Small world play is a type of imaginary play that uses small toys and props to help children to act out scenes from their daily life or create fantasy worlds of their own. This type of play provides children with opportunities to develop ideas, concepts such as size and position, fine motor skills, vocabulary and communication skills!
There is no right or wrong way to play in a small world, so children get the chance to explore and make sense of the world in a safe environment.
Setting up a small world based on your child’s special interest is a great way to encourage engagement.
You don’t have to have a lot of expensive resources. Many items can be found around the house or in your local environment. Useful items might include:
- Large/medium, shallow tubs – e.g. underbed storage boxes, cat litter trays, ice cream tubs.
- Card/paper/lolly sticks
- Car tyres, stiff placemats, plant pots, for outdoor small world set-ups
- Large rocks and pebbles
- Sand and soil
- Stones and shells
- Tree branches/sticks & twigs/bark
- Dried pulses/rice/beans
- Small animals, sea creatures, buildings, dinosaurs, figures, cars
- Pieces of fabric, tinfoil, carpet samples, artificial grass samples
- Playdoh
Enjoy the play with your child by:
- Create the play space: gather appropriate figurines, props, and background materials.
- Model language and concepts: introduce relevant vocabulary based on the setting and encourage your child to elaborate on their play.
- Support their imaginative play: extend the child’s story by adding elements or asking questions that prompt further creativity.