Aug 30

Aug 30 Little Outdoor Explorers

adventure, babies, creativity, family, Fine motor skills, fun, games, heavy work, motor skills, mud play, nature, outdoor play, pre-schoolers, risk, sensory, toddlers, water play

Viewing your child as an "explorer" can allow space for joyous and captivating play. Here are some ideas to help you "explore" this approach.

Jan 23

Jan 23 Making Oobleck

Sarah Clarkson

adventure, craft, creativity, family, Fine motor skills, finger play, fun, games, Kitchen adventures, mud play, outdoor play, play, pre-schoolers, Science, sensory, toddlers, water play

Have you heard of oobleck? It’s a very cheap activity. Not quite a liquid, not quite a solid and a lot of fun to play with.

Sep 29

Sep 29 Kids in the Kitchen - Part Two

Sarah Clarkson

adventure, cooking, creativity, dinner, family, Fine motor skills, food, fun, fruit, Kitchen adventures, motor skills, pre-schoolers, Science, senses, toddlers, vegetables

Some more inspiration for cooking with the young people in your life.

Sep 22

Sep 22 Outdoor adventures part two - how to choose a location

Sarah Clarkson

adventure, babies, creativity, family, motor skills, nature, outdoor play, pre-schoolers, senses, toddlers

The location of an outdoor adventure can be a pivotal part of its success! Here are some ideas for how to choose a location that will suit your family and your adventure.

Sep 20

Sep 20 Nature Play Tool Kit - Outdoor Adventures Part One

Sarah Clarkson

adventure, babies, creativity, family, Fine motor skills, fun, motor skills, nature, outdoor play, play, pre-schoolers, toddlers, tree, water play

It’s holiday time, you might be heading away camping or off for a day-trip. What can you pack in your bag to be sure you’re prepared for an outdoor adventure with your kids?

Jun 5

Jun 5 Getting out in the cold weather

Sarah Clarkson

babies, family, fun, motor skills, mud play, nature, outdoor play, pre-schoolers, risk, senses, toddlers, Winter, adventure

It’s the first day of Winter where I am living. And it’s COLD outside. How do we get enough outdoor playtime when it’s cold, blustery and rainy??

May 4

May 4 The best shoes are NO shoes

Sarah Clarkson

babies, creativity, family, fun, motor skills, mud play, nature, outdoor play, play, pre-schoolers, risk, senses, toddlers

Even better than taking your little one’s shoes off is never putting them on in the first place!

Mar 14

Mar 14 Back to Basics with Nature

Sarah Clarkson

babies, Bugs, creativity, family, fun, mud play, nature, outdoor play, play, pre-schoolers, sensory, toddlers, water play

After many years of working with children and families in Nature, it is often the most basic things that are the most memorable and fun.

Nov 18

Nov 18 Climbing Trees

Sarah Clarkson

family, fun, motor skills, nature, outdoor play, play, pre-schoolers, senses, risk, tree

There is a lot of joy to be had when climbing trees…but it may not be that simple for your family. Read on for ideas on balancing the benefits and risks of tree climbing for your child/ren.

Oct 18

Oct 18 Nests

Sarah Clarkson

babies, books, Bugs, creativity, family, Fine motor skills, fun, games, heavy work, motor skills, nature, outdoor play, play, pre-schoolers, Science, Spring, toddlers

Nests are everywhere at the moment! Here are 3 ideas to incorporate “nests” into your family play this week and beyond.

Aug 6

Aug 6 Making a mess

Sarah Clarkson

art, babies, breakfast, creativity, dinner, family, food, fun, games, Kitchen adventures, mud play, nature, outdoor play, painting, party, play, pre-schoolers, sensory, toddlers, vegetables

Whether it be indoors or outdoors, with food, mud or paint…creating space for you and your children to make a mess can be a fun, dynamic and satisfying way to spend time…lockdown or not.

Jul 20

Jul 20 Painting Rocks

Sarah Clarkson

art, chalk, colour, creativity, family, fun, motor skills, mud play, nature, outdoor play, painting, play, pre-schoolers, shapes, toddlers, toys

A simple activity to play in your own backyard, with whatever you have on hand!

May 30

May 30 A nice cup of tea

Sarah Clarkson

babies, breakfast, dinner, food, fun, games, Kitchen adventures, mud play, nature, outdoor play, party, play, pre-schoolers, Science, toddlers, water play, family

Sometimes all you need is a nice cup of tea. Whether it’s a real cup, brewed with herbs picked fresh from your garden, or a muddy concoction from your child’s play, a cup of tea can help bring a moment of peace to a busy day.

Apr 19

Apr 19 Heavy work

Sarah Clarkson

alphabet, art, Autumn, babies, colour, construction, creativity, dance, family, fun, games, motor skills, mud play, nature, outdoor play, play, pre-schoolers, Science, senses, sensory, shapes, toddlers, heavy work

Have you heard of “heavy work”? Let me tell what it is and how you can incorporate it into the daily life of your little ones.

Mar 19

Mar 19 Busy little hands

Sarah Clarkson

art, Autumn, babies, colour, creativity, dinner, family, Easter, food, fruit, fun, games, Kitchen adventures, motor skills, nature, outdoor play, play, pre-schoolers, senses, sensory, toddlers, vegetables, water play

How we can create appealing opportunities for busy little hands to touch, grab, poke, pour, twist and squeeze.

Feb 15

Feb 15 Hunting for bugs

Sarah Clarkson

art, babies, colour, construction, craft, creativity, dance, drawing, family, fun, games, nature, outdoor play, painting, play, pre-schoolers, Science, senses, sensory, shapes, toddlers, Bugs

Stuck at home? You could go on an outside, bug-hunting adventure!

Dec 11

Dec 11 Outdoor Muddy Play Essentials - PART TWO

Sarah Clarkson

art, babies, Christmas, colour, family, finger play, fun, games, motor skills, mud play, nature, outdoor play, painting, party, play, pre-schoolers, Science, sensory, senses, shapes, Spring, toddlers, toys, water play

Here are 3 more ideas for outdoor play equipment that can be cheap, useful, fun and can be played with over and over and over again.

Dec 11

Dec 11 Outdoor Muddy Play Essentials - PART ONE

Sarah Clarkson

babies, Christmas, construction, creativity, family, finger play, games, motor skills, mud play, nature, outdoor play, play, pre-schoolers, recycling, senses, sensory, toddlers, toys, water play, fun

Christmas presents don’t have to be expensive, nor end up in landfill on Boxing Day. Here are 3 NaturePlay essentials that can be cheap, fun, useful and last a very long time!