From Our World to Yours

Hi everyone!

This month, we have been busy exploring, creating and making our nursery spaces even more exciting places to learn and grow. In our garden, we discovered new ways to play with the cascade table, watching water move and change as we experimented together, while inside we helped shape our Piccoli space so we could learn alongside different ages, building confidence and learning from one another. We also found special ways to celebrate the people we love on Mother’s Day, each of us expressing this in our own unique way, and on World Book Day we shared stories, acted them out, and brought them to life in so many different ways. March has been full of curiosity, connection and creativity, and we can’t wait to see where our ideas take us next.

With love as always,

The KatieB Kids

Helping Children Return to Calm

All children experience big emotions.

Sometimes these feelings can become overwhelming, and in those moments children are not able to think clearly, listen, or explain what they need. What we see as behaviour is often a signal that a child is feeling unsettled and needs support to feel safe again.

What does this mean?

When children are upset, their brains go into a stress response. This means they are not being difficult on purpose, they are doing their best to cope with how they feel. In these moments, what helps most is not correction or reasoning, but calm, connection and reassurance.

How you can support your child

Simple, gentle responses can make a big difference:

• Lower your voice and slow things down

• Stay close and present

• Use simple, reassuring language

• Acknowledge how they might be feeling
  (“That felt really hard” / “I can see you’re upset”)

• Give them time, there’s no need to rush

These small actions help your child’s body begin to settle.

Finding the balance

It can be tempting to explain, fix or solve the situation straight away, but children need to feel calm before they are ready for this. Once they feel safe again, they are much more able to:

• listen

• communicate

• reflect

• and begin to problem solve

What children gain from this

When children are supported in this way, they begin to:

• feel safe with their emotions

• learn how to regulate over time

• trust that adults will help them through difficult moments

• build resilience and emotional understanding

A simple idea to try at home

Next time your child is overwhelmed, pause before responding.

Instead of asking questions or giving instructions, try:

“I’m here with you.”

Often, your calm presence is exactly what they need.

The Enthusiastic Participant

One of the most powerful ways children learn is through shared moments of play, curiosity and connection. At KatieB Kids, we talk about being an “enthusiastic participant”, bringing energy, warmth and genuine interest into children’s play. But this isn’t just something that happens in a nursery. It’s something that can make a real difference at home too.

What does this mean?

It’s about stepping into your child’s world, even for a few minutes, and joining them in what they are already doing. That might look like:

• stirring a pretend soup in the garden

• building a tower together on the floor

• chasing bubbles in the park

• stopping to look closely at a worm or a leaf

It’s not about planning activities or “teaching” something specific. It’s about being present, curious and open to where your child’s ideas take you.

Finding the balance

Being an enthusiastic participant doesn’t mean being involved all the time. Children also need space to explore independently, follow their own ideas and become deeply absorbed in their play. The magic is in noticing:

• when your child is inviting you in

• when they want you alongside them

• and when they are happy to lead on their own

What children gain from this

When adults join play in this way, children feel:

• valued and listened to

• more confident to share their ideas

• excited to explore and try new things

• connected through shared joy and laughter

You might notice your child:

• inviting you into their play more often

• talking more about what they are doing

• staying engaged in play for longer

A simple idea to try at home

Next time your child is playing, pause before directing or suggesting something new. Instead, try:

“Can I play too?”
or
“Tell me what you’re doing…”

Then follow their lead.

Even a few minutes of shared, playful connection can have a big impact.

Nurturing a Love of Nature from the Earliest Years

“If children don't grow up knowing about nature and appreciating it, they will not understand it. And if they don't understand it they won't protect it. And if they don't protect it, who will?” — Sir David Attenborough

Some of the most meaningful learning in early childhood begins with very simple moments. A child planting a seed. Watching a worm in the soil. Noticing how a tree changes through the seasons. These small experiences are often where a lifelong connection to nature begins.

Why this matters

Early childhood is a powerful time for shaping how children see the world around them. Children who regularly explore nature are more likely to:

• care about the environment

• feel curious about how things grow and change

• develop confidence through exploration and discovery

• build wellbeing through time spent outdoors

Nature invites children to slow down, notice, question and wonder.

Bringing this to life at home

You don’t need a large garden or special equipment to support this kind of learning. Simple experiences can have a big impact. You might try:

• planting herbs like basil, mint or chives on a windowsill

• growing cress and watching it change each day

• watering plants together and checking on their progress

• talking about what you can see, smell and touch

These moments help children begin to understand that plants, food and flowers grow over time with care and attention.

Noticing the world around you

Nature is everywhere. When you’re out and about, you might:

• notice how trees look different from one week to the next

• look for insects, birds or changing leaves

• talk about the weather and the seasons

There’s no need to “teach”, just noticing together is enough.

Small steps that make a difference

Children also learn about caring for the world through everyday actions. You could involve them in:

• sorting recycling

• reducing food waste

• caring for plants at home

These experiences help children understand that their actions matter.

What children gain from this

Through these simple, shared moments, children begin to:

• feel connected to the natural world

• develop patience and curiosity

• take pride in caring for living things

• build a sense of responsibility for the world around them

A simple idea to try at home

Plant something small together this week. It could be a pot of herbs, a few seeds, or even cress on a damp paper towel. Then take a moment each day to look closely together.

“What’s changed today?”

Sometimes, the smallest moments grow into the biggest learning.

Depth Over Display

You may have noticed that we don’t always follow traditional calendar events in the way you might expect and we wanted to share why.

Why this matters

In early childhood, learning is most meaningful when it is led by children’s interests, experiences and curiosity, rather than fixed dates. While themed days can be enjoyable, they can sometimes interrupt deeper, ongoing learning. Children may be moved quickly from one idea to another, without the time to fully explore, revisit and make sense of their thinking.

What this looks like in practice

At KatieB Kids, we take a relationship-led, child-centred approach. This means educators:

• observe closely

• listen carefully

• build on what children are genuinely interested in

Learning unfolds through exploration, conversation and shared discovery, not just one-off activities. Rather than focusing on producing something for a specific day, we prioritise process over product. Children are supported to think, question, create and return to ideas over time. When celebrations do happen, they emerge naturally from children’s interests or reflect what is meaningful to them and their families.

Creating an inclusive approach

Every family is different. By not assuming how or what should be celebrated, we create space for children to share their own experiences in ways that feel authentic and respectful.

Bringing this to life at home

This approach can feel very natural at home. You might:

• notice and celebrate everyday moments

• follow your child’s ideas rather than the calendar

• share stories or traditions in your own time

• respond to what feels meaningful for your family

Often, these child-led moments hold far more meaning than something prompted by a specific date.

What children gain from this

When learning is led in this way, children:

• develop deeper understanding

• stay engaged for longer

• feel that their ideas are valued

• build stronger connections between experiences

A simple idea to try at home

Next time a special date or celebration comes up, pause and notice your child’s response. Are they curious about it, or focused on something else? Follow their lead.

Sometimes the most meaningful learning happens when we slow down, stay with an idea, and allow it to grow.

Finding Balance: The 50% Principle

This month, our team spent time exploring an idea called “The 50% Principle,” introduced by Dr Nick Buckley. At its heart is a simple but powerful message:
in any interaction, we are responsible for our part, not everything, but not nothing either.

Why this matters

In day-to-day life with young children, emotions can run high. There are moments of joy, connection and laughter, and also moments of frustration, overwhelm and challenge. The 50% Principle helps us to approach these moments with balance, reminding us that while we cannot control everything, we can choose how we respond.

What this looks like in practice

At KatieB Kids, this idea supports a calm, reflective approach. It means adults focus on:

• how we communicate

• how we respond in the moment

• how we try to understand what a child might be feeling

By doing this, we create an environment where children feel safe, supported and emotionally understood.

Bringing this to life at home

This idea can be really helpful in everyday family life too. With young children, challenging moments are a natural part of development. Thinking about your “50%” might look like:

• taking a breath before responding

• staying calm during big emotions

• choosing words carefully

• recognising that children are still learning how to manage their feelings

It’s not about getting it right all the time, it’s about being thoughtful in how we show up.

What children gain from this

When adults model this kind of balance, children begin to:

• feel safe expressing their emotions

• learn how to regulate over time

• build confidence in relationships

• develop empathy and understanding

A simple idea to try at home

In a moment of challenge, pause and ask yourself:

“What is my part in this moment?”

Even a small shift in how we respond can change the tone of the whole interaction.

Movement, Mark Making and Meaning

I lay on my tummy, my body stretched out long as the world began to gently spin beneath me. The paper covered the floor like a giant canvas, waiting for me. I held my paintbrush out in front of me, watching as colours appeared in sweeping lines and swirls as I turned. Round and round, faster, slower, I could feel it in my body, the movement, the rhythm, the excitement.The paint moved because I moved. When I stretched my arm further, the lines changed. When I spun quicker, the marks became wild and free. I could see what I was doing, but I could feel it too, in my hands, in my tummy, in the way the world tilted and shifted around me. It made me laugh.

I wasn’t just painting… I was part of it.

Why this matters

For young children, learning is not just something that happens with their hands or their minds, it happens through their whole bodies. Movement, mark making and sensory exploration are deeply connected. When children are free to move as they create, they begin to understand how their bodies, actions and ideas all work together.

What this looks like in practice

Experiences like this allow children to:

• explore cause and effect (“what happens when I move this way?”)

• develop spatial awareness and body control

• express themselves creatively through movement and mark making

• engage their senses in a rich, meaningful way

It’s not just about the marks on the paper, it’s about the experience of creating them.

Bringing this to life at home

You don’t need special equipment to support this kind of play. You might try:

• taping large paper to the floor or table

• using chunky crayons, chalk or paint

• allowing space for big movements - stretching, reaching, turning

• playing music and letting your child move as they create

The key is to allow freedom, there’s no right or wrong way to explore.

What children gain from this

Through experiences like this, children:

• build confidence in their physical movements

• develop early writing and drawing skills

• express emotions and ideas creatively

• experience joy, curiosity and a sense of agency

A simple idea to try at home

Create a space where your child can make big, free marks.

Then step back and watch.

“Tell me about what you’re doing…”

You might be surprised by how much thinking, feeling and learning is happening in those simple moments.

Growing our Community Together

We love sharing our news!
If you know someone who’d enjoy receiving our monthly bulletins too, they can sign up through the link here or below, please do share it. Maybe it’s Grandma and Grandad, aunties and uncles, or even your NCT friends, everyone’s welcome to be part of our KatieB Kids family.

“Until next time, here’s to curiosity, creativity, and plenty of muddy knees!”