick, easy and cheap to set up at home. It provides hours of imaginative play and helps your toddler or preschooler to build their creativity.
Tulip fork painting

Tulip fork painting

Have a go at this fun spring art activity. Toddlers and preschoolers will love creating their own colourful garden of tulips using forks and some shop-bought or homemade paints.
Mess free painting

Mess free painting

Mess free painting. It’s a win win - kids get to paint and there’s no mess for parents to clear up! This kids mess free painting activity is easy to set up and perfect for toddlers and preschoolers to do at home. A fun sensory play activity to try on a cold and rainy day.
Painting with marshmallows

Painting with marshmallows

Who knew painting with marshmallows could be so much fun! It’s really easy to set up and a great activity to help toddlers and preschoolers develop their fine motor skills.
Tie dye art for kids

Tie dye art for kids

Kids love messy play and this easy tie dye art activity using baby wipes needs minimal prep and leaves very little mess to clean up afterwards.
Bubble wrap roller painting

Bubble wrap roller painting

Take your kids artwork to the next level with bubble wrap roller painting! Bubble wrap roller painting is easy to do at home and a great way for young kids to practice colour recognition too.
How to make Easter egg potato stamps

How to make Easter egg potato stamps

Kids Easter activities are always lots of fun, so why not get your toddler or preschooler to create their own Easter artwork using these homemade potato stamps. Potato stamps are lots of fun and also cheap and easy to make. Toddlers and preschoolers will love getting their hands messy!
Paper plate Christmas trees

Paper plate Christmas trees

Christmas craft activities are lots of fun for kids of all ages. Have fun this year and make your own paer plate Christmas trees with paper plates, paint, ribbons and decorations.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Make your own coloured ice cubes

Make your own coloured ice cubes

Have a go at this super easy summer sensory play activity. Kids will have lots of fun playing outside with these coloured ice cubes on a sunny day. They're great for playing with at bath time and on highchair trays too!
Baking soda clay handprints

Baking soda clay handprints

Baking soda clay handprints are a great way to capture the size of your kids hands whilst their still young, and make Christmas decorations too. Made with ingredients you’ll have in your pantry, these handprint keepsakes are fun and easy to make.
Make your own sand & rocks box

Make your own sand & rocks box

Don’t have enough room for a full-sized sandpit? Why not make your own sand and rocks box instead! It’s a great way for young kids to explore their senses of touch, sight and sound and it will help to develop their imagination through free-play too. Set the sand and rocks box up with a construction theme for hours of fun.
Nature art activities for toddlers & preschoolers

Nature art activities for toddlers & preschoolers

Nature art activities are a fun, affordable way to engage toddlers and preschoolers in messy play outside. It teaches them new skills and opens up so many more opportunities beyond using just paper, paint and glue for their artworks.

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