16/06/2026
Our trays are out in the garden every day, whatever the theme!
I’m not always the best at remembering to take photos before the children get stuck in, but here are a few simple tray play ideas from half term that kept the play open-ended, engaging and lots of fun:
1) Coloured water, cornflour and a selection of utensils
A fantastic sensory activity that encouraged curiosity, exploration and colour recognition. The children loved mixing, pouring and discovering how the texture changed.
2) Bubbles with a variety of wands
Simple but always a favourite! Bubble play helps develop both gross and fine motor skills as children wave, chase, pop and experiment with different ways of making bubbles.
3) Water tray with frogs and lily pads
A great invitation to play that encouraged colour recognition, counting, imaginative play and exploring concepts such as floating and sinking.
Sometimes the simplest setups create the richest learning opportunities.
