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Curious Play: Nurturing Exploration, Wonder, and Discovery
Ways to Play

Curious Play: Nurturing Exploration, Wonder, and Discovery

by The Play Way

Curious play invites children to explore the world around them by asking questions, experimenting, and discovering answers through hands-on experiences. Curious play isn’t just about having fun; it helps children build essential skills that support learning and personal growth. Here's how it supports your child’s development.

Cognitive Benefits

Curiosity-driven play fosters problem-solving and critical thinking, encouraging children to analyse, experiment, and make sense of their surroundings. Engaging in exploration strengthens memory, as children learn and recall information through direct experience.

Social & Emotional Benefits

Facing challenges through exploration teaches resilience, helping children bounce back from setbacks and uncertainties. Curious play encourages communication skills, as children express observations, ask questions, and share discoveries. Group exploration activities promote teamwork, teaching children to collaborate and share ideas. Investigative play nurtures self-regulation, as children learn to manage impulses and control behaviour during focused tasks.

Educational Benefits

Curiosity lays the foundation for a love of learning, keeping children motivated and engaged. Exploring new environments and materials broadens a child’s view of the world, encouraging cultural awareness and understanding.

Ways to Encourage Curious Play

Here are some playful and easy activities to spark curiosity in your child's daily life:

1. Sink or Float Experiment

Collect various household items and have your child predict whether they will sink or float. Then test each one in a tub or bucket of water. It’s perfect for critical thinking and cause-effect learning.

2. Bubble Experiments

Explore how bubbles work using different bubble solutions and wands. Experiment with size, shape, and how bubbles react in different weather conditions.

3. Colour Mixing Art

Let your child play with primary colour paints to discover how new colours are formed. This hands-on science-art activity is both fun and educational.

4. Shadow Play

Shine a flashlight on objects to cast shadows on a wall. Your child can experiment with distance, angles, and shapes to learn how light and space interact.

5. Mystery Box

Hide familiar items inside a box and ask your child to guess what they are by touch alone. This sensory activity builds descriptive language and reasoning skills.

6. Exploration Bingo

Create a bingo card with items to find on a nature walk like a bird, flower, or textured leaf. It turns everyday walks into exciting scavenger hunts.

7. Weather Chart

Make a simple daily weather chart using symbols for sunny, cloudy, rainy, or windy. Let your child observe and record the weather for a week to spark interest in science and patterns.

 

Curious play helps children explore the world with open minds and eager hearts. By encouraging hands-on discovery and thoughtful questions, you’re giving your child a powerful start to lifelong learning.

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Sensory Play Australia Scavenger Hunt Cards in two boxes, featuring nature illustrations. These cards boost gross motor skills and turn physical activity into a fun adventure.
Sensory Play Australia Scavenger Hunt Cards in two boxes, featuring nature illustrations. These cards boost gross motor skills and turn physical activity into a fun adventure.
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Scavenger Hunt Card Set

Regular price $29.00
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Unleash fun and movement with our Scavenger Hunt Card Set! This dynamic set is designed...
Sensory Play Australia Food Creation Card Set: two orange card decks, therapist-designed for fun food exploration & cooking.
Sensory Play Australia Food Creation Card Set: two orange card decks, therapist-designed for fun food exploration & cooking.
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Food Creation Card Set

Regular price $24.00
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Discover the joy of mealtime with our Food Creation Card Set! This engaging collection of...
Sensory Play Australia's Sensory Play Card Set boxes, for exploring and regulating sensory experiences and emotions.
Sensory Play Australia's Sensory Play Card Set boxes, for exploring and regulating sensory experiences and emotions.
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Sensory Play Card Set

Regular price $34.00
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Our Sensory Play Card Set is your ultimate guide to exploring and regulating sensory experiences....
Poppy & Daisy Nature Hunt activity kit with wooden boards, chalk, and cotton drawstring bag.
Poppy & Daisy Nature Hunt activity kit with wooden boards, chalk, and cotton drawstring bag.
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Nature Hunt

Regular price $19.00
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Our Nature Hunt Mini Kit is a great way to inspire children to get out...
Poppy & Daisy DIY Peppermint Lip Balm kit: bag, balm tin, green liquid, wooden spoon, and cup.
Poppy & Daisy DIY Peppermint Lip Balm kit: bag, balm tin, green liquid, wooden spoon, and cup.
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Peppermint Lip Balm

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Our DIY Peppermint Lip Balm Kit is so much fun to make and use to...
Poppy & Daisy handmade paper making kit with screen, paper pulp, envelopes, and dried flowers.
Poppy & Daisy handmade paper making kit with screen, paper pulp, envelopes, and dried flowers.
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Handmade Paper

Regular price $64.00
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Transform your scrap paper into beautiful handmade paper creations. Add a touch of nature with...
The Play Way 'Let's Create Fun Fossils' DIY kit components: sand, plaster, shells, and tools for unearthing ancient treasures.
The Play Way 'Let's Create Fun Fossils' DIY kit components: sand, plaster, shells, and tools for unearthing ancient treasures.
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Fun Fossils

Regular price $34.00
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Unleash your inner explorer by molding and forming your very own Fun Fossils using Plaster...
Poppy & Daisy 'Mineral Makeup' DIY kit laid out: powders, oils, brush, wooden spoon, paper cups, and box.
Poppy & Daisy 'Mineral Makeup' DIY kit laid out: powders, oils, brush, wooden spoon, paper cups, and box.
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Mineral Makeup

Regular price $64.00
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Let's Create MINERAL MAKEUP!Discover the natural way to play with makeup with this Mineral Makeup...
DIY cardboard rocket costume for kids, a creative craft project for imaginative space adventures.
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Rocket Costume

Regular price $39.00
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Blast off into creativity with our Rocket Costume! This blank white cardboard spaceship is a...
The Play Way Food Exploration Kit box overflowing with Food Creation Cards, tongs, spoons, Pop It toy, and a divided tray. Tools for children to explore food.
The Play Way Food Exploration Kit box overflowing with Food Creation Cards, tongs, spoons, Pop It toy, and a divided tray. Tools for children to explore food.
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Food Exploration Kit

Regular price $149.00
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Discover the Food Exploration Kit, designed to transform mealtime into an enjoyable and educational adventure....
A white DIY cardboard horse costume with saddle details, a creative choice from The Play Way's Little Artist Creative Bundle, ready for play.
A white DIY cardboard horse costume with saddle details, a creative choice from The Play Way's Little Artist Creative Bundle, ready for play.
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Horse Costume

Regular price $39.00
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Giddy up for artistic adventures with our cardboard horse! Crafted in blank white cardboard, this...
Poppy & Daisy 'Let's Create a Flower Press' DIY kit with wooden press, brush, and envelopes.
Poppy & Daisy 'Let's Create a Flower Press' DIY kit with wooden press, brush, and envelopes.
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Flower Press

Regular price $64.00
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Have fun collecting flowers and leaves to press and make your own unique works of...
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Acknowledgement of Country

The Play Way would like to acknowledge the Yorta Yorta people who are the traditional custodians of the land on which our head office is located; where we gather, work, create and learn. We pay respect to their tribal Elders, we celebrate their continuing culture and we acknowledge the memory of their ancestors.

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