At Wellies Day Nursery, December is one of the most magical times of the year. The festive season gives us endless opportunities to enhance children’s learning through sensory play, helping little ones explore the world through sight, smell, taste and touch. This month is filled with glowing lights, comforting seasonal scents, festive flavours and hands-on creative experiences that support early development.
Sight: Exploring Light and Sparkle Through Sensory Play
Our nursery environments are transformed with gentle festive lighting, creating cosy spaces perfect for visual sensory exploration. Children are captivated by twinkling fairy lights and dark-den areas. These magical visual experiences support early cognitive development, improve visual tracking and encourage children to ask questions and explore how the world works.
Smell: Seasonal Scents That Inspire Curiosity
December brings a wonderful range of familiar winter smells into the nursery. Children enjoy exploring festive scents such as cinnamon, ginger, pine and citrus. Our homemade playdough and sensory baskets filled with winter greenery are particularly popular.
Some children will be making orange and clove pomanders, noticing the fresh citrus aroma and the warm, spicy scent of cloves. These sensory activities spark conversations, encourage language development and help children make meaningful connections to seasonal traditions.
Taste: Festive Food and Flavours in Early Years Learning
Food offers rich sensory experiences, and this month the children will explore a variety of seasonal tastes. From satsumas and apples to cranberries and gingerbread, the festive period allows children to try new foods and experiment with flavours.
Simple cooking and baking activities have supported the development of fine motor skills and very early mathematical understanding as children measure, mix and compare ingredients. These hands-on experiences also help build confidence around trying unfamiliar foods.
Touch & Creativity: Christmas Crafting and Sensory Materials
Crafting in December gives children the chance to explore a range of tactile materials, from soft cotton wool “snow” and smooth ribbons to textured felt. Natural resources such as pinecones, twigs and dried fruit added to the sensory experience, encouraging curiosity and imaginative play.
Whether creating festive artwork, finger-painting snowy scenes or making Christmas cards and calendars for loved ones, these activities support fine motor development, creativity and early problem-solving skills.
Why Sensory Play Is So Important
At Wellies Day Nursery, sensory play is an essential part of our approach. Sensory experiences help children:
develop language and communication
build physical coordination
understand emotions
boost confidence and independence
make sense of the world around them
December provides the perfect backdrop for enriching these learning opportunities and making everyday moments truly magical.
It is always a joy watching the children immerse themselves in festive sensory play during December. We look forward to welcoming even more exciting learning adventures as we step into the new year.
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