Weekly roundup - 20 September 2024

More classic stories for both rooms this week with Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell and We're Going On A Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen proving to be very popular. The staff have created some wonderful activities to encourage exploration and support learning with resources that spark children's interests. 

In our setting, both adult-led and child-initiated play have crucial roles in a child's development. Adult-led activities are more structured, guided by the practitioner and introduce new concepts. They support children to improve skills like listening and coordination, and encourage social interaction. These activities help children follow instructions and work in groups. Child-initiated play allows children to explore, be creative and make independent decisions. It fosters imagination, problem-solving and confidence as they set their own goals and navigate challenges. Balancing both types of play is important for well-rounded development. Adult-led play provides structure and learning opportunities, while child-led play promotes independence and emotional growth, giving children the best of both worlds.

Parents can support their child's development by incorporating both adult-led and child-led play at home. For adult-led activities, try setting up structured games or crafts that introduce new concepts, like counting or colour recognition, while encouraging your child to follow instructions. For child-led play, allow your child the freedom to choose their activities, whether it's imaginative play, building, or exploring outdoors. Let them take the lead, offering support only when needed. This encourages creativity, problem-solving, and independence. Balancing both types of play provides a great learning environment and strengthens the bond between you and your child.

Click the link for some more information about the importance of learning through play.

Both types of play extended into the outdoor area this week with children building and navigating obstacle courses using the outside equipment. It's been lovely to enjoy the sunshine again!
Do remember to bring in a named bottle or cup for your child so they can stay hydrated all day. At drop off, we encourage parents to help their child find their name on the board, hang their belongings on a peg and bring their lunch box and water bottle into the room. This will help them feel settled and save practitioners searching for these items on pegs.

Next week is the start of our new topic, "Habitats" which will focus on our homes and where animals live. We'll be reading the classic story of The Three Little Pigs and engaging in some activities related to the tale. We'll talk about our homes, who we live with and what are our homes look like. Do upload any pictures to Tapestry of where you and your families have lived in the past so we can discuss the differences and similarities between our own and each other's families. I'm looking forward to seeing the interesting places! 

Have a lovely weekend!