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Christmas Gift Guide
Christmas is coming! I just love this time of the year, and now more than ever we need to bring some happiness and magic into our homes. 2020 has been a crazy year for us all! I've chosen my ten top picks to help you shop for baby, toddler or preschooler and some fun...
The Benefits of Block Play
Wooden blocks are a traditional and favourite toy loved by many. They stand the test of time because of their simplicity. A block is a loose part resource that can be used in so many ways, open ended with no predetermined purpose, a child can imagine and create while...
Summer Holiday Top Picks
The summer holidays are already upon us, although after months of lockdown it doesn’t feel as though much has really changed… or is that just our house! We have been blessed with weeks of beautiful sunshine. Here are my top picks to really embrace our British...
Guest Blog: Making the Most of the Little Things During Lockdown
This months guest blog is from Sam Goldsworthy Childminding, a wonderful mother and daughter team. You can follow them on their adventures at Facebook and Instagram @samgoldsworthychildminding. As most of you know I am Sam from Sam Goldsworthy Childminding. We are a...
Guest Blog by Mamasden | Including Nature in Your Daily Rhythm
This months blog post is brought to you by Jennifer Wooldridge @mamasden. Jennifer is a childminding mother of 3 who is highly influenced by the natural world and loose part play. She creates a fun learning environment and her instagram, facebook and blog posts offer...
Guest Blog by Sam Goldsworthy Childminding | Forest School
This months Forest School blog post is brought to you by the wonderful mother and daughter team at Sam Goldsworthy Childminding.One of our favourite outings that we provide is definitely Forest School which has become a weekly ritual in our setting. We use the same...
Guest Blog by Little Acorns Childminding Banbury: Technology in the Early Years
This months blog is written by my very dear childminding friend Vikkie Murray, of Little Acorns Banbury. Vikkie is a passionate advocate for the sensible use of technology in the early years and her blog gives some fantastic ideas for ways in which it can be...
Hygge: Creating Happiness and a Cosy Family Feel
This months guest blog is by the fantastic Kimberly Smith from KSEY Consultancy. Lots of the members of my rep team are enrolled on her Hygge in the Early Years Accreditation™ course so I approached Kimberly for advice when creating a Hygge Collection for the website....
Happy New Year
Happy New Year to everyone reading this blog. This year has been so exciting for Tinker Tray Play. I never even dreamed that my little Etsy store selling home made tinker trays and treasure baskets would grow into the shop I have today. My website is 5 months old now...
Guest Blog by Childminder Claire Wilson – An Insight to Loose Parts Storage
Loose Parts Shelves I have arranged my loose parts on 3 shelves. The furthest shelf is filled with jars of natural loose parts i.e bamboo circles, fur cones, shells. The second and third are filled with recycled and other loose parts i.e. bottle lids etc. The third...
Tinker Tray Play Christmas Gift Guide
Top Ten Christmas Picks Christmas is just around the corner, so close I can almost hear the tinkling of the reindeer bells in the air... a perfect time for me to share some of my top picks and best sellers with you!1. Seasonal Subscription BoxesGive the gift of a...
Guest Blog by Rainbow Sensory Gifts – Easy Messy Play
I am going to start this blog post off by saying… I am not a blogger! I am a busy mum of two, who is trying to run a small business and keep everyone alive and happy! My early years teaching experience gives me invaluable insight to the benefits of play/sensory...
Getting to Grips with Loose Parts Play
Written for, and published by The Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY). https://www.pacey.org.uk/news-and-views/pacey-blog/march-2019/getting-to-grips-with-loose-parts-play/ Anna Welch, owner of Tinker Tray Play, 26th March 2019. Children...
Treasure Baskets: A Heuristic How To
My first Treasure Basket encounter was as a new mum at a baby class run by my local children’s centre… and I didn’t get it. I remember wondering why on earth they were passing round baskets full of strange household items, and not toys. Surely funding constraints...

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