Make room for play
Small things to make and try together, mostly from whatever is already in the house. Each one comes with an age beside it and an honest idea of how long it lasts. None of it has to turn out tidy.
Build a cardboard neighbourhood
Their job: Choose the buildings, draw their doors and decide where the roads should go. 4–8 years
35–45 minutes
Host an indoor story picnic
Their job: Choose the book, draw the clues and invite the story’s imaginary guests. 3–7 years
25–40 minutes
Build a low car ramp and test it
Their job: Release the car without pushing and mark where it stops. 4–8 years
25–35 minutes
Weave a paper place mat
Their job: Choose a colour order and guide each strip over and under the paper bands. 5–9 years
30–40 minutes
Take a colour-noticing walk
Their job: Choose the colours and point out things that match them. 3–8 years
20–30 minutes
Give an odd sock a part
Their job: Choose the puppet’s expression, voice and tiny adventure. 4–8 years
30–40 minutes
Draw a sound map from your doorstep
Their job: Listen for different sounds and invent a symbol for each one. 5–10 years
20–30 minutes
Open a family post office
Their job: Decorate the mailbox, make picture stamps and sort the letters. 4–9 years
30 minutes, then open for deliveries
Make a weather movement game
Their job: Draw the weather symbols and choose a gentle movement for each one. 3–7 years
20–25 minutes
Draw a tabletop shadow garden
Their job: Choose safe objects, trace their shadows and turn the outlines into plants. 5–10 years
25–35 minutes
The Mama Who Knew
One email a week, early on Sunday. The week’s news, one recipe, one story, and a line or two from us. Everything here is free to read, whether or not you join.