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Playtime blog

Encouraging insights and ideas for toddler group leaders and their teams as they journey through this incredible ministry.

Latest articles

Easter chicks craft

Instructions for a handy Easter craft idea

Feeling overwhelmed

Thoughts from our Playtime Co-ordinator about running a toddler group during these difficult times.

Instant Mum

Emily’s story of becoming an instant mum to two toddlers after adopting siblings.

Scroll down to read any of our Playtime blog posts below or click on a particular subject listed to filter them.

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Arts and crafts
Music and story time
Playtime
Running a toddler group
Single parents
Toddler group stories

Instant mum with toddlers

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A messy table full of paint

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Why is craft so important?

Multi-coloured lit candles

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‘Wave of Light’ service

Sensing the world around

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Would you like cake with your coffee?

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Why I make a 24 mile round trip to attend toddler group

Let’s Stick Together volunteer training

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We love grandparents!

PLT Article feature 14

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It’s the little things that make a big difference …

Growth

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The lengths we took to get to the Playtime conference

Small changes can make a big difference

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The birth of Newbies and 2bies

PLT Article feature 27

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Ringing in the changes

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Taking the reins: from members to helpers to leaders

A picture of a mum cuddling her toddler son

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Supporting bereaved families

Supporting parents who have children with additional needs

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Stepping stone – bridging the gap between toddler group and church

Thinking of starting a toddler group?

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Starting BIG school

Additional Needs - Helpful articles - feature

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Sing with Me – Nursery Rhyme Bag

My sanctuary – my toddler group

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Two children playing pirates in cardboard boxes

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Our special holiday

Keeping a happy team

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Increasing numbers

A closed red door

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No more tears behind closed doors

A toddler with blue and yellow balloons

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My body was shutting down but God still wanted to use me!

Oh, but we’ve only just begun!

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The journey of Coffee Tots continues

Creating a warm welcome

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Intentionally setting culture

PLT Article feature 12

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How Coffee Tots began

Highlights from the 2018 Playtime national conference

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High Street Methodist Toddlers and Little Lunchers

Reaching out to single parents in your toddler group

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Toddler groups and care homes

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Connecting toddler groups and care homes

Four women laughing whilst posing for a photograph

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Cliques – are there any solutions?

A child Playing with a xylophone

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Can toddler groups be a life changing experience?

Do you know where you are going?

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A Couple of mothers having lunch with their toddlers

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Buggies and brunch

a small toddler looking up at the camera

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Barney’s toddler group – play, fun, mess… and a lifeline

Catching little fishes through Messy Church

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A skate park, a toddler group and an abbey!

Hope and healing for parents who are hurting

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A toddler group for adopters

When it comes to being a good father

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A pivotal point in one dad’s life

Going the extra mile

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All Together Now

What are adoption and fostering?

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A lifeline for parents

PLT Article feature 9

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A Japanese toddler group – small, but precious

A handful of flowers

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Vase of flowers

A series of red and pink hearts

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Heart shaped biscuit

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Valentine biscuits

a pile of multicoloured paper disks

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Someone painting and making a mess.

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Tortoise paper plate

A biscuit tin

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Pink tea service

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Tea party plate

A swan sat on a bank

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Swan paper plate

A sunflower

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Sunshine sunflower

Coloured glass window

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Stained glass Easter window

Messy craft supplies

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multi-coloured bottles

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two plastic containers

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A lego man dressed as a rocket

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Multi-coloured paper

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Rainbow woven mats

Playdough rainbow

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Playdough recipe

Multi-coloured straws

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A Beware of octopus sign

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Olly the octopus

A toddler plays with a xylophone

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Lots of chocolate truffles

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Mother’s day truffles

A read paper heart

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Mother’s Day heart

A buncg of coloured flowers made with paper.

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Mother’s Day flower

a pile of coloured paper.

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Jerry the giraffe

Hedgehog with a crown on

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Hedgehog paper plate

A row of colourful crayons

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Three eggs with drawn on faces with cress gowning out of the top.

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Grow a Cress Head

A pile of tie dyed shirts

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Funky tie dye T shirt

A bowl of fruit

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A toddler drawing

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Fisherman craft

Little treasure box

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Father’s Day treasure chest

A father getting a Father's day card from his daughter

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Father’s day card

Dad shaped balloons

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Father’s day bunting

A messy craft table

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A basket of Easter eggs

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An adorable baby bunny

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Pebbles covered in painted with colourful designs.

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Decorated doorstop

Line of multi coloured crayons

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A foot covered in coloured paint

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Reindeer prints

a huge pile of Christmas bells

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Christmas wreath

close up of some red and gold Christmas ornaments

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Christmas rainstick

Xmas Tree

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Angelic heavenly hosts

Xmas tree angel

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Plant pots

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A Potty Rudolph

Gold star sequins

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3D Christmas tree card

Wooden letters in a box

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Butterfly bookmark

A whale inflatable

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A line of butterflies

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Beautiful butterfly mask

Three Balloons

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A table covered in craft supplies

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Baby in a cradle

A table of leaves and accorns

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Autumn hedgehog

A toddler holding crayons

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A messy arts and crafts table

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Paper plate crown

A single white mug

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Multi coloured mixing bowls

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Paint brushes

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A toddler with blue and yellow balloons

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Saturday Church – what’s it all about?

A toddle wearing wellies and jumping in a puddle.

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A women at the beach looking out to see with the sun shining on her face.

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Being the person God created you to be

A mum and daughter reading together

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Why is story time so important

Why is music time so important

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Why music time is important

The four ‘R’s to help us navigate this season

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The four ‘R’s to help us navigate this season

Hundreds of different coloured post-it notes on a wall.

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Feeling overwhelmed

four men sitting facing a nice mountainous view

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Where are all the men?

a father kissing his young baby on the cheek

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When it comes to being a good father

Reaching out to single parents in your toddler group

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When a plaster won’t make it better

An image of a child's size wheelchair

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Supporting parents who have children with additional needs

Toddler groups specifically for single parents

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Toddler groups specifically for single parents

An image of a ball pit.

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Thinking of starting a toddler group?

Supporting left-handed children

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Supporting left-handed children

A father holding his infant son's hand whilst walking on a beach.

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What are adoption and fostering?

Small changes can make a big difference

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Small changes can make a big difference

Are you ready for a story?

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Sharing Bible stories in toddler groups

A light up globe

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Sensing the world around

A toddler learning to walk with her parents.

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Running a successful parenting course

Different animals waling in the morning sun rise.

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Ringing in the changes

An dault holdign a new-born baby's hand.

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Reaching out to single parents in your toddler group

A mother kissing her toddler whilst sitting in a garden

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Raising faith – Being intentional

Pregnancy and infant loss – a toddler group’s remembrance service

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Pregnancy and infant loss – a toddler group’s remembrance service

Baby hands intertwined as if the baby is about to pray.

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1277 National Month of Prayer for Toddler Groups

Lego Batman and Lego Superman having ice cream

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Oh, but we’ve only just begun!

My sanctuary – my toddler group

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My sanctuary – my toddler group

Arrow on the tarmac road

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Making the most of your opportunity

Hands being placed on top of one another indicting a start of a project.

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Keeping a happy team

A couple hugging and holding hands.

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Hope and healing for parents who are hurting

an Image of a conference

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Highlights from the 2018 Playtime national conference

Growth

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A baby sat on his mother's lap looking directly at the camera with is thumb in his mouth

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Going the extra mile

Festive fun at toddler group

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Festive fun at toddler group

signpost at sunset

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Do you know where you are going?

Creating a warm welcome

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Creating a warm welcome

Catching little fishes through Messy Church

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Catching little fishes through Messy Church

Building team

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Building a team

A pile of childrens books

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Are you ready for a story?

three coffee cups, one has been filled with beans the others coffee.

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A window into their world