As 2025 draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to celebrate what has been a truly brilliant year for 50 Things to Do Before You’re Five.

From national campaigns to street takeovers, professional partnerships to picnic blankets, this year has shown just how powerful play can be when organisations, practitioners and communities come together. And the best bit? We’re only just getting started - 2026 is shaping up to be even better.

Here are our five standout moments from 2025:

1. Less Screen Time. More Play Time

In May, we launched our Less Screen Time, More Play Time campaign - a call to action highlighting the growing impact of excessive screen use on young children’s health and development.

Since then, the campaign has grown and grown! It was featured in Everything to Play For: A plan to ensure every child in England can play and publicly supported by leading early years voices including Paul Lindley OBE and Sue Atkins.

Most importantly, the campaign’s practical, play-based resources reached practitioners, healthcare professionals and families across the country - reinforcing 50 Things as an impactful tool for supporting healthy habits.

We’re proud of Less Screen time, More Play time and excited to see it grow even further in 2026.

                                             

2. National Play Day 2025

To celebrate National Play Day 2025, Wednesday 6th August, we transformed an entire street outside St Edmund’s Nursery in Bradford (the birthplace of 50 Things!) into our very own Play Street.

Parents and children of all ages filled the road with laughter and activity, exploring 50 Things favourites such as #42 The Rough and the Smooth and #24 Hop, Skip, Jump. What a celebration of the magic that happens when spaces are reclaimed for play.

It was a joyful reminder of what’s possible when play is prioritised. We can’t wait to do it all again next year.

                        

                                              

3. 25 Things to Do in Bradford

One of our biggest milestones of the year was partnering with Bradford UK City of Culture 2025 to create 25 Things to Do in Bradford.

The offer shines a spotlight on low and no-cost spaces and places across the district, supporting families to explore, play and make memories together. While created as part of the City of Culture year, this resource will continue to inspire families with opportunities for play well beyond 2025.

For professionals, it’s a practical, place-based tool that strengthens community connection and promotes accessible play for all.

                                

4. 50 Things Come & Play Sessions

Throughout the summer, our Engagement Officers, Lisa and Rachael, brought 50 Things directly into parks and public spaces across Bradford through a series of Come & Play Sessions.

Lisa’s Teddy Bear’s Picnic at Robert’s Park, featured storyteller Stories with Liv and a range of playful activities inspired by 50 Things - from #4 Make Your Mark and #25 Creative Junk to #10 Sharing Books, where Jack and the Beanstalk came to life using loose parts. Adults connected over #30 Yummy Picnic while children explored and played in the park freely.

Rachael’s Canal Walk in partnership with the Canal & River Trust invited families to engage in outdoor play through activities like #9 Mini Beasts, #35 Trip, Trap, Trip Trap, and #41 Water Feature. These sessions sparked meaningful conversations with parents and carers about how playful learning can be simple, sustainable and low-cost.

One parent shared:

“Your pop-up play activities were absolutely great… your use of materials and creativity, with sustainability in mind, has given me lots of activities to do at home with my little one.”

These sessions were a huge success, and we’re excited to provide more play opportunities for families in the year ahead.

                            

5. Celebrating Baby Week 2025

We rounded off the year with Baby Week 2025 (14th–20th November), with the 50 Things team attending and hosting events across the week.

The week began with a conference led by our 50 Things Programme Manager, Chloe, who shared insights from our Parents as Partners Project on building and sustaining strong partnerships with parents to support the best outcomes for babies and young children.

We also hosted our first-ever 50 Things Baby Week Takeover at the T.F.D Centre in Holmewood, working alongside a wide range of healthcare and early years professionals to provide fun activities for babies to showcase the importance of play to keep us happy and healthy.

Finally, at the Calderdale Baby Week conference, Rebecca Oberg, Director of the Institute for Early Years, addressed the growing screen-time crisis and highlighted how our Less Screen Time, More Play Time campaign can support families to build healthy and playful habits from the very start of life . 

                                             

 

2025 has been a year of showcasing the power of play. Thank you to every organisation, professional and partner who has worked alongside us - we’re creating real, lasting change for children and families.

We’ll see you in 2026… with lots more play to come!