📢 Would you like FREE access to resources, forums, e-learning & more?  Our resources, networking events, and training are designed to support play practitioners & organisations in Scotland.

Back in November we had a fantastic discussion with some of our members on supporting additional support needs in settings. There was so much to take away we wanted to share it with you, so we've put together an info sheet providing a quick insight on ways to support ASN families in your setting ⬇️

Tomorrow is #internationalplaydateday 🎉 Playing together: 💪 Builds crucial social, emotional, & cognitive skills 🤝 Fosters teamwork, communication, & empathy 💞 Strengthens relationships, boosts confidence, improves problem-solving, & promotes physical health

We’ve opened applications for our Whole Family Wellbeing Fund. Third sector and community organisations who support families, children and young people can apply for grants of up to £50,000. They must have a bank account. Applications close 31 January 2026. www.renfrewshire.gov.uk/news/2026/ap...

🗓️In two weeks we'll be kicking off our 2026 Play Chat series with a discussion about play in community spaces. 🌐Join us online to discuss challenges and avenues to develop play in community spaces. 👉Register here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1963257098832

Welcome back! We would love to hear your plans for the new year. Do you have any news or exciting new projects in the works? Remember we're here to help. If there's anything we can support you with to get 2026 off to a successful start, get in touch!

Everyone at Smart Play Network would like to wish you all a wonderfully playful Christmas time, and a very Happy New Year 🎄⛄🎆 We look forward to working with you all in 2026!

🎄12 Days of Play 🎄Day 12! A message from our CEO Lesley Fox: As we celebrate this year, let us remember that the greatest gifts cannot be wrapped or placed under a tree. They are found in the laughter of our children, the warmth of shared stories, and the strength of the relationships we build.

🎄12 Days of Play 🎄Day 11! Oban Toy Cupboard #2025Highlights #12daysofchristmas #celebratingplay

🎄12 Days of Play 🎄Day 10! European Toy Libraries Conference This year we were proud to represent Scotland at the 29th European Toy Libraries Conference in beautiful Naples!

🎄12 Days of Play 🎄Day 9! Pathways Through Play Pathways delivers visits to settings to support speech & language development through stories and play. Their highlight for the year was visiting Argyll & Bute & the lovely communities and nurseries #2025Highlights #12daysofchristmas #celebratingplay

🎄12 Days of Play 🎄Day 8!  Smart Play Rangers Our Edinburgh Play Rangers' highlight was making the most of a windy day and creating kites out of sticks and rubbish bags. #2025Highlights #12daysofchristmas #celebratingplay

🎄12 Days of Play 🎄Day 7! St Catherine's Primary #2025Highlights #12daysofchristmas #celebratingplay

🎄12 Days of Play 🎄Day 6! Visit to Home-Start Lorn in Oban! Slightly different highlight style today - back in September Bonnie the bus visited Home-Start Lorn, and we loved visiting and getting to know the families in Oban area!  #2025Highlights #12daysofchristmas #celebratingplay

🎄12 Days of Play 🎄Day 5! West Lothian College Our second member highlight this week is West Lothian College and their PDA Education Assistant class. They are proud of their buddy mentorship system and supporting ASN school programmes with students #2025Highlights #12daysofchristmas #celebratingplay

🎄12 Days of Play 🎄Day 4! Baltic Street Baltic Street Adventure Playground love outdoor play & letting children learn through play. They've had a busy year, with lots of messy play, and an impressive amount of lunches given out to children. #2025Highlights #12daysofchristmas #celebratingplay

🎄12 Days of Play 🎄Day 3: Play Plus Toy Library! #2025Highlights #12daysofchristmas #celebratingplay

🎄12 Days of Play 🎄Day 2! Play on Wheels Play on wheels is a Fife-based mobile play project supporting groups and organisations around Fife. A 2-woman team full of fantastic ideas, had a highlight each - see their highlights and tip for 2026 in the images below!

🎄12 Days of Play🎄Day 1: Training! #2025Highlights #12daysofchristmas #celebratingplay

🎄12 Days of Play 🎄 As we wrap up for 2025 let's celebrate some of our favourite moments, along with some highlights from our partners, members, and play sector friends!  Join us daily starting tomorrow to celebrate with us! #countdowntochristmas #2025highlights

FREE Playground Games Taster Sessions for Schools in Edinburgh & Midlothian!  FREE 1-hour taster sessions to help schools boost free play and loose parts play activities.

We are just 1 week away from our final in person training of 2025!! 🎉 Join us in Edinburgh for Intro to Woodwork: learn basic skills and safe practices for implementing woodworking activities safely with the children and young people in your setting.

❄️The days may be short, the weather cold, but that doesn't mean we can't still enjoy playing outside - it's all about being prepared! ☃️   Here's how we can all benefit from playing outdoors in the winter…

Brighten up the night this December ✨ Inspired by our Narnia creative experience for families in Wester Hailes, why not create a magical festive window display with your wee one? All you need is black card, tissue paper, and a spark of imagination ➡️ starcatchers.org.uk/work/wee-ins...

🎉December Training!! 🎉 We are closing off the year with two fantastic training courses in Edinburgh:

Top Tip - check out the @charityexcellence.bsky.social Funding Finder for grant finding, with free help and resources too!. Register for access to their AI Bunny to help you find whatever you're looking for.

📢 Would you like FREE access to resources, forums, e-learning & more?  Our resources, networking events, and training are designed to support play practitioners & organisations in Scotland. Membership is open to all projects & individuals in Scotland that meet our criteria!

Happy Outdoor Classroom Day!! If you are looking for some play activities to do outdoors, why not check out our play ideas section on the website: https://spn-engage.org/play-ideas/

What a fantastic Play Chat today! We had some brilliant discussions on making play settings truly inclusive for all children.   It was wonderful talking about the crucial needs for connection, creating safe spaces, and offering peace of mind to parents. We're feeling incredibly inspired!

🎇 Happy Guy Fawkes Day! 🎇 Remember to stay safe while you enjoy the celebrations tonight. Here's a reminder of some top tips from BBC Newsround:

Feeling NeuroSpicy? This new Green Team programme could be for you! Join us on Sun 30 Nov, 11am-3pm. For any young person with neurodivergence, NeuroSpicy helps you explore and connect with nature and your own creativity. A safe and welcoming green space. DISCOVER MORE - greenteam.org.uk/neurospicy

Online Networking this week, come join us!: Play Chat: All Things Play - a focused discussion on supporting children with ASN, and how we can adapt our play setting to make it more inclusive. 📅 Wed 5th Nov ⏰10:30am  🌎Online ➡https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1067225713839?aff=oddtdtcreator

Yesterday we shared some key facts about toys and how toy libraries contribute to sustainable play.  There are currently over 24 toy libraries across Scotland. Scotland could use more toy libraries than ever  so if you are interested in setting one up, get in touch!

This week is Green Libraries Week! It's the perfect time to remind ourselves why toy library and lending projects are so important to families, communities and the environment by promoting sustainability.

If you're interested in engaging dads more fully in family and community life, this one’s for you! Join @fathersnetwork.bsky.social  online for a relaxed and practical meet-up  📅Wednesday Oct 29 | 🕑 2PM - 3PM https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CVWp3mnuT5GzitV2t6oPhg#/registration

All Weather Play training at @actionforchildren.bsky.social   was a vibe! Up next: Introduction to Woodworking! 📅Wed 19 November ⏰10:30am 🌎North Edinburgh Arts, 12C MacMillan Square, Edinburgh EH4 4AB ➡https://bit.ly/4qbgyFI We'd love to see you there!

Playing Outdoors: if you are part of an outdoor setting, then sign up to hear from us, and network with other outdoor practitioners online. 📅 Fri 7th Nov ⏰11:15am 🌎Online ➡https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1067245322489?aff=oddtdtcreator Don't miss out - register now and be part of the conversation.

All Things Play: an engaging online discussion, bringing together play practitioners and enthusiasts across Scotland. 📅 Wed 5th Nov ⏰10:30am  🌎Online ➡https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1067225713839?aff=oddtdtcreator Don't miss out—register now and be part of the conversation!

A fantastic day had at St Mary's R.C Primary School in Bonnyrigg, discovering fun and creative ways to support play!

The 6th of November is Outdoor Classroom Day! Outdoor Education has a great impact on childhood development. It improves academic retention and learning, as well as supports social and behavioural development. We know the outdoors is great for our children, so get out there to play and learn.

#WorldMentalHealthDay - 10th October ❤️🧠 This day is for talking about mental health, showing everyone that it matters, & that talking about it helps us cope with life’s ups and downs.  Helpful toolkit from @EducationSupport: https://www.educationsupport.org.uk/media/mimbb0uc/wmhd-2025-toolkit.pdf

Play therapy uses children’s natural language – play – as a form of communication. 🎲🎳🛝🤾‍♀️ In preparation for #WorldMentalHealthDay this Friday, our Play as Therapy Information Sheet explores how we can use play to support positive mental health in children.

**Coming up next month!** This woodworking course will help you learn basic woodworking skills and safe practices, which will enable you to implement woodworking activities safely with children and young people in your setting. 📅Wed 19 November ⏰10:30am  🌎North Edinburgh Arts ➡https://bit.ly/4qbgyFI

Would you like to learn how to sign nursery rhymes? 🤘🎶👍 Check out this @cbeebies.bsky.social video, and try to follow along!

Today is #internationaldayofsignlanguages 🙌 Using sign language in play is a great way to encourage a child's communication skills. We've put together some top tips to help you get started!

Our members Engage Hub is your one stop centre for all things play!  E-Learning, Networking, play resources, and ideas at: https://f.mtr.cool/slvdmrybma You can add details about your organisation on the member section so other members can hear about your work and connect in directly with you.

Scotland's Climate Week starts the 29th! Visit Keep Scotland Beautiful for lesson plans and educational resources for schools and EYC settings.  For information about sustainability, you can also check out Net Zero Nation. https://f.mtr.cool/wbbcsgcodh

NHS Tayside, Corra, and the University of Dundee have been running a project for over a year now where they support families with antenatal support and a book to read to their "bump". What a great project!

🌏 Embracing sustainability in play allows you to experiment with all kinds of different materials and tools 🔨 @playwales.bsky.social  have released a great info sheet to support your sustainable journey. ➡️https://play.wales/resources-library/info-sheet/creativity-and-tool-use-in-play-settings/

Sustainable Play!! 🎈🎉🏔️🌊 Looking for ways to use the natural environment around you - being sustainable & free? We got you! We've created a little something that may help. FREE info sheet on Sustainable play for you to use and share! 🙌🎉 Click here: https://bit.ly/3Uc1Can 👈 #sustainability, #play