Baby Dragons Newsletter
Theme of the Week: Autumn Colours & Middle Eastern Wonders
This week, our babies explored autumn through creative art, language, and science while also discovering the beauty of Middle Eastern culture. From colourful experiments and leaf crafts to mosque-inspired creations and lively sessions with our specialist teachers, it’s been a week full of curiosity, creativity, and joy.
Curious about how we help our youngest learners thrive through play and care?
Communication & Language
The babies enjoyed a seasonal Mandarin session where they learned words like “tree” (树 shù), “leaf” (叶子 yèzi), and “autumn” (秋天 qiūtiān). Using glue sticks, they added real leaves to a large paper tree, saying the new words as they worked. This hands-on activity made language learning fun and meaningful while celebrating the beauty of autumn.
STEM
Our little scientists explored colour mixing and reactions using pipettes, cotton balls, and fizzy powder. They carefully dropped coloured water onto cotton balls, watched the colours blend, and then saw the fizzing reaction when powder was added. This activity sparked excitement and curiosity while strengthening fine motor control.
Regional Education
As part of our Middle East theme, the babies created their own version of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque using newspaper, sticks, and glue. They enjoyed tearing and sticking the paper, watching their mosque designs take shape. This activity encouraged creativity while introducing them to an important cultural landmark.
Autumn Creations
To celebrate autumn, the babies enjoyed two creative activities. First, they painted large paper leaves, experimenting with colours and brush strokes to create unique designs. Then, they used glue sticks and colourful paper to decorate leaf outlines, practising fine motor skills and exploring textures. Both activities helped the children get into the autumn spirit while developing early mark-making skills.
Specialist Teachers
Miss Molly’s session was full of music and movement. The babies sang Mr. Golden Sun, danced with colourful scarves, popped bubbles to the Bubble Pop song, and joined in with Incy Wincy Spider. The session ended with a calming light display.
Sporty Minis got everyone moving with animal stretches, races, and hula hoop jumps. These fun activities helped build coordination, strength, and new physical skills.
Both sessions were joyful, energetic, and filled with smiles.
Thank you to all our families for another wonderful week of play, discovery, and growth. We are so proud of how curious and engaged the babies have been, and we look forward to more exciting adventures next week!
Pre-School Newsletter
Theme of the Week: Colours, Culture & Creativity
This week our preschoolers dived into a colourful mix of activities exploring Mandarin, Persian culture, autumn changes, and creative STEAM learning. From rug-making and leaf printing to mindful movement and outdoor games, the children had plenty of opportunities to strengthen their skills, express themselves, and learn about the world in exciting hands-on ways.
Looking for a preschool that blends learning with global culture and creative play?
Modern Languages & Communication
The children revisited their colours in Mandarin through an interactive game. Using pom-poms and tape, they matched colours while practicing the Mandarin words for each one. This playful repetition boosted both fine motor skills and language confidence.
Regional Education
Our cultural journey this week took us to Persia, where we admired the beautiful patterns of Persian rugs. The children created their own mini rugs using string and felt strands, learning about materials and design while developing creativity.
We also welcomed the new season of autumn through a range of activities. The preschoolers cut up tissue and ribbons to explore autumn shades, working as a team to sort colours on a wheel. This collaborative task supported social skills while deepening their awareness of seasonal change.
In another project, they created caterpillars from green leaves and learned about the life cycle, from egg to butterfly. A Mandarin practitioner joined the session to teach related words like caterpillar, leaf, and butterfly, blending culture, science, and language.
STEM
To connect with autumn, the children collected leaves from the garden and examined their sizes and colours. Indoors, they used the leaves to print and stamp onto paper, creating a vibrant collage. This hands-on project encouraged observation, creativity, and the use of natural resources in art.
Specialist Teachers
Mindful Molly guided the children through yoga and storytelling inspired by dinosaurs. Using music, scarves, and breathing techniques, the children explored movement, self-regulation, and emotional awareness in a safe, creative space. Sporty Minis brought lots of fun to the garden with outdoor games. The children practiced listening and coordination in the “traffic light” game, tested their speed in “shark attack,” and enjoyed ball games, boosting reaction time, independence, and teamwork.
The children’s enthusiasm shines through every activity, and we can’t wait to see what adventures await us next week!
Supporting a Cause Close to Our Hearts
Hatching Dragons is proud to support our founder Cenn John, running the Cardiff Marathon this October to raise funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Inspired by the loss of a sibling to congenital heart disease and Down’s syndrome, this fundraiser aims to help children facing life-threatening illnesses.
We would love for our Hatching Dragons community to join us in supporting this cause. Every donation, no matter how small, can help change a child's future.
In case you missed our update last week regarding important changes—including the new fee structure starting 1st September 2025—we kindly ask you to review the details.
Please take a moment to catch up and see how this may affect your family:
Extended Learning: Holiday Clubs
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