At Footsteps Nurseries, outdoor learning is not something we reserve for sunny days. It is an essential, daily part of how children grow, explore and build confidence. Our mission to nurture children, families and staff thoughtfully and…
At Footsteps Nurseries, play is far more than a source of fun. It is the foundation of how children learn, grow and understand the world around them. Our mission is to nurture children, families and staff thoughtfully and professionally
Children are naturally curious. From the moment they begin to explore their surroundings, every sound, texture, and colour becomes an opportunity to learn. At nursery, we see each day how a carefully…
One of the most joyful parts of nursery life is watching friendships blossom in the early years. From the very first giggles to shared storybooks, toddlers are busy learning the building blocks of social connection.
Getting children involved in the kitchen can feel messy, but it is one of the best ways to help them learn about food, develop independence, and try new things. Simple snacks are perfect for little helpers. With a bit of guidance, children can wash, stir, sprinkle, or spread, turning healthy food into something fun and appealing.
Here are ten easy snack ideas that children can help prepare, along with the benefits of each.
Cut soft fruit such as strawberries, melon, or grapes into chunks and let children thread them onto child-safe skewers.
Builds fine motor skills
Encourages creativity with patterns encourages creativity with patterns
Makes fruit more exciting to eat.
Offer cucumber, carrot, and pepper sticks alongside hummus or yoghurt-based dip. Children can help with washing and arranging the vegetables.
Introduces a variety of textures and flavours
Supports healthy eating habits.
Provide wholemeal bread with simple fillings such as cheese, cucumber, or egg. Children can spread, cut with blunt cutters, and assemble their own creations.
Encourages independence
Teaches choice-making
Improves hand control.
Give children a plain yoghurt base and a selection of toppings such as oats, berries, or seeds. They can spoon and sprinkle to make their own combinations.
Builds independence
Encourages decision-making
Exposes children to healthy food groups.
Blend banana, berries, or mango with a little milk or yoghurt. Let children choose the fruit and press the blender button with supervision.
Teaches about combining ingredients
Introduces new flavours
Develops a sense of achievement.
Offer rice cakes with healthy spreads such as cream cheese, nut butter (if safe), or mashed avocado. Children can spread and decorate with slices of fruit or vegetables.
Supports fine motor control
Encourages children to try different textures.
Mix oats with mashed banana, carob powder and a few raisins, then roll into small bite-sized balls. Children will enjoy squishing and shaping the mixture.
Strengthens hand muscles
Provides slow-release energy
Shows that healthy snacks can be simple to make.
Slice hard-boiled eggs and let children add a sprinkle of cress. They can help with peeling once cooled.
Builds independence
Develops patience
Introduces protein-rich food in a child-friendly way.
Break plain biscuits into pieces, then mix them with a little melted dark chocolate or cocoa, dried fruit, and seeds. Press the mixture into a tray, chill, and cut into squares. Children can help with breaking, mixing, and pressing.
Builds coordination and patience
Introduces children to combining ingredients
Creates a special treat that still uses simple, wholesome foods.
Blend fruit with a little water or yoghurt, pour into moulds, and freeze. Children can help with pouring and later enjoy a refreshing, healthy treat.
Encourages involvement in food preparation
Teaches waiting skills
Provides a healthier alternative to shop-bought lollies.
Autumn is a season that delights the senses. The crunch of fallen leaves, the rich colours of the trees, and the cosy afternoons indoors provide endless opportunities for creativity. For children, these natural changes are an invitation to explore, imagine, and create. Autumn crafts are more than just fun seasonal projects – they nurture children’s development, bring families together, and connect little ones to the world around them.
At Footsteps Nurseries, we believe in valuing the process over the product. A paint-splattered sponge print or a hedgehog with more glue than leaves is still a beautiful expression of learning. Every cut, stick, and brushstroke strengthens skills and builds confidence.
Crafting activities naturally reflect the guiding principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). They are child-led, filled with joy, and encourage exploration in enabling environments.
Talking about colours, textures, and shapes builds vocabulary and supports expressive language.
Cutting, gluing, painting, and buttoning strengthen fine motor skills, preparing little hands for writing.
Working alongside friends or family fosters co-operation, patience, and pride in accomplishments.
Observing seasonal changes helps children make sense of their environment.
Every craft is a chance for imagination to shine, with children exploring different materials and techniques.
Cut small slits at the top of the roll to create branches.
Dip into paint and stamp onto paper to make tree prints.
Children can mix colours or add details like falling leaves.
Learning links: fine motor skills, colour mixing, observation of seasonal changes.
Materials: collected autumn leaves, glue, paper, googly eyes (optional).
Draw a simple hedgehog outline on paper.
Stick leaves onto the back to make the spikes.
Add eyes and a nose to bring the creature to life.
Learning links: understanding woodland animals, texture exploration, hand–eye coordination.
Materials: cut-out autumn shapes (squirrels, mushrooms, pumpkins), sponges, paint.
Place the stencil on paper and dab paint with a sponge.
Lift to reveal bold autumn images.
Encourage children to make repeating patterns or mix shapes together.
Learning links: pattern recognition, creativity, confidence through success.
Materials: paper, buttons in autumn shades, glue.
Draw a tree trunk and branches.
Children glue colourful buttons to represent autumn leaves.
Learning links: fine motor skills, colour recognition, exploring textures.
Materials: paint, paper.
Paint a child’s hand and forearm brown to create the tree trunk and branches.
Use fingerprints or sponges to add leaves in autumn colours.
Learning links: sensory play, creativity, recognition of seasonal change.
Materials: paper plates, paint, coloured paper, glue.
Fold the top of a paper plate to make owl ears.
Decorate with feathers, paint, or cut-out shapes for eyes and wings.
Learning links: storytelling, animal recognition, expressive arts.
Materials: brown paper, paint, scissors, glue.
Trace and cut out children’s handprints.
Assemble them into the shape of an acorn.
Learning links: recognition of natural objects, hand–eye coordination, creative thinking.
Materials: tissue paper squares, glue, acorn template
Children scrunch tissue paper and glue onto the template.
Learning links: fine motor development, texture exploration, colour awareness.
Other favourites we love in nursery include button trees (great for fine motor control), paper plate foxes and spiders, and even paper plate bats for a spooky seasonal twist. The possibilities are endless!
At Footsteps, we always remind families that the real value of crafts lies in the doing, not the finished product. For children, sticking a leaf upside down or mixing paints into unexpected shades is part of learning. Crafts give children permission to explore, to make choices, and to take pride in their ideas.
Our nurseries are designed to celebrate seasonal changes. Children collect leaves and natural treasures outdoors, which often inspire our craft tables indoors. Staff gently guide learning while allowing imagination to lead the way – sometimes a leaf becomes part of a hedgehog, other times it becomes a crown for a fairy! Safety and wellbeing remain our highest priority. We choose age-appropriate materials, ensure tools like scissors are safe for little hands, and always encourage independence at a pace that feels right for each child.
We’d love for you to try these crafts at home and share in the seasonal magic. If your little one creates something wonderful, why not show us? Crafts are a wonderful way for home and nursery to connect, giving children a sense of pride in their creations wherever they are made. If you’d like to know more about how we support creativity and early learning at Footsteps Nurseries, please get in touch with our team.
In today’s world, it can feel tempting to turn to screens for entertainment. Yet toddlers benefit most from hands-on, playful experiences that stimulate their senses, build relationships, and develop essential skills. The good news is that screen-free activities are simple to set up and full of opportunities for learning.
Here are ten engaging activities for toddlers, with the benefits of each explained through the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) areas of development.
Develops physical coordination
Introduces early science concepts (floating, sinking, capacity), and encourages cooperative play
Supports Understanding the World and Physical Development.
Stimulates the senses
Supports early scientific exploration, and helps children express feelings through touch.
Connects with Expressive Arts and Design and Understanding the World.
Builds language, rhythm, and memory.
Movements promote coordination and listening skills.
Strengthens Communication and Language and Physical Development.
A simple walk to the park or garden offers endless discoveries leaves, stones, birds, and bugs.
Encourages curiosity, observational skills, and respect for the natural world.
Walking and climbing build gross motor skills.
Supports Understanding the World and Physical Development.
Develops vocabulary, listening, and early literacy skills.
Sharing stories strengthens emotional bonds.
Linked to Communication and Language and Literacy.
Builds balance, coordination, and confidence.
Taking turns promotes patience and social skills.
Supports Physical Development and Personal, Social and Emotional Development.
Improves fine motor control, creativity, and self-expression.
Talking about colours and shapes supports early maths and language.
Encourages Expressive Arts and Design and Communication and Language.
Develops imagination, empathy, and social skills.
Role play also supports early language and communication.
Links to Expressive Arts and Design and Personal, Social and Emotional Development.
Teaches where food comes from, nurtures care for living things, and supports patience as children wait for plants to grow.
Connects with Understanding the World and Personal, Social and Emotional Development.
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