Read, Play, Create

I planned a shark activity... 🦈
They had other ideas. 😂

Before long, the shark tray had disappeared, ingredients were being mixed, pies were being made, cakes were being baked and completely new stories were unfolding.

And I could have redirected them back to what I'd planned.
But why?
Because look at what was happening instead.

💬 New language was being used.
🤝 Ideas were being shared.
🧠 Problems were being solved.
🎭 Imaginations were running wild.
✋ Little hands were scooping, squeezing, pouring and mixing.

The activity changed. The learning didn't.

That's something I think we sometimes forget when planning for young children.

Our job isn't always to decide exactly how children should use an invitation.

Sometimes it's to create it, step back, observe... and see where their curiosity takes it.

And sometimes that means your carefully planned shark swamp becomes a bakery. 😂❤️

That's child-led learning.

Nurseries, schools, parents — if you'd like to know more about purposeful, story-led provision, comment below or drop me a message. 📚

When we close the book...
The story isn't over.

In fact, that's when the real magic begins.
Children step inside the story.

They become the characters.
They retell events in their own words.
They solve problems.
They ask questions.
They build vocabulary.
They make connections.

A simple retelling tray isn't "just" an activity.
It's an invitation to revisit, rehearse and deepen understanding through meaningful play.

Imagine if every quality story in your setting had its own carefully planned provision... not to just one activity a whole provision.

How much richer would the conversations become?
How much deeper would children's understanding be?

That's the power of a story-led curriculum.

Don't stop at the last page.

✨ If you're a nursery or school looking to put books at the heart of your curriculum, I'd love to chat. Comment below or send me a message.

Every session starts in exactly the same way.

Not with an activity.

Not with instructions.

But with an invitation.

An invitation to wonder.

To explore.

To communicate.

To imagine.

To create.

As adults, it's easy to think that learning comes from telling children what to do.

But some of the richest learning happens when we create an environment that sparks curiosity and then step back, observe and join children in their discoveries.

That's exactly why every Read, Play, Create session begins with a story.

The story creates the invitation.

The provision encourages exploration.

The child leads the learning.

Because when children are curious, engaged and emotionally invested, learning happens naturally.

✨ If you're a parent, nursery or school interested in story-led learning, comment below or send me a message. I'd love to chat.

People often comment on how lovely the trays look before a session.

And don't get me wrong... I love creating them.

But this...

This is my favourite part.

The rice scattered across the floor.

The slime mixed with imagination.

The moved resources.

The signs that children felt confident enough to explore, experiment and make the space their own.

Because that's where the evidence of learning is.

Not in a perfect setup.

But in the conversations that happened.

The problems that were solved.

The stories that were retold.

The friendships that were built.

The confidence that grew.

Every messy tray tells a story.

And behind every messy tray is a child who was busy learning.

✨ Curious about story-led learning? Whether you're a parent, nursery or school, comment below or send me a message. I'd love to chat.

As adults, most of us don't remember every worksheet we completed at school.

But we do remember the moments that made us feel something.

The lesson that sparked our curiosity.
The teacher who brought a story to life.
The activity that made us laugh.

For young children, those moments matter.

When a story becomes something they can explore, imagine and be part of, they're not just listening—they're communicating, problem-solving, building relationships and creating memories they'll carry with them.

That's why every Read, Play, Create session starts with a book.
Because children don't just remember what they were taught.

✨ They remember how learning made them feel.

💚 Which story from your own childhood has stayed with you all these years? I'd love to hear it.

This was our dinosaur adventure… but on Wednesday, the aliens are taking over! 👽🚀🩲

If your child loves stories, messy play and completely immersing themselves in another world, they are going to LOVE our Aliens Love Underpants special.

I’m transforming the room into an alien adventure filled with:

👽 Purple, orange and green alien slime
🩲 Underpants washing
🌙 Green moon sand
🌿 Hidden pants sensory play
🚀 Rocket role-play
🎨 Giant collaborative painting
✨ A take-home decorating activity

Every session begins with a story and brings it to life through sensory play, creativity, imagination and lots of opportunities for language and connection.

📅 Wednesday 29 July
⏰ 10–11am
📍 Bromsgrove
Suitable from 6 months to around 7 years.

I would love to welcome some more little ones and their families along this Wednesday 🥰

Book at www.readplaycreate.com or message me

When I pick up a children's book, I don't just see a story.

I see the characters children will fall in love with.
The conversations they'll have.
The emotions they'll explore.
The problems they'll solve.
The adventures they'll create.

That's why every Read, Play, Create session begins with a book.

Because stories aren't just something we read together. They become the starting point for imagination, language, curiosity and meaningful play.

For me, the magic happens when children don't just listen to the story...

✨ They step inside it.
❤️ That's when a book truly comes alive.