Purposeful PLAY CLUB
Simple play ideas to grow connection and confidence, from birth to beyond.
Play ideas made for your child's age, sent to your inbox by paediatric physiotherapist Nicole Pates, plus the private Purposeful Play Club community on Instagram.
Play
Connect
Grow
Explore
Discover
Learn
Discover my favourite Toys for 2026
Browse the toys I love, stage by stage, or let the toybox pick one for you in seconds.
Nicole's 2026 Toy Guide
Nicole’s favourite toys for connection based play, sorted by stage from newborn to seven years. You’ll find some evidence-led developmental context. Not too much, just enough to help you feel informed and confident about where your little one might be at.
- Newborn to 7 years
- Sorted by stage
- 48 pages
Not sure what toy to buy? Toybox Picker makes it easy!
Tap an occasion or stage, shuffle the toybox and get a thoughtful toy pick in seconds, with why Nicole loves it and where to buy.
- 450+ toys
- Budget filter
- Australian owned filter
Buy the Purposeful PLAY book
Purposeful Play, From Birth to Walking by Nicole Pates
- Birth to walking
- 100+ activities
- By a paediatric physio
Congratulations on your beautiful new baby! Your magical little human, who has flipped your world upside down in the best possible way, and now you’re staring at them, full of love, full of questions. How do I play with them? What do we do together all day? Written by industry leading paediatric physiotherapist and mum of two, Nicole Pates, Purposeful Play is your warm, no-pressure companion to baby play from birth to first steps.
Over 100 simple, tried and tested activities, designed to fit into the rhythm of real life because the best thing for your baby’s development isn’t a fancy toy, it’s you.
This may be the best book ever written for new parents to help them navigate the first years of children's lives without worry or guilt, but rather with loving confidence and lots of fun.
Maggie DentAuthor and educator
Maggie and Nicole
About the Author
Nicole Pates
APAM MACP · APA Paediatric Physiotherapist · Founder, Western Kids Health
Hi! I'm Nicole, a paediatric physio and a mum who is passionate about helping parents play with confidence. Through my practice, Western Kids Health in Perth, I've supported thousands of families from the baby days right through to the teen years. I know how full on the early months can be, so I created the Purposeful Play Club to give you warm, no pressure guidance you can actually use. You are your baby's favourite toy!
2022 Australian Allied Health Physiotherapist of the Year
Featured Media
Join the Purposeful PLAY CLUB
Purposeful play from birth to beyond.
- Private Instagram community access
- Exclusive content
- Play ideas for every stage
- Paediatric physio backed guidance
- For ages 0 to 7 years
- It's free!
Simply fill in the form to join!