note: during covid restrictions activities using external teachers/coaches ceased until further notice

Dance at Hummingbirds

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Miss Paula Boscott comes every week to run a half an hour dance session.

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We charge £2 to help cover costs but we will never exclude a child who wants to take part.

 

Why do we offer dance sessions?

 

• The ability to dance develops in children before they can even talk.

• Dance connects all cultures.

• Physical development is one of the most obvious benefits. Your child will learn to move in different ways, develop body awareness, balance, muscle strength, coordination, and endurance.

• Children learn concentration, observation and listening skills and learn to follow instructions through fun activity.

• Children can enjoy listening to and moving to music, children can explore movement and express themselves.

• They learn to take turns, work as a group, cooperate, share, understand space, form lines, watch and support one another, perform, and interact.

• They learn that they can express ideas and feelings through movement. This develops cognitive function in the brain.

• Movement can give them another way to express themselves and their emotions while their verbal communication develops. 

• It’s fun! It’s healthy! It’s exercise!

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Diddy Dribblers Football Sessions

at Hummingbirds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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We split the hour into 2 half hour sessions for our older and younger children.

 

Why do we offer this activity?

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• These sessions create a fun learning environment for the children.

• Children develop essential skills, such as balance, coordination.

• We are promoting fitness and health.

• Basic ball skills like dribbling and ball control are introduced.

• Listening skills and concentration are developed through fun games.

• Children learn to focus and to follow instructions.

• Coaches are friendly and FA or UEFA trained and always accompanied by a member of our staff. Children also get a positive male role model in a female dominated environment.

• We have found that all the children absolutely love these sessions and look forward to them every week. Children see that both boys and girls can do this activity (British Values)

• As Hummingbirds is a voluntary setting with limited funds, to be able to afford these sessions, we do ask for a contribution of £2 per session from parents, but would never exclude any child who wants to take part.

For more information see  http://diddydribblers.co.uk/

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Yoga sessions

at Hummingbirds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why is yoga good for my child?

 

‘Yoga presented in a child's language can help counter the stress experienced

by little ones living in a hurry-up world.’

 

• It helps your child to develop body awareness.

• Physically, it enhances their flexibility, strength and coordination

• It helps your child learn how to use their bodies in a healthy way that is non-competitive and yet co-operative.

• Our children live in a busy world, the pace of our children's lives can have a negative effect their well-being. Yoga can help your child to manage stress through breathing, awareness, meditation and healthy movement.

• Helps to encourage mindfulness and to build concentration; concentration and sense of calmness and relaxation improves.

• Helps to increase self-confidence and build a positive self-image.

• Your child can feel part of a healthy, non-competitive group.

 

If you want to know more try these links:

 

https://www.yogajournal.com/teach/yoga-for-kids

https://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-15075/7-ways-kids-benefit-from-yoga.html

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Spanish at Hummingbirds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Hummingbirds we can offer your child the opportunity to learn a second language.

Every Tuesday 9.15am

 

Why do we offer the chance to learn another language?

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• You may think your child is too young but research suggests that the younger the learner, the better they are at mimicking new sounds and adopting pronunciation.

• It actually helps with your first language - years ago people believed that learning a second language would confuse a child. Now, research shows that children who learn foreign language benefit in their own language.

• Children’s minds are not yet cluttered with facts to be stored and tested -the brain is open to new sounds and patterns.

• It helps brain development – some studies show that people who are bilingual are better at tasks that require multi-tasking and attention focusing.

• New research shows that even babies less than a year old who are exposed to multiple languages show different cognitive patterns in their brain.

• It’s fun! The sessions are informal, with puppets, singing, dancing and simple games. Before children become self- conscious they can try out their newly acquired languages without fear of embarrassment.

 

• Encourages self-confidence and self-esteem.

 

• Promotes ‘British Values’ because language and culture are so intertwined, in learning a foreign language, children gain cultural understanding and understanding of how others see the world. Children who grow up learning about languages develop empathy for others and a curiosity for different cultures and ideas as they grow up in a global society.  

• It boosts empathy skills - the ability to consider someone else’s ability to understand them.

 

• Other research has shown that children learning a second language start reading earlier: this advantage increases the earlier they start learning a second language.

• Some research suggests it even trains the ear for music.

 

Want of find out more? Try these links

https://www.pandatree.com/reason_foreign_language http://education.abc.net.au/newsandarticles/blog/-/b/1994959/5-reasons-to-teach-your-kids-a-second-language

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