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  1. Playful parenting
  2. Indoor play

Indoor play

Our homes are great places for children to play. Making time and space for your child to play in their home every day is important. Your child will make creative use of the available space – even the corner of a room – if they have a few items to play with and the freedom to play. 

This section includes fun, easy play ideas for your child to enjoy in and around the home – from making indoor dens, to playing in the dark, to old school games such as hide & seek. 

A lot of the play ideas can be played outside in the garden or can be adapted for inside your home. We aren’t suggesting that you have to work your way through all of these games and activities! They’re just here to inspire you when your child may need help to decide what to play.

Screen time

Smart phones and tablets are great for keeping in touch with family and friends at times like these. This is especially important for children and teenagers to stay connected to their friends. But, if you’re worried your child is spending too much time in front of a screen, we have lots of tips for supporting a balanced approach for screen time for babies, children and teenagers.

Playing at home guide

Playing at home guide

New handy guide for parents Read more

Published: 18th June, 2020

Updated: 8th August, 2021

Author: Lowri Roberts

Top tips for dens at home

Top tips for dens at home

Read more

Published: 18th March, 2020

Updated: 4th November, 2020

Author: Lowri Roberts

Top tips for playing in the dark

Top tips for playing in the dark

Read more

Published: 19th March, 2020

Updated: 4th November, 2020

Author: Lowri Roberts

Top tips for rainy day play

Top tips for rainy day play

Read more

Published: 18th March, 2020

Updated: 4th November, 2020

Author: Lowri Roberts

50 indoor play ideas

50 indoor play ideas

How many can your family complete? Read more

Published: 14th May, 2020

Updated: 5th July, 2020

Author: Lowri Roberts

Play ideas for parents

Play ideas for parents

Read more

Published: 6th April, 2020

Updated: 5th July, 2020

Author: Lowri Roberts

35 indoor play ideas

35 indoor play ideas

Easy games for playing at home Read more

Published: 1st April, 2020

Updated: 10th June, 2020

Author: Lowri Roberts

Ideas for play around your home

Ideas for play around your home

Read more

Published: 18th March, 2020

Updated: 4th June, 2020

Author: Lowri Roberts

Play in crisis

Play in crisis

Support for parents and carers Read more

Published: 11th April, 2020

Updated: 29th April, 2020

Author: Angharad Wyn Jones

Colouring in

Colouring in

Colour in some of our cartoons Read more

Published: 27th April, 2020

Author: Lowri Roberts

Active play in and around the home

Active play in and around the home

Read more

Published: 6th April, 2020

Updated: 7th April, 2020

Author: Lowri Roberts

How to deal with messy play

How to deal with messy play

Why does my child like to make a mess? Benefits of messy play and how to deal with your concerns as a parent Read more

Published: 23rd July, 2018

Updated: 3rd April, 2020

Author: Lowri Roberts

Top tips for parenting playfully

Top tips for parenting playfully

Read more

Published: 25th July, 2018

Updated: 1st April, 2020

Author: Lowri Roberts

Play indoors

Play indoors

Children need to play at home – information about dealing with mess and noise Read more

Published: 9th November, 2017

Updated: 1st April, 2020

Author:

Top tips for playing with earth, water, fire and air

Top tips for playing with earth, water, fire and air

Read more

Published: 24th July, 2018

Updated: 1st April, 2020

Author: Lowri Roberts

Stuff for playing with

Stuff for playing with

Ideas about everyday items, loose parts, to support children to play Read more

Published: 1st August, 2018

Updated: 1st April, 2020

Author: Lowri Roberts

Everyday play adventures

Everyday play adventures

Free and cheap ideas for making play a part of everyday life at home and in your community Read more

Published: 25th July, 2018

Updated: 1st April, 2020

Author: Lowri Roberts

Getting involved in your child’s play

Getting involved in your child’s play

Read more

Published: 19th March, 2020

Updated: 1st April, 2020

Author: Lowri Roberts

Ideas for play – things to do

Ideas for play – things to do

Ideas for everyday items that can be used for play and activities to play Read more

Published: 13th February, 2018

Updated: 1st April, 2020

Author: Lowri Roberts

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    Ideas for everyday items that can be used for play and activities to play

  • “When I was your age”

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    New Playful Childhoods project

  • Top tips for dens at home

    Top tips for dens at home

  • How children play at different ages

    How children play at different ages

    Information and ideas about how children play from birth to teenage years

  • 35 indoor play ideas

    35 indoor play ideas

    Easy games for playing at home

  • How to support your child’s need for risky play

    How to support your child’s need for risky play

    Why does my child like to take risks? Benefits of risky play and how to deal with your concerns as a parent

  • How to deal with construction and destruction play

    How to deal with construction and destruction play

    Why does my child like to build and destroy things? Benefits of building and destruction play and tips on how to deal with your concerns as a parent

  • About Playful Childhoods

    About Playful Childhoods

    Playful Childhoods helps parents, carers and grandparents to give children time, space, support to play at home and in their community

  • Top tips for screen time

    Top tips for screen time

  • Easy games to play with a group of children

    Easy games to play with a group of children

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Play Wales is a registered charity, no. 1068926 and a company limited by guarantee, no. 3507258. Registered in Wales.