Hatchlings Newsletter
Theme of the Week: Tigers, Tunes & Tiny Chefs!
This week was packed with music, movement, sensory play, and creative exploration. From Mandarin melodies to foam play and sweet treats, our Hatchlings were fully immersed in joyful learning experiences that support their holistic development.
Come see how our Hatchlings grow through language, discovery, and creativity
Modern Languages
We started the week with a lively Mandarin session led by Teacher Joy.
The children sang familiar songs like "Two Tigers" (两只老虎 liǎng zhī lǎohǔ), practicing the word lǎohǔ (tiger) through repetition. Songs like Zoom Zoom Zoom and Counting Ducks in Mandarin encouraged early language development and introduced our babies to the rhythms and sounds of a new culture.
Cooking Club
In our cooking activity, little hands got busy making cake pops! Children rolled dough, shaped it into spheres, and placed them onto sticks. This fun, tactile task helped build fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and an understanding of cause and effect—plus, they loved the sensory play involved in creating their sweet treats!
Specialist Session
Miss Molly’s mindfulness session brought rhythm and calm to our day. The children tapped rhythm sticks to Hickory Dickory Dock and used pom poms for The Wheels on the Bus, combining sound, movement, and emotional regulation. These sessions promote focus, rhythm recognition, and joyful connection.
We ended the week with magical music from Lucy Sparkles! Babies moved their arms to the rhythm and played peekaboo with scarves—boosting gross motor coordination, visual tracking, and early social interaction through fun and familiar songs.
Sensory Play
Our sensory play turned wild in Tiger Land! Themed trays filled with tiger-printed sand gave babies a chance to scoop, pour, and explore using different tools. We also introduced Mandarin counting words: yī (1), èr (2), sān (3)—merging cultural learning with hands-on play.
Babies explored sensory foam alongside dried oranges this week. The contrast between the soft foam and rough orange peel sparked curiosity and encouraged them to investigate textures with their hands—supporting early scientific thinking and sensory processing.
Blue Dragons Newsletter
Theme of the Week: Animal Adventures & Outdoor Fun!
From climbing frames to jungle games, birthday roars to rhythmic beats—this week was packed with playful exploration, teamwork, and celebration!Amazing Excursion
Our Blue Dragons had a wonderful outing to Fortune Park, and what a fantastic experience it was! The children showed confidence and enthusiasm as they explored the climbing frame, swings, and roundabouts. They practised taking turns, challenged their balance, and giggled through every spin and swing.
It was heartwarming to see how they encouraged one another and shared their excitement with friends. A big thank you to all our wonderful helpers for making the trip such a success!
Celebrating Birthday
A huge Happy 2nd Birthday to Tristan!
We had a delightful animal-themed celebration in his honour. With roaring lion masks and monkey giggles all around, the children had so much fun pretending to be jungle animals.
We sang “Happy Birthday” together and enjoyed a special snack time in a big circle. A big thank you to Tristan’s family for making the day so memorable and fun for everyone!
Specialist Teachers
Our Wednesday session with Miss Molly was buzzing with energy and joy! We began by singing along with the bumblebees and making little beehives with our hands. Then came dancing, stick-clicking rhythms, and the ever-popular bubble popping! We ended the session with a moment of calm, lying down and gazing at soft, twinkling star lights—a peaceful way to close a day full of music and motion.
In our Sporty Minis session this week, the Blue Dragons showed off their strength and coordination. We warmed up with stretches and jogging, then had lots of laughs trying to balance cones on our heads, arms, and feet! The final challenge was a fun obstacle course that kept everyone moving and smiling from start to finish.
Regional Education
This week, we brought the African savannah to the nursery with a roaringly fun animal-themed tea party! Children arrived wearing animal masks and dove into role play—stomping like elephants, swinging like monkeys, and growling like lions!
We gathered in a big circle for a jungle-themed story full of sounds and surprises, and everyone joined in with animal actions. It was a magical celebration of imagination, movement, and cultural exploration.
Dragon Flights Newsletter
Theme of the Week: African Adventures, Active Minds & Team Spirit
This week was a vibrant mix of creativity, culture, literacy, and movement. From mask-making and museum visits to team games and yoga, our Dragon Flyers embraced learning in every form.
Modern Languages
Our literacy focus this week was reviewing the entire alphabet—both uppercase and lowercase.
The children also practiced spelling their own names, building confidence in their letter recognition and early writing skills. It was a lively, engaging way to support their literacy development.
Regional Education
We continued our journey across the African continent by creating traditional-style masks inspired by African art. After reviewing all seven continents and singing their songs, the children explored African heritage through hands-on crafting.
Each mask was a personal expression, helping the children connect with the cultural traditions of Africa while celebrating their own creativity.
Sports Day Highlights
What a brilliant day! Our Sports Day was filled with joy, laughter, and team spirit.
The children raced, relayed, balanced, and cheered each other on with enthusiasm. It was a beautiful example of sportsmanship and togetherness in action.
A heartfelt thank you to all who joined us and supported this event—it wouldn’t have been the same without you!
Amazing Excursion
As part of our African cultural exploration, we took an exciting trip to the British Museum!
The children discovered a wide range of African artifacts—masks, sculptures, and traditional items—that helped them connect classroom learning with real-world history and art.
It was an eye-opening visit that inspired curiosity and conversation.
Specialist Teachers
The week included two wonderful sessions with our Specialist Teachers.
During Sporty Minis, the children practiced teamwork through classic sports day games like spoon races and balancing eggs.
Afterwards, Miss Molly led a calming yoga story session, where children explored movement and mindfulness through playful poses. A perfect balance of energy and calm.
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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