Resources to Inspire – Books, Links and Tools for Playful Learning

Creativity

Rapunzel’s Supermarket: All about Young Children and their Art Ursula Kolbe, second edition, Peppinot Press NSW, Australia (2007)

It’s not a bird yet: The drama of drawing Ursula Kolbe, Peppinot Press NSW, Australia (2005)

Poking, Pinching & Pretending: Documenting Toddlers' Explorations with Clay Smith & Goldhaber, (2004)

How Children Learn and Create Using Art, Play and Science - Understanding Through Your Hands Plamper & Weterings, David Fulton Publishers, (2023)

Art Play And Inquiry - The Why, What and How of Visual Arts Education with Young Children Lindsay, Probine, Denee & Savins, (2026)

Child Development

The Developing Child in the 21st Century Sandra Smidt, (2006)

Understanding Child Development – Linking theory and practice Jenny Lindon, (2005)

Threads of Thinking Cathy Nutbrown, Third Edition, (2006)

Well Being and Involvement in Care Ferre Laevers, Leuven University, Belgium (2005)

Seen & Heard: Children’s Rights in Early Childhood Education Ellen Lynn Hall and Jennifer Kofkin Rudkin, (2010)

"Again, Again!: Understanding Schemas in Young Children Sally Featherstone

Observing and Developing Schematic Behaviour in Young Children: A Professional's Guide for Supporting Children's Learning, Play and Development Tamsin Grimmer, (2017)

Interacting or Interfering? Improving interactions in the early years Julie Fisher, (2016)

Observation & Assessment Made Simple - A Practical Guide for Early Years and Primary Educators Clare Devlin, David Fulton Publisher, (2026)

The Out-of-Sync Child - Recognising and Coping with Sensory Processing Disorder Revised Edition, C.S Kranowitz, (2005)

The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun - Activities for Kids with  Sensory Processing Disorder  Revised Edition, C.S Kranowitz, (2006)

Observing and Developing Schematic Behaviour in Young Children Tamsin Grimmer, (2017)

The Whole Child Alphabet - How Young Children Actually Develope Literacy Stacy Benge, (2023)

The Project Approch - A Hands-On Guide for Inclusive Early Childhood Classrooms Beneke, Ostrosky & Katz (2019)

Loose Parts for Children with Diverse Abilities Miriam Beloglovsky, (2022)

Environment, Materials & Design

Caring Spaces, Learning Places: Children's Environments That Work Jim Greenman, (1988)

Designs for Living and Learning Deb Curtis and Margie Carter, Redleaf Press, (2003)

Children’s Spaces Mark Dudek, (2006)

Building for Young Children Mark Dudek, National Children’s Bureau (July 2001)

Loose Parts - Inspiring Play in Young Children Lisa Daly and Miriam Beloglovsky, (2015)

The Design of Childhood Alexandra Lange, (2020)

Nursery by Design - Creating Spaces for Learning and Belonging June O'Sullivan, (2026)

Outdoor Learning

Outdoor Play in the Early Years H Bilton, second edition, David Fulton Publishers, (2002)

Outdoor Provision in the Early Years edited by Jan White, Sage, (2011)

Playing Outside Helen Bilton, David Fulton Publishers, (2004)

Learning Outdoors in the Early Years CCEA, ISBN 1 905093 79 9, (2005)

The Great Outdoors: Developing Children’s Learning through Outdoor Edgington M. Early Education London, (2002)

Playing and Learning Outdoors: The Practical Guide and Sourcebook for Excellence in Outdoor Provision and Practice with Young Children (3 Edition) Jan White, (2020)

Nature Play at Home Nancy Striniste, Timber Press, Inc, (2019)

Movement in the Early Years

Early Interventions in Movement Christine Macintyre, (2002)

Exercising Muscles and Minds M Ouvry, (2000)

Every child a mover Jan White, (2015)

Parents

Involving Parents in Children’s Learning Margy Whalley, Pen Green, (2007)

Play

Understanding Young Children's Learning through Play - Building Playful Pedagogies P Broadhead & A Burt, (2012)

Nurturing Brilliance - Using Play-Activated Learning to Awaken Childrens Potential Sally Fowler Haughey, (2025)

Play Matters - Why Play Matters in Early Childhood Early Years Reviews, (2025)

The Brain that Loves to Play - A Visual Guide to Child Development, Play, and Brain Growth Jacqueline Harding, (2023)

The Neuroscience of the Developing Child - Self-Regulation for Wellbeing and a Sustainable Future Mine Conkbayir, (2022)

Take Action on Distraction - The definitive guide to improving attention and focus in the Early Years and Key Stage One (Putting Neuroscience into Practice) S. Wass & G. Goldenberg, (2025)