Children’s Week: Your Guide to Play-based Activities
Children’s Week is a national celebration of children’s rights, talents and citizenship. The Children’s Week National Theme for 2023 is based on UNCRC Article 31: Children have the right to relax, play and to join in a wide range of leisure activities.
In this blog, we will explore the essence of Children’s Week and offer some ideas for activities that will create more opportunities to play.
Treasure Hunt
A classic treasure hunt is a favourite among children of all ages. Create a simple map or clues leading to hidden treasures your early learning centre. Some of these treasures could include loose parts that can be shared or craft items for your next activity. Make it exciting by incorporating a theme like pirates, fairies, or superheroes. This not only encourages physical activity, something so many children enjoy, but also encourages creativity and fosters teamwork.
Create an Art Exhibition
Children love to unleash their creativity and often use art as an outlet for relaxation. Allow the children to create their own masterpieces by providing them with a variety of resources. Whether it’s painting, drawing, making collages, or constructing sculptures from recycled materials.
Showcase the children’s artwork around your centre. You could even invite parents, grandparents, and special friends in to see the exhibition. This helps to foster a sense of belonging and an enthusiasm for extending on their creative interests.
Do you need to stock up on art supplies? Check out our range of paints, crayons, paper and craft kits.
Role-playing and Dramatic Play
Role-playing is an activity so many children enjoy and an ideal way to develop social and emotional skills while fostering curiosity. Support children’s interests by dedicating a space with dress-ups and props such as doctor’s kits and let the children’s imaginations run wild.
Giving children time, space and resources for imaginative play, increases their self-esteem, encourages expression of feelings, builds communication skills, and develops their imagination.
Our Classic Dress Up – Set of 15 – is a great way to start building a collection for your dedicated pretend-play corner.
Nature Scavenger Hunt
Spark a sense of adventure by organising a nature scavenger hunt. Provide the children with a list of natural items to find such as pinecones, leaves of different shapes, a smooth rock, or a feather. Explore a local park or even your outdoor area. This activity promotes curiosity, observation skills, and a connection to the natural world.
Children’s Week celebrates the right of children to enjoy their childhood. We all know that engaging children in play-based activities they enjoy not only supports their physical and cognitive development but also fosters their emotional well-being. So, let Children’s Week be an extra special opportunity to allow the young minds in your early learning centre to play and truly enjoy what it means to be a child.
Tags: Children's Week, learning activities, play-based learning
