Read and Play

The above image was taken by Danielle Tocker in Regina.

DIY Wrapping Paper

Hand-decorating gifts is a fun, playful, eco-friendly way to delight your gift recipient and connect with little ones. This is also fun with or without kids! We use markers, pencil crayons, stickers, paint, or crayons - then we tie a pretty ribbon around our gifts and attach polaroid photos, dried oranges, paper cranes, or other fun things. You can purchase the prettiest ribbon from Crocus and Ivy (not sponsored).

Even if you don't use the paper for decorating, rolling this out on your floor with some washable markers or pencil crayons, or stripping the kids down and getting out the washable paint will provide screen-free home entertainment for hours. Enjoy!

Purchasing these rolls from the links on our website will be the exact same cost to you. Amazon will give Project Play YQR a small portion of your purchase fee, however, which we use to purchase playful books for children in Regina. Cheers!

Click the image above to be taken to the amazon link to the kraft 100% recycled brown paper, and the image below for the link to the same paper in white.

Babies (roughly 0-18 months)

Play YQR distributes books to families with babies that encourage a love of literacy, language development, and play and interaction between family members. The following books are fun and playful for wee ones and their families.

Pat the Bunny makes a classic gift for babies and new parents. Babies and caregivers are asked to pat the bunny, play peek-a-boo, look in a mirror, wave goodbye and more in this fun and playful book.

Touch and Feel 123 is a colourful, fun, rhyming, and engaging board book. Its interactive pages encourage little ones and family members to experience different textures, develop a good relationship with books and reading, and learn about their world.

Sara Gillingham's Snuggle the Baby is a board book with a removable paper doll to snuggle, swaddle, diaper, and tuck in. It is perfect for children expecting new siblings. Children can read along and play with their new little baby in this straightforward, vintage board book that encourages people to love, tickle, and snuggle the littlest members of their families.

The well-known and loved Usborne touchy-feely books are so much fun to read with babies and toddlers. Try That's Not My Snowman this winter!

Playful Picture Books

I Spy Christmas: A Book of Picture Riddles The classic I Spy book series is is a wonderfully playful series that you'll want to explore over and over again. This series is surprisingly versatile; admire the beautiful photographs ad read the fun rhymes to babies for language development, bonding, starting new traditions and encouraging a love of literacy. As soon as the wee ones have more language, they will love to follow along with the riddles and find the hidden objects in the intricate photographs. Challenge yourself with the riddles, come up with your own I Spy games, or even complete the extra challenges in the back; this book will inspire playful literacy learning and bonding for years. Enjoy!

In the Tree House is a beautiful storybook about the magic of play. Watch what happens in a suburban community and the relationships within when the power goes out and everyone comes together to play.

Tap the Magic Tree is an original and interactive book that engages children in more than just turning the pages of this book. Children are asked to help a tree change with the seasons by tapping it, jiggling it, blowing it a kiss, and more. A classic that children will turn to over and over.

The Book With No Pictures is a creative and brilliant read-aloud book that absolutely inspires play, love of reading, and wonderful bonding and attachment between those reading it together. This has become an absolute classic that belongs in any home and classroom.