Activity ideas & tools

https://vimeo.com/276819223

Connecting and communicating 0-6 months

This short video shows a new mum connecting and communicating with her baby.

Playing with babies 3-12 months

Suitable for 3-12 months Play is essential for your baby’s overall development, learning and wellbeing. When it comes to play, follow your baby’s interests. The key thing is interacting with your baby. Baby play ideas include playing peekaboo, making noise or music, singing nursery rhymes, reading and talking

Playing with newborns

Suitable for 0-3 months Play is important for overall newborn development, learning, wellbeing and bonding. Playing with your newborn is about interacting with your baby. Newborn play ideas include smiling at your baby, blowing raspberries and having tummy time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8hwOs4cGtw&feature=youtu.be

Rough-and-tumble play: tips for dads

This short video is about rough-and-tumble play like chasing and wrestling. As well as being good exercise, rough play helps children learn how strong they are.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36QJxLdssDU&feature=youtu.be

Playing outside in all weather

This short video talks about why it’s important for children to be outside in all weather.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O_xb6HOGns&feature=youtu.be

Free time to play: why it’s important for children

This short video is about playtime and play spaces for children.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt_h6a1SjZg&feature=youtu.be

Low cost play ideas

Children’s play doesn’t have to cost a lot. Watch this video for ideas for open-ended materials that are great for children of all ages.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE3EAQo7Z6Q&feature=youtu.be

How boredom helps children’s play and development

Boredom is fantastic for children’s play. This short video talks about how boredom helps child development.

Outdoor play

Outdoor play is good for your child’s physical health, development and self-confidence. It’s great fun too!

Emotions and play: Toddlers

Along with empathy and pride, children start feeling frustrated when they reach the toddler years. In fact, frustration is an emotion you’ll probably see a lot of at this age.

Thinking and play: preschoolers

Play is the natural way young children learn. Even when it looks like preschoolers are just playing, their brains are hard at work putting together vital knowledge about the world.

Homemade toys

Young children don’t need special or expensive toys for learning and development. In fact, with a little imagination, you can turn ordinary things around the house into homemade toys and free activities for kids.