Nursery World - Enabling Environments: Let's explore ... Minibeasts

Go on the trail of creatures that hold a natural fascination for children with activities leading through all areas of your early years provision, suggested by Judith Stevens.

When you were a child and you played outdoors, what did you do? Many adults remember climbing, running, playing ball games, mixing water with mud to make 'magic potions', and making collections of things. Often the collections were of natural things, such as leaves or shells. Sometimes the play included small creatures - ladybirds, worms, snails or woodlice.

Children are still fascinated with minibeasts of all sorts, and we need to build on these interests. Of course, we, as practitioners, also need to ensure that children treat all living things with care and respect. Investigating minibeasts can offer many opportunities to explore aspects of personal, social and emotional development, as well as knowledge and understanding of the world.

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