Learning Through Play
Our Play Adventure
Structure and routine are very important for little ones at this age, providing security and boundaries for their day. What is even more important, though, is play, social engagement and their holistic development.
Play provides the foundation for future learning, stimulates cognitive, social and physical development, and supports the development of a wide range of skills. It also supports emotional regulation and nurtures important soft skills such as empathy, kindness, cooperation and teamwork.
Giving little ones the freedom to learn through play, within an environment that nurtures their natural love of discovery, encourages independence and offers gentle guidance and support, helps them grow into kind, brave, confident, resilient, strong, thoughtful, curious, and creative little people.
At the heart of everything we do at Little Oaks is a commitment to creative, playful and imaginative learning, while supporting our little ones as they navigate this important stage of development. We are there to offer emotional support, join in their play, encourage their independence and be their biggest cheerleaders along the way. This really is a play adventure, and every day together is magical.
Curriculum
Little Oaks follows a year-long, play-centric curriculum built around umbrella themes that inspire a variety of activities focused on fine and gross motor skills, creative and imaginative play, and skills development.
Sensory and messy play form the foundation of our curriculum and are woven into our everyday activities. Through hands-on exploration of different textures, materials and experiences, our little ones are encouraged to discover, experiment, express their creativity and learn through their senses.
Our themes provide a starting point for planning and organising our ideas, but they do not dictate how learning unfolds. We believe in remaining flexible and responsive to the children’s interests and natural curiosity, embracing a child-led approach that allows us to adapt our plans and follow their discoveries wherever possible. This gives each little one the freedom to explore, learn and grow through meaningful play and experiences that capture their imagination.
Assessments
Toddlers are unique individuals who move at different paces, marching to the beat of their own drums. The traditional idea of assessments can be one-dimensional and create stress for parents by holding them accountable to checklists. We are aware that there are certain things that need to be achieved or assessed, and we remain mindful of these as children grow and develop – but on the whole, this journey for them is about memories, getting dirty, having fun, making friends, pushing their limits, learning about boundaries, developing social skills, kindness, and cultivating their independence, self-worth, confidence and individuality.
We believe in getting to know the whole child, getting to the roots of who they are, why they respond the way they do and how we can assist them in their journey. We therefore have an open-door policy. We are a team, and we do this together, sharing updates, milestones, achievements, bad days and good days regularly. We share images and videos on WhatsApp, so you have an idea of what they are getting up to. Every few months, a more structured, but still loving and gentle, update on their general well-being, activities and holistic development will be shared.