What is it?

Many young children have a fascination for other people’s shoes, hats etc. and enjoy trying them on. While doing this, children often take on the persona they think they have become.  This lets them express themselves in a different way. It can be simply putting on a hat, scarf, shawl or even a piece of fabric to wrap themself in. it doesn’t need to be princess dresses, or superhero outfits. They will often use any resources they can find to support their play in a creative way.

Why is it important?

Role play allows children to be creative, use their imagination, experiment, investigate and explore. All these help to develop language and social skills, while also letting children collaborate with their friends and most of all have fun.

How to bring it back

Review what you are providing in your setting at the moment to promote this. Is it an inviting area with lots of open ended and real resources which draws the children in and allows them to be creative? If not, find real resources, kitchen utensils, junk materials, boxes, shirts, scarves, hats and add them to your area. think about how you present these so children can see what is available and readily access them independently.

Sharing with home

Remind families about the fun children have through dressing up and role play and how they can do this at home without buying ‘dress up costumes’

This is one of a weekly series of posts highlighting different spaces, experiences and interactions that practitioners have told us are not all easy to get back after the pandemic restrictions.

It’s all about playing, talking, and having fun together – so we hope they are useful.  If there are any ideas you’d like us to highlight, just get in touch with your link EYESO.

For ideas about family engagement, you will find a “home” version of this post on bumps2bairns.com

A little reminder to everyone intending to attend the online sessions please sign up through Highland CPD.

At the moment we have very little uptake so the course might not run. Please can you all take a few minutes and apply.

If you do apply, the course will be added to your CPD record for this year.

Course dates: 22.11.22 and 30.11.22

This may be of interest to practitioners and families. Please share via your usual channels.

What is it?

Opportunities to explore the world using their senses is the way children begin to learn. Touch. Taste. Smell. Sight. Hearing. There are endless opportunities for these in nursery. Sand, water and playdough are amongst those used most often but there are many others; including foam, pasta, cereal, painting using fingers and hands, gloop and slime.  By adding colour and or scent to some of these you can increase the sensory opportunities available.

Why is it important?

Some young children find it soothing and comforting as they use their hands to touch and feel, many find this through a soft toy or a cuddly blanket. Various textures provide different responses from children. Some children will simply stand and allow water or sand to just run through or over their hands and find it soothing.

It can also aid fine motor skills as they manipulate the resources themselves and the tools to go with them. These opportunities provide many language opportunities as they can describe what it feels like and talk about what they are doing. Many of these opportunities can also be taken outside and others such as mud, grass etc. are found outdoors.

How to bring it back

At least one sensory experience and ideally more should be available daily. Ensure you have reasonable amounts of these resources to allow lots of exploration and creativity. present it in a way that children will want to come and engage. Keep in place all relevant cleaning processes and be aware of any allergies.

Sharing with home

Explain to families the benefits of sensory play opportunities and share how to make some of the resources you use in the setting and how they could use them at home, both indoors and outside.

This is one of a weekly series of posts highlighting different spaces, experiences and interactions that practitioners have told us are not all easy to get back after the pandemic restrictions.

It’s all about playing, talking, and having fun together – so we hope they are useful.  If there are any ideas you’d like us to highlight, just get in touch with your link EYESO.

For ideas about family engagement, you will find a “home” version of this post on bumps2bairns.com

What is it?

During Covid access to resources had to be reduced, but do you still have some resources that are not accessible to the children or some opportunities you don’t provide that you used to?

Why is it important?

Children need to be free to choose where they would like to play and what resources they would like to use. This enables them to plan what they want to do and independently access resources they need. Children need to have opportunities to explore, and develop their creativity and curiosity; do your resources allow them to do this?

How to bring it back

Resources should be presented in an interesting and inviting way, open baskets, trays etc.,  which will draw the children in. Trays should be labelled with pictures and print so children can find what they want without having to pull every tray out. This also supports pre reading skills. Children should  be supported to return resources when they are finished with them or put their creation on display or take a photograph of it to be shared with home and added to their profile.

As always, all resources need to be cleaned as per your infection control procedures.

Sharing with home

On your noticeboard, newsletter or online communications, you could share with families the importance of allowing children to have choice and how you provide this. You could also share how you encourage children to return resources to where they belong when they have finished using them. 

This is one of a weekly series of posts highlighting different spaces, experiences and interactions that practitioners have told us are not all easy to get back after the pandemic restrictions.

It’s all about playing, talking, and having fun together – so we hope they are useful.  If there are any ideas you’d like us to highlight, just get in touch with your link EYESO.

For ideas about family engagement, you will find a “home” version of this post on bumps2bairns.com