Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way... into January!

WHY?

Are you still hearing the song ‘Jingle Bells’ on the journey home?

Does your child still hum away to the tune of ‘Christmas Turkey’?

Yep, so are we.  Our display boards are still adorned with Christmas cheer.  Christmas themed books are still in the bookcase.  Christmas cards, envelopes and glue are still available in the art room.

Children have returned to nursery this week excited to see their friends and the team.

As early years practitioners, we recognise that this is the time to capture the excitement of Christmas and to enable children to process their experiences.  It is a time where children often replay and act out what they have experienced – pouring gravy over the turkey for example in the home corner.

Children often act out these experiences to make sense of the world.  They interact with one another, developing a rich opportunity for language, communication, turn taking, building social connections and confidence.

There is so much going on during the festive period….bright colours, lights, commercial influences, change in routine, visitors and tree in the house?!!

It is important that those experiences are acknowledged and valued, drawing on experiences and returning to those moments again and again.

So before we pack everything away for another year, we embrace the memories, celebrate the songs that they have been learning for weeks and encourage children to retell their own story.  Many children are showing an active interest in using the cards and envelopes to mark make and write their own name.  They are showing a huge interest in the post box, stamps and sending and receiving cards.  Why shut down this wonderfully creative learning opportunity because  “it’s not Christmas anymore.”

For many of our children, it’s the first Christmas that they remember.  Memories to cherish and experiences that are valued and that they really do matter.

After all, that is the magic of Christmas and the magic of learning through play.