This week, the Tiny Tigers had an exciting time improving their gross motor skills during Rolli Polli. The children crawled, jumped, balanced, and rolled through a variety of fun movement activities. With Sports Day on the horizon, they also began learning about different types of sports. During circle time, the children enthusiastically reenacted running, swimming, and ball games using their imaginations and bodies. During the Jolly Phonics session, they were introduced to the letter sound /x/, a fun and slightly tricky sound to master. The children enjoyed practising it through songs and games. To tie it all together, they created their fox artworks, proudly showing off their creativity. It has been a week full of action, learning, and laughter.

Summer is officially here. Our little artists welcomed the sunny season with vibrant watermelon paintings, full of colour, creativity, and fun. Nothing says summer like smiles and sweet watermelon vibes.

Even something as simple as waving enables us to explore a wide range of fine motor skills. Each style of waving engages different muscles essential for various life skills. Whether the Tiny Tigers wave with their fingers, open and close their hands, or play castanets, they are practising coordination. These movements help develop the muscles needed for tasks such as writing their names, tying their shoelaces, or even playing the violin one day. Such playful activities lay the foundation for essential skills in their future.

The Tiny Tigers have had a fantastic two weeks exploring Occupation Week. They learned about the important roles of people in our community and enjoyed dressing up as doctors, firefighters, chefs, and other helpers. A highlight was the Mystery Bag activity, where children matched items to different occupations using their growing knowledge. We were delighted to welcome two special visitors; one supports children with neurological challenges, and our second guest, who works in the emergency department, kindly answered the children’s thoughtful questions. This week, the children also went on a wonderful trip to Piczinke Póniudvar. They met farm animals and practised moving slowly, speaking softly, and reading animal body language to understand how animals communicate. These are valuable skills that encourage empathy and respect for nature. It has been a joyful and enriching experience for all.

As part of their exploration of the natural world, they crafted stunning dragonflies using their tiny hands and big imaginations. With the sponge painting technique, each dragonfly came to life. But the highlight of the day? Adding the googly eyes was a moment of pure joy and pride for every little artist. Through this hands-on activity, the children not only practised fine motor skills but also deepened their appreciation for the beauty and diversity in their environment.

Whether they are telling a story, solving a math problem, or calling the next play on the soccer field, it all comes down to sequencing and planning. Using both hands and breaking tasks into steps helps build self-management skills—essential for our Tiny Tigers, who can be surprisingly hard on themselves (a common trait among gifted young learners).

With the arrival of spring and the return of good weather, the Tiny Tigers began exploring plants and learning about the life cycle of a plant. They took part in cleaning and replanting the Happy Kids plantation, adding their handmade busy bees to attract real ones to the blooming flowers. As they tidied the garden, the children eagerly examined various bugs and worms, learning about their unique features. The experience sparked great curiosity and joy among the group. In addition to their gardening adventures, the Tiny Tigers were treated to a special activity involving ponies. Each child had the opportunity to ride a pony and practise different movements. They navigated carefully through the back of the garden, showing both enthusiasm and care.

Mother’s Day magic was in full bloom at Tiny Tigers. Our little artists poured their hearts into creating beautiful flower jar artworks to celebrate their amazing moms. With bright smiles and boundless creativity, the children carefully chose their favourite colours and shapes to design unique floral masterpieces for their moms. Each jar was filled with love, laughter, and imagination, a perfect gift to show how much they care. 

The same song can sound completely different depending on who sings it or which instrument is used to play it. Even when the key, tempo, and articulation stay the same, there is still something that sets each performance apart. That difference is called timbre—the unique character, tone, or sound quality of a voice or instrument. In this lesson, the Tiny Tigers explored a wide range of timbres through activities designed to develop their musical appreciation and expression. They practised identifying and distinguishing different sounds, shared their personal sound preferences, and created their sounds to express themselves musically.

The Tiny Tigers have had a joyful and productive couple of weeks, filled with hands-on learning and creative exploration. They participated in puzzle and sorting activities that supported fine motor development and early problem-solving skills. Using the Montessori Tactile Numbers set, they practised counting and number recognition through touch and repetition. They were introduced to the /z/ sound in phonics through the Jolly Phonics programme. Inspired by the illustrations in the Finger Phonics books, the children carefully created their paper bees, which will be used to decorate the garden plantation. Outdoor Learning brought opportunities to connect with nature through stories about animals. The caterpillar quickly became a favourite, leading to a collaborative drawing project on the football pitch using bright chalks. The warm spring weather allowed plenty of outdoor play, offering time to move freely and enjoy the garden. To further support their physical development, the children joined a Rolli Polli session focused on strengthening gross motor skills. It has been a fortnight full of meaningful moments, and the Tiny Tigers are ready for the next stage of their learning journey.

Our tiny Tigers let their creativity soar this week in art class. They had an absolute blast painting vibrant, beautiful butterflies, each as unique and colourful as the little artist behind them. With every sponge stamp, they captured the joyful spirit of Spring, bringing their imaginations to life in a flutter of colour and smiles. The pride on their faces as they showed off their masterpieces was the true highlight.

The Tiny Tigers tuned into the beat today. Listening carefully to the drum, they decided how to move—walking or running—based on the rhythm they heard. This fun activity helps them connect sound with movement, building coordination and control. It is fantastic to see them respond and adapt to the changing beat.

Our Tiny Tigers embarked on an emotional journey through the story Fading Flowers, learning about feelings and how they change. They brought emotions to life through role-play, expressing sadness, happiness, anger, tiredness and calmness. They explored how different emotions feel in their bodies through movement and facial expressions. To deepen their understanding, they collaborated on a colourful artwork, using blue for sadness, yellow for happiness, red for anger, purple for tiredness and green for calmness. Each child added their touch, mixing colors and shapes to represent their feelings. This hands-on experience helped them recognise and express emotions in a fun and creative way. It also encouraged empathy as they noticed how others might feel differently. Our Tiny Tigers are growing not just in knowledge but in emotional awareness, too.

In our Tiny Tigers class, little artists had a blast exploring creativity with circle-shaped objects. From bottle caps to cookie cutters, they stamped, traced, and painted their way to colourful masterpieces. Watching their imaginations come to life was pure joy. 

Gross motor skills involve the large arms, legs, and torso muscles, supporting overall mobility, including walking, running, and jumping. These skills play a crucial role in a child’s ability to participate in sports (such as throwing, catching, kicking, and lifting), manage self-care tasks (like dressing and hygiene), and sustain physical activity for extended periods. The Tiny Tigers strengthened their gross motor control in this lesson by exploring different play-related movements. As they engaged in these activities, they also developed key related skills, including balance and coordination, strength and endurance, focused attention, and body and spatial awareness.

Rolling is a unique locomotor movement that originates from the torso rather than the limbs. For the Tiny Tigers, it offers a wonderful sensory experience—allowing them to see the world from their stomach and back in one continuous motion. Beyond the fun, rolling plays a crucial role in stimulating the vestibular system, which enhances balance and spatial awareness. While developmental experts highlight these benefits, the real experts—the children—know that rolling along to Walk Along, Rover is pure joy.

Our Tiny Tigers had an absolute blast exploring different textures during their creative art lesson. They crafted unique and colourful masterpieces using egg cartons, bubble wrap, and foil sheets. From squishy bubbles to crinkly foil, every touch was an exciting discovery. The little artists loved sticking, painting, and feeling the textures come to life in their artwork.  Watching their imaginations run wild was pure joy.

​The Tiny Tigers had a fantastic time at Budakeszi Vadaspark, where they explored the park, observed animals up close and immersed themselves in nature. From spotting deer to watching playful goats, every moment was filled with excitement and curiosity. In addition to their outdoor adventures, the children began exploring a new art form, music. They crafted their shakers using toilet paper rolls and plastic bottle lids, decorating them with colourful materials before proudly using them to keep rhythm with their favourite songs. To deepen their understanding of how different instruments create sound, they eagerly practised at the Happy Kids Music Wall and played the large xylophone in the big garden. This enriching experience allowed the children to connect with nature while fostering creativity and musical expression. They returned with joyful hearts, newfound knowledge, and unforgettable memories.

As the seasons change, so does the creative energy in our art room. Our Tiny Tigers had a fantastic time crafting stunning suncatchers using a mix of painting and collage techniques. They explored vibrant colours, experimented with textures, and had fun sticking different materials together to create magical, light-catching masterpieces.

Children need at least 60 minutes of physical play daily to support their growth and development. Engaging in activities like this one, which encourages the Tiny Tigers to get up and move like a rabbit, a bird, or any other animal they can imagine, helps strengthen their muscles and bones while enhancing their coordination and balance. Movement-based play promotes physical health and sparks creativity and imagination as children explore different ways to hop, crawl, or slither like their favourite creatures. Instead of feeling cooped up indoors on a rainy day, put on some lively music and transform your living room or play area into an exciting jungle, forest, or savannah. Invite the whole family, moving and dancing like lions, kangaroos, or fluttering butterflies. This playful exercise keeps children active, engaged, and energetic, making physical activity a fun and essential part of their daily routine.

Tiny Tigers had a magical Valentine’s Day filled with playful activities and creative water painting in the garden. The children lit up our assembly with their spirited performance, sharing love and happiness with everyone. Alongside Valentine’s Day, we celebrated World Thinking Day, a time to reflect on kindness, friendship and understanding others. This special occasion nurtured empathy and global awareness from a young age. We focused on building loving friendships, ensuring every child felt secure, valued and connected. They engaged in thoughtful discussions and decorated the “Tiny Tigers Promise Bush” with ideas on kindness and support. The creative activity helped them recognise friendly behaviours and learn what it means to be a good friend. These experiences created a nurturing environment for emotional well-being and social growth.

Our little learners at Tiny Tigers recently explored the exciting world of transportation. From speedy cars to soaring planes, they picked their favourite mode of travel and brought it to life through stunning silhouette artwork.  The joy on their faces as they painted and stamped their creations was priceless! Watching them express their creativity while learning about different ways to move around the world was truly heartwarming. 

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In Walk and Stop, the Tiny Tigers explore tempo changes through sound, movement, and visual observation as they watch others respond to the rhythm. Engaging with tempo variations in this way helps develop active listening skills, preparing children to recognise and respond to the natural variations in speech patterns.

The Tiny Tigers had a fantastic week filled with joy and excitement. Their carnival celebration was a blast, with colourful costumes, delicious Carnival Donuts and fun games like bowling, finding the clown’s nose, and crawling through fiery hoops. Laughter filled the air as they played and cheered each other on. They also participated in an exceptional musical performance, transforming into jungle animals and showcasing their sounds through instruments. Later in the week, the fun continued with thrilling Rolli Polli activities, where they tumbled and rolled with delight. They also had the chance to enjoy a magical pony-riding experience, making unforgettable memories.

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This week at Tiny Tigers, our little artists embarked on a magical creative journey, exploring winter’s cool, calming colours. The children learned how these hues represent the season’s beauty, from icy blues to snowy whites and frosty purples. Using a unique foil painting technique, the Tiny Tigers transformed shiny foil sheets into stunning works of art. The foil’s reflective surface added a sparkle, making their creations glimmer like frost on a winter morning.The excitement in the room was contagious as the children experimented with mixing colours and trying out different painting strokes. Their enthusiasm for this unconventional canvas shone through in every masterpiece.

Tempo, one of the essential elements of music, connects closely to how we move and feel. We move quickly when we’re excited or in a hurry and slowly when we are cautious or savouring a moment. The Tiny Tigers naturally embrace this concept, delighting in fast and slow music as they explore different tempi. This playful exploration does more than entertain—it supports their development meaningfully. By experiencing and learning to differentiate between a range of tempi, the Tiny Tigers enhance skills beyond music. These include foundational language, reading, and coordination abilities, all playing a role in music, sports, and everyday activities. Through tempo, the Tiny Tigers are discovering how movement, rhythm, and learning intertwine.

​In the past two weeks, our little adventurers enthusiastically embraced the winter season, sledging down snowy hills, creating snowballs and experiencing the pure joy of winter play. The Tiny Tigers also had their first trip to the wonderful Benczúr-kerti Játszótér, where they explored new spaces, played with peers and discovered nature in a whole new way. As the snow gave way to muddy terrain, the children explored the textures of mud, using it as a medium for creativity and discovery. They combined play with hands-on learning in nature’s classroom, from shaping sculptures to experimenting with materials. These outdoor experiences foster creativity, teamwork and a deeper connection to the natural world, making every moment a step toward growth and wonder.

The Tiny Tigers had a fantastic time exploring the winter season through a textured art project. In their recent art lesson, they crafted beautiful winter tree collages, using various materials to create textures that mimicked the beauty of winter trees. As they worked, they learned about the different aspects of the winter season, from bare branches to frosty landscapes, while developing their fine motor skills and creativity.

Making music is a joyful and social experience, bringing the Tiny Tigers together to play instruments and share lively moments. Through music, we exchange ideas, smiles, and the steady pulse that unites us. These positive interactions foster a sense of self-worth and belonging among the Tiny Tigers. Engaging in such collaborative activities builds confidence in connecting with others. This experience helps them develop a balanced and respectful approach to social interactions.

The Tiny Tigers roared with excitement as they explored the world of language, numbers, and teamwork. During reading activities, they expanded their vocabulary by naming animals and actions, as well as practising counting skills.

Their problem-solving and fine motor skills were put to the test with a colour-sorting game. The challenge was to organise various classroom items by colour. The Tigers worked collaboratively, engaging in thoughtful discussions and demonstrating teamwork as they sorted together.

Below you can find some comments made by the Tigers during this activity:

E: “Bunnies eat carrots and jumping.”
 B: “My mommy don’t like orange.”
 F: “I think my daddy likes cats, I like dogs.”
 L: “When I go shopping, my mommy buy this.”

After fine motor fun, it was time to strengthen gross motor skills with ball and hoop games. These activities are crucial at this stage of development as they enhance coordination, balance and whole-body movement. These are all essential for building strong, healthy bodies and developing foundational physical skills. The Tiny Tigers are growing stronger, smarter, and more confident each day.

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The little crafters at Tiny Tigers had an incredible time getting into the holiday spirit. Their cheerful paper reindeer creations are full of Christmas magic, made with love, glitter, and big smiles! It is heartwarming to see their creativity shine as they celebrate the joy and wonder of the season.

Peekaboo is more than just giggles and smiles for our Tiny Tigers. This timeless favourite is a powerful tool for learning and connection. By hiding and being found, the children start to grasp the concept of object permanence—the idea that someone or something still exists even when out of sight.

This playful discovery reassures them that you are always there, building a strong sense of security and trust. With this foundation, they gain the confidence to explore their world and embrace new adventures with growing independence.

But that is not all—Peekaboo is also an excellent way for them to practice essential social and cognitive skills, all while sharing joyful, comforting interactions.

The festive season has been exciting and learning for our Tiny Tigers. In preparation for Christmas, they worked diligently to create heartfelt gifts for their parents and rehearse their exceptional performance for the Christmas Party. The celebration began with their cheerful singing of four Christmas songs, followed by an invitation for parents to join them in a joyful dance. Through these activities, the Tiny Tigers explored the true spirit of Christmas, learning that it is not just about receiving gifts but also the joy of giving and spreading love. This year, the Tiny Tigers proudly joined hands with the entire Happy Kids community for the Happy Kids Shoebox Project 2024. Together, they helped bring smiles to children in need, creating a meaningful connection between compassion and celebration.

The Tiny Tigers wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with love, joy and the warmth of giving!

The Tiny Tigers brought Christmas cheer to life with their creative mistletoe paintings! Using lines and dots, they explored their artistic side to welcome the festive season.

“Stop” is a powerful and essential word. It is crucial in ensuring safety, especially for the Tiny Tigers. Additionally, it can serve as a clearer and more positive alternative to saying “no.” Today, we’ll engage in stop-and-go games, which the Tiny Tigers find exciting and fun. These games are enjoyable and help teach the vital skill of stopping when needed. Mastering this ability is an important step in their growth and safety awareness.

The Tiny Tigers are all about festive fun! They enjoyed a cosy Cocoa Party while learning about Christmas traditions from around the world, met Santa for a sing-along, and improved their motor skills at Rolli Polli. They even learned to count backwards with a playful parachute activity.

Our Tiny Tigers brought ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ to life with their amazing artwork. Using paper patchwork and bead threading, they skillfully crafted vibrant apples, leaves, and caterpillars. Their joy and creativity truly shined through every piece!

The Tiny Tigers love it when you join in with their silliness. Even if your inner jigging piggy feels shy about appearing in class, why not give it a go at home? Show your child how fun and liberating it can be to move your body in wonderfully silly ways. You will both share plenty of laughter and enjoy a bit of exercise as well. It is a fantastic way to bond and create joyful memories together.

Our Tiny Tigers wowed everyone at the Thanksgiving Assembly, singing loudly and dancing cheerfully. They enthusiastically joined the Thanksgiving games, including the Feather Run, Follow the Lines, Feed the Turkey, and Sort the Turkey’s Feathers, showing their teamwork and creativity. Afterwards, they enjoyed a celebratory lunch with other classes, gobbling up delicious treats and strutting like turkeys in the festive spirit. The fun did not stop there. During outdoor learning, they explored weight measurement by figuring out how many chestnuts were needed to balance buckets equally. Through laughter and learning, the Tiny Tigers discovered new ways to understand the world around them.

Great job, Tigers—we are so proud of you!

The Tiny Tigers explored process art with a seasonal twist, painting with autumn leaves to mark the arrival of fall. This hands-on activity encouraged them to enhance their motor skills and coordination while enjoying the vibrant colours of nature.

Pretend play strengthens learning by involving many areas of development simultaneously, such as physical, social, emotional, math, music, language, and literacy. Through pretend play with others, the Tiny Tigers create mental images. Their literacy skills are developing, too, as they begin to use symbolic thinking and language to organise simple actions into more complicated sequences and pretend situations. This lesson highlights pretend play activities that simultaneously engage many parts of the Tiny Tigers’ brains, offering opportunities for your child to learn and practice concrete and abstract thinking skills.

The Tiny Tigers have been on an exciting journey, exploring the world around them with boundless curiosity. Recently, they completed a project called Tiny Hogs Rental—a cosy little home for hedgehogs to hibernate during winter. Every day, the Tigers eagerly check the house, hoping to spot a new guest moving in.

After finishing Tiny Hogs Rental, the Tigers dove into a new unit about “Home.” They learned that our shared home is planet Earth and discovered continents and oceans while working on a world puzzle. They also practised planting trees in their sensory bin, linking their learning to caring for the planet. The Tigers are thrilled to keep exploring and cannot wait to see where their curiosity takes them next.

The Tiny Tigers have been busy learning about their environment! They collected pinecones and garden treasures to practice counting and strengthen their math skills. After learning the letter sound “n” in Jolly Phonics, they were inspired to make a paper nest! To support local wildlife, they set up small bird feeders around our Happy Kids garden. During their outdoor session, they also learned about “hibernation,” discovering the unique habits of hedgehogs—and even created a cozy “Tiny Hog’s Rental” house! Our Tiny Tigers are growing into environmentally aware heroes!

Tiny Tigers had a blast exploring sounds with zig-zag blocks! Through creative play, they learned how sounds can be visually represented by symbols, helping them connect sound with patterns and symbols. This fun activity lays the groundwork for reading, math, and music skills.

Tiny Tigers are loving the Halloween spirit! They painted cauldrons and learned the magic of using stencils. Such fun and creativity!

The Tiny Tigers debuted at the Harvest Festival Assembly, marking their first performance of the year. After practising tirelessly, they impressed everyone with their energetic singing and dancing. Their creative side shone, too, as they proudly presented a beautiful artwork inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers. But the fun did not stop there—they also prepared a mouthwatering coconut roll to enjoy during snack time. Later, the excitement continued as they played games at the Harvest Festival station in the gym, where they laughed and had an absolute blast! It was a day full of joy and creativity.

For Tiny Tigers, the music world offers a rich and rewarding space for discovery, particularly through exploring musical instruments. They activate multiple senses by touching, listening to, and engaging with different instruments, sparking their imagination and encouraging curiosity. This sensory experience introduces them to new sounds and allows them to invent and explore new possibilities for each instrument they encounter. Conversations about these experiences further deepen their understanding, as talking about what they have learned supports cognitive development and language skills. These interactions make them understand that learning can be a shared, social, and immensely fulfilling experience.

At Tiny Tigers, the children had a fantastic time crafting scarecrows using colourful lolly sticks! They joyfully added eyes, noses, and hats to bring their creations to life. They were encouraged to incorporate green paper pieces to enhance their artwork for a grassy effect. The children learned to use liquid glue throughout the lesson and practised their sticking techniques. This hands-on activity fostered their creativity and helped develop their hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and critical thinking abilities.

The Tiny Tigers are getting comfortable in the art room, learning the rules and experimenting with different mediums. In their latest lesson, they created mess-free art with primary colours and explored 2D shapes.

The Tiny Tigers have officially kicked off the school year with great enthusiasm. As they settled into their new classroom, the children took time to familiarise themselves with the space and get to know their new classmates. They have already begun building friendships and learning to work together. A key focus this term is the development of their gross motor skills, and they have been participating in activities designed to enhance their physical abilities. A particular highlight was celebrating International Dot Day. After reading Peter Reynolds’ inspiring story, the Tiny Tigers explored circular shapes and painted vibrant circles using toilet paper rolls to stamp their designs. It was a fun and creative way to build artistic and fine motor skills.
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An instrument play-along offers numerous opportunities for the Tiny Tigers to practise their social skills. At the beginning of the activity, we encourage the children to independently select instruments for themselves, promoting decision-making and self-reliance. As they play together, they naturally interact with their friends, learning to take turns, listen to each other, and enjoy making music as a group. At the end of the session, the Tiny Tigers work together to tidy up, putting the instruments away and preparing for the next activity. This collaborative process is a significant step in their development of cooperation as they learn to share responsibility, work alongside their peers, and contribute to a common goal. Through these actions, they also develop important relationship-building skills and begin to understand the value of empathy as they consider the needs and actions of others in the group.