Carly Budd Developmental Play Academy

27/02/2026

✨Celebrating our new Tummy Time Practitoner Oyindamola ✨

The lovely Oyinda of .nl has l completed her Tummy Time Practitioner training (including for children with additional needs ) as part of the Advanced Practitioner in Developmental Play 0–3 pathway. Whooo!

👉🏽This means she is confidently equipped to support babies to develop strong foundational skills with a deep knowledge of tummy time as part of a varied play diet and with the skills to adapt for children who require extra support.

⭐️Oyinda brings a wealth of experience to this work. She has long worked with children, has a deep interest in child development, and is also a writer, using her words to connect, inspire, and support families. Her background in developmental baby massage fits beautifully with her learning in developmental play, giving her a holistic understanding of movement, touch, and early connection.

Next, she’ll be moving into Infant Developmental Play and Toddler Developmental Play of the Advanced Practitioner programme with me, continuing to build her expertise step by step.

I’m so excited to see how she applies everything she’s learning to make a real difference for the families she supports in her business!

Congratulations, Oyinda ✨✨the children, parents, and families you work with are incredibly lucky to have you.

If you’d like to train with me to either infuse the knowledge into your current service or programme, or to create a whole new business, do check out my training www.carlybudd.co.uk

24/02/2026

The dream of life? Mud on boots, little hands in yours, laughter echoing down a mountain, nature, and the people who matter most right beside you ✨

Sometimes the perfect moments aren’t somewhere we’re going… they’re right here, happening now. 💛

www.carlybudd.co.uk

20/02/2026

I get a little worried when I see tummy time dismissed as just a trend… because for all babies it’s crucial, and even more so for those who may be at risk of developmental delays. 💛

Tummy time is just one part of a baby’s play diet, but it’s an important position for play. It’s not just putting a baby on their front on the floor… it starts small, uses parents as a nurturing scaffold and is always always baby led and developmentally appropriate.

This is why I started Tummy Time Practitioner training back in 2020. Even since I qualified in 2008, there have been so many misconceptions 🫠

Parents and practitioners: always check your sources, think critically, and reflect. Not every tip, post, or video about tummy time is safe or evidence-based and please make sure it’s from credible sources.

And if you are a professional who would like to be trained or have your team trained by a HCPC registered Health Professional and experienced children’s OT I’m you girl ❤️✨www.carlybudd.co.uk

13/02/2026

Heyyy… life’s been BUSY lately! Between my OT clinical work, welcoming new practitioners, marking student work and the little everyday moments, I haven’t been around here as much. 💛

Even though it’s full on, I’m loving seeing the children on my clinical caseload with whilst also sharing my knowledge and experience with professionals across health, education, and the third sector through my training!

Recently I’ve been supporting teams and practitioners to work confidently with children with additional needs, complex early journeys, and those supporting children with typical development too through my advanced programme - helping them bring play, development, and connection into everything they do. I’ve had wonderful feedback, and I can’t wait to share with you what they are up too!

✨🤗 ✨

www.carlybudd.co.uk

08/02/2026

Might delete later..but I wrote a poem this National Snowdrop day ❄️🌱

The snowdrops bow their gentle heads,
White whispers close to frozen ground,
The first brave signs that change is near,
That life still stirs and growth can be found.

Tiny hands reach, eyes grow wide,
As wonder blooms in play.
Mud and leaves and open skies,
This is how children play the nature way.

No rush, no rules, just time and trust,
Following curiosity’s call,
Because real development begins
When children are free
To move and feel it all.

Carly Budd xx

Ps Final hours to join Play the Nature Way: Nature Play Practitioner on my imbolc offer (ends today at 8pm)

www.carlybudd.co.uk

07/02/2026

What I really want as a Children's OT! Read more: https://wix.to/nhgJKs6

I want children to move more. From the very beginning, from their first wriggles, reaches, and rolls.

06/02/2026

I’m so happy to share that 4 amazing practitioners have signed up to become Nature Play Practitioners through my Play the Nature Way training 🌿

Across the country, more families will now be enjoying nature-based play with practitioners who feel confident, competent, and passionate about bringing more play outdoors for children.

My special offer of 40% off is open until Sunday 8th at 8pm! I’d love to have you join us! Link in my bio or go to my website www.carlybudd.co.uk

Ps what do you think of this caricature? We were planning around with these this week xx

04/02/2026

I created Play the Nature Way® after realising just how much children’s outdoor play had quietly disappeared and how deeply their bodies, senses and wellbeing need it.

As an OT, a mum, and a lifelong nature lover, this training is my heart work. It’s about understanding why nature-based play supports development, and learning how to bring it to life with intention, confidence and joy.

The outdoors isn’t just where play happens.
It is the play 🌿

Whether you’re a teacher, OT, family support worker, or simply someone who feels called to work with children outdoors … this training was created for you.

It’s not just pretty activities in nature (though those are definitely there 😉). It’s about truly understanding the depth of what nature offers us and children in terms of sensory development , fine and gross motor skills, emotional wellbeing and more … and how stepping outside breaks down the walls and confinement of being indoors, especially for those children who struggle with this.

Step into a nature-led, OT-informed approach to play and development.

Explore Play the Nature Way® https://www.carlybudd.co.uk/play-the-nature-way 🌱and until Sunday 8th at 8pm I am offering 40% off with code IMBOLC40 🌱🌼

03/02/2026

As a specialist children’s occupational therapist I am really concerned and frustrated to see this being shared. It feels like it could take us back decades in how we support early motor development.

Tummy time is not outdated. It is evidence-based and essential for helping babies build motor coordination and control, support healthy spinal development , develop sensory systems, and learn how their bodies work. It is a position for play, not to just place babies on the floor and leave them, but to encourage them to explore their bodies and discover movement with interaction from people. The key is nurturing tummy time experiences that start with parents and gradually move to the ground. A lot of babies will not go into tummy positions unless they are supported, yet this article seems to ignore that completely.

In a world where babies are not left in “containers” and every parent has time to schedule it perfectly, some of this may ring true but that is not reality for most families or settings. The problem is when we ignore babies’ cues, push them when they are not enjoying tummy time, What we need is to respond, adapt, and make it playful, safe, and enjoyable, not abandon it altogether. When done well, tummy time is fun, safe, and supports healthy development. Critique of practice is fine, but we should never suggest abandoning something with so much evidence behind it ans suggesting it isn’t essential it’s dangerous territory

The practice can impede a baby's natural development, finds Annette Rawstrone

01/02/2026

🌱🌱 Imbolc the first stirrings of spring & the return of the light 🌱

Every year at this time, I love stepping outside early in the morning, noticing the light changing, the first shoots pushing through the soil, and thinking about what I want to grow , in life, in work, and in play.

I’ve always been a bit of a hippy, nature-loving girl 🌿, and bringing that curiosity and wonder into children’s play has been the most joyful part of my work over the years! Watching little hands explore leaves, soil, and sticks with purpose and freedom reminds me how much they need the outdoors and how transformative outdoor play can be.

That’s why I created Play the Nature Way® training — an online course that teaches you how to use nature-based play intentionally to support children’s physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development.

In the course, you’ll get:
• 75+ Occupational Therapy-approved activities
• 30 ready-to-use teaching plans
• Practical guidance to run sessions confidently and safely

Flexible, online, and full of practical, playful ideas, it’s everything you need to make outdoor play purposeful, joyful, and impactful 🌿

✨ 40% OFF with code IMBOLC40 ✨

👉 Check out Carly Budd – Play the Nature Way training online https://www.carlybudd.co.uk/play-the-nature-way

22/01/2026

✨ I know all play is developmental but the Developmental Play approach makes it intentionally powerful ✨

Every child learns through play. Every little movement, every tiny attempt, every mini milestone matters. All play supports development whether a child is typically developing or following their own unique journey.

The Developmental Play approach is a tool I use (and teach my practitioners to use) to make play purposeful to support certain areas of skill whilst having fun in the process. It’s about seeing play through a developmental lens and using it intentionally to support each child’s growth, confidence, and sense of belonging.

It’s an approach that:

Celebrates every small win, not just the big achievements

Meets the child where they are, respecting individuality and difference

Strengthens parent-child connection

Supports body, brain, and function for life through movement, coordination, independence, problem-solving and Brian building activities.

Creates inclusive, safe, meaningful experiences

This is what I teach my practitioners: how to use the Developmental Play approach to unlock potential, nurture confidence, and enjoy play in all its glory!

www.carlybudd.co.uk