Christmas Party 2016

Hi everyone, wasn’t our Christmas party such a great success this year? Everybody had so much fun and a great time getting to meet Santa.

 First, we all went down to the Kowhai House and got ready to do a dance for all our parents. We had been practicing “he has a red, red coat” every day.

After we had finished our performance it was time to eat! We headed out to the playground and saw a huge bouncy castle had been set up in the playground. What lucky babies you all are.

After we had finished eating it was time to play. You all headed off in different directions to explore the big kid’s playground.

Ashley and Tara, you both checked with Tina when Santa was coming. You were both very excited about seeing him.

It was very exciting to be in the older kid’s room. You all loved exploring the playground and seeing what they had to offer.

We want to offer all your families a big Merry Christmas and Happy new year. We hope you have an exciting and happy holiday season.

From you teachers,

Jess and Rachel

Summer Fun

Summer is well and truly here in the fantail house and we have been enjoying some summer fun. The children have been enjoying more water play and playing in the sprinkler. The happy squeals and screams we hear when water play is available, allows us to know the children have been really enjoying the experience.


We have been trying different ways to incorporate water play into our outside play. The babies love the sprinkler and we have been able to grab a sprinkler from Pheonix house that only sprays a little bit of water. We have noticed the babies are more likely to interact with this sprinkler than the other one.

We have also been filling our crab tub up with water and sometimes we have coloured water. Last week I added some blue colouring the water and the babies all loved it.

Another favourite thing of the babies to do this so far this summer is to have an ice block in the afternoon. They are have been really enjoying cooling down under the shade with an ice block in hand.

  Summer is well and truly here in the Fantail house. We have been loving being able to have water play almost every day. Check out some more photos below of our fun time in the sun.

Christmas is almost here and our Christmas concert is this Friday. We are all excited to have our Christmas clothes on and celebrate with all our friends and families.

Jess

Edible Slime

This afternoon after their afternoon tea they were all enjoying their food and even tried to smash some of the fruits. Suddenly, I asked them if they want to have more fun this afternoon then all of them said "yes". I asked who wants to join me in table then all of you took a chair, sat down and patiently waited for me while I took all the ingredients. When I put all the things we need I told them that we are going to make an "Edible Slime". First, I've shown the flour, condensed milk, food color which is red and vanilla essence. Then after mixing and cooking the ingredients all of them enjoyed playing the slime and even tasted it first (as it is edible and safe for them to taste).

Mikayla looking at me while I'm drizzling the slime.
Ashley started to hold the slime which lasted for an hour for her to play with it.

Tara pouring the condensed milk.
Mikayla showing the Red food color.

Ben loves to do the mixing of the ingredients.

Tara pouring the condensed milk and loves to smell the vanilla essence.
Mikayla was patiently waiting for her turn.

EDIBLE SLIME RECIPE One 14- ounce can of sweetened condensed milk One Tbs of cornstarch 10-15 drops of red or green food coloring Directions: 1. Pour the can of SWEETENED condensed milk into a saucepan. 2. Add the cornstarch and cook over a low heat, stirring constantly. 

3. When the mixture thickens remove it from the heat and then add the food coloring. (Vanilla essence can be added also) 

4. Allow it to cool before playing or eating; it can also be used as a fun paper paint.

Chat Conversation End

Volcanic Eruption

It all started with digging when Oliver took a spade he did the digging until he was able to form a volcano. Oliver had never seen a volcano before and something about these experienced of giant having a hole turned his imagination. This was the start of something. An opportunity to discover and explore; an opportunity to follow his lead and let the experiences emerge naturally. I guess some of the babies also did had never seen volcano yet. This is what I love most about the babies that they are so excited in all activities, the fact that I don’t have to come up with all the activities, that this interest is enough to motivate them to know more. Indeed this activity will expose them and again in order to develop their curiosity, skills and understanding of nature. I couldn't  picture the face of Mikayla when we did the eruption. Manaia was so amazed too when I put the baking soda and vinegar. Boh is just chilling around and enjoying watching her friends exploring the volcano. Well done babies.  I wonder what they will be fascinated by next….

Banana Cake

In the Fantail room, the babies have been really enjoying baking. Most Wednesday I will set some baking up and off we go. This week I thought we could make a banana cake as we had some leftover Bananas from the week before. I set up all the ingredients and asked the babies if they wanted to join in and help me.

 The first thing we did was added the sugar, bananas, and oil together. They all got the chance to add some of the ingredients to the mixture. They love being able to tip the ingredients in and can't wait until they have their next turn. I often hear "me", "mine" or "my turn" while baking.

Just keep stirring

 Oliver added in the flour next and then it was everyone's favourite thing, Stirring the Mixture. They each got a turn to stir, mixing the mixture all together. I even saw a few of them have a small taste test. After we had finished mixing I thought it needed something else. I asked if we should add raisins to our mixture. Ashley was off. She knew exactly where to go and grab the raisins. 

I've got the Raisin

 We added a cup full of raisins and continued stirring the mixture. 

I put the mixture in a tin and popped in the oven. When I came out of the kitchen I turned the corner to see a few extra babies had come to see what was going on. 

Mikayla had found the flour and was seeing if she could get into the container. 

The Babies have been really enjoying our regular baking days and we look forward to doing more.

Jess.

Jess will never know

OOOO Whats in here?

Help me open this Jess?

Slime, slime and more slime

We have noticed that the Fantail Babies have been really enjoying sensory and messy play. They have been really enjoying the sensation of touch during their play. They love to squish, move and touch all of their surroundings. We have used this observation of their interests to start a focus on sensory play.

Last week I made some slime for the babies as it was a rainy day and they were missing being able to go outside. I mixed one part dishwashing liquid and one part cornflour together in a bowl. I scooped in out onto the table and watched as the babies interacted with the slime.

They all really enjoyed grabbing the slime and squishing it in between their fingers until it oozed out of their fingers. They loved being able to make a huge mess all over the table. We are excited to have a focus on sensory play.

Do you have any ideas that you do at home with your baby we could do in the Fantail House. Let us know so we can test them out.

Jess.

Red nose day

Fantails having fun for their red nose painting.

          

                
To the parents/whanau,
          Thank you for your gold coin donation and dressing up your children in red.