In recent weeks we enjoyed a family visit to Colchester Zoo, which recently reopened with a number of changes in place to manage capacity, social distancing and hygiene. We had a fantastic day out – lions, meerkats, giraffes, penguins and hyenas emerged as particular favourites – and the outing only strengthened Daisy's interest in wild… Continue reading Make the most of a zoo visit – with animal silhouettes and matching games
Tag: Nature
Sharing and Learning from what happens in Autumn
We adults are familiar with the sequence of the seasons and the gradual changes that take place in nature during autumn. As part of beginning to understand the world around her (part of the Early Years curriculum), this year we've started to talk to Daisy about the way trees change in autumn, and to observe… Continue reading Sharing and Learning from what happens in Autumn
Conkers for Counting
This week the fine Autumn weather tempted us to the local park with Daisy, while Mummy and Daddy did more boring things at home. As Daisy ran along the tree-lined path to the playground a strong gust of wind shook the branches overhead and conkers dropped from the sky, one bouncing of Daisy’s head (no… Continue reading Conkers for Counting
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
Listening Walks
I'm writing this blog while sitting in my garden, listening to a chorus of birdsong, some distant traffic and the sounds of the breeze blowing through the trees. Last week I read about some recent data that shows, on average, Britons spend five percent of the day (an hour and twelve minutes) outside. While another… Continue reading Listening Walks
Learning in the Garden: Load, Lift and Push a wheelbarrow
When Daisy comes to stay she loves to spend time in our garden and she's now developed an interest in our garden tools and equipment. So when we recently spotted a child's metal wheelbarrow in a charity shop, we knew that it would be perfect for Daisy. Daisy has a toy buggy at home and… Continue reading Learning in the Garden: Load, Lift and Push a wheelbarrow
Fifty Blogs Later
It's a year since I wrote my first Granny Smith blog! Fifty blogs later, those warm elephant socks that I wrote about are now worn by Teddy and Daisy only uses baby signing when she's really tired. We continue to use the local library regularly but now Daisy enjoys looking through the story boxes to… Continue reading Fifty Blogs Later
Pumpkin maths
Have you noticed the array of pumpkins and colourful squashes at your supermarket or greengrocers? And have you bought some to decorate your home or your doorstep? Pumpkins and squashes are brilliant additions to our homes at this time of the year and you can also share them with your young grandchild. Before you even… Continue reading Pumpkin maths
What to look for in Autumn; a guest blog by Grandpa Smith
Autumn is Grandpa's favourite season so I've invited him to write this - Daisy may be too young to understand the turning of the seasons but she’s not too young to savour the assault on the senses presented by the arrival of Autumn. It is the most sensory of the seasons providing stimulation colour and… Continue reading What to look for in Autumn; a guest blog by Grandpa Smith
Messy play: take your toddler to mud club
A guest post by Daisy’s Dad. Has your toddler made their first mud pie yet? With depressing statistics suggesting that children’s daily lives have become increasingly domestic and digital, the popularity of activities like mud clubs and woodland nurseries seems set to rise, as parents attempt to introduce some balance into their children’s play options.… Continue reading Messy play: take your toddler to mud club
Granny Smith's Diary 