It seems such a long time since we sat around a fire and made toast for snack but we thought that you would like to see these photos as a memory for some of the children. We hope that they enjoy seeing some of their friends here, looking very safe and confident around a fire as they make their own toast.
Messy play is a lovely sensory experience for children and really encourages them to explore, discover and be creative. Squishy bags are great way to enjoy mess-free messy play! Although glitter and shiny stars make eye catching squishy bags, the use of natural items such as flowers and leaves can spark children’s creativity even more and children will enjoy choosing things to go into their squishy bag.
What do I need?
• Sealable transparent food bags or transparent food bags and tape
• Some kind of liquid such as hair gel, shower gel, baby oil, washing up liquid, cooking oil, shaving foam ….or just water.
• Paint or food colouring (not essential)
• A variety of different items such as flowers, leaves, grass, buttons, foam shapes, coins, glitter – in fact, anything that’s small enough, interesting and won’t burst the bag.
What do we do?
• Find a bag with your child, explaining that it needs to be leak proof. (Wonder together what that means?)
• Encourage your child to find some items to go into the bag.
• Help your child to put a little gel, oil, foam or water into the bag then add the items they have collected.
• Remember to squeeze out all the air before sealing the bag. The bag can be sealed more securely with tape when you’re sure the quantities are right.
• Now for the best part! Your child will enjoy using their hands and finger to squish, squash and move the items around the bag. Perhaps they would like to try using their feet or other parts of their body?
• Comment on what your child is doing and what is happening in the bag. Ask them how it feels.
• Once they have made one squishy bag, they will probably want to make another….and another! Encourage them to be creative and to choose different contents each time. You could try making a bag with a theme, such as one where all the items are the same colour.
We hope that you have fun together creating your squishy bags which, as well as encouraging creativity and developing fine motor skills, should be great stress relievers.
We would like to share these super photos of one of our children busy with his self-portrait for Miss Campbell and Mrs. Mahon. We think that they will be delighted to display this wonderful work in the classroom ready for Primary 1 in August. Very well done and thank you for sharing your photos.
We hope that those moving on to Hecklegirth Primary 1 are all remembering to post a self-portrait through the school door ready to be displayed in your new classroom. Imagine how exciting it will be to see your work on the wall when you arrive at school on your first day.
Starting school will bring a big change for our children so, to help them prepare, you may wish to look at a book to comfort and reassure them through that transition. Scottish Book Trust has provided a list of beautiful books to support you when having conversations with your child about starting school.
Click on the link below to see their suggestions, several of which we have used with the children in Nursery in the past.
https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/book-lists/books-about-starting-school
After her visit yesterday from Mrs. Stott and Miss McVicar, Sophie asked if we could share this photo and video. Her family said,
“She’s so excited after visit from Mrs Stott and Miss Mcvicar! It’s really helped her look forward to starting p 1 as she was quite worried about it so it really was wonderful to see them. Thank you!”
Thank you so much Sophie for thinking of sending us your video and photo. We are delighted to hear that you are excited about Primary 1 and know that you will have a great time there.
Just look at this wonderful photo of Lily and James climbing a tree for the very first time. Very well done! You both look like you are having a great time and that is a super achievement. Thank you so much for sending us this lovely photo. We think that everyone in Nursery will be very impressed and it will be so nice for your friends to see you.
We would like to share this lovely resource which may be helpful to children who are worrying about anything. “There’s a Knot Inside My Tummy” was written by Jennifer Notman who is a Cumbrian teacher, entertainer and parent who felt compelled to help children struggling with worry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She drew upon knowledge and experience to create a catchy rhyme based on real anxiety management techniques. We think that she and her colleague have produced something positive, fun and helpful for children and their families, now and in the future, to help them recognise and manage feelings of worry.
Click on the link below to hear this catchy tune.
There have been so many different things to share on our blog since we closed that we have still not managed to post all the photos we have from last term so we thought you might like to see these as a fond reminder of the children’s days in Nursery.
The snack area provides many opportunities for learning and independence skills. Here you can see the children in the Rainbow Room learning about electricity as part of preparing for their snack. They had lots of discussion around how the microwave and toaster work and were able to use them independently to prepare their own snack.
I wonder if the children can remember what they learned? Can they find three things that use electricity and three things that do not? See if your child can help to prepare a meal or snack and tell you which items he/she used that needed electricity or if you used any electricity at all.
Further to our suggestions of making your own instruments at home, we would like to share these super music videos, featuring Nordoff Robbins music therapists and The Clangers, to encourage children to join in and enjoy music using objects in your home.
“The Cutlery Song” is one of my favourites and all you need is a fork and a spoon which I’m sure you all have. It’s hard to resist the catchy tunes and the actions of the little Clangers characters will put a smile on your face. Why not click on the link below and have a look? We think that you’ll have great fun.
Through play, children learn to make sense of the world around them.
Play is important because it helps young children to develop a range of skills. These include physical development, language skills, creativity and problem solving.
This June edition of the Early Years Team newsletter provides seven fun activities for you to enjoy at home with your children. Click on “Go to this Sway” below to see their great ideas with simple instructions and wonderful photos to inspire you. We hope that your children have lots of fun while they learn.
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