Booklet nursery ideas

Blacklands EYC booklet for exciting, interesting, creative,
fun ideas to try when spending time with your child(ren)

at home.

Table of Contents Different variations of making
playdough…..
Playdough …………………………….1
Numeracy/literacy games………2 Original playdough
Messy/sensory play……………….3
Outdoor fun…………………………..4  Add 2 Cups of flour (plain or self
Baking…………………………………..5 raising) in to a mixing bowl.

 Then add 1 Cup of water, mix
the ingredients together.

 Add ½ Cup of salt.

 Add 2 Tablespoons of oil.
 The finally add in chosen food

colouring or paint.
 Mix altogether till it isn’t sticky,

add more flour if it is still sticky.

Cloud dough

 Add 2 Cups of corn flour in to
a bowl.

 Add 1 Cup conditioner
(cheapest conditioner)

 Finally add food colouring
(optional)

Stretchy dough

 1 Cup of conditioner.
(Cheapest conditioner)

 2 cups of cornflour.

Numeracy and literacy games. Messy/sensory play.

 Collect 11 stones/pebbles write the numbers 0-10 on This play allows children to explore, develop
them with a permanent marker. Count with them and learn which enhances language and
using the stones then talk through each number and creativity. Ideas such as:
then ask your child(ren) to find an object in the
garden, in the house which represents the number on Chocolate mud – Mix cocoa powder and
the stone. Eg “This is number 2 can you find me 2 small amount of water together.
objects” or if your child knows the number ask them
if they can give you objects which represents the Shaving foam -Allow the children to explore
number on the stone. the feeling and just let them be creative, you
may wish to add plastic/wooden bricks for
 In a deep plate or tray add in a small amount enough them to build with them.
to fill the area of either porridge oats, salt, sand(if
you have any) the children will explore the texture Water play with variations of toys, cars,
and possibly draw, write their name(if interested). babies, old pots and pans. Add in some
They may use their finger, paint brush or another bubble bath and sponges and any recycled
utensil to investigate. bottles, tubs.

 Singing and reading allows your child to learn about Cooked spaghetti with paints on to recycled
numbers and enhances literacy. cardboard, paper.

 Talking box/bag – Use an empty box, bag or pillow In a deep bowl or recycled plastic bottles add
case which you can cover the top. Add in a variety of in some dried peas, lentils and mixed beans.
either household utensils, natural resources, themed
items such as dinosaurs. Discuss with your child
what the object is, talk about the
similarities/differences. Try not to ask too many
questions, give them time to respond, make it fun
and try to do it once a week and mix and match the
objects weekly.

Outdoor fun. Baking fun.

“Little People, Growing shoots. Empire biscuit by Mrs Main
Happy hearts, Muddy boots.”
Ingredients
~Penny Whitehouse.
250g butter
 Treasure Hunt – While you are out a walk look for 125g caster sugar
and find objects that match the same colours in 500g plain flour
the rainbow; red, orange, yellow, green, blue and
purple. Pre Heat oven at 175 degrees
Put butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl and cream with an
 Scavenger hunt – Make up a list of possible electric whisk. About 5 minutes.
objects or bugs that you would find in your Sieve the flour and add to the creamed sugar and butter.
garden or out walk. Mix together with a wooden spoon...get your muscles into it!! If
the mixture is too dry to bind together add a few spoonfuls of milk.
 Making fairy soup/fairy perfume – Collect sticks, Take dough out of bowl and knead together using your hands.
grass, leaves, petals, seeds from the ground and Then roll out the dough on a floured surface until about 5mm
mix them using old pots/pans and spoons. thick.
Cut out circles using a cutter or a plastic tumbler and place these
 Build a den using old material and pegs can be on a baking tray.
done indoors too. Put in the oven for between 10 and 12 minutes (depending on how
big your biscuits are)
 Mud kitchen, using old pots/pans and utenstils. Take out of oven and leave them on the baking tray for 5 minutes.
 Nature wands – Collect sticks and any leaves, Now transfer to a wire tray to completely cool down.
Topping; Icing sugar, water, jam and jelly tots (my favourite)
petals and attach them on to the stick using Put 10 spoonfuls of icing sugar in a bowl and add a tiny bit of
elastic bands. water, the icing sugar should be very thick so it stays on top of the
 Make a nature collage picture using natural biscuit. Take 2 biscuits and put jam in between them, sandwich
resources, sticks, petals, leaves. them together. On the top put your icing and finish off with a jelly
 Water fun – painting with water using brushes, tot. Leave to set if you can wait, otherwise tuck in and get sticky
rollers and sponges. Add in some bubble bath fingers. Enjoy x
and colours.
 When out a walk discuss and look for numbers,
shapes, colours, letters on cars, doors, signs, and
any other objects,