It’s all Child’s Play Pots of Play
Feature by Sue Gascoyne of Play-Z Ltd
Whatever the time of year or weather, in the hands of a young child a small basket or collection of containers can bring a myriad of possibilities to life. From adventurer to fairy, treasure hunter to scientist, chef to mummy there is something intrinsically exciting about collections of containers which magically metamorphose play before our eyes.
Depending upon the container, child and mood, the same basket can become a prop for a laundrette, shop or restaurant, or simply a tool for transporting and collecting important stuff like leaves and stones. Cast your mind back to when you were a child and I suspect that carefully crafted mud pies, petal perfume or sludge featured in your memories. Now picture the scene and try to remember what inspired this? Boughs weighed down with blossom, a heady scent in the air, or some bottles or pots found lying nearby?
If you’re unsure of how to get started, here are a few ideas to try.
* Left outdoors in the rain and cold, the humble container can become an object of fascination, intrigue and scientific discovery. Picture mounded topped pots filled with snow, the fat plopping sound of rain rippling in collected water or the delicate crust of ice or frost simply ripe for exploration and discovery. * Few young children can resist the urge to transport objects from place to place so a range of containers of different sizes,
66
construction and material will give them ample opportunities to do so. * Provide baskets, bags and purses for pretend shopping, don’t forget pencils and paper for list making, or spoons, pans and sieves for cooking up a feast. Recycled margarine pots and spoons work brilliantly with dumper trucks and vehicles outdoors or try treasure-like containers and gems for an exciting treasure hunt. * Arrange conkers, seedpods or flower petals in mini baskets or pots to inspire imaginative play and tempt the senses. Expect to see a wealth of perfume making, mud pies, witches brews or stinky stew in the making. These are great for encouraging children to work together and develop language and physical skills, but most of all fun and what children across the world love to do. You may even see some beautiful fairy havens or teddy bears picnic. * Budding entrepreneurs may be inspired to create a ‘shop’ for selling their creations. * In this high tech world we sometimes forget that less is more. Before the advent of fitted kitchens babies and young children would happily occupy themselves playing with a selection of pots and pans whilst dinner was cooking.
Still not convinced? Find some containers and simply watch a world of discovery and play unfold.
www.playtoz.co.uk To advertise in thewire t. 07720 429 613 e.
the.wire@btinternet.com
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101