As a child, I loved playing with the little circular plastic ball mazes that I found in Christmas crackers and party gift bags.

I now know that playing with ball mazes develops hand-eye co-ordination and that making them is a great STEM activity promoting the development of a number of skills including designing, constructing, problem-solving, ...

We needed a gluten-free play dough recipe for sensory open-ended, process-based play experiences and tried this one. Given to us by a colleague, the recipe was easy to follow and quick to make, although it did require cooking.

To add an extra sensory element to the play experience, we added a teaspoon of cinnamon to the mixture as we cooked ...

No paintbrush? You can still paint. Have fun exploring ways to paint without one.

Today we had lots of fun using sprigs of Rosemary from our over-grown plant, pine cones, stones, string and our fingers to paint on a big piece of recycled cardboard. This creative, sensory activity stimulated lots of discussion, experimenting and problem-solving:

• "What's ...

Finger painting is a great, creative sensory play activity. Have fun mark making with your fingers, hands and some paint and use your senses to explore colour and texture.

What you need:

• Non-toxic, washable paint
• Paint pot, or a washed recycled plastic container (for mixing paint in)
• Paint brush
• Pieces ...

Ever wondered what to do with odd or worn out socks? Recycle them into sock puppets. Making sock puppets is an easy, inexpensive craft that keeps your kids busy, encourages imaginative play and promotes the development of fine motor, creative and language skills.

What you need:

• An old, clean sock

• Materials ...

Getting your kids to design, make and test their own boats keeps them busy and promotes the development of fine motor, creative and language skills, scientific understanding and problem solving.

What you need:

(This is just a suggested list of resources, you do not need everything on it. Add your own ...

Getting your kids to design, and make, their own musical instruments keeps them busy and promotes the development of fine motor, creative and language skills and scientific understanding.

What you need:

• Recycled cardboard boxes of different sizes

• Kitchen towel rolls

• Elastic ...

Play dough is an easy to make, inexpensive, modelling material. Using just a few ingredients, your kids can get creative making their own modelling dough and sculpting it into their own role-play toys, letters and models.

• Store your home-made play dough in an airtight container in the fridge and re-use it.

Print the Play ...

Getting your kids to design, and make, their own versions of a magnetic fishing game keeps them busy and promotes the development of fine motor, creative and language skills and scientific understanding.

What you need:

• Recycled cardboard or card-stock (for game pieces)
• Box lid or a box with the top cut ...

Making stick puppets is an easy, inexpensive craft that keeps your kids busy, encourages imaginative play and promotes the development of fine motor, creative and language skills.

What you need:

• Recycled cardboard (from food packaging or boxes) or card-stock
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Materials ...

Make a delicious picnic for your Teddy Bears with air dry salt dough.

Air dry salt dough is an easy to make, inexpensive, modeling material. Using just flour, salt and water, your kids can get creative making their own modeling dough and sculpting it into their own role-play toys, models and decorations.

• Salt ...