Category Archives: childhood

Outdoor Play: Making Potions

Posted on May 10, 2013 by

My eldest daughter has been an avid potion maker all her life.  We are always finding concoctions in her bathroom and when she was young she would leave them on the windowsill of her bedroom or on the side of … Continue reading →

Posted in childhood, children, early education & play, imagination, outdoor play, parenting, parents, play, pre schoolers, science, sensory play | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Preserving British Culture #2 Traditional Games

Posted on November 13, 2012 by

Last week I featured as a guest writer on Netmums Blog with a post entitled Playground Games from our Childhood. In this I talk about sharing my childhood games with my girls, games that are in danger of being lost … Continue reading →

Posted in early education & play, childhood, parenting, play, games | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

All I Ever Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

Posted on October 6, 2011 by

Those of us working with young children are familiar with the term Foundations of Learning.  What does that really mean? For me it means everything that gives us the capacity to learn, think, create, behave, communicate and build relationships. The … Continue reading →

Posted in childhood, early education & play, foundations, parents, play, pre schoolers, teaching | 2 Comments

Monsters and Imaginary Friends

Posted on July 31, 2011 by

My 2 year old has recently become pre-occupied with monsters, sometimes she is a monster, sometimes there is a monster in the room but she mentions them at least once a day.  I was fairly sure that this was a … Continue reading →

Posted in childhood, children, early education & play, imagination, parenting, play, pre schoolers | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Children’s Parties – No More Party Bags Please

Posted on May 5, 2011 by

  Party season has arrived again in our household.  My eldest has just had her 7th birthday and most of her class are spring and summer born babies so we now have an endless run.   In her book bag today … Continue reading →

Posted in childhood, parenting, parents, party bags, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Who touched your life when you were a child? – Michael Morpurgo’s Richard Dimbleby Lecture

Posted on February 21, 2011 by

I have finally managed to watch Michael Morpurgo’s Richard Dimbleby Lecture.  How refreshing to hear someone from outside of the world of Education recognising how undervalued the Early Years profession is.  The lack of financial reward and status means that … Continue reading →

Posted in books, childhood, children, early education & play, literacy, Michael Morpurgo, passion, Random Thoughts & Life Stories, reading, Richard Dimbleby Lecture, Sir Ken Robinson, teaching, The Element, uniqueness, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Brain Food – Junk Food may lower IQ.

Posted on February 8, 2011 by

As parents we are keen to get our children the latest educational toy, send them to the best nurseries and pre-schools and give them the best preparation for school that they can.    A research study conducted by the University of … Continue reading →

Posted in brain development, childhood, early education & play, healthy diet, IQ, junk food, parenting, toddlers | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Room by Emma Donoghue

Posted on January 15, 2011 by

I have been looking forward to reading this book for some time and had kept it aside to read in one sitting.  I was not disappointed. The story is told from the perspective of a 5 year old boy who … Continue reading →

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