Craft and Creative Activities
While children are with me, I want them to have fun and learn.
I will provide them with various stimulating and educational activities through out their day with me.
This will included:
* Activities in the home (To include play, crafts, music play, cooking)
* Trips out to local groups etc and attractions.
* As well as trips out to local shops etc.
Throughout the year I will be following various seasonal themes, such as Christmas, Springtime and holidays, along with other appropriate themes.
Activities will whenever possible be linked in to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
Garden
The garden provides many opportunities for children to learn and explore.
We have a vegetable patch in which children will be able to assist in growing their own vegetables, thus helping them to learn about healthy eating and where their food comes from.
We now have a devoted play area with playhouse and woodchip play surface.
On warmer days I will take toys out to the garden and allow children to play in the fresh air. There is also a sand box, and on sunny days bowls of water are provided for water play.
We have plenty of large trees offering lots of natural shade in the garden.
One of our latest garden projects is a bog garden, which it is hoped will provide the ideal environment for lots of wildlife. And I am currently working on a sensory area in the garden.
Children will have access to the garden at all times (weather permitting)
Messy Play
Messy Play involves children using all their senses in the process of exploration, especially the sense of touch offering children plenty of opportunity to mould and manipulate materials not having a focus on making or producing something
For more Information
Quiet Area
Quiet areas are important for children to have some calm time, I have a play tent that is set up as a Quiet area. Older children are able to use the Study to relax and read.
The quiet area includes a variety of books for all ages, both fiction and non-fiction.
I am currently making a collevtion of Story sacks for use with younger children to help them to learn to love books.
Multicultural Experiences
It is important that children learn about who they are and where they fit into the world, with this in mind I offer children the opportunity to experience as many different cultures as possible.
This is achieved through the use of Toys, Books, Dressing Up Clothes, Ethnic Cooking, Crafts, DVD's, Music and Visits.
The picture shows just some of the resources available.
Other Toys and Resources
Along with the resources and toys already mentioned, I have a large and ever-growing collection of toys, games, activities and resources available for all age groups. These include Home Corner toys, Small world, Various Construction and of course paints etc.
All toys and resources are checked before and after every use, any found to be defective or broken are removed to be either repaired or disposed of. Toys are cleaned and were necessary disinfected or sterilised on a regular basis.
I rotate the toys available often to ensure that children do not get bored of the toys available. If a child has a particular interest I will try where possible to accommodate this, though this may not always be possible, particularly if the toy in question is not suitable for younger children in my care.