Last month (September 2016), the babies in baby room were interested in mark making. Practitioners supported and encouraged individual babies to extend their learning through the following activities: sand play, water play, drawing on plain/coloured paper, using coloured chalk and painting. This has helped individual babies to develop their fine and gross motor skills (physical development). For instance, they use their hands to hold onto the paint brush to splat the paint onto the paper etc.
The babies' social skills are well developed and these activities have also built their confidence. Individual babies who usually play solitary are encouraged and supported by practitioners to be engaged and engrossed in these activities and to work as a group to form friendships.
Most individual babies understand simple instructions and they frequently imitate words and sounds. For example, words such as "mix", "spoon", "hands", "finger", "sand", "water" etc. (communication and language).
Thanks,
Baby room staff :)
The topic for September in Blue Room was "Me and my family". In this topic, practitioners worked with children to develop a much better knowledge of family, using appropriate terminology e.g. "mum, dad, brother, sister, nanny, grandad, aunty, uncle, cousin" etc.
During creative activities, children have:
- Made their own self portrait with paper plates and other resources
- Made a family tree using hand-prints
- Made and decorated their own houses which will be put on display in various areas inside and around the classroom.
Practitioners have ensured that creative activities have been stimulating and challenging to keep children focused. With regard to the EYFS, we focused on Physical Development and Communication & Language in following instructions and understanding what is asked of them. We focused on Personal, Social and Emotional development through the children trying new activities and expressing interest in them. We also focused on Expressive Arts by using a variety of resources and materials to support the childrens' artwork.
Practitioners will continue to provide a range of activities to support childrens' learning and development in the theme for the month.
Thanks,
Blue room staff :)