EYR International Blog

21/09/2021

Wellbeing Tips for Early Years & Primary Teachers

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge” –Albert Einstein Mental health and wellbeing has become even more of a key focus recently due to everything going on in the world. So now more than ever it is important to check in with ourselves… How important is mental health? Mental health and wellbeing is so important. It not only effects our lives but the lives of others around us. In addition to that, mental health effects how we live our daily lives;... Read More

02/09/2021
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Fun Flappy Owls – Autumn Crafts

These Fun Flappy Owls are a great autumn activity for the kids! Suitable for children aged 0 to 5 years. Read the simple instructions below to get started! Art materials you will need: Two paper plates Brown paint Thick paintbrush Two bottle tops Two eye stickers or googly eyes Silver glittery card Scraps of coloured paper Glue stick Strong glue Two paper fasteners Scissors Instructions for your Fun Flappy Owls: Cut a paper plate into an owl shape. With the other paper plate cut out two wings. Paint the owl... Read More

02/09/2021
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Pom Pom Hedgehogs – Autumn Crafts

These Pom Pom Hedgehogs are a fab arts and crafts activity for autumn time with the kids! It’s easy and simple to make with just a few craft materials required. Suitable for ages 5 to 7 years old. Read the simple how-to instructions below to get started on your Pom Pom Hedgehogs: Art materials you will need: Brown wool Beige and black felt fabric Cereal box card Scissors Glue Instructions for your Pom Pom Hedgehogs: Draw around a ring-shaped template onto card twice and cut them out. Put the two... Read More

23/08/2021
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Ideas On How to Take Learning Outdoors

This blog has been written with the help of industry expert and early years teacher Gemma Unsworth. Gemma’s 18 years’ worth of early years teaching experience includes her roles as KS1 manager, local authority moderator and early years special leader of education (SLE) for the North West of England. In this post she describes her experience in implementing outdoor learning and offers her tips and advice. “The best classroom and the richest cupboard is roofed only by the sky” – Margaret McMillan The importance of outdoor learning The importance of... Read More

12/08/2021

Imaginative Play Supports Resilience

Secure Attachment Creates Resilience To explore resilience, we need to take a holistic overview and look at the theory of attachment. A relationship that offers protection and attunement is the scaffolding for a child to regulate their own emotions and therefore their behaviour. If our children grow in a positive environment with caring and nurturing adults, they will build the capacity to cope with life’s adversities. Imagine baby Sam is hungry, they begin to fidget, root and quicky become distressed. Sam is beginning to panic; they need help to be... Read More

28/07/2021

Understanding the Basics of Phonics

Phonics is the way in which children begin to understand words, and as such is one of the most important parts of a child’s early education. This blog will go over the basic principles of phonics and the terms used, to help better understand the subject and consequently help children learn more effectively. Phonics deals with phonemes; the smallest unit of sound. Though there are only 26 letters in the English Alphabet, there are 44 phonemes. We’ve listed them below along with an example of how they sound; One of... Read More

23/06/2021
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Endangered Species Day Activities and Resources

21st May marks Endangered Species Day – a day to highlight the threats thousands of species of animals, insects, flowers and plants, and other creatures face. Endangered Species Day is celebrated globally on the third Friday of May every year. Particular focus is on raising awareness about the importance of protecting endangered species, their habitats and recognising conversation efforts. More than a whopping 37,000 species across the world face extinction. It’s now more important than ever that we teach our little ones about empathy and the importance of caring for... Read More

20/05/2021
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Tuff Tray Kits and Activities Your Children Will Love

What is a tuff tray? There’s no end to what you and your little ones can do with a tuff tray! A tuff tray, also known as a tuff spot or play tray is a large, durable octagon-shaped tray, made from heavy-duty plastic and is often found in educational settings and homes. They’re a staple in early year’s education as they provide endless possibilities for open-ended play, either individually or in groups. It’s a fantastic resource that has become widely popular over the years due to its simplicity while offering... Read More

Blog about sensory play activities for children 07/05/2021
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Sensory Play Activities for Children with Special Needs

This blog has been written with the help of our industry expert, Georgina Durrant, a former teacher/Special Educational Needs Coordinator and founder of The SEN Resources Blog. She shares with us her favourite sensory play activities for children with special needs which are guaranteed to stimulate the senses, keep children engaged and ignite their creativity and imagination. What is Sensory Play and Why is it Important? Sensory play is wonderful and a firm favourite activity for many children! It’s not only enjoyable for lots of children but it can also... Read More

20/04/2021
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Gardening Benefits & Activities for Children

Spending Time Outdoors Benefits Children’s Health & Well-Being Encouraging children to put down the smartphone and spend time outside can seem like a daunting task. At present, children on average only spend 16 minutes a day outside, and less than 24% of kids meet the daily recommended levels of physical activity. Spending time outside can significantly impact children’s health and well-being. After doing outdoor physical activity, children are 28x more likely to eat healthier foods. They’ll also feel more relaxed, get a workout – whether it’s their upper arms from... Read More