MAY PROGRAMING

Young children rely on their (educators and families) for safety, comfort, and

security. By fostering a positive sense of family and belonging, we can help children

form strong and healthy attachments with their caregivers, which is critical for their

overall development. In addition, as young children grow and develop, they begin to

form a sense of self and a sense of their place in the world. By emphasising the

importance of family and identity, we can help children develop a strong and positive

sense of self, which is essential for their future social and emotional development.

Family and identity are closely linked to culture and heritage. By exploring different

family structures and cultural traditions, we can help children develop a greater

understanding and appreciation of diversity, which is essential for building a more

inclusive and equitable society. Talking about family and identity can also help young

children develop their language skills. As they hear and use words like "mommy,"

"daddy," and "family," they begin to understand the meaning behind these words and

develop their vocabulary.

Hence, for May learning, our Nursery team would like to focus on:

Family and Identity

To do:

- Read books about families such as "i love mum with the very hungry

caterpillar" by Eric Carle

- Display and discuss with children about their families’ pictures provided by

parents/guardians

- Encourage babies to practise waving and blowing kisses to family members

during drop-off and pick-up times - supporting a smoother transition.

Physical Development

To do:

- Encourage babies to reach and grasp for toys and objects to develop fine

motor skills

- Provide sensory experiences such as playing with textured balls and exploring

different fabrics

- Play music and dance together to promote gross motor skills

Exploring Different Types of Art:

Art activities provide opportunities for infants and young children to explore different

textures, colours, and materials through touch, sight, and sometimes even taste.

Sensory exploration is an important part of early childhood development as it helps

children learn about the world around them and build neural connections in the brain.

To do:

- Offer a variety of painting tools such as sponges, brushes, and finger paints

for babies to explore Set up a sensory bin with different coloured rice and

objects for babies to scoop and pour

- Play with playdough to promote sensory exploration and creativity

- Provide different materials for sensory play such as water, bubbles, and sand

- Encourage babies to explore cause and effect through different types of toys

such as stacking blocks and shape sorters

- Use puppets and stuffed animals to engage babies in imaginative play