The Play Tools

Building trust and togetherness through shared goals Family life can often feel like a competition - who gets the last biscuit, who gets to pick the bedtime story. But cooperative games shift the focus from winning or losing to working together. These games foster a sense of connection, trust, and

Strengthening your bond through touch and physical play Babies form their earliest attachments through touch, and physical contact remains essential for emotional connection throughout childhood. Whether it’s a cuddle, a piggyback ride, or a game of pat-a-cake, activities involving body contact foster a sense of belonging and emotional security

Giving your child a sense of power and control through playful role reversals At 18 months, my daughter was afraid of spiders. She was even scared of a purple rubbery spider toy whose legs had fallen off. All that was left of him was a round body and a smile.

Helping your child build trust and confidence through playful separations. When your child is very young, the idea that something exists even when it’s out of sight is not yet part of her understanding. This is called object permanence—the cognitive leap that things (and people) continue to exist,

Using humour and absurdity to strengthen your bond and diffuse tension Put your socks in the cereal bowl, eat soup with a fork, or wear your child’s underpants on your head during a tantrum - nonsense play invites laughter and light-heartedness into your day. It’s a simple yet

Helping your child feel empowered by creating predictable and responsive interactions As a child, I remember my mother and I playing a game where she puffed out her cheeks for me to ‘pop’ with my finger. The rule was simple: she couldn’t pop until I pressed. I loved the