Fashion and clothing design offers an exciting and enriching experience for young children, particularly within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) department at Britannica International School Shanghai. As children aged 2 to 5 create their own outfits for an upcoming fashion show, they engage in a multifaceted learning process that fosters essential developmental milestones. This hands-on project beautifully spans the EYFS curriculum, cultivating sustainability, critical thinking, spatial awareness, mathematical reasoning, and creativity.
One of the primary benefits of this activity is its emphasis on sustainability. By using recycled materials or leftover fabric, children learn the importance of reusing resources, instilling eco-friendly values from a young age. This child-led approach helps them understand the impact of their choices on the environment, cultivating a strong sense of responsibility and global awareness.
Critical thinking is another vital skill enhanced through costume design. As children decide on the design and materials for their outfits, they must evaluate what works best for their vision. They consider factors such as colour combinations, texture, and functionality, encouraging them to solve problems creatively. This process develops their ability to think independently and make informed choices.
Spatial awareness plays a crucial role in this creative endeavour. While cutting, arranging, or joining materials together, children learn how different shapes and sizes fit. This tangible manipulation enhances their understanding of space, which is fundamental across all areas of learning. Additionally, handling delicate fabrics and small tools improves their fine motor skills, directly supporting their physical development.
Mathematical skills are subtly integrated into the design process as well. In line with EYFS mathematical development, the children engage in measuring fabric, counting buttons, or calculating how much material they need for their creations. Such activities introduce basic mathematical concepts in a practical context, helping them grasp the relevance of maths in everyday life.
At the heart of costume design lies Expressive Arts and Design. Each child's unique ideas and expressions come to life as they transform everyday materials into imaginative outfits. This creative freedom boosts their self-esteem and encourages them to embrace their individuality. The upcoming fashion show will be a wonderful celebration of their achievements, fostering a vibrant sense of community and collaboration.
In conclusion, designing and creating clothing from everyday materials provides invaluable learning opportunities for our young learners. By integrating sustainability, critical thinking, spatial awareness, maths, and creativity, this experience enriches their early education and prepares them for a future where these skills are essential.
Pre-Nursery has started studying sharks this week! Our song of the week was "Baby Shark" and our story of the week was Shark in the Dark. The children practiced distinguishing colours between light and dark blue, and they reviewed their numbers by "feeding" the shark a given number of fish. They absolutely loved practicing their counting and organising the fish for the shark to eat!
We have had a fun and exciting week here in Nursery, full of adventures and creativity! First, the children thoroughly enjoyed the story The Sandcastle That Lola Built. It was delightful hearing them talk about how Lola and her friends worked together, which sparked lots of imagination and teamwork in our classroom.
Nursery also loved diving deep into the wonders of the sea floor. We talked about corals, shipwrecks, and even the exciting chance of finding pirate treasure! The children were full of questions and enthusiasm about life under the sea. Meanwhile, in our creative area, the children have been busy preparing crowns and accessories for the upcoming fashion show.
Reception enjoyed exploring stories like Rosie’s Walk, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, and 10 Little Rubber Ducks. These texts highlight positional and directional language, which brilliantly supported our mathematical development this week. We have been building small worlds and discussing what is the same and different, concentrating on prepositions.
We also visited the STEAM room and enjoyed using the Tale-Bots to help us map out directions. Afterwards, we had lots of fun following Miss Sioned’s directions outside, practicing moving forward, backward, left, and right. In preparation for our fashion show, we have been getting very creative decorating our own capes and making crowns for the catwalk. We all thoroughly enjoyed our catwalk experience!
Nellie Frimml
Pre-Nursery
