The 50 Fantastic Ideas series is packed full of fun, original, skills-based activities for Early Years practitioners to use with children aged 0-5. Each activity features step-by-step guidance, a list of resources, and a detailed explanation of the skills children will learn. Creative, simple, and highly effective, this series is a must-have for every Early Years setting.

Children are naturally drawn to making marks. Long before they pick up a pencil or a paintbrush, they will experiment with making marks using hands, fingers, feet etc. as well as various found objects that they come across in day-to-day life. For children to become really confident and secure mark makers we need to provide them with lots of different opportunities with a variety of exciting mark making resources in many different contexts.

Alistair Bryce-Clegg has collected together a whole host of ideas for different mark making utensils, as well as exploring numerous substances and surfaces that children can make marks on. Some of the ideas will support children to create their own 'masterpieces' while others will encourage them to make marks with other children in a group. As with all Alistair's ideas, 'engaging children' comes top of his list as when children are engaged they make the biggest steps forward on the road to writing and have the most fun!

Alistair was head teacher of a very successful three-form entry infant school and Early Years Unit for 10 years. Alongside his headship he worked an EYFS consultant working with a diverse range of settings to help them to enhance their EYFS practice. In 2009 Alistair left headship and went into full time consultancy. He is now the proud owner of ABC Does. Alistair's experience and expertise has meant that he has been invited to work with individuals, settings and Local Authorities both Nationally and Internationally. He has written on the subject of EYFS for a wide variety of publications. Alistair's work with settings is based on leading by example and not just 'telling'. In September 2010 he set up a blog where he posts examples of the work that he does alongside activity ideas, planning formats and policies. The blog is constantly updated with new ideas and initiatives. You can find out more at: abcdoes.com