Learning about the environment and sustainability is an essential life skill. Talk to children about recycling and how this means you are taking something you don’t want or need anymore and turning them into new things, and how it helps keep our environment clean and healthy. Top tips for art inspiration NDNA products to help… Continue reading Top tips: Recycling Christmas Materials
Blog Tag: MyNDNA
Top tips: Inclusive Christmas celebrations
The Christmas period is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate cultural diversity – helping children learn about different traditions, value their own family experiences and develop positive attitudes towards the diverse world around them. Inclusive Christmas celebrations ensure that every child feels represented, respected and involved. Inclusive Christmas celebrations outline NDNA products to help you with this… Continue reading Top tips: Inclusive Christmas celebrations
Top tips: Outdoor art inspiration
The outdoor environment is a wonderful resource – an ever-changing canvas for creativity, imagination and exploration. It offers endless opportunities for children to express themselves, experiment with materials and engage their senses while connecting with the natural world. Inspire your team to see the outdoors as a source of inspiration and creativity for your little… Continue reading Top tips: Outdoor art inspiration
Early years activity: Leaf printing
Leaf printing is a fun and sensory way for young children to explore nature, colours, shapes and textures. By using real leaves and paint, children can create unique patterns while developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. This activity also helps children to develop an understanding of seasonal changes and encourages curiosity about the natural… Continue reading Early years activity: Leaf printing
Early years activity: Scrumptious soup
This simple cooking activity encourages sensory exploration, fine motor skills and early maths through hands-on food preparation. Children will help wash, stir and measure ingredients to make a healthy Honeyed Carrot Soup, while learning about where food comes from and trying new tastes. Scrumptious soup activity learning aims Resources you will need for this activity Ingredients … Continue reading Early years activity: Scrumptious soup
Top tips: Using tools at nursery
By introducing a variety of age-appropriate tools in a safe and supportive environment, children are encouraged to explore, problem-solve and develop fine motor skills. From scissors and glue sticks to paintbrushes and even beginner woodworking tools, children can be given the chance to discover how things work through meaningful play. Top tips for showing kindness… Continue reading Top tips: Using tools at nursery
Top tips: Kindness every day
World Kindness Day is a brilliant way to help nurture empathy, friendship and positive behaviour in your nursery. Keep it simple, model it clearly and make kindness visible to children every day. Here are some top tips to support you. Top tips for showing kindness every day NDNA products to help you with this tip… Continue reading Top tips: Kindness every day
Early years activity: Kindness potion
In the kindness potion lab, children mix ingredients for helping, sharing and other kind acts. This sensory, PSED focussed activity helps build language for feelings, turn taking and kind, gentle words. Kindness potion activity learning aims Resources you will need for this activity Kindness potion activity outline How to extend this activity NDNA products to support you with this activity Building your… Continue reading Early years activity: Kindness potion
Early years activity: Make your own safety clothing
This activity helps children explore how bright and reflective materials improve visibility in the dark. Through hands-on fun making ‘reflective ribbons,’ they’ll learn real-life safety while sparking creativity and curiosity. Make your own safety clothing activity learning aims Resources you will need for this activity Make your own safety clothing activity outline How to extend this… Continue reading Early years activity: Make your own safety clothing
Top tips: Staying safe outside in the dark
As the evenings grow darker, it’s important to stay extra vigilant when children are outdoors. In low light or bad weather, young children can be difficult for drivers and cyclists to spot. These easy tips can help keep your children safe when out after dark. Top tips for staying safe outside in the dark Disclaimer:… Continue reading Top tips: Staying safe outside in the dark
Early years activity: Bonfire Night
Bonfire Night is a traditional celebration, filled with the excitement of fireworks, sparklers and bright colours lighting up the sky. For young children, this can feel magical, but it may also be a little overwhelming. This activity offers a safe and creative way to join in the celebrations by making sparkly firework pictures. Through art… Continue reading Early years activity: Bonfire Night
Top tips: Fire Safety
Fire safety is a vital part of keeping children, staff and visitors safe in a day nursery. While the chances of a fire are low, being well-prepared ensures that everyone knows what to do in an emergency. By having clear procedures, the right equipment and regular training, nurseries can create a safe environment. Our top… Continue reading Top tips: Fire Safety
Top tips: Ensuring inclusion
Creating an inclusive nursery ensures every child feels valued, respected and supported. By embracing diversity, challenging biases and addressing ableism, nurseries can foster a welcoming environment where all children thrive. Here are some top tips to ensure your setting is inclusive for all children. Top tips for ensuring inclusion NDNA products to help you with… Continue reading Top tips: Ensuring inclusion
Early years activity: What makes us the same?
This is a fun personal, social and emotional activity that helps children recognise shared qualities and build a sense of belonging. Through mirrors, games and a group drawing, children explore how similarities connect them while celebrating their uniqueness. What makes us the same activity learning aims Resources you will need for this activity What makes… Continue reading Early years activity: What makes us the same?
Early years activity: Picture Perfect
Here, children are given the opportunity to create their very own nursery photo using props, backdrops and as much creativity as they can muster! This fun activity supports children to explore self-expression, confidence and identity while capturing a special memory of their time at nursery. Picture Perfect activity learning aims Resources you will need for… Continue reading Early years activity: Picture Perfect
Top tips: Nursery Pets – Health and Safety
Considering the needs of others is one of the building blocks of empathy and pets in a nursery setting can enable children to learn about caring for others while helping them to talk about their feelings and emotions. Pets in a setting are a big responsibility and providers should carefully consider all the extra responsibilities… Continue reading Top tips: Nursery Pets – Health and Safety
Top tips: Building belonging through resources
Creating a truly inclusive environment means making sure every child feels seen, valued and celebrated. The resources we select play a big role in shaping children’s understanding of themselves and others. By offering diverse, authentic and accessible materials, you can help children build respect, empathy and a sense of belonging from the beginning of their… Continue reading Top tips: Building belonging through resources
Early years activity: Animal appreciation
World Animal Day is focused on raising awareness and appreciation of the importance of animals for the planet. Take part in this year’s World Animal Day by using this activity to get children to share their appreciation of their favourite animals. Animal appreciation activity learning aims Resources you will need for this activity Animal appreciation… Continue reading Early years activity: Animal appreciation
Early years activity: Rainbow Fruits of Africa
Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate and value the rich cultures, traditions and contributions of Black heritage. Food is a wonderful way to explore diversity – it brings people together and helps children learn about different places and traditions. South Africa, for example, is home to a wide variety of delicious fruits that… Continue reading Early years activity: Rainbow Fruits of Africa
Top tips: Incorporating Black History month into the setting
Black History Month is a great opportunity for nurseries to celebrate diversity, culture and achievement. It’s important to keep things fun, engaging and age-appropriate by focusing on stories, music, food and creativity that children can relate to. The aim is not just to mark one month, but to create a setting where all children feel… Continue reading Top tips: Incorporating Black History month into the setting