Posts tagged 'Open Ended Play'

Facilitating play can be a complex role for Early Years practitioners. Early Years expert, Emma Davis, explores the importance of child-led play and how to strike a balance between the role of observer and facilitator.

Introducing loose parts play into a setting can be a hugely empowering and valuable experience.  As practitioners, our role is to facilitate an enabling and inspiring environment for children and incorporating loose parts into our provision can help us to achieve this.

What better way to celebrate Children’s Art Week than by taking a look at famous artists from around the world and using their style to inspire young children in their art and craft activities.

The outdoors can be the most wonderful space to play and learn in the Early Years and beyond.  Although it can be seen as an extension of the classroom, the outdoors holds enormous value.

Have some rawrsome fun in your nursery setting with our 5 brilliant ideas for Dinosaur Day! on the 15th May.

As settings are being more eco-conscious, as well as managing reduced budgets, we need to look for alternative ways to set up and maintain a supply of free resources.  One way of doing this is to set up a recycle and reuse scheme for parents and carers.  Encourage them to save items they might usually consider throwing away, ready to use in the setting. 

Many settings and schools are now looking to Forest School as a way to enhance their outdoor provision and opportunities for children’s play and learning.  However, it’s important to remember that Forest School is not merely outdoor learning.  Both have distinct advantages for play, development and wellbeing but are not the same.  Forest School is an approach to engaging with the outdoors, led by a trained Forest School leader.  Its ethos is built on the holistic experience of the child, led by the child, for the child.  

There has been much discussion and debate over the years about the effect of brightly coloured environments on children (and adults) – and how ill-considered use of colour may have quite the impact on our feelings and mood, and children’s learning and behaviour.

“What a difference there is between playthings that leave as much
as possible to the power of imagination and giving finished toys that
leave nothing for the child’s own inner activity”. - Rudolf Steiner

As the warmer weather settles in many early years settings and schools review their provision for outdoor play. Playing outdoors is a great way for babies and children to have first-hand experience of the weather, the seasons and the natural world. This supports their learning and development, their wellbeing and their physical and mental health.