Growing Child

Winter is here, so let’s celebrate the season by turning a few simple supplies and your little one’s tiny handprints into a cute winter scene!

This penguin handprint craft will be a hit with the kids because they’ll love seeing their own handprints turn into an adorable penguin. This penguin craft promises loads of frosty fun and is perfect for preschoolers through kindergarteners.

Kids love to get creative, and this craft is the perfect canvas to make that happen! The process will also enhance their fine motor skills and spark their imaginative thinking, making this craft a win-win for both fun and learning.

Supplies :

Colored cardstock or construction paper
Scissors
Glue
Markers or crayons
Small pom poms

NEW PRODUCT ALERT

Create, colour and cover it all with Street Paint Markers by Zart! If you love Posca markers, you’ll love these. This high-quality set of paint markers lets you write, draw and decorate on virtually any surface — from cardboard and paper to metal, wood, plastic, glass, fabric and stone.

Each marker is filled with strong, pigmented paint ink that provides bold, opaque coverage and lasting durability. The quick-drying, water-based formula is both sunproof and waterproof, ensuring your artwork stands the test of time indoors or out.

Affordable, reliable, and built for bold expression, this 24-colour set is perfect for students, hobbyists, and professional artists alike.

The Importance of Free Play: Why it Matters More Than Ever

In an increasingly structured world of timetables, targets and touchscreens, the simple act of free play has never been more important. Free play is unstructured, self-directed play where children choose what and how to play without adult direction, fostering creativity, independence and development. As highlighted by organisations such as the National Institute for Play, it is a biological necessity and a cornerstone of healthy development.

Far from being “just play”, free play shapes children’s brains, strengthens relationships and builds the foundations for lifelong wellbeing.

Meeting Foundational Psychological Needs
Psychological research consistently shows that human wellbeing rests on three core needs: autonomy, competence and relatedness. Free play uniquely supports all three.

Autonomy develops when children make their own choices — deciding what to play, how to play and with whom. Unlike adult-led activities, free play gives children control over their environment and experiences.

Competence grows as children test their abilities. Whether climbing, building, negotiating rules or inventing games, they learn through trial and error. Success boosts confidence; setbacks build resilience.

Relatedness emerges as children connect with peers. Cooperative games, imaginative role-play and shared adventures strengthen bonds and foster a sense of belonging.

When these psychological needs are met consistently, children experience greater emotional security and overall wellbeing.

Credit to inclusiveplay.com

Tabletop Puppet Wooden Theatre by Le Toy Van, a beautifully crafted roleplay toy designed to inspire storytelling and imaginative performance.
A compact wooden puppet theatre designed to sit on a tabletop, making it ideal for playrooms, classrooms, or living spaces.
Features include:
Show curtains that can be drawn back to reveal the stage
A ticket window booth for pretend play transactions
A chalkboard showtime board for announcing performances
Elegant gold paint detailing for a theatrical touch
Cut-out theatre tickets to enhance the roleplay experience
The interior transforms into a night-time starry backdrop, adding a magical ambience and encouraging creative storytelling.

Tabletop Wooden Puppet Theatre | Short Video | Le Toy Van Where the imagination takes centre stage! This theatre brings timel...

Northcote Stoneware Clay 10kg is a smooth, off-white clay that’s perfect for both handbuilding and wheel throwing. Its soft, plastic texture makes it easy to shape, model, and sculpt, making it a great choice for students of all skill levels. With strong green strength and excellent versatility, this clay is ideal for classroom use—whether you’re creating decorative pieces or functional items like mugs and bowls. The light colour provides a clean surface for colourful glaze designs, and the clay can be easily recycled after use, making it a practical and sustainable option for the art room.
Also available in Terracotta.

Winter Nature Treasure Hunt (Outdoors)
Bundle up and head outside for a slow, mindful wander. Give children a small basket or bucket and invite them to collect winter treasures such as:

Sticks
Bark
Pebbles
Pinecones
Winter leaves
Seed pods
Encourage them to notice:
The cold air
Foggy breath
Crunchy grass
Bare branches
Winter colours
This builds observation skills, language, and connection to the season.

What Is Sensory Play?

Sensory play refers to activities that stimulate a child’s senses – touch, smell, taste, sight, and hearing. It may also include movement, balance, and spatial awareness. Activities such as playing with sand, water, playdough, or even listening to different sounds are all forms of sensory play.

The purpose of sensory play is far more than entertainment, it is the foundation for growth and development. Through these early explorations, children learn how things work, problem-solve, and express creativity, all while strengthening neural pathways that support language, mathematics, and social skills. Sensory play fosters brain development, enhances motor skills, promotes language and cognitive growth, and supports emotional well-being, giving children the building blocks they need for lifelong learning.

Examples of sensory play include:
Playing with sand, water, or clay
Exploring different textures such as fabric, beads, or leaves
Listening to music or natural sounds
Finger painting
Scented play dough
Engaging in cooking activities that involve tasting and smelling
Balancing on beams or climbing structures
Exploring paths with different textures
Mud kitchen play with natural materials
Water play with slices of citrus fruit and leaves
Frozen water with flowers

❄️ Magic Snow Winter Sensory Craft
A cosy, hands-on winter activity for toddlers & preschoolers
Magic Snow is already a favourite for sensory play — but paired with simple craft materials, it becomes a beautiful winter wonderland creation that supports fine motor skills, imagination, and language development.
🌨️ What You Need
Magic Snow (prepared according to instructions)
Blue or silver cardstock
PVA glue or glue sticks
Scoops, spoons, or small tongs
Cotton balls or cotton pads
Sequins, foil pieces, or glitter (optional)
Small sticks, pom poms, or natural loose parts
A shallow tray for the Magic Snow
✨ How to Set It Up
Prepare the Magic Snow and place it in a tray for children to explore first.
Offer scoops, spoons, or tongs to encourage fine motor work.
Place the craft materials on a tray beside the snow.
Invite children to create a “Winter Wonderland Scene” on their cardstock using glue and Magic Snow.
Encourage them to sprinkle, press, scoop, and build — snowdrifts, snowmen, snowy hills, or abstract winter textures.

🌟 NEW PRODUCT ALERT: Felt Story Boards Are Here! 🌟
We’re so excited to introduce our brand‑new Felt Story Boards — a beautiful, hands‑on way for little learners to dive into storytelling, imagination and early communication.

Children can create endless stories by simply sticking the felt pieces onto the soft felt board, mixing and matching characters, scenes and ideas as they play. It’s open‑ended, creative and wonderfully engaging for toddlers and preschoolers.

💬 Why we love them

Encourage storytelling and communication skills

Support self‑expression as children share their own ideas

Build imagination through open‑ended play

Offer hands‑on learning that strengthens fine motor skills

Lightweight