Activities

APPARATUS

Children both need and enjoy the challenge of running, jumping, climbing, balancing, throwing and catching.  Pre-school tries to provide an environment in which the children’s physical needs can be extended rather than suppressed.  By using play apparatus, children not only strengthen their muscles and learn control over their bodies, but also develop their skills of judgement and decision-making.

 

PLAYDOUGH

Depending on the recipe used, dough can take many forms.  It can be stretchy or firm, pliable or crumbly, but the different properties it demonstrates encourages the children to experiment and use their sense of touch.

 

JUNK AND COLLAGE

These cutting and gluing activities give children the opportunity to experiment.  They help children to learn about shapes, colours, textures and the basic engineering skills.  The final result may be as individual as the child, combining the fun and experience of creating his own masterpiece.

 

HOME CORNER

This is an area set aside at Pre-school to create a homely feeling without being completely shut off from the rest of the activities.  Various props and childsize furniture are arranged here.  A rail of dressing up clothes is also available.  By acting out imaginary situations based on real life, the children can explore and begin to understand their own emotions and have some insight into other people’s feelings and behaviour.

 

PUZZLES, MATCHING GAMES AND CONSTRUCTIONAL TOYS

Using these toys, children learn a great deal about mathematical ideas such as size, number, shape, length, weight, height and comparison.  Jigsaws, threading and fitting toys develop co-ordination skills and the ability to also match shape and colour.

 

PAINTING AND DRAWING

Children are able to paint freely and are not limited in the number of paintings they do.  There are paints, large sheets of paper and easels.  They are not shown how to paint and, at first, children may simply wish to cover the paper with colour or make one small mark on it.  When they have had a great deal of experience with that, they may begin to paint and draw houses and people.  They should not be urged to reach this stage too quickly.  Aprons are accessible for the children who want to use them and, whilst we do encourage their use, we do not enforce it so that no child is discouraged from using the paints.

 

WATER

The children find this fascinating.  Play can be experimental, studying what the water does when it is poured, splashed or dripped.  Water is soothing to the excited child and is a safe outlet for any aggression.  In using sand and water, children can gain ideas about weight and volume.

 

SAND

Dry sand, like water, is free flowing. Wet sand can be moulded and controlled. Very wet sand, like mud, can be squeezed and squashed.  Most children welcome the opportunity to handle this material.

 

BOOKS

A well-stocked book corner allows the children the opportunity to look at books independently or with an adult.  There is a daily group storytime, and reference books are also available to support the curriculum.  Enjoying books in this way will foster the growth of their imagination and develop in them a love of language that will encourage them to want to read for themselves later.

 

MUSIC

At Pre-school we offer opportunities to share in the enjoyment of singing, movement, reciting rhymes, finger play and playing percussion instruments.  Everyday sounds are a vital part of a young child’s world and he is encouraged to explore sounds, to listen and to experiment.

 

COMPUTERS

There are two computers available for the children to use in our ‘Quiet Room’.  A variety of software is available that helps develop counting and sorting skills as well as pre-reading skills.

 

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Pre-school also provides opportunities to experiment with clay, woodwork and cookery.  Visits from the likes of a dentist, the police and firemen and trips on foot, by train and coach both support the curriculum and help the child to form ideas about the world around him.

 

 

If you have a skill or interest you could share with the children, please tell a member of staff or the committee.