Play with PurposeWriting for parents about play, learning and childhood.https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/en-gbThe Wonder Yearhttps://playwithpurpose.co.uk/the-wonder-year/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/the-wonder-year/Sun, 31 Aug 2025 05:02:51 GMTNutritious playhttps://playwithpurpose.co.uk/nutritious-play-email/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/nutritious-play-email/Mon, 30 Jun 2025 18:08:32 GMTHeuristic play: How toddlers learn through discoveryhttps://playwithpurpose.co.uk/heuristic-play-how-toddlers-learn-through-discovery/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/heuristic-play-how-toddlers-learn-through-discovery/Babies ask: what is this like? Toddlers ask: what does this do? This subtle shift opens up the world to exploration.Mon, 30 Jun 2025 12:24:52 GMTNutritious play: Does your child get her five-a-day?https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/nutritious-play/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/nutritious-play/Mon, 30 Jun 2025 12:24:16 GMTThe not-quite-schemas: Repetitive patterns that make sense of playhttps://playwithpurpose.co.uk/the-not-quite-schemas/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/the-not-quite-schemas/You've seen them before - the quiet rituals of childhood. The stacking. The scattering. The careful line of pebbles on a wall. These aren't random patterns - they're purposeful explorations. This guide helps you recognise what your child is really working on.Tue, 24 Jun 2025 13:10:54 GMTThe pattern I couldn't seehttps://playwithpurpose.co.uk/the-pattern-i-couldnt-see/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/the-pattern-i-couldnt-see/Why do children act the way they do? What drives them? A lesson I learnt during a tough start to my teaching career helped me become a better parent once it was time to have my own children.Tue, 24 Jun 2025 13:08:12 GMTFine motor masteryhttps://playwithpurpose.co.uk/fine-motor-mastery/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/fine-motor-mastery/Forget what you've seen on Pinterest, fine motor control is not about tracing letters in sand and picking up pom poms with tongs. Your child craves meaningful activities to develop real-world skills. Better for her; easier for you. What's not to like?Thu, 19 Jun 2025 13:47:41 GMTGames with ruleshttps://playwithpurpose.co.uk/games-with-rules/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/games-with-rules/Get ready for school - and for life - by learning how to win - and how to lose.Mon, 09 Jun 2025 11:03:02 GMTHow StoryChild works: your subscriber journeyhttps://playwithpurpose.co.uk/how-storychild-works/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/how-storychild-works/StoryChild is your weekly how-to guide for raising a confident, independent child – through practical tips, playful rhythms, and the unfolding lives of the children of Elmwood.Mon, 02 Jun 2025 14:14:48 GMTDrawing without a pencil: arranging materials for early writing successhttps://playwithpurpose.co.uk/drawing-without-a-pencil/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/drawing-without-a-pencil/How do you learn to write? Does it start with drawing? No, it starts long before, with placing and arranging.Tue, 27 May 2025 10:27:15 GMTThrough a child’s eyes: A tour of Elmwoodhttps://playwithpurpose.co.uk/through-a-childs-eyes-a-tour-of-elmwood/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/through-a-childs-eyes-a-tour-of-elmwood/Mon, 26 May 2025 07:46:26 GMTSpring to School: An introductionhttps://playwithpurpose.co.uk/spring-to-school-introduction/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/spring-to-school-introduction/What is Spring to School? Start your journey through the preschool years with this handy overview.Sun, 25 May 2025 11:01:27 GMTMeet Samhttps://playwithpurpose.co.uk/meet-sam/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/meet-sam/This is Sam, our preschool hero. Follow along as he prepares for the most exciting year of his life - getting ready for school.Sun, 25 May 2025 10:23:57 GMTOh! The Places You'll Go! From Ben to Daisy, birth to eleven and beyondhttps://playwithpurpose.co.uk/from-ben-to-daisy-birth-to-eleven-and-beyond/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/from-ben-to-daisy-birth-to-eleven-and-beyond/Match your child's developmental journey from infancy through middle childhood to the paths taken by the Children of ElmwoodSat, 24 May 2025 12:11:51 GMTMeet the children of Elmwoodhttps://playwithpurpose.co.uk/meet-the-children-of-elmwood/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/meet-the-children-of-elmwood/Who are the Children of Elmwood? And which ones should you follow? This guide will help you choose.Sat, 24 May 2025 11:51:42 GMTElmwood, the town you grew up inhttps://playwithpurpose.co.uk/elmwood-the-town-you-grew-up-in/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/elmwood-the-town-you-grew-up-in/Wed, 21 May 2025 13:02:12 GMTPlay with Purpose returnshttps://playwithpurpose.co.uk/play-with-purpose-returns/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/play-with-purpose-returns/Mon, 19 May 2025 16:50:55 GMTThe trajectory schema: Which way will you go?https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/trajectory-schema/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/trajectory-schema/Tue, 06 May 2025 12:23:07 GMTUnlock your child's hidden play patterns: Chris Athey's breakthrough schemashttps://playwithpurpose.co.uk/unlock-your-childs-hidden-play-patterns-chris-atheys-breakthrough-schemas/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/unlock-your-childs-hidden-play-patterns-chris-atheys-breakthrough-schemas/Lines, circles, and boundaries in play become letters on the page. Discover how Chris Athey's schema patterns transform your child's physical explorations into the spatial understanding and motor control she'll need for writing.Tue, 06 May 2025 11:25:54 GMTMontessori trays: the silent teacher in your playroomhttps://playwithpurpose.co.uk/montessori-trays/https://playwithpurpose.co.uk/montessori-trays/Sometimes an activity fails and you can't work out why. The problem isn't the activity - it's how you present it. Discover how Montessori trays act as silent teachers, gently guiding your child toward focus, order, and deep engagement.Tue, 25 Feb 2025 05:45:24 GMT