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UK’s first plastic-free nursery swaps artificial toys for wooden, and bans plastic-wrapped food

Source: StoryTrender

New World nursery in Washington, Tyne and Wear, has spent two years and just £400 making its rooms eco-friendly to help stimulate children’s imagination.

MUM CREATES FIRST PLASTIC-FREE PRESCHOOL IN UK — CLAIMS IT HELPS KIDS’ BEHAVIOUR

A mother has spent two years transforming a nursery into what she believes is the first plastic-free preschool in the UK – and claims she’s already noticed the positive impact it’s had on the children’s behaviour. Manager Emily Padgett removed all plastic toys and equipment at New World Nursery in Washington, Tyne and Wear, replacing them with wooden or recycled resources. The two-year transformation – which also saw kitchen staff stop cooking any food packaged in plastic, and cleaners swap to eco-friendly refillable bottles – was a challenge for the nursery at first, but now the preschool is decked out with glass fairy lights, hessian bunting, wooden African toys and wicker baskets in soft neutral colours which Emily told StoryTrender creates a more natural environment for the children to play in – helping their learning. In total, all four rooms were refurbished for just £400 (€479/$533). 

Emily says a natural environment helps children improve their critical thinking skills and become better learners because they have to use their imagination more.
Mother-of-two Emily Padgett, who is behind the transformation. Emily says a natural environment helps children improve their critical thinking skills and become better learners because they have to use their imagination more. Source: StoryTrender

Children “more engrossed” and have “higher levels of curiosity and wonder”

The UK’s first plastic-free nursery has been unveiled, where artificial toys are swapped with wooden alternatives and food with unrecyclable packaging is banned. New World Nursery in Washington, Tyne and Wear, has spent two years (and just £400) making its rooms eco-friendly to help stimulate children’s imagination. 

Among the new features are a suitcase filled with sand, wooden African toys, wicker baskets, hessian bunting and glass fairy lights. Real food has even been put into play kitchens. Meanwhile kitchen staff have stopped cooking food which is packaged in plastic, and the nursery’s cleaners now use refillable bottles.

Mother-of-two Emily Padgett, who is behind the transformation, said a natural environment helps children improve their critical thinking skills and become better learners because they have to use their imagination more.

She added: "Since we started introducing the changes, we’ve actually noticed the children’s behaviour has changed – they are more engrossed and have higher levels of curiosity and wonder." 

Source: Facebook/NorthernBeachesCleanUpCrew

The two-year transformation – which also saw kitchen staff stop cooking any food packaged in plastic and cleaners use eco-friendly refillable bottles – was a huge challenge for the nursery as they owned hundreds of plastic items which they donated to parents and charity shops.
Incredibly, the mum-of-two said the makeover only cost her less than £100 per room The two-year transformation – which also saw kitchen staff stop cooking any food packaged in plastic and cleaners use eco-friendly refillable bottles – was a huge challenge for the nursery as they owned hundreds of plastic items which they donated to parents and charity shops. Source: StoryTrender
The brightly coloured plastic toys, given to charity shops and handed out at tombolas for parents, were swapped for wooden objects in more neutral colours, such as brown, cream and white.
All four rooms at the independent nursery have now gone totally plastic free in what Emily believes could be a UK first. The brightly coloured plastic toys, given to charity shops and handed out at tombolas for parents, were swapped for wooden objects in more neutral colours, such as brown, cream and white. Source: StoryTrender
Emily told StoryTrender. “We have quite a few children who have autism in the nursery and sometimes plastic toys are a bit overwhelming for them because the colours are too stimulating, but giving them natural toys helps their creativity and supports their critical thinking.“
“Their favourite resource is probably the African wooden toys and they also love the suitcase filled with sand where they can create patterns with potpourri pieces.” Emily told StoryTrender. “We have quite a few children who have autism in the nursery and sometimes plastic toys are a bit overwhelming for them because the colours are too stimulating, but giving them natural toys helps their creativity and supports their critical thinking.“ Source: StoryTrender
Staff quickly noticed giving the children more natural items to play with extended their critical thinking as it required them to use their imagination more.
The kids are exercising their imaginations more with natural objects Staff quickly noticed giving the children more natural items to play with extended their critical thinking as it required them to use their imagination more. Source: StoryTrender
Emily said: “We have created an environment supporting a culture of curiosity, awe and wonder where our children can explore, discover, discuss, create, achieve, learn and, most importantly, have fun and inspire each other!”
The big change has received extremely positive feedback from parents. Emily said: “We have created an environment supporting a culture of curiosity, awe and wonder where our children can explore, discover, discuss, create, achieve, learn and, most importantly, have fun and inspire each other!” Source: StoryTrender
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THE COURSE ALL SCHOOLS SHOULD BE TEACHING... HAPPINESS LESSONS

During these lessons, kids are taught, among other things, that there are many different ways of looking at the world and that this can affect their own happiness. They experience the power of meditation, calmness and breathing exercises, and they get insight in why it feels so good to give something and do something for someone else. In the article you will find links for teachers and parents to download the guide for the happiness lessons as a PDF, for now in English and Dutch.