Tag Archives: gross motor skills

Early Years Week 8 – 12.12.22

December 20, 2022 Mrs Malcolmson Leave a comment

(5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

We were very excited to put on a special Christmas concert for our families this year. The show started with a performance of Little Red Riding Hood. Then our audience were treated to Jingle Bells, We Wish You A Merry Christmas and Rocking Robin. The bairns did brilliantly and one of the highlights was all the great dance moves at end with parents and grandparents.

Following our concert, families were invited to attend a Winter Wonderland stay and play. There were various activities on offer promoting numeracy, fine motor skills, creativity and health & wellbeing. It was lovely having such a busy setting filled with families again. We would like to thank everyone for coming along.

Not even a snow storm could stop our Christmas denner! The cooks in the canteen made a delicious traditional Christmas lunch with turkey and all the trimmings, followed by sticky toffee pudding. The bairns enjoyed pulling their crackers and deciding how to wear their party hats!

We held our Christmas party this week and it started with fun and games in the big hall. The bairns enjoyed lots of games – pass the elf boot, Christmas corners, snowball race and musical statutes. Then it was time for a party snack which had been chosen by the bairns. After snack we headed to the quiet room to pass out Christmas gifts which focused on a handmade theme.

We did our termly visit to the residents of sheltered housing next to the school. We made calendars, peppermint fudge and gave them a small parcel containing a tea bag and biscuit.

The bairns asked if we could have a spa day for the last day of term. We had a nail painting station, a bubbly foot soak and a relaxing face mask treatment complete with zen music. The bairns were keen to choose their favourite colour for their nails. The cucumber made for great eye conditioning and a light snack afterwards! Mr Clark also stopped by and the bairns were keen to show him the treatments on offer.

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year. We can’t wait to hear your holiday news from Thursday 5 January 2023.

Early Years Week 7 – 5.12.22

December 9, 2022 Mrs Malcolmson Leave a comment

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

“Look, it’s snowing!” The weather treated us to some snow this week and the bairns made the most of it. They were keen to get their suits and boots on to get outside. This provided opportunities for mark making, checking out everyone’s footprints and building a snowman.

The bairns have been busy preparing props, finding costumes and practicing for our concert on Monday . The excitement has fairly ramped up this last couple of days. We have also been getting ready for our Winter Wonderland Stay and Play. The Christmas tree is heavy-laden with baubles, tinsel and salt dough decorations.

Early Years Week 6 – 28.11.22

December 2, 2022 Mrs Malcolmson Leave a comment

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Numeracy is included in all areas of the setting and this week we saw the bairns using a pack of playing cards in various ways. They used the cards for matching, sorting, number recognition, ordering and colour recognition.

Our sand pits are always very popular and this week the bairns have used them to make sandcastles, tracks, construction sites and we’ve had a group of contractors digging up electric cables to fix the internet! Not only does sand offer sensory benefits, it’s also great for transporting, moulding and finding out how it changes by adding water and digging.

We had our final week at gym. The bairns used their gross motor skills and built on their cognitive connections, showing their growing confidence. As soon as the bairns got into the hall they jumped onto the rope swings. They showed perseverance, trying the apparatus numerous times and getting more adventurous.

Early Years – 21.11.22

November 25, 2022 Mrs Malcolmson Leave a comment

(5 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

This week’s music lesson was a lot of fun. The bairns paired their singing with lots of big movement. This was especially noticeable during ‘Everybody Do This’ when the bairns have to copy someone’s moves. Then it was everyone’s favourite song – Heads, Shoulders Knees and Toes which got faster and faster with every round.

The bairns were interested in using paint over a large surface. We used the tuff tray and added paint and the bairns chose to use vehicles to mark make. Some of the bairns also formed letters in the paint using their fingers.

The bairns have continued to create using small and large blocks. The constructions have ranged from airports to boats to garages to Winnie the Pooh’s house and towers. These loose parts are an essential resource in the setting which support fine motor skills, imagination, spatial awareness, problem solving, language development and social skills.

After a request from some of the bairns, we added baby bathing items to the water trays. Engaging in the sensory play, the bairns used shaving foam and water to give the babies a bath. The bairns cared for the babies, remembering to wash their hair and clean off any leftover soap.

It’s been an exciting week in preparation for Christmas. We put our Christmas tree up in the quiet room. The bairns chose where to the put the baubles and tinsel and added a star to the top. This created much excitement and interest in wrapping presents and the bairns spent the next few days wrapping up lots of things in the setting. This provided an opportunity to practice cutting skills, develop fine motor skills and opened up discussion about what happens in other parts of the world.

Early Years Term 2 – 14.11.22

November 18, 2022 Mrs Malcolmson Leave a comment

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Following the sensory interests of the bairns, there was plenty of opportunity to experience messy play with shaving foam, gloop and slime-making. The bairns described it feeling soft like custard! There are many benefits of sensory play including supporting brain development, adapting to new situations, awareness of the space around them, fine motor skills and language development.

The bairns were back to gym this week, exploring the equipment and it was clear that their confidence had grown. Whilst assessing their own risk, the bairns were keen to explore. Risky play supports self-esteem and resilience.

The bairns were keen to learn about Pudsey and took part in Pudsey yoga, Pudsey dancing and Pudsey Says (based on Simon Says). There was lots of great movement, building on gross motor skills and an opportunity for rich discussions including Pudsey’s important job to help lots of families.

Week Beginning 7.11.22

November 11, 2022 Mrs Malcolmson Leave a comment

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

A busy, busy week with lots of visitors!

Airports, buses and boat building from various loose parts has played a big part in the bairn’s learning this week whether it be construction, holidays, transport, almost everyone has been involved at some point.

Mark making in all areas of the setting! Santa letters, signs, tally chart, shopping lists and recipes!

Childsmile came for a visit to apply the flouride varnish.

Following a question about the pedals on the piano were Mrs Garrick showed us how a piano makes its sounds. The panels of the piano were taken off to reveal the strings and the hammers, the bairns then plucked the strings to hear the sounds it made and watch as the hammers moved when the keys were pressed down.

Looking after their nursery! An excellent job was done of cleaning up a big paint spill at the craft area using water, soap and paper towels before setting out a cone so others knew the floor was slippy.

We all had an exciting visit to the school hall where Mrs Ritchie had set out and invited us to come and explore the large apparatus. The bairns listened as she told them how to use the stations safely. The bairns tried lots of different ways to travel along the benches and bars, they explored ways to swing on the ropes and used their hands and feet to climb up the high ladders. We will have the opportunity to revisit this over the next couple of weeks and I am sure we will see the bairns becoming more confident.

More construction and a great use of the long planks as a sloping wall roof! A great collaboration, giving ideas, listening to others, evaluation and turn taking.

One of the bairns came in with a poppy badge on today and everyone seemed interested to find out why. We all listened to ‘Poppy’s Day’ which explains remembrance in a child friendly way we also watched ‘Poppies.’ I have added the links if you would like to have a look at home.

Some of the bairns set to work making beautiful poppies and gifting them to others in the setting

“Poppies” on CBeebies – Children’s Remembrance Day 2 Minutes’ Silence Alternative – Bing video CBeebies Radio: “Poppy’s Day” – Bing video