Re-create the security and familiarity of home in the nursery while offering children stimulating new experiences. Alice Sharp plays house
0 to 12 months
Young babies thrive on close relationships with the adults around them. As much as this helps them to grow and develop, the environment they find themselves in will also have a huge effect. Anyone involved in caring for babies and young children should ensure that they create a comfortable homely environment, which readily offers security and stimulation combined with adult interaction, care and affection. Plan the daily routine so time can be set aside for rest, sleep, play, interaction, exploration and experimentation with the environment.
Play tips
- Display a large variety of stimulating pictures, photographs and equipment to aid a baby's development and learning. To avoid the baby having to twist and turn to see them, place them in places such as above the cot or bouncy chair.
- Set up an environment that supports the development of the senses - babies learn as they look, feel, smell and touch.
- Although babies are more likely to be kept alert by an ever-changing and stimulating range of experiences, it is essential that their need for sleep, quiet and rest is met.
- Make a bright rug with a variety of textures that a baby can lie on, sit on or crawl across. Babies respond well to the calmness of pastel or other 'quiet' colours.
- Set up the room to reflect a home, to add to the baby's sense of security and belonging. Bold colours on walls or drapes are not always appropriate.
Activities
Mobiles
- Hang a bright mobile above the cot or changing mat. Home-made mobiles can be adapted regularly to add interest and variety.
- Try hanging lengths of ribbon, spirals of tin foil, small soft toys, balloons or paper plates, high enough to be out of reach.
Pictures and photographs
Hang large, bright pictures or photographs from the ceiling above the cot or changing mat. Laminate large photographs and attach them safely to the floor with sticky-backed plastic so that the baby can explore them when crawling.
Drapes
Drape different fabrics around the walls or from the ceiling. Use muslin or net and attach, at the top, objects such as balloons, feathers, ribbons, leaves or paper doilies, so the baby can watch them move in the breeze.
Mirrors
Mirrors are essential in the baby room. Babies are fascinated by watching people's movements and expressions, whether their own or someone else's.
One to two years
It is vital to make available as much floor space as possible to support the toddler's physical development, and to use space to best advantage. As a child masters standing and walking, he should not be challenged by obstacles like chairs and tables or scattered toys.
Low tables, chairs and easels should be readily available, but should be positioned to the side or in a corner of the room.
When selecting experiences for toddlers, it is important that adults consider the children's wants and interests as well as their needs. Children have an in-built curiosity and a natural instinct to explore and discover things in their world. However, the adult involved with the children can still foster these interests.
Play tips
- Allow the children freedom of movement and the space to crawl safely.
- While sitting on bean bags or cushions, play tug-of-war with toddlers. Bounce them on your knee or swing them on your foot.
- Allow them the opportunity to blow, bash, squeeze, shake, ring, jingle, bang and beat objects to create 'music'.
- In a quiet area allow the toddlers to listen to people chatting, a clock, a music box and a variety of music.
- Provide a selection of hanging objects to watch, such as mobiles and ribbons.
- On 'work' rugs, allow the children to play with shape sorters, stacking cups, soft toys, puppets, balls, bricks, trucks, dolls and jack- in-the-box.
- When it is time to sleep, look at books together. Cuddle the toddlers, whisper or whistle a lullaby and (if possible!) snooze together.
Activities
Wall hangings
- Display a variety of landscape photos, pictures of people and animals and prints of famous paintings around the walls. These should be hung at a level where the toddler can touch, reach, analyse and appreciate them easily.
- Attach a variety of textured materials above the skirting boards and explore their different textures with the children. These 'pieces of art' can be bright in comparison with the whole room to support the development of children's appreciation of pattern, colour, texture and art.
Pillow mountains
- Set up an area with pillows, quilts, cushions of luxurious textures, scatter rugs, covers and throws, which the children can touch, bury themselves in, crawl around in or rest on.
- Satins, silks, velvets and felt materials can be draped safely over window ledges, boxes and bean bags to further ease exploration. This is an excellent activity for all children who are able to crawl, toddle or walk.
Outside in
- Have around the room vases of fresh flowers, displays of artificial or dried flowers for comparison, and plants with textured leaves to rub, dust and wipe.
- Invite the toddlers to help you tend them.
Two to three years
Children need time and opportunity to explore and discover the properties of the objects and materials in their surroundings. When investigating and exploring objects, they are continuously gaining information, and new objects often interest them more than familiar ones.
All resources should promote children's development, stimulate their curiosity, encourage them to explore and discover and by accident or by memory to create. For this to happen, all equipment should be easily accessible. A child will not be drawn to an experience or stimulated enough to use materials if they are not readily available or are presented in an unattractive way.
Play tips
- Set aside time to examine objects of interest along with the children.
- Set up displays around the room at a height where they can be 'visited' and 'used'.
- Constantly change the environment so the children's curiosity is always challenged and they are stimulated to explore the boundaries that are set.
Activities
Wonder boxes
- Gather together boxes of various sizes, textures and colours.
- Set them out on various surfaces which are easily accessible.
- Fill the boxes with objects that are unusual or challenging, such as a kaleidoscope or large sea shell, or fill them with items that reflect a theme or topic such as 'in the garden' with real petals, plastic flowers, or seeds ( supervise children carefully so they do not put small objects in their mouths).
Rhyme time
Turn the sharing of favourite rhymes and songs into a child-led experience by creating a 'rhyme time' folder as follows.
- Use a loose-leaf folder.
- Have one rhyme or song to a page.
- Complement each song or rhyme with a picture or illustration.
- Alongside, type or write just the title or include the words as well.
- Hold up the page for the children to see as you sing or recite the rhymes.
- Invite the children to select their choice by 'reading' the pictures, and challenge their friends to identify the song before singing.
- Leave the folder in the story corner for the children to choose rhymes independently.
Balloon world
- Half-blow up about 40 balloons and tie them shut.
- Place them inside a single duvet cover.
- Invite a small group of children to roll over the quilt. Suggest they roll from side to side.
- Allow two or three to roll gently together (the balloons will not burst!).
