In October, we are launching an initiative with kindergartens and preschools across Europe entitled Toy-Free Month.
We invite kindergarten educators to join and experiment with either a few days or the entire month during which traditional toys are removed from playrooms. Instead, children are encouraged to engage in open-ended, creative play using sustainable or recycled materials, self-made toys, and natural objects.
This practice stimulates children’s imagination and creativity, fosters cooperation and problem-solving skills, and nurtures their awareness of environmental responsibility from an early age.
The initiative will begin with the upcoming 67th Pan-European Conference on Digital Education, where two kindergartens, one from Austria and one from Slovenia, will present how they implemented the approach and how children responded.
The 67th session is on the 23rd of October 2025 from 15:00 to 17:00 CET (Brussels Time). Free registrations here.
Educators who choose to participate in the initiative will receive guidelines with practical suggestions, and at the end of the project they will be awarded a Toy-Free Month Ambassador certificate.
Think about whether you’ll join the initiative (for kindergartens and preschool educators). It’s even more fun when multiple groups collaborate, so consider discussing it with your colleagues. If you’ve already decided to participate, please email info@erasmuspluscourses.com
Toy-Free Month: Let’s make Toy-Free Month the most playful month of the year!
