Spending quality time with your child doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. In fact, some of the best ways to connect with your Young Ones are through simple, creative activities that spark joy, imagination and learning. Here are some fun, early years-friendly ideas that families can enjoy together, fostering stronger bonds, while encouraging growth in essential skills like problem-solving, communication and cooperation.
1. Bake Together: Gruffalo Crumble
What better way to bond than by baking together? Making a delicious treat is a great way to spend time together, practice following instructions, and introduce early math skills like counting and measuring. If you’re familiar with The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, why not make a Gruffalo Crumble? It’s easy to prepare and provides a fun, themed way to introduce your child to the joys of baking. Have your little one help you measure out ingredients, mix, and maybe even make some “Gruffalo footprints” in the flour!
Tip: Let them help wherever possible with tasks like stirring, pouring and sprinkling toppings and encourage them to talk about the colours and textures of the ingredients. If you don’t have the book, you could always tell the story of The Gruffalo while baking or make up your own stories and recipes!
2. Playdough Fun: Creative and Sensory Play
Playdough is a fantastic tool for creative play, fine motor development, and sensory exploration. You can buy it or make your own at home with basic ingredients like flour, salt, oil and water (I also recommend cream of tartar if you have some, although it’s not essential). Either way, it’s a hit! Children can roll, squish, cut and mould playdough into shapes, animals, or anything their imagination dreams up. It’s also a great opportunity to practice colour recognition, counting and even simple math as they divide the dough into pieces or build different shapes.
Tip: Use cookie cutters or your own homemade stamps to create themed shapes, like animals or letters. You can also introduce more sensory elements by adding dried petals, child safe essential oils or food essence, herbs or spices to your playdough.
3. Woodland Walks: A Story Adventure
Going on a walk in nature is not only great for physical health, but it’s also the perfect opportunity to use your imagination. If you’re near a wooded area or park, take a walk inspired by a story like We’re Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen. Have your child pretend to be a bear, explore different “landscapes” like rivers, tall grass, or mud and use their senses to “find” the bear. You could even create a fun scavenger hunt where you both look for animal tracks, leaves or flowers along the way.
Tip: Collect leaves, sticks, and stones during your walk to create a woodland collage or nature-inspired art project at home!
4. Imaginative Play: Hairdressers and Other Adventures
Children love to engage in imaginative play, and it’s one of the best ways for them to learn social skills, practice empathy, and develop their creativity. Set up a “Hairdresser’s Salon” at home where they can give you or their toys a pretend hairstyle. You can also try out other role-playing games, like playing “doctor,” “chef,” or even “shopkeeper” with simple props you already have at home.
Tip: Set up a little “waiting area” with toy magazines or a pretend cash register, and encourage your child to “act out” customer service scenarios. This helps with communication skills and empathy as they learn to take care of others.
5. Ready, Steady, Cook! (Early Years Style)
I am showing my age now but do you remember the TV show Ready Steady Cook? Well, you can bring this concept to life in your kitchen! Get your child involved in helping you cook simple meals. Let them choose some ingredients and create their own “cooking challenge,” mixing flavours, and experimenting with different food textures and colours. You could even make it a themed activity—perhaps a “rainbow salad” or a “fruit salad challenge”. OR use is as a base for imaginative play magic and create your own meals at the play kitchen or mud kitchen.
Tip: Encourage your child to taste-test different ingredients and describe their flavours. If you are engaging in imaginative play but don’t have a pretend play kitchen, use household objects like pots and pans and you can incorporate natural objects like sticks and pinecones.
6. Create Your Own Show: Sing, Dance and Perform
Does your child love to sing and dance? Creating a family performance is a fantastic way to let out energy and share some fun. Put on a talent show where everyone can perform, sing a favourite song or even do a dance routine. Use props (like scarves, hats, or toy instruments) to make the performance more exciting, or put on a play together using costumes and simple backdrops like a sheet.
Tip: Record the performance so you can watch it together later or send a video to grandparents and friends to share the fun!
7. Recreate Stories: Bring Books to Life
Story time is a cherished part of childhood, and you can take it a step further by acting out the stories you read. Whether it’s The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, or any familiar or favourite tale- use props like hats, stuffed animals and costumes to bring characters to life. You can even make your own props – craft a wolf mask or some simple animal ears to wear while you play.
Tip: After reading, ask your child to tell the story in their own words and encourage them to add their own twists to the plot. This sparks creativity and storytelling skills!
These simple, early years-friendly activities are a great way for families to spend quality time together, support learning through play, and create memories that last a lifetime. Whether you’re baking together, exploring nature, or putting on a performance, the possibilities for bonding through play are endless. The most important thing is that your child feels loved, engaged and supported in their growth and development.
For more fun and simple ideas, keep checking out our other blog posts in the Families section. Guiding The Young Ones is here to help you make the most of every moment with your little ones!
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