What a fantastic day celebrating International Play Day! We were incredibly lucky to have the sun shining for us, allowing bairns and their families to enjoy a wonderful Stay and Play session flowing freely between our indoor nursery and our garden.
Play is how young children make sense of the world around them. While International Play Day was full of laughter and fun, it was also packed with learning opportunities. Here’s a little peek behind the scenes at some of the skills and knowledge your bairns were developing through play:
- The mud kitchen (outdoors) and sand (indoors) were incredibly busy. While it might just look like getting messy, this type of sensory play is packed with learning. As the pupils mix, pour, measure, and estimate the sand and water, they are acting as young scientists and mathematicians – exploring early concepts of volume and capacity. They may also be investigating exactly how textures, colours, and consistencies can change when different materials are combined; mud + water + flowers can create all sorts of exciting discoveries!
- There were children zooming around outside on the balance and pedal bikes- demonstrating their responsibility as they remembered to put on helmets and look around for the traffic and flow of others. Energetic play and big movements are absolutely essential for building strong bodies and healthy hearts. Whether they are pedalling a bike or balancing on a scooter, they are developing vital gross motor skills, stamina, and spatial awareness.
- Bairns explored loose parts play, working together to invent, design, problem solve and test their ideas. Alongside this, we had some beautiful mark making happening- a crucial first step into a child’s early literacy journey, supporting the development of the fine motor skills needed for writing and teaching them that their marks can communicate their thoughts and ideas.
- We also saw some bairns focus on small world play to bustling imaginative role play- the nursery was alive with children’s story telling through play. It might look like simple fun, but imaginative play is some of the most important work children do. Providing safe spaces for children to process their real world thoughts, feelings and experiences, develop deep empathy, and practice their talking, listening, and cooperation skills with their peers and families.
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A huge thank you to everyone who came along. When families join us in play, it helps strengthen children’s sense of security, belonging and connection between home and nursery. We value your partnership!
