Summer Holidays, Simple Play & a Paddling Pool Gone Viral
From Our Founder
Summer Holidays, Simple Play & a Paddling Pool Gone Viral
Hellooo summer holidays! How are we all getting on? We're well into it now, the days-out ideas are drying up, the money's disappearing even quicker, and the kids have asked for an ice cream for what feels like the 400th day in a row.
Shop Stacking CupsI see you, mamas.
Or maybe you're a new mama, still enjoying that little maternity leave bubble and you haven't experienced the full force of the six-week summer holidays yet!
Either way, I see you.
You've got this.
Our Summer
Summer For Us
Our summer has been a bit of a mixture this year. The kids have still been going to nursery holiday club three days a week, which has given me some time to work in between, and then we've been trying to make the most of the sunny days together.
And what a summer we've had for water play!
Whenever it's warm, my kids seem to naturally find their way back to water. The paddling pool comes out, the hose comes on and, without fail, the silicone toys make their way outside too.
The Stacking Cups in particular are still one of those toys they return to again and again.
And I think that's something I've been reminded of this summer:
play really doesn't have to be complicated.
Keep It Simple
Sometimes a Bucket of Water Really Is Enough
Instagram can be amazing for play ideas. I love seeing all the beautiful tuff trays and activities people create, but it can also make us feel like children's play needs to be perfectly set up and Instagram-ready.
It really doesn't. Especially during the summer holidays when we're already juggling enough!
Sometimes a bucket or paddling pool of water and a few Stacking Cups to scoop, pour and make rain is genuinely all they need. Children naturally find their own ways to play when we give them the space to do it.
We've actually been talking about why children gravitate towards water play in my latest Play Edit column for BROOD, and watching my own two this summer has reminded me exactly why I love it so much.
Water Play, Simply
They Just Play
They pour. They scoop. They fill. They empty. They experiment. They make up games I would never have thought of.
And I don't really have to set anything up. Win win.
More Than Just Splashing
Why Water Play Is So Good For Them
It looks like they're just getting wet (and soaking me), but there's a surprising amount of learning tucked inside all that scooping and pouring.
Little Hands, Big Skills
Filling, tipping and squeezing builds fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination — all the tricky stuff that later helps with holding a pencil.
Chatter and Words
Splash, pour, full, empty, more! Water play is brilliant for language, giving little ones new words to try as they play alongside you.
Everyday Maths & Science
Which cup holds more? What floats, what sinks? Filling and comparing is early maths and science, without a worksheet in sight.
Small Business Life
And Then I Accidentally Went Viral…
Well… viral for me anyway. 😂 You may have seen my paddling pool reel.
I'd recently been quoted £1,000 by an influencer to create some content for Ellor & Co. As a small business owner, that kind of marketing budget just isn't always realistic.
So naturally, I got in the kids' paddling pool with my Stacking Cups and made the content myself.
Small business life at its finest.What I didn't expect was for the reel to take off quite like it did. But one of my favourite things to come from it wasn't just the views — it encouraged me to make more content with the kids and stop worrying quite so much about everything being perfect.
I've started involving them more when I'm creating things for Ellor & Co, and they absolutely love it. Admittedly, I think their enthusiasm has less to do with supporting Mummy's business and more to do with the fact that creating content sometimes involves soaking Mummy with the hose.
But I'll take the help where I can get it.
Behind the Pictures
The Juggle Behind the Pictures
Running a business during the summer holidays is definitely a juggle.
Some days I feel really productive. Other days I open my laptop, answer half an email, make 16 snacks, find someone's missing shoe, break up an argument and then wonder what I was doing in the first place.
But I'm trying to embrace it a little more this year. The business is part of our family life. The children have grown up around boxes of toys, packing orders, photographs and Mummy saying, "Please can I just take ONE picture before you play with it?"
And now they're getting older, it's actually quite lovely letting them be part of it.
No Setup Required
Simple Water Play Ideas to Try This Week
Pop a paddling pool, washing-up bowl or bucket outside, add a set of Stacking Cups, and let them lead. Here are a few of our easy favourites.
Scoop & Pour
Fill the cups, tip them out, do it all over again. Endlessly satisfying for little hands.
Make It Rain
Hold a cup up high and let the water trickle down — a firm favourite in our garden.
Sink or Float?
Drop the cups in and see what happens. Simple science they'll want to repeat again and again.
Washing Station
A bowl of water and a sponge turns into washing the toys, the wheels, or Daddy's flip-flops.
Biggest Cup Wins
Which cup holds the most water? Nesting, comparing and filling — sneaky early maths.
Bath-Time Wind Down
The same cups come inside for calm, splashy bath play at the end of a busy day.
A Gentle Reminder
Water play should always be supervised — little ones can get into difficulty in even a small amount of water, so stay close and tip pools and bowls away afterwards.
What This Summer Taught Me
Keep Things Simple
So if there is one thing I'm taking from this summer, both as a mum and as the person behind Ellor & Co, it's to keep things simple.
No Packed Schedule
You don't need a different day out planned for every day of the holidays.
No Perfect Setup
You don't need an Instagram-perfect play setup for children to enjoy themselves.
No Constant Entertaining
You don't need to entertain them every second of every day.
Sometimes you just need some sunshine, a bucket of water, something to scoop and pour with…
and apparently an ice cream afterwards.Good to Know
Water Play Questions, Answered
What age is water play good for?
Water play works right through the early years. For babies and younger toddlers, keep it to a few inches of water in a shallow bowl or tray with close supervision. As they grow, a paddling pool, bigger containers and cups to fill and pour open up even more play. It naturally grows with your child, which is exactly why we love it.
What can I use for water play at home?
You really don't need anything fancy. A paddling pool, washing-up bowl or bucket, plus a few cups, scoops and containers is all it takes. Our silicone Stacking Cups are a brilliant all-rounder for scooping, pouring, nesting and making rain.
What are the benefits of water play for toddlers?
Lots! Filling and pouring builds fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, playing alongside you supports language, and comparing cups introduces early maths and science like volume, and floating and sinking. The repetitive scooping is also wonderfully calming and great for focus.
Are silicone stacking cups good for water play?
They're one of our most-packed toys for a reason. Silicone is easy to wipe clean and won't trap water and go mouldy like some plastic bath toys, so there are no nasty surprises. They float, stack, scoop and pour, and work just as well in the bath as they do in the paddling pool. See the Stacking Cups here.
Do I need to set up an elaborate activity?
Honestly, no. Some of the best play is the least planned. A bowl of water and a few cups is often all little ones need — they'll bring their own ideas. Keeping it simple takes the pressure off you, too.
You've Got This
Here's to the Rest of the Summer
Here's to making it through the rest of the summer holidays, mamas. Sometimes the simplest play really is the best play — and our Stacking Cups are ready whenever the paddling pool is.
We've got this. 🤍
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