Vicky Collings Childminding Service

What looks like “just playing with rice”… is actually lots of learning 🌾✨

Activities like this sensory tray support children’s development in many important ways:

👐 Physical Development
Scooping, pouring and picking up small objects helps to build:
• Hand strength
• Coordination
• Fine motor skills (important for future writing)

🔢 Early Maths – Number & Quantity
Children practise:
• Recognising numbers
• Counting objects
• Comparing amounts (“more”, “less”, “full”, “empty”)

🧠 Learning & Thinking
Children explore cause and effect, make choices and solve problems:
• What happens if I pour it here?
• How many can I fit in the scoop?

💬 Communication & Language
As children find hidden objects, they:
• Learn new words and object names
• Talk about size, shape and texture
• Ask questions and listen to others

❤️ Personal, Social & Emotional Development
Sensory play can be calming and helps children:
• Focus and concentrate
• Feel relaxed and regulated
• Build confidence through independent exploration

✨ Learning through play
This hands-on, child-led activity supports the EYFS and Development Matters by allowing children to learn naturally, at their own pace.

Simple play — big learning 💫

✨Weekly Round-Up ✨

What a fun and busy week we’ve had! 💛

🖍️ We’ve been exploring mark making with playdough — building those all-important fine motor skills and strengthening little fingers for future writing. Lots of squishing, rolling and creative chatter along the way!

🏞️ We’ve made the most of the lovely weather with park visits, giving the children space to run, climb, balance and practise turn-taking on the equipment. (That seesaw was a big hit! 😉)

🛒 Our shopping trips were a great opportunity to talk about healthy choices and involve the children in planning for snack time — developing their understanding of the world and early maths through counting and choosing.

🎨 We also joined our lovely local playgroup, giving the children a chance to socialise with new friends and try different activities in a new environment.

It’s been a week full of laughter, learning, and lots of independence building — all supporting their personal, social, and emotional development in line with the Development Matters framework. 🧠❤️