As you will have already realised by now, Cheeky Monkeys were obsessed with balls and so after all the previous experimentation; which saw balls literally zooming through the air, it was time to experiment in a different way! This time much lower to the ground and instead of using light plastic balls it was time for little hands to get rolling heavy, cold, colourful, icy painty balls!
The children rolled them down ramps and around trays and they watched as they made marks as they travelled about the paper and were fascinated as the balls decreased in size (as they melted) too.
By following the children’s interests and incorporating balls the Cheeky Monkeys Team were also able to draw in some children to experiment with paint and mark making who may otherwise have chosen to avoid such a messy activity being on offer…
We love to follow our children’s interests and broaden their depth and understanding as they experiment, explore, investigate and learn through play across the curriculum in THE MOST exciting Jolly way!! 
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Whilst the weather was being extremely kind to us all last week Cheeky Monkeys decided to venture further afield and really make the most of it, so they headed off out to our local park!!! They certainly had some VERY excited children as they exited the building!
They all took a lovely stroll across the village, pointing to the flowers and cars and even some dogs that they passed along the way.
When they arrived at the park they enjoyed some snack before they explored everything that was to be found there… their favourites were definitely the slide, swings and roundabout!! Although, of course, they enjoyed testing out all the other play equipment too.
They finished their park trip off with a big run around on the grass, taking it in turns to chase each other! Then they all made their way back to Jollies for some scrummy lunch having had THE loveliest of mornings venturing out and about around wonderful Woodlesford!!! 
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Last week was all about the red for our whole Jolly Family… From some stupendous baking, manipulating red play dough, creating red collage noses, eating very red snack, to ‘red nose and spoon’ races (to name but a few of the fun activities that were on offer)!! It was simply awesome and so far we have raised £149.82 for Red Nose Day!! The box is staying out until the end of the week for any last minute donations you may wish to make; as we know not everybody had a chance to donate at the end of last week.
Thank you ALL for bringing the red, the fun, the creativity and the pennies!!! xxxx
As daffodils bring spring cheer…
Amazing close observational paintings appear! 
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What a wonderful day for a canal walk…. Our babies found lots of hungry ducks to feed and also managed to have an alfresco snack themselves too!! Of course it had to be a red snack with it being Red Nose Day!! 
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We have been getting up close and personal with our stick insect friends here at Jollies after Sian brought them back in to visit us all again
Some children liked to get closer than others and all those who wanted to have a hold had very gentle, kind hands 
throughout and they used their listening ears 
and their closely observing eyes 
We love creatures here at Jollies and as well as our stick insects we also currently have some caterpillars 
growing too!!!!
How wonderful the world around us is and how it fills us with awe and wonder… xxxx
Sustained shared thinking at its best as the structure grew and grew and grew!! Xxxx
It’s just the Cheeky Monkey way!!!!
Team Monkeys know their children inside out and know how to pique their interests… we wonder what they’ll play with next?! xxxx
As well as making choices and developing fabulously imaginative role-play; engaging in dressing up activities throughout the day also allows opportunities for our children to develop their independence. They use their hand/eye coordination and fine motor control to manipulate clothing onto and off of hangers and onto and off of hooks. Not to mention the skill of actually dressing and undressing themselves effectively too. This will help no end when they enter Reception class life within school and have to get changed for PE!!
Plus this is also an excellent opportunity to ‘get a little help from a friend’ as our children engage in conversations asking their friends nearby to help them fasten outfits and attach Velcro on their backs etc. Teamwork does indeed make the dream work after all!!
Independent ways and dressing up days spent looking FABULOUS together here at Jollies xxxx
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