That’s what it was for Emma and her children recently when they played outside… cooperation, collaboration, coordination and great listening skills combined to create much excitement!!

Sometimes traditional fun is just THE BEST… which ring games can you remember loving as a child?!? Ring-a-roses? The farmer’s in his den? Hokey Cokey? Or something else? xxxx

(or 20….)

After our very exciting delivery earlier in the week we simply couldn’t resist having some fun with the boxes before they were recycled! We turned them into castles, boats and houses (or whatever else our imaginations decided upon!) as we excitedly decorated them together and we even opened some of them up to draw roads to race our cars around on too xxxx

After spontaneously making a train inside with the chairs Jade took her little Elephants outside so they could continue following their current interest, but on a much larger scale!! They all made a train together with the crates and tyres and climbed happily aboard to embark upon their journey to ‘the seaside’…

Choo-choooing days and role-playing ways spent imagining together here at Jollies xxxx

We’ve had a VERY exciting delivery of wonderful new furniture arrive for Terrific Twos today as 22 boxes came through the front door at Jollies!!!

This has led to switching and swapping around and the cow friends have now moooooooved on over into Exploring Elephants (and their velvet throne inspired reading area has gone into Twos).

The addition of cows and flowers and leaves has totally transformed the reading area and our children were found sharing books together immediately…

The conclusion: we toadstoolly love reading books here at Jollies xxxx

with a little bit of technology thrown into the mix!!!!

Children’s baking was back on the menu for Cheeky Monkeys and Ellison rose to the room’s challenge with her children…

Having opportunities to bake and create helps our children understand the importance of hygiene and washing hands before they touch any food, they realise the importance of doing kind things for others (as they were talking constantly, and very excitedly, about how they were making these for all their friends throughout nursery) and there are numerous organic opportunities to explore mathematical concepts as weighing and pouring are explored and quantities are discussed, as well as the noticing the scientific changes that they observe occurring to the mixture as it magically morphs into cakes and bakes!

This time though, Ellison also brought in her stand mixer, so she could add some technology skills into the mix and so they could all have a little more independence with the mixing process… it was a little bit noisy, but they were all certainly very curious and the end product was very delicious!!!

Exciting measuring and mixing ways leads to yummy baking days spent lovingly creating here at Jollies xxxx

Cheeky Monkeys have loved exploring a range of technology toys experimenting with their cause and effect nature… There have been remote control cars and cats, v-tech toys with buttons to press amongst many others, but their favourite by far appeared to be the bees!!! Xxxx

Sometimes you’ve just got to grab a piece of nearby material and transform yourself into Elsa… (complete with amazing singing too of course!!!!!) xxxx

With a splash and a splosh cups and pots were emptied, filled and washed, fences were painted and masterpieces were created!!

Wonderful water play is just the Jolly way xxxx

…..for Free-Flow recently! These friends were closely observed by Stephen being VERY busy building a tower as tall as they possibly could using the blocks as a team in a very cooperative and collaborative self-initiated project!!

There was lots of critical thinking occurring as they discussed and negotiated and thought of ways to make their tower steady, through the strategic placement of blocks and, after that, how they could then reach the very top as it got taller and taller….

Of course …… grab a crate and climb on, and then carefully balance (all the while strengthening those core muscles!!) to enable them to reach up high and use their coordination skills very cleverly to tweak and build the tower ever higher… MISSION COMPLETE!! xxxx

Chloe demonstrated what a responsive and encouraging practitioner she truly is when she saw one of her little ones desperate to cross the wibbly-wobbly bridge, but she could see their uncertainty too…

With gentle encouragement she helped them attempt this feat and succeed they certainly did! They didn’t feel comfortable walking and holding on, but were determined to cross… so belly sliding it was!!! They found their own way of moving after some careful deliberation.

This technique proved highly effective and when they got to the slide they turned and adjusted and after some skilful negotiation of space they were soon in sitting position ready to slide down……..but with Chloe’s helping hand at the side for reassurance and confidence…

What physical superstars our children truly are!

Sliding ways and risk-assessing days spent navigating the great outdoors here at Jollies xxxx