4 years, 11 months old
Growing in Curiosity and Confidence
Play ideas, a book, a song and a little encouragement for your 59 month old, from Maddie.
By Maddie, early childhood educator and Mum
6 min read · Updated
In this guide
Hello, dear parent!
As you find yourself on the brink of your child’s fifth birthday, it can feel like a bit of a whirlwind, can’t it? They’ve come such a long way, from those early babbles and wobbly first steps to asking questions that stop you in your tracks, noticing the tiniest details, and remembering everything you say (and wish they maybe didn’t!).
Whether this is your first turning 5, your last, or somewhere in the middle; it’s a big milestone. However the last five years have felt; easy, hard, nothing like you expected, or all of the above; you’ve done it. And here they are, this incredible almost 5-year-old, ready to take on the world… because of you.
And then there’s that moment where you think, wow… they’re 5. Only 5.
There is still so much magic, growth, and adventure ahead.
If the first five years of parenting have taught me anything, it’s this: slow down when you can, be present where you are, laugh as much as you can and say no as little as possible.
Before becoming a parent, I had so many thoughts about how I would do things. As an early childhood educator, I felt pretty confident in my ideas of what worked best. And while a lot of that holds true in a childcare setting… parenting your own children? A whole different world. Let’s just say I’ve been lovingly humbled more than once; and there are definitely a few past opinions I’ve had to quietly let go of (and maybe laugh at a little too).
Five years in, it can feel like such a big moment. Not in a “we’ve made it” kind of way; but in a “look how far we’ve come, and how much more is still to come” kind of way. You’re still right in the middle of it. Still growing, still learning, still figuring it out; just like they are.
And that’s a pretty special place to be 💛
This month’s newsletter offers some gentle ideas for enjoying time together. These are simply suggestions; feel free to adapt or skip them! The everyday moments you share matter deeply and lay the foundation for their ongoing journey.
Activity 1:🧡 Playdough
How: Set up some playdough with a few simple extras like rolling pins, cookie cutters, sticks, buttons, pasta, beads, or natural loose parts. Then simply sit alongside your child and start creating together. There’s no pressure to make anything specific—roll, squash, cut, poke, shape, or just enjoy the feeling of the dough in your hands.
Your child might create food for a café, animals, people, little worlds, or something completely unexpected. They may love using your creations in their own play, or they might be happy working on their own ideas. One of my favourite things is just making little balls or rolling snakes and cutting them into pieces; it’s surprisingly relaxing, and children often find a way to turn these simple pieces into something wonderful.
Think of it as a creative, calming moment for both of you. Play isn’t just for children; it’s a chance for adults to slow down, connect, and enjoy being creative too. 💛
Why: Playdough is so good for children of all ages it strengthens hands for writing, builds creativity and imagination supports focus and problem solving and encourages language and storytelling. It is also so regulating I find it a great activity when emotions are high, or we are stuck with what to do, or just having a quiet time around the table together. All the squeezing, shaping, pounding and squishing feels great too!
Jumping & Crashing Fun
How: Create a safe space where your child can jump, land and crash! Use cushions, pillows, blankets or a mattress on the floor and invite them to jump from a small height, leap over cushions, or make a big “crash” landing. Try different ways to jump; like a frog jump, star jump, tiny jumps, giant jumps or jumping as different animals. You can also build a tower of cushions or boxes for them to knock down with their whole body, or create a “crash zone” where they can run, jump and tumble safely.
Why: Jumping and crashing play provides important whole-body movement that helps children develop balance, coordination, body awareness and strength. The heavy work of landing, pushing, lifting and crashing can also be very regulating for many children, helping them feel grounded and organised. It encourages confidence, risk assessment and problem-solving as children experiment with how their bodies move and what they can do. 💪🌈
Safety: Create a clear, safe space and use soft surfaces like cushions, mats or grass. Start with small jumps and let children choose their own challenges based on what feels comfortable for their body.
Extra activity:
If your child is noticing letters and words, either beginning to write or are well underway, go with it...follow their lead; let them copy down words, label things around the house, cut out letters from magazines and collage them onto paper, play with words and letters in the sand or mud, or with painting. Children don't just go straight into writing, they need to learn about letters and words, experiment and explore with them, play with them. This is the way they will learn.
I’ve always been a big believer in play, mess, and everything in between, so when my eldest became interested in writing at a young age, I’ll admit… I found it tricky at first. I worried that too much “schooly” learning would take away from her creativity.
But she wanted to write.
Birthday cards became very serious business. Each one carefully written: “Happy Birthday (name), love Remi.” Always one colour (usually brown for some reason), maybe a single love heart or balloon. Simple, focused, and completely her.
Then I realised… this was her play.
Children don’t separate play and learning the way we sometimes do. They’re simply drawn to what interests them—whether it’s mud kitchens or writing cards, they’re exploring, creating, and making sense of their world.
When we follow their lead, we find there is fun and learning in almost everything. 💛
Song of the Month: Hey Diddle Diddle
Hey diddle diddle,
The cat and the fiddle,
The cow jumped over the moon.
The little dog laughed
To see such sport,
A playful, slightly nonsensical rhyme that little ones love for its rhythm and silliness!
Book of the Month: There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
This silly, rhythmic story is always a hit. The repetition, the build-up, and the increasingly ridiculous animals make it so fun for children to join in and predict what’s coming next.
How to enjoy it together:
Pause and let your child guess what she might swallow next
Join in with the repeated lines (they’ll pick it up quickly!)
Act it out with big movements or funny voices
It’s one of those stories that’s just as fun the tenth time as the first; and the shared laughter is always the best part 💛
Did You Know?
Playing with letters in a playful way, like singing songs or crafting; often lays a better foundation than jumping straight to worksheets. These relaxed activities help children develop a love for letters, making 'formal' learning easier later on.
Social & Emotional Skill Building
Normalize making mistakes and learning from them. When you spill milk or forget something, say aloud, “Oops! That's okay, I’ll try again.” Your calm response shows them it’s okay to make mistakes and encourages resilience.
My girls get to see this a lot.
These little lessons in empathy and perseverance will grow with them.
✨ Remember Your love and attention are the true gifts your child needs. These extraordinary milestones and everyday wonders are all knitted together with the warm threads of your presence.
You're doing beautifully, and wherever today finds you both, it's more than enough.