Growing Nimble Families

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

Shame old lady

in Education, Play activities on 08/18/10

We had our first totally family holiday with Grandparents and inlaws. We all went to Jamaica. My parents were both born there and as a child I have been there quite a few times. However I’ve not been back as an adult. This was the perfect opportunity for my parents to share stories of their childhood, including games and adventures,… View Post

5 ways to calm the unsettledness of moving with children

in Education, Seasonal play on 08/12/10

Traveling unsettles children. They are out of their routines and everything is just different. We can’t always bend enough for their needs and that inflexibility leads to conflict. We’ve just had one of these periods of traveling. Things are not as we expected, which is fine and normal. How would we really know how things would be? We’re adjusting and… View Post

Fun with magnets

in Education, Play activities on 07/21/10

This is a guest post by Nanny Dee. If you want to guest post on this blog, check out the guidelines here. Most children are fascinated by magnets and their seemingly magical abilities to attract other objects. Little M (26 months) had a great time playing with this basic magnet kit I assembled for him: Basic Magnet Kit for Toddlers… View Post

What to do when “there is nothing to do”?

in book review, Education, Play activities on 07/14/10

This is a guest post by Zoe Toft. If you want to guest post on this blog, check out the guidelines here. How do you come up with play ideas for your kids? And, perhaps even more importantly, how do your kids come up with play ideas for themselves? During holiday periods I, like many parents, plan ahead for games… View Post