* Use your skills of observation in a relaxed and informal way: look, listen and observe what the children are doing and in what way.
* Work with colleagues to abandon any rigid assumptions that 'proper' play has to have certain characteristics.
* Flexible plans allow adults to go with the flow of what interests the children today (see 'Nature's way', Nursery World, 14 December 2000). The richness of young children's play is evident when they have choice in play materials, rather than a selection determined by the adults.
* Ensure that play materials have plenty of scope for different uses. For example, fixed sound-making consoles are only enjoyable for a short period. Once babies and toddlers have rung the bells and turned the knobs, there is not much else to do. On the other hand, a range of sound-making toys can be experimented on, shared with a friend and carried around.
