Tractors, Trains & Picnics!
This week the toddlers have been focusing on the farm. They have been watching and listening to short videos of animal noises and seeing them in their own habitats. Each day the toddlers have been able to explore parts of these habitats to understand where the animals like to spend their time. They have looked at cold grass, dry stiff hay, gloopy mud, soft sand and warm water which they have thoroughly enjoyed. Ada loved rolling the piggies in mud saying “Splash splash splash” as mud splattered over the table and onto her forehead, while Esmé and Isabelle loved feeding the horses green play dough pretending it was grass. Amélié used the brown play dough to cover the cow after watching some cows roll in mud. Throughout the week, the toddlers used lots of different materials to make some of their very own farm animals. Madan used lots of different coloured feathers to make a duck which he requested after seeing them on his morning walk. Kitty made a pig using shapes and pipe cleaners and Jasper made a sheep out of cotton wool, googly eyes and bits of cardboard.
On Wednesday, the toddlers had a very exciting trip to see some tractors! They were all suited and booted in wetsuits and wellies ready to explore every inch of these huge tractors! Jude shouted “Tractor!” as soon as he saw it . The toddlers watched as the tractor moved forwards, backwards and round in circles. The toddlers pointed, clapped, smiled and shouted as they became more and more excited. The man on the tractor waved and pressed the horn “Beeeeeep” and the toddlers laughed and clapped their hands. Otto said “More more!” asking for the driver to do it again! The man listened but this time pressed the horn louder than before which made them jump with surprise and excitement. Jack went straight to the big round wheels and felt them with his hands, Margot enjoyed tapping the sides of the tractor as it made a loud sound. They all loved having the opportunity to sit on the tractor and take some very lovely pictures for their mummies and daddies. They were lifted up one by one to sit on the giant wheels and on the drivers seat. Sebastian wore his party hat as it was his birthday and Youcef wore his bike helmet as he priorities tractor safety! All the toddlers smiled their biggest smiles which demonstrated just how much they loved their special tractor day!
Over the last two weeks the under two’s have been exploring different activities with an autumnal theme.
They’ve been on lots of walks to gather sticks and beautiful different coloured leaves to make collages. Whilst on their walk, they’ve seen the horses running around the fields,; Iris and Matilda were pointing and Oliver got very excited, jumping in his seat. They’ve enjoyed seeing the trains go whizzing past listening to the noises that they made, Blair began to babbling as the train pulled into the station. They then enjoyed their snack on the picnic blanket soaking up the sunshine. Iris spotted a squirrel run across the grass towards the tree, Amelie pointed and smiled as it scurried up into the branches .
They’ve had great fun getting messy using paint and glue. When painting with the leaves, Cleo and Iris made fabulous sweeping movements with the leaves across their paper, whilst India watched them intently. Gabriel carefully used his glue spreader to spread his glue over his paper, he then patted his paper with his hands this made Harry laugh and clap his hands.
The little ones have been learning how to use the climbing tower. India crawled down the steps on her tummy, whilst Matilda stood up the playing peak a boo over the top, which made Rose smile as she watched her across the room, where she was exploring the chalkboard board. Monty was trying very hard with chalk in each hand to make marks across the chalkboard.
Garsons Farm Trip!
The preschool children had lots of fun on the trip to Garsons farm this week. Jonathan asked how we were going to get to the farm and as transport has been our preschool focus topic this week, the children were calling out all kinds of ideas of how we could get there. Amelia said, "I know, we can go in a taxi". Sammy asked curiously, "A bus?" And Ari suggested, "It could even be a submarine". This made his friends laugh and Sophie said, "No Ari, a submarine is in the water, we aren't going swimming to the farm". When the children found out that actually we were going by minibus, Isla laughed and said, "I haven't been on one of them for years!" which made all of her teachers laugh. The children got going at making their very own minibus with the large blocks in the garden. They remembered they need a driver and Ethan said, "Don't forget the seat belts too!".
On the day of the visit, the children were so excited as they waited patiently for the minibus to turn up. They couldn't wait to get up the stairs, none of them accepting help to climb the big steps. They challenged themselves successfully to pull themselves up. Chloe climbed straight in to the drivers seat, holding on to the steering wheel and smiling at the driver. Whilst on the journey, Imogen told her friends, "This is the way to my house, just down this road" and Jonathan said, "That's where my grandma lives too". Once they were there and found a good apple picking spot, the children couldn't wait to get going. They carefully picked the apples from the tree. Isabelle reminded everyone, "Guys, remember we only need the juicy looking nice apples!". After a few moments, some of the children were curiously asking, "Where are the animals, we are at the farm". They very quickly accepted the fact that there are two types of farms when it was explained to them.
The fields were huge and the weather was kind as you can see. The children made their way over to the vegetables and in particular the carrots as the pumpkins weren't quite ready yet. The children loved this, really digging away in the ground to pick the carrots that were lower down in to the ground. Alba made sure to get the ones that were closer to the top as she quickly realised they were breaking easily, and they filled their punnets to take home, The children were really very tired when they returned to the nursery after so much walking and fresh air and excitement! Cant wait to return in the spring/summer next and pick other crops next time!
Bushy Park & New Surroundings!
Last week in toddlers, the children went on a very exciting walk to explore bushy park. They set off on their journey in the morning walking from the nursery through Hampton court and finally reaching Bushy park. The toddlers got to see lots of interesting things on the way such as the big buses and they even got to see a police car which Youcef clapped as it flew past. Youcef and Margot held hands during the walk there and babbled away to each other about all the things going on around them.
Once they reached Bushy Park they sat down in a small circle to eat their snack and have a drink of water before having a big run around to burn off some energy. Ada giggled as she chased her friends and they all ran in different directions, even Oliver gave it his best try to run away. After the toddlers had a run around they headed over to the playground as it was completely empty. Ada was the first one to brave the big slide and climbed up to the top all by herself! Her friends all watched as she then slid down the slippery slide and they decided they all wanted to have a go, so one by one the toddlers took it in turns to have a go. “Ooooo!” screamed Youcef as he pushed himself off the top of the slide. After this, the toddlers headed back to nursery however made a quick stop outside Hampton Court Palace, it was surrounded by flowers which caught the toddlers eye and Margot even gave the guards a wave goodbye when leaving with a big grin on her face.
Over the past two weeks the toddlers have enjoyed taking part in lots of activities based around our book of the month ‘The very busy spider’. To begin the week, the toddlers sat round for a story time to give them an idea what it was all about which they all stayed very engaged throughout listening very well before they got creative with their own art. One of these activities consisted of making their own creepy crawly spider out of pipe cleaners. Ceci was very particular when it came to which colours she used making sure to pick one of each. Zac got stuck in with our sensory activity which was finding the spider (Pom Pom) through the stringed web, he carefully maneuvered his hand through the web making sure not to touch it. “I got one I got one” he shouted with excitement once he caught his first spider.
As there has been lots of thunder storms over the last week the children have not been able to go outside quite as much to enjoy splashing around in the rain so instead the toddler room got transformed into a rainy garden ! The toddlers all put on their coats to get cosy and listen to the sound of rain hitting the roof. Otto and madan were fascinated with the rain shakers once they realised they could make lots of noise. Amelie put on her favourite unicorn wellies she has especially bought in from home to make the activity even more realistic while listening to the thunderstorm sounds. “Oh no!” Kitty said each time a loud bit of thunder struck, looking around curiously.
Over the last two weeks the under two’s have been enjoying lots of different activities getting to know their new surroundings.
They’ve been exploring and playing with crazy foam and mashed potato in the messy tray. Isabelle came to investigate, putting her hands into the foam, Oliver saw what Isabelle was doing and was intrigued, he looked fascinated, gave a big smile and submerged his hands into the foam, Harry was a little unsure but when Sophie blew the bubbles off her hand he began giggling especially when they landed on his head.
When playing with the mashed potato in the messy tray, Blair and Luciano got involved straight away squeezing and squashing the mashed potato between their fingers, while Gabriel enjoyed eating it from the tray.
Rose and India had a great time exploring and eating the cereal play. Gabriel carefully sat and observed what they were doing. Rose was really curious with the cereal, and squeezing the shredded wheat between her fingers. India put her hands into the messy tray the multigrain shapes stuck to her fingers, and unsure she shook her hand to get them off, and Rose watched her waving her hand and began to smile.
Out in the garden, the children have had fun in the sandpit. Amelie liked the sand falling from her fingers whilst Luciano was playing with the funnel, closely watching the sand fall each time he filled it up. Oliver and Harry enjoyed playing with wooden toys, pulling the wooden puzzle stackers apart, looking intently at the different shapes, Oliver began babbling whilst holding the different wooden pieces, and Harry enjoyed banging the pieces together smiling at the loud sounds that it made.
