Our Fun Times!

Take a look at how much fun our babies are having in their sessions at Learning Land...

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Story Time!

Our babies have enjoyed reading 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' at story time. In our baby room we value that exploration and play is essential to the first steps in learning. Therefore, we have a flexible routine which includes a story time in the free play session, so that babies can have the option to engage with the book or play. In this case, all of our wonderful babies sat and enjoyed the story with their key persons. Look how engaged our babies are!

Early reading is important because...

-it can help children grow to understand patterns of speech and spoken language.

-it can support imagination, curiosity and creativity.

-children begin to learn new language and vocabulary rapidly.

-children are encouraged to look and point which supports their curiosity and new learning skills.

-children begin to learn concepts, for example, what the book is about, in this case the children can begin to be aware of the life cycle of a butterfly and different foods that the caterpillar eats.

-children can easily become engaged and absorbed when a story interets them. This also helps to build and maintain focus for short periods.

We follow interests of the children!

We spontaneously plan our activities following interests of the children. One of our babies have shown a particular interest in playing with the cars. Therefore, the messy table was set up to incorporate this expressed interest, but also accessible for other babies to join in too. The children used the cars to make marks with different coloured paints.

This activity intented to:

- allow children to make their own marks.

- develop children's fine motor skills.

- develop their awareness of colour and making marks.

- allow children to play and explore in a sensory, creative and expressive way.

It is important to follow children's interests because:

- the child feels valued as a unique individual.

- the child feels happy and secure in their learning.

- the seven areas of learning can be supported through their expressed interest to make progress.

- most importantly, the child can be free to have fun!

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Baby Sensory

Some of the babies have chosen to play in the small water trays with shaving foam, water, and fish.

This activity intended to:

- support and develop fine motor skills,

- support co-ordination,

- develop friendships and social interactions,

- enjoy the sensory exploration of water and shaving foam,

- have fun by splashing and playing with the fish toys.

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Imaginative Play

After having morning snack, the babies began to imitate the practitioners by feeding their toy babies. After the children’s expressed interest in caring for babies, the practitioners scaffolded their learning by providing bowls, spoons and a baby bath to support their learning.

- The children have made connections and links with their own routines and environment.

- The practitioners have actively followed play ques and interests of the children and scaffolded their learning successfully.

- The children have developed their imagination and role play skills to carry out aspects of their own routines.

How clever are our little babies?!

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Babies and Bubbles!

Babies and Bubbles - 08.08.22

The intent of this activity was to:

Enhance babies visual tracking skills.
Develop and support fine motor skills: movement and muscle development.
Develop their hand eye co-ordination.
Develop spatial awareness.
Encourage social interaction between peers and practitioners.
To encourage speech and language development using sensory exploration.

Providing babies with early sensory exploration helps to develop many transferable skills to apply to other aspects of the prime areas of learning. These include: personal, social and emotional development, communication and language and physical development.

Let's Play and Learn with Playdough!

PLAYDOUGH 01-08-2022

This morning our babies have been enjoying playing with the playdough. Using playdough, as a creative activity, has many benefits including:

• development of fine motor skills.

• encouragement of creativity and creative thinking.

• development of hand eye co-ordination.

• improves and strengthens social skills.

• promotes playtime.

Shaving Foam Fun!

28-07-2022

This week, we have been providing the children with the experiences of sensory exploration using the shaving foam. This enables the children to make marks and enjoy the sensory feelings of playing and exporing with the shaving foam. The children are also able to develop their fine motor skills for their physical development. Very messy, but very fun!!

Celebrating the Queen's Jubilee!

01-06-2022

This week the babies have done some craft activities to help to celebrate the queen's jubilee. They have created their own hats with help and support from the baby room practitioners. The children have developed their expressive arts and design skills by using paints of their choices to finger paint their own crowns. Don't they all look so cute!

Fire Engine Fun!

This week the babies had a trip outside to have a look and sit in the big fire engine! The babies loved sitting in the engine and meeting the brave fire fighters. At Learning Land we value the importance of cultural awareness and cultural capital to provide children with experiences they might not have, even at the youngest of ages!

Red Nose Day!

Our babies have been busy doing lots of activities to celebrate red nose day this week. They have taken part in activities such as baking and painting headbands. By particicpating in craft activities children become expressive and confident in their abilities to make marks and connections using different materials.

World Book Day!

Our babies have been dressing up as their favourite book characters at nursery to celebrate world book day 2022! Even at the youngest of ages, children should be encouraged to have a love for early reading. The practitioners have spent time with the babies reading their favourite books that they brought into nursery. It is very beneficial for children to be read to, even as babies!

Don't they all look amazing!!