Baby Room Curriculum (Ages 0-18 months)

 

Our Cocoons Baby Room Curriculum is based on the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) framework. The activities are designed to be developmentally appropriate, focusing on sensory exploration, bonding, and early developmental milestones. Each activity is aligned with the EYFS areas of learning to encourage a well-rounded development.

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Daily Routine

1. Welcome and Settling In Time (PSED, CL):

• Greet each baby warmly and individually as they arrive. Help them settle into the environment with their familiar key person, providing comfort and reassurance.

• Communication: Talk softly to the babies using their names, encouraging early communication.

• Emotional Development: Develop secure attachments by offering cuddles and comfort.

2. Sensory Exploration (CL, PD, UW):

• Introduce babies to various sensory experiences such as soft textures, bright colors, and interesting sounds. This could be through sensory mats, soft toys, or tactile play.

• Physical Development: Encourage babies to explore objects with their hands, reaching, grasping, and transferring them from hand to hand.

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Introduction to the Environment and Faces

• EYFS Focus:

  • PSED: Building trust and emotional connections with key persons.

  • CL: Learning to recognise faces and voices.

  • UW: Recognising the environment and people around them.

• Activities:

  • Mirror Play: Place a mirror in front of the baby to encourage them to look at their own reflection and recognise their facial features.

  • Parent/Carer Photos: Show babies pictures of themselves and familiar people, encouraging eye contact and recognition.

  • Songs & Rhymes: "Peek-a-boo" or "This Little Piggy" to encourage communication and facial expressions.

  • Floor Time: Provide tummy time on a soft mat with safe toys to encourage reaching and movement.

• Skills Focus:

  • PSED: Building attachment, emotional security.

  • CL: Vocalisations and responding to faces and voices.

  • PD: Strengthening neck and back muscles with tummy time.

 

Touch and Texture

• EYFS Focus:

  • PD: Developing fine motor skills through touch and texture exploration.

  • CL: Responding to different tactile sensations.

  • EAD: Exploring creative expression through textures.

• Activities:

  • Sensory Mats: Introduce soft, squishy, bumpy, and smooth textures for babies to explore with their hands and feet.

  • Textured Toys: Provide toys with different textures like fabric, rubber, and silicone for babies to explore by touching and mouthing.

  • Songs & Rhymes: "If You're Happy and You Know It" (incorporate clapping or other movements to engage babies).

  • Feely Bags: Fill a bag with safe objects of various textures (e.g., soft fabric, rubber balls) for babies to feel.

• Skills Focus:

  • PD: Fine motor skills and sensory exploration.

  • CL: Listening to simple words associated with textures ("soft," "rough").

  • EAD: Using textures to create sensory experiences.

 

Sounds and Music

• EYFS Focus:

  • CL: Developing listening skills and responding to sounds.

  • PSED: Recognising familiar voices and sounds, fostering emotional connection.

  • EAD: Exploring sounds and rhythm.

• Activities:

  • Instrument Exploration: Provide soft instruments like maracas, tambourines, and drums for babies to explore sounds.

  • Songs & Rhymes: Sing calming songs like "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" or rhythmic songs like "The Wheels on the Bus."

  • Sound Discovery: Play soft sounds like bells, chimes, or recorded gentle music and watch the baby’s reactions.

  • Clapping and Rhythmic Play: Encourage babies to make noises by clapping or tapping toys.

• Skills Focus:

  • CL: Listening to and identifying sounds.

  • PSED: Comfort through familiar songs.

  • EAD: Exploring rhythm and sound.

 

Movement and Gross Motor Skills

• EYFS Focus:

  • PD: Developing gross motor skills (rolling, crawling, standing).

  • PSED: Confidence in exploring the environment.

  • UW: Learning about movement and physical space.

• Activities:

  • Tummy Time: Encourage babies to spend time on their tummy to strengthen muscles for crawling and eventually walking.

  • Rolling and Reaching: Use soft toys to encourage babies to roll or reach for them.

  • Songs & Rhymes: "Heads, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes" (encourage babies to touch parts of their body).

  • Ball Play: Roll a soft ball towards the baby to encourage reaching, crawling, or rolling toward the ball.

• Skills Focus:

  • PD: Strengthening muscles for rolling, sitting, crawling, and standing.

  • PSED: Building confidence in movement.

  • UW: Understanding space and physical movements.

 

Early Social Interaction and Mimicking

• EYFS Focus:

  • PSED: Understanding and recognizing emotions, responding to others.

  • CL: Beginning to mimic sounds and expressions.

  • EAD: Expressing themselves through movement and sound.

• Activities:

  • Facial Expression Play: Demonstrate various facial expressions (smiling, surprise, etc.) and encourage babies to mimic.

  • Interactive Play: Play simple interactive games like "Peek-a-boo" or "Pat-a-Cake" to encourage turn-taking and engagement.

  • Songs & Rhymes: "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" (encourage gentle rocking or swaying).

  • Imitative Sounds: Encourage babies to imitate simple sounds or vocalisations.

• Skills Focus:

  • PSED: Recognising and responding to social cues.

  • CL: Imitating sounds and simple gestures.

  • EAD: Expressing themselves through body movements and vocalisations.

 

Exploring Everyday Objects

• EYFS Focus:

  • UW: Exploring and making sense of the world around them.

  • PD: Developing the ability to grasp and manipulate objects.

  • CL: Using simple words to describe familiar objects.

• Activities:

  • Object Exploration: Provide safe household objects (e.g., soft plastic cups, spoons, or fabric) for babies to explore through touch, mouth, and observation.

  • Cause and Effect Play: Introduce toys that make noise when pressed or buttons that light up, helping babies understand cause and effect.

  • Songs & Rhymes: "The Hokey Pokey" (encouraging body movements).

  • Sorting Play: Introduce simple sorting activities using safe toys (e.g., balls of different colors, shapes).

• Skills Focus:

  • UW: Exploring the world and objects around them.

  • PD: Developing hand-eye coordination.

  • CL: Building understanding of familiar objects.

 

Water and Light Exploration

• EYFS Focus:

  • UW: Exploring water and light in the environment.

  • PD: Physical exploration through touch and movement.

  • EAD: Sensory experiences with water and light.

• Activities:

  • Water Play: Use a shallow tray of water with floating toys to encourage sensory exploration (supervised at all times).

  • Light Exploration: Use a flashlight or light-up toys to engage babies in visual exploration.

  • Songs & Rhymes: "Rain, Rain, Go Away" (incorporate water play).

  • Mirrors and Reflections: Use reflective surfaces or safe light-up toys for visual stimulation.

• Skills Focus:

  • UW: Exploring the environment through sensory experiences.

  • PD: Interaction with water, developing tactile awareness.

  • EAD: Visual exploration and creativity.

 

Sensory and Social Play Review

• EYFS Focus:

  • PSED: Reassurance and emotional security, celebrating milestones.

  • CL: Developing communication skills through interaction.

  • EAD: Expressing creativity through sensory experiences.

• Activities:

  • Sensory Stations: Create sensory stations with different textures (fabric, soft toys, light toys).

  • Celebration Play: Revisit favorite songs and activities from the previous weeks.

  • Interactive Play: Encourage babies to play with caregivers or peers, building social interaction skills.

  • Art Exploration: Safe finger paints or colored water play to explore textures and colors.

• Skills Focus:

  • PSED: Emotional connections and celebrating achievements.

  • CL: Expanding communication and social engagement.

  • EAD: Creative sensory play.

 

Ongoing Daily Activities:

• Tummy Time: Regular tummy time to help develop neck, back, and arm strength.

• Reading Time: Daily stories with picture books, helping to develop early language skills.

• Songs and Rhymes: Singing simple, repetitive songs to develop early language and listening skills.

• Bonding Time: One-on-one time with caregivers, fostering emotional connections.

 

This curriculum encourages sensory exploration, early motor skill development, emotional bonding, and early language acquisition. It is based on providing babies with a secure environment where they can discover, play, and grow through interactions with their caregivers and peers. Activities are designed to be simple, engaging, and safe, offering developmental opportunities across the EYFS areas of learning.