COUNTRYWAYS NURSERY

How does Countryways involve and support children? 

 

Involving children in our activities will offer them a wide variety of experience!  Our environment promotes the use of all our senses, encouraging interest and learning in the world around us.  We will allow plenty of time for exploration.  What might seem insignificant to us can be of great interest to young children as they discover and try to make sense of everything!  Uninterrupted play with sensitive adult support enables young children to gain increasing control of their bodies, senses, and movements especially with opportunities to be mobile on a variety of surfaces and to be able to handle and manipulate objects. Below are examples of what skills children will be developing and using:-

 

Birth to 2 years old:

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• Interested in sights, smells, and sounds.

• Turning to and looking at what they hear or are interested in.

• Moving their fingers, arms and bodies and developing motor skills

• Exploring through senses and examining texture and sensation i.e., items such as moss, feathers, wood, stones, soil, and scented flowers/herbs

• Finding things which interest them.

• Increasing movement to reach out for things of their own choice.

• Will spend time observing and examining using their senses.

• Increasing language skills

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We will provide opportunities to support the above by providing……                                      

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• Plants and objects to touch

• Natural resources for them to build and knock down.

• Social games such as peek-a-boo

• Collect and explore natural objects in baskets/containers.

• Explore texture, weight, and size.

• Listen for sounds.

• Songs and rhymes with actions

 

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2-3 years old:

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• Developing a curiosity about things and processes

• Becoming more absorbed when investigating

• Making more choices

• Developing confidence in their ability

• Increasing language skills

• Developing fine and gross motor skills

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We will provide opportunities to support the above by providing……

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• Experiments to combine and manipulate materials such as sand, soil, water.                       Click on photo               

• Transport/carry objects from one place to another

• Sort/match/fill/empty/push/pull

• Use counting words.

• Develop further language skills.

• Explore positional/action words.

• Build small structures with natural materials.

• Explore plants, trees, surfaces, puddles, scents.

• Increase independence.

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3-4 years old:

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• Making their own choices and decisions

• You have to create an environment to promote curiosity

  and a way to encourage someone, so they can begin

  to realise the best in themselves!

• Developing further confidence in solving problems and their own abilities.              

• Seeking others to share experiences, social play and building relationships.

• Showing more awareness of self-care

 

We will provide opportunities to support the above by providing……

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• Opportunities to observe seasonal change.

• Experiment with their own ideas/predictions/theories

• Think about what they will need to wear outside.

• Carry personal items in a backpack.

• Problem solving and collaborating.

• Engage in imaginary play, building dens etc.,

• Explore movement, navigate obstacles and different surfaces.

• Plenty of time to discuss, share, take turns, reflect, and realise a sense of personal achievement and that of their friend.

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So, why Countryways? 

 

The chance to connect with the natural world; firsthand experiences of life and growth; endless opportunities for creativity and imagination; improved fitness and physical development – the countless benefits of outdoor play have a real positive impact on children's lives.  The farm is a natural environment for children.

 

There is a freedom associated with the space and if children feel at home in a particular space it seems natural to teach them in that area! Children playing and learning in an outdoor environment appear more active, absorbed, motivated and purposeful, and develop a more positive attitude to learn.  Children will often be less inhibited, and more willing to join in with activities, talk and feel more confident.