Hello to all the families of Little Crickets Nursery, Walsall. We continue to miss the families and children that make up such a big part of our lives and are thinking of you often. Hopefully the recent temporary changes to life have started to settle into a rhythm for you now and you are finding some comfort in routine.
This week we hope families will join us in learning about two current events in the calendar. Please use the outlined information below to share learning about these events in a manner appropriate to your child’s understanding.
VE Day
The 75th Anniversary of VE Day, will be marked this Friday, the 8th of May (which is an unusual Bank Holiday Friday this year).
‘VE’ Day stands for Victory in Europe Day, and marks the end of the Second World War, (and, importantly, the beginning of peacetime). Much like the times we are currently living through, the war had been a time of uncertainty, loss and separation, and people celebrated the end of this time with huge street parties and family celebrations. As we are currently unable to meet with our friends and neighbours you might consider holding a small ‘stay at home’ street party. It doesn’t take much to organise: just a few sandwiches and treats laid out on a table. If you wish to really evoke the era, Absolute Radio are hosting a full day of 40s music on their DAB radio station. Children can get involved by assisting in spreading fillings for sandwiches, arranging plates of food and colouring/sticking triangular pieces of paper to make bunting.
Ramadan
Some of our families are also celebrating Ramadan at the moment. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, though the exact dates change every year because the Islamic calendar is based on the phases of the moon. This year, in the UK, Ramadan began the evening of Thursday 23 April and will end on Saturday 23 May .
During the month of Ramadan, Muslims fast during the hours of daylight. Ramadan marks the month that the Qur’an (the Muslim holy book) was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. During this holy month Muslims increase their prayer and recitation of the Qur’an and make extra efforts to support others through acts of charity.
It is usual for families to gather at the breaking of the fast each sunset, but this may currently be impossible for most people to do this at the moment due to the need for everybody to stay at home and keep distant, so this Ramadan is a little different from most years.
To mark the end of Ramadan, muslims celebrate Eid ul Fitr, a celebration and feast with those they love.
We hope that families are continuing to stay safe and well. Though we are all staying at home as much as possible, the world outside the window is changing daily. Blossom is making way for bright green leaves, and new flowers appear in gardens. If you do not have a garden of your own or cannot get outside at the moment due to social distancing, it does not mean that you cannot have an adventure. Bring your adventures into the house. Build a pillow fort, make a tent from a blanket or hold a picnic on a rug in your living room. Smart speakers and phone apps can play a range of free nature sounds, so you can enjoy the uplifting sound of birdsong whilst you tuck into a family picnic safely at home.
We hope to be together and having even bigger adventures again soon, but until that time please remember that we are all thinking of you, and remind yourself every day that you are doing a great job.
With love from the staff of Little Crickets Nursery, Walsall.