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Monday 11 March 2024

6 Reasons to Get Your Toddler Interested in Sports and Athletics

It may already seem obvious that regular physical activity benefits young children, but current research is digging deeper on just how much of an impact it makes. A recent study by Brujins et al, published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, found that children who were introduced to physical activities when they were toddlers exhibited significantly better health outcomes and cognitive performance than their less active peers. 
 
6 reasons to get your child interested in sports and athletics

Many institutions across Asia have demonstrated their commitment to nurturing young talents through sports and athletics, knowing how much it matters to kids’ holistic development. In Kinderland Singapore, for example, they have a special program called KinderFit where young learners are encouraged to participate in sports and athletic activities that contribute to their overall wellness. To see KinderFit in action, as well as other activities that are meant to strengthen toddlers’ holistic growth, parents can check out Kinderland Singapore’s Facebook page and Kinderland Singapore’s official YouTube channel. 

Thursday 7 March 2024

School readiness – preparing your child for Reception Class

School readiness…its something you’ll probably hear quite a lot if you have a child who is preparing to start Reception Class in September, but what does it actually mean??

school readiness - preparing your child for reception class

How can we, as parents, make sure that we are helping and not hindering when preparing our 4 year olds for big school?

Most of my Teaching career was spent teaching Reception, and so this is something I thought long and hard about when passing on information to Parents. What would I hope, as their Teacher, they could do already? What sort of things would I discuss in the Parents meetings for new starters? Where would my expectations be bearing in mind I don’t yet know the children or what level they are at?

Its not what you might expect….

Wednesday 31 January 2024

Revolutionizing Walls: The Sustainable and Customized Wallpaper Experience at WallpaperMural.com

Welcome to Wallpaper Mural, a realm where your walls become a canvas for creativity and sustainability. We're not just a wallpaper company; we're innovators, environmental advocates, and artisans dedicated to transforming your living spaces. Our journey begins with a simple belief: every wall has a story to tell, and every story deserves a bespoke, beautiful backdrop. From the bustling streets of New York to the serene landscapes of Rome, our wallpapers have adorned walls worldwide, reflecting our global reach and diverse design ethos.
 
sustainable and customised wallpaper at wallpapermural.comDisclosure: This is a collaborative post

Our mission transcends beyond beautifying homes; it's about making a positive impact. We believe in a world where stunning wall decor and environmental responsibility coexist harmoniously. This blog invites you to discover how we blend artistry with eco-consciousness, customer-centric services with unparalleled quality, and an ever-evolving collection that keeps pace with the latest design trends.

How to make the IKEA sofa bed more comfortable

Are you wondering how to make your IKEA HEMNES day bed sofa bed more comfortable?
 
how to make your IKEA HEMNES extendable daybed more comfortable
Disclosure: Gifted items mentioned

Making your guest bed more comfortable for visitors, or even for yourself if you use it as a spare bed is really important for a quality night sleep. There is nothing worse than dealing with aches and pains in a morning after sleeping on a mattress which doesn’t support you…or losing your pillow down the back of your bed in the middle of the night!

This blog post will give you some realistic, affordable and helpful advice to make your bed more comfortable…

Revolutionizing Home Decor: The Eco-Friendly, Customizable World of Peel and Paper

Peel and Paper, a revolutionary wallpaper company, is transforming the way we think about interior design. At the heart of their operation is a commitment to eco-friendliness and customization, catering to a new era of conscious consumers. 

 

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post

Wednesday 3 January 2024

10 Questions to ask when choosing a Primary School

Are you currently looking around Primary Schools for next September ready for your child to start in Reception class, or, Foundation stage 2? Are you wondering what questions you should ask when choosing a new school? What things you should be looking for when looking around a new school or classroom?

 I found it really hard to approach this task with my 'parent hat' on, rather than my 'Teacher hat'. As many of you will know, I am a Primary School Teacher who specialised in the Early Years (EYFS) and I am extremely passionate about active, free-flow, play based learning. 



10 questions to ask when choosing a primary school

I have compiled a list of questions to ask when trying to choose a primary school below, some of which I asked when looking around the schools...some that I wish I had asked! Anyway, here is the benefit of my hindsight, carefully set out for you to use when researching schools for yourself... and once you've chosen, you can pop back and read my post all about school readiness and how to help our children prepare for Reception class. 

Friday 29 December 2023

Complete guide to tuff trays

Are you wondering what a Tuff Tray is? Perhaps you can't understand what all the hype is about - do you REALLY need a tuff tray? Are they any alternatives to having a Tuff Tray? Will a tuff tray fit inside your space? Perhaps you have purchased one and now you don't know what to do with it, and need some help and advice on tuff tray set ups? 
 
complete guide to tuff trays

Fear not, we have you covered! This post will tell you everything you need to know about tuff trays and will sign post you to some fab tuff tray play ideas too!

How to Help Your Child Develop the Pre-Literacy and Numeracy Skills They Need for Kindergarten

While kindergarten serves as the introduction to formal education for many young children, it isn’t always the initial place where a child receives their first learning experience. The home is often credited as a child’s first school because their parents—who are considered to be their first educators—provide them with a safe and nurturing learning environment where they can develop their motor, language, and imagination skills. Creating this environment is crucial during early childhood development, as it helps provide children with a strong foundation for academic success. It also gives parents the opportunity to equip their children with the pre-literacy and numeracy skills they need to prepare themselves for their kindergarten years.
  
how to help your child develop the pre-literacy and numeracy skills they need for kindergarten

Speaking, reading, writing, and counting numbers are just some of the important skills children must learn before they begin their educational journey at a  preschool in Singapore   or in any other country in the world. When they’re able to develop their pre-literacy skills and numeracy skills early, children can navigate the challenges of kindergarten with great certainty and cultivate a love for learning. They can also express themselves more clearly and engage with their peers and teachers more confidently. 

For a child to achieve good pre-literacy and numeracy skills, however, parents need to convey the lessons they want their little one to learn effectively so that they can absorb the knowledge in a manner they can understand. Parental facilitation  of early mathematics and reading skills plays a key role in the future of a child’s academic success, and as a parent, you want to ensure that you’re employing the right activities to provide your child with the best learning environment at home. If you’re looking for more ideas, here are some strategies you can implement to help improve your child’s pre-literacy and numeracy skills.

Saturday 23 December 2023

Christmas Eve Poem for Parents

When Arthur was still 2 yrs old - I spent almost my entire Christmas Eve sat on his bedroom floor trying to help him get to sleep as he was afraid of Father Xmas visiting our house!! I had a bit of time to kill, so I wrote this poem... I'm hoping that we don't have a repeat of  it this year, but I am absolutely certain I wont be the only one if so....

A christmas Eve poem image with the first few lines: 'Twas the night before Xmas and all through the house,   not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse....  Toddlers don't count though, especially mine - he's frightened of Santa...  Lordy bring me the wine!


Christmas Eve Poem for Parents


'Twas the night before Xmas and all through the house, 
not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse....

Tuesday 28 November 2023

Christmas Playdough Mats | Free Download

There are so many benefits of playdough play, whether your children prefer lots of structure or to mix the colours of the playdough it is a great way to release inner creativity and to keep little ones (and big ones!) busy and entertained with an activity over the holiday season. These free christmas playdough mats are ready for you to download and laminate....


christmas playdough mats free download


These xmas playdough mats were originally a free download over on my shop childledplay.co.uk to be used alongside my playdough. I am now posting them here for my blog readers to benefit from too. You can also find a home made playdough recipe here. 

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