Blog Tag: MyNDNA

Early years activity: Little Gardeners – Cress Caterpillars 

Bring a little nature indoors with this fun and simple Cress Caterpillars activity. Children will love creating their own cheerful caterpillar while exploring how plants grow and change. As they care for their cress each day, they’ll observe tiny seeds transform into fresh green shoots, building curiosity, responsibility and a sense of achievement along the way.    Little Gardeners – Cress Caterpillars… Continue reading Early years activity: Little Gardeners – Cress Caterpillars 

Top tips: Encouraging reading at home

Research tells us that one important thing that parents can do to help their child’s education is to share books with them. This can help to develop a lifelong passion for reading and enjoyment of stories in their earliest years.  Parents will have a range of experiences of early reading and formal schooling and this may affect their confidence towards reading with their own child. To… Continue reading Top tips: Encouraging reading at home

Early years activity: World Book Day

World Book Day is an annual celebration that offers a chance to celebrate children’s favourite story books and characters. Our activity encourages children to share books they cherish while discovering the favourites of others too.    World Book Day learning aims Resources you will need for this activity World Book Day activity outline How to extend this activity NDNA products to support you… Continue reading Early years activity: World Book Day

Top tips: Time management and prioritsing tasks 

Effective time management helps the team stay calm, responsive and focused on what matters most: the children. As a nursery manager, leading good practice in prioritising tasks supports staff well-being and the effective running of the nursery.     Top tips for time management and prioritising tasks   NDNA products to help you with this tip Disclaimer: Activities with children must always be… Continue reading Top tips: Time management and prioritsing tasks 

Early years activity: Magic mystery box    

The Magic Mystery Box is a playful activity that encourages young children to communicate, listen and share ideas. The surprise element captures interest, while the predictable routine helps children feel safe to express themselves using words, sounds, gestures or facial expressions.  Magic mystery box learning aims Resources you will need for this activity Magic mystery box activity outline How… Continue reading Early years activity: Magic mystery box    

Early years activity: Mini movers obstacle challenge

Here’s a simple, adaptable, mini movers obstacle challenge activity using your everyday nursery equipment. Children balance, crawl, jump and climb their way around the route, building strength, coordination, practice listening, turn-taking and positional language (under, over, on etc). Quick to set up, easy to adapt and a brilliant way to get your children moving. Mini… Continue reading Early years activity: Mini movers obstacle challenge

Top tips: Inclusion in action 

The reasonable adjustments you make so that all children can access play, learning and routines alongside their peers don’t need to be complicated or costly. It’s often about planning ahead, being flexible and removing barriers from the environment, communication and expectations. These inclusion in action tips offer simple, everyday strategies you can use to support… Continue reading Top tips: Inclusion in action 

Early years activity: Frozen balloon explorers  

Freezing water in balloons is an amazing sensory experience and also a great opportunity for children to discover the science behind freezing and melting.  Frozen balloon explorers activity learning aims Resources you will need for this activity  Frozen balloon explorers activity outline You could make these with the children and discuss what they think will happen at each… Continue reading Early years activity: Frozen balloon explorers  

STEMinists in the making: Encouraging girls’ confidence in science 

Early years settings have a powerful opportunity to shape how girls view themselves as problem-solvers, critical thinkers and future scientists. The curiosity you nurture now can grow into the confidence that makes choosing STEM subjects later at school feel normal and achievable. By encouraging the exploration of ideas, valuing their questions and challenging stereotypes, practitioners can lay the foundation for life-long scientific confidence.  Here are some ideas to support… Continue reading STEMinists in the making: Encouraging girls’ confidence in science 

Early years activity: Pancake creations

Have a flippin’ fantastic time celebrating Pancake Day with this week’s pancake creations activity! Your little chefs will weigh, mix, pour and observe the magic of the process as ingredients evolve into deliciousness. Pancake creations activity learning aims Resources you will need for this activity Ingredients – adjust accordingly. The following makes around 8-10 thin pancakes:  Equipment:  Pancake creations activity outline How to extend this activity Use balance… Continue reading Early years activity: Pancake creations

Top tips: Using mathematical language everyday with young children  

The new Statutory Framework for the EYFS places an emphasis on children developing a love of maths. If maths language can be woven into their children’s everyday experiences, they will develop a secure foundation as they make progress in this area.   Top tips for using mathematical language everyday with young children   NDNA products to help you with this tip Online Courses in… Continue reading Top tips: Using mathematical language everyday with young children  

Early years activity: Non-standard measures 

Children need opportunities to physically experience and compare different types of measures such as length, size and height, so provide lots of opportunity for young children to explore contrasting items to compare their features in terms of measures.  Non-standard measures activity learning aims Resources you will need for this activity Non-standard measures activity outline How to extend this activity NDNA products… Continue reading Early years activity: Non-standard measures 

Top tips: Involving children in snack preparation 

Involving children in preparing snacks supports independence, communication, early maths skills and healthy eating habits. With planning and supervision, snack preparation can be a fun, safe and meaningful learning experience for the children.   Top tips for involving children in snack preparation Ensure all staff follow the same expectations by using a staff meeting to share, discuss and agree how children can be involved… Continue reading Top tips: Involving children in snack preparation 

Early years activity: Fruit faces

This fruit faces activity introduces young children to a variety of fruits in a fun, hands-on way, encouraging them to explore healthy foods through play. By creating ‘fruit faces’ children can develop positive attitudes towards healthy eating, practise fine motor skills and learn the names, colours, weights and textures of different fruits. This activity also supports social interaction and communication as… Continue reading Early years activity: Fruit faces

Top tips: Get children talking

Strong communication skills start with rich, everyday interactions. Nursery leaders play a vital role in creating language-rich environments where every child feels heard and confident to express themselves. These simple, playful tips will help spark conversation, extend vocabulary and build confident communicators to help get children talking.  Top tips to get children talking NDNA products to help you… Continue reading Top tips: Get children talking