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Activities and Play

Play is how children explore, practise skills, solve problems, build confidence and understand the world around them.

Children do not need expensive activities or a large collection of toys. Simple, repeated play with time, attention and suitable materials is often more valuable.

This UK guide covers indoor and outdoor activities, low-cost ideas, rainy-day play, screen balance, community activities, inclusive play, safety and choosing useful preloved toys.

How to Use This Guide

This page offers general play ideas and links to UK activity and safety information. It is not a developmental programme, medical recommendation or substitute for individual advice about a child’s disability, health, therapy or supervision needs.

Choose activities that suit the child’s age, ability, interests, environment and manufacturer instructions.

Additional Trusted UK Activity and Safety Links

Official UK Play and Activity Guidance

Use the NHS play and learning guidance for babies and young children for practical developmental ideas.

For movement recommendations, see the NHS physical activity guidance for children under five and the NHS activity guidance for children and young people aged 5 to 18.

Play and Everyday Learning

The NHS provides play and activity ideas that support movement, communication, attention and interaction. Play experiences differ between children, and no specific toy or activity guarantees a developmental outcome.

Offer a varied mix of movement, conversation, books, creative activities, outdoor time and child-led play. Adapt the environment where a child has an additional need and follow any individual professional advice.

Follow the Child’s Interests

Children often learn best when they are interested and involved.

Watch what the child repeatedly chooses, then build on it with:

New words
Different materials
Simple questions
Related books
Outdoor experiences

Keep Activities Age-Appropriate

Choose activities based on:

Age
Development
Attention span
Physical ability
Safety
Interests

A simple activity can be made easier or harder by changing the materials or level of adult support.

Indoor Play Ideas

Useful indoor activities include:

Building blocks
Drawing and colouring
Simple puzzles
Board books and stories
Pretend play
Music and dancing
Posting and sorting games
Soft-ball play

Simple Household Play

Safe household items can support play, including:

Cardboard boxes
Wooden spoons
Plastic bowls
Clean containers
Fabric scraps
Paper tubes

Check for sharp edges, small parts, staples and unsuitable materials.

Creative Play

Creative activities may include:

Crayons
Paint
Chalk
Collage
Play dough
Sticker pictures
Simple craft kits

Use washable, age-appropriate products and supervise closely.

Messy Play

Messy play can support:

Sensory exploration
Fine motor skills
Language
Confidence with textures
Creativity

Possible materials include:

Water
Sand
Foam
Cooked pasta
Oats
Child-safe paint

Reduce Mess Without Removing the Fun

Try:

A wipe-clean mat
An old shirt or apron
A tray with raised edges
Playing in the bath before washing
Outdoor messy play

Pretend Play

Pretend play supports imagination, language and social understanding.

Ideas include:

Shops
Kitchens
Doctors
Schools
Cars and garages
Baby dolls
Dressing up

Construction Play

Building activities support:

Planning
Balance
Spatial awareness
Problem-solving
Persistence

Use blocks, magnetic tiles, large bricks or recycled boxes, checking age suitability and small-part risks.

Reading and Storytelling

Reading supports:

Vocabulary
Listening
Imagination
Emotional understanding
General knowledge

Let children:

Choose books
Turn pages
Repeat favourite stories
Talk about pictures
Make up endings

Music and Movement

Ideas include:

Singing action songs
Dancing
Clapping rhythms
Homemade shakers
Freeze dance
Marching games

Outdoor Play

Outdoor play can support:

Strength
Balance
Coordination
Confidence
Observation
Wellbeing

Simple Outdoor Activities

Try:

Walking
Running
Ball games
Balance bikes
Scooters
Nature collecting
Chalk drawing
Puddle jumping

Use Local Parks

Before using play equipment, check:

Age suitability
Wet or damaged surfaces
Broken equipment
Sharp edges
Nearby roads or water

Nature Activities

Low-cost ideas include:

Leaf collecting
Cloud watching
Listening for birds
Looking for insects
Making nature pictures
Planting seeds

Teach children not to touch unknown plants, fungi or wildlife without adult guidance.

Rainy-Day Activities

UK weather often requires flexible plans.

Rainy-day ideas include:

Indoor obstacle courses
Blanket dens
Baking
Library visits
Crafts
Treasure hunts
Dance sessions
Simple science activities

Indoor Obstacle Courses

Use safe items such as:

Cushions
Masking-tape lines
Cardboard tunnels
Soft stepping points

Keep the area clear of hard furniture and slipping hazards.

Low-Cost Activities

Many useful activities are free or inexpensive.

Try:

Libraries
Local parks
Free museum sessions
Community events
Family hubs
Children’s centres
Nature trails
Home craft materials

Use the GOV.UK local library finder to locate your council library service and check free activities.

Use Your Local Library

Libraries may offer:

Free book borrowing
Rhyme time
Story sessions
Summer reading schemes
Craft activities
Homework support

Check your local council library service.

Community Activities

Local activities may include:

Parent and toddler groups
Stay-and-play sessions
Sports sessions
Music groups
Swimming
Forest school activities
Holiday clubs

Check What Is Included in the Price

Before booking, ask about:

Registration fees
Equipment
Uniform
Trial sessions
Cancellation rules
Sibling discounts

Activities at Home

Children do not need to be taken out every day.

Home play can include:

Helping with cooking
Sorting laundry
Watering plants
Building dens
Making cards
Playing shops

Everyday Tasks Can Be Playful

Children can practise:

Counting socks
Matching lids
Sorting colours
Measuring ingredients
Naming vegetables

Independent Play

Independent play develops gradually.

Support it by:

Starting nearby
Offering a small choice of toys
Using familiar activities
Increasing time slowly
Avoiding constant interruption

Playing Together

Adult attention can make simple play more valuable.

Try:

Following the child’s lead
Commenting rather than directing
Taking turns
Using open questions
Stopping before the child becomes overtired

Sibling Play

Siblings may need help with:

Sharing space
Taking turns
Protecting special belongings
Choosing age-safe activities
Managing conflict

Do Not Expect Constant Sharing

Children can have:

Shared toys
Personal toys
Turn-taking toys

Clear rules can reduce conflict.

Inclusive Play

Activities may need adapting for children with:

Mobility differences
Hearing loss
Visual impairment
Sensory needs
Communication differences
Learning disabilities

Adapt the Activity, Not the Child

Possible adaptations include:

Larger pieces
Visual instructions
Quieter spaces
Shorter activities
Seated options
Extra processing time

For practical online-safety help, use the NSPCC online-safety guidance and age ratings provided by the relevant platform or classification body.

Screen Time

No single page can decide the right screen routine for every child and family.

Use age-appropriate content and try not to let screens routinely replace sleep, active play, meals, conversation, outdoor time or family interaction.

Review privacy, chat, advertising and spending settings. Use the NSPCC online-safety guidance.

Choose Screen Content Carefully

Consider:

Age rating
Advertising
In-app purchases
Autoplay
Chat features
Whether an adult can join in

Create Predictable Screen Rules

Rules may include:

Screen-free meals
No devices in bedrooms overnight
Clear finishing times
Adult approval before downloads
Age-appropriate content only

Activity Overload

Too many organised activities can create:

Tiredness
Travel stress
Reduced free play
Financial pressure
Family conflict

Children need unstructured time as well as organised clubs.

Choose Activities Carefully

Before committing, consider:

Child’s interest
Travel
Cost
Schedule
Age suitability
Whether a trial session is available

Safety During Play

Check for:

Small parts
Sharp edges
Long cords
Loose batteries
Broken seams
Unstable furniture
Unsafe climbing

Button Batteries and Magnets

Remove a toy from use if a button-battery compartment is insecure or a magnet is loose, missing or exposed.

If a child may have swallowed a button battery or high-powered magnet, go straight to A&E or call 999 for an ambulance. Do not wait for symptoms.

Use current button-battery and magnet-safety guidance.

Water Play Safety

Never leave a child unattended near water.

This includes:

Baths
Paddling pools
Buckets
Ponds
Water tables

Wheeled Toys

For bikes and scooters, check:

Correct size
Brakes
Wheel condition
Handlebar security
Helmet fit
Safe riding area

Before using a second-hand toy or activity product, check the official UK Product Safety Alerts, Reports and Recalls database.

Buying Toys Preloved

Preloved toys can offer good value, particularly when children move quickly between interests and developmental stages.

Suitable items may include:

Books
Blocks
Puzzles
Role-play toys
Ride-ons
Outdoor toys
Craft storage

Check Preloved Toys Carefully

Before buying, check:

Age suitability
Small parts
Missing pieces
Battery compartments
Cracks
Broken mechanisms
Recall status
Cleanliness

Do Not Overbuy Toys

Too many toys can make it harder for children to focus.

Try:

Rotating toys
Keeping a smaller selection visible
Storing similar toys together
Passing on outgrown items

Activities and Play Items on Kidora

Kidora is a UK-only marketplace where parents can buy and sell new and preloved baby and children’s items.

Families may find books, puzzles, blocks, role-play toys, bikes, scooters, outdoor toys and craft items. Check age warnings, condition, completeness, batteries, magnets, cords, personal data and official recalls before use.

Sellers pay no selling fees and keep 100% of the item sale price. Buyers pay a mandatory Buyer Protection fee on paid purchases, shown before checkout.

Suitable items can be listed at £0 as FREE rather than being thrown away, helping another family. FREE listings are collection-only and do not include a Buyer Protection fee.

Kidora does not certify toys as safe, therapeutic or developmentally suitable.

An Activities and Play Checklist

Follow the child’s interests
Use simple materials
Include indoor and outdoor play
Read and talk every day
Allow independent play
Use low-cost community resources
Keep screens balanced
Avoid overscheduling
Check toys and equipment regularly
Pass on outgrown items

Frequently Asked Questions

Do children need expensive toys?

No. Books, blocks, household materials, outdoor play and adult interaction can support a wide range of skills.

What can we do on a rainy day?

Try indoor obstacle courses, crafts, baking, library visits, dancing, dens or treasure hunts.

How can I encourage independent play?

Begin nearby with a familiar activity, offer a small choice and increase independent time gradually.

How many organised activities should a child do?

There is no fixed number. Balance the child’s interest with cost, travel, rest, family time and unstructured play.

Can toys be bought preloved?

Yes. Check age suitability, condition, missing parts, batteries, cleanliness and recall status before use.