This week in our setting, we have continued to adapt the environment to meet the children’s needs and interests. We have been closely observing the children’s play and listening carefully to their ideas, allowing their curiosity to guide our learning experiences.
This week, the children showed a strong interest in the Winter Olympics, and they were fascinated by the different sports, especially ice skating. To build on this excitement, we decided to bring this learning to life by creating our very own ice rink within the setting!
To create the rink, we used shiny plastic and lights to give the area a realistic icy effect. The children were amazed by how it sparkled and reflected the light, and this instantly encouraged them to explore the space in new and imaginative ways.
Once the rink was ready, the children took off their shoes and danced and glided across the rink in their socks, pretending to be Olympic skaters. They loved moving carefully across the surface, practising their balance and coordination while also building confidence in their physical abilities.
To make the experience even more exciting, we played music for the children to skate to, which encouraged them to move rhythmically, express themselves creatively, and enjoy the experience together. The children worked cooperatively, took turns, and cheered each other on as they performed their own skating routines.
This activity supported the children’s development in many areas, including physical development, communication and language, and personal, social and emotional development, as they shared ideas, played together, and explored movement in a fun and meaningful way.
It has been wonderful to see how the children’s interest in the Winter Olympics has inspired such imaginative play and active learning this week.
Next Week
Next week, we will continue to build on the children’s interest in winter sports by adding new resources to our ice rink area. We will encourage the children to create their own skating routines, explore different types of music, and take part in simple group games that promote teamwork and turn-taking. We will also introduce more winter-themed creative activities and stories to support their imagination and language development.
