The Can-Do Child® Toolkit
If you're looking for practical, straightforward ideas to help your child develop a 'Can-Do' mindset and skills for life, you've come to the right place. From activity cards, apps, and books, to a free audio club where you can listen in or participate, online courses, videos, and workshops. This is a growing toolkit of resources to help parents, educators, and anyone caring for children age 3+.
"Children don't come with a manual so the best way I have of supporting parents is to give them a toolbox and for me the way The Can-Do Child is being delivered is some really cool tools in their toolbox." Dr Amanda Gummer, UK's leading expert on play, play development, and child development.
"It’s awesome! I love filling in quiz questions and these felt very relevant to topics that concern me when it comes to parenting e.g. too much screen time" Nina H
"I really enjoyed doing the quiz, it was great, and I love the play ideas in the free eBook, I can’t wait to try them out.” Jess B
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We are delighted that both sets of Can-Do Child® cards, and the Easy Early Learning cards have been endorsed by Dr Gummer's Good Play Guide. Following independent testing by families, nurseries, and child carers their review says '...the cards are also ideal for parents and childminders who are looking for enjoyable activities that help their youngsters develop a wide range of soft skills, which are valuable throughout a child’s life for school, work and general wellbeing. The pack of cards is compact enough to travel with, and each card is high quality and durable so parents can take just a couple of cards for inspiration when out and about. There is also a handy guide on the back of each card that shows the skills the activity supports, which childminders will find really useful for writing their observations, and will help parents understand the value of each activity.' (Can-Do Child® cards)
"Perfect for nurseries, educators, and child minders, working with busy parents to support and extend children's learning in a fun, accessible way. It's great seeing children engaging in a wide range of activities that boost their confidence and key transferrable skills. Many of the activities need very little preparation and we enjoyed seeing how this enabled the adults to be more spontaneous and react to the moods of the children". (Easy Early Learning cards)
Are you raising a Can-Do Child?
Children don't come with a manual, but wouldn't it be great if there was a way to check-in and discover if we're on track to helping them make the most of their potential? Well, now there is! Take the free Scorecard quiz today and receive a personalised score, free eBook, and more!
Activity Cards
Can-Do Child® Activity cards - be inspired by these unique activity cards for parents, educators, and anyone wanting play ideas for children age 3-7 years. Packed with simple, practical ideas and inspiration to enjoy the everyday whilst nurturing children's can-do character and skills, you'll find our 'at a glance' grid on the back of each card showing the characteristics and skills children are learning through the activities. Available for ages 3-5 years and age 5-7 years.
Feedback from parents, nurseries, playgroups, and childminders has been overwhelmingly positive:
"What a great idea! I often struggle with ideas to keep the kids busy at home but keen to make sure what they do is helping them with what they're learning at school too. These are ideal."
"I can't wait to try these activities out. So many of them are based around the things we do in our family everyday, I didn't realise how easy it could be!"
"I love the quality of these cards, they feel strong like they won't tear easily and will withstand spills and muddy fingers."
Can-Do Child™ Activity Cards
Free downloadable content samples
Buy on-line now:
Can-Do Child™ Activity cards - age 3-5 years, £15.95 incl. VAT
58 cards to inspire busy parents and anyone caring for children age 3-5 years.
Packed with simple, practical ideas to enjoy the everyday and nurture children's can-do character and skills.
Actual card size: 15cm x 10.5cm
Can-Do Child™ Activity cards - age 5 - 7 years, £15.95 incl. VAT
58 cards to inspire busy parents and anyone caring for children age 5-7 years.
Packed with simple, practical ideas to enjoy the everyday and nurture children's can-do character and skills.
Actual card size: 15cm x 10.5cm
Easy Early Learning EYFS Activity cards to inspire Nurseries, Playgroups, Childminders, Parents, and Home schoolers , £15.95 incl. VAT
26 Aa-Zz fun, phonic, activity and ideas cards covering all areas of the Early Years Foundation stage framework. Bite size, at-a-glance fun activities to support and extend children's learning. Easy Early Learning Can-Do Activity Cards
52 activity cards packed with simple, practical activity ideas requiring little or no planning or extra money. Enjoy the everyday and nurture children's can-do character and skills such as problem solving, social skills, self-regulation, critical thinking, resourcefulness, and the ability to play and work well with others.
Sold as one set (total 78 cards) for age 2½-5 years. Actual card size: 15cm x 10.5cm
Books
A Parent's Guide to Easy, Screen-Free Activities Children Will Love - If you're looking for fun, budget-friendly screen-free play ideas for children age 3-11 years without relying on traditional arts and crafts activities, this book is for you.
Lorraine's third best-selling book is packed with over 170 screen-free activities children will love, with themes from Active Words and Numbers, to Health & Wellbeing, Life Skills, Science, and Kindness. There are helpful tips for parents focused on relaxed, positive parenting, and a section on preparing children to start, or return to school. Order online or download the Kindle today.
The Can-Do Child: Enriching the Everyday the Easy Way is Lorraine's second book, published by ReThink Press in 2017. Discover simple and practical ways to turn everyday situations into enjoyable, creative opportunities for screen-free play time.
It is an inspiring and essential book for parents and anyone who cares for, or works with, children from early years upwards.
"This book will help you to help children become happier, more independent, enterprising and resourceful. I thoroughly recommend it for both parents and professionals." Dr Lynne Kenney, Psy.D Practicing Pediatric Psychologist, international speaker and educator, co-author of Bloom
Available to buy from Amazon and all good bookshops, the book has already received 100% 5 star reviews from parents, grandparents, teachers, and more! We are able to offer a co-branding oportunity for organisations interested in purchasing bulk copies (100+) of the book. Drop us an email to discuss further.
Enterprising Child - Lorraine's first book was published in 2012 following extensive research to understand how family influences and parenting styles impact upon the development of children who grew up to innovate, inspire and make a positive impact upon the world. It has been immensely popular world-wide with both parents and teachers.
It is a practical guide to developing children's enterprising potential through play from the age of four, and explores the wider concepts of what it means to be enterprising, supporting readers to help children think and act in ways which will help them make the best of whatever opportunities and challenges life presents. It is packed with resources, guidance, and inspiring stories.
Enterprising Child has 95% five star reviews on amazon.co.uk and 100% 5 star reviews on amazon.com
Online courses
This online course now offered through Baby Sparks provides over an hour of on demand video, extensive downloadable resources, and on-demand access on mobile or desktop. During the time on Udemy, more than 780 students enrolled on the course, with a 4.8* rating. It has also received 9.1 out of 10 rating at Coursemarks.com
Suitable for parents, educators, child carers, home schoolers, student teachers, and anyone interested in child development and parenting, supporting children age 3 years upwards to develop a Can-Do mindset and skills for life through everyday, screen-free play.
Work at a time, place, and pace to suit you - the course is available 24/7.
The 'Raising Can-Do Children' Club launched in April 2021, and quickly grew to over 200 members in a few weeks. Each week we discussed a different topic related to raising children with a 'Can-Do' mindset and skills for life, from helping children be great problem solvers, to the benefits of outdoor play, developing healthy screen habits, role models and much more. The club is paused at the moment but you can still join if you're on Clubhouse and be notified of what#s going to be happening there next! Join the free 'Raising Can-Do Children Club today - it's free!
Workshops and Coaching
We run a variety of workshops for parent employees, parent educators, teachers, and parents, which can be tailored to meet your particular needs. These are always energising, inspiring, and highly participative. We have run workshops for parents through primary schools, as well as in family centres, and can offer accredited parent-educator training based on the Can-Do Child® philosophy and approach. Coaching is also available.Please contact us to discuss your requirements, we'd love to help.
Apps
Developed by professionals based on years of practical experiences working with families and children, independently tested by families, and recommended by The Good App Guide, this app focuses on supporting children to become confident, competent communicators through fun and easy screen-free play. Discover great ways to keep the children busy, knowing they are having fun and learning at the same time!
"As a family, the activities are very, very special. They bring us together and make us actually appreciate, respect and understand each other when you're trying to solve a problem or helping each other out on a path." Caroline H, parent.
Click the icons below to download the App from Google Play & Apple App Store
Activity Channel
Watch our range of videos showing families enjoying can-do activity ideas.
