Posts in the play category

Wax is unmoved without heat. The amazing quality of wax is its ability to transfer heat. Through persistent kneading, rolling and squeezing wax is overcome by your energy, will and purpose. Combining the wax with other found objects led to whimsical absorbing play.

I learnt something the other day. One of our students focus children has been increasingly labelled a problem child by staff because he loves to build tall towers and knock them down. This has been treated as out of control and overly boisterous behaviour. Why did it come to this?

The forest - the grim, dark, rejuvenating, life-giving, mysterious forest. In folktales the world over, there's something special about going into the forest. The hero on his or the heroine on her quest inevitably treks deep into the forest. There are helpers and dangers along the way. In one lovely Danish tale, three brothers take it in turn to set out through the forest to bring a healing apple to an ailing princess. When they lose their way an old lady appears, asking what they have in their basket. The first two brothers don't spare her the time of day,...

An old man planted a turnip. The turnip grew to be enormous. The old man started to pull the turnip out of the ground. He pulled and pulled, but couldn't pull it out. So he called the old woman over. The old woman took hold of the old man, the old man took hold of the turnip, they pulled and pulled, but couldn't pull it out. So the old woman called the granddaughter over. The granddaughter took hold of the old woman, the old woman took hold of the old man, the old man took hold of the turnip, they...

As the days get longer children will be spending more time outside. How simple backyard fun can be when you put some pieces of wood in it! There is no need to limit yourself or your children to expensive playground equipment and swing sets when a few wooden tree blocks and planks can be used as traditional play items, like seesaws or can be moved around to make forts and castles. I am always scanning for cut down branches and trees for the boys to use in the backyard. As sad it is for a tree to be cut down...