Early Educators Montessori Nursery
Learning at home
Working in partnership with our parents/carers is vital, both regarding the emotional needs of the child and the wider support needs of the family.
We do encourage parents to share their skills and experiences, and we involve them by offering stay and play sessions, trips, fundraising activities and opportunities to come into the setting to read stories, or to share experiences based on their job roles.
At home, you can continue supporting your child's development through activities suggested by their key person and inspired by their interests at nursery.
We offer resources for children to take home such as books or 'busy bags' which contain specific resources and materials relating to an activity or theme.*
We are always open to discussing or demonstrating to parents/carers how these resources can be used or what other activities the children could engage in at home.
Try one of our activities at home!
We would love to see your pictures and comments on our Facebook page !
Edible Painting
It can be frustrating carrying out creative activities with your child if they are still at a stage where they prefer to explore things orally. Edible paints can be really helpful in this regard, and allow your child to explore and be creative safely.
Resources needed
1/2 cup of baby cereal (sometimes called baby rice - easy to find in a supermarket or pharmacy)
3/4 cup of water
Food colouring (a few drops - depends on the depth of colour you would like - be mindful of clothes being stained if too much is used)
Description of the activity
Add the ingredients to a food processor or whisk them together if you prefer. Adjust the water quantity depending on the consistency you would like.
It is worth pointing out that even though the paint is edible, it is best to supervise and try to discourage your child from eating where possible. The best ways to do this are to distract and model appropriate play. This will help when the time comes to introduce standard paint.
Learning opportunities for the children
You could add different scents to the paints and allow your child to explore them by touching and smelling. You could change the temperature of the paints to make this more interesting - does your child prefer warm paint or very cold paint that has been in the fridge?
Extensions for the activity
If your child is engaging in making marks, you could model some useful pre-writing shapes. Start with horizontal and vertical lines, then move onto circular movements.
3D Shape Hunt!
Resources needed
3D shapes
Description of activity
This activity is to try and find as many different 3D shapes around the home!
To start with, you may want to watch this video that introduces the different 3D shapes: https://bit.ly/3dShapesVideo
Learning opportunities for the children
Your task is to try to find as many objects that match the different 3D Shapes.
Can you name the shapes that you find?
Extensions for the activity
Try to identify more shapes around your home
"...and then What Happens?"
Resources needed
You and your child
Description of activity
Very simply you start with a character and place them in a very simple situation.
For example, "Timothy walks into the sweet shop."
This is when the other person asks, "And then what happens?"
They then have to come up with 2 - 5 different scenarios of what could happen next in the story.
For example:
Number 1: Timothy trips on something and discovers a secret hatch in the floor.
Number 2: The shopkeeper asks Timothy what he is looking for.
Number 3: Timothy spies a glowing jar hidden on the back shelf with a faded label. The first word looks like "magic..."
After they have come up with the different scenarios, discuss which one they like the best and want to continue with. Ask them why they have chosen this one and not the others.
Then ask, you guessed it, "And then what happens?"
Repeat this process until the story has reached a natural end point. You then have a really exciting outline for a creative writing piece!
Learning opportunities for the children
"And then what happens?" is a great creative writing exercise to help children develop their imaginations and sense of structure.
Extensions for the activity
This can all be done through a conversation, but you can extend it by mapping it out and turning it into an actual story.
Write the story, make it into a storyboard, create a poster for it. Whatever you like!
Keep to the beat
Resources needed
For this activity, you can make a drum out of anything you can find - you could even just clap your hands if you wanted.
Next you will need to listen to some music - you might find it on the radio, on the TV or on an online streaming service.
Description of activity
See if you can tap out the beat of the song that you are listening to.
Does it keep to the same speed throughout the whole song?
Is the beat easy to hear?
Extensions for the activity
If you turn down the music, can you keep time until the music is turned back up again?