🐠 Seashells, Caterpillars and Crafty Flags: A Week of Wonder at Fun Box

This week at Fun Box was nothing short of magical. Our children, full of boundless curiosity and creativity, led us on an exciting adventure that took us beneath the ocean waves and deep into the garden — with lots of glitter, laughter, and learning along the way! ✨

🌊 Diving Deep: Our Ocean-Themed Sensory Adventures

As soon as the children arrived this week, there was one thing on everyone’s minds — animals! From slithering sea creatures to squirmy garden guests, their interest was absolutely contagious.

We began our week under the sea — well, not literally, but our sensory trays certainly helped spark the imagination! With warm sand under their fingertips and cool water flowing around their palms, our little learners explored a mini beach environment. Scooping, pouring, and feeling different textures provided an excellent opportunity for sensory exploration — key for 2–4 year olds developing their physical coordination and understanding of the world around them (Development Matters, 2021).

The excitement really bubbled over when we discovered that some of our animals were “frozen in ice”! With pipettes, warm water, and gentle hammers, the children worked together to rescue them. It was a delight to watch their determination and teamwork, and it gave them a meaningful way to develop both fine motor skills and early scientific thinking.

Later in the week, our imaginations took a creative turn as we decorated our own sparkling fish using spreadable glue, coloured paper, and lots (and lots!) of glitter. 🎨 This messy play wasn't just fun — it helped the children express themselves artistically and build their finger muscles, which are essential for early writing.

🐛 A Garden Full of Caterpillars: Welcoming Spring’s Wriggly Visitors

As if the sea animals weren’t exciting enough, another familiar friend returned this week — the Lackey moth caterpillars! 🐛 Every year around this time, they begin appearing in our garden, and the children were absolutely thrilled to start spotting them again.

Armed with magnifying glasses, collecting pots, and endless enthusiasm, the children set off on a “caterpillar rescue mission.” They carefully searched through bushes and plants, gently gathering the tiny creatures and proudly counting how many they’d found. It was a beautiful moment of shared discovery and care.

This hands-on encounter with nature offered rich opportunities for learning. By caring for the caterpillars and preparing their habitats, children are developing empathy, observational skills, and a deeper understanding of life cycles — all key components of the EYFS area Understanding the World.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll continue to monitor our little caterpillar friends. If we’re lucky, we may even get to witness the magical transformation into moths. For many children, this is a highlight of their time at Fun Box, remembered long after the moths have flown away.

✂️ Little Hands at Work: Flags, Mark Making, and Motor Skills

While our outdoor adventures captured imaginations, our indoor sessions were just as exciting! One of our favourite focused activities this week was weaving paper strips to create colourful little flags.

The concentration on the children’s faces as they threaded paper over and under was heart-warming — and it was brilliant for developing hand-eye coordination and patience.

We also provided a variety of paper sizes and mark-making tools so the children could explore drawing, scribbling, and even attempting to write their own names. ✏️ Whether it was a confident “M” or a joyful swirl of colours, each mark was celebrated as a step forward in early literacy.

These activities align beautifully with the EYFS Prime Areas of Development, especially Physical Development and Literacy. Supporting the muscles in little hands now lays the groundwork for confident writing later on.

🌟 Growing, Learning, and Thriving Together

This week was a shining example of how play and learning go hand in hand. From frozen animals to wriggling caterpillars and proudly held paper flags, every experience helped nurture curiosity, independence, and a sense of achievement in our children.

At Fun Box, we’re passionate about creating opportunities that support holistic development and make learning joyful. We can’t wait to see where the children’s interests take us next! Until then, we’ll be keeping our eyes on the caterpillars — and the glitter, of course, will likely be with us a bit longer too. 😉