Playing Together videos

For ages 0 – 4 Years

Welcome to our new Playing Together video series of fun, play-based learning ideas to do with your child.

A few minutes playing together each day builds your child’s brain!

Peek-a-boo

What you need

  • Tea towel or small blanket.

What to do

  1. Use the tea towel to cover your own head and play peek-a-boo.
  2. Take turns with your child being the person to hide.
  3. Add to this game by hiding behind furniture or playing hide and seek.

Balance and Throw

Instructions

What you need

  • Socks
  • Basket or bucket

What to do

  1. Gather some pairs of socks
  2. Have fun pair and sorting the socks
  3. Roll the pairs into balls
  4. Practice balancing them on your head, foot and elbow
  5. Use a basket and have fun aiming and throwing (for babies this can be as simple as dropping the socks in)

Over the Ocean, Under the Sea

Instructions

What you need

  • A blanket or sheet
  • A piece of furniture, like a couch

What to do

  1. Spread the sheet or blanket out on the ground
  2. Use furniture or similar to hold one side down
  3. Create waves by moving the blanket up and down

Have fun with your child encouraging them to walk over the waves or crawl under

Sock Puppet Play and Talk

Instructions

What you need

  • Socks
  • A basket

What to do

  1. Gather some pairs of socks
  2. Have fun pairing and sorting the socks
  3. Choose your favourite sock and turn it into a sock puppet
  4. Have fun getting your puppets to talk back and forth to each other

Always supervise younger children.

Build a Cubby

Instructions

What you need

  • Blankets
  • Chairs
  • Cushions
  • An indoor or outdoor space.

What to do

  1. Help your child to set up the cubby
  2. Drape blankets over the chairs or furniture to make a roof and walls
  3. Add cushions to the cubby for a comfortable space
  4. Play in the cubby
  5. Think about activities to do in the cubby or toys your child may like to play with such as books, puzzles or soft toys.

Always supervise younger children.

Crazy Maze

Instructions

What you need

  • A ball of wool, twine or rope
  • A backyard
  • Stable anchor points in the backyard (furniture, fence post, tree trunks, swing, washing line).

What to do

  1. Help your child to zigzag the wool to create a maze. Wrap the wool about the anchor points to hold it in place.
  2. Your child can then have fun ducking and weaving their way about the yard to get from one side to the other.
  3. Extend the fun: add other items to the maze like pegs or guide your child through the maze giving directions (lets go under, let’s go backwards).

Always supervise younger children.

Water Play

Instructions

What you need

  • A sink or large tub
  • Water (cold or warm)
  • Items from the kitchen or home (spoons, cups, funnels, containers).

What to do

  1. Set up your sink or tub with items for play
  2. Fill your sink or tub with water
  3. Let your child explore the water and items
  4. Join in the fun and talk about what they are doing
  5. Extend the fun: add some food colouring or change the items in the sink.

Always supervise younger children.

Tissue Box Play

Instructions

You will need

  • Basket or tray
  • Objects and toys
  • Tissue box

What to do

  1. Gather your box and objects
  2. Explore the objects and box
  3. Join in the fun and talk about what your child is doing
  4. Keep having fun: posting, feeling, sorting, guessing, describing, shaking, tipping.

Always supervise younger children.

More activities to try

0 – 5 years

Talk, Read and Play, Everyday

0 – 5 Years

Launching into Learning Online

0 – 8 years

Keep it Moving

0 – 5 years

Fun with Sounds

0 – 8 years

eBooks for Kids