The children in the Bambini room are happy and settled. They often enjoy looking at photos of themselves and their friends, which are displayed around the room. Bambini are exploring the learning spaces around us more -The Studio, Garden and the Wild Space. Even the smallest of the children enjoy being out and about and participate in an age-appropriate way. Recently, the children visited the garden space and helped dig holes to plant potatoes. Some children helped water the garden, while the younger children were happy to explore the plants (touching and smelling the herbs). We will revisit the garden soon and see how our potatoes are growing. Mr Marwick from the Studio visits the children every Wednesday and provides art and music activities, which the children always enjoy. We have also started taking a few of the older children to the Studio during quieter times, when some of the children are sleeping. They have thoroughly enjoyed exploring the space and all the activities, extending on their own interests. 

Special days in our room included Mother’s Day, where the children created special gifts for their mums – a notebook with a photo of the child on, and a card with a paper flower, which had water paint dripped on. 

We recently had PJ Day, where everyone came to care in their PJs. Families were asked to bring in their child’s teddy bear from home, to join us on a special morning Teddy Bear’s picnic. In May, we had our first grandparents’ morning. We invited children’s grandparents to come spend the morning playing with us. We had 2 lovely grandparents join, and we are looking forward to having more join this month. It is so important to foster these connections, community and create a place of belonging. It is good for families and also the children who are unable to see their own grandparents regularly. 

Bambini are incorporating more physical literature into our program and practice through Kiddo and daily gross and fine motor activities. It has been amazing to see the progress of the children in care and watch them develop in their own different ways. 

We collaboratively created canvases for Djeran and Makuru, using colours associated with those seasons. The children were able to have fun, exploring paint, and having messy sensory fun. 

We have been incorporating more sensory-play-based-messy activities for the children to explore, such as jello, oobleck, rice trays, various painting activities and playdough. The children have also been provided with various light blocks and a light table. The light blocks change colour, and the light table we have used with various objects on. The children learn through exploring and have enjoyed exploring these!

Part of our program is Devotion, where an educator will read a children’s bible story book to the children and sing children’s Christian songs. We then pray together. This month, the children have a Noah’s Ark and toy animals to play with, along with the book. 

The children have been showing more interest in prayer time during grace time, before meals. Often, they will smile and start trying to do the actions or clapping their hands. One of them says “AMEN”  🙂

Many of the girls in our room are showing more interest in the home corner area and doll play. We added a tea set and baby dolls with bottles, and they have often played with these, role-playing what they have seen and learned. 

The educators and children in Bambini have enjoyed singing more children’s songs together with finger puppets, puppets, story spoons and instruments. We recently read the book ‘Where is the green sheep’ and used various coloured sheep story spoons. 

We have had a wonderful term 2.

Mrs Drennan

Bambini Curriculum Leader