Planning From Children's Interests

This week some children were finding it difficult to settle. Sometimes when children have been unwell or absent, it needs something different to rebuild the attachment.  A staff member supported the child by helping them find a teddy bear they had in the office. This helped the child to feel secure.
Other children came and joined them and talked about their own teddy bears and soft toys they have at home. Children love to share their own experiences and have those experiences listened to and validated. 

Some teddy bear story books were gathered in the garden and the children shared the books with an adult. Next the children had the good idea of having a "Teddy Bear's Picnic!" 
They were supported to think about what they would like to have at the picnic. Children mark made their ideas on paper and shared their thoughts, which were scribed by the adult. Children used talk to communicate: some using single words and phrases and others using full sentences and questions!
Some children are able to use mark making equipment to show their emergent writing, with lots of circles and zig zags, Some drew representational pictures. 

Some of the ideas gathered were:
butter sandwiches
cucumber sandwiches
sausages
crisps
carrots
burger and chips
vanilla milkshakes

Children were supported to think about healthy snacks and Friday was voted on as the day for the picnic. 
I have just walked out into the garden and children are role playing imaginatively their picnic with natural resources (someone was 'feeding' their teddy pine cones that were 'bananas'.) Tomorrow is the picnic!

Sometimes learning may go in a different direction to our plans: we ensure when this happens that we have the flexibility to respond but also clarity about the learning involved in any new direction and the confidence to challenge children and support next steps.