What a year it has been on The PLAYlist! We have explored everything from play and provision to interaction, language, learning and all the wonderfully fascinating bits inbetween.
So, before we pack away the flip-flops, put our new pencils in our new pencil case and head into September with renewed enthusiasm (and possibly another newly cultivated moustache!), I have brought together seven of my favourite articles from the past year.
This article introduces my PEARLS approach to quality interaction, including one of my favourite ideas: don’t just replyto children, return their communication and keep that lovely back-and-forth going.
Those dotted name cards might look purposeful, but they can overload children, embed awkward habits and take all of the meaning out of writing. This article explains why strong bodies, big movements and writing for a real reason will get children much further than another sheet of tracing.
When the water ends up on the floor or the blocks start flying, closing the area can feel like the obvious solution, But… provision is learning, not a reward for compliant behaviour. This article looks at what might happen when we replace removal with reflection, modelling and the right support.
Why do some children spend half their day crawling around, meowing and refusing to answer unless you address them as a cat? It turns out that being an animal gives children a wonderfully safe way to explore emotions, practise self-regulation, take risks and enjoy a little more control than being a child usually allows!
“We’re all friends here” sounds lovely, but friendship is actually a choice, and children need to learn about boundaries as well as belonging. This article explores how friendship grows through play, attachment, negotiation and all of those tricky moments when simply saying “sorry” isn’t quite enough.
The Writing Framework 2026 says that quality matters more than quantity and that children shouldn’t be expected to write at length before they are ready, but this is not always how it is being interpreted! This article gives you the evidence and language to argue for talk before text, foundations before formality and plenty of meaningful writing through play.
Every time we praise a child, we are telling them something about what we value. This article asks whether praising children, particularly girls, for being quiet, neat and compliant might unintentionally make them less willing to take risks, challenge themselves or make a glorious mistake.
It was surprisingly difficult to choose just seven articles from everything we have explored this year!
We have questioned some familiar practice, looked beneath some fascinating (and challenging) behaviour and, hopefully, gathered plenty of ideas that have made you stop and think.
Thank you for reading, listening, commenting and sharing your own experiences along the way. The most rewarding part about writing for The PLAYlist is seeing how PLAYlisters react and hearing their thoughts.
I hope you enjoy revisiting a few old favourites, or discovering something that passed you by the first time.
We will be back in September with lots more new content, fresh ideas and renewed enthusiasm. (I can make no promises about the moustache!).
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