First Published in 2006. Guaranteed fun for children and practitioners alike, the Ready, Steady, Play! series provides lively and STIMULATING activities for children. Each book focuses on one specific aspect of play, offering clear and detailed guidance on how to plan and enjoy wonderful play experiences with minimum fuss and maximum success. Ready, Steady, Play! helps practitioners to: Develop activities easily, using suggested guidelines; Ensure that health and safety issues are taken into account; Plan play that links to the early years curriculum. For early years practitioners and students on early years courses and parents looking for ideas and inspiration. Play Using Natural Materials shows that natural materials can equal ready-made toys as an exciting stimulus for play in order to promote the learning and development of children within early years settings. Use this book to: Get out and do; Support a child’s investigation of the natural world; Encourage first-hand exploration of natural objects.