The highlight of this week was definitely the Spitalfields mobile farm coming to visit. The children had been so excited leading up to it and so many discussions took place and guessing conversations about what animals would be coming to see us. On the day, the animals got caught up in traffic and we worried that they wouldn’t make it. Parents gathered, children waited and black clouds came overhead. -There was a little concern that it wouldn’t be quite the fun we hoped! But, we were looked after. Only a few fat spots of rain landed and with the help of some fast thinking and gazebo erecting we were dry and the children were happy, excited and fascinated by the animals.
We had a donkey, two goats, hens, ducks, rabbits and guinea pigs. The children loved them. Some of the children were so beside themselves with excitement they couldn’t even think what to visit first. Others thought the truck they came in was the best piece of play space they’d ever seen and spent the afternoon trying to outwit the staff and get on board! And some, just pottered around checking it all out in their own time. For many of our preschoolers, the goats droppings and wee was of most fascination and held their interest for quite some time and some were quite concerned that the hen had a dirty bottom! The rabbits and guinea pigs were a particular favourite especially with our babies and toddlers who loved to stroke them with the help of the farm staff.
The animals stayed for about an hour which was just the right time to satisfy the children’s interest but still keep it a short special time too. We were sad to see them go, but we got some fantastic photos to remember them by and it was a great way to support all the animal interest we have had at the nursery recently.
