Ask the Expert: Marking Christmas

This is my first year as a nursery manager and I want to do something special for Christmas – any ideas?

It can get very cold and a bit depressing at this time of year, so having a set of cheerful activities, a well-decorated nursery and a lovely real Christmas tree can brighten up the place. Christmas can be used to support children’s learning, with new songs, stories or a nativity play. It does not have to be all about parties. Tradition is a key part of all children’s heritage and their time at nursery and what they learn there is part of that developing tradition.

A nursery Christmas breakfast, lunch or tea is a great way of inviting families, friends and grandparents to the nursery. You may want to invite Father Christmas. Think about gifts: I like them to be simple things that form the basis of good activities at home. Books are an obvious choice but so too are craft-making activities to do at home. 
 
You do also need to think about keeping the nursery safe in the whirl of baubles and lights, but most of all, enjoy this time as the children will.

Answered by June O'Sullivan, chief executive of the childcare charity and social enterprise, the London Early Years Foundation