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ABOUT HEURISTIC PLAY

What is heuristic play?

Heuristic play is an established early childhood approach that gives babies and young children safe, interesting objects to explore freely and in their own way.

Think bowls, rings, fabric, tins and wooden objects — things with different shapes, textures, weights and sounds to grasp, shake, roll, bang, fill, empty and discover.

There are no instructions and no one “right” way to play. The little person leads the way.

What are the benefits of heuristic play?

Heuristic play gives little people the freedom to explore, experiment and figure things out for themselves.

As they handle different objects, children can investigate texture, weight, sound, movement, shape, cause and effect, and how things fit together — while making their own choices about what to explore and how.

Most importantly, there’s no end result they’re trying to achieve. The exploring is the learning.

What age is heuristic play for?

Heuristic play can begin in babyhood and change as your child grows.

A baby might grasp, mouth, shake and drop an object. Later, they may start filling and emptying, stacking, carrying, combining objects and experimenting with what fits where.

Always follow the age and safety information provided with your ProjectPlay collection and supervise play.

Do I need to show my child how to play?

No — and that’s part of the beauty of heuristic play.

Offer a few interesting objects, stay nearby and see what catches their attention. You don’t need to demonstrate what everything is “for” or continually come up with ways to entertain them.

Give them time to explore and let little people lead the way.

PROJECTPLAY PRODUCTS

What’s the difference between The Treasure Tray and The Treasure Bag?

The Treasure Tray is our fuller heuristic play collection, with a wider variety of objects, materials, textures and ways to explore.

The Treasure Bag is a smaller collection — ideal for gifting, taking with you or simply starting small.

Both are thoughtfully created around the same idea: interesting objects, open-ended exploration and plenty of room for curiosity.

Which one should I choose?

Choose The Treasure Tray if you’re looking for the full ProjectPlay heuristic play experience and a larger variety of objects to explore.

Choose The Treasure Bag if you’d like a smaller collection, an easy introduction to heuristic play or a beautiful gift.

There’s no “better” option — just two different ways to bring heuristic play home.

Are ProjectPlay products safe for babies and toddlers?

Safety is considered throughout the selection and development of every ProjectPlay collection, including the materials, construction, size and intended age of individual pieces.

How do I clean them?

• Wood & metal: Wipe with a 1:10 vinegar:water mix, rinse, and air-dry in sunlight. .

• Fabric pieces: Hand-wash in mild, unscented detergent, rinse thoroughly, and line dry in the sun.

ABOUT PROJECTPLAY

Who is behind ProjectPlay?

ProjectPlay was created by Angela, a qualified and fully registered Early Childhood Teacher with more than 15 years’ experience working with babies, young children and their families.

It brings together years of early childhood experience, thoughtfully chosen play products and one pretty simple belief: little people are incredibly capable when we give them the time, space and opportunity to explore.

What is the ProjectPlay Little Library?

The ProjectPlay Little Library is a growing collection of bite-sized, teacher-created guides about play, child development and everyday life with little people.

Drawing on 15+ years of teaching experience and current research, they make big early childhood ideas easier to understand and useful in everyday life.

Do you supply early childhood centres or offer wholesale?

Yes. ProjectPlay works with parents, early childhood services, home-based educators and retailers throughout New Zealand.

For ECE, bulk or wholesale enquiries, get in touch at projectplaynz@gmail.com and tell us a little about what you’re looking for.

Where do you ship?

ProjectPlay is based in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, and ships throughout NZ and Australia.

Current shipping options and costs are shown at checkout.

Anything we haven't answered? Please head to our 'Contact Us' page and send us a message.