Baby Dragons Newsletter
Theme of the Week: Family, Language, and Middle Eastern Adventures
We had a wonderful week filled with activities that supported the children’s development in communication, creativity, personal and social growth, and understanding the world. From exploring family in different languages to diving into Middle Eastern culture, there was so much fun and learning happening every day!
Curious about how we combine culture, confidence, and creativity in the early years?
Modern Languages and Communication
This week, the children enjoyed reading the sensory story That’s Not My Camel. They loved joining in with repeated phrases and exploring the textures, which supported early listening, speaking, and vocabulary building.
In Mandarin, we introduced family words like Māmā (妈妈 – Mum) and Bàba (爸爸 – Dad) through songs, repetition, and picture cards. This linked beautifully with our family theme, helping children recognise special people in their lives while developing cultural awareness.
We also practised the Makaton signs of the week: “eat” and “drink.” During a pretend picnic, the children shared food, used the signs, and expressed their needs in playful, meaningful ways.
Regional Education
Linking to our storybook, the children explored the Middle East with camel-themed art and desert play. They used brown tones and craft materials to decorate camels, supporting fine motor skills and creativity. In the desert tuff tray, they discovered sand, pyramids, and camels — sparking imagination, conversation, and early cultural awareness.
Cookery Club
Cookery club was full of excitement as we made flapjacks together. The children scooped, mixed, and described the mixture using words like “sticky” and “crunchy.” Once baked, everyone enjoyed a taste and talked about the flavours. This activity encouraged independence, language development, and healthy food awareness.
STEM
Our STEAM play focused on textures and simple science. The children explored a sparkly silver tuff tray, describing what they felt, and enjoyed water play to discover which objects floated or sank. These activities encouraged curiosity, problem-solving, and scientific thinking through hands-on exploration.
Specialist Teachers
With Mindful Molly, the children enjoyed light and sensory play using scarves, star lights, and bubbles, promoting calm, self-awareness, and emotional wellbeing.
With Ella Sparkles, music filled the room! The children played instruments, listened to calming tunes, and practised turn-taking and kindness — all while building confidence and positive relationships.
It’s been a week full of sensory exploration, cultural learning, and outdoor fun. We are so proud of our Baby Dragons for their curiosity, creativity, and growing confidence!
Blue Dragons Newsletter
Theme of the Week: Celebrating Culture, Language, and Creativity
The Blue Dragons had an exciting week filled with language learning, creative expression, and cultural exploration. From making mosque collages to celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival in Mandarin, the children enjoyed activities that built their confidence, creativity, and curiosity about the world.
Thinking about how we bring global culture and sensory-rich learning to life for toddlers?
Regional Learning
The children explored shapes, colours, and textures while creating their very own mosque collages. Using paint, paper, and imagination, they designed beautiful artwork and proudly shared their creations. This activity sparked curiosity about different places of worship while letting creativity shine.
Phonics
This week, the Blue Dragons discovered the “D” sound in Jolly Phonics. They listened for “D” in words like dog and drum, traced the letter with their fingers, and practised its action and song. Playful games and repetition built their confidence in recognising and using the new sound.
Mid-Autumn Festival Fun
The children had a joyful Mandarin session learning about the Mid-Autumn Festival. They made pretend mooncakes, decorated them with patterns, and proudly shared them with friends.
New Mandarin words included: Yuèliàng (月亮) – Moon, Yuèbǐng (月饼) – Mooncake, Zhōngqiū Jié (中秋节) – Mid-Autumn Festival
The children practised tracing the characters and calling out “Yuèliàng!” while pointing to the sky — a fun way to connect language with culture.
Specialist Teacher
The Blue Dragons were thrilled to welcome Mindful Molly back from her holiday! They danced with yellow scarves, pretended to be rays of sunshine, and sang joyfully together.
Molly also introduced a surprise guest — none other than Incy Wincy Spider! The children’s faces lit up with excitement as they sang, patted, and played along with their new friend.
It was a week full of discovery, creativity, and joyful learning for our Blue Dragons!
Dragon Flights Newsletter
Theme of the Week: Exploring Festivals, Cultures, and New Skills
This week, the children dived into exciting cultural traditions, active play, and creative learning. From celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival in Mandarin sessions to enjoying yoga, sports, and STEM, the week was full of opportunities to grow, explore, and discover.
Curious about how we combine culture, confidence, and creativity in the early years?
Mid-Autumn Festival
The children explored the traditions of the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节). They learned words like 玉兔 (Jade Rabbit), 太阳 (Sun), and 嫦娥奔月 (Chang’e flying to the Moon) through stories, props, and songs. Acting out legends and hopping like the Jade Rabbit brought the stories to life, helping them connect new vocabulary with playful experiences.
Amazing Excursion
This week’s excursion took the children to St George Garden for a Mandarin music session. Surrounded by nature, they sang songs, practised pronunciation, and added hand movements to melodies. Singing outdoors gave them freedom to move, dance, and enjoy Mandarin in a joyful and relaxed setting.
STEM
In STEM, the children practised addition and number recognition using blocks, counters, and games. They combined groups of objects, sang number songs, and proudly identified numbers on their own. These playful activities nurtured problem-solving skills and a positive attitude towards maths.
Regional Education
The children learned about North Africa and Central Asia through stories, pictures, and maps. They also discovered the seven continents, practising names and positions with songs and group activities. This encouraged global awareness while celebrating cultural diversity and connections between people around the world.
Specialist Teacher
Miss Molly guided the children through gentle yoga poses and stretches inspired by animals. They explored balance, mindfulness, and breathing exercises, which encouraged calmness and self-awareness. The session ended with smiles and a sense of accomplishment as the children proudly shared their favourite poses.
The children enjoyed running, jumping, throwing, and catching in their sports session. These activities built coordination, resilience, and confidence, while also teaching teamwork and turn-taking. Lots of laughter and cheering created a lively and supportive environment for active learning.
Thank you for your continued support! Each week, your children grow in confidence, skills, and curiosity. We look forward to more exciting adventures ahead!
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New Mandarin Music Toy Books – Free to Try!
We’re excited to introduce the latest edition of Mandarin music toy books by Fish Tale Rhymes—a fun and interactive way for children to learn language through songs, sound, and play. These bilingual books bring Mandarin to life at the push of a button, helping little learners enjoy music, rhythm, and vocabulary building. Parents can now sign up for free to try them out and see how much joy they bring to story and song time at home!
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
Extended Learning: Holiday Clubs
Our Holiday Clubs offer STEAM fun, language learning, and field trips for school-aged children.
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