We understand the importance of children developing motor skills to ensure their holistic development is supported.
Good fine motor skills mean children can dress, feed and care for themselves with greater independence and therefore higher self-esteem and confidence. 
We find a variety of ways to engage children and encourage them to take part in experiences that will support fine motor skills. 
This week, children were very curious and keen to use the mini hammers and pegs whilst exploring the Halloween pumpkins.
Great perseverance and strength was needed, as well as hand-eye coordination,  to successfully get the pegs deep into the flesh.
Independent playdough making was also very popular. Children using their hands to scoop, pour, stir and knead the dough.
Children supported each other remembering the ingredients and amounts they needed to make a good dough (equal measure of salt, plain flour and water worked quite well and a few drops of food colouring).
Djembe drumming in the garden was also in action, with children being encouraged to use their hands to tap, beat and scratch their drum to a variety of rhythms. 

All this plus, building with blocks, painting, climbing, cycling, digging in the sand and mud kitchen.

Can you think of all the ways your child uses their fine motor skills around the house every day? 

As part of our Black History Month Celebrations, lovely Ayah came into school to share some Somali anjero and clothes with us.
Children enjoyed looking at Ayah's colourful fabrics, touching them and some children and staff tried them on.
Ayah also shared some music with the children and they danced together.
Ayah was proud to share her country's flag too: children have shown a great interest in flags and it's a good way to support understanding of our world and all the different places we come from. 
Finally they enjoyed sharing anjero (Somali pancakes).
Thank you Ayah for sharing your Somali cooking, music and stylish clothes with us. 
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Iroko Drummers are coming to the nursery after half term to bring some music and culture from Nigeria to our school. 

Would you like to come into school to celebrate your culture with us?
Sharing stories, cooking, music, dance, crafts?
Please see your key person. We would love to have you!

At Children's House Nursery School we think about the skills and knowledge we want children to develop as well as the dispositions for learning. All of the experiences we plan for the children have been thought about carefully and evaluated.
Colour mixing is one such area: we want children to develop the confidence and skill to follow the process and create shades they would like to paint with.  
The environment is important - our painting easel is set up in a bright, airy space. Children have access to brushes of different sizes.
They have colour charts depicting different shades as well as inspirational artwork to motivate them. 
Children are supported and shown the process of colour mixing with powder paint. 

1) Get your apron on.
2) Collect a small pot of water.
3) Select your paper and brush.
4) Dip your brush into the powder paint and add it to the palette.
5) Wet your brush and mix it in the powder paint in your palette.
6) You can paint onto your paper.
7) Clean your brush in the water and you can explore adding more colours to create secondary and tertiary colours. 

Here we captured one of our friends who was so independent and confident in organising themselves.
They were inspired by the Kandinsky 'Concentric Circles' postcard that was next to the easel. 
Painting can be a wonderfully calming experience for children and adults to engage in. 

Do you paint or draw at home with your child?
Speak to your Key Person if you would like any tips in getting started.