Irresistible Ideas for play based learning

We like to have a lot of imaginative play set ups on the go at one time at kinder.

Earlier this year we made a little family of bead people using our trusty old hot glue gun and a permanent black marker and they turned out really well.

Most importantly the children have been having a great time playing with them.

Here we teamed them with some other small wooden dolls, a miniature china tea set, some stick fences we also made as well as other natural materials and the cutest little artificial plants.

Simple, inexpensive and totally irresistible!!

Imaginative play doesn’t need to be fancy, expensive or difficult to set up!

The discount shops are great for buying basic props very cheaply.

Here we have some quite large plastic insects which the children really enjoy playing with. 

They are a great size …

and they look so life like!

By making available natural materials like a variety of logs, pebbles, rocks and plants, imaginative play simply takes off!

With the addition of earthy coloured fabrics, the environment looks very effective and to the children it is irresistible fun!

We are very lucky to have several dolls’ houses of different sizes available for the children to play with, and we like to set them up outside as well as inside.

Recently we placed a large pine dolls’ house inside on a low bench, and in order to make it irresistible to the children we set it up with an assortment of different textured fabrics, carpet squares and natural materials. We included a large mirror for added interest, and draped a soft curtain over the top to create a cosy cubby effect.

We have a number of baskets kept nearby on low shelving containing assorted props which the children are free too choose and include in their play as they please.  Here the children have chosen some cane furniture, small wooden animals and people as well as a mini playground set.

A dolls’ house is a great place for children to play alone and lose themselves in their imagination …

… then again it’s a great social area when you invite friends to play .

And we really love it when unexpected guests drop in …

… on their way home!