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Spring is the season of renewal and new beginnings, nature is at its busiest during springtime with the sounds and sights of new life. Not only should we encourage and nurture nature in the garden, but we should look to our ‘inner garden’ and take time to nurture and care for ourselves.
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At our children’s nursery in Altrincham, wellbeing and the changing seasons are incorporated into the curriculum. We teach our children the role nature plays in providing for us and how they can utilise what nature brings to us and how to ‘give back’ to nature, too.
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Here are just some of the ways in which we focus on nature and wellbeing at our natural day nursery in Broadheath:
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1. Food, glorious food!n
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Fuelling the mind and body with nutritious food is the ultimate act of self-love and wellbeing. We emphasise the importance of food and nutrition in the nursery, teaching the children about nature’s role in producing the right nutrients that our bodies need at the right time of year. We create seasonal menus at the nursery, as we know the importance of nutritious food on our health, our emotions, and on personal development, especially for younger children.
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Meal times are celebrated here at Back to the Garden, we encourage children to respect the food that they are given, understand where it comes from and how it is grown. We get the children involved in harvesting produce and helping us to cook our meals, we also teach them the importance of sharing and how meal times are sociable occasions and things we should be thankful for.
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2. Safe spacesn
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Our nursery is designed around the children and the children’s needs, from personal development, creative, and wellbeing points of view. We have decorated our nursery in calming, natural colours and inside the nursery we have large open spaces for a range of activities including dedicated spaces for arts and crafts. We have a large communal space for meal times which encourages sociability, sharing, and a sense of togetherness.
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We also ensure that there are areas for the children to rest and relax in, as we know that feeling comfortable and safe in the environment around you stimulates development and growth, we play calming music in our nursery to further create a positive environment.
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3. Wellness activities
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n Wellbeing and self-care are focus points for all of our age groups at our day nursery in Altrincham. We involve the children in a range of wellbeing activities, to create a calming environment and improve the children’s learning and inquisitive nature.
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We have created a dedicated space for health and wellbeing; our tepee is where we undertake activities that are aimed at increasing wellbeing and personal development, these activities include mindfulness, meditation, storytelling, yoga, massage, and belly breathing, as well as coming together to play music.
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4. The great outdoors
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Our outdoor garden area is made up of a number of different spaces for different activities. Our Potting Shed is where we involve children in planting and harvesting produce which we then use as part of our nutritious meals. Outside, we also take part in things such as making a mud kitchen, looking at the insects in our bug hotel, shadow play, and nature bingo, all of which are positive and stimulating activities that connect the children to the earth and nature, creating a sense of grounding. The Potting Shed is also the hub of our woodworking activities, where children learn to handle real tools.
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Our garden is designed to play a key part in our nursery space and curriculum, it allows children to engage with resources on a larger scale, such as including sand and water in their play and it allows them to gain a deeper connection with nature, the elements and the changing of the seasons, all of which have a positive impact on the children’s learning, development, and wellbeing.
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nAre you looking for childcare in Altrincham? Our natural day nursery is currently open for new registrations and is available for babies, toddlers, and pre-school children. Get in touch with us today to find out more about our day nursery in Broadheath.
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