![Flipping amazing!](/web/20170624151402im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/d/4/k/g/image.related.landscape.380x253.gvd3i6.png/1491285848730.jpg)
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Ocean memory game
Celebrate World Ocean Day with this cute memory game for your kids.
![index](/web/20170624151402im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/1/p/1/v/8/image.related.landscape.300x200.1wxgy.png/1334276053400.jpg)
Backyard games for cooped-up kids
Are you looking for ways to inspire your kids to spend more time playing outside? Challenge them with a game of backyard soccer, cricket or baseball by combining a few affordable essentials with items you can easily find around the house.
![play](/web/20170624151402im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/1/v/t/e/3/image.related.landscape.300x200.1vtbr.png/1334109863237.jpg)
The importance of play
Giving children the freedom to develop their own games improves their social skills and reasoning, writes Melinda Ham.
![Dirty kid](/web/20170624151402im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/1/5/3/f/3/image.related.landscape.300x200.153d8.png/1333460864787.jpg)
The dirty secret about raising kids: It’s child's play
The secret to raising strong, happy kids? Dirt and lots of it.
![index](/web/20170624151402im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/1/w/3/6/w/image.related.landscape.300x200.1w2kc.png/1333085544510.jpg)
Top ten classic schoolyard games
The list of the old schoolyard favourites could go on forever but how many of these once loved games do your kids still play today? Now is the perfect time to teach them with our list of top ten classic schoolyard games.
![index](/web/20170624151402im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/1/w/3/5/w/image.related.landscape.300x200.1w0qx.png/1333085008657.jpg)
Justine Davies
Combating the barriers to play
With less garden space, more scheduled activities and more homework kids often have no energy left for free play. So how do we break those barriers down?
![Andrew](/web/20170624151402im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/1/k/5/3/0/image.related.landscape.300x200.1vyw3.png/1363649460567.jpg)
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Unstructured play
Andrew Daddo discovers that imagination is the best game ever invented, sometimes it’s a matter of remembering how it works.
![index](/web/20170624151402im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/1/w/3/1/u/image.related.landscape.300x200.1w0lv.png/1333083132037.jpg)
Justine Davies
Ideas to encourage unstructured play
The message on the benefits of unstructured play is getting through but how do busy families find the time? Justine Davies shares some fun ideas for you to try with the kids.
![index](/web/20170624151402im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/1/m/w/v/k/image.related.landscape.300x200.1mwrz.png/1332984271097.jpg)
Kids told to play in Nature’s playground
Curtin University research claims that in just one generation, outdoor play has decreased from 73% to just 13% of total play time. Instead, the vast majority of children today indulge in more than the recommended two hours of screen use by watching TV/DVDs, playing electronic games and using computers.
![index](/web/20170624151402im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/1/u/z/v/j/image.related.landscape.300x200.1uzw4.png/1425877537000.jpg)
St Patrick's Day Memory Game
Print off this fun St Patrick's Day activity and have hours of fun with the kids.
![index](/web/20170624151402im_/http://www.essentialkids.com.au/content/dam/images/1/q/5/x/0/image.related.landscape.300x200.1ute7.png/1331512174383.jpg)
Space to imagine and create
There are many opinions on child's play but award-winning architect Jon King discovers that when kids are given space to imagine and create they thrive.
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