We adore well-made toys – especially loose parts that encourage open-ended play. My daughters Rose and Jane are three and almost five, so we’re drawn to items that stand the test of time, inspiring their imaginations and evolving with them as they develop and grow and change. I also prefer to choose pieces that are aesthetically beautiful; messes are so much more pleasant when they’re nice to look at. When our friends at Cloth started carrying Grapat’s Mandala sets, I knew we needed to start collecting them......
Welcome to the New Year. Like any mother, I love to treat to my kids. I love to see their eyes light up in front of something special or inviting. I love that look in their eyes when I can say yes and the delight that follows an invitation to go out for an ice cream, or a special cup of hot cocoa—just me and them.
Children use play experiences to develop physical, cognitive, emotional and social skills, and they test these skills, day in and day out. When it comes to play, kids know what to do – it’s like how we are born with certain instincts – playing is engrained in us from the start. And open-ended play – or, free play – is a child’s natural language.
I have been a hungry reader my entire life, and there have been times I have considered myself a writer, so it has been wonderously lovely to discover the world of children’s books......
