Play ideas
12 ways to play with a play cloth
From small worlds and dens to puppet shows and picnics: twelve simple ways to play with a play cloth, using things you already have at home.
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Ideas
Ways to Play with a Wonderie Cloth
Today a cloth is one thing, tomorrow it's another. Whatever your kids can imagine, the cloth will become.
1
Create small worlds
Lay your cloth flat and add wooden animals, blocks, figures, vehicles, loose parts or treasures collected from nature.
The illustrations help set the scene, while leaving plenty of space for children to decide what happens next.
2
Tell stories
Choose a character, find somewhere for them to begin, and see where the story goes.
Children can invent their own adventures, retell familiar tales or simply follow the ideas that appear as they play.
3
Build dens and hideaways
Drape a cloth over a table, chairs or play frame to create a cosy den, cave, castle or secret hideaway.
A simple cloth can completely transform an everyday space.
4
Take it outside
Pack a cloth in your bag, use it as a picnic blanket, let it blow in the wind, dance with the waves, drape it over branches and much more.
5
Add it to the toys they already love
Pair a cloth with blocks, dolls, wooden figures, animals, cars, loose parts or anything else your child already enjoys playing with.
It doesn't need special toys to work — it simply adds another layer to their play.
6
Let learning happen naturally
Different designs can spark conversations about forests, animals, oceans, space, seasons, landscapes and the world around us.
Children can explore new ideas through play without it ever needing to feel like a lesson.
7
Hang it as art
When play is finished, the cloths are beautiful enough to stay out.
The loops in the corners make them easy to hang on the wall, turning the illustration into a piece of art for a bedroom or playroom.
8
Dress up and move
Wear it as a cape, a dress or a wizard's cloak, tie it to a stick as a flag, or hold two corners and play parachute.
The cloths are light enough to swish, twirl and run with.
50 quick ideas
Read on if you're after some inspiration for how to use your cloth.
- Lay it flat and add wooden animals
- Make a cape
- Use it as a picnic blanket
- Pick a character and find where they live
- Drape it over a table for a den
- Count the animals
- Hide tiny figures in the trees for a hunt
- Hang it on the wall as art
- Let it blow in the wind
- Use it as a messy play base
- Play parachute with two people
- Retell a bedtime story on the cloth
- Hang it between two chairs as a tent
- Find all the things in a certain colour
- Park cars along the roads
- Let it dance in the waves of the ocean
- Make a stage curtain for a puppet show
- Take it in the bath
- Shake it to make waves
- Line your tuff tray with it
- Peek-a-boo for babies
- Use a torch to light the night scenes
- Peg it to the washing line for a hideaway
- Spot something that starts with a certain letter
- Drape it over branches
- Wrap up as a mermaid
- Lay it on a field and add nature's loose parts
- Make up a name for every animal
- Cover a cardboard box to make a house
- Match a toy animal to its home
- Try furoshiki, the art of wrapping presents
- Run through it like a waterfall
- Read a picture book and recreate it on the cloth
- Make a hammock for a soft toy
- Lie on it and look for the tiny details
- Set up a farm with fences and animals
- Wear it as a wizard's cloak
- Use it as a dolly bed or wrap
- Line a reading nook
- Use it as a tablecloth
- Make a beach scene with real shells
- Give each child a corner and join the stories
- Swish it over a baby during tummy time
- Learn the names of the sea creatures
- Pack it in your bag for the park
- Hang it in a doorway as a magic door
- Tie it on a stick and use it as a flag
- Turn it into a dress
- Cover a playframe
- Take it camping
More play ideas on the blog
Play ideas
Small world play: what it is and how to set it up with a play cloth
What small world play is, why children love it, and how to set up a simple small world with a play cloth and the toys you already have.
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Tag @the.wonderie on Instagram. We love seeing how you use them.
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