Both the fear and the fun of the dark, and the effects of light, featured in a project observed by Jean Evans.

Children at Rainbow Nursery, Middlestone Moor, have been conducting their own investigations into light and dark using a range of exciting resources designed to stimulate their imaginations, natural curiosity and desire to make sense of the world around them.

Darkness for some children is associated with anxiety, and so playing in dark areas with friends and familiar staff helps them to overcome these concerns. For others, experiencing the excitement of playing in dark secret spaces they have created for themselves motivates creativity and imaginative language.

'At first the children helped to generate ideas for exploring dark places, and then we provided additional resources, such as light boxes and shadow screens, to encourage them to make their own discoveries about the fascinating effects of light,' says nursery nurse Alex Higgins.

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