We love the great outdoors and there are plenty of hands-on nature activities for children to enjoy. Whether it’s going for a paddle in the sea, walking barefoot through the grass or bug hunting in the garden, there is so much outside to explore and help your children learn about nature and wildlife. Playing outside has been proven to improve a child’s happiness and confidence, which is why I’m always keen to get outdoors every chance we have. The key is to tune in to nature as a sensory experience and use it as a way to learn about our environment and wildlife. The summer holidays are coming up so…
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Things No One Tells You About Postpartum Recovery
I was completely unprepared when it came to my postpartum recovery. My husband and I sat in various NHS-run parenting classes where labour was discussed in depth. Natural birth was rammed down your throat, one midwife proudly declared how she had eight children and that not once did she request an epidural. (No pressure then) I remember being taught how to put on a nappy and was reminded to practice getting the baby seat in and out of the car a few times. Then there were the breastfeeding videos, showing babies latching onto the breast with ease. The postpartum recovery period wasn’t really talked about. I was told I might…
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Why Children Need to Grow Up Around Nature
My sister and I were very lucky to have grandparents who lived in a small cottage on a countryside estate. As children, we would spend occasional weekends there without our parents. We would explore the fields, build bridges and splash in the brook or go on woodland adventures. I’m sure my grandma never let us out of her sight but she gave us enough autonomy to discover how we can use the great outdoors as our playground. I recently went to visit them with my two boys. As soon as I stepped out of the car, into the soft and gentle countryside, I could feel my mind wander back to…
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10 Easy Mess Free Sensory Activities for Toddlers
My kids absolutely love messy play and it can be a lot of fun. It gives them freedom to get their hands on anything glittery, sticky and covered in glue. Let’s be honest though, what we don’t love is the actual mess that comes with messy play. Sometimes we don’t have the time or space for these activities which often lead to play dough being trodden into the carpet or shaving foam covering the table.
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What Happens When Children Choose Flowers For Their Mum
This is a collaborative post. I love getting homemade gifts from my children. My youngest is a bit too young to be making anything yet, but my eldest has now started making me cards for birthdays and Mother’s Day. There is something really special about getting something that is filled with your child’s personality and shows how much they love you. I have already got my handmade Mother’s Day card from Jack that he made at nursery. He is starting to learn how to write his name and so I felt a little emotional when I recognised a few of the letters. Aside from cards, there are other ways that…
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Positive Quotes That Will Lift You Up
A positive attitude can easily be extinguished by whatever life throws at you, be it self-doubt, worries, anxiety or depression. Positive affirmations used to make me cringe a little bit. But since I’ve embraced them and become more mindful, they give me a little pick-me-up when it’s needed most. They are little anchors of hope when everything feels a little muddled. Here are a couple that have stuck with me over the years. Which ones are your favourites?
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Make Your Own Erupting Volcano Out Of Play Dough
My son is enthralled by all things science related. Whether its watching astronauts brushing their teeth on YouTube, teaching me everything he knows about outer space, or making a tornado in a bottle – his love of science has driven his eagerness to learn and discover how things work. We are always trying to find new ways to nurture his passion for science. He usually comes home from preschool asking if he can ‘do science’. He has become really interested in volcanoes and is fascinated with how they fire out lava. Needless to say he was pretty desperate to try and recreate this at home and as it’s a pretty…
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How We Helped Our Fussy Eater Learn to Love Food
Feeding my eldest used to be such hard work. He didn’t take to breastfeeding that well. I was very weak for a long time after a major postpartum haemorrhage and this seemed to affect my milk supply. As a newborn, Jack lost loads of weight and struggled to put it back on. We tried supplementing with bottles and while it helped him gain weight, he started to struggle with those, too. He’d cry during feeds, cry after them, gag on milk, tug and pull at the teat. He did exactly the same when breastfeeding too. His stomach would gurgle with wind and now amount of Colief or Infacol would make…
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35 Rainy Day Activities for Three Year Olds
This post contains affiliate links I didn’t actually realise half-term was upon us until around 3pm on the Friday before. Argh! My niece and nephew don’t start their holidays until the week after so needless to say, I’ve been completely caught out an unprepared for the days ahead. But we are determined to make the most of it. My eldest is usually at pre-school four days a week and come 3pm the most he can managing is slumping on the sofa and demanding snacks. During the holidays, our usual activities centre around getting outside as much as we can but as it’s going to rain for most of the week,…
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What Foods Should Breastfeeding Mums Eat?
I am not a nutrition expert, this is what helped me while I was breastfeeding. Always consult your doctor for professional advice if you are concerned about your baby’s sensitivities. Pregnancy, giving birth, sleepless nights and breastfeeding can demand every bit of energy that you can muster. It’s hard work and can be emotionally and physically draining for sleep-deprived new mums, and that’s without having to think about what foods you are allowed to snack on. When I breastfed Jack, I had no idea how important nutrition was for my body during that time. I had suffered a major postpartum haemorrhage which depleted my iron levels. No midwife told me…
