Curious Tots

Curious Tots is all about encouraging young children's natural creativity and curiosity and supporting them to develop language and communication skills through their explorations of the world around them. We use questions to encourage them to use their senses - 'Can you smell it?', 'What does it sound like?', 'What does it feel like?' - and introduce them to simple scientific concepts like materials, light, colours, shapes and construction.

We originally started working with under 3s in Bulwell Library as part of the Wellcome/Children in Need Curiosity project in 2018. We then developed this work with support from the Small Steps Big Changes Ideas Fund in 2019 and 2021 in Bulwell, St Ann's, Hyson Green and Aspley. This programme is now supported by a three-year SSBC Ideas Fund grant 2021-2024.

CURIOUS TOTS 2021-2024

In its current form, Curious Tots takes place through our weekly sessions by our Creative Practitioner at Crabtree Farm Primary & Nursery School. Sessions have also been delivered at Hempshill Hall Primary School and in community settings such as Room To Play.

An innovative project supporting play leaders, parents and young children to express their curiosity about the world around them

CPD

We offer training to early years practitioners on developing language and communication skills through creativity and curiosity in young children. Please get in touch if you'd interested in us running training for you.

Resources

We are very keen to share our learning as part of the Curious Tots programme.

- Our first resource was a booklet so others can do Curious Tots activities at home, at the play centre or at nursery. We worked with a local illustrator, and one of the mums from the 2019 project, Sarah Mooney.

-Our second booklet was created at an output of our 2021 project delivering curiosity boxes to families across Nottingham, and illustrated by Confetti student Sophia Bensalem.

- Our third booklet was produced by NTU graduate Radu Secareanu and our Curious Tots Creative Practitioner Elaine Winter in September 2022, designed to target parents and carers.

- Our fourth booklet is a resource for Early Years Practitioners, sharing six of our most interesting activities delivered by Elaine Winter at Crabtree Farm Primary and Nursery School thorough the academic year 2022/23.

These booklets are available for free download below or please get in touch for physical copies. They are also available through SSBC family mentors and Nottingham libraries.