Amanda Gummer

Hitchin, United Kingdom

Founder at The Good Play Guide

Articles

Heartfuls: Building Emotional-Intelligence Through Play

1 month ago | goodplayguide.com | Amanda Gummer

Child Development, Latest News, Parenting Heartfuls: Building Emotional-Intelligence Through Play Emotional intelligence is our ability to identify, understand and manage our own emotions and those of others. It is one of the most important skills a child can develop. It supports well-being, healthy relationships, and success in school and beyond. But how do we help children build emotional intelligence in ways that feel natural, fun, and age-appropriate?
Dr Amanda Gummer on the Play Diet, School Readiness and More

2 months ago | peopleofplay.com | Amanda Gummer

POP: Hi Amanda! Thanks so much for joining us. What’s your role and focus these days? Thanks for having me! I wear a few hats, but I’m best known as the founder of Fundamentally Children and the Good Play Guide. I focus on helping families and brands navigate the world of play, tech and toys in a healthy and developmentally beneficial way. I love working with companies to create products that genuinely support children’s wellbeing. POP: What would you say is your claim to fame in the industry?
Ollyball: The Ultimate Indoor Play Solution for Active, Creative Kids

Feb 24, 2025 | goodplayguide.com | Amanda Gummer

Child Development, Latest News, Low-cost family days, Parenting, Play Ideas Ollyball: The Ultimate Indoor Play Solution for Active, Creative Kids Dr. Amanda Gummer, a leading child development expert and advocate for balanced play, champions toys that encourage active, social, and creative play. Ollyball aligns perfectly with her Balanced Play Diet, which emphasises a mix of physical activity, imaginative engagement, and social interaction.
10 Top Tips for Keeping Your Kids Safe Online

Feb 10, 2025 | goodplayguide.com | Amanda Gummer

Apps & Tech, Latest News, Parenting 10 Top Tips for Keeping Your Kids Safe Online The internet is an amazing place for learning, socialising, and having fun—but just like in the real world, children need guidance to navigate it safely. Here are my top 10 tips to help parents support their children’s digital experiences while keeping them safe and confident online. 1. Make Online Safety a Normal ConversationTalk about online experiences just as you would about school or friends.
Factors Influencing Children’s Involvement in Riots

Jan 28, 2025 | goodplayguide.com | Amanda Gummer

Factors Influencing Children’s Involvement in Riots The finding that there were significant numbers of children involved in the riots last year is no surprise, but why do children get caught up in these events – is it, as suggested, just for fun? And if so, how can we encourage them to find other, more socially acceptable fun activities. Dr Gummer was on the radio (Heart FM) today talking about this very topic so we’ve put some of her thoughts down here.
Supporting Your Child’s Mental, Emotional and Social Wellbeing Through Play

Jan 27, 2025 | goodplayguide.com | Amanda Gummer

Child Development, Latest News, Parenting Supporting Your Child’s Mental, Emotional and Social Wellbeing Through Play Raising happy, confident and resilient children is more challenging than ever. In today’s fast-paced and often stressful world, supporting your child’s wellbeing is key to helping them navigate challenges and thrive. But how can you, as a parent, support your child in these areas? The answer lies in something your child already loves – play.
How Play Supports Brain Development in Preschoolers

Jan 15, 2025 | goodplayguide.com | Amanda Gummer

How Play Supports Brain Development in Preschoolers Play is one of the most effective ways to support your child’s development—and it’s fun! I’ve seen time and again how play nurtures every aspect of a child’s growth, particularly in the critical early years when their brains are developing at an incredible rate. In the first five years of life, a child’s brain forms more than a million neural connections every second.
How to help children with anxiety handle a busy Christmas

Oct 31, 2024 | goodplayguide.com | Amanda Gummer

How to help children with anxiety handle a busy Christmas – Updated for 2024 –Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year for some, whilst for others not all is festive and jolly. Christmas can be a rather anxious time for some children and can be particularly overwhelming.
The photo backlash every parent dreads has happened to me – and I’m heartbroken

Oct 4, 2024 | inkl.com | Amanda Gummer

iStockOur mission is to deliver unbiased, fact-based reporting that holds power to account and exposes the truth. Whether $5 or $50, every contribution counts. Support us to deliver journalism without an agenda. I only wanted to take a video of my children and post it on Instagram. I was on a train to Cornwall with my two youngsters – eight-year-old Lola and six-year-old Liberty – high above the river crossing the Tamar Bridge and under a glorious blue sky.
How to spot your child has an anxiety problem and what to do about it

Oct 3, 2024 | dailymail.co.uk | Amanda Gummer

Amid the stresses of modern life, it seems we’re more anxious than ever, with famous faces from Prince Harry to Adele among those who have shared their experiences of the condition. And increasingly, children and teens are suffering too. The number of children referred to NHS mental health services with anxiety each year are now double what they were pre-pandemic. So, how do you know if your child is struggling – and how do you help them?