Landscapes for physicality
Children can have fun and be active in any kind of landscape, but there’s no doubt that the more diverse and intriguing the space, the more likely it is that children will be drawn to explore it with their whole bodies. The Outdoors and Active project settings typify the range of outdoor spaces children have […]
Audit your environment
To audit the current provision for physical development outdoors in your school or setting, you can download our three sample audit sheets below. You should try to audit how your outdoor space is being used on several different occasions, so you can capture how it may be used at different times of day, in various weather […]
Doing your own action research project
Are children at your setting moving enough? Do they enjoy plenty of physically active outdoor play? The Newham Outdoors and Active practitioners spent eight months working through an action research project in order to identify the best ways to get their children moving and in touch with their own bodies. Here’s how you could do […]
Grab and Go Kits
Some of the childminders involved in the Outdoors and Active project thought that a kit of easy to carry, low cost resources could encourage children to be more active in the park, in their gardens or even just out and about on daily walks. They tested different kinds of containers for the kits and observed […]
ICT in the early years
Updated Jan 2019 Using ICT in early childhood education Analysis: computers benefit children (October 2010) by John Siraj-Blatchford in Nursery World Technology in early childhood education: tools and languages blog by Debi Keyte-Hartland, January 2016 The other side: a toxic childhood Why is an iPad like a cooker? (And why do all parents need to know the answer?) (February […]
Friedrich Froebel
Who was Friedrich Froebel (1782-1852) Born on 21 April 1782 Friedrich Froebel was a German educator who invented the kindergarten. He believed that “play is the highest expression of human development in childhood for it alone is the free expression of what is in the child’s soul.” According to Froebel, in play children construct their […]
Feelings and behaviour booklist
Here is a list of books and resources compiled by Anni McTavish to support feelings and behaviour. Reference books Why Love Matters – how affection shapes a baby’s brain by Sue Gerhardt, Routledge How to Talk so Little Kids Will Listen: A Survival Guide to Life with Children Ages 2-7 2017 based on the bestselling […]
Crying and what it means
When children cry they are telling us something important We need to understand and listen to their tears. Supporting children when they express strong emotions and crying will support their emotional development, develop their resilience, help them to trust, separate from main carers healthily and confidently, and have high wellbeing. Ensuring and promoting high wellbeing […]
Babies and toddlers outdoors
This content by Jan White comes from our out of print leaflet “The Sky is the Limit: Babies and Toddlers Outdoors: developing thinking, provision and practice” Babies need to be outdoors This is a time of astounding development of the senses, mind and body. During this year, babies gradually gain command of their body, developing the […]
ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences)
ACEs: Adverse Childhood experiences On this page we will collate information we find about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), a relatively new scientific concept impacting early childhood and our work. The more we find out about ACEs, the more we can apply it in our practice. The science is clear, early adversity dramatically affects health across […]