Happy New Year!

9th January 2014

2014, WOW, how did we get here already?! It feels so little time ago that we were celebrating the dawning of 2013. 2013 has been a mixed bag
for me. Full of excitement, tragedy, highs and lows. This time last year Bambino&beyond were so newand I felt like I had a million different things that I wanted to do and create. Well surprise surprise I now have a million more things I want to do with the classes. My passion for working with children and their families burns brighter than ever!!

I was entertaining at a 4 year olds superhero party yesterday when a mum said to me “I don’t know how you do it with all these parents watching you?“. It was only then that I stopped to see that the hall was full of parents watching. I hadn’t even noticed until that moment. I had my cloak on and had been in the throes of chasing off evil baddies, blasting them off into outer space and sticking goodness stickers all over them. The sheer power of imaginative play is something that I think is totally underestimated.

We often watch as our children chatter away to their action figures or dollies and smile as we see them delight in an afternoon teddy bears picnic, but many of us don’t fully realise the important skills this seemingly pointless play is achieving.

The shop keeping game where you had to buy five empty bottles and a plastic piece of cheese for a hundred pounds has just helped take your little one a step closer to understanding the world around them. It has developed language skills through practising listening, looking and talking. They have engaged social skills such as negotiation skills, turn taking and sharing.

That last trip to the moon you made where you space walked across the many bouncy cushions and blankets emulating the feeling of moon walking enhanced their coordination, balance and imaginative learning.

Or when you played hospitals and dolly broke her leg and teddy had an unknown pox! You guessed it – all learning experiences: emotional development, understanding and expressing ideas or concerns and showing empathy and sympathy.

Imaginative play is not only about the skills it can help your child develop, oh no it’s so much more than that! It’s a release, it’s an escape, it’s a bonding moment that will create memories and stronger connections. And if you haven’t already guessed, I’m talking about you now as well as your little one. I believe that imaginative play is a great way for children to relax and unwind from their busy lives but equally so for us busy mummies and daddies.

Now, if you don’t mind I’m off to the magical world of tescoland to fill my space ship full of exciting and interesting things ready to create Bambino&beyonds next chapter.

Jenny x