If you are not already a fan of softplay you are likely to be converted by the extraordinary range and diversity of this type of equipment featured on page 14. This time we look at what is appropriate for the youngest children and the great thing is that, however small your budget, it is affordable as you can buy pieces separately and gradually build up a whole softplay area.
We also cover some classic pre-school activities - stacking (page 16) and threading (page 28) - in which generations of children have participated and that are still extremely valuable in helping to develop manipulative skills and hand/eye co-ordination.
Elsewhere in this issue you will find an enlightening piece on the wide range of clocks and timers now available (page 18) and suggestions on how to keep the children in your after-school club fit and healthy indoors during the winter months (page 30). Twenty lucky readers stand to win a set of Koosh balls (page 11) to help this along. Then, when the children are all exercised out they can relax with one of the new DVDs or CDs reviewed on page 33.
There are, as ever, pages and pages of product reviews, beginning on page 20. Our testers are a discerning lot, so when something wins five stars you can be sure that it really is stimulating and effective, and has stood up well to the rough and tumble of the working environment. Conversely, if something doesn't work well they are equally frank about its shortcomings and we know that many manufacturers take note and have acted on less positive comments.
We have enjoyed producing the autumn supplement. We hope you enjoy reading it.