At Innovative Early Learning, creativity is encouraged and supported in many ways with each age group, the children engage in many art and craft, music and movement and creative experiences during the day, often choosing independently what they would like to use for these activities which promotes their autonomy and decision making skills.

Here are some step-by-step instructions for some fun activities and songs to enjoy together at home together. These are suitable for a range of ages, but adult supervision may be required, especially for younger children.

Art and Craft: Paper Plate Sunflowers

Materials Needed:

• Paper plates
• Paint
• Paintbrushes
• Glue
• Coloured construction paper
• Scissors

Instructions:

Paint the front of a paper plate with paint. Let it dry completely.

Cut out small squares or rectangles from the construction paper to create the center of the sunflower (the seeds).

Once the paint is dry, glue the paper pieces to the center of the paper plate to create the sunflower's seeds.

Cut out petal shapes from the construction paper.

Glue the petals around the edge of the paper plate to create the sunflower's petals.

Let it dry, and your paper plate sunflower is ready to brighten your day!

Game: Simon Says

Instructions:

Select one person to be "Simon." Simon will give instructions to the other players.

Simon starts by saying, "Simon says (Instruction)" followed by an action, such as "Simon says touch your toes" or "Simon says jump."

The other players must only follow the command if it begins with "Simon says." If Simon gives a command without saying "Simon says" first, the players should not do the action.

If a player follows a command without "Simon says," they are out for that round.

The last player remaining in the round becomes the new Simon for the next round.

Song: "If You're Happy and You Know It"

Lyrics: If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. (clap, clap) If you're happy and you know it, stomp your feet. (stomp, stomp) If you're happy and you know it, shout "Hooray!" (Hooray!) If you're happy and you know it, do all three! (clap, clap, stomp, stomp, Hooray!)

Instructions:

Have the children sit in a circle or stand in a group.

Sing the song while performing the actions. For each verse, follow the actions in the lyrics (clapping, stomping, and shouting "Hooray!").

Encourage the children to sing along and participate in the actions.

Activity: Nature Scavenger Hunt

Materials Needed:

A list of items found in nature (e.g., a pinecone, a feather, a dandelion, a smooth rock, etc.)

Small bags or containers for collecting items

A pen and paper

Instructions:

Create a list of natural items for the scavenger hunt. You can customise the list based on the location and season.

Give each child a bag or container to collect their finds.

Distribute the list to the children and explain the rules of the scavenger hunt.

Go on a nature walk, and have the children search for the items on their lists.

As they find each item, they should collect it in their bag or container.

After the hunt, gather together and discuss the items the children found. You can also have them draw or write about their discoveries on the paper.

You can adapt and modify this activity to suit the specific needs and interests of the children participating.

Open shut them  - Open, Shut Them is a classic children's song with actions

Open, shut them, open, shut them, Give a little clap. (clap, clap) Open, shut them, open, shut them, lay them in your lap. (place hands in lap)

Creep them, creep them, creep them, creep them, right up to your chin. (move hands up to chin) Open up your little mouth, but do not let them in. (point to mouth)

Shake them, shake them, shake them, shake them, shake them just like this. (shake hands) Roll them, roll them, roll them, roll them, roll them just like this (roll hands)

and blow a great big kiss (Blow a kiss)

"Slippery Fish" is a fun and catchy children's song

Slippery fish, slippery fish, Swimming through the water. (swimming motion with hands) Slippery fish, slippery fish, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp! (make a swallowing motion with your hand)

Oh, no! It's been eaten by an...

Octopus, octopus, Squirming in the water. (wiggling motion with arms) Octopus, octopus, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!

Oh, no! It's been eaten by a...

Tuna fish, tuna fish, Flashing through the water. (motion your hand like a flash) Tuna fish, tuna fish, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!

Oh, no! It's been eaten by a...

Great white shark, great white shark, Lurking in the water. (shark fin motion with your hand) Great white shark, great white shark, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!

Oh, no! It's been eaten by a...

Humongous whale, humongous whale, Spouting in the water. (make a spout with your hand) Humongous whale, humongous whale, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!

BURP! Excuse me!

The song is often sung with playful and exaggerated motions for each sea creature. It's a great song for teaching animal names, actions, and sequencing.

5 little Frogs action song

Five little speckled frogs sat on a speckled log eating the most delicious bugs, yum yum, one jumped into the pool where it was nice and cool and now there are 4 speckled frogs glub glub

Continue the same lyrics until there are no speckled frogs.

This song is not only fun for counting but also great for teaching subtraction as the number of frogs decreases with each verse. It's often accompanied by finger actions, such as holding up fingers for each frog and making hopping motions as they jump away.

Five little ducks - Five Little Ducks" is a popular children's nursery rhyme and counting song.

Five little ducks went out one day, Over the hill and far away. Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack." But only four little ducks came back.

Four little ducks went out one day, Over the hill and far away. Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack." But only three little ducks came back.

Three little ducks went out one day, Over the hill and far away. Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack." But only two little ducks came back.

Two little ducks went out one day, Over the hill and far away. Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack, quack." But only one little duck came back.

One little duck went out one day, Over the hill and far. Mother duck said “Quack quack quack quack” but none of her little ducks came back so Mother duck went out one day over the hills and far away Mother duck said “Quack quack quack quack” and all of her 5 little ducks came back.

Here are some fun and creative game ideas for children that promote physical activity, social interaction, and learning:

1. Duck, Duck, Goose:

Children sit in a circle, and one child walks around the outside, tapping others on the head and saying "duck" until they choose someone to say "goose" and then run around the circle as the "goose." The chosen "goose" must chase and tag the first child before they reach the empty spot in the circle.

2. Freeze Dance:

Play music, and when it stops, the children freeze in their positions. Resume the music to keep them dancing and freezing.

3. Relay Races:

Set up relay races where children take turns running or performing specific tasks, like carrying an egg on a spoon or a water balloon. Divide them into teams and make it a friendly competition.

4. Balloon Volleyball:

Use a balloon as a ball and draw a "net" on the floor with tape. Children take turns batting the balloon over the "net" without letting it touch the ground.

5. Red Light, Green Light:

One child plays "it" and stands at a distance while others line up. "It" says "green light" to allow the other children to move forward and "red light" to make them stop. The goal is for "it" to catch someone moving when they should be stopped.

6. Hot Potato:

Sit in a circle and pass an object (the "hot potato") around while music plays. When the music stops, the child holding the potato is out.

7. Alphabet Scavenger Hunt:

Create a list of letters and have children find objects in your home or yard that start with each letter. This game can help with letter recognition and early literacy.

These games are not only entertaining but also offer opportunities for learning, cooperation, and physical activity. Be sure to adjust the rules and activities to suit the age and interests of the children playing.