Celebrating National Storytelling Week at Day Nursery 📚✨

🪱 Superworm Playdough Fun

Inspired by the much-loved story Superworm, the children explored a Superworm playdough tuff tray. Using pink “worms”, toy insects and natural materials, the children enjoyed squishing, rolling and shaping their own Superworms.

This activity helped strengthen fine motor skills through rolling and shaping the playdough, while also encouraging imaginative play. As children explored the materials, they recreated scenes and shared ideas, developing their confidence in using language and retelling familiar parts of the story.

🐘 Decorate an Elephant

After sharing Elmer and Wilbur, the children took part in a decorate an elephant activity. Using colourful tissue paper, they created their own versions of Elmer, exploring patterns, colours and individuality.

We used this activity as a fantastic opportunity to explore themes of friendship, differences and celebrating what makes us unique.

Through discussion and creative expression, children were encouraged to share their ideas and recognise that everyone is special in their own way. As they carefully placed and arranged the materials, they also developed creativity, hand–eye coordination and control, supporting important early learning skills.

🍂 Gruffalo Crumble

Our Gruffalo crumble sensory tray brought the deep dark wood to life, inspired by The Gruffalo. With oats, scoops, jars and woodland-themed resources, the children loved exploring different textures.

Sensory play like this supports early maths skills as children explore concepts such as filling, emptying, counting and comparing amounts.

It also encourages language development, with children describing what they can see, feel and do, while introducing new vocabulary. Through imaginative play, children create their own storylines and scenarios, helping to deepen their understanding of the story and the world around them.

🐟 Tiddler Sensory Tray

To finish the week, the children dived into a Tiddler sensory tray, filled with shimmering materials, sea creatures and tools for scooping and exploring.

This activity encouraged children to recreate under-the-sea adventures, invent their own stories and share ideas as they explored the resources together.

As they talked about marine life, the little ones developed new vocabulary and practised expressing their thoughts and questions. Water and sensory play like this is particularly effective in supporting communication skills, sparking curiosity and promoting cooperative play. As children worked alongside one another, took turns and engaged in shared imaginative experiences.