Creative Cooking Skills: Children Master Ice Lolly Making from Scratch
Children at St Werburghs Park Nursery have been developing essential life skills through an exciting ice lolly making project that combines fine motor development with culinary creativity. This Bristol early years setting provides authentic cooking experiences that engage children in every step of the food preparation process.
The young chefs demonstrated remarkable independence as they carefully peeled their own oranges, developing hand-eye coordination and fine motor control. Early years practitioners at this Bristol nursery guided children through the blending process, where they took turns stirring the freshly blended orange mixture, building teamwork and sharing skills.
The excitement continued as children used scooping techniques to fill moulds with their orange mixture, followed by the careful insertion of lolly pop sticks. This hands-on approach to food preparation culminated in the anticipation of enjoying their own frozen treats, creating meaningful connections between effort and reward within this innovative Bristol early years environment.
Garden-to-Growth: Young Gardeners Learn Life Cycles Through Practical Planting
St Werburghs Park Nursery’s commitment to outdoor learning shines through their comprehensive gardening programme, where children experience the complete growing cycle from seed to plant. This Bristol nursery recognises the importance of connecting children with nature and understanding where food originates.
The budding gardeners select their own tools and carefully dig small holes in the prepared soil, developing spatial awareness and understanding of appropriate sizing. Early years practitioners support children as they gently place seeds into their prepared holes, learning about careful handling and the needs of growing plants.
The watering process provides additional learning opportunities as children fill their individual watering cans and carefully water their newly planted seeds. This final step in the planting process helps children understand plant care and the ongoing responsibility involved in nurturing living things.
These practical gardening experiences at St Werburghs Park Nursery support multiple areas of early years development, including Understanding the World, Physical Development, and Personal, Social and Emotional Development, whilst fostering patience, responsibility, and appreciation for the natural world within this excellent Bristol early years setting.
