Hatchlings London

🌟 Consultant Spotlight: Sensory Play Ideas 🌟

💧 Water Play: This activity doesn’t have to be outside. You can do it in the sink, in a water tray, bucket or a large tupperware.
Add washing up liquid to make bubbles.
Pour in some food colouring to change the colour of the water.

🌪 Sensory Bottles/Jars: Use lots of different textures to fill the bottle/jar. Such as water beads, pom poms, beads. Add water and glitter to add some effect or you can use hair gel. Your child can practise their fine motor skills (without realising) during this activity by placing small objects into the bottle.

🦠 Edible Slime: Make slime with your child using store bought ingredients!
You can teach your child how to measure in a fun way. This will also encourage their planning skills. and they will feel proud of making something from scratch

🟢 Play-based learning: What is Sensory Play? 🟢

👅 Sensory play are activities which activate our senses e.g., touch, smell, sight, hearing and taste.

👂 Sensory play can support a child’s learning and development. We use our senses to retain information and learning.

🧠 It supports brain development and it can help develop fine motor skills.

❓ When to start sensory play?
You can start sensory play at any time! Children are explorers from birth. Sensory activities can be adapted for all ages and stages of development.

Check out our next post on sensory activities if you need ideas!

🌟 Consultant Spotlight: Polita’s Top Tips for Indoor Play 🌟

⛺Fort Building!
Get creative and use what you have around the house. This can range from pillows, duvets, blankets, sofa cushions. Let your child lead on how they would like to build the fort and encourage their imagination.

🎈 Balloon Volleyball!
Blow up a balloon and throw it in the middle. This game will help your child practise hand-eye coordination and their motor skills in general as they move around trying to keep the balloon up! Teach your child to take turns during the game.

🛝 The benefits of play-based learning? 🛝

What are the benefits of play-based learning?
- Play allows children to practise lots of different skills.
- Children can experiment through play and try out different possibilities.
- Experimenting leads them to encountering different challenges.

Did you know?

- Play encourages communication!
- During play, children can communicate what they want to do and learn to understand peers through social interactions.
- This builds their understanding of others and how to develop relationships.

Play-based Learning
- Remember play is fun!
- It brings children happiness and when you’re engaging with your child, you’ll feel the joy too!

🌟 Consultant Spotlight: Polita’s Top Tips for Play-based Learning 🌟

1️⃣ Let Your Child Show You How They Play! Follow your child’s lead and let them make choices in their play. There isn’t a ‘right way’ to play.

2️⃣ Observe how your child plays!

3️⃣ Watch how your child is playing and copy them!
If your child is pretending the toy plate is a steering wheel, do the same with your own plate!

4️⃣ Be Their Narrator!
While joining in, talk in a fun way with your child about what they’re playing with and how. Your child is much more likely to respond to what you’re saying if it’s done in a playful way.

🌟 This Month’s Focus: Play-Based Learning 🌟

At Hatchlings London, we believe that play is a powerful way for children to learn and grow! This month, we’re diving into play-based learning, sharing insights about its benefits, and offering top tips from our consultants to help you support this approach at home and beyond!

✨ What is Play-Based Learning?
- Play-based learning is learning through play.
- It can take many forms and it can be anywhere!
- Play based learning can be at home, on the playground, on the train.
- An essential aspect of play-based learning is the child’s agency in the experience.

💡 Did You Know?
- Between 3-5 years children’s skills are rapidly expanding.
- These skills develop from the learning that children gain from playing, reading, singing and interacting with peers and their caregivers.
- Play allows children to explore their world and understand how it works around them. It allows children to develop their creativity.

Stay tuned for tips, activities, and ideas to integrate more play-based learning into your routine!

🌟 Top tips for preparing your child for social expectations during the Holidays! 🌟

Holiday events can be exciting but also overwhelming for neurodivergent children. Unfamiliar people, new environments, and unstructured playtime might lead to social or communication challenges. Here’s how you can help your child feel prepared and supported:

✅ Prep with Social Stories

✅ Role-Play Common Scenarios

✅ Create a Plan!

✅ Set Realistic Expectations

💡 Always remember: Every child is different! Preparing for gatherings in a way that aligns with your child’s unique needs can make holiday events more enjoyable for the whole family.

How do you prepare for social events with your child? Share your tips below! 💬❤️

✨ Happy Holidays from the Team at Hatchlings! ✨

We’re wishing you and your family a season filled with joy, peace, and togetherness. Thank you for allowing us to be part of your journey this year! We can’t wait to continue supporting you in 2024. Here’s to a bright and beautiful holiday season! 🎄🕎🕯️