Nursery World - Enabling Environments: Let's explore ... Night-time

Create night in the day, or wait until dark, for a host of imaginative activities indoors and outdoors that will help children explore their natural fascination with the night, suggested by early years adviser Judith Stevens.

KEY

Areas of learning

(1) Personal, social and emotional development

(2) Communication, language and literacy

(3) Problem solving, reasoning and numeracy

(4) Knowledge and understanding of the world

(5) Physical development

(6) Creative development

For some young children, this time of year will be the first time that they have shown an interest in night-time and the dark. This could be for any number of reasons. Perhaps they have been involved in outdoor activities when it has been dark - Halloween or Bonfire Night, with fascinating fireworks, exciting bonfires or enjoyable tricks or treats. Maybe they have experienced Diwali celebrations with divas, lamps or candles. It could quite simply be that they are travelling home from their early years setting in the dark for the first time and noticed the stars or the moon. With Christmas fast approaching, perhaps lights or sparkling decorations have caught their interest in the dark.

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