The Yellow Door Blog

Finding meaning in mud

Creating space for a mud kitchen in your setting will have a significant impact on the learning of the children in your care. Here’s our 10 marvelous reasons for muddy play!

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The Power of Kindness and Gratitude 

Have you ever seen the film, ‘Pay it Forward’? If you haven’t, I highly recommend it. What starts as a young boy’s school project grows to become a nationwide movement of doing kind acts for others. We may not be able to singlehandedly transform a person’s life for the better, but we can all do a multitude of small kindnesses which, when added up, make a positive and powerful difference in the lives of others.

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Kindness Hearts

Love in the Early Years

‘All you need is love’ sang The Beatles, and studies have shown that what makes the biggest difference to children in their early years is knowing an adult who shows they care. There is no other resource that is more valuable to children than a loving adult. We often think about love in terms of family relationships, but loving early years practitioners have an important role too. Sadly, not all children will experience love in their home environment, but, even for those that do, forming loving bonds with the people who care for them in their early years setting is vital, not just for healthy social and emotional development, but for their cognitive growth too. Love actually helps to build brains!

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Conker the Chameleon book cover

Exploring emotions through bookish play

Just like any other skill learning to identify and express emotions is a vital part of healthy social and emotional development in children. That is why it is important to teach and encourage our children how to identify and cope with big emotions.  As parents, teachers and early years practitioners, it can be hard to know how to do this in an engaging way, but in all honesty, it can be as simple as using books such as Conker the Chameleon and open-ended play resources to model feelings. 

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Number fun to 10!

Tried-and-tested inspiration from a Reception class teacher

Rebecca CumminsHi, I’m Rebecca and EYFS is my passion! I love to make my own resources and find resources that promote hands-on learning as much as possible, as well as a good bargain! I have worked in EYFS most of my career so far since university, but I am currently in my 4th year as a Reception class teacher and an EYFS lead. Just over a year ago, I set up a Facebook group and Instagram page called Sparkle and Shine in EYFS to share all my ideas which is going from strength to strength. Including sensory play ideas, play set ups and general inspiration, take a look:

Sparkle and Shine in EYFS on Facebook
Sparkle and Shine in EYFS on Instagram

Here are some of my activity ideas for using Yellow Door’s Number Pebbles, with pre-schoolers through to KS1:

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10 robust resources loved by you!

“We use your resources on a daily basis and our children love them”.

We love to get reviews on our website and are especially pleased to hear how durable and well-used our products prove to be in your busy settings! Niki Wilson, Manager of Folksworth Preschool, gives her feedback on the following resources:

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