This week was Child Mental Health Awareness week. This is more important now than ever with the continuing Covid-19 lockdown and the potential impact this may have on children's wellbeing. To support this, we have shared a range of activities at carpet-time focusing on our feelings and emotions, We shared a story called, 'Daddy Long Legs' about a child anxious over whether they would be collected from preschool. We then discussed different emotions using our mood monsters and what might make us feel a certain way. To extend this, we considered ways we could calm ourselves down if we're feeling angry - practicing slowly counting and deep breathing exercises.
To explore our emotions further, we also set up various sensory activities too. On Wednesday we explored making 'kindness potions' using potion bottles, flower petals and frozen heart-shaped ice cubes. Children declared they were adding, "lots of love" and, "putting hugs in my potions!" This offered a wonderful opportunity to explore being kind and how we could make our friends and family feel happy.
Other popular sensory activities this week have included our playdough. Using our recipe card, the children have helped to measure the various ingredients and mix them all together to make the dough. On Monday we decided to chop herbs to add to the dough, exploring the different scents we could smell. On Tuesday, the children led the play by declaring they were making cookies and cakes, so we extended this further by setting up a baker's shop for them to sell their food! This led to us writing our own price tickets for the shop. The children revisited this idea again later in the week - using the dough to make food to sell!
Continuing a baking theme, we made flapjack for snack on Friday. The children helped to measure and mix the various ingredients, using a set of electronic scales where we could practice our numeral recognition. It's lovely for children to see the results of their 'work' - so we shared the finished flapjack for snack, with some children loving the oats and raisins and asking for seconds!
Covid-19 is obviously still having an impact on children, with many saying they can't do things or see people, 'because of the germ'. Role play with our Doctor's set has continued to be a way for children to explore their experiences through play. During carpet-time, one of our children asked for the story, 'Freddie visits the doctor' - this led to a lively discussion about children's own experiences visiting the doctor and offered a good opportunity to revisit the importance of hand-washing. To help children to understand this we did the 'germ experiment!' Using pepper sprinkled on water, we explored how the pepper (germs!) would stick to our finger, but, if we use soap - the germs stay away!
Other popular activities this week included different games during Jolly Jo - the car game, animal movement game, egg and spoon races, and what's the time Mr. Wolf?'. We also enjoyed exploring how to melt ice, and exploring our sensory stepping stones and discussing the different textures.
Ideas to continue the learning at home:
Talking about emotions is important, and it's essential that children can communicate when they are happy, excited, angry or sad. A great book to support how we feel is the story, 'Have you filled a bucket today?' You can see this story on-line via the link below...
Have you Filled a Bucket Today? - Bing video
To explore our emotions further, we also set up various sensory activities too. On Wednesday we explored making 'kindness potions' using potion bottles, flower petals and frozen heart-shaped ice cubes. Children declared they were adding, "lots of love" and, "putting hugs in my potions!" This offered a wonderful opportunity to explore being kind and how we could make our friends and family feel happy.
Other popular sensory activities this week have included our playdough. Using our recipe card, the children have helped to measure the various ingredients and mix them all together to make the dough. On Monday we decided to chop herbs to add to the dough, exploring the different scents we could smell. On Tuesday, the children led the play by declaring they were making cookies and cakes, so we extended this further by setting up a baker's shop for them to sell their food! This led to us writing our own price tickets for the shop. The children revisited this idea again later in the week - using the dough to make food to sell!
Continuing a baking theme, we made flapjack for snack on Friday. The children helped to measure and mix the various ingredients, using a set of electronic scales where we could practice our numeral recognition. It's lovely for children to see the results of their 'work' - so we shared the finished flapjack for snack, with some children loving the oats and raisins and asking for seconds!
Covid-19 is obviously still having an impact on children, with many saying they can't do things or see people, 'because of the germ'. Role play with our Doctor's set has continued to be a way for children to explore their experiences through play. During carpet-time, one of our children asked for the story, 'Freddie visits the doctor' - this led to a lively discussion about children's own experiences visiting the doctor and offered a good opportunity to revisit the importance of hand-washing. To help children to understand this we did the 'germ experiment!' Using pepper sprinkled on water, we explored how the pepper (germs!) would stick to our finger, but, if we use soap - the germs stay away!
Other popular activities this week included different games during Jolly Jo - the car game, animal movement game, egg and spoon races, and what's the time Mr. Wolf?'. We also enjoyed exploring how to melt ice, and exploring our sensory stepping stones and discussing the different textures.
Ideas to continue the learning at home:
Talking about emotions is important, and it's essential that children can communicate when they are happy, excited, angry or sad. A great book to support how we feel is the story, 'Have you filled a bucket today?' You can see this story on-line via the link below...
Have you Filled a Bucket Today? - Bing video
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