What is 50 Things To Do?
"Every family should have access to 50 Things to Do, in every area of the UK"
Centre for Applied Education Research
50 Things to Do is motivated by one vision: for every child to reach their important health, learning, and wellbeing milestones through a play-filled childhood.
We strive for this through our app, website, and printed resources, which act as accessible and non-judgmental inspiration for parents and caregivers, featuring low or no-cost ideas to facilitate transformative daily play and learning for their children.
These resources were co-constructed with the help of families and in consultation with a breadth of childhood research. When commissioned by a local authority or other Commissioning Partner, they are regionalised using photos of local people, community languages, and signposting to nearby services and events.
“Evidence on the most important factors influencing educational attainment suggests that it is families, rather than schools, that have the most influence."
Michael Marmot, Fair Society, Healthy Lives (2010)
Find out more
KEEP UPDATED
If you would like to receive newsletters that keep you updated with everything we are doing please enter your email below...
Please note: By submitting the form above you give consent to receive communications from 50 Things To Do that relate to the services they offer, product updates, information on events and newsletters.
Exciting, accessible ideas for play
The 50 Things to Do activities which are featured in the resources span the childhood years, beginning at birth. They are designed to give children exciting life experiences, developing their expertise, confidence, and passion for learning new things.
50 Things to Do Before You’re Five targets pre-school age children, and 50 Things to Do Primary centres on those who are or would be in Key Stages 1 and 2.
“50 Things to Do soon becomes a way of life when you have a young family; days can be planned around the app. [...] I find myself asking more questions to my four-year-old because of all the 50 Things to Do ideas we do together.”
Lindsey , Parent
A 'golden thread' linking family services
The shared language of 50 Things to Do makes it an excellent tool for health visitors, educators, childminders, and other frontline practitioners caring for children to use in a joined-up approach to their health, learning and wellbeing.
"50 Things to Do provides a joined-up approach and runs like a golden thread through the support available for families and young children. It provides a consistent message for our local partners, frontline practitioners and parents, and ties the different strands together to positively impact on outcomes for children"
Wakefield Council
Specially designed for local authorities and other Commissioning Partners to improve childhood outcomes and lifelong attainment, a local 50 Things to Do offer is a great way to support the home learning environment for children and families in your area.
All resources are localised to your area, with customisable words and images.
- App
- Website
- Posters
- Card packs
- Bookmarks
- Stickers
- Graphics and brand guidelines to design your own additional resources
- Available in 120 languages: Integrated Google Translate on the 50 Things to Do website means you can reach out to even more of your community.
- Localisation features: Photos can be updated to be representative of your local families. You can also include words from your most used community languages, and signposting to your local services and attractions.
- Events page: Attract more families to low or no-cost family-friendly events in your area.
- Push notifications: Allowing you to contact app users directly on their devices for further engagement.
- Accessible across the digital divide: The option of both digital and printed resources means no family is excluded on the basis of device ownership status.
- SEND adaptations: Each activity has a suggestion for adjustments for children with additional needs.
- Track data: Commissioning Partners get access to easy-to-read, anonymized reports track takeup of the offer by postcode and activity through the app and website.
- Membership to a supportive community of local authorities and other Commissioning Partners already using the offer
- Ongoing technical support from the 50 Things to Do team
- Ongoing pedagogical training
As seen on...
Join us
The 50 Things To Do project is attracting national attention and we'd like you to be part of it. We are seeking further forward-thinking local authorities and other Commissioning Partners to join the 50 Things To Do initiative. It is our aim to make this opportunity available to every child and family in the country.