Malleable
As part of our continuous provision, children have daily access to a variety of malleable play experiences. The term ‘malleable’ refers to pliable materials that can be manipulated and easily influenced without breaking or cracking. The malleable play offers a unique learning experience for children.
Malleable play uses all 5 senses, it encourages children to manipulate and mould materials on their own. Children need to explore their environment by using all their senses as children learn primarily through play. Play that incorporates textural material allows children to express their emotions through manipulation.
As practitioners by setting up these experiences we stimulate the children’s senses and this will help the children to develop creatively, socially, emotionally, cognitively, linguistically and physically. In addition, providing these experiences we help the children’s brain development as when a sense is engaged neural pathways are being created to assist with further learning in later years.
Malleable play is process-driven, not product oriented; it is the purest sense of exploratory learning. As part of Malleable play it can be squashed, squeezed, rolled, flattened, chopped, cut, scored, punctured, poked and shredded. Each of these actions aid fine motor skills, hand eye coordination and general concentration.
Playdough
Construction site
Dinosaur Swamp
For more information please click on the link below:
http://yourlittleacorns.com/longterm/Malleable.pdf
Weekly Experiences
This has been a busy week for both nurseries on the lead up to the Christmas closure.
Both nurseries have enjoyed their traditional Christmas dinners. In each of our settings children from all rooms joined together with staff and management to share this special meal. This is vital in the children’s learning as meal times are a great opportunity to extend children’s learning, support social development and also
encourage children to try foods that ordinarily they would not.
Christmas Dinner SW
Christmas Dinner SW
Christmas Dinner GH
Christmas Dinner GH
Christmas Dinner GH
The children in Gants Hill have been making reindeer pictures. They have used their hands to create reindeer faces and gave their reindeers names. This creative activity has enabled the children to engage with a sensory form of making marks with a desired effect. All children were encouraged to write their names on their work, which helps to develop their emergent literacy skills. For those that are unable to form recognisable letters, just the experience of holding the pens and making marks that have a purposeful meaning, aids development in this area.
Reindeer Handprints
Reindeer Handprints
Reindeer handprints
In Gants Hill Mani had organised a small Christmas play with the children for the staff to enjoy. Mani had made little costumes for the children and throughout the week all children had a chance to be the shining star in the sky. The children maintained their attention throughout and remembered what the play was about. Both children and staff certainly enjoyed this experience. Well done to Mani and all children.
Ready for the performance
In South Woodford the Starfish room and Sharks room have both explored the sensory room this week. The sensory room experience works best when small groups of children are taken, which then enables key people to spend quality time with their key group. The learning opportunities from engaging with the sensory room are endless and span across the whole curriculum.
Sensory Room
Sensory Room
Top 5 Children’s Quotes of the week
- “Ok your majesty” -Vanishka
- “Oh noisy!” – Xavi
- “My fave is Christmas Pudding I like it “ – Laith
- “When I shake it disappears” – Isla CP
- “That is disgusting” - Maya
Activity of the week:
The winner this week is Meera Rami (SW). Meera has created a lovely sensory activity to create and explore slime glitter. This will encourage children to explore the textures in a variety of ways. Sensory experiences allow children to have hands on opportunities of using movement and witnessing first-hand the effects this has over materials.
Quote of the Week:
‘The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice’
- Peggy O’Mara (Author)
Thank you for all your support.
Season’s Greetings and a Happy New Year from all staff at Fareacres.
Thank you for taking a glimpse into our Fareacres Learning Community
Until next time...
