As the crisp autumn air settles in, the children will be exploring seasonal changes alongside the colourful celebrations of Diwali. Through art, sensory play, music, and movement, both our toddler and baby rooms will be filled with opportunities to learn, express, and connect. Our Baby Room will be exploring where our sense of ‘self’ comes from, with learning based around self-recognition and awareness of our similarities and differences. Next week promises a lovely blend of creativity, culture, and self discovery!
Toddler Room
On Monday, the toddlers will use the leaves and natural items they collected on their autumn walk to make beautiful marks in paint. As they press, roll, and dab with their treasures, they’ll explore autumn colours and textures, learning how nature can inspire creative artwork and sensory play.
On Tuesday, the children will create their own rangoli patterns using colourful shapes. They’ll learn that these patterns are a special way to celebrate Diwali, symbolising happiness and welcome. Carefully arranging the pieces will encourage fine motor skills and an appreciation for pattern, shape, and cultural expression.
During Wednesday, the toddlers will explore cinnamon-scented playdough, describing how it feels, smells, and looks. This hands-on experience will help build their sensory vocabulary and awareness of different textures and autumnal scents, while also giving them time to strengthen their little hands as they roll and squish the dough.
On Thursday, the children will watch a short video showing traditional dancing for a Diwali celebration. They’ll then have fun moving their bodies to the rhythm, copying gestures and creating their own expressive movements. This lively activity will help develop balance, coordination, and confidence while introducing the children to another joyful aspect of Diwali.
To finish the week on Friday, the toddlers will paint their own Diwali divas, using bright colours and patterns to decorate the small clay lamps. As they work, they’ll talk about the marks they make and what they mean, reflecting their growing creativity and understanding of Diwali’s themes of light and togetherness.
Baby Room
On Monday, the babies will explore dressing up in warm autumn and winter clothing. Staff will talk about the changing weather, encouraging the babies to feel the textures of hats, scarves, and gloves while learning new words like “cold,” “soft,” and “warm.” This will be a cosy and sensory start to the week.
During Tuesday, the babies will look at photographs of themselves and use mirrors to recognise their faces. Practitioners will gently talk about their features, naming eyes, noses, and mouths. This activity supports early self-recognition, language development, and social awareness, all while sparking happy curiosity about “me.”
On Wednesday, the babies will explore a tuff tray with simple face drawings, helping them learn about eyes, noses, and mouths through play. Staff will encourage conversation about differences and similarities, helping the babies recognise that everyone looks unique and special in their own way.
During Thursday, the babies will paint their own portraits, using brushes and fingers to explore colours and shapes. Practitioners will name body parts as the babies paint, helping them link their creative actions to what they see in the mirror. It will be a lovely opportunity for self-expression through sensory art.
Finally, on Friday, the babies will explore everyday objects in meaningful play by using brushes to gently comb dolls’ hair. This calm, nurturing activity encourages hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills while helping the babies begin to understand caring actions and routines they see in their daily lives.