Whether they are an only child or part of a larger family, every preschooler benefits from some nursery provision, which provides a combination of care, early learning and development. Nursery is not a substitute for home. It is a link for a child between home and life outside home. It’s somewhere where a child starts… Continue reading Raising a school-ready child without a nursery
Tag: Age group – 40 months onwards
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
Quick activities for Christmas quiet time
It’s mid-December and as a strange and busy year comes to a close, the Yuletide anticipation is building for my granddaughter Daisy: the decorations have gone up around her house and the streets around her are bright with dazzling festive lights. Although Christmas will be a little different for children this year, for a four-year-old… Continue reading Quick activities for Christmas quiet time
Christmas craft activity: scissors and ‘stained glass’
Having taken a detailed look back at all that my granddaughter Daisy has achieved in 2020, I’m definitely ready to look forward to Christmas and to embrace some festive craft activities! This blog outlines a simple craft activity that doesn’t require too much in the way of preparation or materials; you may find that you… Continue reading Christmas craft activity: scissors and ‘stained glass’
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
The joy of cooking together with your grandchild
Whenever my granddaughter Daisy comes to stay with me, her visit creates a series of highlights in my day from early morning cuddles to evening bath times. These special moments now regularly happen in the kitchen. As she’s grown older and more independent, Daisy has discovered that, if she drags her little red chair over… Continue reading The joy of cooking together with your grandchild
Measuring up: teaching children about non-standard units
Measures – we adults use them every day and all day, responding to our alarm clock in the morning and checking our pedometer step count at the end of the day. On a daily basis, we use measures for time, distance, weight, temperature, volume and capacity, and that’s before you consider the more ‘abstract’ measurements… Continue reading Measuring up: teaching children about non-standard units
When screen time meets playtime
During the precious summer months with our granddaughter Daisy, we experienced many fun days of play followed by relaxing time ‘down time’ together; during those special, cosy periods we might watch Sarah and Duck on TV or find something downloaded on the family iPad to watch. It was during these moments that I realised just… Continue reading When screen time meets playtime
Granny Smith's Diary 