Pinvin Community Preschool
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Nurturing hearts and minds on a path of possibilities
Parent Zone
Parent Zone
Ideas for home to keep those busy minds ticking and bodies active at weekends and holidays.
Parenting help
Parenting help
Parenting is one of the most rewarding but challenging jobs you will ever do. The Starting Well Partnership offers support throughout this journey from pregnancy through to adolescence. Take a look at how they may be able to offer you support.
Children's Toilet Habits
Children's Toilet Habits
Children's toileting habits are increasingly becoming topics of parental concern. If your child is struggling, or simply not ready to take the step to becoming independent we understand how frustrating this can be. You are not alone; an emerging impact of the global pandemic is a regression in this area.
As a setting we want to research this at a deeper level and as part of that research we want to hear from you the parent. Below is a useful toileting information sheet to maybe answer some of your questions. Secondly there is a in-depth questionnaire to help us understand your child's needs on a deeper level. Hard copies are available in setting if you should prefer this.
Early mark making and writing
Early mark making and writing
We often get asked when is my child going to be able to write their name?
Writing takes many years to master so the early years is all about providing children with the opportunities to mark make with a variety of different resources and with purpose. They require freedom to mark make without adults unknowingly adding pressure to write names through tracing or following dots as this is proven to turn some children away from writing altogether.
Children also need to be able to control large body movements before they can even hold a pencil and use it for a length of time.
Our approach is to provide opportunities to mark make through a range of activities - dancing with ribbons to control its movement in big ways, using threading or sewing activities to develop hand muscles, sensory play where we can practice letters and numbers with no pressure. Opportunities are endless and if we can capture children's imaginations through play we are doing our very best to nurture our future writers.
Resources are also important some great ideas are, cards, post-its, labels, envelopes, notebooks, graph paper, diaries, calenders, coloured paper, waitress pads, chalks, pens, pencils, wax crayons and anything else to make writing an exciting play experience. It is also so important that you the adult are seen to be writing, modelling the behaviours we want the children to learn from.
Calming Activities
Calming Activities
In the busy world we find ourselves, children need some sense of calm, a safe space where they can retreat and nurture those lovely feelings of cosiness and contentment. Children are however naturally curious which keeps them extremely busy, so it is the role of the adult to provide opportunities to take 5 minutes and relax. At Pinvin Community preschool we practice mindfulness activities including daily yoga sessions. Why not give it a go!
Outdoor Activities
Outdoor Activities
The great thing about the outdoors is it is free and holds a wealth of natural treasures for you and your child to explore. Being in nature is not only good for our mental well-being but also our physical health too. It is an activity that will benefit the whole family, young and old.
The seasons bring change and new things to explore, so put on your wellies and enjoy what nature has to offer.
- Conker collecting
- Nature treasure hunts
- Climb a tree
- Paddle in a stream
- Bug hunting
- Bark rubbing
- Cloud watching
- Puddle jumping
The opportunities are endless!
Physical Activities
Physical Activities
Children have lots of energy so it is important to give them ample opportunities to physically exert themselves. Sometimes if a child presents as challenging it is because they need that physical opportunity, they need to run, jump, stretch, balance or climb. Again, outdoors is great for this but if you really can't make it outside right now, there are lots of things you can do at home.
- Make a den
- Play hide and seek
- Have a disco
- Complete an exercise class
- Dress up as pirates and go on a treasure hunt
- Have a fashion show
- Make a pretend shop from items around the house
Creative activities
Creative activities
Craft can engage all the family, and can be completely open ended. Much of what we do at Pinvin Community Preschool is just that, no agenda just a variety of materials to explore, cut, paint, manipulate etc. Nothing is more exciting for the children than an empty box which can become anything the imagination wants! However if you do need a bit more of a plan please see the link below for some ideas.
1:1 time
1:1 time
What's nicer than cuddling up with a story under a cosy blanket, or singing nursery rhymes or silly songs together? What about word games, some you may remember from your childhood?
- I spy (use sound or colour)
- Kims game (a tray of objects you memorise, then cover and secretly remove one item - can the players tell you what's missing?
- Memory shopping game, I went shopping and I brought..... Take it in turns to memorise the shopping list adding an item each turn. Can you remember who brought what?
- What's in the box? Can the players guess what is in the box by clues i.e. 'It starts with CK, they are mostly round, we use it to tell the time' .
- You can play this game with animals and use the symbolic sounds as a clue, i.e. 'this animal lives on a farm, it starts with the sound p, it goes, oink, oink'.
The beauty of these games are they cost nothing, can be active and teach key vocabulary whilst being lots of fun!
Sensory experiences
Sensory experiences
The beauty of sensory play is there is no right or wrong way to play with it. It is open ended and allows children to truly use all their senses; sight, smell, touch, hear and taste. Children relax into their play and can spend prolonged times immersing themselves into the experience. It can also be exciting as children learn cause and effect from combining different materials together. This allows us to try out our ideas and become critical thinkers, making links to our experiences.
Why not try:
- Teapots, cups, saucers, teabags and warm water
- Wash baby dolls using soapy water and sponges
- Make play doh
- Herbs to cut, mash, tear and mix with water
- Cornflour and water to make gloop
- Sand
- Real flowers, fruit or vegetables to explore
If you still need things to do check out the spread the happiness campaign
If you still need things to do check out the spread the happiness campaign
Don't forget to tell us about your adventures
Don't forget to tell us about your adventures
All pre-school children attending Pinvin Community Pre-school have a secure personal on-line Learning Journal which records photos, observations and comments, in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage, to build up a record of your child’s experiences during their time with us.
What we enjoy most about Tapestry is how interactive it can be, between the setting and home, you will be able to access your child’s records, and add your own comments and photos, any time you wish via your own unique login. Automatic emails are generated for parents when new entries are made, and mobile apps are available for iPhones, iPads and Android devices.
Join us in documenting the wonderful journey your child is about to embark on.