Activities we do at Toddle Tots.

I believe in covering the Foundation Stage curriculum and the Early Years guidance with children under the age of five by providing a variety of play activities. 

Some of these activities are directed and are linked to a particular theme, but many of the activities are adapted from the children's own level and then developed further depending on their interests and capabilities.

Opportunities at Toddle Tots

Cooking - Cooking provides great opportunities to work together, take turns, talk about early math's, weighing and counting. Talking about how things change. It is lovely for the children to share their finished product at snack time or take home for their families to try. We try to cook every week but definitely every fortnight. Items vary from cakes, biscuits, flapjacks, fruit salad, pizzas etc. Children also get the opportunity to make bread and get presented with a master baker award!

Construction We have a range of construction toys, duplo, lego, play Mobil, stickle bricks, popoids etc, which the children can use to design, construct, manipulate and develop their own ideas with.

Small World Play  I encourage small world play where children can play with a wooden railway, garage, small figures, a dolls house, farm and animals, safari and more. Small world play encourages children to act out the real world, experiment ideas safely and is great fun as they are in control.

Lunch/Snack Time  Together we share our meals all sat around the table. We use this time to talk, share ideas and interests with one another. Independence is encouraged as children learn to feed themselves and help lay the table.

Television  - We do not watch a great deal of television, videos etc  but when we do, we often do it in a fun approach joining in with the actions, or perhaps sharing a programme related to the current topic or a community event.

Jigsaw Puzzles Peg boards and threading are always available and are great activities for concentration, developing fine motor skills and coordination. Without good hand and eye coordination children will struggle to learn to write.

Games  Great opportunities to take turns, match objects, have fun and work together. These games could be anything from snap to hungry hippos.

Treasure Basket and Heuristic Play  This is about providing opportunity for children to play with real objects, materials, keys, saucepans, pegs, cardboard tubes, pots, sponges etc. children use these objects in a huge range of ways to enhance their play and develop understanding of their environment. 

Cuddly Toys and Puppets  The range of soft toys, make great friends; they take on roles in stories, become guests at a tea party, and have their own personalities as well as being stars of their own television shows. Puppets can be enjoyed with our puppet theatre also.

Music  Music is a great way to explore the world. We listen to a range of musical styles from pop, nursery rhyme, music from around the world, and songs we can learn actions too. There is a vast range of instruments available for the children to use.

Dressing Up Box  We have a dressing up box to encourage children to act out roles. It includes headwear (helmets, caps and scarf's), bags, fabric, animal masks, tool kits and doctor kits, super heroes, animal etc. our dressing up box also has a safety mirror so children can see how fabulous they look!

Writing Area  Pens, paper and pencils are freely available to the children  they will be encouraged to help write letters, notes, their name, shopping lists etc.

Messy Activities  We do lots of crafts, painting, gluing, collage, drawing, play dough and more. Through these materials we can show our creative side and discover for ourselves the properties of materials and what happens if?

Story time/News time  We have a daily story time after lunch. We have a vast variety of books to choose from in which children can take turn to pick or maybe bring in a special book from home to share. I regularly accompany stories with puppets and story sacks. After story time children are encouraged to tell any News, they may have. Whether it is what they did the weekend, experiences they have had, or what they are going to play with next etc. I have found the children to thoroughly enjoy this time and feel it greatly helps build self confidence and teaches others to listen. We often finish the session with a few action rhymes with wind the bobbin up being a firm favourite.

Listening Game  We have several listening games in which children each have a picture board with various pictures of noise making objects/animals etc. they have to listen quietly to the CD to hear if they recognise the noises they hear, it may be a dog barking, children giggling or someone playing the violin. If they find they have the corresponding picture then they cover their picture up with a disc.

Folder Work  All children aged over 30 months have a project folder. This folder contains associated work focusing on whatever the topic of the month may be. These topics include the weather, animals, butterflies, clothing etc, plus all the obvious ones such as Easter, Mothers day and Fathers day. We try to set aside 2-3 hours per week to do some folder work. I try to keep back as much as possible and then let children take their folders home every fortnight to show parents. We also do work on colours, shapes, numbers and pencil control too.

Gardening  We grow cress, broad beans and sunflower seeds regularly. We learn about science and growing things by taking care of the garden.

Everyday Household Tasks  Children can benefit hugely by being involved in everyday activities, laying the table reinforces math skills. Tidying up helps children to learn to take care of things and where to find them next time. Shopping can introduce early skills of using money, learning where products come from and recognising simple words.

Computer  We have a computer situated in the playroom with internet access. Children regularly visit the Cbeebies website and we have suitable pc educational games too. Confidence at an early age with computer skills is a great asset, and stands children in advantage when schooling starts. 

Free Play  We have a large selection of toys which the children can choose to play with, these are regularly rotated. They are easily accessible. We also have a home corner in which master chefs can prepare there winning dishes, and doctors can get ready for their next big operation with our hospital trolley and tools! 

Outdoor Play  The outdoor play area encourages children to use their larger muscles. We have swings, slide, bouncy castle, and ball pit, swing ball, and ride on toys, balls, hoops and stilts etc .Permanent fixtures are sand and water play, easel and large bricks.

Homework/Books  I encourage all school age children to do their homework and reading with me after school. This time is used for the older children to read to the younger ones as well as encourage their own interest in books to be developed.

Rest Time When our bodies need to catch up with all the activity we do. Young children who require a nap sleep in well ventilated bedrooms and older but weary children can snuggle up for a story or a quieter activity.

Out in the Community

As a childminder I can utilize the wider environment too. With trips to local museums, farms, soft play centres, restaurants, parks, shops, horse world, library, schools, the beach and utilize local events. These offer a wealth of experiences while with your friends I have highlighted the places we go regularly.

Playgroup  These are local groups. We join in mornings activities. These usually include a craft session, a play dough table. Music and movement singing sessions or a story, a group snack, lots of physical activities on large ride on toys. Social play which enables children to play and socialize with other children with whom they may eventually attend school with. These groups sometimes have themed mornings, parties and fundraising events such as a sponsored toddler walks.

Little Learners Session  This is a more structured play session, similar to the above but on a more one to one scale. More structured age related activities with children all similar in age (2-3). The first part of the session includes small world toys, telephones, sand, painting etc. A very well thought out craft session on a one to one basis. Children then all help tidy away and sit together for a drink and some fruit. The second part of the session encourages children to use their larger muscles with ride on vehicles, footballs, trampoline etc.

Softplay Sessions  We often attend these sessions when the weather is wet. The children have great fun at these sessions benefiting from lots of exercise and running off all that excess energy.

Animals  Animal visiting features highly in this setting we regularly go to our local farm. The children particularly enjoy lambing season when the farmer lets them help bottle feed the lambs. We attend Horseworld on a weekly basis where the children are able to groom the ponies and maybe have a tractor ride.

Picnics  We regularly picnic in the fine weather. This may be at local parks, Ashton Court, Clevedon or  Portishead etc.

Outings  Weather permitting we like to try and go on a day trip in the summer at least once a fortnight. These places may include Weston Super Mare, Clevedon, Portishead, Avon Valley Country Park and the Zoo. We take a picnic on these occasions and always find time for an ice cream! The children love looking for crabs at Portishead and enjoy a donkey ride at Weston.

Parks  Again these are regular features we mainly go to Hengrove Park which has a fantastic water and wheels area. Plus Keynsham Park is great fun in which the children also enjoy feeding the ducks.

Library  All the children have library cards. Every third week we go to the library as a group and choose a selection of books for story time whilst here. Children also pick a further two books to take home.