August with the Seahorses

The Seahorses have spent a lot of time outside this month, helped by the good weather and little cosy corner that we have set up for them. The cosy corner is a great way to get our babies started outside because it is a softer, quieter space that they can retreat to, start off in, and then move on from when they are ready.

They love spending time outside with the Starfish toddlers, trying to keep up and watching what they can do to build ideas for their own next moves. Many of the babies have become much more mobile and have enjoyed time with the ride on zebra and cars.

An interest in puzzles has grown this month with many of the older babies starting to look at puzzles and think about how the pieces fit in. Because many of them are able to pull themselves up either supported or unsupported, there has been an increase of activities put on tables to encourage playing upright and exploring things that are above them and adjusting their height to explore various levels of activities.

We always do a lot of singing in the room because it is a relaxing and fun thing to do with the babies- for them and the team. Recently they have really begun to understand the songs and shown recognition through smiling acknowledgement and jigging away on their bottoms to familiar tunes.

An interest in telephones has also emerged. The babies put the phones to their ears , smile and burble away as if chatting to each other. A clear understanding and interpretation of modern day life that they see all the time is being shown and role played on a regular basis.

Artwork this month was based a lot around the summer and seaside. The staff have given the children pictures of summer items to look at such as beaches, buckets, spades, etc and then given the children the resources to paint and create- maybe they are recreating and maybe they are just doing their own thing. Either way, they are have been having a wonderful time feeling and applying paint and colour.

As well as all the additional things going on, the babies have explored, pottered, interacted with each other and formed some lovely little friendships. There is a very (familiar with each other) little group in the baby room who have a good time together and show real delight in acknowledging those who come in on their day and who they have formed bonds with.