As children become more mobile new opportunities arise for them to explore and exercise. Age appropriate resources help the children to develop their curiosity, coordination and further develop their physical abilities. Children start to learn the beginnings of self-control and how to relate to other people. During this stage of development children are encouraged to develop their social and cognitive skills by people to whom they have a positive attachment. Building on their communication skills children begin to develop a sense of self and are more able to express their needs and feelings.

Alongside non-verbal communication children learn a few simple words for everyday things and people. With encouragement and plenty of interaction with carers, children's communication skills grow and their vocabulary expands very rapidly during this stage of their development. Exploration and simple independence builds a sense of self-confidence. Children are also learning about boundaries and how to handle frustration. Play with toys that come apart and fit together encourages problem solving and simple planning. Imaginative play helps children to learn about a range of possibilities. Adults are an important source of security and comfort.

Learning and Development

Both the Daisies and the Poppies operate on a 1 adult to 3 children ratio, the rooms are designed to provide a safe, secure, yet challenging environment for the children. The garden area provides opportunities for youngsters to explore use their senses and be physically active. The activities and resources for both groups include the following themes:

• Two large spacious room - To encourage gross motor skills such as posture and large movements, and fine motor skills such as hand eye co-ordination and fine movements
• Imaginative Play - To encourage speech, social and listening skills by the use of dolls, teddies and simple every day objects.
• Messy Play - To encourage fine motor skills and exploration of objects using all the senses.
• Sensory Play - To encourage all aspects of sensory development, exploring objects, hand-eye co-ordination, developing attention and concentration skills including the ability to make simple choices.
• Book Play - To develop language skills and encourage an early love of books sharing them with a caring adult.
• Sand and Water Play - To encourage exploration of objects using a child-focused approach.

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• Violets (2 Year Olds) >