Blog - Growing Nimble Families

Fruit picking with the children

in Play activities, Seasonal play on 09/14/10

Picking fruits are a great way to work on that pincer grip and learn how to successfully take off the fruit from the tree and not the whole branch or bury your family underneath a cascade of falling fruit. Sounds simple but actually takes a little time. Of course the reward is to be able to each as many as… View Post

What afterschool play ideas do you do to connect with your tot?

in Education, Play activities, Seasonal play on 09/13/10

My MO has just started full time school. He’s had a few days of this ….and boy is he tired and cranky when he gets home. It’s been an adjustment from the carefree days of Summer to the careful and deliberate routine we have to maintain during school term. The MO is adjusting to a whole load of new things… View Post

Raising Playful Tots show 37: Back to school

in Better Conversations, Creating Good Memories, Education, Podcast, Simple and Slow Parenting on 09/10/10

Get to grips with hashtags related to Early years on Twitter, homeschooling and have you forgotten how to play? Can you believe it’s back to school time already? Today I’m sharing some articles and resources along with a back to school tip.Join us in this 27 minute back to school edition. You can download the MP3 file for this podcast… View Post

Cultivating gratitude in the Early years

in Education, Play activities on 09/06/10

Children love helping especially when it comes to food. If you listen to Raising Playful Tots show #35 Memetales, I share some recent experiences of fruit picking with the kids. At this time of year there are a lot of fruit and vegetables in season. Traditionally, it’s the time to celebrate the Harvest. Having lived and grown up in a… View Post

Raising Playful Tots show 36: Waldorf Education with Janni Nicol

in Better Conversations, Education, Play activities, Podcast, Simple Family Lifestyle on 09/02/10

Listen today as Janni Nicol, a consultant specialising in Steiner Waldorf, Core tutor at the University of Plymouth, and author of Creative play for your toddler Steiner Waldorf Expertise and toy projects 2-4 talks about Steiner- Waldorf education. This is a play concept that is becoming more popular. This is the second part of her interview as she continues to… View Post

Raising Playful Tots show 35: Memetales- with Maya where crafts and literacy come together

in Conversations around play, Education, family atmosphere, Family Rhythm, Play activities, Podcast, Simple Family Lifestyle on 08/25/10

Today’s show is part two of the interview with Maya from Memetales. Last week in show # 34 Maya talked to us about mobile apps, technology and her interactive website Memetales. This is part two exploring more about memetales and how we can get involved in this 24 minute show. You can download the MP3 file for this podcast directly… View Post

I’m bored jar

in Uncategorized on 08/25/10

Welcome to the BBC Radio Sheffield listeners. Thanks for stopping by! If you’re looking for the I’m bored activity please click on the image below to go to the post. To find out more about the Play Activities network and the resources I provide to help with play in the early years please visit my about page This weeks Early… View Post

We play outdoors

in Play activities on 08/25/10

Age old game of……..you can’t get me! We took a trip to the beach. After the blue seas of recent holidays they were both shocked to see that sea comes in different shades . They were also very impressed with how powerful the wave could be. Cue us watching some teenagers in the water getting knocked over. It was like… View Post

Quick and easy pretend play and toddler activity

in Play activities on 08/20/10

“Don’t touch that!” “It’s hot!” “Mine!”We’re all familiar with these phrases as they relate to toddler behavior. Toddlers are naturally curious to touch and examine objects. They don’t have any of the skills yet to hold back and decide whether it’s the right or safe thing to do. They just reach out and act. There will be plenty of times… View Post

Raising Playful Tots show 34: Memetales- reading, stories, user made picture books and literacy

in Better Conversations, Creating Good Memories, Family Rhythm, Play activities, Podcast on 08/18/10

Maya from Memetales talks to us today about mobile apps, technology and her interactive website Memetales. This is part one of our conversation in this 25 minute show. You can download the MP3 file for this podcast directly by clicking here, you can subscribe through iTunes. Listen to this week’s show Show notes 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 01:24 What’s been… View Post