With Autumn/Winter here we are ready to explore the new season and watch as the trees change and the nights get darker and colder. The season change is a great opportunity to bring new activities and experiences and watch as children begin to understand the changes in their environment. Provocations allow practitioners to pique a child’s interest and develop curiosity. Below are lists of activities that children can do with their family at home.

·      Den Building, this is a great activity to get children thinking and problem-solving. Once you have built the Den you can make it cosy by adding cushions and blankets. Make a hot chocolate and sit in your den with your favourite book.

·      Autumnal crafts. Wrap up warm and go for a walk in your local area collect sticks, different coloured leaves. Once back home get creative, use the leaves and crayons to hake leaf rubbings, this will highlight the difference in leaves.

·      Scavenger hunts. What objects can you find on a walk? Leaves, conkers, pinecones, sticks and apples.

·      Exploring pumpkins. Getting creative with carving a pumpkin and using different tools. The sensory experience of touching, tasting and smelling the flesh. Baking cakes, pies or soups with the pumpkin flesh.

·      Autumnal Books to read: Owl Babies, The Gruffalo, Trees and Pumpkin soup.

·      Scented playdough

- 2 cups of Flour

- ¾ cup of Salt

- 2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil

- 2 Cups Lukewarm Water

- 4 Teaspoons of Cream of Tarter

- Cinnamon

·      Exploring Ice, explore the garden in frosty weather. Leave a bowl of water outside overnight, you can add objects to the water or use objects to break up the ice.

·      Fire work pictures

·      Exploring Darkness. Going into the garden in the evening and listening to the sounds, looking up at the stars and moon. Using torches to have a look around the garden.