Does starting school mean the end of play?

By Cathy James on September 11th, 2010%

Back in January I resolved to make 2010 our Year of Play. I’ve been thinking about this again this month as L has started at school. In last week’s Play Academy link-up I talked about wanting to make sure the girls still have lots of opportunity for playing, as well as schooling. So this weeks Twitter Tips are dedicated to having a playful return to school. The Twitter Tips get tweeted on a Friday at 8.30pm and in previous weeks they’ve started great twitter conversations, with people swapping ideas. The main thing I love about blogging is it being a forum to get inspiration and encouragement from others, so please feel free to add your own ideas in the comments or on our Facebook page. Join in, swap ideas, go play!

How to have a playful Back to School

#goplay Twitter Tip #1If you’re using after school clubs check how playful they are: do they offer free play after a structured school day

#goplay Twitter Tip #2Make the school run fun: cycle, scoot  or play i-spy. Leave a little earlier to let the kids play a bit before class

#goplay Twitter Tip #3 Set up a play invitation in the morning to entice the kids to play before they switch on the TV

#goplay Twitter Tip #4 Rediscover some old school favourites such as conkers or fortune tellers

#goplay Twitter Tip #5 Consider how many clubs to join so after school play time isn’t lost in a busy schedule.

#goplay Twitter Tip #6 Encourage playground fun by packing a skipping rope in the book bag. Ready for Ten has a great skipping tutuorial

#goplay Twitter Tip #7 Plan family time for the weekend: it doesn’t have to be expensive or extravagant but do make sure it happens.

#goplay Twitter Tip #8 Consider screen time. Could your kids live without TV for an hour, a day, a week? What could they play instead?

#goplay Twitter Tip #9 Locate the park nearest your school and stop off any day day you can on the way home. Enjoy some #playoutdoors

#goplay Twitter Tip#10 Instead of only setting up a homework area set up a play area too. Add untoys & let them #goplay

How do you feel about the balance between school and play time? How do you manage homework at the weekend? Do your kids attend a playful school?

Happily shared with Top Ten Tuesday.

Top Ten {Tuesday}

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Children’s favourite un toys

By Cathy James on August 28th, 2010%

un-toysThis week’s #goplay Twitter Tips are all about un – toys : the favourite things to play with which you won’t find in the toy shops, the alternative to plastic, battery-operated toys.

#goplay Twitter Tip #1  Consider what makes a great toy: fun, stimulating, open-ended, multi-use, still interesting as the child grows

#goplay Twitter Tip #2 What’s an un-toy? Natural materials & everyday objects: an alternative to plastic, battery-operated, one-purpose toys

#goplay Twitter Tip #3 I find children play longer & with more concentration with un-toys: they’re versatile & offer more play opportunities

#goplay Twitter Tip #4 Some un-toys we love: sticks, boxes, shells, pots & pans, wooden spoons, bottle tops, button, fircones, food packets

#goplay Twitter Tip #5 There’s no ‘right way’ to play with un-toys: let your child’s imagination decide & watch each child play differently

#goplay Twitter Tip #6 Did you know the stick and the cardboard box have both been inducted into the Toy Hall Of Fame? http://www.museumofplay.org/nthof/toys/index.php?toy=cardboard_box

#goplay Twitter Tip #7 A cardboard box can become a train , a story tent or a house

#goplay Twitter Tip #8 How about collecting some pebbles this weekend and making a set of story stones?

#goplay Twitter Tip #9 How about providing some un-toys for dressing up? fabric, scarves, ribbons so children can create their own costumes?

#goplay Twitter Tip #10 Why not try some un-toys & see what your child thinks: have fun, #goplay, go green, be creative, use your imagination!

*These #goplayTwitter Tips are tweeted each Friday at 8.30pm – follow @nurturestore or the #goplay hashtag to share

View the Twitter Tips on playdough, water play,  travelling with kids junk modeling and encouraging reading and writing

Happily shared with…

Top Ten {Tuesday}

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Ideas for water play

By Cathy James on August 7th, 2010%

Welcome to the third edition of #goplay Twitter Tips. This week we have ideas for getting the most from water play.

#goplay Twitter Tip #1 water play is great for kids of all ages, free, not too messy, and accessible: bucket, bath, water pistol, beach…

#goplay Twitter Tip #2 No children should ever play unsupervised with water. Safety first, then have some fun.

#goplay Twitter Tip #3 Water play is great for exploring maths: add funnels & containers of different size to play with volume & dimension.

#goplay Twitter Tip #4 Explore the science of freezing &melting, treasure hunt objects frozen in ice, make ice lollies.

#goplay Twitter Tip #5 Add in some songs at bathtime to develop language: Row, row, row your boat. 5 Little ducks. Thou Shall Have a Fishy.

#goplay Twitter Tip #6 Add some food colouring to bath water to create a magical water world. (Thanks to A Mother’s Ramblings for this idea.)

#goplay Twitter Tip #7 Bath time is a lovely time to bond esp. if you’ve been apart in the day. A sensory play time to relax before sleep.

#goplay Twitter Tip #8 A tub of water is transformed with props: boats, fishes and rods, shells, pots and pans.

#goplay Twitter Tip #9 Bubbles build brains: make kids think. What seems solid suddenly pops. How does that happen? Have a look at these giant bubbles at the Frugal Family Fun Blog.

#goplay Twitter Tip #10 No such thing as bad weather only the wrong clothes. Seize the day, put on wellies, go #playoutdoors in the puddles!

Catch our #goplay Twitter Tips each Friday at 8.30pm (GMT). Previous tips have looked at Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Playdough and Encouraging Reading and Writing.

Come and join us next week by following @nurturestore on Twitter.

Happily shared with…

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5 comments   Go Play Twitter Tips, Outdoor, Water play   , , , , ,  

10 playdough ideas

By Cathy James on July 24th, 2010%

Welcome to the first @nurturestore #goplay Twitter Tips. Tonight: 10 ideas to get the most fun from play dough

#goplay Tip #1: playdough is perfect when you have a mixed age group playing together: everyone can play their way

#goplay Tip #2: play dough is a good introduction to messy play for children (and parents!) who don’t like mess

#goplay Tip #3: use this recipe to make your own play dough: food ingredients so OK is the kids eat a sneaky bit

#goplay Tip #4: play dough is so good for encouraging creativity, you could make this

#goplay Tip #5: bring an extra sensory experience to play dough by adding food essences or essential oils: vanilla, peppermint, orange

#goplay Tip #6: manipulating play dough is perfect for fine motor skills – getting fingers ready for holding a pencil one day

#goplay Tip #7: a pot of homemade play dough is perfect for party loot bags. Try this recipe

#goplay Tip #8: try adding in different resources each time you use play dough and see how your kids play creatively

#goplay Tip #9: other things to add to play dough play: lollysticks, matchsticks, shells, cookie cutters, knives & forks, feathers…

#goplay Tip #10: try using play dough in a different place: the garden, the toy kitchen, the dolls’ house. Give kids a fresh challenge

>>>Download our free Playdough recipe and ideas ebook >>>

play dough recipe

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