Outdoor Learning and Play

We get tagged in some wonderful ways to play with conkers and so we wanted to share these with you in this blog post. Did you know that Conkers is a traditional children's game in Great Britain and Ireland played using the seeds of horse chestnut trees—the name 'conker' is also applied to the seed and to the tree itself...

Inspire children to get outdoors and let their imaginations fly in a mud kitchen. Cafe's shops, bakeries, Pizza station, Ice Cream Cart. Children develop their gross motor skills through large mixing and stirring movements, mashing with pestle and mortars and in our giant masher and perfect their fine motor skills as they take a pinch of herbs, grass or leaves...

Acorns can be used in play in a variety of ways. They are perfect during the autumn months. Acorns usually drop from their trees late summer, early autumn. Acorns are the fruit of the oak tree. They contain the seeds that can grow new oak trees, and falling to the ground is part of the tree's lifecycle – this is how...

This Orange Pepper Pumpkin Carving activity for Halloween is perfect for little hands to make. So much easier than pumpkin carving and gives children the independence to carve their own spooky Halloween orange pepper pumpkin. Why not roast them once made to see how they turn out or just eat them up as a tasty snack. Orange Pepper Pumpkin Carving...

For so many people Autumn is their favourite time of year. The beautiful colours, natural treasures, the smell of autumn, fallen leaves and autumn crafts. Autumn begins in September and is a season famous for its harvest times, turning leaves, cooling temperatures and darkening nights. Did you know that Chlorophyll is the chemical that makes tree leaves green and as...

A simple Spooky Halloween Mushroom activity for little hands to get involved with. It is really easy to create these spooky mushrooms using just a skewer and mushrooms. Larger mushrooms are slightly easier for children to work with if available. You could ask children to bring them in from home. They can also be roasted and eaten as a tasty...

Here at Cosy, we recognise that it’s an exciting time for Early Career Teachers (ECTs) as they embark on their new roles. However, we also understand that it can be a time of apprehension and stress – we know you want to do your best. Being nervous is entirely normal. With this in mind, we’ve put together 10 top tips for Early Career...

Art and Creative Expression helps the development of children’s imagination, creativity and their ability to use and explore different media and materials. Outdoor art activities encourage children to explore with nature. “Art is as natural as sunshine and as vital as nourishment.” MaryAnn Kohl Art includes a wide range of activities. From exploring colours, textures, making music, singing songs, to...

Play in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) can involve mess – whether that’s mud, paint, glue or baking ingredients.  Sometimes, just the term ‘mess’ and conjure up negative images of this type of play, making it seem chaotic and out of control.  However, the truth is that mess can be a sensory, hands on, practical experience.  It holds immense...

Welcome to the realm of the fairies, pixies and elves. If you're close enough you may even spot a mischievous tree troll! Below we explore creativity, imagination and share ideas on how to create a fairy garden. This is the beauty of imaginative play like that of a fairy garden - it allows children to explore their own imaginations. It’s...