We would like to introduce our blocked themed Sensory Tots sessions for 3 -18 months of age. Our sessions are fun and packed full of sensory activities for you and your babies. We are providing a perfect opportunity for you to come along and interact with other mums/carers and babies. At Tots Explore we appreciate how important sensory play is to support language development, cognitive growth, fine and gross motor skills, problem solving skills and social interaction.
Duration
Each session will run on Mondays from 9:15 until 10:30. For the first 45 mins the session is structured into different elements of sensory development:
The final 30 minutes is for free play and a chance for parents and carers to have a drink and/or chat with others about their experiences if they wish. We kindly ask for you not to arrive longer than 5 minutes before your session time and if you would please leave promptly at 10:30 so that we have time to clear away for our following session.
What you will need
There may be additional items requested for a specific theme however we will let you know the week before.
The sessions have to be taken as a half termly block in order to maximise the benefits and paid for on booking. This block of sessions is £39. This is to be paid either with cash at the play café or bank transfer. Each booking will be allocated one holiday session, therefore if you are away or are ill you will be offered an extra session. We would require 48 hours notice to use the holiday.
If you or child are ill and can’t make the session please message our Facebook page or call/text as soon as you can to let us know you won’t be attending.
The Benefits of Messy Play for a Child’s Physical Development
Fine Motor Skills
Messy play helps young children develop their early motor skills. When children squeeze soft dough, scoop up sand or make marks in crazy foam, they are learning to refine their fine motor skills by using the muscles in their fingers, wrists, arms, toes and shoulders to make small movements. Children also practice coordinating their fine motor skills by combining muscles together when picking up different objects throughout messy play.
Muscle Strengthening
When children practice fine and gross motor skills in messy play, they are strengthening their muscles and developing muscle control in their body. Introducing children to a variety of messy play activities will build up strength in their different muscle groups. Mark making in paint helps children improve the muscles in their hands and fingers, which also prepares them for holding a pencil and controlling these movements for writing, whereas, activities such as stomping in mud will strengthen the muscles in their legs.
Hand Eye Coordination
Experimenting with messy play through touch also enhances the children’s hand-eye coordination. Certain messy play activities prompt and improve children’s concentration, such as cutting shapes out of play-doh or throwing goo at a target, which helps children develop their hand-eye coordination.
Body Control & Balance
Messy play is an extremely hands-on sensory activity, which enhances children’s body control and balance through the large and small movements that they make when they play. Simple actions, such as holding a paint brush over an easel or pouring water from one container to another, helps children focus their fine and gross motor skills, which improves their control and balance with practice.
Spatial Awareness
Messy play also makes children more body aware, which gives them the opportunity to learn about boundaries. When participating in group messy play activities, such as playing imaginative play kitchens with outdoor mud kitchens, children begin to begin to respect other’s space and develop social skills.
Our sessions
• Thursdays 12:30
• 4 week block £26 (sibling discount £44 for 2 children)
• One of sessions £7 each (sibling discount £11 for 2 children)
• Each week has a different theme
We will begin our session with a welcome song to introduce everyone. This will be followed by the messy play which includes 6 different stations for your children to explore. To end the session, we will sing various nursery rhymes and enjoy the bubbles from our bubble machine.
You are welcome to arrive earlier than the session start time and stay afterwards to play in our play café and purchase food and drinks. You will need to bring a towel and a change of clothing to all sessions. All payments must be paid upfront to secure your place. Block bookings will be given a holiday day if 24 hours’ notice is given. This can be taken at another time.
T-shirts or press stud vests with the Messy Tots logo on are available to purchase at a cost of £8.95. If you would to purchase one to wear at the session please let me know.
Our science sessions are to introduce our children to the science that is all around them and the wonders that can happen with simple interactions with common kitchen products. Our sessions are designed and supported by accompanying adults and are guided through step by step by a member of staff. Each child will have a science tech coat to wear and goggles for when needed. Your little scientots will be wowed and amazed by the experiments they will perform.
Content of the sessions
Each session runs from 1 until 2:15 on a Wednesday however you are welcome to come earlier at no extra cost. For the start of the session your child can settle in by having free play time with our toys which gives you chance to get a drink if you wish. We will then all sit at our tables and put on our coats ready to begin. You will follow instructions step by step as a class to perform each experiment. There will be 2 experiments each week. Some weeks there may be something to take home what the children have made.
At the end of the experiments we’ll gather together on the carpet to do some actions songs to stretch out after being sat at the table.
First block
Wednesday 9th March
Wednesday 16th March
Wednesday 23rd March
Wednesday 30th March
Wednesday 6th April
The Sessions have to be taken as a 5 week block and paid for on booking. Each 5 week block £32.50. This is to be paid either cash at the play café or bank transfer.
If you cannot attend a session please message or text to let us know. You will be granted one holiday day but 48 hours must be given. This can be used at another time.