Annie Dennis

Kids in the kitchen! A new large kitchen activity area has been created for the children, and it’s been busy busy busy. The children have been creating all sorts of things, but in particular they have been having parties, with drinks, cakes, sausages etc. Picnics have also been popular – the children take all the kitchen things into the cubby house and pretend they are on a camp, placing everything onto the floor around them for their picnic.

Art and craft continues to be popular, so a large table with all things artistic has been organised for the children – they often like to gather in a large group to chat and create collages, drawings (which are very detailed now) of people and animals, cutting with scissors to help with their fine motor control, painting on small sheets at the table, as well as on the easel.

The children have developed a very strong interest in constructive play, especially using the wooden blocks.

We have seen them building houses with garages for the metal cars, chimneys with slides, see-saws, and a stage for them to perform their own plays and rock concerts on.

These are just a few of the things that have emerged from play with the wooden blocks. Another strong interest is puzzles, including quite complicated ones.

The children also enjoy reading stories to each other.

So far the children have adapted to their new room with great enthusiasm, with lots of singing, and lots of reading books, either individually or in a group.
Dancing circle games (such as the hokey pokey) have been introduced. In the craft corner the children have been enjoying easel painting, drawing and cutting out with scissors. Dramatic play is also very popular, with the children pretending to ski and skate, and be animals, babies and chefs!

• Children are looking forward to going to the grasshoppers next year, staff are helping them to develop further independence skills before going i.e. Cleaning up after meals, pouring own drinks, and putting on their own sunscreen.
• Helen and Renee are collecting resources to establish a nature table complete with worms as this is a strong interest with the children
• Small group games with simple direction and rules