I was very interested to stumble upon a story listing Children’s Top 10 Outdoor Activities. The results were arrived at by surveying 2,000 UK parents with children aged 6-10, along with their children. For me, one of the most interesting findings of the survey (commissioned by the cheese brand, Dairylea) was that for 57% of… Continue reading Child-led fun in the Great Outdoors
Category: Misc
Summer Holiday Special: New Life for Old Lego
A Guest Post by Daisy’s Dad It’s August and UK schools are closed for the summer holidays. Many parents will have one thing on their mind now: trying to find ways to occupy their children. This often means balancing work schedules with the availability of helpful relatives and childminders, and organising daily routines around the… Continue reading Summer Holiday Special: New Life for Old Lego
A little box of delights for a curious child
As a toddler, my granddaughter Daisy always had her hands full! Whether clambering over a play structure or sitting in her buggy, she never went anywhere without grasping something in her hands. On one occasion, I found Daisy dressed to go out to the park and was reassured to see that she had her wellies… Continue reading A little box of delights for a curious child
Beginner Readers: the right books to read with young children
Most children enjoy having a story read to them by an adult. But how can you give them the confidence to read to you? My granddaughter Daisy is a beginner reader. I know she has the phonetic skills to read words. The list of words that she can read on sight is growing daily. The… Continue reading Beginner Readers: the right books to read with young children
Best of the Blog 2021: raising a confident, curious grandchild
Here’s a roundup of my best educational content from 2021. It's filled with activities and observations to make learning fun for your child or grandchild... I’ve been reflecting on the many blogs that I’ve written during 2021. A lot has changed in the past year. My granddaughter Daisy started the year in a Nursery class… Continue reading Best of the Blog 2021: raising a confident, curious grandchild
Lockdown Storytime: homeschool activities for preschoolers
My granddaughter Daisy has several storytimes throughout her busy day. Storytime is an integral part of a young child’s day, one that helps to develop their creativity and imagination, especially for preschool learners. Parents very quickly discover that young children have their favourite stories, which they enjoy listening to over and over again – these… Continue reading Lockdown Storytime: homeschool activities for preschoolers
Instrumental sounds: create a cacophony with your grandchild
With a third lockdown in place in the UK, following a period of tiered restrictions, we’re all trying to find new ways to interact with and educate our young children. Many grandparents – myself included – have had to return to virtual contact with their grandchildren. Painful though this has been (especially after weeks of… Continue reading Instrumental sounds: create a cacophony with your grandchild
Homeschooling in ‘Lockdown 3’: Early Years activity ideas
With a third lockdown in place in the UK, many parents and early years carers will be experiencing familiar frustrations and challenges; I know I am feeling those familiar emotions as a grandparent. Although families with children have experienced lockdowns before, it doesn’t make the process of educating and occupying children at home that much… Continue reading Homeschooling in ‘Lockdown 3’: Early Years activity ideas
The Best of the Blog in 2020: making learning fun
It goes without saying that 2020 has been the most tumultuous year in the short life of this blog, which I started in 2017 with a focus on sharing my experiences and play ideas following a career in teaching and early years education. But then, it has probably been the most tumultuous year in living… Continue reading The Best of the Blog in 2020: making learning fun
Feeding Rudolph and his friends with RSPCA recipes
Daisy and the family will be staying with us this Christmas so I am planning activities I can prepare ready for their visit. One thing we will be making this year we will be a reindeer food mix for Daisy to sprinkle on our lawn on Christmas Eve; the perfect snack for Rudolph and the… Continue reading Feeding Rudolph and his friends with RSPCA recipes
Granny Smith's Diary 