inside a 1curiosity play session

What Really Happens When Babies Lead By Kate, Busylizzy Events Director

When I set up the room for a 1curiosity Curiosity Play Session, it already feels different. There is no playlist to queue up, no props to hand out, no plan to follow. Just a quiet space, a soft mat and a small selection of simple toys within easy reach of the babies. Then we wait.

The sessions are completely baby led. There are no instructions, no songs, no structured activities. Just time and space to explore. Some parents are surprised at first. They look around and ask, “What are we supposed to do?” But that is part of the experience. In these sessions, the babies take the lead.

What follows is fascinating to watch.

One baby heads straight for a rubber container and begins tipping out the pieces, one by one. Another becomes absorbed in a brush-shaped toy, running fingers across the textured bumps. A third picks up a bottle toy with ridges, gives it a shake, then a chew, then another shake. It is calm. It is slow. And it is exactly what one year olds need.

These toys are made for this stage. There are no flashing lights or noisy buttons. Just familiar shapes and textures with enough resistance to encourage trial and error. Inspired by the kinds of items babies often reach for, such as lids, bottles, containers and brushes, they have been carefully redesigned to be safe, engaging and open ended.

Parents often begin the session feeling unsure. They hover. They gently move toys closer or try to guide their baby towards something new. But after a few minutes, something shifts.

They notice how focused their baby becomes when left to explore freely. They start to ask questions like, “Why is she putting that in and out again?” or “What is he learning from shaking that over and over?” That is when it clicks. This is not about doing more. It is about observing more.

When given time and space, babies show us what they are capable of. They test, repeat and find their own ways to play. Sometimes they use a toy in an unexpected way, which opens up something completely new. That is the value of play without instructions. It allows for discovery. By the end of the session, the room is often quieter than when we started. The babies are still exploring, but with more focus and calm. The parents are more relaxed too. They have seen their baby lead the way. They have seen how much learning can come from something as simple as putting a ball in a container, then taking it out again.

From the outside, these sessions might not look like much. But from where I sit, they are full of small, powerful moments. Moments of curiosity, persistence and connection. Moments where babies are trusted to learn on their own terms.

That is what 1curiosity is all about, and I feel lucky to share that with our Busylizzy families.