Supporting holistic development through crafts, hands-on exploration and creative expression There’s something truly magical about watching a three-year-old discover that mixing yellow and blue paint creates green, or seeing the pure joy on a toddler’s face as they squelch playdough between their fingers for the first time. These moments aren’t just delightful to witness – … Read more
The Power of Play and Transforming Schemas in Early Learning Despite its acknowledged importance, UK classrooms face a tension between recognising play’s value and applying it practically. Play opportunities have experienced “marked reductions,” often because play and learning are viewed as separate entities, with play relegated to a reward rather than a core teaching approach. … Read more
8 Multi-Sensory Learning Ideas for Any Subject Let’s be honest, for many of us, school was a largely visual and auditory affair. Sit down. Look at the board. Listen to the teacher. Read the book. Repeat. And for some students, this traditional approach works perfectly. But what if your brain isn’t wired to learn best … Read more
Embracing Neurodiversity in Constructive Play When we think about constructive play, images of children building elaborate spaceships with Lego blocks or crafting intricate sandcastles on the beach might come to mind. While these activities represent advanced forms of constructive play, it’s crucial to understand that they are the culmination of years of experimentation, repetition, and … Read more
The Benefits of Sand Play in Early Years Education Few resources are as versatile, engaging, and beneficial as sand. Now, I know what you might be thinking. “Sand? In my classroom? That’s just asking for chaos!” But bear with me. In this article, we’re going to dig into why sand play is such a fantastic … Read more
Understanding and Nurturing Autistic Play in Early Years Settings: Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) teachers play a crucial role in shaping the developmental experiences of young children. Recent research has shed light on the unique aspects of autistic play, providing valuable insights that can help us create more inclusive and supportive environments for autistic children … Read more
Over-scheduling Children: The Importance of Unstructured Playtime In today’s world, children are frequently overscheduled with structured classes, lessons, and digital devices. While organized activities provide benefits, the importance of unstructured play must not be dismissed. Unstructured play refers to child-directed, freely chosen indoor or outdoor activities without predefined educational goals or direct supervision or direction … Read more
Engaging toddlers in group games is not only fun, but it also promotes social interaction, cooperation, and physical activity. Introducing toddlers to indoor and outdoor games is a wonderful way for the children to experience genuine joy in learning. These games encourage children to develop essential skills while having loads of fun. Below, you will … Read more
Tips for Designing Educational Activities To Reduce Processing/Cognitive Load As an experienced special needs teacher in the United Kingdom, I have learned that it is crucial to design activities that meet the specific cognitive load and processing requirements of my students. There have been discussions about autistic energy and Spoon Theory. This seems to relate … Read more
Using Cardboard Boxes in Pretend Play & Learning Cardboard boxes are one of the easiest play resources to acquire for free. As the Founder and Lead Researcher of the Inclusiveteach Project, one of my core focus areas is studying how we can empower creativity and development in children. Pretend play has long been recognised by … Read more
15 Halloween Play Dough Activity Ideas for 2023 Fall is here and that means Halloween is just around the corner. It’s the perfect time to engage the little ones in exciting and spooky crafts. One of the most versatile and child-friendly materials you can use for these activities is play dough. Not only does it … Read more
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