This week in the Nest, we have been exploring our environment. It's important that new and existing children feel safe in their new surroundings to enable them to happily access all learning opportunities.
Madi and I were looking at the babies' development wheels and one cell that stood out for us was: Understanding the world - Shows awareness of immediate environment through reactions, as we have lots of new starters at the moment it is important that the babies become aware of their indoor and outdoor surroundings.
So this week we set out around the farm to see what we could find! All of the babies who are walking are no longer going in buggies and are independently walking around the farm. They love the freedom of being able to run off and splash in muddy puddles and be in charge of selecting which direction they wish to go.
Before we go out we get suited and booted in our waterproofs and wellies and then we're off. This in itself is a step towards becoming independent and children are encouraged to recognise their wellies etc
This week we had some new little visitors at Free Rangers. Valerie brought in her new baby goslings. So we set out on an adventure to find them, when we did the babies became very animated. One of the babies loved them so much she kept trying to open up the door to their hutch to see them again.
Once we saw the goslings, we set off to find some more animals.
Guess what we found next? Horses!
I picked up one of the babies so that they could see them better and she began to make a 'clip clop' noise. Another baby began to point at the horses. And we noticed increased attempts to communicate from all the children.
The babies enjoy walking around the farm and it gives them a lot more confidence as the farm has a variety of different uneven surfaces. So this is a great oppurtunity as the babies are learning to walk in wellies (which we understand can be a bit difficult at first!) and also on different textures. We also give them time to just "be" and follow their own natural curiosity.
In July Madi and I are going on a course which is in London! We are very excited about it and I'm sure we'll post plently of pictures to let you all know what we're up to.
Here is a link to let you know a bit more about it!
Thank you for reading!
Have a lovely weekend!
Jade