Embracing Summer: 5 Top Summer Activities For Nursery Children

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Summer is a season filled with sunshine, endless fun, and a bounty of learning opportunities for children. 

For nursery children, it’s a time to explore, create, and engage with the world around them. The experiences they garner during these formative years can shape their perspective and learning for years to come. 

This article discusses five enriching summer activities that merge fun and learning for nursery children.

Exploring Nature’s Wonders

The beauty of summer lies in the great outdoors. Engaging children with nature can significantly contribute to their cognitive, physical, and emotional development. Plan nature-themed excursions to a nearby park, botanical garden, or even your own backyard.

Turn these trips into mini-adventures, searching for different types of leaves, identifying various birds, or simply observing the vibrant hues of summer flowers. You can also organize a bug hunt or create a DIY nature scavenger hunt. This encourages them to observe minutely, ask questions, and learn about the biodiversity around them.

Additionally, these excursions are an excellent way to introduce them to environmental conservation. Teach them about the importance of not littering, preserving natural habitats, and the concept of recycling.

Water Play and Learning

What’s summer without a little splash? Water-based activities are a surefire way to keep nursery children entertained and cool during the hot summer days. Set up a small inflatable pool, water table, or sprinkler in your backyard. Provide them with various water toys, cups, and funnels, and encourage them to pour, scoop, and splash.

Water play is not just refreshing fun. It also enhances their motor skills and hand-eye coordination and introduces them to basic scientific concepts like volume, buoyancy, and cause-effect relationships. Always remember to ensure safety during these activities by providing constant supervision.

The Magic of Storytelling

Summertime offers the perfect setting for outdoor storytelling sessions. Choose a quiet, comfortable spot in your garden or patio, lay down some mats or blankets, and create a cosy story corner. You can even build a makeshift tent or canopy for an added element of adventure.

Choose a variety of suitable books for their age – picture books, fairy tales, or stories about animals and nature. Reading stories aloud can significantly improve their language skills and listening abilities and stimulate their imagination.

Play with Sand

Sand play is a delightful sensory experience for young children. If you have access to a beach or a sandbox, it can offer hours of creative play. 

Provide your child with a shovel, buckets, and moulds, and watch them dig, build, and create their own little world.

Playing with sand can help develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and creativity. It can also introduce them to concepts like texture, shape, and size. Ensure to supervise them to prevent them from putting sand in their mouths or eyes.

Art and Craft in the Open

Finally, make the most of the sunny weather by setting up an outdoor art and craft station. 

Let your child paint, draw, or create their own summer-themed crafts. It could be painting a picture of the sun, creating a collage of leaves, or making a bird feeder. Art activities boost their creativity and fine motor skills and offer a way for them to express their thoughts and emotions.

Summer Activities For Nursery Children

These summer activities provide an excellent blend of fun and learning for nursery children. 

They ensure that the children are productively engaged, learning new skills, and making the most of their summer vacation. 

If you’d like more information about Nunthorpe Nurseries Group or any of our nurseries and services, please do not hesitate to contact us.

14 Tips To Prepare Your Child For Nursery

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Starting nursery is a significant milestone in a child’s life. It marks the beginning of formal education and can be both an exciting and nerve-wracking time for children and their parents. 

While some children may enthusiastically take to it, others may need more support. 

This article discusses our top tips to prepare your child for nursery school and help make the transition smoother.

Prepare Your Child for the Change

One of the best ways to prepare your child is by discussing it positively and excitingly. Highlight the fun things they will do, like painting, playing with other kids, and learning new songs. Show them pictures of nurseries and talk about the activities they might participate in. This can help them visualize what to expect and transform any uncertainty into anticipation.

Visit the Nursery Together

Before your child’s first day, visit the nursery together. This will allow your child to explore their new environment and meet the staff. They can see where they’ll spend their time, the toys they’ll play with, and maybe even meet a few of their future classmates. Familiarity can help ease any anxieties they may have about starting a nursery.

Establish a Routine

Children thrive on routine as it gives them a sense of security. Establish a consistent bedtime and morning routine in the weeks leading up to the first day of nursery. This can help set their body clock to the new schedule and make mornings less hectic. The routine could include a calm bedtime story, setting out clothes for the next day, and a healthy breakfast.

Read Books About Starting Nursery

Numerous children’s books handle the subject of starting nursery or school. These stories can serve as conversation starters, allowing your child to express their feelings and ask questions about what to expect. By reading about other children’s positive experiences, your child will likely feel more confident about their impending nursery experience.

Encourage Independence

A nursery is a place where children begin to learn independence. Before they start, encourage basic self-care skills at home, such as using the toilet, washing hands, putting on shoes, and eating independently. These skills will boost their self-confidence and help them feel more comfortable in the nursery environment.

Provide Comfort Items

The transition to nursery can be made easier by allowing your child to bring a comfort item from home. This might be a favourite stuffed animal, blanket, or family photo. These items can provide a sense of security and familiarity in the new environment, especially during the first few days or weeks when everything else is new.

Reassure Them

It’s essential to reassure your child that it’s perfectly normal to feel a mix of emotions, including excitement, curiosity, and even fear or anxiety. Ensure them that their teachers are there to help them, and remind them that you will always come back to pick them up at the end of the day. Knowing this can help alleviate some of their anxieties.

Goodbyes Should be Quick and Positive

When it’s time to part ways on the first day, keep it quick and upbeat. Your child is more likely to feel the same if you seem confident and happy. Long, drawn-out goodbyes can make children more upset. A reassuring hug, a cheerful wave, and a confident “See you later!” can set the tone for a positive day.

Encourage Social Skills

A nursery is an excellent place for children to develop their social skills. Encourage your child to share, take turns, and use polite language. Role-playing at home can be a helpful tool to practice these skills. Also, setting up playdates with other children attending the same nursery could help your child feel more comfortable and excited about making friends at school.

Maintain Communication with Teachers

Keeping an open line of communication with your child’s teachers is crucial. They can provide valuable insights into how your child is adjusting and what they’re enjoying at nursery. Likewise, if you have any concerns or questions, don’t hesitate to bring them up. Teachers can provide advice and strategies based on their experience and understanding of child development.

Encourage Expression of Feelings

It’s essential that your child feels comfortable expressing their feelings about starting nursery. Encourage them to talk about their day, what they liked or didn’t like, and any concerns they might have. This will help them process their feelings and give you insight into their experience, enabling you to address any issues promptly.

Promote a Healthy Lifestyle

Good nutrition and adequate sleep are essential for your child’s well-being and ability to cope with new experiences. Ensure they have a balanced diet, sufficient sleep, and regular exercise. This can significantly influence their mood, energy levels, and overall experience at nursery.

Celebrate the Milestone

Starting nursery is a big step for a child; celebrating this milestone can help them feel proud and excited. You could have a special breakfast on the first day, take a commemorative photo, or do something they enjoy after their first day to celebrate their achievement.

Be Patient and Supportive

It’s important to remember that every child is unique and will adapt to nursery in their own time. Some children might settle in quickly, while others may take longer. Be patient, supportive, and positive. Your attitude can greatly influence your child’s perception of the nursery.

Top Tips For Starting Nursery

In conclusion, starting a nursery is a significant milestone in a child’s life. It may come with some challenges, but your child can have a positive and enjoyable experience with preparation, reassurance, and encouragement. Remember, it’s okay for them to take time to adjust. With your support, they will soon be looking forward to their nursery days.

If you’d like more information about Nunthorpe Nurseries Group or any of our nurseries and services, please do not hesitate to contact us.