December at Footsteps: The most wonderful time of the year!

December is in full swing and our settings are buzzing with excitement. It’s a month filled with imagination, exploration and traditions, each one providing rich opportunities for learning through play. From visits from mischievous elves to snowy sensory trays, the festive season brings endless inspiration for our curious young minds.

Across our settings, children have been eagerly discovering what our visiting elves have been up to each morning. Whether they’ve been hiding in book corners, creating our messy play, or literally swinging from the ceiling, it has been the source of plenty of laughter.

Opening daily calendars is not just a festive ritual (and a tasty chocolate treat) it’s a gentle way to build early number recognition, pattern spotting and an understanding of time. The excitement of discovering “today’s window” also supports routine and anticipation skills.

Making reindeer food is a Footsteps favourite. Children scoop, pour and mix ingredients, building fine motor skills and exploring textures. It’s a simple activity full of storytelling potential. How fast do reindeer fly? What do they like to eat? How do they find their way in the dark winter sky?

Our tuff trays have transformed into winter wonderlands this month. Think sparkling “snow,” jingle bells, cinnamon sticks, little woodland animals, shaving foam Christmas beards and icy scoops. These trays invite children to get hands-on, developing sensory awareness, language, creativity and confidence through open-ended play.

We’ve been sharing a whole library of festive stories from snowy adventures to tales of kindness and giving. And of course we have also been looking at the meaning of Christmas and the story of the Baby Jesus. Storytime supports early literacy, strengthens bonds and enhances children’s understanding of celebrations around the world – and its also great for some quiet time out and snuggles.

In our music sessions, children are learning  some of our favourite festive songs – excitement building before we invite our parents and families in to join in the magic.

There’s nothing quite like the smell of December baking. Children have been stirring, rolling and decorating, exploring early maths through weighing ingredients and sequencing steps. Cooking offers so many learning opportunities and a delicious rewards such as mince pies and iced biscuits at the end!

From glittering winter landscapes to stars, snowflakes and snowmen, our craft tables have been a hive of creativity. Children experiment with materials, tools and techniques, expressing themselves through colour, texture and design. It has made our settings an explosion of colour!

Children have been drawing and “writing” their letters to Father Christmas. Whether using marks, pictures, tracing or early phonics, these letters help build communication skills, fine motor control and a love of expressing ideas.

December at Footsteps is always a magical month and we’re so proud of the curiosity, creativity and confidence the children show in everything they do. As the season continues, we can’t wait to see even more festive fun unfold.