March Blog

Weekly Makaton Signs: Thank you, Good, Names and Fruits

Top tips for talking:
Join in with your child's play.  A Language and thinking will develop through interactions with others.  The arises naturally from a shared activity which provides something of interest to talk about and gives a clear context for words and meanings.

Top tips for 2 year olds:
I can do it myself! Even though it may take me ages to do something and I may not get it right; its really important I have a go.  I may become frustrated if everything is done for me.  You'd be surprised how much I can do given the chance.

Chinese new year:  Thank you to all those that came to join us in our celebrations with noodles, rice, spring rolls, trying out chopsticks.  We hope you all enjoyed our story of the Chinese Emperor and how the animals had a race to become which year.  It is the year of the dog.
This term we are looking at the story of "Little Rabbit Foo Foo"  The story will be told firstly with the book, but this will progress onto telling the story without the book and using actions.  The story and the props for this will be out so the children can access the story as and when they want to, being able to share it amongst themselves.  The children have also been adding to the props by making additional items, such as a hammer, a bike and a wiggly worm.  However this has also led onto making other things such as tools for the toolbox.   Stories are such a great way of inspiring the imagination, leading into other areas for their creative thinking.

Forest Club:  Lots of tree rubbings and footprints using crayons in many colours, learning how to hold the crayon on its side works best
and with our muddy boots stepping onto paper to see the many different patterns our boots make.
We then played hide and seek.  We teach the children about "1, 2, 3 Where are you?" When the finders call this out, the hiders shout back "we're over here"  This helps the children to understand that although it is ok to hide, sometimes when parents can't find them and call out, they need to help in being found.  It also encourages good listening skills, as those finding have to listen and follow the direction of voices.

Lego - good for fine motor skills, managing to construct by pushing the small bricks.  Lots of chatter, discussing what they are building, what pieces are needed, asking one another for help and to pass things.  Good imagination creating airports and hangers to put planes in, because the airport is for people and not for planes.  Creating houses, for this we had to have doors and windows, oh and don't forget the roof otherwise the rain will get in - Good idea!