Michelle's lots of laughs childcare

🌿 Risky Play… Building Confident, Curious Learners 🌿

Today we spent a wonderful afternoon at a Risky Play event, where the children were encouraged to explore, challenge themselves and discover what their bodies and minds are capable of.

There were opportunities to climb high, scramble across the play net, balance in the trees, safely use real tools, throw foam axes and test their aim, all while making their own decisions, assessing risks and celebrating their achievements.

In our Curiosity Approach and Hygge-inspired setting, we believe children don’t need constant instructions—they need opportunities, trust and time. Watching them pause, think, problem-solve and proudly say, “I did it!” was incredibly rewarding.

The smiles on their faces weren’t simply because they had fun—they were experiencing the joy that comes from perseverance, resilience and believing in themselves.

🌱 Today’s learning included:
• Developing confidence by taking manageable risks.
• Strengthening gross motor skills through climbing, balancing and coordinated movement.
• Learning to assess danger and make safe choices.
• Building resilience by trying again when something felt tricky.
• Developing hand-eye coordination and concentration through target games.
• Practising patience, turn-taking and encouraging friends.
• Using real tools safely, promoting responsibility and respect.
• Enjoying the calming benefits of spending time outdoors beneath the trees, connecting with nature and one another.

As adults, our role was not to remove every challenge, but to stay close, encourage, reassure and trust the children to explore within safe boundaries. This type of play nurtures independence and creates capable, resilient learners.

✨ Linked to the EYFS:
🍃 Personal, Social and Emotional Development – Developing confidence, independence, resilience and self-belief.
🍃 Physical Development – Strengthening balance, coordination, core strength, fine and gross motor skills.
🍃 Communication and Language – Talking about risks, sharing ideas, listening to instructions and celebrating achievements together.
🍃 Understanding the World – Exploring natural environments and learning how to keep themselves safe.
🍃 Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning
• Playing and Exploring
• Active Learning
• Creating and Thinking Critically

There is something magical about seeing children trusted to challenge themselves. When we give them space to climb a little higher, think a little harder and solve problems for themselves, we aren’t just building stronger bodies—we’re nurturing confident, capable and curious little people who know they can overcome challenges.

“Take risks. Be curious. Explore bravely. Grow confidently.” 🌿🤎

🌿 A Slow Summer’s Day Exploring Delapré Abbey 🌿

Today we embraced everything we love about child-led, curiosity-driven learning.

Our adventure took us on a gentle walk through the beautiful grounds of Delapré Abbey, where the children had the freedom to slow down, notice the little things and follow their own interests. From climbing the huge tree and feeling proud of their achievements, to running through the long grass, discovering juicy blackberries to pick (and taste!), and stopping to watch the ducks, swans and horses, every moment became an opportunity for learning.

A picnic together under the trees gave us time to chat, laugh and enjoy each other’s company before the children naturally drifted into imaginative free play, creating their own games, solving problems together and making memories.

At our setting we believe some of the richest learning happens when children have time, space and freedom to simply be children. Nature provides endless invitations to explore, question, investigate and connect.

🍃 Today’s learning naturally supported the EYFS through:

✨ Communication and Language – Sharing discoveries, asking questions, introducing new vocabulary and engaging in meaningful conversations.

✨ Personal, Social & Emotional Development – Building friendships, taking turns, developing confidence through manageable risk-taking, and celebrating one another’s achievements.

✨ Physical Development – Climbing, balancing, running, exploring uneven ground, strengthening both gross and fine motor skills while picking blackberries.

✨ Understanding the World – Observing wildlife, noticing seasonal changes, learning where food grows and developing respect for the natural environment.

✨ Expressive Arts & Design – Creating imaginative games, storytelling through play and using the natural world as inspiration.

✨ Mathematics – Comparing sizes, counting berries, exploring space, distance and positional language through play.

Days like these remind us that childhood doesn’t need to be rushed. Sometimes the greatest learning comes from muddy hands, berry-stained smiles, tired little legs and hearts full of adventure. 🤎🌾

💦 A Morning of Wonder at the Splash Park ☀️

Today we swapped our usual environment for the magic of the local splash park, where the children embraced the sunshine, followed their curiosity and immersed themselves in joyful, child-led play.

There was no agenda, no rush and no expectations—just children exploring, discovering and creating memories together.

From carefully filling and carrying buckets of water to watching the fountains dance, every moment was an opportunity to learn. We saw problem-solving, perseverance, concentration and endless curiosity as the children experimented with how water moved, splashed and poured.

The children naturally developed their communication and language skills as they chatted, laughed, negotiated and made new friendships through play. It was lovely to see confidence grow as they encouraged one another and joined in games together.

The splash park also offered wonderful opportunities to develop physical skills. Running, balancing, climbing, bending, lifting and coordinating movements all strengthen growing bodies while having enormous fun.

Most importantly, today was about wellbeing. Feeling the sunshine, cooling water on little feet, fresh air and freedom to explore creates the kind of childhood memories that nurture happiness and emotional security. These calm, joyful experiences are at the heart of our Hygge approach—finding beauty in simple moments, slowing down and allowing children the time and space to simply be.

🌿 Learning linked to the EYFS:
✨ Communication and Language – conversations, listening and sharing ideas.
✨ Personal, Social and Emotional Development – building friendships, confidence, turn-taking and resilience.
✨ Physical Development – balance, coordination, core strength and gross motor skills.
✨ Understanding the World – exploring the properties of water, cause and effect, weather and the natural environment.
✨ Mathematics – filling, emptying, comparing quantities and exploring capacity.
✨ Expressive Arts and Design – imaginative play, creativity and storytelling through open-ended experiences.

At our setting we believe children learn best when they are engaged, emotionally secure and free to follow their own interests. Today’s smiles, laughter and moments of awe reminded us that the simplest experiences often become the richest learning opportunities.

Sometimes, the greatest learning happens when children are simply allowed to play. 💙🌿

The children made there own frames for Mother’s Day gifts today 😊
It’s amazing how such a little simple activity can create such a big learning experience.

1. Fine Motor Development

Children practise small hand movements that build early control.

Skills include:
✨Picking up small items (paper, foam shapes, leaves)
✨Using fingers to spread glue or press items down
✨Developing hand-eye coordination
✨Strengthening fingers for later skills like holding crayons or pencils

2. Exploration and Sensory Play

At this age children learn by exploring materials.
Gluing/sticking lets them:
✨Feel different textures (paper, fabric, foil, natural materials)
✨Experiment with sticky substances
✨Discover cause and effect (item sticks when pressed

Creativity and Self-Expression

Linked to Expressive Arts and Design.

Children begin to:
✨Choose materials they like
✨Create simple collages
✨Explore colour, shape, and pattern

The focus is process over product—exploring rather than making something “perfect

Language Development

Adults can support language by talking during the activity.

Examples:
Naming materials: “
✨soft paper”, “sticky glue”
✨Action words: “press”, “stick”, “pull”
✨Simple instructions: “Put it here”, “Press down”

Concentration and Independence

Children practise:
✨Sitting with an activity for a short time
✨Making simple choices
✨Completing a small task with support