As chilly mornings and wetter days creep in, having a strong indoor play collection becomes more important than ever. Indoor play offers children a safe, stimulating environment when outdoor time isn’t possible - supporting their creativity, fine-motor skills, sensory exploration and social interaction.
Here’s a guide to some of our favourite indoor play picks from Yellow Door, tickit, and Learn Well, grouped by type of play for easy inspiration.
Building and open-ended construction play
Open-ended construction resources give children the freedom to build, experiment and explore - ideal for days when the weather keeps everyone inside.
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tickit wooden building gem blocks (Progressive Preschool Awards 2025 WINNER!)
Smooth beechwood blocks with colourful gem inserts that invite stacking, pattern-making, symmetry exploration and imaginative building.
Other great open-ended building choices include wooden arches, rainbow blocks, natural loose parts and simple stacking forms - all brilliant for keeping indoor play varied and engaging.
Puzzles and problem-solving play
Puzzles are a perfect indoor staple: calm, focused and rich in developmental benefits.
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Silisoft shape puzzle
A durable silicone puzzle supporting shape recognition and tactile exploration. -
Silisoft gears puzzle
Encourages early mechanical understanding as children rotate and link gears to see how movement connects. -
Safari animal layer puzzle
A multi-layered wooden puzzle exploring sequencing, fine motor skills and early animal recognition.
Puzzles work beautifully for independent or small-group play, helping children develop concentration during cosy indoor sessions.
Sensory and creative play
Sensory play brings texture, creativity and hands-on exploration indoors - especially important when outdoor sensory experiences are limited.
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Yellow Door sensory play stones
Nature, bugs, fruit and veg, breads of the world, emotions and more - perfect for printing, storytelling and tactile exploration. -
tickit sensory exploration tools
Light panels, sensory balls, colour resources, tactile loose parts and mark-making rollers. -
Learn Well sensory items
Designed with inclusive play in mind and ideal for a wide range of sensory needs.
Indoor sensory play supports emotional regulation, fine-motor development and creative expression.
Small-world and imaginative play
Small-world play thrives indoors, offering endless scope for storytelling, social interaction and imaginative thinking.
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Yellow Door small-world stones and figures
People, animals, habitats and themed sets that naturally spark narrative play. -
tickit small-world accessories and loose parts
Wooden figures, vehicles, natural shapes and scene-building pieces that blend seamlessly with other resources.
Small-world setups are compact, flexible and easy to rotate through the winter months.
Early literacy and maths play
Indoor play lends itself well to hands-on literacy and numeracy - especially when activities stay playful and open-ended.
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Yellow Door alphabet pebbles, phonics pebbles and number stones
Durable, tactile, and perfect for early recognition, word building, sorting and counting. -
tickit maths and shape resources
Sorting sets, counters, shapes, colour-matching tools and manipulatives that support early number understanding. -
Learn Well sensory-based learning tools
Ideal for accessible literacy and maths activities across varied needs.
These activities build confidence in early learning without the need for formal instruction.
Calm corner and wellbeing play
Indoor days can bring extra energy - a calm, soothing space helps children self-regulate and unwind when they need it.
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Yellow Door emotion stones
A gentle, accessible way to help children recognise and communicate feelings. -
tickit sensory lights, bottles and tactile calming resources
Great for mindfulness moments, visual soothing and quiet sensory exploration. -
Learn Well sensory aids
Supportive, tactile options designed to help children who benefit from additional regulation tools.
A calm corner balances the buzz of indoor play and encourages wellbeing.
Bringing your indoor play spaces to life
Indoor play can be every bit as rich and engaging as outdoor learning - it just needs the right mix of thoughtful, open-ended resources. With construction materials, puzzles, sensory tools, small-world sets and early learning aids from Yellow Door, tickit and Learn Well, it’s easy to create warm, inviting and inspiring spaces that support curiosity and creativity all winter long.
If you’d like guidance on choosing the right resources, or want help refreshing your indoor areas, get in touch to find out how we can enhance your spaces with our carefully curated, high-quality play resources.