What We’ve Been Up To!
Younger and Older Babies Learn About the Oceans
Our youngest members have been learning all about the oceans and the magical creatures they contain. Exploring the oceans is great for building curiosity as it’s full of fascinating wildlife. It also encourages children to understand from an early age that oceans and seas are living environments that need protecting.
As well as talking about and looking at pictures of the ocean, we’ve been introducing new words such as octopus, jellyfish and waves, helping to build language development and understanding.
To boost the children’s imagination, we set up lots of sea-themed play, including sensory trays with toy whales and dolphins that the babies could touch, and a mini sea life show.
The Snail and the Whale
At story time, we’ve been reading the classic tale of The Snail and the Whale, which sees a snail embark upon a world-wide journey, hitching a ride on the tail of a humpback whale. The babies especially love when the big grey-blue humpback whale appears, and the tiny snail hops aboard.
The babies loved fishing in our water world
Toddlers Discover Sea, Sand, and Insects
Over the last few weeks our intrepid toddlers have been learning more about the sea and the animal and plant life found there. They’ve especially enjoyed splashy water play like digging out sea creatures from giant ice cubes and getting hands-on with a gangly octopus.
Alongside exploring the sea, the toddlers have been looking at land-based creatures such as bugs and insects. We went outdoors to see what we could spot under rocks and leaves, and much to the children’s delight, we discovered woodlice and a ground beetle. Indoors, the toddlers used magnifying glasses to examine lifelike toy insects up close.
Our insect and creepy crawly tray
Talking About Emotions
We understand it’s tricky being a toddler: one minute you’re frustrated because a toy you’ve got your eye on is out of reach, the next you’re bouncing off the walls with excitement – it’s a rollercoaster! To help our toddlers understand different moods, we’ve been playing games about emotions with puppets and making expressive faces.
The toddlers loved chipping out sea creatures from the ice
How are you feeling?
Pre-schoolers Get School-Ready and Go Outdoors
Our pre-schoolers have been busy carving pumpkin faces and creating colourful artwork for Bonfire Night. They have also been spending time outdoors, visiting the local park and feeding the swans and ducks. This time of year, the leaves are changing colour and fluttering down from the trees. One of our favourite activities has been collecting our favourite ones – the bigger, the better – and making vibrant paintings to display around the nursery.
Our pre-schoolers are also doing an abundance of play-led activities in preparation for the next exciting step: starting school.
We’re often asked, “What should my child be able to do before they start?” The truth is they don’t need to know everything as they’ll learn and grow when they get there. However, our school-readiness programme is there to help the children gain early skills that will build their confidence.
Here are some of the skills we encourage:
- Social and Emotional Skills
Being able to separate from parents for a little while, play alongside other children, and share toys. - Communication Skills
Using words to express feelings, and understanding and following simple instructions, such as asking for a drink or to go to the toilet. Joining in with games, songs, and story time. - Self-Help Skills
Using the toilet, washing hands, feeding themselves, and putting on coats or shoes. - Early Learning Skills
Showing curiosity about the world and enjoying stories and books. Recognising colours and shapes, and experimenting with mark-making such as scribbles, drawing, or in some cases, writing the letters of their name. - Physical Skills
Running, jumping, balancing, and using their hands for activities like building blocks, turning pages, and holding crayons.
It is important to remember every child is unique and develops at their own pace – pre-school is a place to learn these skills, not arrive already knowing them. The most important thing is that your child feels safe, cared for, and ready to explore!
Learning about our senses – what can you smell?
Our pre-schoolers’ tree-mendous leaf art
