They say that culture eats strategy for breakfast and in nurseries, this couldn’t be more true. You can have the best-written improvement plans, the most innovative ideas, and beautifully crafted policies. But if the team culture in your baby room doesn’t support those plans, they won’t stick. That’s because culture, not strategy, determines how thingsContinue reading “Leading a Positive Team Culture in the Baby Room”
Author Archives: msakrmdx
Discovering the World: Heuristic Play in the Baby Room
If you were to pause for a moment and really look around the environment you’re in, what object would you pick out as fascinating for a baby’s senses? Perhaps the smooth curve of a wooden spoon, the cool texture of a metal whisk, or the crinkle of brown paper. These are not “toys,” but theyContinue reading “Discovering the World: Heuristic Play in the Baby Room”
Fostering Secure Attachment during Settling in
Settling in a baby to nursery isn’t just about routines, paperwork, and polite hellos at the door. It’s a profound emotional process—for the baby, for their family, and for the educator too. When we take settling in seriously, we’re not just easing a transition—we’re helping to shape a child’s sense of safety, belonging, and curiosity.Continue reading “Fostering Secure Attachment during Settling in”
Thriving in the Second Six Months of Life: From Explorer to Communicator
By the time babies reach the second half of their first year, they’re on the move—physically, socially, and emotionally. Development isn’t linear, and no two babies follow exactly the same path. But around 8, 10, and 12 months, we often see a wave of big changes: deeper relationships, more mobility, growing independence, and the emergenceContinue reading “Thriving in the Second Six Months of Life: From Explorer to Communicator”
Thriving in the First Six Months of Life
In the first six months of life, babies undergo an incredible transformation—from tiny newborns adjusting to life outside the womb to curious, active explorers eager to engage with the world around them. But their development doesn’t happen in neat, tidy categories. The wonder and fascination a baby has at two months doesn’t vanish by fourContinue reading “Thriving in the First Six Months of Life”
Supporting Self-Determination in the Baby Room
When we talk about offering rights-based learning and care in the baby room, it can sound like a lofty ideal—something perhaps more suited to older children who can express themselves clearly and independently. But in truth, this approach starts from birth. Babies, just like adults, are full human beings with the right to make choices,Continue reading “Supporting Self-Determination in the Baby Room”
Motivating Staff in the Baby Room: Understanding and Responding to Different Types of Motivation
Motivating others is one of the most important parts of leadership—no matter the context. For baby room leaders, this is especially true. You’re not just supporting babies and families; you’re also shaping the experience of your team, and that means tapping into what drives them to show up and give their best each day. InContinue reading “Motivating Staff in the Baby Room: Understanding and Responding to Different Types of Motivation”
Making Art with Babies: A Joyful and Developmentally Appropriate Approach
Making art with babies can be a joyful, affirming experience – for them and for us. But too often, art activities with babies are designed from an adult perspective: they’re product-focused, too structured, and developmentally inappropriate. Instead of offering genuine creative exploration, these activities often prioritise producing physical products that will make parents smile –Continue reading “Making Art with Babies: A Joyful and Developmentally Appropriate Approach”
Supporting discovery play in the baby room
In the baby room, discovery is happening all the time—often in ways that go unnoticed unless we tune in closely. Babies are natural scientists, constantly observing, experimenting, and making sense of the world through their senses and actions. As baby room educators, shifting our mindset to see through their eyes opens up a new wayContinue reading “Supporting discovery play in the baby room”
Learning to BE with Babies: A Mindful Approach to the Baby Room
In the hustle of daily routines in a baby room, it’s easy to focus on all the doing: the nappies, bottles, tidying and pick-ups. But pause and ask yourself: what truly matters most in a day with babies? When you’re heading home at the end of the day, how do you know it’s been aContinue reading “Learning to BE with Babies: A Mindful Approach to the Baby Room”