We would like to share some key reminders and upcoming events with you:
Each room will be celebrating at their allocated times:
Theme of the Week: Discovering the Middle East through Language, Culture & Sensory Play
This week, our babies explored the wonders of the Middle East through rich language, sensory play, cultural experiences, and creative activities. Each day offered calm, child-led opportunities for learning, communication, and joyful discovery.Curious about how we combine culture, confidence, and creativity in the early years?
We introduced the beautifully illustrated story Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns by Hena Khan, bringing it to life with real props such as fabric swatches and a silver lantern. Our focus Makaton signs were book and please, which we modelled during story time and daily routines.
In Mandarin, the children learned new vocabulary including: Tiger, 黑色 (hēi sè) – Black, 橙色 (chéng sè) – Orange
The babies also enjoyed singing Little Camel Walking Far, using calming gestures to connect movement with words. During circle time, they explored a sensory bucket filled with soft animals, supporting turn-taking, sound play, and early communication.
Our Middle East-themed tuff tray was filled with sensory treasures – textured fabrics, fragrant spices, small metal dishes, and desert animal toys like camels, goats, and foxes. The babies explored freely with their hands, sparking curiosity, sound imitation, and early vocabulary building. This calm, Montessori-inspired activity nurtured independence, concentration, and cultural awareness.
The children enjoyed a refreshing outdoor trip this week. We played hide and seek, practising turn-taking and listening skills, followed by ball games where the babies explored throwing and kicking.
They were delighted to spot squirrels climbing trees, and we encouraged them to use simple words to describe what they saw. Touching the trees gave them a chance to feel rough and smooth textures, and we finished with a picnic snack on a blanket in the fresh air—a calm and happy end to our adventure
In Cookery Club, we made a simple and refreshing Tzatziki dip using yogurt, cucumber, and mint. Babies explored textures and smells, some using spoons to mix, others using their hands. A few brave tasters enjoyed the cool, fresh flavour!
This calm, sensory experience supported independence, curiosity, and enjoyment around food. We look forward to offering more simple, hands-on recipes each week.
Mindful Molly created a calm, glowing atmosphere with a gentle sensory light session. She sang Incy Wincy Spider with props and hand actions, capturing the babies’ attention and encouraging early movement and engagement. Ella Sparkles filled the room with music, rhythm, and laughter. The babies shook instruments, joined in with songs, and made a bumblebee craft, exploring textures and colours. The session was full of smiles, sound, and joyful movement.
It’s been a wonderful week of exploration, communication, and sensory play in the Baby Room. We’re so proud of how engaged and curious the children have been, and we can’t wait for more exciting learning ahead!
This week, the Blue Dragons were busy learning through play, creativity, and hands-on experiences. From exploring shapes and sounds to cooking, sports, and autumn crafts, the children enjoyed a wonderful mix of activities that built both skills and curiosity.
Thinking about how we bring global culture and sensory-rich learning to life for toddlers?
The children explored Mandarin through a lesson about tigers. They learned the popular Chinese song Liǎng Zhī Lǎohǔ (两只老虎) and joined in with actions. They also studied the tiger’s stripes and colours while practising new vocabulary, making language learning active and fun.
The children became little shape explorers! Using colourful blocks, they carefully matched shapes to the right places. Some studied each piece with focus, while others excitedly shouted when they found the perfect fit. This fun activity supported shape recognition, sorting, and problem-solving while boosting confidence.
Over the week, the children explored the letter P. Acting as word detectives, they spotted penguins, parrots, pencils, and paintbrushes around the classroom. With lively songs, clapping rhythms, and new words, the Blue Dragons built listening, speaking, and early reading skills in an engaging way.
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.
In Sports Mini, the children turned cones into “mountains and hills” and ran around the garden collecting them. Working in teams, they stacked their cones proudly before tackling an obstacle course with tunnels and races. This playful session encouraged teamwork, coordination, and physical confidence.
Cookery Club was a delicious highlight! The children made hummus from scratch, smashing chickpeas, adding flavours, and tasting their creation. They also tried making falafel, discovering how simple ingredients can be transformed into tasty dishes. This hands-on experience encouraged teamwork, creativity, and cultural awareness.
The Blue Dragons explored the changing season with an autumn leaf hunt in the garden. They noticed the leaves turning from green to brown before using them in leaf paintings. This activity encouraged creativity, observation, and a deeper appreciation of nature’s changes.
The Blue Dragons had a fantastic week filled with exploration, creativity, and teamwork. We can’t wait to see what adventures next week will bring!
This week was full of rich learning and creative exploration. From classic storytelling to hands-on cultural activities, the children developed their imagination, language, and confidence while also strengthening key skills across literacy, STEM, and the arts.
Curious about how we combine culture, confidence, and creativity in the early years?
The children enjoyed listening to classic tales such as Jack and the Beanstalk and The Boy Who Cried Wolf. They practiced sequencing by thinking about the beginning, middle, and end of the stories, while older children took it further by predicting what might happen next.
Through these discussions, the children reflected on the lessons within the tales, shared their own ideas, and linked them to everyday experiences. These activities encouraged active listening, vocabulary building, and growing confidence in expressing thoughts.
Older Children continued with Phase 1 and Phase 2 sounds, singing along with lively Jolly Phonics songs and practicing blending to strengthen early reading skills. Younger Childre explored letter formation using foam, practicing writing shapes with guidance. This hands-on approach supported fine motor development while making early literacy playful and fun.
This week, the children practiced recognising and writing numbers 1–10. They carefully formed each number, improved sequencing, and developed accuracy by counting sets of animals and objects one by one. Their joy and pride at getting the numbers right showed growing confidence in their maths skills.
The preschoolers revisited vocabulary linked to the Mid-Autumn Festival, strengthening memory and confidence in using familiar words. They also tried their hand at Chinese calligraphy, practicing strokes with a 毛笔 (calligraphy brush). This unique experience encouraged focus, patience, and appreciation for a traditional art form.
The children learned about the role of mosques as places of worship and community in Arabic countries. To extend their learning, they created their own model mosques in a pottery workshop, decorating them with unique designs. This creative activity gave the children a deeper appreciation of culture while inspiring pride in their finished work.
In Mini Sports the children worked on balance, coordination, and teamwork through fun movement-based games that supported their gross motor development. In Yoga with Miss Molly, children relaxed into calming stretches and poses while listening to a story, blending imagination with mindfulness. This balance of movement and stillness supported both physical and emotional well-being.
Thank you for your continued support! Each week, your children grow in confidence, skills, and curiosity. We look forward to more exciting adventures ahead!
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
Our Holiday Clubs offer STEAM fun, language learning, and field trips for school-aged children.
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