What is Small World Play? Growing Kind Explore the Magic of Small World Play with Growing Kind: A Journey of Imagination Welcome, fellow adventurers, to Growing Kind, your ultimate destination for igniting imaginations and fostering playful exploration! Today, we’re diving deep into the enchanting realm of small world play, where every miniature scene is a portal to boundless creativity and endless adventures. Join us as we unpack the wonders of small world play and unveil the treasures that await in our curated collection. Small World Play: Where Imagination Takes Flight Small world play ..read more

The Nine Characteristics of Play Growing Kind Firstly, what is play? Play is widely researched, and arguably one of the most difficult words to define. Countless scholars, theorists and Playworkers have attempted to define play, but can it be put into words? Is play a verb, an emotion, or something in between. The definition of play continues to change and evolve over the last 200 years. In Australia the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)  is a nationally approved blueprint for planning, teaching and assessing in early childhood settings. The EYLF outlines play as both a context for ..read more

Play Deprivation; What is it? How can we overcome it? Growing Kind Play Deprivation… What is it? And how can we avoid or recover from it? Firstly, let address ‘what is play’? There is no agreed upon definition of play amongst education theorists, and psychologists. Perhaps because it is a complex term and to reduce its components to only its behaviours would be a disservice. However, Play is often described by the following common four descriptors: It is intrinsic within each of us; self-motivated and self-directed with the option to leave at any time It is freely chosen; there is no predet ..read more

Discover the Magic of Miniland Dolls in Australia! Growing Kind If you’re looking for a special gift for your little one, or just a special toy for your own collection, look no further than Miniland dolls. These dolls are highly sought after in Australia and around the world, and for good reason. They are made with quality materials, are incredibly realistic, and are sure to bring a smile to the face of any child who receives one. What is so good about Miniland dolls? Miniland dolls are special because they are designed to look like real babies. The faces are crafted with incredible detail ..read more

Building a Wooden Toy collection on a budget Growing Kind How to build a wooden toy collection without spending your life savings? Firstly, let’s touch on the benefits of wooden toys. Wooden toys are more environmentally friendly then their plastic counterparts. Plastic never breaks down. Wooden toys are healthier. Plastic toys can leach chemicals and toxins which are detrimental to health. Germs can also harbour on plastic. Wooden toys provide a connection to the natural earth which can help children make better sense of the world. Wooden toys often have various textures and grains which off ..read more

Mark Making in Early Childhood Growing Kind What is Mark Making? Have you ever watched a child hold a pencil for the first time and scribble across the paper? The chances are that the mark they left on the paper didn’t resemble anything other then some swirls or a scribble, but mark making is so much more than scribble. Mark making is the very first step towards learning to write, but it is also a powerful way that children naturally and curiously make sense of the world around them. The process or action of making physical marks is called ‘mark making’. It doesn’t just occur with pencils, it ..read more

Learning Dispositions in Early Childhood Growing Kind How are dispositions formed? Education should be less about transmitting knowledge, skills, and understanding, and more about developing the capacity and confidence to continue learning for life. At the heart of ‘lifelong learning’ are positive learning dispositions like resilience, playfulness, confidence, and curiosity. But how are these dispositions formed? It’s the argument of nature vs nurture? Are children’s attitudes formed or are they born with them? A child’s learning begins prenatally, and he or she is not only ready to learn bu ..read more

Way to Play Roads vs Cork Roads Growing Kind Way to Play Roads vs Cork Roads Video Transcript: Hi everyone. My name is Amie and I’m the owner of Growing Kind. Today I am addressing a really common question, which is how do the Waytoplay roads compare to the Freckled Frog Cork roads? As you can see, they are both quite similar in their usability. They are both designed for the same reason, and that’s to allow children to make their own car track or train track for small world floor play. Now, I’m going to be going into the two brands. First of all, we’ve got Waytoplay, which is a very well kn ..read more

How to Clean Wood and Felt Toys Growing Kind Why is it important to clean toys? Babies putting things in their mouths, otherwise known as mouthing, is not only normal, but also signals a growing interest in the world around them. In the first year, children explore their surroundings through their senses — seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, and tasting. The more they explore, the more they learn. Children are 2-3 times more likely than adults to catch the flu or common cold, and the most common place these germs and bacteria like to hide are children’s toys (CDC, 2020).  The good news ..read more