Tips for transitioning back to Nurture after lockdown-

"I wonder.....?" 

Transitioning back to Nurture after so much time away is likely to be exciting and full of anticipation for our tamariki. Settling back in is often an emotionally charged experience for children. One of the techniques we use to help children ‘pre-adventure’ this experience is to talk about what to expect in advance. We call this ‘vision casting’, it helps children have a mental picture of positive and familiar outcomes that they can anticipate. When these predictions of experiences and activities ‘come true’ children are reassured and confident to make transitions. A helpful verbal tool that we use when encouraging children to engage with new projects is to ‘wonder’ together. We might say, “I wonder if a friend can help us?”, “I wonder what materials we have at Nurture that will help us?”, “I wonder if we could all do the action song together?” These three examples draw children towards: caring relationships, exploring the context and active group participation. This links to our Care, Context and Action planning framework for supporting children returning to Nurture after a long time away. 

How can you prepare your child for coming back to Nurture?

It will be very helpful to ‘wonder’ together with your child about what they can expect when they return. Here are some wonderings that will fit specific experiences children may have been missing, and that teachers are already planning for your child’s return. 

Wonderings-

CARE 

I wonder who will be looking forward to playing with you at Nurture when we go back. (Name teachers, close friends you know will be there).

I wonder how big (name of teacher)’s smile will be when she sees you have come back to Nurture?

I wonder if your teacher will read you some of the books that she used to read on the video posts? 

I wonder if you will do some breathing and relaxing, “Smell the flowers and blow out the candle”? 

CONTEXT

I wonder if you will be playing with the big blocks and little people toys? 

I wonder if you will play/digging in the sandpit?

I wonder if there will be playdough? 

I wonder what you will play on outside first, the big boxes, the wobbly bridge, slide? etc. 

I wonder if there will be bubbles in the playground outside (the infants and toddlers love these so you can be sure there will be). 

I wonder if there will be things to sort and post, and if the tug a scarf box will be there? (for infants).

I wonder if you will make cups of tea for your dolls and friends?

I wonder if you will get a chance to do the action songs you did at home, but now with all your friends at Nurture? (teachers will prioritise revisiting songs used in posts for at home learning).

ACTION 

I wonder if you will do parachute or lycra songs and games with your friends? 

I wonder if the teachers will make an obstacle course game for you to do with your friends? 

I wonder if there will be hide and seek or peek a boo? 

I wonder if you will do yoga with your friends? 

You can just pick a few favourite things to wonder about first, and perhaps look at the photos together as you do. 

Happy wondering, 

Looking forward to seeing you all again soon. 

Jo Clark 

Group Curriculum Leader.