Austin Macauley got in touch to ask for this review. Sally Lewer Ahern , the author, has written the book from the heart. It is full of love for her adopted son Carlos. Sally tells the heartwarming story of how she became a mother to Carlos. She has included some hints and tips in her…
This was the topic brought up on a daytime television programme just before Christmas. I have never been a smoker, but must point out that I am NOT having a go at anyone who does. I am not against smoking; it is a personal choice: I am against smoking in front of children, though. As…
Busy parents will find it helpful if their children go to sleep early on Christmas eve. giving them time to prepare for the following big day. When I was a girl, my mother always told my sisters and I that if we went to bed early on Christmas eve Christmas day would come quicker, I…
Best learning sent this great children’s toy for review. Stack and learn is different from the average stacking ring toy, as it consists of a tower and 5 coloured rings, which are brightly coloured in red, orange, yellow, green and purple. Each ring has 3 different images (which link to the different modes available; number,…
When I was a registered child minder I was always on the lookout for activities for the children; Christmas was my favourite time for providing crafts for them to do:- There are some new downloads available from ichild: The star gives children a chance to practice their cutting skills. It is beautiful as it is…
Thankfully, I have only had experience of this a couple of times. Once a new parent didn’t come to collect her child at the contracted time. I had another child due to arrive soon, which would mean that I was over the number of children that I was registered to have. I tried phoning her…
Babycup first cups are suitable from 4 months of age. I was sent a set of 4 cups in pretty colours, which instantly make them appealing. The thing that makes Babycup different from other child cups and beakers is that they are sippy- not sucky; making it easy for young children to use ( I…
One of my favourite times of year is Christmas and the school nativity play was something that myself and my husband looked forward to. My youngest son attended a small village school where almost everyone felt like family. One year we took along an 18 month old child who I was child minding, she sat…
Elizabeth, who is new to child minding, has asked for some ideas for teaching children about size. I have always had a height chart on my kitchen wall, it was a family tradition to measure my children the day before a birthday and see how much they grew that year. I remember once when my…
This colourful, fun children’s book helps to teach children about animals, numbers and counting to 10. I would also ask children if they know what noise each animal makes. The text is written in rhyme making the book even more fun to share with children, who will enjoy the bright, colourful illustrations . Creature teacher…
“You must share your toys!” is something that I often hear parents tell their children. But how does a child learn to share? The key is to encourage children to share from as early an age as possible; by sharing with siblings, having children over for play dates, or taking children along to groups such…
Nikki Saunders, the author of this wonderful children’s book is a mother of 2 children who have autism. She wrote the book as she struggled to find child friendly literature on the subject when her boys were diagnosed. The book has a bright front cover in my favourite colour purple . From start to finish…
With Christmas virtually just around the corner, I wanted to share my thoughts and experiences of children with Santa. I used taking my second son to see Santa as a chance to get him to give up his dummy, I told him that Santa would give it to ‘baby Rudolph’ so that he could settle…
Healthy Cooking for a Family: Quick and Delicious Ideas Busy lives can make it tricky to ensure that your family is eating healthily, but with some handy hints and a little planning it becomes a lot easier. And once you’ve found a routine that works, the whole process gets quicker and quicker. So, let’s take…
Anyone who knows me or is a reader of my blog will know that I am passionate about children’s literature. When I was a girl I loved to read Enid Blyton: especially The Famous Five books and when I spent some time in hospital, aged 10. having my appendix removed these books helped me get…
In a world that seems to be dominated by plastic products, in contrast, treasure baskets are a collection of household items made from natural materials which are given to babies and young children to explore. A baby starts to explore using her hands and fingers well before birth, while still in the womb. Treasure basket…
I was invited to attend the Disney on ice event at Westpoint in Exeter As. I am a wheelchair user a building with suitable assess was essential. Westpoint was perfect and easy for my son to push my wheelchair around. We had a great view of the rink from our seats (even for…
Today’s post is a suggestion from an Instagram follower. Sensory play is what it says on the tin: Play that stimulates a child’s senses: touch, smell,taste, sight and hearing. Messy play is just a small part of sensory play. When I was a registered child minder one of the games I would play with the children…
This hardback children’s book is written by Mary Murphy. The bright, colourful illustrations drawn by Zhu Chebn-Liang make it really appealing. The book is a delight and tells the story of a little girl and what she likes most; as is usual with young children, she keeps changing her mind and each page shows something…
Many modern mums are both bringing up a family and working just to make ends meet. The key to a successful work life balance, to me, is to have a routine and try to stick to it. Other tips that come to mind are:- Be realistic; you are only human and therefore can only achieve…
All of these crafts from ichild can be made cheaply from store cupboard essentials:- MAKE A WITCH Using the blank or ready coloured template assemble the pieces to create your very own witch . PAPER PLATE GHOST;; This is a simple, but effective way of creating a ghost, it will help children to learn to…
When I was a registered child minder I was always keen to get my name ‘out there’ as word of mouth is the best form of advertising. I had my people carrier vehicle sign written ( the cost can go against tax as an expense) it just had my name, the fact that I was…
This was a topic being discussed on a daytime television programme this week. Personally, I think that too much tech can have a negative effect on children. My eldest son loved his play station and would become moody when told to turn it off. A friend has told me that her son would trash his…
This paperback children’s book is a take on some favourite fairy tale characters. Alison Paige, the author, has written the story in a way that will appeal to children; it is quite humorous in places and the text is rhyming in others. Paddy Donnelly has illustrated the book beautifully. The tale of Mrs M’Grady is…
Registered child minders may work alone in their own homes, but they are early years professionals and should have a contract with parents, just as larger settings do. I would have an initial meeting with parents looking for childcare; tips on what to say here When the parents had agreed to me looking after their…
A recent programme on television showed parents who have 3 children and believe that their children don’t need any rules: they do what they want, when they want. The mother sleeps with the youngest child in her bed. The children don’t have set bedtimes; they go to bed when they feel that they are tired…
A friend has suggested this week’s post. She said that she has noticed that many parents seem to want to keep their children in a buggy or pushchair for their convenience and wonders at what age a child should be expected or encouraged to walk rather than ride. My answer is that as all children…
Earlier this week I went into a well known High street store; the first aisle that I came across was full of Halloween costumes, the next one was overflowing with Christmas decorations, cards and paper. It is only the middle of September! This got me thinking about any children who were taken into the store;…
After watching a child have a major temper tantrum in a supermarket, a customer ( who was not the parent) told him to “Shut up!” Is it okay to discipline someone else’s child? I used to work as a registered child minder and therefore I had to manage the behaviour of the children in my…
It has been reported that parents are too scared to let their children play outside; are they over-reacting? The children have gone back to school now after the long summer break, but we still have a good month’s worth of light evenings were children could play outside if they are allowed. When I was a…
When I was working as a registered child minder I was always on the lookout for ideas for cheap activities and places to take the children. We often went to the local soft play facility at the leisure centre where several child minders would meet up with the children, we even managed to get a…
With the colder weather approaching meaning that coughs and colds are on the horizon; the timing of this children’s book that teaches them to put their hands over their mouths or use a tissue to catch that cough is perfect. The front cover is a sunny yellow colour which makes you want to investigate further….
Having an Ofsted inspector or N.V.Q. assessor visit your setting can be a daunting prospect for child minders and other early years practitioners. . Here are a few of my personnel experiences:- When my N.V.Q. assessor was visiting as part of my work to gain my N.V.Q. level 3 in early years care and education,…
Best learning sent this interactive matching game for review. There are 24 different cards containing 48 lessons; from learning the alphabet to transportation. Basically, when a chosen card is inserted in the console and the relevant card code is entered using the hand controller the fun and learning will begin . Children aged 6 years…
A recent television programme shows Jo-Rosie Haffenden who believes that we should train our babies like dogs. Although I would never suggest putting a collar and lead on your baby:I have been saying for years that animals, children (and husbands!) can be ‘trained’ in a similar way: which is to reward any good wanted behaviour…
This children’s book which has a pale pastel cover is written by Katy Segrove. On opening the book there is a space for children to write, or get an adult to write their name; providing an opportunity to recognise their name each time the book is looked at .. Malcolm’s friends all love to play…
It has been reported recently that parents have been paying an average of £7.70 in extra pocket money in an attempt to stop their children having too much screen time. Addicted to screens here After some research I discovered that friends give their children the following amounts of pocket money:- Megan, 9, is given £2…
Errol is a boy who is bothered by a monster; wherever he goes, whatever he does, the monster is there. So he makes a plan to get rid of it. This delightful children’s book is written by Cameron Shepherd. It could be used by practitioners or parents as a tool to help children to deal…
I was sent the Carmella apple candy locks doll to review. The first thing that struck me was how tiny she is, Carmella apple is wearing pink roller boots, she can move from the waist and has flexible arms. What Carmella apple and the other candy locks dolls lack in size make up for by…
This great children’s book has a fantastic message; that it is okay for children to say no to something that they are uncomfortable with. The book has a bright, colourful front cover making it appealing straight away. Malina doesn’t like the idea of her friend’s new activity, which is playing the bum drum game. ….
5 Tips for Surviving Family Vacation I remember the chaotic days of our family’s seasonal vacations just like they were yesterday. Between my parents arguing over directions, my siblings crying and bickering over not sharing the electronic devices enough, or my granddad bringing up uncomfortable, and often times inappropriate, conversations about a distant relative…
This is a selection of back to school and starting school activities available to download form ichild. There are several school related pictures for children to colour; including a colour and count lunch box picture which promotes healthy eating. There are fun school badges to make, with the option of colouring your own badge or…
Parents sometimes get confused about the different types of daycare available for their children and I was recently asked to explain the differences by a friend:- CHILDMINDERS: As I used to be a registered child minder, this is my favourite type of daycare, Child minders maybe the best option for working parents because they can…
Should I Get a Pet For My Kids? We are a family of five: Me, my husband, Cassie, 3, Vivi, 1, and Elliot, 2 months. Right now our lives are pretty busy (as you can imagine) and a pet is the last thing we are considering in these early years. But as the kids…
A friend recently received a letter from school informing her that her daughter would be having a lesson explaining growing up and changing bodies, so she suggested that I should write about this topic. I remember my mum ( who like most people of her generation found it difficult to talk about this subject) giving…
Kitty Irvine got in touch to ask if I would review her book. The front cover is glossy and shows the characters who appear in the book. The story is all about the magical land of Willowwood snug. It follows twins; Tippy and Tilly who are excited about being big enough to start going to…
The endless days of summer—sitting by the pool, soaking up the sun, catching up with friends and family. The cook outs, summer trips and summertime projects. There are many activities to fill the longer days of summer, but what do you do when you get to the midpoint of summer vacation and the kids start…
New child minders and other early years practitioners are sometimes confused by early years jargon; hopefully this will explain:- OPEN ENDED QUESTIONS: These are questions that make children think about their answers, for example; when playing with children instead of asking questions that can be answered with a simple “yes” or “no” ask a…
The Second Baby’s on Its Way – What’s the Firstborn Going to Say? You’ve made up your mind and realised that it’s the right time to get the second baby. Now you need to prepare yourself and the rest of your family for the arrival of this new little being. You and your partner…
I have always been horse mad and wanted my own horse for as long as I can remember; I used to say that I wanted to marry a rich farmer, as a way of getting my own equine. Sadly that never happened, however, I spent many happy hours riding various horses belonging to others (…
It has recently been mentioned that maybe parents should be banned from school sports day; this is because some parents have behaved badly and embarrassed their children. Some parents are annoyed when their children don’t win.One parent even went so far as to take along her own sports day medal to give to her (and…
I am a stroke survivor and have recently gained the courage to go out alone using my electric wheelchair ( rather than with a friend or relative). To help fill my time I contacted a local primary school to see if I could be a reading volunteer, as I used to be a child minder …
Katie, a child minder has requested today’s post. I am a fan of getting children out and about whenever possible; so forest schools are right up my street. I often took the children in my care to the woods when I was a registered child minder- read about it here …
A book has recently been published in which it states that a baby should be left to cry and that there is no evidence that this will harm a child. This got me thinking:- I believe that a baby cries for a reason and therefore should not be left to ‘cry it out’. I also…
As we are approaching the end of another school year and most schools will be hosting a parents evening; I decided to share my thoughts and experiences;:- A recent episode of a daytime television programme shared that a father fell asleep during a parents evening and a child asked her dad not to tell his…
http://www.facebook.com/michelleningbooks/This fantastic children’s book is written and illustrated by Michelle Ning Lo. The front cover is really bright and colourful making it appealing straight away. Inside is an animal alphabet; not only is the text written in rhyme (making it even more fun and easier for any early readers to predict the next word-giving them…
Dear parents-to-be What I wish I had known as a first time parent! This is such an exciting time but I, like so many others had not prepared myself to teach my baby to sleep when she arrived and I quickly found myself being woken every hour of the night – I spent…
Mrs Wordsmith sent volumes 1 and 2 of these children’s sticker books, which also help with children learning to read. Each of the books has 10 pages of bright, colourful round stickers; which as a former early years practitioner, I know will appeal to children. The books have a space for each sticker with…
When I first applied to become a registered child minder, many years ago now, we were all advised, at a compulsory foundation course ( designed as an introduction to child minding)not to child mind for friends or neighbours, I wasn’t sure, then, why this was so and when I received my child minders certificate, I…
Tiny tree books sent this lovely book, which explores a child’s imagination; it is full of diversity. The book also challenges gender stereo-types; as Millie, the girl in the story pretends to be a fire fighter just like her dad . This wonderful daddy/daughter story is written by Ryan Crawford and Kayla Coombs. …
Best learning sent this great educational toy. The whack and learn mole will teach children the alphabet, numbers 1-12 and colours while also developing hand-to-eye co-ordination and dexterity; all whilst having fun. When a child age 6 months upwards whacks the mole on the head he can start playing and learning. There are different modes:-…
I recently watched a program on television were a pregnant woman was concerned that she wouldn’t be able to love this baby as much as her first and would she have enough love to go around? In my experience you absolutely will love every child as much, as all babies are individuals with different personalities …
Forelock books sent the following:- THE HORSE WITH BIG HAIR: This colourful children’s picture book is written by Sally Burrell, it tells the tale of Buckle, a horse with a messy mane and tail. The other horses and children laugh at him because of this, but Buckle doesn’t mind because his owner loves him just…
When I was working as a resisted child minder, like most other child minders I looked after a variety of children of different ages, stages of development and some with special needs (often all at once). My favourite activities which can be enjoyed by everyone, with maybe a few adjustments to suit special needs are:-…
Tiny tree children’s books sent the following:- BINX LOST IN FRANCE This is the second Binx book that I have reviewed, Binx the Jinx was equally as good as this one. The story is written in rhyming text- my favourite.and is printed clearly enough for early readers to attempt reading for themselves. It is…
I heard on the radio that Romeo Beckham feels that he is letting his dad down because he isn’t very good at football. This got me thinking; should we expect our children to follow in our footsteps and if so are we putting too much pressure on them? Regular readers will be aware that I …
When I was sent this hardback children’s book to review, I could tell straight away that I was going to love everything about it. The front cover gives a wonderful clue as to what is inside. The book is written in a sensitive way that children will be able to understand; from explaining about the…
When I was a registered child minder I would often sing with the children in my care; I will admit to being the world’s worst singer, but the children seemed to like it, recently a parent whose son I used to look after when he was 4 ( he is in his 30’s now) told…
This wonderful hardback children’s picture book is perfect for me to review, as I have a granddaughter , called Katlyn, she spells it a little differently (without the e) most people in England spell it Caitlin. The book is written by Kerri.T. Collins and the beautiful illustrations are drawn by Marcia Adams Ho . The…
I can clearly remember driving in my car in the 1990’s on the way to collect my children from school, the news reporter on the radio said that by the year 2010 more school age children would have mobile phones than wrist watches; what a load of rubbish I thought to myself, why would school…
Most parents have a busy schedule—making lunches, attending school events, trying to juggle work and a social life. Where does the time go? More often than not, it’s spent playing catch up. Maybe you missed an appointment or forgot to do a few things around the house. To help you get back on track, and…
In the hope of inspiring other disabled people to become more independent I am sharing my experience of travelling on the bus on my electric wheelchair. I survived a massive stroke just over 12 years ago and now feel that I need to start getting some independence back. I have been into town a few…
Best learning materials sent this lovely book, which helps to develop logical thinking, creative and imaginative skills, a love of music and helps with children’s concentration. Open the bright front cover to find a book of 10 favourite , well known children’s songs; such as row, row, row your boat, twinkle, twinkle little star ,…
Another fun post inspired by the innocent things that children say. When my middle son was due to start school, he was very excited.He went with me to meet his teacher. When we returned home and his dad asked what the teacher was like, he told him, “She has hair here and hair here,” while…
Austin Macauley publishers kindly sent the following children’s books for review: THE DUCK TRAIL Is written by Steven G. Matthews. It tells the tale of Drake the duck who doesn’t listen to his mother and gets into an unfortunate situation. The text is written in a poetic nature and the illustrations are bright and colourful…
When I was working as a registered child minder I looked after a little girl who wore calipers on her legs to walk, she could only wear them for short periods as otherwise they made her skin sore. Her mother asked me to put them on and remove them throughout her time with me. …
This colourful, hardback children’s interactive book is fantastic. The inside cover explains clearly how to use the book, which even arrived with the batteries included! The book features 12 different animals; from a camel to a tiger . Every page has colourful illustrations and some text explaining about each animal. The unique thing about the…
Are your children out of control, rude, or displaying behaviorsand values that do not support the goals you have for your family? Often these behaviors are mimics of observed behavior. It’s a tough pill to swallow to think that the poor behaviors demonstrated by your children are sometimes a direct reflection of your own behavior….
First I must point out that I am bias towards registered child minders because I was one for many years. Child minders are quite different from other providers, such as nannies, nurseries and pre-schools. To start child minders work in their own homes; offering a home-from-home to the children in their care. This in my…
I have always been a believer of getting out and about whenever possible, especially with children. When I was growing up, my family often went for a countryside walk at the weekends. My sisters and I were all horse mad so when we went for a walk we would find a stick each and then…
Deciding on the right name for a child can be difficult. Some parents decide on a family name. or name a baby after a sporting hero or even a pop star. When I was pregnant with my first child we chose names for both sexes: a boy would be Leigh Stephen: Leigh ( my husband…
Regular readers will know that I am a fan of ichild: this is a selection of their activities for Easter and spring:- INTO THE WOODS: Is a printout of a woodland scene, then another download produces woodland characters for children to cut out and stick onto their woodland picture. THE BLUEBELL; Not only introduces a…
Tiny tree publishing sent the latest instalment of the animal alphabet books. All of the books are written by Kaley Owen and the wonderful illustrations are by Graeme Harding. The books have rhyming text; my absolute favourite for children’s literature. GINA THE GIRAFFE: Gina is very forgetful and the other animals make fun of her…
Bullying is horrible and there is no excuse for it in my opinion. Thankfully I have never been bullied and neither have any of my children. A friend once told me that she was picked on at school by another girl ( it was over a boy which my friend said she didn’t even like…
Being a parent is a full-time job. For lots of people, this job comes in addition to a demanding career. With that being a said, maintaining a household can easily start to get overwhelming as parents’ schedules continue to get busier and busier. The key to keeping things running smoothly while also keeping your…
When I agreed to review this publication I was expecting a thin magazine to drop through my letterbox, I was pleasantly surprised when a proper book came. The zine was started by Emma 4 weeks after having her daughter, Isabella. Emma self publishes the zine which is all about motherhood, self care and well…
When I was working as a registered child minder I was told at several training courses that I should work in partnership with parents. This is great in theory but some parents work in partnership more than others. One parent had the idea that because she was paying me to care for her child, I…
Looksee checklist got in touch asking me to review their pocket edition as they thought it was a good fit for my blog theme. Basically the handy spiral bound wipe clean book contains 13 checklists to monitor children’s (age 0-6) development and help them to grow. There are clear instructions on how to use the…
Celebrate St. P Patrick’s day with this challenging crossword puzzle. This year St. Patrick’s day is on Sunday 17th March. Education.com asked me to write about this download, as I have previously written successful posts for them. The crossword puzzle is suitable for children aged 7-8 years (roughly year 3 of school). To download these…
Usually I tell parents to try to ignore unwanted bad behaviour in children, but biting is a different matter that can’t be ignored. I would suggest going down to the children’s level, looking them in the eye and say in a firm voice, “No, that hurts.” Also remember to reward children when they are playing…
Dawn has suggested this weeks post. When I was a girl, I didn’t have an imaginary friend. I had an imaginary German shepherd dog . I always wanted to have a dog and got my love of this particular breed from my dad, who never managed to own one as we eventually had a Labrador…
After watching a programme on the television where children were asked what they wanted to be when they grow up,I decided to share what myself and others inspired to be as adults when we were children: My cousin always wanted to be a dance teacher, she now teaches dance part time as a way of…
Is watching television good for children, or something not to be encouraged? These are my thoughts and experiences:- In my opinion children watching television can be good providing an adult monitors what they are watching. There are some quality educational programmes aimed at children. When I was working as a registered child minder I…
Taste ‘n’tell is a series of 10 books designed to help children who are fussy eaters to eat more fruit and vegetables The unique thing about the taste’n’tell books is that each book has a clever plastic pot with a lid to put samples of the food for children to try. Book 1- discovering…
In my experience as both a parent and a registered child minder from time to time children will swear, cuss and use unpleasant language. The best way to manage this is to ignore it. if children don’t get a response the chances are they won’t repeat this behaviour. I recall my youngest coming in…
Homework, whether you agree with it or not (I have heard of parents who believe that because children are at school all day they shouldn’t have to have homework too) is a part of the school years. My youngest son was so excited when his speech therapist gave him some sounds to practice at home,…
I was a registered child minder for 14 years and I can honestly say that I loved every single moment of it. I only gave up because ill health forced me to. Being a child minder has lots of advantages: I started this particular career because it meant that I was able to earn some…
This fantastic children’s picture book is written by Anna Crichton and illustrated by Siobhan Barlow. The book is inspired by Anna’s own dog, Zara. The story is written from the prospective of the dog and cleverly explains how the dog feels when she is crowded by children in the playground. It also explains how to…
Another fun post today. When I was a child I remember my slightly older cousin telling me that she had stayed up to “see in the new year.” The first time that I saw in the new year, I was so disappointed as I didn’t see anything! I presumed that because my cousin had stayed…