365 Days of Play
The Ultimate Family Companion for Connection, Happiness, and Wellbeing
Dale Sidebottom and Paul Campbell
365 Days of Play is an open invitation to reconnect - with ourselves, with others, and with joy. Dale Sidebottom and Paul Campbell have crafted something that feels simple on the surface, but carries weight. It’s a book that asks: what happens when we make time for play, every day?
This isn’t a book written just for teachers, but its relevance to education is hard to ignore. In a profession where demands often outpace capacity, the daily prompts here serve as gentle nudges toward connection, curiosity and creativity. The activities are short, varied and deeply human. Some spark movement, others kindness, laughter or reflection. They’re not about perfection or performance, but presence.
What’s compelling is the breadth of the authors’ lived experience. Dale’s global work in wellbeing and Paul’s background in both education and elite sport give the book a broad, inclusive tone. They speak with authenticity, backed by practice rather than prescription. That gives the book flexibility; it fits in classrooms, staffrooms, boardrooms and backyards.
This is not a resource to be rushed or completed. It’s one to return to, dip into, try out, and share. One page may shift the energy of a team meeting. Another might land at just the right time for a student or colleague. The rhythm of the book makes it easy to use without adding pressure.
Educators will find value here, not because it tells them how to teach, but because it reminds them how to be. Joy and play are not extras. They’re powerful, necessary elements of a connected learning culture. 365 Days of Play offers a generous way to begin, one small step at a time.
