Go away with your play and pass me a flashcard!
- Sep 15
- 3 min read
Picture this: a child is knee-deep in a block tower, negotiating with two friends about whether it’s a castle, a car park, or a zoo. There’s imagination, teamwork, maths, even problem-solving going on. But then along comes an adult with a stack of laminated flashcards.....
Sound familiar?
We’ve all been there. And while flashcards (or writing tasks, or adult-led activities) have their place, when they start gate-crashing play every five minutes, we’ve got a problem.
Because the message we’re sending is: your play isn’t real learning — my activity is.
Wait, Watch, Wonder (The Three Ws You Can’t Flashcard Away)
Instead of swooping in with our bright ideas, what if we just… paused?
Wait before interrupting.
Watch what’s unfolding.
Wonder where it might lead.
This isn’t fluffy or lazy teaching. It’s exactly what Tina Bruce and Ferre Laevers were onto when they wrote about deep play and involvement. The evidence is clear: children learn best when they’re absorbed, motivated, and steering the ship. That doesn’t happen when we drag them away mid-flow to chant phonemes.
The Ceiling of Possibility
Here’s the irony: the more we cram into provision, the less children get out of it. When every area is dominated by an adult task, we put a ceiling on what’s possible.
Instead of open-ended play, we end up with rehearsed responses. Instead of creativity, compliance. And before long, the children are looking at us like, “Okay, what do you want me to do next?”
That’s not curiosity. That’s training.
And let’s not forget — Ofsted’s own 2021 research review flagged that early learning is strongest where children have time, space, and high-quality interactions. It’s not about endless adult-designed “stuff.”
Balance, Not Battle
This doesn’t mean we throw flashcards (or fine motor trays, or phonics interventions) out of the window. Children need explicit teaching. They need the skills, the structure, the scaffolding. But they also need the freedom to weave those skills into their own ideas.
Think of it as a dance:
Step back — let play lead.
Step in — add your teaching when it matters.
Step out again — and let them run with it.
That rhythm is where the magic happens.
Winning Staff Over:
Sashay Away (From Flashcards)
Darling, it’s time for a classroom runway. On one side: child-led play, serving curiosity, creativity, and confidence.
On the other: tired flashcards and overstuffed fine-motor trays giving… very little.
If you want to win staff over, here’s your 10-step werkroom plan:
1. Start With Stories
Nothing wins hearts like a good narrative. Share those play moments where a child gagged you with their brilliance. Stories always slay harder than stats.
2. Bust the Myths
Play is not “just messing about.” Remind colleagues that research queens like Tina Bruce and Ferre Laevers have receipts showing why play matters.
3. Model “Wait, Watch, Wonder”
Do it live. Show colleagues how fierce it looks when a teacher holds back, observes, and lets children werk their imagination.
4. Showcase the Surprises
Collect those “snatch my wig” moments: unexpected writing in the role play area, deep maths in block play, language that blows you away. Share them in staff meetings like mic drops.
5. Connect It to Outcomes
Because accountability is real. Translate play discoveries into curriculum wins: “This wasn’t just play it was storytelling, measuring, negotiating, problem-solving.”
6. Rename the Runway
Rebrand provision so it shines. Blocks? Architectural Eleganza. Water tray? Hydraulics Couture. Home corner? Drama Deluxe. Give it the Ru treatment and watch attitudes shift.
7. Trial a Mini-Challenge
No one’s asking for a death drop on day one. Small challenges build big confidence.... maybe enhance provision with a provision 1 -2 times a week.
8. Make It Visible
Display photos, observation notes, or involvement scales. When staff see children lost in play, they’ll clock the difference.
9. Celebrate the Chaos
Play isn’t tidy, and that’s the point. A bit of glitter, a toppled tower, a muddy apron, that’s learning realness. Applaud it.
10. Keep the Energy
We need to keep one foot in the world of the adult and another in the world of childhood. Follow their energy
around the room, where is it strongest?
If you want more support with adults interacting in play, check out my on demand training below
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