NEW COVID INFORMATION- IMPORTANT- PLEASE READ.
Please do not attend class if you or your baby are unwell, have a temperature of 37.8 degrees or above, are experiencing changes to sense of taste or smell or have a new continuous cough. Also, if you have been in close contact with a confirmed case of Covid 19.
Please try not to arrive more than 5 minutes before the start-time.
We don't currently have any Covid restrictions in class. All props that are mouthed by the babies will be sanitised.
Other information: -
We will ask parents to remove shoes on entering the room. Please wear or bring clean socks.
No that all Covid restrictions have been removed the class format has now changed how it was prior to the pandemic.
Every mat will now a cosy fleece for the babies to lay on.
Class will now be 20/25 minutes sensory activities, 20 minute exploratory play time, and then return to the sensory area for a further 15/20 minutes sensory activities.
A new play area will be provided for the exploratory play time consisting of, play mats, tunnels, steps and slide, ball pit, air bed with different themed textures on each week & book area.
FAQ's:
Is my baby too young?
It is never too early to introduce your little ones to a variety of sensory experiences.
Babies have begun learning from inside the womb already and as they come into this world they hit the ground running!
A newborn’s brain contains more than 100 billion brain cells (neurons). Some of these neurons were wired in the prenatal period for specific functions such as breathing and heartbeat. However, the majority of synaptic connections for vision, language, hearing, smell, taste, movement and learning will be formed in the first three months of life.
Stimulation from birth increases neural growth and whilst we certainly do this in our classes, it is also important to mention that touching, talking, singing, reading, smiling, signing and playing with babies from birth, nourishes the brain and develops potential for a lifetime.
Our classes provide a rich environment full of interesting sights, sounds, smells, taste, colours, textures and language, which builds a foundation that will make all subsequent learning easier.
Reference: Dr. Lin Day. Baby Sensory
What do we do in class and why have an Exploratory Play?
The structure of the class is divided into 3 parts and reason behind this is because your baby has a natural play-rest-play cycle, which lasts about an hour.
The first 25 minutes we “Say Hello to the Sun” followed by a number of stimulating activities varying from; puppet shows, baby massage, traditional rhyming and visual activities to sing and sign, texture exploring, messy play and making music (to name but a few!)
We then break for 20 minutes, where the babies can rest and explore the Exploratory Play under their own steam or Free-Flow Play.
During the Exploratory Play there are no set rules or guidelines. Your baby decides what toys interest him/her the most, how he/she explores them and how long the play will last. Free-flow play enables your baby to entertain himself/herself for short periods, which will become a beneficial life habit.
The Exploratory Play also provides a social setting for the parents. Here you can meet new Mum’s, try out equipment and materials, gain ideas for home use and spend quality time with your baby.
We then head back to the Sensory Area for the remaining 15 minutes for more stimulating activities before “Waving Goodbye”
Reference: Dr. Lin Day. Baby Sensory
