Learn how to play with your child at home and choose quality educational toys. Blend the toys together to create awesome combinations and creations. Same money and time – I teach you what to look for in a good toy. 🙂

Come and have a play date with Maria!

I believe that less is more.

It’s what you do with the toys that’s important and how you play- HAVE FUN! Plus learn to watch for all the endless educational benefits of your spontaneous play experiences with your child(ren).

I started a series of videos to motivate myself and reflect on my stay at home mum job. I also missed teaching and sharing ideas with others. Bub appreciates my efforts 😉 and I achieved my main goal so far- to have fun playing as much as we can.

You can find these videos on my Youtube channel and Facebook ‘Maria’s Playground’.

I believe I am the best person to teach my child, and I don’t want to miss out on all the exciting milestones. These are also wonderful irreplaceable experiences and a lifetime of memories. This to me is the greatest reward – and the most important job in the world!

Before I became a mummy I was a teacher to some great kids and taught with some wonderful teachers. I studied a lot- some of these courses were Montessori, Early Childhood Education, Music, Twice Exceptional Giftedness, Special Education, and have had over 20 years teaching in different places of the world including Australia- where I now live. I believe that my home life which was rich in play was what motivated me do continue being creative and using my imagination to still play.

I also enjoy creating songs, stories, dance, games, editing movies and lots of other things. I love play because it opens up ENDLESS opportunities. Plus, in my late forties it keeps me feeling forever young 😉 So join me if you can in my world of play.

Why do this?

So instead of being that shy little girl who confirmed I’m excited to have this platform to express myself and showcase my work. I’m a people person and enjoy talking with people who have similar aspirations. Though in the past I haven’t grasped hold of my big dream. Although I’ve enjoyed the journey getting there I’d like to finally achieve it before I am too old to enjoy it.

If you’re a parent, teacher, student or anyone working with children or you’d also like to reflect on your childhood I’d like to hear your thoughts too. It’s important to me that I connect with others. I don’t specifically remember what I did at a child – I only recall what gave me joy. My students who are now adults tell me my classes were fun. Play is a gift that comes in many forms and it’s for all ages!

As parents we can play a big part of our children’s future. So often I’ve heard parents push for the academics. Play can provide a more holistic approach to education which means children get a bigger picture of the world which is hands on- at their reach and they can develop their own ideas. They can explore answers to questions and with a lot more scope for key learning than sitting amd listening to a teacher who stands at the front of the class feeding knowledge. This often doesn’t sink in because not every child is interested. I was one if them- I drifted off on a day dream while the teacher thought I was being a good girl. Through play children follow their interests and they enjoy learning. I was more myself at home. Not that I hated school – I just didn’t have the same opportunities.

At school I enjoyed the extra- curricular activities such as art, dance, music and sport. But this made up just a small percentage of what was taught. I also enjoyed handwriting and mapping and the other academics but these can also be integrated into these extra-curricular subjects .

I’ve written many other blogs but have hidden behind the achievements of others and helped them along. This time I hope I can have the courage to shine.

I hope that the every day play experiences with my child will grow and form into the topics I will write about on my blog.

I hope to connect with people who are like-minded.

Within the next year I hope to have started up something that I’ve always dreamt I would do but the timing was never right.

I’ve reach some of my dreams. I’ve written dozens of poems for adults and children. It was a period of frenzy- I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to. It was like my soul took over. I published a few books too. Play was what inspired me. Through my childhood I spent a lot of time alone day dreaming and playing. Sometimes with my brothers too. We had a big yard and a trampoline. We ran around and played all day.

We pretended to be protagonists and acted out scenes we watched on TV like Doctor Who. It scared me and interested me at the same time, and play was a safe way to explore my feelings.

So for my next personal project I’d like to illustrate my own picture books for children. I got others to do this and although I appreciate their help, they didn’t quite capture what was in my head. The beauty of imagination is that it’s yours. Like a personal signature and it’s extraordinarily fun! Where would childhood be without play?