A big Hello from the Milly and Miles team.
These exciting characters and resources have been developed by Mandy and Alison to support educators and children, winning national recognition with two Practical Pre-school awards for their contributions towards early years education.
The ethos of Milly and Miles is to support children’s learning and development using the different characters and various resources to engage and promote attention. Used alongside open-ended activities, the resources support the intentions to sustain and extend the impact of conversations; promote curiosity and provide diverse opportunities to promote children’s learning. (About Us)
When implemented in the learning environment, they can be used alone or alongside existing learning tools and equipment. This enhances and sustains children’s play to having a positive impact, linking to the key areas of the EYFS and other early years curriculums.
When introduced by educators to the children they can be used to enable children to stay focused, engaged developing their attention and concentration skills.
Educators can use the characters as role models to discuss key aspects and topics with children in small groups or individually which children may need to enhance their existing skills and knowledge. (see suggestions below)
Some packs also include activity prompt cards with ideas to support practitioners in implementing focused activities that have a positive approach to sustain various learning intentions. For example, creating playroom rules for children; lovely listening; super sharing; developing respect for others and what’s expected for the children and team to promote a calmer regulated environment with more learning opportunities for all involved
Active Discussions
Introducing the Milly and Miles characters can begin by active discussions with the children. They can guess their names, ages and what they may like to play with in the environments which they are joining. They can discuss playroom rules with the characters and each other to practice and learn. Milly and Miles can be used to role model and teach rules and expectations so children can play and discover better choices . Practitioners should acknowledge children who actively participate and support children who may need extra time and guidance. Let's learn with Milly and Miles value children’s approaches to learning and provide certificates for rewarding efforts and achievements
Communicating with the children to introduce the characters:
- “Who would like to be a friend and help Milly and Miles?”
Thought provoking questions with the children can include:
- “How can we all help Milly and Miles to feel safe in the nursery today they are joining?”
- “Can we share our playroom rules with Milly and Miles today?”
- What other suggestions can the children contribute which will support the Milly and Miles, this can be related to new children joining and making transitions in their early years?
Milly and Miles story book
The story book contains a range of thought-provoking questions which you can use to encourage active child participation and contribution to helps extend a range of communication skills, listening, talking, engaging and responding, extending a child’s comprehension and vocabulary skills.
What others have to say...
We have received some excellent feedback from early years practitioners and parents across the UK, who have used the resources. (visit our customer feedback page) Their feedback includes how they enjoyed a fresh and innovative approach to planning activities using resources which have a key purpose to extend and encourage thought provoking play and learning that has a positive impact.
The Milly and Miles Characters also promote and encourage key skills through 5 visual prompt cards, which support development such as:
Super Sitting
Wonderful Watching
Lovely Listening
Terrific Talking
Good Sharing
Rewards and activities
A range of Milly and Miles designed stickers and certificates are available with the prompts for the key skills. These can be provided to children as rewards to acknowledges children’s efforts and achievements.
Milly and Miles resources can support a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities in various environments
Advice and support
The supportive ring-binder introduces the full concept of the Milly and Miles approach to learning, using dolls as central characters to encourage children to learn through play to develop a wide range of skills.
These are also illustrated on a DVD which illustrates the process of the concept with a range of children with various abilities and skilled practitioners
Educators can review the information which supports practitioners how to implement these and to map many assorted activities and resources across the 7 key areas of learning and development in the Early Years Foundation Stage
Developing key skills
Educators can extend their existing skills and knowledge using the Milly and Miles resources to encourage children to develop various key skills which enable children to develop their emotional intelligence and regulation in the moment such as:
- Valuing themselves and others
- Listening and attention skills
- Communication and talking
- Watching and observation skills
- Concentration and focus skills
- Patience and tolerance
- Sharing and turn taking
- Negotiation and Independence skills
- Knowledge and understanding