Life Cycle of a frog tuff tray
Perfect for pre-schoolers and primary aged children alike - this tuff tray activity demonstrates how to make frog spawn, tadpoles and a realistic looking frog pond for sensory play. Incorporates number play in a fun way.
Honey Bees Tuff tray
Are you looking for fun ideas to celebrate national bee day, or to learn about the life cycle of a bee using all of the senses? This Honey Bee tuff tray blog post includes ideas to show how a bee grows and the different foods they produce. Includes information on books to help aid learning.
Sensory Coffee bean play tuff tray
This post explains both the physical gross motor skills and sensory benefits in using the resources and materials in this coffee bean tuff tray set up to stimulate learning. Included extension activities to continue the play over a number of days.
Ice cream role play tuff tray
The perfect summer sensory play - this post explains how to use different mediums to set up an ice cream role play tuff tray and area for your little ones to explore and play. Includes a recipe for ice cream playdough and ideas for alternative pretend ice cream too.
Dinosaur island tuff tray
Great for for your little dinosaur lovers! This post not only includes ideas and inspiration for a dinosaur island tuff tray set up, it also has information on how to create a 'dinosaurs past and present' activity - including fossil hunting and how to make your own dinosaur dig with a video demo too.
Afternoon tea Cafe tuff tray
One of our favourite role play set ups - an afternoon tea tuff tray! This was modelled on the famous Betty's Tea Rooms and includes information on how to make pretend role play versions of their food such as fondant fancies, fat rascals, sandwiches etc. Incorporates lots of language and also mathematical play. Video walk through included.
Mud Kitchen sensory play
A brilliant blog post looking at the benefits of using a mud kitchen in your outdoor area, the resources you could include and how you can use a mud kitchen to extend learning through play! Includes images, information and activity ideas.
Emotions provision area
Providing children with tangible resources to help regulate and understand abstract emotions and feelings can be incredibly helpful. Have a look at how this set up was used successfully in a Reception classroom and at hoe to direct children to a space for managing emotion and sorting out problems. Includes free printables.
The Rainbow Fish sensory tuff tray ideas
Ideas and planning linked to the popular children's story book The Rainbow Fish. Includes links to resources, images, inspiration and a full planning sheet for a fish investigation activity.
Sensory potions tuff tray play
Making STEM and science fun! Encourage your little wizards to expore and investigate using fun potion and pipette resources
Fairy mark making tuff tray
A fun mini set up for encouraging pre and emergent writers to mark make in a fun way linked to an interest around fairies! Includes images, info and resource suggestions.
19 tuff trays for open ended play
A blog post with a range of fun and open ended tuff tray set ups to stimulate learning, curiosity and wonder - includes images and information for lots of tray play ideas
Open Plan sensory playroom set up
Are you looking for ideas of how to set up your area or playroom to allow for open ended, sensory play? Have a read of this post which explains the benefits aswell as providing lots of images and a video walk through.
Mini Tray play shelves ideas
Perfect for those old fashioned school trays! These Gratnell Tray play set ups fit perfectly onto Ikea Kallax shelves, have inserts available for tinker trays and plenty of ideas for small scale tray play. Have a read of this post for some leaning through play ideas...
The snowman tuff tray ideas
Are you looking for fun Christmas tuff tray ideas? This tuff tray activity focuses on Raymond Briggs "The Snowman" story and includes instructions and resource ideas to recreate this yourself. Also links to our youtube video showing you how to create a snowman sensory stressball.
Sensory homemade playdough
Are you looking for how to make some fab sensory homemade playdough? This Valentine's Day tuff tray activity includes a video demo and recipe
Valentines day tray play
A mini version of our valentine's day tuff tray, this activity uses our favourite wooden tray table alongside valentine's themed resourced for open ended play.
Indoor tray play ideas
Stuck inside due to illness or bad weather? This blog post includes over 60 play ideas for you to try out when you're stuck at home.
Role play food ideas
Want to make some realistic looking pretend food for your role play area or home corner? This blog post and youtube video shows you how
Technology tray play ideas
Wondering how to incorporate technology into your eyfs setting? You may be surprised to discover just what 'technology' actually includes! Have a read of this post for more info, and ideas.
Fairy butterfly wings tutorial
A beautiful, sensory leaning opportunity for teaching symmetry with the end result being a perfect role play accessory! This post includes a how to video for making fairy butterfly wings using dried and pressed flowers.
Felt number hearts tray play idea
This post includes a tutorial on how ti make needle felted number hearts which can be incorporated into your tray play activities.
Ikea Flisat desk idea
Are you wondering how best to set up and use your ikea flisat sensory desk? This post explains how to make the most of your tray play table without the need to drill or stick anything to your wall!
Sensory play for developing language
Looking for ideas and advice for how to help babies and young children develop their speech and language? This post uses sensory play to introduce and explore new language
Pumpkin decomposition tray play
Teach your little ones all about the life cycle of a pumpkin by watching the decomposition process after Halloween!
Sensory pouches tutorial
Baby safe sensory play using home made sensory pat mat pouches! Follow the link to the post above to learn how to make these quickly and easily yourself.
Sensory bottles tutorial
Sensory bottles are a great way to introduce sensory play to babies and toddlers safely. Learn how to make your own using different resources by clicking the link to the sensory bottles tutorial above.
Sensory play mat tutorial
Finding a fun and engaging playmat to help babies with tummy time can be challenging as the cost for small businesses to get every element CE/UKCA tested would be excessive. This blog post shows you how to make your own and which resources to use.
Toddler activities roundup 1
A roundup of sensory activities aimed specifically at toddlers, with images and tried and tested info.
Toddler activities roundup 2
More tried and tested sensory activities aimed at toddlers and young children to help with learning through play.
Anticipation box activity
Perfect for the end of the day! The children place their items in the box secretly in the morning and we all 'anticipate' what could be in there before the big reveal at the end. This post explains how to use sensory information and questioning to aid learning opportunities relating to literacy and maths.
outdoor play ideas
Want to know what outdoor play is so important? Looking for ways to make this more exciting? Have a read of this post.
Rainbow Spaghetti
Rainbow spaghetti never fails to make for exciting sensory play for all ages. Learn the easiest, fail safe way of making vibrant rainbow spaghetti in this post.
