Learning at Home

During this period of time where the schools are closed, I am keen to keep up with some learning with my little man and try and make some plans so our days run smoothly.

Everyone will have a different approach and you will have to find the right solution for you. I know my little man likes routine so he will like to know what we are doing each day, he also needs regular activity time and down time, so for us I will need to factor this in. 

Wooden Bread and Toppings Set

The thing about becoming an adult is we lose our ability to play. OK this may not be the case for everyone but it was for me, it took a child with new eyes, learning everything for the first time and learning most of that through play, to make me rediscover the wonder of it. So it would be a fair assessment to say I'm a bit obsessed with toys. Toys for fun, toys for education, toys to spark creativity and the one that's really resinating with Mr "just turned 2" at the moment, toys for role play.

Wooden Toys Subscriptions

I recently hosted a Facebook Event to answer all of the questions people have about Wooden Toy Subscriptions. There are a number of different options available, which can seem confusing if you havent had a subscription before. 

I have collated all of the questions and responses in one place, so if you are considering a subscription with The Wooden Play Den, hopefully this may give you a bit more infomation. 

Alphabet Games

Are you like me and wondering how on to teach the alphabet to a pre-schooler?

My eldest (now 17) had a love for letters and numbers before she could talk. By 2 and a half she knew all her letters and began adding them together to make sounds. She also knew her numbers to 20. Her obsession with letters meant that before she started school she could read and write basic words and was already learning to add and subtract numbers.

However, Ronnie is the proof that it doesn’t work that way for everyone — at three and a half, he doesn’t recognise any letters or numbers and so I’ve become very aware I need to change our approach to help him grasp the concept. I also need to find ways to do this without Ronnie becoming bored! 

Wooden toys supporting children with additional needs

So a brief bit about me to start. I am Naomi (@naomimorris16), mum to two girls aged 7 and 3. My eldest daughter has Autism, and I have worked in the field of special needs for the last 11 years. I am hoping in the blog that follows, you will gain some insight into how wooden toys can be beneficial to all children, but in particular to those with additional needs. Not a day goes by at both home and school where we don’t use at least one wooden toy!

Let’s Get Outside!

At this time of year it’s fun to think cosy thoughts of hot chocolate and comfort food, snuggling up under chunky blankets for family nights in together. But it’s actually the most spectacullar time of the year to get out into nature. There’s so much to spark a child’s interest and imagination, from the spectacular changing colours on our trees, to the bounty of the autumn harvest with its vibrant red berries, shiny brown conkers and exciting fungi. One of my favourite questions to put to my kids at this time of year is “What colour are trees?”, seeing the truth dawn on their little faces as they tell me “green” but actually notice the many colours all around them!