Easter came early for children at Windmill Hill Day Nursery as they witnessed new life coming into the world with the special arrival of a group of hatching chicks.
At the setting on Whitehill Way, children of all ages were delighted to follow the journey from start to finish as they closely monitored living eggs in an incubator, before watching them hatch into fluffy chicks, learning all about the exciting process through observations and understanding how to care for the creatures in their early stages of life and development.
After being moved into a light box, children and parents were invited to hold the chicks over the course of a week, creating meaningful moments of connection and encouraging gentle, caring behaviour. The experience provided a valuable, hands-on opportunity for learning about life cycles, as well as fostering a sense of responsibility in the children.
As the week comes to a close, plans are in place for the chicks’ next chapter. The male chicks will be leaving the nursery on Thursday, while one of the nursery grandparents has kindly offered to provide a home for all of the female chicks.
Windmill Hill Quality Manager, Gemma Gill explained;
“I had the opportunity to take the chicks home over the weekend, and they really brought so much joy, not just to the nursery but to my home as well. My young son loved helping to look after them, cleaning them out each day and making sure they had fresh water. It’s been amazing to see the positive impact the chicks have had on everyone, and the deeply memorable learning opportunities that have resulted.”
