This week the children will be preparing for the celebration of Diwali while also enjoying the wonders of the autumn season. Through art, sensory play, and outdoor exploration, both the toddler and baby rooms will take part in activities that build creativity, imagination, and an early understanding of different cultural traditions.

Toddler Room

On Monday the children will begin creating their own clay divas. They will shape the clay with their hands, noticing how it feels and discussing the meaning of the lamps. This activity not only strengthens fine motor skills but also introduces children to the tradition of lighting divas during Diwali.

On Tuesday the focus will be on making beautiful rangoli patterns using coloured rice in the tuff trays. Children will explore shapes, symmetry, and colour as they carefully design their patterns. Later in the day, they will decorate their divas with bright paints and glitter, creating a unique piece of art.

On Wednesday the children will create cards for family and friends, practising early mark-making and writing skills while talking about the joy of giving. They will also watch My First Diwali on CBeebies, which will help them to understand the celebration in a fun and age-appropriate way.

On Thursday the children will enjoy making colourful firework pictures using cardboard tubes dipped in paint. They will also use a glitter tuff tray to make sparkling firework marks and patterns. These activities will encourage creativity, imagination, and fine motor development while helping the children to talk about firework displays.

On Friday the theme will shift to autumn as the children make their very own scarecrow. Working together, they will use materials to decorate the scarecrow, discussing why scarecrows are used in fields. This collaborative activity builds teamwork and provides a fun link to seasonal changes.

Baby Room

On Monday the babies will head outdoors for a nature walk to collect fallen leaves. They will enjoy looking closely at the colours, feeling the textures, and listening to the sounds the leaves make when scrunched. This outdoor exploration helps babies connect with nature in a sensory-rich way.

On Tuesday the leaves collected will be used to create a sensory tray filled with natural and artificial leaves. Babies will be encouraged to feel, scrunch, and explore the differences, developing curiosity and sensory awareness. Practitioners will talk with them about autumn colours and textures throughout the activity.

On Wednesday the babies will explore sensory bags made from different materials. These bags will be filled with safe and interesting textures, giving babies a chance to press, squish, and observe what happens inside. This activity supports curiosity, fine motor development, and early scientific exploration.

On Thursday the babies will enjoy yoghurt painting, dipping their fingers into the safe, edible paint and noticing the marks they can make. This activity encourages early mark-making, supports creativity, and also introduces babies to colour recognition in a playful and engaging way.

On Friday the week will finish with a relaxed free play session. Babies will be encouraged to choose from a range of resources and activities that interest them, supporting independence and allowing them to explore at their own pace in a safe and nurturing environment.