Tag Archives: early years

“Sort it out for yourself” – sound advice, or too much to ask?

Posted on November 13, 2012 | 11 Comments

Bold Park studentsHow do schools and other settings help children to deal with arguments and disputes? And are some well-meaning approaches doing more harm than good?  A young Australian who I met on my recent visit there had some interesting answers to these questions.

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Posted in Child development, Education, Risk

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The low-cost, anytime bug hunt kit

Posted on November 7, 2012 | 1 Comment

specimen jar and magnifying glassWant to offer your kids – or the kids you work with – a simple, cheap way to get closer to nature? Just follow these three simple steps. 1: get yourself down to your nearest health clinic to buy/scrounge some specimen jars like the ones in this photo. 2: buy some magnifying glasses online (around 50p/a dollar each). 3: head for your nearest green space, and start hunting!

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Posted in Education, Learning, Nature, Outdoor play

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Roll up, roll up! London is Open for Play next week!

Posted on September 12, 2012 | 6 Comments

Glamis adventure playgroundMy plan to showcase some of London’s most playful places has been in the pipeline for a while. And now it’s around the corner. For all the latest info, follow this link to the mighty Playscapes blog – including handy onward links to the Open House website, with more details and maps for all the venues.

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Posted in Outdoor play, Play spaces, playground, Public space, Urbanism

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When anxious parents are the problem, what is the solution?

Posted on July 25, 2012 | 13 Comments

baby-girl-knee-padsHow should schools, nurseries, kindergartens and other education, childcare and play services respond to anxious parents? I was asked this question recently by an Australian early years educator who heard me speak a couple of months ago.

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Posted in Education, Learning, Outdoor play, Parenting, Risk

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Join me on a tour of some of London’s most playful places

Posted on June 22, 2012 | 5 Comments
Glamis Adventure Playground

Glamis Adventure Playground

This post is an invitation to join me – and some kindred spirits – in September, for London’s first ever ‘Open for Play’ event. The programme includes site visits to some of the capital’s most innovative playgrounds, a walking tour of the acclaimed EC1 regeneration area, and an evening seminar.

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Posted in Education, Outdoor play, play, Play spaces, playground, Public space, Urbanism

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How do we help children understand right and wrong from the inside?

Posted on July 28, 2011 | Leave a comment

There is no more difficult job than getting children to understand the moral consequences of their actions.  And there is a growing feeling that this job is getting harder.  Not surprisingly, an army of parenting gurus, products and academics is on hand to offer help to parents and educators. Continue reading →

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Posted in Child development, Education, Learning, Morality, Parenting

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