Summer brings longer days, warmer weather, and a chance to create a vibrant and stimulating environment for the children in your nursery. As a nursery practitioner, you might be wondering how to adapt your usual routine and incorporate exciting summer-themed activities. This blog is packed with ideas to keep your little learners engaged and having fun throughout the sunny season. If you’re passionate about early years education, explore our full-time nursery positions in London.
Who We Are and What We Do at Quint Education
At Quint Education, we understand the importance of providing a nurturing and stimulating environment for children aged 3 months to 5 years. We offer a variety of services, including:
- Full-time and part-time nursery placements
- Highly qualified and experienced staff
- Curriculum aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
- Focus on social, emotional, and cognitive development
- Creative and engaging learning activities
- Excellent communication with parents.
Contact us today if you’re passionate about early years education and interested in full-time nursery positions in London.
Making the Most of Summer: Fun and Educational Activities
Here are some ideas to transform your nursery into a summer wonderland:
Sensory Exploration
- Sensory Play: Create a “beach” indoors with sandpits filled with colourful sand or rice. Hide small toys for the children to discover, encouraging imaginative play and fine motor skills development.
- Water Fun: Set up a safe water play area with shallow paddling pools and sprinklers. Provide sponges, cups, and small boats for water play and exploration. Remember sun safety!
Creative Activities
- Arts and Crafts: Get creative with summer-themed art projects! Make colourful ice cream cone collages, paint pictures of beach scenes, or decorate paper suns and flip-flops.
- Story Time: Choose picture books with summer themes or invent your own stories about beach adventures, picnics in the park, or ice cream trucks!
Outdoor Learning (Weather Permitting)
- Nature Walks: Explore the outdoors on nature walks. Collect leaves, flowers, and interesting rocks to create nature collages back in the nursery.
- Gardening: Plant seeds in pots and watch them grow throughout the summer. This teaches children about responsibility and the life cycle of plants.
Learning Through Play
- Parachute Fun: Use a large parachute to create a shady haven for the children on sunny days. Sing songs and have the children hold onto the edges as you gently move the parachute up and down.
- Bubble Time: Blow bubbles with bubble wands and chase them around the playground. This is a great way to encourage movement and develop gross motor skills.
Summer Fun Beyond the Nursery
Here are some additional tips to keep the summer learning going:
- Share summer activity ideas with parents. Encourage them to take their children on nature walks, visit local parks, or build sandcastles at the beach.
- Incorporate seasonal songs and rhymes into your daily routine to add a summery touch.
- Decorate the nursery with summer themes. Use colourful streamers, beach balls, and pictures of sunshine to create a cheerful atmosphere.
