Tots Play Kirkintilloch, Kilsyth & Cumbernauld

Is your baby on the move?

Wondering how best to play with them as they head towards toddlerhood?

At this age your little one will be curious about the world around them, and fascinated with just about everything they come across. They will be using all their senses, and their new movement skills to explore and learn - and the best way to support this learning and development is through play.

Repetition is an important part of learning and you might find they want to play their favourite game or listen to their favourite song over and over again. While they’re able to play a little by themselves they prefer playing with parents or other adults - so you will remain their favourite playmate for a while to come.

Some great activities for children around this age include:

- movement games, singing, dancing, action rhymes
- push along toys, push and pull toys, posting boxes,
- all kinds of sensory play
- exploring natural materials, like pine cones or shells
- splashing in puddles, water play, messy play

Play is the best way to help children learn and there are so many ways to bring it into your day.

Need some more inspiration? Join us at Tots Play, where you’ll find lots of play ideas perfect for older babies and toddlers, for you to enjoy together.

Each one is carefully researched and chosen to help boost your Tot’s development, and simple enough to do together at home through the week too - so the fun and learning doesn’t need to stop when you leave class!

Head to http://www.totsplay.co.uk to book your class today, and come and join in the fun! xx

Why Repetition Matters for Your Little One's Learning

If you’ve been to a Tots Play class, you’ll know we love a good routine. You might spot some familiar songs, activities, and equipment popping up each week. That’s no coincidence – it’s all part of the plan. Repetition is one of the most powerful ways babies and toddlers learn.

While it might feel like we’re simply doing the same thing again, for your baby, each repeat is a whole new learning experience. Their brain is working hard to make sense of the world, and seeing and doing things more than once helps build understanding, memory, and confidence.

Repetition also creates a sense of calm. Young children are surrounded by new sights, sounds, and sensations every day. Familiar routines help them feel safe and secure, which makes it easier for them to focus, join in, and enjoy what’s happening.

When your baby recognises a song, remembers what to do with a piece of equipment, or joins in with a favourite activity, they feel a real sense of achievement. This builds self-esteem, encourages independence, and lays the groundwork for even more learning.

So next time your Tot wants to sing the same song or play the same game for the hundredth time, smile and know that they’re learning, growing, and thriving – exactly as they should.

So next time your Tot wants to sing the same song or play the same game for the hundredth time, smile, be proud of their determination to master the skill they are learning about and confident they are developing just as they should!

And if you’re looking for a class where the benefits of both repetition and new experiences are built in to the programme, then we’d love to welcome you along to Tots Play.

What does your little one like to do over and over again?

Make your own rainbow shakers! 🌈

Little ones love bright colours, as well as exploring things that make different sounds, and they’ll not only love their own rainbow of shakers like the ones in the picture, but they offer so many fun learning opportunities too.

Line them up in rainbow order, ask your child to find and shake a particular colour, or just let them play and explore however they would like, and discover all the colours, sounds and sensory delights these bring.

The good news is they’re super simple to make. Just find some empty clear plastic bottles (they don’t have to be the type shown), add some small items of a single colour to each, or have some with a mixture of colours. You can pick up lots of bits inexpensively from a craft shop, or see what you already have at home, and get creative!

Seal the tops well, with either a glue gun or tape when you’ve filled the bottles with what you’ve chosen, and you’re ready to play!

Pop a picture or a comment below if you give it a try, and enjoy your colourful fun! xx

One of the most magical parts of Tots Play for me is being able to support you as a parent with ideas to strengthen the bond between you and your little one during the very early weeks, months and years.

My classes offer so many ways to do this, from baby massage, to yoga, lots of different types of sensory play, various ways to boost early communication and more.

Bonding with our tots can be instant or take time, sometimes weeks and even months. Both are totally normal, and wherever you are on that journey you'll find no judgement, just the support of other like minded parents to ease you on your way.

If you haven't tried classes yet, why not come and join us and see for yourself. You'll find a warm welcome when you do🧡🐵💙

Just pop me a message to find out more xx

"Mummy, I love to show you what I can do! Did you see me roll the ball? Can you hear me singing to you? Did you see my sign 'thank you'? I do it to make you smile, because having fun and smiling together is my favourite thing to do!"

If that sounds like your little one, then Social Tots is the place to be.

This is my class for toddlers and older babies who are on the move, and is all about quality time together and making memories, but with lots of learning and development thrown in too - not that we tell your Tot that, they’ll just think they’re having fun with you!

When all that matters is that tiny person in front of you learning and having fun, you need to join us at Social Tots!

Why not come and see for yourself? Head over to www.totsplay.co.uk and book a trial and I’ll see you there xx

Which baby class should you choose?

Of course you want the best for your baby, and so most likely want to do all the things you can with them - not only to have fun, (although that’s definitely important!) but to help support their development too. But how will you fit in, let alone afford, a baby massage class and a baby yoga class, plus a sensory play class, sign language, music and physical play?

How about if you could get all this and more in one place and for one affordable price?

You can when you join us at Tots Play!

Get the benefits of all these wonderful activities and enjoy special time together in a warm, welcoming environment, plus learn lots of ways to continue to support your little one's development at home too. It’s like 6 classes for the price of one! What's not to like?

Come and give it a try for yourself.

Visit www.totsplay.co.uk for more details and to book your place today. xx

After a lot of thought and reflection, I’ve made the difficult decision not to return to Tots Play classes in July as originally planned ❤️

When I started Tots Play Kirkintilloch, Kilsyth & Cumbernauld, it truly felt like a dream come true it gave me something that was just for me again after years of being a full-time mum and I poured my heart into building classes, friendships, and a lovely community that I’ll always be incredibly proud of. Not long after starting my journey, we received the beautiful surprise that we were expecting our third baby little Arthur. While it was the happiest news for our family, it also meant life suddenly looked very different from what I had imagined when I first bought the franchise.
Earlier this year, I came back determined to give things another chance I loved reconnecting with so many of you through buggy walks and I’ll always be so grateful for the support and kindness I received
but over time, I realised that trying to juggle motherhood, family life, and rebuilding the business was becoming too much for me at this stage of life and when Arthur struggled to settle into nursery, it really made me stop and think about where I’m needed most right now and that’s with my family giving them 100% of me! This decision has not come easily, because I truly loved what I built with Tots Play and the amazing community around it. But sometimes the right decision can still be the hardest one. Thank you so much to every single family who attended classes, supported me, shared kind words, came to buggy walks, recommended me to friends, or simply followed along on this journey. You’ll never know how much it meant to me ❤️ I’ll always be proud of what I achieved and so grateful for the confidence this experience gave me, sometimes dreams come along at the wrong time in life!

Robyn 🧡💙

Could you be the new owner of Tots Play Kirkintilloch, Kilsyth & Cumbernauld?

For the first time in a while, there’s an opportunity for someone new to take on the franchise in this area.

To pick things back up, start running classes again, and build something of their own here.

Very often, that person turns out to be someone who’s already experienced Tots Play from the other side of the mats.

Someone who’s sat in the classes, seen the difference they make, and can picture themselves creating that for others, or knows someone who has.

Maybe that person could be you.

It might not be something you’ve considered before, but it’s how many of our franchisees get started.

Building something of their own that fits around family life, while doing work they genuinely enjoy.

Tots Play has been in the area since 2017, so it’s already well established and much loved locally.

Which means you’re not starting from scratch, you’re picking up something with real awareness, and the support, training and community of the wider franchise behind you.

If it’s something you’re curious about, I’d love to share more with you.

You can find out more about the franchise here:
https://www.totsplay.co.uk/franchise

Hey you! Yes, you – the new mum.

The one whose world just got turned upside down by a brand new bundle of love, chaos, and cuddles.

This is just a quick reminder that you’re doing amazing.

Even if you can’t remember what day it is, or when you last showered, or drank a hot cuppa, it doesn’t matter. You brought a new human into the world. That alone makes you someone’s awesome forever.

But if it’s hard to feel that way some days, how about joining us at a Tots Play class for you and your baby? We’ll be right there to remind you just how brilliant you are – week after week.

I know coming to classes like this can feel daunting at first, and there are probably lots of things going through your mind.

You might be wondering...

What kind of people will be there?

Other mums, just like you. Figuring it out, one nappy at a time.

What’s the class leader like?

Also a mum, who knows exactly how it feels, and also knows there’s no such thing as ‘getting it wrong’.

What if my baby needs feeding, changing or just naps through the whole thing?

That’s totally fine. We work around your baby, and you’ll get a fab little book to take home that covers everything we did, so you won’t miss a thing.

Is this just a ‘nice-to-have’?

Absolutely not. You need this.

If you think you don’t, it's because you have recently been initiated into the wonderful world of Mum Guilt, which tells us we shouldn’t do anything for ourselves, even if baby benefits too.

But at Tots Play, you’ll find more than just baby classes. You’ll find your tribe.

To thrive through this crazy, wonderful, intense time in your life you NEED a little group of fellow Mums who get the wild ride you're on.

The sleepless nights. The emotional rollercoaster. The need to feel seen and supported.

Others to cheerlead for you with all their motherly might, always be on your side and just ‘get it', and a class like Tots Play is an ideal place to find them.

You’ll learn ways to support your baby’s development, make new friends, and feel more like you again. And if anyone asks, you can just say it’s all for the baby. I won’t tell.

So if you know it's time to get out of the house, but the nerves are kicking in, I promise you’ll be glad you made the effort and that a warm welcome awaits you, so how about it?

Ready to come say hi?

Head to http://www.totsplay.co.uk or send me a quick message with any questions – I’d love to hear from you. xx