When a child walks into a nursery for the first time, everything is new—new faces, new toys, new rules, and a whole new environment. For many young children, this is their first experience of being away from home for an extended period. That’s why creating a strong sense of belonging in the nursery setting isn’t just important—it’s essential.

A sense of belonging lays the foundation for confidence, learning, and positive social interaction.

As children begin to settle into nursery life, their play and creative expression often reveal what’s going on in their minds and hearts. Our most recent child- led project in the Art Studio has stemmed from the children’s passion for drawing their families and houses. But why is it so meaningful when children create art based on their personal stories?

1. A Sign of Emotional Security

Children who frequently draw their house and family are often expressing a deep sense of comfort and connection to home. It reflects emotional security and shows that these are the people and places where they feel safest and most loved.

2. Exploring Relationships

By drawing parents, siblings, or even pets, children are processing their relationships and social world. The way they arrange or size people in their drawings may even reflect how they view those relationships—though interpretations should always be gentle and child-led.

3. Emotional Expression

Art allows children to express feelings they might not have the words for yet. A happy, colorful house might reflect joy or a recent positive experience at home. Sometimes drawings might express worries or changes too, like the arrival of a new baby or a family move.

4. Identity and Belonging

These drawings are more than art—they’re stories. By drawing themselves in their home, surrounded by family, children are reinforcing their place in the world and how they see themselves fitting into it. This strengthens their developing identity and supports a healthy sense of belonging.

5. How You and I Can Support It

• Ask open-ended questions: “Can you tell me about your picture?”
• Celebrate their artwork by displaying it at home or sending a copy to nursery.
• Look for recurring themes, but avoid overanalyzing. The goal is connection, not interpretation.

These simple pictures can tell you a lot about what your child values—and the more you tune in, the stronger your bond becomes.

Here’s a few photos from our most recent project building up a paper village from the children’s imagination and home stories.

At its heart, a nursery is more than a place to play and learn—it’s a child’s first community. When we prioritize belonging, we give children the message that they matter, just as they are. And that message can make all the difference.

-Nathalie