House Rules

1.

Only attend sessions you have booked prior to attending - Due to the nature of the class we need to manage numbers for health and safety

2.

Only one adult per child permitted with entrance unless additional adult ticket purchased

3.

Due to the fragility of some attendees immune systems we kindly request that you do not attend if anyone in your household is currently poorly, we reserve the right to turn away snotty noses and temperatures at the door. We will then discuss your options for rebooking via email following the class.

4.

If you are unable to attend for any reason, there will not be a refund. However, Provided you contact us at least an hour before the class, you are welcome to gift your session to a friend or request to re-allocate it to your booking block.

5.

You do not have to book consecutive weeks however your booking vouchers do have an expiry date so do keep an eye out on that. If you realize you are not going to use them all within the allocated window, provided there is no waitlist for a class, we invite you to bring a friend and book two sessions for the same week. You will need to contact us to book this for you manually at least 24 hours before the class.

6.

All bookings come with a tasty treat and hot drink for the adult and a zone for feeding and changing. We have emergency nappy supplies should you need them so please always ask if you are caught short.

7.

Shoes off on arrival - we have an indoor space where you will be able to park your buggy and leave shoes and bags - valuables left at own risk

8.

We welcome you to capture the special moments that the children will have at our sessions however we request you avoid, where possible, capturing other children and attendees. If you plan to share on social media please always tag us @SensorySproutsUK

9.

These sessions are child led but guardian supervised! Unlike your regular music mum & baby classes we will not be running any circle time moments unless it is a special themed class such as baby massage or a photography session. We will set up the sensory environment for you and your child to explore together. Please understand due to the nature of the class there will be small loose parts and batteries. Please see our Sensory disclaimer. We are on hand for play guidance and we are first aid trained, we will be wearing our sensory sprouts gear so you can find us easily.

10.

If you wish for yourself or child to not be photographed please ask for a no photos please sticker when you check in, this is your responsibility to avoid featuring in our promotional material.

11.

Only hot drinks in lidded cups allowed and where possible please only consume hot drinks and food by the refreshment table. Feel free to bring snacks and milk to the sessions. All snacks and milk must be consumed in the feeding/refreshment area and must be vegetarian.

12.

Our classes are not suitable for those who suffer from photosensitive epilepsy. There is a possibility that there could be exposure to allergens as children are allowed snacks on the premises and some of our sensory materials will be scented with natural herbs, spices and essential oils.

13.

To ensure the safety of all attendees and safe flow of the car park between sessions, we kindly request that you are ready to go when your sensory discovery time is finished. We may have to reset our play space whilst you are preparing to leave and we would rather not spoil the magic for your little beans and sprouts.

14.

Be kind and courteous to your fellow class mates. We will not tolerate any racial, religious, political behavior within our sessions or on our social media platform. We promote respect to all and if we believe anyone is making others uncomfortable we reserve the right to remove them.

15.

You will be sitting on the floor with your children so please make sure you are in comfortable clothing. Please do not wear revealing clothing or items with offensive imagery or wording. You will be asked to leave to ensure a safe space for children.

16.

Have fun and get stuck in. Our classes when approached with the right attitude will be as much fun for you as it is for the children. The more you get excited about it the more engaged the children will be and the stronger the core memories will be.

Sensory Disclaimer

The intention of the items used within our sensory sessions are for parents to use to aid sensory and fine motor development in their little sprouts. Our resources are made up of a variety of items from traditional toys, to teethers and other resources which haven’t been manufactured for the purposes of play, but have excellent sensory benefits (think foil blanket for example).

Wherever possible our resources will have the UKCA or CE mark, however if you do not see an obvious UKCA or CE mark, the item is not a toy and has therefore not been tested under the UK or European Toy Safety Standards. These resources are to be used as developmental aids under full supervision of the parent or caregiver. This doesn’t automatically mean the product is unsafe, it means that the item hasn’t been through the relevant testing to determine it is suitable for babies and children to play with. We need to be clear that babies and children should not be left unsupervised with these items and they should not be put in the mouth.

It will always be clear if your item is a toy or not however if you are unsure or would like to know more, please always ask us, we will be in our sensory sprouts uniform to be obvious to all attendees.

Things you may find at our sessions include

Ribbon Ring

To be handled by an adult when playing with baby.
Not to be used as a teether, or to be mouthed.
Never to leave with baby unattended.
Ensure all ribbons are tight and secure before every use.
If ends fray or there any other signs of wear and tear/damage, please discard immediately.

While your baby is young, hold the ribbons above them and let them watch. As your baby’s grasp develops they will start to hold and feel the ribbons.

They are great for movement activities, they help the baby’s abilities of hand-eye coordination, concentration, grasping and exploring.

When they are older, children will twirl, shake, spin and wave these rainbow ribbon rings to make and learn about patterns. The flowing ribbons help children to understand cause and effect, also helping with development of gross motor skills.

Guidelines for Use:

Gently stroke baby's body parts with ribbon, you can name body parts as you are doing so to help build self awareness and introduce new language.

Use the ribbon ring to accompany songs to provide a multi-sensory experience, again using it to gently stroke baby's body.Hang above baby just within reach to encourage reaching out.

Flashcards

This is not a toy - only a visual aid
Only to be used under the direct supervision of an adult at all time
Flashcards are not to be mouthed

High contrast patterns allow your baby to focus clearly in an otherwise blurry world. Use these cards to help attract your baby's focus and attention during the first 3 months.

Guidelines for Use:

Use during tummy time to engage your baby visually - talk to them about what you can both see to also encourage language development.

This could include the name of the object, where you would usually see it, what colour it is in real life etc.

When baby is approximately 6-8 weeks you can try using the flashcards as a visual aid to move from side to side to practice visual tracking.

Hold the card around 20 - 25cm away from your baby's face, keep switching cards every 10-20 seconds and continue for 3-5 minutes.

Foil Blanket

This is not a toy only to be used as a sensory prop
Never leave baby unattended on foil blanket
Never leave a baby to sleep on a foil blanket
If rips do not continue use and discard
Do not use for long periods at a time
Not to be mouthed
Not to be cut
Warning: Visually impaired babies may find reflections discomforting.

Your little one will love exploring the different crunching and crinkling noises that the foil sheet makes whilst developing their visual skills as the light bounces off the material. Let your small baby enjoy exploring their body awareness as they kick their arms and legs around.

Guidelines for Use:

Place the foil blanket under the baby's feet for them to kick and enjoy the sound and sensation of the blanket.

This also helps with cause and effect learning.

Allow baby to explore during tummy time or when sitting up to scrunch the blanket with their hands you can use descriptive language to engage baby during this sensory experience.

Feather

This is not a toy only to be used as a sensory prop
Not to be handled by baby
Not to be mouthed
Not to be left in baby’s reach
Always check for signs of wear and tear before use and discard immediately if needed

Introduce your little one to new textures by simply stroking the feather along your baby’s skin. The silky soft touch will really relax them.

As they develop their senses they may even smile as this as it starts to feel tickly which will then progress when your baby has found their little giggle.

Guidelines for Use:

This like the ribbon ring is great for tactile stimulation and tickling your baby's body parts. Use during songs, and building self- awareness.

Sensory Scarf

Do not allow baby to mouth - dye may transfer.
Do not leave the scarf over the baby's face.

While your baby is young, they will enjoy the feel of the scarf against them. They will enjoy seeing and feeling the scarf floating in the air and in time they will start to see the colour.

As your baby grows you can play games with the scarf such as peek-a-boo.

Guidelines for Use:

While baby is laying down pair with a ribbon ring and gently sway items up and down for visual stimulation, you can also gently tickle baby with items as you do this for tactile stimulation.

Use for peek-a-boo - Hide your face or one of their favourite toys underneath/behind the scarf and then reveal again - this helps build an understanding of object permanence - the concept of although an item may not be in full view it is still there.

Parasols

Our handmade parasols are designed to create a personal exploration zone.

Guidelines for Use:

Like a parachute would be used in a large group, open the parasol over your baby as they lay under neath gazing up in wonder.

Watch of our parasols has a different theme from under the sea, outer space, primary colour vision, black ad white vision and many more.

Maracas, Egg Shakers and Bells

Maracas and shakers make a sound when moved which is great for helping to develop their hearing skills. Babies love to grasp new things, play with them by shaking them and making noises.

Your baby will learn to reach out for the maraca and shake by themselves which promotes gross and fine motor skills as well as hand-eye coordination. They are a brilliant way to learn cause and effect - when they shake, they hear a sound.

You may even start their love of music and as your baby grows you will see a real enjoyment for these items.
Team with some nursery rhymes for some music class fun at home.

Light Up Spiky Ball

When your baby is ready for tummy time, put the ball out in front of them and they will love watching the lights. Especially if you lay them on the foil so the light bounces off the material.

As your baby’s grasp gets stronger they will love the feel of the ball as it’s texture is always a hit with sensory play.

Bubbles

Bubbles are such fun, they are not only loved by your baby or toddler but they are a wonderful way to encourage many areas of development and learning.

Your baby will love to watch them as they float through the air. Watch their facial expressions if a bubble pops close to them.

As your baby grows they will be amazed by the bubbles and will crawl to catch them or will reach to try and pop them.

Mirror

Mirrors are a simple but great way to help your baby explore. Babies love looking at faces so mirror play is perfect for little ones!

By about 4 months they will be interested in mirror play, especially if you prop it in front of them during tummy time.

A mirror can motivate your baby to lift their head and keep it up to have a look around.

Loose Part Treasures

This is a very loose term for a collection of objects used in open ended play. It could be a collection of wooden shapes, felt shapes, sequins, buttons, or random individual objects from round the home.

Toddlers will love to explore these items and compare them.

You could talk about the different colours, materials, what they feel like, look like, smell like etc. they may want to pour them from one vessel to another, drop them, roll them, wrap them up, hide them, line them up.

The list is endless as will be their fun!

Small World Play

Small world play is an opportunity for roleplaying without the dressing up.

Could be a dolls house, a pirate ship, a farm a car garage or any other everyday or fantasy set up.

Watch your children revel in story telling and reenactment with figurines in real life and fictional settings.

Their creative development will soar!

Blocks

Who said blocks had to look like wooden cubes or Lego? Building blocks can be any shape material or size.

Blocks can be used to challenge physics through water play for floating and sinking, art for pattern making, imaginative play creating their own small world or possibly life size venues for role play, or just good old building towers.