Finding a balance between keeping or tossing children's artwork can be a dilemma, there's a lot to choose from but normally only the special ones are the keepers.  Way back when my children were pre-schoolers I was looking for a solution to storing the keepers, I wanted a more appealing and easy option than was available at the time so I embarked on creating my own range of children's art portfolios.  I have stored many a self-portrait, mothers day card and painting over the years but before it was stored into an art portfolio, I also liked to put t ..read more

So what is learning through play? Play based learning is a type of early childhood education based on child led and open ended play. Learning through play is a term often used in education and psychology settings to describe how a child can learn. The central idea is that children's natural curiosity will take them through the learning journey as they develop.   How do children learn through play? With play based learning, children have the freedom to choose their own activities. The space is broken up into sections that often included a block area, role play area, a ..read more

Here is a cute little Nightlight that is both quick and easy to make! What you will need; Cardboard cut into a circle approx 10cm diameter, 5 bamboo cooking skewers, 3 small wooden craft sticks or toothpicks, felt / material cut into a cone shape, twine, decorations such as ribbon and cut out shapes, paper clip, craft glue, scissors & mini tealight (battery operated).   Make 5 small holes around the edge of the cardboard circle using a metal paper clip and insert the skewers through the holes, secure the top of the skewers together using some twine. Decorate your felt using ..read more

Easter Bunny Bunting, a very cute addition to your Easter decorations... What you will need; Felt material in six different colours, wadding for stuffing and poms poms, sewing cotton, needles, scissors, approx 2 metres of string/wool for hanging. Start by using this template to cut out your bunny shapes, pin the template to double layered material to cut two of each coloured bunny shape. Sew back and front of material shapes together using a large plain stitch, leave an opening at the bottom to stuff with wadding, then finish to sew opening closed once filled. Roll a ball ..read more

Funny Face Bookmarks make for a quick crafternoon project! What you will need; A4 size paper, pencil, ruler, glue or double sided sticky tape, additional coloured paper or stickers for decorating. On your A4 sheet of paper, lightly pencil in 3 squares approx 10cm x 10cm each. Draw a diagonal line across the top left square and also the bottom right square.  Template is here if needed. Cut out your bookmark as below. Once you have your cut out shape, fold down the two top corners then glue or tape together to form the top of bookmark. Make sure to not spill glue onto the bo ..read more

The benefits of play dough are endless ... squishing, rolling and flattening all help to strengthen little hands, hand eye co ordination is practised and creativity as well as open ended play is abundant. This is a recipe for no cook play dough with citrus fragrance and natural colouring that smells and looks good enough to eat ! What you will need; For each portion: 1/2 cup plain flour, 1/4 cup table salt, 1/4 cup cold water, 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil, 1 tbsp of freshly squeezed citrus juice (lemon - lime - orange), 1 tbsp of finely grated citrus peel (lem ..read more

Poster Hangers are a super easy way to hang posters and come in all shapes and sizes, here's one for the kids room with a maths inspired theme ! What you will need; 4 wooden rulers, flexible adhesive magnet cut into strips of approx 5 cm long, a piece of string or twine approx 50 cm long, strong sticky tape or craft glue and an a3 poster of your choice.     Cut 8 pieces of flexible adhesive magnet into strips of approx 5cm and stick on the back of each end of the rulers.  Attach the string onto the back of your top ruler using a strong tape or glue.     ..read more