Sarah is a mum of 3, and has an amazing play account you can find here as well as business @sarahspegs
How did your play journey begin?
When Covid lockdown first hit I was pregnant with Laurence and due to medical issues was shielding for a significant amount of time. I had to juggle work as a key worker from home with the children at my feet and my childminder (who we were not able to use) suggested that I start doing tuff trays for the girls. I think the first set up I did was a pirate ship and she had dropped off items for it onto the door step. As someone who is unable to do anything half way, I then had to delve into the world of sensory play. When I went on maternity leave I began showing friends and family what we were getting up to, which led me to posting on Instagram. I never intended for anyone outside of close friends and family to see our account, which is why I have the most ridiculous account name. Sarah4 was my nickname at college and Turner my maiden name. I then added the 1 as I had locked myself out of my initial account. I just never changed it. I was persuaded by my husband to join the public play community on Instagram as a way of connecting with like minded mums and to stop me feeling so isolated.
Sarahs handpainted pieces within play are always lovely to see @sarah4turner1. Take a look for inspiration
When cretaing an invitation to play, how do you choose which theme and elements to include?
When my journey began I only had one child who had started reception, in September my youngest starts school and the girls will be in years 2 and 4. I continue to set up activities for them for after school, the weekends and in the holidays as my children benefit from routine, structure and continue to enjoy sensory play. When deciding what themes we are going to focus on, I consider each child, we may take themes from what they are learning at school, or I will incorporate their special interests. For Laurence this means a lot of dinosaurs.
How do you adapt play for different ages and abilities?
I like to consider all of the children in most activities so would have to consider three different abilities and ages (Eleanor is 8 years old and is an avid reader, Betsy is 6 and has a love for story telling and role play, Laurence is 4, he has a love of animals and dinosaurs and we are preparing him for starting school) in some activities the girls will act as teacher to laurence, or there will be books that they read to him. It is often the girls that will then expand the play by creating written activities or artwork on the theme given. I will buy books which are of varying levels of reading ability to allow each child to explore in a suitable way for them.
Do you have any favourite resources?
I will often create peg dolls or wooden resources to enhance the play, which is how Sarahspegs became a small business. I love to paint on cardboard and create sensory puzzles or backdrops, but time taken up by painting small toys has led to this being less frequent. Writing this, has reminded me that I need to save some boxes and make time for this again.
Other favourite resources are items from Yellow Door Education, due to their tactile nature, great used with sensory bases and dough. We have a particular fondness for open ended play and the sample boxes are a real hit with all three children, watching them play together using these boxes for hours has been magical.
Shop Sample Project Boxes here
Have you found by creating opportunities to play around your childrens interests and current areas of learning, it has supported them and furthered their progess in certain area?
In creating play opportunities for my children, I have noticed that they see learning as a fun activity and something they actively want to do. Betsy and Laurence encourage Eleanor to ‘play’ and tell stories in a more open way, something that she struggles more with. Reading is central to our home and in the girls encouraging each other and now Laurence, we have seen them exceed in this area. I have used lettered blocks in play since Laurence was born and his letter recognition was clear early on. He loves to read with the help of the girls and them working together has helped to expand his and Betsy’s vocabulary with Eleanor bringing what she has learnt and teaching her siblings. I believe that this has also helped Eleanor to feel more confident in herself.
How do you like to spend your free time?
With children who are often dysregulated, calming sensory play has been an important after school activity, with dough or water being clear winners. I find that rare one on one time with them often sees craft or painting being a way for me to connect with them, sharing this interest. The girls love to join me painting peg dolls.
Outside of the play world, I work in criminal justice, the childhood trauma, criminality and abuse that I see, led me to become a safeguarding governor at my childrens school. I wanted to use my professional knowledge and experience to help make sure children are given a safe environment to learn and flourish. I acknowledge that not all children are given the same opportunities as my own and wanted to give back to my community. I am now the Chair of the Governing Body. As I need to occasionally relax, I created Sarahspegs and this little business means that I rarely sleep as night is my time to paint and block out some of the horrors of my working day.
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