Does play always have to be fun?
4 May 2022
This question was asked to me and it gave me food for thought, is play always fun? When we think of play or even remember play experiences as a child,
Menu
Welcome to the Smartkidz Play and Learn Blog, your hub for exploring the unique aspects of our clubs and ethos. Here, you’ll find insights into our child-led approach, from the principles of playwork and play types to stories about our forest school activities and events.
Our blog is designed to give you a closer look at what makes Smartkidz special, offering a deeper understanding of how we support children in their development. Dive in to learn more about our approach and discover the vibrant world of Smartkidz Play and Learn. Happy reading!
This question was asked to me and it gave me food for thought, is play always fun? When we think of play or even remember play experiences as a child,
Communication Play is one of the 16 play types considered essential for child development. It was first defined by well-known playworker Bob Hughes. Here we take a closer look at
At Smartkidz, we use parts of the Forest School approach to inform our practice, especially when it comes to our outside spaces. While not woodland or entirely natural, we strive
The Play Cycle is a theoretical model of play. Made up of different stages, it is a valuable tool to help Playworkers and parents alike understand children’s play. The model
Deep Play is one of the 16 play types considered to be essential for child development. It was first defined by well-known playworker Bob Hughes. Here we take a closer
Tent pegs, a skipping rope, a pair of wooden spoons, a porridge bowl, some red and blue balloons, a pack of chewing gum, 3 spotty hankies and a tom tom
Reward systems are commonly seen as a useful tool to positively reinforce good behaviour. They are a familiar part of school life for our children; however, there’s also been a
During lockdown, our lives and the lives of our children, including their play, looked very different. Some reports refer to our children as the “Covid Generation” but what exactly has
Children playing with toy guns or creating guns as part of their play can be seen as a complex issue. In the light of regular violent crimes reported on the
Have you ever wondered why children can spend hours sitting in an old box when there is a pile of new toys waiting in the corner? Or, why you have
Play Parks have been a feature of towns, cities and villages for decades. Without looking at one, I bet that you could close your eyes and guess at least nine
Working with children is well known as one of the most rewarding, challenging and multi-faceted jobs there is. Whether you work in a nursery, a school, a forest school or
