Preschool, Teachers, Parents and Childcarers

On Silkysteps you will find activities and play resources

for the Under Fives, Foundation Stage & Early Years

Please see our resource Characters for a selection of their free play ideas ..

Colouring Activity Sheets Preschool Crafts Clipart .. and more Free !!

Visit our Download Store for some great new resources -
developed in house they are designed for craft activities and all Early Learning projects:
Bouncy Squirrel puppets for Outdoor Summer leaf rummaging ...



Silkysteps Image Map - Navigate with a little more ease ..

 Plug Boad advertising for Preschool Crafts and WAH Business websites.

Early learning resources available from our Early Years Download store

Summer resource set for 2008 only ...

FRONT PAGE INDEX

Latest Resource News From the Store Competitions Dates for your Diary Preschool Book Review
Take Part: regulation & policy Seasonal Activities Special Features Additional Crafts Topic Keywords Our Text Links

Our Early Years Forums focus on network support and information ~ Completely free, they give all Early Years Professionals ~ Parents, Childminders, Teachers, PreSchool, Nursery and Toddler groups the chance to question & answer .. discover & plan !!
So if you have an interest in Child care, Pop in and say 'Hi' you'll be made very welcome !!
Once Registered we also have a free Games Arcade for members to enjoy.
Live Chatroom facility coming soon ...
Click for the past ... 3 Days | 4 Days | 5 Days or the Past Weeks posts !

Silkysteps Free Monthly eNewsletter ~ is designed to keep ahead of everything happening on Silkysteps - new activities, forum updates and Early years news all delivered straight to your inbox !
Newsletter focus will be on activities suitable for Library craft and reading sessions, Hospital and outdoor Playwork, Charity and voluntary campaign work and fundraising - all ideas and news come straight from an Early Years view point !!
For a Sample of our previous Newsletters ~ Please take a look HERE
NB: Registration for our newsletter is separate to your forum membership and your Store account !

Ambulance outline template from Mischief Mouse's page
Collage and trace to make your own shiny lights and siren sounding modes of transport ..

Summer Department: Planning ideas for
Pre school and Other Craft activity sessions
For the Autumn:
Plan ahead with downloadable resources

See all our other BEST SELLER Downloadable
Craft eBook Titles
Jungle Crafts eBook and Ocean Mermaids ...
Lifecycles Craft eBooks ~ Butterfly & Plant and Chicken & Frog
and our Lily Pad Frogs Mini eTopic to use with Playdough Frog activity idea

Chinese New Year
Winter Craft activities Christmas Around The World Christmas Ourselves
Crafts Bk 1 Crafts Bk 2 Harvest Time Clothes

Creative Road Safety Craft projects for all ages!
Road Safety Craft eBook ~ Crafts, colouring & activity sheets !!
A practical craft ebook that has been used in Preschool, KS1, Guiding & Scouting groups to introduce basic Road Safety skills to the youngest children.
If your planning requires simple craft and hands on project work .. then you'll find this eBook a great resource.

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Please see all Listed Early Years Competitions on this page



Early Years 'Dates for your Diary' planning campaigns This months Preschool Book reviews Beetle in the Bathroom

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These links are to help Silkysteps readers visit and put forward thoughts, views and opinions:
See how policy influences working practice and how you can contribute:

Better Regulation: from BERR - see how you can help improve regulation the uneccessarily resticts or has yet to encompass ..
DCSF Consultations - how does the Department for Children, Schools and Families want your help ...
Ofsted Consultations - Get involved, find out what's new and pass on your thoughts ..

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Summer sun and warmer days of fun ...
Sand Pit Socks activity .. Outdoor play ideas !

Enjoy the Summer with these activity ideas ...

Autumn is fast approaching. For a look ahead see these resource ideas ..

Conkers - play and explore
Scarecrows rhyme and dressing up ideas
Blackberry Bramble activities
Hanging Autumn
Autumn Forum

Daisy Petal Counting sheet - Make windmills and Daisy kites to catch the breeze in your group ..
Online Daisy rhyme - opens in a new window

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This Inclusion poster is a great resource to help promote diversity in all types of settings.
You can Order it for ﾣ5.00 inc P&P by emailing inthepicture@scope.org.uk
Inclusion & Wellbeing information from Sure Start
More about Richard Johnson and his wonderful Illustrations
For activity ideas please see our range of Themes and Topics forums.

Have you thought of ways to help support the local volunteers working in your hospital radio stations?
You can find contact details of your local station on the HBA ~ Hospital Broadcasting Association's website.
Our Early Learning Planning ideas can help your Children discover what Hospital Radio is all about .. from Radio station role play corners to Mixing console cookery !!
Activity Sheets ~ Radio Listener ~ Request Sheets Print, write, tear off & enjoy !!

Birds in Preschool, Nursery or Foundation ...

These activities and play ideas for Children and adults help explore how to protect, care and enjoy for the range of birds we see regularly and not so ..
Watch our native and international migratory friends is great fun and important for noticing changes to their habitats and routines!
Wherever possible involve the Children and interested adults in the lives of birds and help secure a corner of your outdoor and inddor play for them.
Activities for hands on learning ...
Playdough Bird Nests ~ great activity from Magical Mammoth's page!
Sakalava Rail ~ a collage craft from Mischief Mouse.

Videoing or watching birds nesting digitally can be easily set up in your Preschool or Foundation unit with the CCTV Bird Box kits from Handykam.
Full instruction on ow to build and assemble your own observatory are part of the Nest box Video kit - please see HandyCam CCTV Website for more information.
This link is in association with our Affiliate account.

TheSnailTrail.co.uk

Giant African Land Snails - GALS
Join the snail trail and discover what GALS can do for your Childrens' learning horizons.
Giant African Land Snails are a great addition to any learniing environment ~ home or classroom ..
Lesson and activity plans for introducing GALS to your Preschool and Early Years children.
Contact The Snail Trail ~ feel free to drop TheSnailTrail a line if you have any specific questions regarding GALS.
Download and print their free Breeding Awareness Poster, display it on your notice boards and help spread the word of responsible ownership with them!

Where Pen is put to Paper and wonderful Illustrations come to life.
Sillybooks is a stunning website run by some pretty amazing people - Full of original interactive stories, games, music, puzzles and many more - and it's updated frequently so be sure to pop back and see what's been newly published!

Count Balloons - Courtesy of Sillybooks

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Head Lice in your setting ?

For information, Colouring pictures and activity play ideas that can be printed out and enjoyed please feel free to download our activity pack.
Distribute the booklets or individual pages to your parents and display on notice boards for everyones information...
Our Bug busting day forum has lots of ideas on how to break the cycle of infestation and play ideas to openly discuss any problems ..
Heads craft activity from our 'All about us' Forum.

The NCB's - National Children's Bureau recycling campaign.

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Bear Flashcards - numbers 1 - 10
This set was made some time ago and can be downloaded at the bottom of the linked page:

Compliment the Cards with seasonal number lines from Calculator Caterpillar's page

Fairy Caverns and Enchanted light hearted fun ...

Our Garden Fairies Craft Activity
Role Play home corner and other ideas from our Early years forum.
Loves me Loves me not colouring picture
Moondust Fairies Craft eKit from our Download store...
Daisy Chain Fairies coming soon ..
Ribbons and bows treasure basket activity

Dinosaur Romps

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These keywords are linked to various resources around Silkysteps.
The activity and play suggestions can be used to help build on new or exisiting Pre school and Craft session Planning.

Outdoor Summer Play Ideas Frozen Paints on an outdoor easel Turtles Journey outdoor pool activity
Fruit for Summer Photographs Forum Smoothies
Nursery Rhymes Lavenders blue dilly dilly The Wise old owl rhyme
Beach activity Beach ideas forum Pebble Photo thread

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These links help us to increase visitor numbers.
Click through to register your vote of support for Silkysteps & to discover
many more websites !!
TeAchnology Topsites Sites for Teachers Sites for Parents Mumszone

If you are involved with these work sectors, could you use some printable
resources to help introduce you work to Children ?

Hospital Playwork information and invitation ..
Libraries - Craft Ideas and play activities linked to some children's Book titles
Museums & Galleries Month is May - but join in and make your local an all year round event
Waiting Room areas ~ Doctor & Dental Surgeries
Activities for National Bed Month ~ March 2008 - Role play and craft projects for any group

Cath Smith's Deafsign website
you can read her Signing with Young Children Article here
The Nature of children's Play: dated research from ERIC

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 Health and Saftey tips from the HSE ... 

Myth of the month from the HSE - Health and Safety Executive