Exploring the Cosmos: Celebrating National Space Day

30 April 2024 | Charis

Exploring the Cosmos: Celebrating National Space Day with Stellar Toys

National Space Day, celebrated on the first Friday in May, ignites the imagination and curiosity of both children and adults alike. It's a day dedicated to honouring the wonders of space exploration, encouraging learning, and inspiring future generations of scientists and astronauts. What better way to celebrate this cosmic occasion than by delving into the universe of space-themed toys? From stacking games to observation puzzles, there's a galaxy of options to explore.

What day is National Space Day?

National Space Day falls annually on the first Friday of May. This designated day aims to raise awareness of the achievements and benefits of space exploration while inspiring interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. It's a time for educators, space enthusiasts, and families to come together and celebrate the vast cosmos above us.

Why was Space Day created?

Space Day was created with the intention of promoting STEM education and fostering interest in space exploration. By dedicating a day to celebrate space, organizers aim to spark curiosity, encourage learning, and inspire future generations to pursue careers in science, engineering, and technology. Space Day serves as a reminder of the incredible achievements made in space exploration and the limitless possibilities that lie ahead.

Exploring the Cosmos with Toys:

Toys play a vital role in sparking curiosity and imagination in children. Space-themed toys offer a fun and engaging way to learn about the universe while fostering creativity and critical thinking skills. Let's take a closer look at some stellar options:

Londji Up To The Stars Stacking Game

£31.00

Banana Panda Observation Puzzle - Space

£19.95

Grapat Dear Universe

£41.80

Yoto Card - The Solar System

£24.95

Safari Ltd Space Toob

£14.00

1. Londji Up To The Stars Stacking Game:
Embark on a cosmic journey with the Londji Up To The Stars Stacking Game. This whimsical game challenges players to stack colourful wooden pieces to create their own stellar towers. With its vibrant design and engaging gameplay, this stacking game not only promotes hand-eye coordination but also encourages imaginative exploration of the cosmos.

2. Banana Panda Observation Puzzle - Space:
Explore the wonders of space with the Banana Panda Observation Puzzle. Featuring stunning illustrations of planets, stars, and spacecraft, this puzzle offers a captivating way to learn about the solar system. Assembling the puzzle pieces not only develops fine motor skills but also provides an opportunity to discover fascinating facts about space exploration.

3. Grapat Dear Universe:
Enter a world of infinite possibilities with Grapat Dear Universe. This open-ended toy set invites children to explore the cosmos through imaginative play. From creating their own space adventures to contemplating the mysteries of the universe, children can let their creativity soar as they interact with the beautifully crafted wooden pieces.

4. Yoto Card - The Solar System:
Journey through the solar system with the Yoto Card - The Solar System. This interactive audio card set brings the wonders of space to life with captivating stories and educational content. By simply placing the cards in a Yoto Player, children can embark on an audio adventure through the cosmos, learning about planets, moons, and beyond.

5. Safari Ltd Space Toob:
Venture into outer space with the Safari Ltd Space Toob. This collection of miniature space figures allows children to recreate their own interstellar missions and space explorations. From astronauts and rockets, the Space Toob provides endless opportunities for imaginative play and storytelling.

Space-themed sensory play

Small world play and sensory exploration offer unique opportunities for children to immerse themselves in the wonders of space. Setting up a small world space scene with sensory materials like moon sand or sensory beads can transport children into the depths of the cosmos. They can manipulate the materials to create lunar landscapes, asteroid fields, or even alien worlds, allowing their imaginations to soar. By engaging their senses through touch, sight, and sound, children can gain a deeper understanding of space concepts such as gravity, texture, and the vastness of the universe. Through hands-on exploration, they can learn about the characteristics of planets, the phases of the moon, and the challenges of space travel in a fun and interactive way. Small world play and sensory exploration not only encourage creativity and problem-solving skills but also foster a sense of wonder and curiosity about the mysteries of the cosmos.

Children naturally love small worlds sensory play and can learn so much through this type of play. Not only does it nurture their imagination, it also encourages them to explore new materials, act out scenarios from real life, build language, practice social skills and gain an understanding of the world around them.

The use of natural resources in small world play promotes the use of all fine senses, provides chances for sorting and describing, and encourages language development. Natural resources can help children become more interested in, and knowledgeable about, the world around them. Giving children a stimulating, constantly-changing environment to explore helps to foster their curiosity, encourage creative thinking, and give them chances to ask questions.

The opportunity to experience small world play is so important for littles ones and the PlayTRAY is the perfect place to set it up! A space themed sensory tray is a wonderful way to encourage discussions about space, the solar system and space exploration. Why not have a go?

Sensory sand or kinetic sand is a great base for a space themed tray, but playdough or dried beans can work just as well. You can then build out your tray with rocks from the garden, or coloured dried pasta.

We love adding small world play toys like the Space TOOBs or The Grapat Dear Universe set to create a fun galaxy of play. With the PlayTray you can get super creative with your playset ups creating endless hours of fun.