The Rutland Nanny

Happy Easter 🐣🌷

Throwing it back to some of our favourite Easter set-ups over the years from sensory trays to egg hunts 🐣

Creating memories, sparking curiosity, and bringing a little seasonal joy to the children 💕

Favourite resources for 14month olds. I had a little visitor last weekend and these are the resources I got out for her she loved all of these and happily played with them for ages. ✨

At this age, everything is about exploring, problem-solving, and figuring out how things work. The ball drop and Lovevery spiral ramp keep little hands busy while helping with cause and effect, while the colour peg toy is perfect for practising matching and fine motor skills. It’s always a hit when they discover the pegs pop out.

I also set up mini baskets of cars and Lanka Kade animals, which she loved carrying around and taking things in and out of. The stacking rings and size puzzle were great for learning about sizes, coordination, and patience.

The books were well loved, and the reflective and sensory resources are always fascinating for little ones to explore.

Simple toys, open-ended play, and lots of opportunities to explore at their own pace. 14 months is such a fun stage of learning.

Children’s Mental Health Week 💛
In Early Years, supporting emotional wellbeing starts with helping children recognise, name and talk about their feelings.

The Colour Monster is a wonderful tool for introducing emotions in a visual, child-friendly way. Pairing the story with Mood Stars gives children something concrete to hold, choose and talk about.

Children can select a star that matches how they feel, share their emotions in a safe, supported way, build emotional language and learn that feelings can change and that’s okay.

Resharing some of my favourite activities to introduce emotions to children from over the years 💕

Love looks different for everyone 💕
Sharing some of my favourite early years books that help children explore love in all its forms family, friendship, kindness and belonging. Little stories, big messages 💗

It’s the shared laughter, the tiny hand reaching for yours, the sleepy cuddles those everyday moments that help babies and children feel safe, secure, and loved.

In my work with children, connection always comes first. Smiles, facial expressions, talking, listening, being fully present that’s real brain-building. No fancy toys or screens required, just an interactive face and genuine attention.

I’ll always focus on building strong bonds with the children in my care, because feeling seen, heard, and connected is the foundation for everything else 💕

It’s the Big Garden Birdwatch this weekend 🐦
Here are some of our favourite bird-themed invitations to play from over the years, supporting learning across the EYFS.
Communication & Language: rich vocabulary through storytelling, non-fiction books and bird identification
Physical Development: fine motor skills through sorting, matching, filling and handling natural materials
Understanding the World: exploring birds, nests, feathers and eggs, noticing similarities and differences, and talking about the natural world
Expressive Arts & Design: open-ended, nature-inspired play using loose parts

A lovely way to spark conversations about nature and encourage children to observe the birds around them 🪶

As the weather turns colder and the children begin to notice frosty mornings and snowy days, begin exploring the icy world of the Arctic through small-world play 🐻‍❄️

Using polar bears, “snow” and icy habitats, the children scoop, build, balance and create their own stories making meaningful links between what they’re seeing outside and what they’re exploring in play.

This invitation supports EYFS by encouraging:
Understanding the World – talking about weather, seasons, animals and their environments
Communication & Language – developing new vocabulary (frost, ice, snow, Arctic, habitat)
Physical Development – strengthening fine motor skills through arranging, pouring and positioning
Personal, Social & Emotional Development – sharing ideas, turn-taking and imaginative play

Snowy small world play ❄️
Cornflour is such a versatile early years resource from wet, squishy gloop to soft cloud dough, it’s perfect for creating winter scenes. Little hands explored textures, built habitats, and brought penguin adventures to life while developing sensory awareness, fine motor skills and imaginative play 🤍🐧

EYFS links:
PD: fine motor control, hand strength and coordination
CL: vocabulary building, descriptive language and storytelling
UW: exploring materials, textures and natural phenomena
EAD: imaginative play and creating small world scenes
PSED: sharing resources, collaboration and sustained play

Gingerbread playdough fun 🎄✨
A festive invitation to play with warm gingerbread-scented dough, cutters, rollers and lots of Christmassy loose parts. The perfect way to spark imagination and creativity at this time of year!

Linked to the EYFS:
Physical Development: strengthening little hands through rolling, squeezing and moulding
Expressive Arts & Design: creating gingerbread characters, baking-themed play and exploring festive materials
Communication & Language: chatting about what they’re making, retelling gingerbread stories and building new vocabulary
Personal, Social & Emotional Development: taking turns with tools, sharing ideas and building confidence through independent play

Children loved diving into this icy invitation filled with penguins, Gelli Snow “snow,” igloos, and even penguins frozen in ice! The Yellow Door Arctic sets which are perfect for sensory exploration added an extra layer of wonder to this chilly small-world scene.

Activities like this spark imaginative play, build language skills, and encourage curious minds to ask questions and make new discoveries. ✨🧊

EYFS Links:
• Communication & Language: building vocabulary, storytelling, questioning.
• Understanding the World: exploring environments, noticing similarities and differences.
• Physical Development: fine-motor skills through scooping, digging, and manipulating materials.
• Personal, Social & Emotional Development: cooperative play, turn-taking, shared imagination.

Christmas letters and card writing ✉️✨ a lovely festive way to encourage mark making and early writing skills.

Whether they’re writing to Father Christmas, making cards for family, or simply exploring marks on paper, the children are developing confidence and purpose in their writing.

Linked to the EYFS:
L: early writing skills, meaningful marks and emerging letter shapes
CL: talking about who they’re writing to and what they want to say
PSED: showing care for others and taking pride in their creations

The Christmas shelf gives the children space to explore all the exciting concepts this season brings from Father Christmas and his reindeer to the traditional nativity story. 🎄✨

Having these characters available invites the children to act out their own scenarios, share what they know, and talk about their experiences.

Linked to the EYFS:
CL: building vocabulary, storytelling and conversations
PSED: sharing ideas, building confidence, and relating Christmas stories to their own lives
EAD: imaginative play, role-play and recreating scenes in their own way