From crafting animal masks to practicing our cooking skills, we've packed our days with creativity, exploration, and lots of laughs. Here’s a round-up of our spooktacular October!

 

World Space Week (4th - 10th October)

October's night sky set the perfect backdrop for our World Space Week adventures! We explored the wonders of space by painting Earth balloons and created alien and moon-themed tuff trays, packed with sensory fun. From pretending to be astronauts on a mission to crafting our own little rockets, the children’s imaginations soared into the cosmos! These activities helped them dive into the mysteries of outer space, all while practicing fine motor skills and having a blast.



 

We Loved Our Spooky Book of the Month – Meg & Mog

This October, we dove into the magical world of Meg & Mog, a classic tale of a friendly witch named Meg and her mischievous cat Mog. In the story, Meg and Mog are off to a Halloween party, but one of Meg's spells goes hilariously wrong!

This book, filled with fun adventures and quirky friends, was the perfect read for Halloween. With a sprinkle of magic and teamwork, Meg and her friends remind us that a little perseverance can fix anything. The children were captivated by the story, and we carried the magic into our daily activities, from dressing up as witches to casting our very own spells with homemade wands.

 



Practically Wild: Animal Conservation

This month, our Practically Wild sessions took a deep dive into animal conservation. We explored the meaning of "endangered species" and looked at animals like polar bears, turtles, and tigers that face the threat of extinction. The children learned about habitat loss and how we can help protect these animals.

One of the highlights was our WWF animal adoption vote! The children had the opportunity to choose which animal they wanted us to adopt, and with a close race, the tiger was our winner. We then learned all about tigers—where they live, what they eat, and even the fascinating fact that their skin is striped, just like their fur! We finished with a fun craft session, making and colouring in tiger masks before pretending to be a group (or "ambush") of tigers. Roar!

 



Our October-Inspired Tuff Trays & Sensory Fun

October wouldn’t be complete without our famous tuff trays! From crunchy autumn leaves and pinecones to gooey, gloopy potions, we had all sorts of sensory fun this month. The children got hands-on with nature, mixing up potions, and exploring different textures. These trays aren’t just messy fun—they're an excellent way to build language skills, as the children describe what they feel and see. Whether carving pumpkins or mixing up magical soup in the mud kitchen, October gave us plenty of opportunities to engage all the senses!

 



Spooktacular Cooking Adventures

October has been full of delicious food fun too! We celebrated Apple Day by practicing our cutting skills and making crunchy apple chips. As part of Pizza Month, we got creative in the kitchen, whipping up savoury and fruity pizzas, and even decorating cookies and cakes. The cake decorating was extra exciting because it was part of a guessing game for Rachael’s baby shower—boy or girl? The kids loved playing along and, of course, indulging in their sweet creations!

 



Ghoulishly Good Times at Our Halloween Party (31st October)

October wouldn’t be complete without our epic Halloween party! The kids brought their best costumes, from spooky skeletons to magical witches, and danced the afternoon away. We transformed our indoor space into a frightfully fun disco, complete with ghost-busting moves and monster mashups! With eerie games, ghoulish glitter, and creative crafts, the children had an absolute blast celebrating the spooky season with their friends.

October has flown by in a whirl of fun, learning, and laughter. We can’t wait for what’s to come in November—from fireworks on Bonfire Night to exploring the vibrant festival of Diwali, it's going to be another brilliant month at POD. Stay tuned for all the updates!