Collecting flowers

'The Fairy' loves gathering and transporting  things... I'm forever finding little bags filled with pebbles and hair clips or pots with shells and bricks (it worries me that she may develop a habit of collecting things like her Papa - but that's a whole other story!) Because of this I try to provide her with a range of collecting receptacles (old handbags/ purses/ pots/muffin and bun tins etc)

Today I wasn't feeling very well so I was relived that she was busy occupying her self. I thought I should probably check that she was OK and I found her collecting and sorting flowers and leaves with 'her' bun tin (and one she had 'borrowed' from the kitchen!)

I asked her to 'tell me about them' (I once went on a training course that suggested to ask a child this rather than 'What are you making/doing?' as 'can you tell me all about it' was more open ended and encouraged communication).

'I'm collecting flowers for my Mum, just like Goldilocks... they are decorations'. She must have noticed I was feeling poorly! As I've already blogged we are trying to expand our Spanish/ English book selection and have recently borrowed this great book from the library. It starts with Goldilocks collecting flowers in the wood before discovering the house of the 3 bears. I also love it because it rhymes (in English). Developing rhyming skills are important in developing early language and literacy skills.

We brought them inside and she used her small world people to 'have a party' (we've had lots of birthday parties lately so obviously a theme on her mind currently!)

Language Focus:
Vocabulary: prepositions (in)
Other rhyme (if you read the lovely Goldilocks book!)

Teddy bears' picnic

'The fairy' adores picnics and is always nagging me to have one. Today because of the grim weather we were looking for something fun to do when she asked to have one. I found our china tea set and table cloth (a present from Great Granny) at the back of  the cupboard. We waited for a break in the rain and set up our tea party on our balcony.

We brewed some blackberry tea (with cold water)

 

Stiring

Waiting for the colour to change

                                                             

Pouring

She wanted to add some flowers. The tea was not only a beautiful pink colour but smelled fruity too and the flowers added a tactile element. Very sensory!

Then the rain came so we decamped indoors. At which point 'The fairy' decided we needed snacks, a chocolate dinosaur, shiny cake and a bun with a cherry on the top were on the menu!

 I decided that pink tea, pouring and cream carpets didn't mix so swapped the 'tea' for clear water. 

This activity was great for imagination, developing her concentration and role play and well as linking in with her new found fascination with things changing colour (see the Easter biscuits we made at the weekend).

Language Focus

Vocabulary: stir, pour, tip, drink (if your not using flowers in the water!), names of food and crockery

Play skills: Role play is an important stage of development and helps to support imagination and language development.

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