Extracurricular activities hold a significant place in many of our Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries. These activities, often considered the heart and soul of the nursery experience, provide a multitude of benefits for children’s growth and development. Here are six reasons why extracurricular activities are pivotal in a Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery setting:
Holistic Development: Monkey Puzzle recognises that education goes beyond the classroom. Extracurricular activities focus on nurturing the whole child, developing their physical, social, emotional, and cognitive growth. These activities encourage a well-rounded approach to education, ensuring children thrive in all aspects.
Social Skills: Participating in group activities like team games, drama, or collaborative art projects enables children to develop social skills. They learn how to communicate effectively, develop positive relationships, resolve conflicts, and work as part of a team, preparing them for future relationships.
Physical Fitness: Activities such as outdoor play, yoga, or sports keep children physically active and help them understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Physical fitness is not just about exercise; it’s about instilling lifelong habits that lead to a healthier adulthood.
Creativity and Expression: Art, music, and storytelling activities allow children to explore their creativity and self-expression. These outlets encourage them to think outside the box, express their emotions, and develop their imaginations.
Cultural Awareness: Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries celebrate the diverse cultures and backgrounds that make up the UK. Activities involving various traditions, languages, and global perspectives expose children to human experiences, fostering empathy and a broader worldview.
Confidence and Self-Esteem Building: Building confidence into children gives them the tools to try new experiences and challenges. These opportunities provide the cultural capital to enable children to learn about themselves and decide what they enjoy. These are the foundations for skills that will be used in and throughout adult life and so are a valuable investment for the future.
As you can see, here at Monkey Puzzle, we focus on the whole child, not just the academia so that as they leave us and transition to school, they feel ready to take on the world!
Joy Sackett
Early Years Quality Manager
Joy is a part of our Monkey Puzzle Quality Management team, working with our nurseries to help maintain the high-quality care we offer for our children. She is vastly experienced in Early Years childcare having worked in the sector for almost 30 years. Joy has worked at all levels of childcare, including childminding, teaching and SEND assistance, and all through the roles in nurseries in all sectors (community, non-profit and private). Her knowledge and contributions to our Quality Team and nurseries are invaluable.
