Latest

Introducing Elmwood: their world - and yours

What does your child’s world look like? Not just the rooms she plays in, or the places you take her. But the imaginative space you hold in your mind – the rhythm of her week, the way she grows and plays, the people and places that shape her days. I’

The trajectory schema: Which way will you go?

Here is a girl. She launches a paper aeroplane across the living room and it is fun. It dips, it swerves, it flies. It cuts through the air. Delighted, the girl chases along behind. At last, it lands gently on the rug. But the game doesn't stop there.

Unlock your child's hidden play patterns: Chris Athey's 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.

Montessori trays: the silent teacher in your playroom

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.

Banish boredom with pocket play kits

You're in a public place. The children are cranky. And you have an impending sense of doom. Things are about to fall apart. Pocket Play Kits to the rescue!

Make every game more fun with a dash of chance

Fill your pockets with coins and dice and add the thrill of randomness to your favourite games.

Loss aversion: encourage more play with FOMO

We all have a fear of missing out. Who wants to miss the party when there's fun to be had? It's a powerful motivator, so why not use it to movitate play?

Present bias: why now matters more than later

Would you pass the 'marshmallow test'? Could you give up a reward in exchange for something better in the future? It's something children find very hard to do. How can we use this knowledge to nudge them towards more play?

Commitment devices: keeping your promise to play

When you commit to doing something, it's more likely that you'll keep your word. So why not commit to play?

Nudges vs habits: how to make independent play effortless

Nudges make play appealing; habits make play inevitable.

Make play inevitable: how nudges guide your child towards independent play

Set up your home so that play happens automatically with well-placed nudges.

From scattered to self-directed: the power of executive functions

Executive functions are your child's inner conductor - the part of her brain that coordinates thoughts, actions, and feelings.

Unstructured play: How bored children become brilliant

What could happen if you stepped back today and let play unfold naturally?

How to help your child become independent without constant nagging

Does your child rely on you to stay organised? Are you too quick to give instructions? Help her become more independent by asking the right questions.