When was the last time you learned a new word? Maybe you had to look up some newly coined piece of internet slang, or found yourself stumped by an obscure answer to a crossword clue – either way, opportunities for adults to expand their vocabulary are limited unless we seek them out. But for a… Continue reading Double the fun – playing with pairs to develop and encourage children’s speaking skills
Tag: Grandparenting
Understanding your child’s emotions
Almost from the moment our children enter the world, our thoughts turn to their development. We notice – and are encouraged to monitor – their progression, from hand-eye coordination to first words, onto first steps, and then sentence construction, toilet training, simple counting and letter recognition, then phonics and so on. All this can leave… Continue reading Understanding your child’s emotions
Secrets of the shallows: exploring incredible rock pools
A guest post by Grandpa Smith Like many British families, we were forced to change our summer holiday plans this year, cancelling our trip to sunnier climes for something a little closer to home. Holidays abroad are always a wonderful opportunity for children to expand their perspectives and learn about the world beyond their own.… Continue reading Secrets of the shallows: exploring incredible rock pools
Imaginative play: how children create their own storylines
As an experienced early years educator, I’m very comfortable with planning and sharing fun learning activities with my three-year old granddaughter, Daisy. But it’s important to remember that our grandchildren are developing all the time, even when we’re not watching or guiding them, and that sometimes you can learn as much simply by observing their… Continue reading Imaginative play: how children create their own storylines
Where am I? A fun activity for grandchildren during ‘lockdown’; Guest Blog by Daisy’s Grandpa
It’s been eight weeks since we last spent time with Daisy. We’ve learned, like so many grandparents, to navigate our way around Zoom, FaceTime and other ways of keeping in touch by sight and sound. We all know that none of these technologies are any substitute for that hug administered in a tangle of bendy… Continue reading Where am I? A fun activity for grandchildren during ‘lockdown’; Guest Blog by Daisy’s Grandpa
Helping Our Young Children With Social Distancing
The confirmation of the closure of schools and nurseries is obviously very unsettling news for parents everywhere. It's a fraught and challenging time for families as they work out how to cope with work and family life at home. As adults we're able to understand why we must make these adjustments and changes to our… Continue reading Helping Our Young Children With Social Distancing
Helping your grandchildren from a distance
I've realised that I need to change the focus of my blog. It’s hard to accept but soon many grandparents will not be able to have close contact time with their grandchildren. We’re used to being the reliable backstop, not the vulnerable ones aren’t we? I don't expect it to be long before schools, children's… Continue reading Helping your grandchildren from a distance
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
Left, Right, Ready to Write?
For several days recently, a delighted Daisy would keep telling me that it wasn't my birthday yet! When the day finally arrived, almost bursting with excitement, Daisy handed me an envelope. This was of course a special birthday moment for me as Daisy had 'written' on the envelope and 'signed' a birthday card for me.… Continue reading Left, Right, Ready to Write?
The National Children’s Gardening Week: gardening with pre-school children
"What doing Grandpa?" "I'm going to put some plants in the garden." "My help?" (Daisy's preferred personal pronoun is 'my', as in "my do it") Daisy squatted down next to her Grandpa and while he sorted out the small geranium plants; Daisy grabbed Grandpa's trowel and started to randomly dig in the soil. It didn't… Continue reading The National Children’s Gardening Week: gardening with pre-school children
