I don't want to speak too soon, but does anyone else feel like this January is dragging a little less than some of the other Januaries in the recent past? Maybe it's because there's so much going on at GRASP HQ - more on that below! - or maybe because a recent bout of self-isolation here at home feels like an extension of the Christmas holidays, which makes the days passing on the calendar feel quite novel. Either way, it's nice to indulge in a little cautious optimism and enjoy the sun still being out past 4pm!

This week: an update on our products; a round up of role play toys for every budget; and the first of a new series looking at the people of the village that raise our children.

- Shreya

Pressing go on new products!

Did you catch the news on our insta stories that in the last few days, we've gone ahead with the first production run of the new bath time brush? After weeks and weeks of testing, feedback, surveys, designing, reviewing and repeating, it's a huge milestone moment for us, especially to have developed a product from scratch, and we can't wait to see the finished thing at the end of the factory line! Thank you so much for all your feedback and help along the way, Graspers - please keep it coming!

It's fun to stay at the...

They say it takes a village to raise a child. All the big and small inputs different grown ups have in a child’s life shape how kids grow up to see the world. Who makes up this village is different from family to family, and even child to child, and what the people in this ‘village’ offer and model to the kids in their lives is more diverse still. Our new blog series, Village People, shines a light on what makes being a role model to a child so special, and we start with GRASP founder, Brook.

The role play low down

If grown ups' behaviour is what kids model theirs on, then role play and creative games are where they put in their practice. We take a look at some of the benefits of role playing for kids of all ages, and round up some of the best toys and tools to give these games the best mileage. The good news is that - in both toys and adult-supervision - less is more.

Baby sensory play at bath time

If your little ones are not old enough to engage in role play yet, fear not, there's a lot still to be done. During babyhood (or until they turn around 3 years old), kids' brains are powerhouses of development, and a little sensory play - particularly in the clean, safe context of bath time - is a great way to engage them in skill-building. Sensory play comes in so many forms - we've rounded up some great ideas for different ages here.

And now for something completely different... time to dance

Let's be honest, you've been singing it since you started reading. Click the link and head over to Youtube, young man.