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‘Christmas' Purposeful Play Activity Guide - Know & Play Preschool: - All about it and FAQs

‘Christmas' Purposeful Play Activity Guide - Know & Play Preschool: - All about it and FAQs

‘Christmas' Purposeful Play Activity Guide - Know & Play Preschool: - All about it and FAQs

8 ways to avoid overwhelming and overstimulating your child(ren) this Christmas

8 ways to avoid overwhelming and overstimulating your child(ren) this Christmas

8 ways to avoid overwhelming and overstimulating your child(ren) this Christmas

SO many of you have absolutely loved the Garden Inspiration posts series, so I’ve written it up as a full blog post from 2023-2024 (and am doing 2025 as we speak!), & included all of the videos and links!

Find it on my website now ✨🌈

Comment GARDEN for a direct link 🔗

Can’t wait to see all of your new spaces, inspired by our garden 🪏 🪴

#gardeninspo #toddlergarden #outdoorplay #kidsgarden #learningthroughplay

SO many of you have absolutely loved the Garden Inspiration posts series, so I’ve written it up as a full blog post from 2023-2024 (and am doing 2025 as we speak!), & included all of the videos and links!

Find it on my website now ✨🌈

Comment GARDEN for a direct link 🔗

Can’t wait to see all of your new spaces, inspired by our garden 🪏 🪴

#gardeninspo #toddlergarden #outdoorplay #kidsgarden #learningthroughplay

Here’s part 3/3! ✨🪴🌈

This is where the garden creation started! When we moved in, this was a horrendously overgrown, flint covered, broken boarded vegetable patch. Over the spring we totally transformed it during every spare hour that we had, knowing how much our the 1.5 year old would enjoy it as the warmer weather approached 😍

This set up was particularly suited for a toddler from around 18 months. As I said in the last two garden posts, there’s reasons behind all of the choices - think vertical work, schema play, gross motor development, creativity ✅✅✅
Everything was a lot simpler too - just as it should be for toddlers. Calm, clear, organised, but inviting.

Apart from the playhouse, everything else we DIY-ed ourselves! Budget wasn’t big, and so we used as many free materials to as we could, or repurposed this we already had. And it turned out to all work wonderful together ✨

Any questions? Pop them below 👇🏽

If you’re wanting 1:1 personalised support in creating an outdoor play space tailored to your individual child, then take a look at Know & Play Consultancy ✨

#gardeninspo #toddlergarden #outdoorplay #kidsgarden #learningthroughplay

Here’s part 3/3! ✨🪴🌈

This is where the garden creation started! When we moved in, this was a horrendously overgrown, flint covered, broken boarded vegetable patch. Over the spring we totally transformed it during every spare hour that we had, knowing how much our the 1.5 year old would enjoy it as the warmer weather approached 😍

This set up was particularly suited for a toddler from around 18 months. As I said in the last two garden posts, there’s reasons behind all of the choices - think vertical work, schema play, gross motor development, creativity ✅✅✅
Everything was a lot simpler too - just as it should be for toddlers. Calm, clear, organised, but inviting.

Apart from the playhouse, everything else we DIY-ed ourselves! Budget wasn’t big, and so we used as many free materials to as we could, or repurposed this we already had. And it turned out to all work wonderful together ✨

Any questions? Pop them below 👇🏽

If you’re wanting 1:1 personalised support in creating an outdoor play space tailored to your individual child, then take a look at Know & Play Consultancy ✨

#gardeninspo #toddlergarden #outdoorplay #kidsgarden #learningthroughplay

The 2025 garden will always hold so many fond memories!✨🪴🌈

Here’s PART 2/3 garden posts for your springtime inspiration.

This was last year’s garden, heavily inspired by Mr then 3.5’s interests and developmental stage.

The water play area HAD HOURS and hours of play in it. As did the secret garden path. PLUS we watched our frogspawn in the diy pond turn into little frogs 🐸 what a magical experience that was!

Tomorrow I’ll be rewinding back to the first outdoor play space that I designed, for that older baby to younger toddler stage 😍

This year I’ll be sharing how I create a shared outdoor playspace for a younger toddler and an older preschooler… this might be a challenge, but I can’t wait to get started 🤩

Any questions? Pop them below!👇🏽

If you’re wanting 1:1 personalised support in creating an outdoor play space tailored to your individual child, then take a look at Know & Play Consultancy ✨

#gardeninspo #toddlergarden #outdoorplay #kidsgarden #learningthroughplay

The 2025 garden will always hold so many fond memories!✨🪴🌈

Here’s PART 2/3 garden posts for your springtime inspiration.

This was last year’s garden, heavily inspired by Mr then 3.5’s interests and developmental stage.

The water play area HAD HOURS and hours of play in it. As did the secret garden path. PLUS we watched our frogspawn in the diy pond turn into little frogs 🐸 what a magical experience that was!

Tomorrow I’ll be rewinding back to the first outdoor play space that I designed, for that older baby to younger toddler stage 😍

This year I’ll be sharing how I create a shared outdoor playspace for a younger toddler and an older preschooler… this might be a challenge, but I can’t wait to get started 🤩

Any questions? Pop them below!👇🏽

If you’re wanting 1:1 personalised support in creating an outdoor play space tailored to your individual child, then take a look at Know & Play Consultancy ✨

#gardeninspo #toddlergarden #outdoorplay #kidsgarden #learningthroughplay

Toddler/Preschooler Garden Inspiration ✨🪴🌈

The sun has finally made an appearance here over the past couple of days, and it’s got me incredibly excited for the warmer and longer days outdoors to come.

When Spring comes around, I always turn my attention to the outdoor environment, as this deserves and needs as much care in organising and structuring it as the indoor play space does.

The main things I always aim for:
✅ it to be developmentally appropriate with just the right level of challenge available
✅ all the resources to ‘have a place’
✅ resources to be cared for and looked after so that it’s a desirable place to play

I take a lot of inspiration from the years before, but look at how I can adapt it, freshen it up, and ensure it meets the current needs and interests.

This year I’ll be balancing a space for an older preschooler and a younger toddler, so that dynamic is going to be interesting 🤔💭

What are you looking to create or add into your outdoor space this year? What age(s) is your child/children? Let me know below 👇🏽

If you’re wanting 1:1 personalised support in creating an outdoor play space tailored to your individual child, then take a look at Know & Play Consultancy ✨

#gardeninspo #toddlergarden #outdoorplay #kidsgarden #learningthroughplay

Toddler/Preschooler Garden Inspiration ✨🪴🌈

The sun has finally made an appearance here over the past couple of days, and it’s got me incredibly excited for the warmer and longer days outdoors to come.

When Spring comes around, I always turn my attention to the outdoor environment, as this deserves and needs as much care in organising and structuring it as the indoor play space does.

The main things I always aim for:
✅ it to be developmentally appropriate with just the right level of challenge available
✅ all the resources to ‘have a place’
✅ resources to be cared for and looked after so that it’s a desirable place to play

I take a lot of inspiration from the years before, but look at how I can adapt it, freshen it up, and ensure it meets the current needs and interests.

This year I’ll be balancing a space for an older preschooler and a younger toddler, so that dynamic is going to be interesting 🤔💭

What are you looking to create or add into your outdoor space this year? What age(s) is your child/children? Let me know below 👇🏽

If you’re wanting 1:1 personalised support in creating an outdoor play space tailored to your individual child, then take a look at Know & Play Consultancy ✨

#gardeninspo #toddlergarden #outdoorplay #kidsgarden #learningthroughplay

One of the most common worries I get asked is “My child isn’t writing yet… should I be concerned or doing more with them?”

The thing is, writing doesn’t begin with a pencil or pen.

It begins with building the foundations.
Squeezing.
Twisting.
Threading.
Rolling.
Pouring.
Building.
Crossing the midline.
Reaching up high.
Understanding that marks carry meaning.

When the foundations are secure, writing follows. And it follows naturally, rather than being forced.

If you’re unsure whether your child is ready for writing, or still needing to strengthen the skills that support it, start by understanding what truly matters in the early years.

Comment FIVE and I’ll send you my free guide:
The First Five Years – What, When, Why & How.

& if you find yourself wanting more, my IMPROVED Know & Play Membership is nearly completed. You can get ahead of the rest and sign up now for early access into the new Members’ Area!

Focus on the foundations.
The rest will follow.

#earlychildhooddevelopment
#writingreadiness
#playbasedlearning
#finemotorskills
#learningthroughplay

One of the most common worries I get asked is “My child isn’t writing yet… should I be concerned or doing more with them?”

The thing is, writing doesn’t begin with a pencil or pen.

It begins with building the foundations.
Squeezing.
Twisting.
Threading.
Rolling.
Pouring.
Building.
Crossing the midline.
Reaching up high.
Understanding that marks carry meaning.

When the foundations are secure, writing follows. And it follows naturally, rather than being forced.

If you’re unsure whether your child is ready for writing, or still needing to strengthen the skills that support it, start by understanding what truly matters in the early years.

Comment FIVE and I’ll send you my free guide:
The First Five Years – What, When, Why & How.

& if you find yourself wanting more, my IMPROVED Know & Play Membership is nearly completed. You can get ahead of the rest and sign up now for early access into the new Members’ Area!

Focus on the foundations.
The rest will follow.

#earlychildhooddevelopment
#writingreadiness
#playbasedlearning
#finemotorskills
#learningthroughplay

Paw Patrol Tower✨🌈

This may look like just another (pretty mesmerising) @connetix_tiles build, but the skills Mr 4 gained from this were amazing. These is a reason these are my No.1 play resource!

✅ Spacial awareness
✅ Tessellation understanding
✅ 2D shape names
✅ Fine motor skills
✅ Gross motor skills
✅ Creativity
✅ STEM-based problem solving
✅ Imagination
✅ Team work
to name just a FEW!!

Adding lights in combination with other open-ended resources really do bring things to life in a whole other way 🌈✨

#openendedplay #pawpatrol #connetix #connetixtiles #learningthroughplay

Paw Patrol Tower✨🌈

This may look like just another (pretty mesmerising) @connetix_tiles build, but the skills Mr 4 gained from this were amazing. These is a reason these are my No.1 play resource!

✅ Spacial awareness
✅ Tessellation understanding
✅ 2D shape names
✅ Fine motor skills
✅ Gross motor skills
✅ Creativity
✅ STEM-based problem solving
✅ Imagination
✅ Team work
to name just a FEW!!

Adding lights in combination with other open-ended resources really do bring things to life in a whole other way 🌈✨

#openendedplay #pawpatrol #connetix #connetixtiles #learningthroughplay

We’ve been made to think that play is the extra.

The reward.
The time filler.
The thing that happens after the ‘real work’ is done.
“When you’ve finished your maths, you can go and play.”

But actually…

Play IS the real work. It’s the work of the child.

It’s how their brains build connections.
It’s how confidence grows.
It’s how independence develops.
It’s how foundations are laid.

How much do you prioritise and value play?💭

#playiswork #playbasedlearning #earlychildhood #raisingchildren #developmentmatters

We’ve been made to think that play is the extra.

The reward.
The time filler.
The thing that happens after the ‘real work’ is done.
“When you’ve finished your maths, you can go and play.”

But actually…

Play IS the real work. It’s the work of the child.

It’s how their brains build connections.
It’s how confidence grows.
It’s how independence develops.
It’s how foundations are laid.

How much do you prioritise and value play?💭

#playiswork #playbasedlearning #earlychildhood #raisingchildren #developmentmatters

Looking for some indoor family fun this afternoon? Have a go at making a @connetix_tiles mini golf course inside!

We’ve found our ‘Portals’ pack make brilliant spots for small balls to land on or in. We made multiple holes around the house so that the whole family could all play! Even the 🐱 joined in chasing the balls 😂

If you don’t have clubs, use wrapping paper tubes or other things around the house. Get creative!

Great STEM development for any little people involved in the building process - all that trial and error!😍

Tag us if you have a go! We’d love to get inspo for new hole designs!

#connetix #connetixtiles #familygames #indoorgames #familyfun

Looking for some indoor family fun this afternoon? Have a go at making a @connetix_tiles mini golf course inside!

We’ve found our ‘Portals’ pack make brilliant spots for small balls to land on or in. We made multiple holes around the house so that the whole family could all play! Even the 🐱 joined in chasing the balls 😂

If you don’t have clubs, use wrapping paper tubes or other things around the house. Get creative!

Great STEM development for any little people involved in the building process - all that trial and error!😍

Tag us if you have a go! We’d love to get inspo for new hole designs!

#connetix #connetixtiles #familygames #indoorgames #familyfun

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