Helping Children to Flourish Through Play

This Sunday, we’re joining the nationwide celebration of National Children’s Day UK — a day dedicated to recognising the importance of a healthy, happy childhood and reflecting on how we can all help children thrive. As part of our focus for the occasion, we are concentrating on the theme: Helping Children to Flourish Through Play

At YMCA St Paul’s Group, we believe play is more than just fun — it’s a vital part of a child’s development. That’s why we’re proud to offer soft play experiences across our settings, including our Jumpers! Nursery in Ealing and The Pod soft play centre at YMCA Hawker.

Soft Play at Jumpers! Nursery: Play and Learning Hand in Hand

At YMCA Jumpers! Nursery in Ealing, play is at the heart of everything we do. Our children take part in regular soft play sessions in our on-site activity studio, which is designed to help them explore, move, and grow in a safe and supportive space.

To celebrate National Children’s Day, we’re hosting a special parent workshop on: Helping Children to Flourish 
This informal session will share practical ideas on how to support your child’s development through everyday play.

The Pod at YMCA Hawker

At YMCA Hawker, Kingston, you can also enjoy The Pod — our public soft play centre that’s perfect for daily fun, and burning off energy! With age-appropriate equipment and a welcoming atmosphere, The Pod offers a brilliant space for active family time and early learning.

Why Soft Play Matters

Whether at Jumpers Nursery or The Pod, soft play offers a range of benefits that support your child’s development across key areas:

Boosting Brain Power

Soft play improves hand-eye coordination and sensory processing, helping children understand cause and effect — a key skill that begins to develop from around 18 months.

Building Social Skills

Play environments encourage interaction. Children learn to take turns, share, and begin to understand others’ emotions, building social awareness and self-confidence through group play and imaginative activities.

Encouraging Active Bodies

From tunnels to climbing blocks and soft obstacles, soft play builds both gross motor skills (like climbing and jumping) and fine motor skills (like balancing and grasping). These activities strengthen coordination and physical confidence.

A Fun Way to Learn and Grow

At Jumpers Nursery and across YMCA St Paul’s Group, we see soft play as a powerful way to support learning through movement, creativity, and connection. Whether you’re attending a session at nursery or visiting The Pod with your family, you’re helping your child develop the skills they need to flourish.

• Learn more about how YMCA St Paul’s Group supports children in our communities