It’s great to be back at nursery after our summer holidays! We have all come back with big smiles on our faces and eager to learn through play.

This week we have focussed on re-connecting with the nursery environment, getting back into routines, sharing, turn taking and working together with our friends.

Over the summer our sandpit became a little overgrown. Miss Stewart found weeding it out was much easier with a group of helpers. Ali, Lucas, Thea, Alfie and Lewis volunteered and worked together to help Miss Stewart pull up the grass. Some of it was put into the dumper truck until it got really full! Alfie thought it was a lot of grass and his friends agreed. Working together in this way is great for helping us build healthy relationships.

Once the sandpit was clear again a lot of us chose to play in it over the following days. We built sandcastles, dug holes and made tracks. Stanley and Ali took turns to shovel sand into the back of a truck. They shared their ideas and discussed what the sand was going to be used for, “It’s going to fill some holes” Stanley, “Yeah and dan the road will be fixed” Ali. Talking through our ideas with each other is important for developing our listening and talking skills. Problem solving how much sand is needed to fill the truck and exploring how that affects it’s weight is part of our numeracy learning.

Lottie and Thea also shared play in the indoor sand pit, exploring what was available to use as scoops.

Playing together helps us develop leadership skills, communication skills, turn taking skills and teaches us how to work as part of a team. Ali, Lucas, Lewis and Alfie took on different roles during their play such as “steerer”, “fisher” and “walkie talkie man” when playing in the punt.

Jim, Lottie and Lewis played a numbers game with Miss Stewart. This game helps us to develop our turn taking skills as well as our ability to count and to recognise numbers.

Thea took on the role of “bike cleaner” and made sure everybody that wanted their bike cleaned got a turn. Waiting for turns is one of the ways that we learn how to regulate our emotions. Alfie was great at waiting for his turn and was delighted when his turn came.

Alfie, Harry and Lucas spent time at the woodwork station. They discussed what tools they needed and what they might build. They were great at sharing the space, being aware of each other and using the tools safely.

Jim used a selection of different sized boxes to build “Daddy’s boat”. Thea offered to help him with some of the detail. Jim was happy to share his ideas with Thea and add some paint himself.

Elsie and Annie used a big box as part of their shared play. They discussed which sections needed worked on and what tools they could use.

Sophia and Sophie spent time playing in the home corner. They shared the burden of dressing and then carrying all the babies to the window area before making and sharing “cups of tea” together. Being able to work together and share play in this way helps us become good decision makers and communicators.

We look forward to sharing more of our learning with you next week.