Sunshine flooded the bright white nursery in Chandlers Ford, bringing with it effort and a feeling of love that was being generated by the people in that space. In one corner of the room, under that blazing sunshine, a small group of children was hard at work building a very tall tower. Their faces were serious. In another part of the room, there was a little girl determinedly putting clothes on the doll, all the while picking and describing exactly what she was doing in whispers.

To the normal observer, this may look like play. However, if you believe in child learning (as the educators of children's learning at Dragonflies Childcare within this nursery group do), you see many more things. You see childhood lived in its entirety, dynamic and alive; the narrative of how a version of play-based learning affords inroads into the confidence and curiosity of future learners.

Building Social Skills Through Collaborative Play

A pair of children were both reaching for the same red block, which threatened to become a point of conflict. Luckily, before there were any tears, a teacher knelt beside them. “That’s a terrific bridge you’re both making for the cars. Both of you used that block as the pillar? Maybe you could find another long one for the other side?”

This moment shifted things. Instead of conflict, it became negotiation. Only then did they learned how to share, how to take turns, and how to express their ideas. This is the beauty of shared or collaborative play. The best nurseries in Chandlers Ford introduce the core of human relationships through play. Whether they are building together, engaging in pretend worlds, or following the unwritten rules of a game, they learn empathy, how to cooperate, and how to be a good friend.

How Play Enhances Cognitive Development

That stack of blocks is more than simply a stack; it is a lesson in physics and an engineering challenge. Why did it fall over, and how can we make it more stable? When a child moves sand from a wide container to a narrow container, they are doing math, specifically volume.

This nursery in Chandlers Ford, embraces "loose parts" and open-ended resources intentionally support problem-solving and critical thinking. The children play to make their own discoveries. This is an innate characteristic of young children since they are scientists every day, where opportunity for discovery of the world exists.

Laying the Foundation for Literacy and Numeracy

At Dragonflies Childcare, you won't see children working through worksheets. You'll find them in a warm reading nook, entranced by a story told with puppets. You'll see them notice and represent their developing awareness of words.

They count the steps down from, they sort shells by size and colour, they sing rhymes. Literacy and numeracy aren't subjects to teach; they are skills interwoven into play that make them engaging, memorable, and joyfully made.

Why Choose Nursery in Chandlers Ford?

Choosing a nursery like Dragonflies Childcare is one of the most important decisions you’ll make for your child. So, why choose us?

• Expert-Led Play: Our qualified practitioners are experts in facilitating learning through play, ensuring every moment is rich with potential.
•  A Nurturing & Safe Environment: We pride ourselves on creating a warm, secure, and stimulating space where your child feels confident to explore and grow.
•  Holistic Development Focus: We care for your child's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development, and not just their academic readiness.
•  Strong Community Links: We are deeply embedded in Chandlers Ford, offering your child a sense of place and community belonging.
•  A Foundation for Lifelong Learning: We don’t just teach facts; we foster a genuine love of learning, curiosity, and resilience that will benefit your child far beyond their nursery years.

Overall Experience

As the day at the nursery drew to a close, the room was a happy mess; a testament to a day filled with exploration, discovery, and joy. The children, tired but fulfilled, had done more than just play. They had practiced being people.

All in all, they had built the foundational skills for school and for life, all under the gentle, guiding hand of practitioners. If you are looking for a nursery in Chandlers Ford, like Dragonflies Childcare that truly understands and champions the incredible benefits of play-based learning, then your child’s story could begin here. Visit our website to know more.