And Why You Should Too
You’ll often hear gasps when someone walks into our setting and sees ceramic cups, real plates, or glass jars on open shelves.
“Aren’t you worried it’ll break?”
“Isn’t that dangerous?”
We understand the concern. But what if we told you that using real, breakable items is one of the most powerful ways to show children trust, teach responsibility, and prepare them for real life? At Yellow Kite Nursery, we don’t hide the real world from children — we invite them into it.
It’s just one of the many reasons families call us the best nursery in Dubai — because we treat children with respect and trust right from the start.
Let’s talk about why breakables belong in both your setting and your home.
The Curiosity Approach: Real Tools for Real Life
The Curiosity Approach encourages early years educators to step away from plastic, character-themed, overstimulating resources — and instead move towards calm, intentional spaces filled with real-life, natural, and purposeful items.
That includes:
- Ceramic bowls
- Glass jars
- Porcelain cups
- Real metal cutlery
- Wooden boards and tools
Children are drawn to what feels real. Using breakables sends a clear message:
You are trusted. You are capable. We believe in you.
Why the Best Nursery in Dubai Uses Breakables
We’re not trying to create risk. We’re creating respect.
Here’s what breakables help children learn:
1. Responsibility and care
When a child uses a real cup, they’re far more mindful of how they hold it, where they put it down, and how they move with it.
2. Fine motor skills
Using ceramics builds careful hands and strong coordination. Children learn to grip gently, to balance, to carry with intention.
3. Consequences (in a healthy way)
If something breaks, it breaks. Children learn that real things need to be treated with care. We don’t shame them — we reflect, clean up safely, and move on.
4. Emotional resilience
Things go wrong sometimes. A dropped bowl offers a chance to model calmness, understanding, and problem-solving.
“But Isn’t It Dangerous?”
This is the biggest worry we hear. But here’s what we’ve experienced in our setting:
- Children rarely break items when they’ve been trusted from the beginning
- When breakage happens, children respond with concern and curiosity — not fear
- Risk assessment is part of the process: we supervise, observe, and support at all times
- Items are chosen carefully (e.g. thick ceramic over thin glass, no sharp edges)
The truth is, children rise to the level of trust we place in them.
Real-Life Examples from Our Nursery
In our snack area, children pour water from small glass jugs into ceramic cups.
At the playdough table, they use real plates and butter knives.
In our home corner, a set of porcelain tea cups gets treated with the same care as a family heirloom.
We don’t hover nervously. We support, model, and let them lead.
One child said recently: “This is like mummy’s special mug. I have to be gentle.”
Exactly.
Why Plastic Isn’t Enough
Plastic may be safer, but it doesn’t:
- Offer the same sensory experience (weight, temperature, texture)
- Teach risk or consequence
- Build trust in the same way
- Reflect the real world children live in
We want to prepare children for life — not a padded version of it.
Bringing Breakables into Your Home
If you’re a parent reading this and wondering where to start, here are a few tips:
Start small
Try a ceramic bowl at breakfast or a glass cup at snack time
Involve your child in setting and clearing the table
Model calmness
If something breaks, stay neutral
Talk it through: “That bowl broke. It’s okay. Let’s clean it up together.”
Use your language intentionally
Say: “These are special. We hold them gently.”
Avoid: “Don’t touch that, you’ll break it!”
Give them a role
Let them pour from a glass jug
Invite them to set the table with real plates
Over time, you’ll see how their hands — and confidence — grow.
What the Research Says
While the Curiosity Approach is grounded in practice and observation, it’s also backed by early childhood development research:
- Risk and responsibility: Children who encounter managed risks in early years are better problem-solvers and more resilient (Sandseter, 2010).
- Montessori influence: Maria Montessori championed real tools and materials over child-proofed versions, believing children thrive in environments that reflect adult life.
Real doesn’t mean reckless. It means respectful.
What We Do at Yellow Kite
Here’s how we make breakables work in our nursery:
- We select age-appropriate ceramics and glassware with safety in mind
- We teach routines and handling from day one
- We supervise actively without interfering constantly
- We keep calm if breakage happens — it’s part of learning
- We rotate items regularly and involve children in cleaning and organising
You’ll find real items in every room, because we see children as capable from the start.
Final Thoughts: Trust Builds Confidence
Using breakables isn’t just about cups and plates. It’s about what those cups and plates represent:
- Trust
- Responsibility
- Respect
- Real-life learning
When we only offer plastic, we’re sending the message: We don’t trust you with more.
When we offer breakables, we’re saying: We believe in you.
And you’d be amazed at how much children rise to that.
If you’re looking for the best nursery in Dubai — a place that trusts children, respects their capabilities, and prepares them for real life — we’d love to welcome you to Yellow Kite Nursery.