This ray of Sunshine
Play and Learn
Play is important!
Not just for fun, play is important for children’s growth and development, especially in the early years. Play-based learning helps a child’s physical development. manual dexterity, gross and fine motor skills, social and problem solving skills, cognitive and emotional development. The list goes on!
Play-based learning gives our children the opportunity to discover for themselves how things work, explore the world around them and develop their creativity.
More than that, playing sets a good foundation for children as they grow into adults – many adults also don’t know how to play, wind down or rest. So take the time to play together! I think crafting is a great way for children and their adults to play. Read on for play-based learning ideas with a crafty twist.
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Play at home ideas
If you have a whole day at home and are looking for a way to fill up the day, drawing up a quick day planner or schedule can help. You can think of activities to fill up the day and work around other things you need to do eg. appointment, meetings . I also keep different activities in boxes for easy organisation.
Sample day planner
Use a planner like this to plan the day together.
Sensory play box
I set up a sensory box with different kinds of beans, rice. This occupied the kids for almost an hour – they played with small toys and pebbles among the beans.
Cardboard box play
Do you have a spare cardboard box lying around? You can turn this into a bus, a cubby house, or a train.
Prepare breakfast, morning tea or lunch together
Faces – Pizza, pancakes, hashbrowns!
Rainbow salad lunch
Banana monster milk
Patchwork open sandwiches
Storybook activity
If you have a favourite book, you can use the book’s theme and think of some activities related to the book.
I found audiobooks were great for acting out the story together with puppets or toys.
Music and dance
Turn on your favourite music and dance!
I kept a box of musical instruments (xylophone, recorder, home made shakers, streamers) to use with the music.
Play musical cushions! (an easy version of musical chair) Everyone has a cushion and you sit down when the music stops.