EYR Blog - Page 5 - Early Years Resources

Supporting development: how to boost children’s vocabulary

Posted by EYR Team on 12th Aug 2019

This article has been written by storytelling specialists, Tonya and Natasha, from Little Creative Days A child speaking their first words is a magical time and once they s … read more

The Benefits of Small World Play

Posted by EYR Team on 5th Aug 2019

Everything you can imagine is real Pablo Picasso What is small world play? Small world play refers to imaginative play with ‘small’ toys, encouraging childr … read more

The Benefits of Messy Play for Little Learners

Posted by EYR Team on 29th Jul 2019

This blog has been written by Holly at Little Learners Southport. Little Learners is a multi award winning messy play and mark making company with over 30 franchises across the country. Mark making … read more

Risky Play In The Early Years: How To Encourage Safe Exploration And Growth

Posted by EYR Team on 15th Jul 2019

This article has been written by early years consultant, Anne Rodgers, from ATR Consultancy. Anne has 36 years’ experience of working in the childcare and education sector. This inclu … read more

The Importance of Literacy in the Early Years

Posted by EYR Team on 15th Jul 2019

Once upon a time… We all know the famous words, but can you remember the first time you heard them? From an early age, kids and parents tell stories for many reasons; to bon … read more

DIY Autumn Leaf Suncatcher - Seasonal Craft Inspiration

Posted by EYR Team on 8th Jul 2019

Now that the seasons are changing and autumn leaves are falling, it is the perfect time to explore the changing environment and the different colours. Encourage your little ones to get inspired by th … read more

Simple Spooktacular Halloween Recipes: Spiderweb Cupcakes

Posted by EYR Team on 1st Jul 2019

All treats, no tricks here! Why not try and bake these scarily delicious spiderweb cupcakes with your little ones? Taking no longer than 40 mins to make, these cupcakes will be a simple and tasty add … read more

How to make Leafy Ghosts - Halloween Crafts

Posted by EYR Team on 24th Jun 2019

How To Make Leafy Ghosts for Halloween Crafts With Halloween just around the corner and the colourful Autumn leaves beginning to fall, why not get crafty with leaves and engage the children … read more

Exploring the Characteristics of Effective Learning

Posted by EYR Team on 17th Jun 2019

This article has been written by early years consultant, Anne Rodgers, from ATR Consultancy. Anne has 36 years’ experience of working in the childcare and education sector. This inclu … read more

How To Use Stories To Engage Children With EAL

Posted by EYR Team on 3rd Jun 2019

This article has been written by storytelling specialists, Tonya and Natasha, from Little Creative Days The importance of stories for children with English as an Additional Language & … read more

Gardening Benefits and Activity Ideas for Children in Early Years

Posted by EYR Team on 27th May 2019

Being outdoors and the impact on children's wellbeing Encouraging children to put down the smartphone and spend time outside can seem like a daunting task. At present, children on average on … read more

Exploring Science with DIY Floating Boats - Summer Craft Inspiration

Posted by EYR Team on 20th May 2019

Keep your little ones entertained this summer with our floating boats craft. This activity is not only a fun craft but a great way for children to explore different scientific concepts such as materi … read more

Top 10 Indoor Activities for a Rainy Day

Posted by EYR Team on 20th May 2019

Stuck inside with restless kids because it’s pouring down with rain outside? We all know how unpredictable the British weather can be…but don’t let the rain dampen your plans! Keep … read more

Outdoor Activities for Physical Development in Early Years

Posted by EYR Team on 13th May 2019

The Importance of Physical Activity and Outdoor Play Don’t underestimate the importance of physical development! It's important for children to remain activ … read more

Top 10 Activity Ideas for Den Play and Den Building

Posted by EYR Team on 6th May 2019

A den is a child's chance to crate a home away from home that is secret, and becomes a manifestation of who they are David Sopel Who didn’t build a homemade fort out of bed sheets whe … read more

Making the most of your Outdoor Playground

Posted by EYR Team on 29th Apr 2019

Are you making the most of your school's playground area? With the continuing rise of technology, it is even more important to balance indoor play with outdoor play. Nowadays, children are spending o … read more

Maximising Your Outdoor Learning Space - a Childminder's Perspective

Posted by EYR Team on 22nd Apr 2019

This article has been written by OFSTED ‘Outstanding’ Childminders, Chloe Webster & Bridgit Brown, from Pebbles Childcare.In this blog they share their experiences with ha … read more

Your Essential PE Equipment List for Primary Schools

Posted by EYR Team on 15th Apr 2019

To increase children’s physical activity, encourage participation and enhance development, it’s important to provide a broad range of PE resources. But where to start? What are the basic … read more

Minibeast Themed Activity Ideas to Celebrate National Insect Week

Posted by EYR Team on 8th Apr 2019

Lets celebrate all things creepy crawly this National Insect Week! Encourage the children to celebrate all things creepy crawly this National Insect Week and learn more about the most diver … read more

The Benefits Of Messy Play On Physical Development

Posted by EYR Team on 1st Apr 2019

Squelch… Squish… Splat… Kids just love getting mucky and making a mess – whether that’s squishing jelly through their hands, smearing mud across … read more

The Essential Play Resources List for Childminders

Posted by EYR Team on 18th Mar 2019

Kids love to do what they do best – play! Play engages, excites and entertains children for hours. Don’t underestimate the power of play! Play gives children the opportunity to e … read more

Macaroni Cheese Recipe with Hidden Vegetables for Children

Posted by EYR Team on 11th Mar 2019

Promote healthy eating in your setting this National Vegetarian Week and introduce the little ones to exciting new food! This year, Vegetarian Week is taking place to highlight the benefits of meat-f … read more

The Benefits of Play Kitchens for Children

Posted by EYR Team on 4th Mar 2019

Let’s rustle up some deliciously mouth-watering imaginary feasts! What are the benefits of Play Kitchens for Children? Well, Children love playing different roles and scenarios in imag … read more

10 EYFS Physical Development Activities

Posted by EYR Team on 25th Feb 2019

Physical activity is vital for a child's health and fitness and offers an endless amount of benefits. To learn more about the impact of physical activities, head to our dedicated blog pos … read more

Physical Activity And Cognitive Development In Early Childhood: What Are The Benefits?

Posted by EYR Team on 18th Feb 2019

“Children think better on their feet than on their seat” – Mark Benden Do active kids learn better? We all know how important it is to make sure that children … read more

How to Encourage Children to Write

Posted by EYR Team on 11th Feb 2019

Do your children grunt when it comes to writing? Are you struggling to engage them in the activity? Writing is an important tool of communication which we encounter in everyday life. It is vital for … read more

The Essential Outdoor Resources Checklist For Childminders

Posted by EYR Team on 28th Jan 2019

It's time to get outside! Do you have a dedicated outdoor space for children in your childcare setting? There is no set way of creating an outdoor childminding area – but it is importa … read more

The Essential Childminding Equipment Checklist

Posted by EYR Team on 14th Jan 2019

New to childminding or thinking about setting up your own childminding business in your home? Make sure you’ve got all the childminding essentials you need to look after young children with our … read more

Bunny Bowling Game - Easter Crafts for Children

Posted by EYR Team on 7th Jan 2019

Create some festive fun this Easter with this bunny bowling game! Not only a fun activity for your little ones but also a great upcycling craft activity that requires very few resources! … read more

9 Activity Ideas for British Science Week and Beyond!

Posted by EYR Team on 31st Dec 2018

Engage children in the wondrous, wild and wacky world of science this British Science Week! This celebration of science, technology, engineering, arts and maths takes place annually. 2018 sees the Ye … read more

Alternative Messy Play Ideas & Activities

Posted by EYR Team on 24th Dec 2018

Are you ready for a whole heap of messy fun? Children just love the feel of gooey gunge and messy hands! Let the children explore their senses and learn in a fun and exciting environment wit … read more

Sensory Play Activities and Ideas

Posted by EYR Team on 17th Dec 2018

Let’s have some messy fun! Sensory play is an extremely hands-on activity, which lets kids engage with their senses through the exploration of different materials and textures through … read more

The Importance of Doll Play and Diversity in Early Years Settings

Posted by EYR Team on 3rd Dec 2018

Kids just love to take care of their very own baby! From a very early age, children begin to explore the world around them and imitate actions and behaviours they have seen through pretend p … read more

Easy Allergy-Friendly Pancake Recipe

Posted by EYR Team on 26th Nov 2018

Pancake Day is fast approaching – which means tasty and messy fun for the kids! But if a child is intolerant to the traditional key pancake mix ingredients, then it can be a bit of a challenge. … read more

How to celebrate the Festivals of Light – Diwali and Hanukkah - in the early years

Posted by EYR Team on 26th Nov 2018

Teaching children about different cultures provides them with vital knowledge that will help them to develop an understanding of the world around them. This allows children to first understand the si … read more

Winter Activity Inspiration - Snowman Bowling

Posted by EYR Team on 12th Nov 2018

Looking for some Winter activity inspiration to keep children entertained during the holidays? This activity provides you with a simple craft and a fun game that can be played alone to improve hand e … read more

How To Create Transient Art Masterpieces

Posted by EYR Team on 5th Nov 2018

This blog post has been written by Jeanette Morris. Jeanette is an Early Years Specialist with over 33 years of experience and passion for Early Years Education. Summertime, whether sunny or … read more

How to make your own DIY Fish Sun Catcher

Posted by EYR Team on 29th Oct 2018

Looking for some summer holiday craft activities? Then look no further, enjoy the British summer sun with this easy-to-make, colourful sun catcher! … read more

How to Create Outdoor Spaces for Babies and Toddlers

Posted by EYR Team on 22nd Oct 2018

This blog post has been written by Jeanette Morris our in-house Early Years Specialist. Jeanette has over 33 years of teaching experience and a real passion for Early Years Education. Here we discuss … read more

Father's Day Craft a Tie - Seasonal DIY Activities for Children

Posted by EYR Team on 15th Oct 2018

Looking for a budget-friendly Father's Day craft? We have the perfect solution for you - read on to find out how children can make their father's a nifty tie this Father's day. What a lovely … read more

Understanding the Importance of Handwriting Skills in the Early Years

Posted by EYR Team on 8th Oct 2018

In a world where technology surrounds us more and more, the temptation to text and type has never been greater. Just think about the number of devices you have lying around your home; tablets, smartp … read more

Engage Literacy Reading Scheme - what is it?

Posted by EYR Team on 1st Oct 2018

When children are learning to read and developing their skill, it is important that they have access to books of the right difficulty level. They should be challenging enough so that improvement can … read more

9 Amazing Outdoor Rainy Day Activities

Posted by EYR Team on 24th Sep 2018

"Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, and snow is exhilarating; there is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather." John Ruskin 1819-1900. … read more

How Football Can Help In A Child’s Development

Posted by EYR Team on 17th Sep 2018

Invented in the 1860’s, it’s one of the most popular team sports played around the world. It is also one which doesn’t make exclusions. Anybody of any age can pull on their boots an … read more

How Block play can Support Early Learning and Development.

Posted by EYR Team on 10th Sep 2018

How do children learn through block play in early years? We've all seen a toddler’s pleasure when knocking down block towers. No sooner is it built, than it is gleefully kn … read more

The Importance of Imaginative Play in Early Childhood Development

Posted by EYR Team on 3rd Sep 2018

What is Role Play? Effective role play gives children the opportunity to try out risky ideas in a safe environment. It allows them to explore boundaries, make sense of the world and develop … read more

Unearthing the Benefits of Gardening for Young Children

Posted by EYR Team on 27th Aug 2018

Like most sensory experiences, gardening with children can be a hectic, messy and usually, untidy affair! Children playing with soil, pulling up plants and strewing seeds everywhere however, is a fan … read more

Benefits of an Outdoor Mud Kitchen in the Early Years

Posted by EYR Team on 13th Aug 2018

"Mud, Mud Glorious Mud!" Outdoor provision in the early years is always high on every practitioner’s agenda. Over the years more focus has been put towards implementing outdoor learnin … read more

How to create a sustainable Garden in Small Spaces

Posted by EYR Team on 2nd Jul 2018

This article has been written by Anne Gunning, North West Regional Schools Advisor for the RHS Campaign for School Gardening. In this blog we discuss ways in which you can create a sustainable garden … read more

Make your own Poppy for Remembrance Day

Posted by EYR Team on 23rd Apr 2018

What is Remembrance Day? 11th November is Remembrance Day, in memory of those who lost their lives for us during wars. 11am on the 11th day of the 11th month, back in 1918 marks the end of W … read more

Our Blog

Recent Articles

Categories

Craft Corner

EYFS

Handy Hacks

Health & Wellbeing

Activity Inspiration

Development

Learning Environment

Recipes

Popular Articles

Stay In The Loop

Join Our Newsletter