At Little Skippers Nursery, we champion the power of play. This resource is designed to help parents support their child's growth through screen-free exploration. From 'Magic Potions' to 'Junk Modelling,' these activities use everyday household items to develop core skills in literacy, maths, and physical coordination in line with the UK EYFS framework.
| Category | Activity Name & Description | EYFS Learning Link |
|---|---|---|
| Creative Play | Junk Modelling: Building structures from recycled cereal boxes and tubes. | Expressive Arts & Design |
| Potato Stamps: Carving simple shapes into potatoes to create paint prints. | Expressive Arts & Design | |
| Leaf Rubbings: Using crayons over paper to reveal the textures of garden leaves. | Understanding the World | |
| Shadow Drawing: Tracing the outlines of toys placed in sunlight. | Fine Motor Skills | |
| Fork Painting: Using fork tines to create texture in paint, like fur or feathers. | Expressive Arts & Design | |
| Physical Development | Indoor Obstacle Course: Crawling, hopping, and balancing over household items. | Gross Motor Skills |
| Balloon Tennis: Keeping a balloon in the air using paper plate rackets. | Physical Development | |
| Sock Basketball: Aiming rolled-up socks into a laundry basket. | Hand-Eye Coordination | |
| Animal Yoga: Mimicking animal poses to stretch and balance. | Physical Health | |
| Tape Roadways: Creating a map for toy cars using masking tape on the floor. | Imaginative Play | |
| Discovery & Science | Kitchen Science: Creating a fizzy reaction with baking soda and vinegar. | Understanding the World |
| Colour Scavenger Hunt: Searching for items that match specific colours. | Mathematics / Logic | |
| Sink or Float?: Testing which household objects stay above water. | Early Science | |
| Magic Potions: Mixing water, petals, and glitter to practice pouring. | Fine Motor Skills | |
| Window Bird Watch: Identifying and drawing birds seen from the window. | Understanding the World | |
| Sensory Play | Homemade Playdough: Measuring and kneading dough to strengthen hands. | Physical Development |
| Ice Rescue: Using warm water and tools to chip toys out of ice. | Early Science | |
| Cloud Dough: Playing with a mixture of flour and baby oil. | Sensory Exploration | |
| Shaving Foam Art: Drawing letters or patterns in a tray of foam. | Literacy / Sensory | |
| Literacy & Quiet Time | Blanket Den: Creating a quiet space for torch-lit reading. | Communication & Language |
| The Home Post Office: "Writing" and posting letters in a box. | Literacy | |
| Family Photo Chat: Discussing memories while looking at family albums. | Communication & Language | |
| Story Stones: Using painted stones as prompts to tell a story. | Literacy / Imagination |
