Curiosity Approach Network Stockport

“I can do it!”
Self belief is an important part of our children’s development. When our children believe in themselves it opens them up for endless new possibilities. Its supporting their critical thinking skills and willingness to take risks -which we as practitioners actively encourage and facilitate throughout their play; which in turn allows them to learn and unlock their potential. Our outdoor learning environment is equip with the resources to support this creative development ensuring all of our children believe they “can do it.”

“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” ~ Hans Hofmann
Our baby room understand that for curiosity to thrive less is more. Research shows that sensory play builds nerve connections in the brain's pathways, which lead to the child's ability to complete more complex learning tasks. Sensory play supports language development, cognitive growth, fine and gross motor skills, problem solving skills, and social interaction.

Baby sensory play means the babies can expand and extend on their learning and create their own intent towards their activities. During our activity the babies used their knowledge and skills of sounds to expand on their communication and knowledge skills to extend their development of new words and sentences to copy. Words the babies would mimic and attempt were ‘pop’ and ‘bubble’. Using our physical development and proprioception skills to extend on we encouraged our fine motor movement and skills to point and pop the bubbles. During our play the babies play partners incorporate musical development as they encouraged the babies to sing along and enjoy ‘bubble pop’ as we sang along and danced to with the bubbles in our surrounding environment. Within this play the babies interactions and positive relationships really blossomed with ‘laughter’ and ‘giggles’, this really helped the babies to encourage their knowledge of their emotional development of understanding how they feel and how to express certain emotions.

Ninas Nursery High Lane Nina's Nursery Stockport Stockport Early Years Improvement Team Alistair Bryce-Clegg at ABC Does NDNA - National Day Nurseries Association Nursery Management Today Nursery World Magazine The Curiosity Approach

“Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it” ~ Roald Dahl

Today the Toddlers have been story telling using the pottery animals and fairies which has been a recent interest and is being extended to spark further curiosity and wonder. The imaginative play saw the fairies having a tea party where concepts of safety came into conversation as the tea was hot.
The storytelling evolved as houses for animals were built and existing knowledge of nocturnal animals emerged as a hedgehog was given the role of protector to the owls from the badgers.
There is a certain magic that comes from a child’s imagination, with an array of curious authentic items, soft lights and natural touches the twinkling of magic can be seen in the eyes of the storytellers.

Nina's Nursery Stockport The Curiosity Approach Alistair Bryce-Clegg at ABC Does Nursery World Magazine Nursery Management Today Stockport Early Years Improvement Team NDNA - National Day Nurseries Association Island Dreams Crafts

The children have opportunities to embrace new textures and immerse themselves throughout barefoot exploration. This promotes a babies physical development skills as it enables developing muscles in their feet and ankles to strengthen; which will improve a child’s balance and posture for later life.
The opportunity to make purposeful movements with the legs also helps to engage the core muscles as the brain has to figure how to keep the body upright and balanced to counteract these movements. This aiding a developing centre of balance which will be essential when learning to cruise and walk. All the while the children having the time to fully explore their sensory experience.

“The wider range of possibilities we offer children, the more intense will be their motivations and the richer their experiences.” - Loris Malaguzzi

Nina's Nursery Stockport The Curiosity Approach Stockport Early Years Improvement Team NDNA - National Day Nurseries Association Alistair Bryce-Clegg at ABC Does Nursery World Magazine Nursery Management Today

We are at the FIRST annual inner circle huddle in Birmingham with Stephanie and Lyndsey and the rest of the Curiosity Approach team for a day of learning, networking and FUN!

We can’t wait to share all of our insight with likeminded people and practitioners!

Amanda and Charlotte ✨