International Play Iceland

23/02/2026

18/02/2026

Come to International Play Iceland and spend some time with Alistair Bryce-Clegg at ABC Does and other amazing early childhood advocates!

𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱-𝗻𝗲𝘄, 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆!

This month on The PLAYlist is all about revisiting behaviours and routines we often accept without question, and asking what they are really telling us about children and our practice!

It's packed with goodies, including a new and exclusive article from me, a great (free) online training session, 10 practitioner-made activities and loads more.

As if that isn't enough, February also sees the return of ABC Live! This month, I'll be doing another PLAYlist Q&A with paid subscribers, LIVE on Substack.

For more information on this month's live Q&A or any of the other new content on The PLAYlist, just head to abcdoes.substack.com now!

See you there!

12/02/2026

Memories of years past!

The landscape is amazing, the culture is rich, the children are full of curiosity BUT the company and conversation with your fellow play advocates is truly unforgettable.

11/02/2026

Dates changed!

Play Iceland is a transformative educational experience, opening the door to Iceland's world-renowned approach to childhood development through play-based learning, whilst experiencing the magic of Iceland's culture and landscape.

09/02/2026

A short film produced by International Play Iceland back in 2020 about the importance of play.

PLAYed is about change-about clarity- about commitment-about sharing-about bringing together-about children and their future. We talk to experts in ECE from around…

07/02/2026

Play Iceland is a transformative educational experience, opening the door to Iceland's world-renowned approach to childhood development through play-based learning, whilst experiencing the magic of Iceland's culture and landscape.

For more information visit:
https://www.internationalplayiceland.com/

16/09/2024

And we are now officially exporting to Iceland! 100 pieces of furniture went to Rotterdam - then to Reykjavik and now ensconced here:

"We are loving the items and I already want to order more :)

I think the long tables (foldable) are perfect for our dining hall and would like 4 more of them (in the foreseeable future). Is there any possibility to make the legs a little bit higher? 5 cm or so?
Also I think it would be amazing to attach some sort of lock or mechanism to seal the table in upright position (if you understand).

We LOVE LOVE LOVE the BB Stools and I dream of having way more of them!

I'll have a talk with my boss and see if we have any funds left to get that going.
..and just to let you know - I want MANY more items..!!

Kær kveðja

María Ösp Ómarsdóttir
Leikskólastýra í Árbæ
mariaoom@arborg.is / mariaosp@hjalli.is

Leikskólinn Árbær
Fossvegi 1 / 800 Selfoss
arbaer@arborg.is / 480 3250 "

04/05/2024

It’s amazing how synchronicity works! Michigan trio are coming to Play Iceland and then I host Sandra from Michigan along with Christine from Ohio who may join us. Thanhs Angela…..

13/04/2024

www.internationalplayiceland.com

20/01/2024

Joey is a great friend I have known from his birth almost.

He was a typical Cerebral Palsy child who was written off by lots. But a number, led by his parents, believed Joey had the potential for cheeky beautifulness. And he has. Now off to secondary school.

Then I received this:

“Hi Tom how are you?! How's the treatment etc going??? I just wondered if you knew of any non means tested charities that could help us fund Joeys powerchair for secondary school - it's a very expensive item which we've been unsuccessful in getting funding for through the NHS as they won't fund chairs for outdoor and school use!!!! Crazy!!! It's £22,000!!!! I didn't know if you were aware of any charities that support access to education etc x”

I nearly wrote them a note moaning that the Government could find billions for overpriced unusable PPE from their mates but can’t afford £22k to allow Joey to maintain a level playing field in his education.

Any thoughts gentle friends?
Thanks

10/01/2024

Just seen this.

Handing back her gong will have zero effect. From the BBC:
"Paula Vennells, former CEO of the Post Office, now joins John Lennon in sending an honour back to Buckingham Palace. The former Beatle returned his MBE in 1969 along with a letter to the Queen protesting against the Biafran war.

Doing so has no formal effect. The government’s honours guidance says someone would “still hold the honour unless or until HM King annulled it - their decision would not be publicised by the Cabinet Office and they would continue to be able to describe themself as holding an honour". "

So same old flim flam… New petition to the King?
#

29/10/2022

So another splendid Play Iceland 2022 - a lifetime of working and gone in a flash in time but with us all forever...

The 'team' this year, the 40 together and the 40 who hosted us in their environments - the 120 plus children who came and played with us in City Hall - the Minister of Education and Children who was as committed as we are to the earliest years - all added to the magic that changes lives.

But the main thing was the growing awareness that the spirit of the people spread what I live by, enoughness. We went to a Games Shop, a Perfumer and a Toy Factory - or that's what we thought before we got there - each also has a soul, a purpose, a commitment - all an accolade to the heart of a place called Iceland.

We will be back for 2023... dates above... limited again to 40 people to keep the essence of Play Iceland...

09/01/2022

Great news - but only 7 places left for International Play Iceland 2022 16th October 2022 - 21st. BUT WE ARE RUNNING IT AS STAND ALONE SO NO VAT!!!!

15/11/2021

Old faces, new faces, old places, new places - all good to go..