Quick and easy tips on how to combine the toys you have and every day things to create educational outcomes through simple play experiences. Perfect for toddlers and pre-schoolers. Perfect for busy stay home parents or working parents who just want to do some fun activities at home.

Adapt the activities to your child’s level. These can be repeated every day as your child learns different concepts each time the activities are visited. Focus on a different sense each time- for example, hear how each item rolls. Can you guess which object it might be? Close your eyes- how do they feel? How heavy are they? Possibilities are endless though here’s a place to start.

I show you how to set up your toys at home in an inviting way and to help your child learn. I also create activity sets which teach matching pairs, how things move, simple experiments, connecting ideas and learning new skills. Counting practice in different ways! We explore the relationship of matching pairs, and the idea of odd and even. Explore how different shapes are made by building, and how they move. E.g. A cylinder can roll. Share items with a friend. Find the relationship with sharing and adding!

What do 5 things look like?

Explore, explore, explore and have fun!

Try to keep this as verbal as possible. Lots of talking and pause at different words and repeat them. You could do some writing a different time such as chalk drawing squiggles. For older children write the numbers up to 5. Though do go back and do the hands on activities a lot more. Try to think of ways to extend your child using what you have- go outside and revisit the activities again finding other matching pairs found outdoors.

– Mix and match lego and blocks. – Dress up your teddy bear.

Transport things from one place to another.

Sensorial boxes of all kinds and add a magnifying glass

A breakfast tray or a small trampoline outside to use as an activity table.

Pre-trace a puzzle to colour or paint. Later create a book.

Lay parts of a puzzle to create a play experience. Use a cardboard box and change it to anything you like. This is called symbolic play.

Hide toys and find them again.

Watch the video for more ideas. I like to write ideas on a pieces of paper and post it on my fridge. Single words to cue me in over the course of the busy day.

If you’re like me, you might like to start journal or a blog. Do it and let’s connect, share ideas and build a better education in the home for our children.

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