What does EYFS stand for? Early Years Foundation Stage is a set of standards for the learning, development, and care of your child from birth to five years old! All schools and Ofsted-registered early years providers (including Ducklings Preschool) must follow the EYFS. But let’s dive in a little deeper to better understand EYFS First, the areas of learning Your child will mostly be taught through games and play! The areas of learning are: Communication and language Physical development Personal, social, and emotional development Literacy Mathematics Understanding the world Expressive arts and design Secondly, let’s discuss assessments Your child’s progression will be reviewed when they’re between the age of 2 to 3, which will be performed by an early years practitioner or health visitor. After this, their class teacher will assess them, towards the end of the school year, when they turn 5. However, please don’t be worried! These assessments are based on classroom observation - your child will not be asked to perform any sort of tests. If you would like to see the framework used, the statutory framework for the early year's foundation stage can be found on the Government’s website here; https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2. Thirdly, if any area of learning which arises is in conflict with your beliefs, whether that be religious or philosophical beliefs, please talk to your child’s early years provider at Ducklings. For more information regarding this, please check out the Government’s website here; https://www.gov.uk/early-years-foundation-stage.

Let's celebrate Summer together using our free downloadable booklet. This booklet is designed to teach the basics of Summer, and talk about the natural changes we all experience during this season. This booklet is full of content; from useful blog resources to various fun EYFS activities, feel free to download, print off, and share this completely FREE booklet with anyone to use either at home, on the go, or at school! Want to view a couple of pages before downloading? Check out below;

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How long has it been since you last looked up from your phone? Are the kids in the same boat? Don’t worry, we’re all getting to the stage where we’re living off of memes and Tik Tok videos! But as a parent, you can start to worry about the amount of screen time your kids get day by day. All in all, staying at home is getting a lot of us pretty bored, but what can you do to entertain your kids without firing up some games on the iPad? Even with lockdown lifting, it can still be quite worrying to take the kids out and about, so right now you’re stuck at home with little else to do but put the telly on! And when it comes to finding new things for the kids to do, you’ve been wracking your brains for a while and not come up with anything. Well, we’ve got a few handy and fun suggestions below that will work just fine for sorting out the screen time issue in your home! Even if you just need an idea to jog your mind, Make up characters together Kids love to spend time in ‘different worlds’, so why not use their imagination to the full? Instead of letting them spend so much time with characters in games and TV shows, turn off the screens and get everyone together with a pencil and paper. Set them to come up with their own characters with questions like, ‘What do they look like?’ and ‘What do they do?’ and then use them to tell stories as a group! Put on a puppet show Once you’ve made up and drawn or painted your own characters, turn them into puppets and put on a show! Hang up a curtain above some cardboard boxes for a makeshift puppet theatre, and then get some old tea towels, googly eyes, and pipe cleaners out to make the puppets with. Don’t worry, hand puppets aren’t as intricate to make as you might think; check out this tutorial for some ideas. Play dress up If puppets aren’t for you, you can also grab a bunch of old clothes out of the wardrobe and play dress up with the kids. Rip up and sew some outfits together to make various costumes, such as a pirate, a queen, a superhero, or a doctor. And if the kids want to mix and match here, go ahead and let them! Bake a cake Once you’re done with making characters and turning them into reality, get into the kitchen together and turn the oven on - it’s time to bake a cake! A yummy treat that tastes good both before and after it’s been baked, and you can let your little ones get incredibly creative with the icing job too. Make sure you’ve got food colouring in the house, as well as sprinkles and other sugar decorations to really make this a fun task. Get your own soft play equipment This one will take a little bit of time to put together, but you can invest in some ‘soft play’ toys for the kids and build a fort out of them. Soft play is great for younger kids; it’s a good way for toddlers to develop their motor skills without hurting themselves, and if you only bring it out on special occasions, they’ll always be excited to take part! Try a board game If you’ve got a quiet night ahead, why not get a board game or two out? There are plenty of family-friendly games you can spend an hour or two on, and it’s a great way to spend time as a family. You’ll all be in the same room, without any screens in front of you, able to smile and laugh and even enjoy some petty disagreements together! Start scrapbooking together If your child is more of a creative mind or loves cutting and sticking paper and colouring things in, you can try starting a scrapbook together. Get a plain sketchbook, get together some printed pictures, old tickets, receipts, and some scissors and glue, and you and your child can walk down memory lane together. Get them to draw out their memories to be stuck alongside the physical reminders. Get your hands dirty in the garden And while you’re finding it hard to get outside of the house, if you’ve still got a garden to go out into, get the kids out there and start digging around. Not only can you get them to plant their own little vegetable patches, but you can also bury exciting items for them to find, sort of like a scavenger hunt. Get some child-size trowels, hide some sweet treats or little toys, and on a sunny day set them free to dig up the garden. They may even get rid of some weeds for you! If you’re worried about the use of screens in your home, and you want the kids to focus on something else, you can make lots of your own fun even just in the living room. If you’ve got the time, try out the ideas above and see what you think!

Let’s face it: the kitchen is a pretty scary place when you’re young. It’s full of sharp objects and live flames, and the only thing you really know about it - when you’re 4 or 5 years old - is that mummy or daddy bring tasty food out from it! As such, many children don't learn the basic skills needed to cook, and struggle later in life when they're teenagers, making to make a meal for themselves. Well, there is some good news! Acknowledging that going outside feels impossible right now, with the bad weather and pandemic rules, now more than ever is a fantastic time to spend time in the kitchen with your little ones! Why not let your kids help out in the kitchen, and teach them how to cook family classics. Cooking and baking is a fun activity when you’re young and get to lick the bowl out at the end, and helping hands will make doing the dinner a lot less exhausting on you too! And hey, seeing as we’ve just rung in the new year together, why not set up an activity like this as a resolution with your child? It’s a great way to get something done together, especially if you’re prone to commit for a week and then forget all about the resolution you promised to keep up with… Don’t worry, we all do it! Of course, if cooking and baking isn’t quite your thing, we’ve got a whole list of other resolutions you can make with your kids right here on the Ducklings blog. But without any further ado, here are some of the appropriate kitchen skills to teach kids, even from when they’re little toddlers until they’re about 7 or 8 years old. The basic tasks (2 and 3 years olds) Limited coordination, easily bored, will probably need a nap afterwards - no, we’re not just talking about you after a long day of work here! We’re talking about toddlers, aged from 2 to 3 years old, who are fully capable of helping out in the kitchen despite their still developing motor skills. So what can you let a 2 or 3-year-old do? Let them handle some blunt, plastic utensils, first of all, to help them get used to the way they feel and how to use them. You can also let them take hold of a weighing spoon and allow them to drop spoons of flour or sugar into a mixing bowl. And once the cake or pie has come out of the oven, make sure it’s cooled down a little, and then let them sprinkle some more sugar or little sprinkles of cocoa or hundreds and thousands on top. This might end up messy, so be prepared for a cleanup job of its own! The intermediate stuff (4 and 5 year olds) Now your child is starting to get the hang of things! For kids above the age of 4, usually, their energy levels tend to outweigh their skill and coordination, and you can use that to your advantage within the kitchen. So it’s a good idea to let them loose with a mixing spoon or whisk - they can help to whip up a cake batter or a bit of double cream without getting anywhere near as tired as you would. You can also let them use more utensils, such as a sieve or a rolling pin, which are all normal parts of the baking process anyway. You can even get them to help wash up after everything is in the oven! As long as it doesn't have sharp edges, a 4 or 5-year-old is going to excel in using it. The advanced skills (6+ year olds) As your child gets older, you can start to trust them with a few more things in the kitchen. As such, it’s a good idea to let them start using sharper knives to cut with. Make sure the knife in question is small enough for them to hold comfortably and then let them loose with some firmer ingredients, such as carrots and other uncooked vegetables. You can also let them use the cheese grater comfortably now, as well as wield a pair of scissors, albeit still a pair made for children! You can also get a bit more advanced with the recipes you make together; try out new plates like mini pizza bites, chocolate chip cookies, and sausage rolls. If you teach your kids to cook, they’ll grow up to love helping out in the kitchen. It’s clearly a lot of fun, and there’s always something yummy to eat at the end!

Happy New Year to all parents! We hope you welcomed the new year in style, surrounded by magical firework displays, among a circle of loved ones, with revived hope and wishes for what is to come. Since it is the start of the year, some new research has come to light about how parents and caregivers support language development in babies, and you might be a little surprised. Did you know that one way that you can help your baby’s speech development is by speaking more baby talk? We may not realise it, but baby talk comes naturally to most of us. Often when interacting with babies we heighten pitch, slower speed and even exaggerate pronunciation, and this not only gets babies smiling and waving their tiny fingers around us but also helps them make sense of what we are saying. What is the new evidence and where does it come from? New evidence from Florida university can have another benefit, it can help babies learn to produce their speech. In the study, the researchers altered the frequency sounds to imitate either a baby or adult vocal tract and then tested how babies reacted. Results showed that 6–8-month-old babies displayed a distinct preference for speech with resonances specifying a vocal tract that is similar in size and length to their own. Whereas 4–6-month-old babies do not have that preference, suggesting that older babies' emerging ability to control their voices and make words out of jibber-jabber could be what makes the infant-like sounds more appealing. "We're trying to engage with the infant to show them something about speech production," said co-author Linda Polka, PhD, of McGill University. Why are some people discouraging baby talk? This new research sheds light on how babies can slowly pick up speech, though it begs the question, why than are some under the impression that using baby talk is potentially a hindrance to language development in babies? Well, some research suggests that mothers who speak in baby-talk may speak less clearly to infants than they do to adults. Research suggesting that baby talk is less clear than normal speech A study in RIKEN Brain Science Institute in Tokyo recorded 22 Japanese mothers talking to their 18- to 24-month-old children and an experimenter. Next, a team of experts at the Laboratory for Language Development spent five years annotating the 14 hours of speech, like the beginnings and ends of consonants, vowels, and phrases. Next, the researchers applied a technique they had developed to measure the acoustic similarity between any two syllables, like “pa” and “ba” or “po” and “bo.” The team examined the 118 most frequent syllable contrasts in both the adult and child-directed speech patterns. The results showed that mothers spoke slightly less clearly when talking to their children than when talking to the experimenter. Something to consider… However, one thing to note about this study is that the researchers themselves say caution that these findings do not provide any evidence regarding whether speaking clearly to your child boosts language acquisition. Our take on the matter: From my experience working in the nursery for over a year, it is best to use your instincts, as every baby is unique, and talking in a sing-song voice helps babies stay engaged and happy to talk to you. There is no denying that when you use baby talk, babies trust you more as they feel more comfortable around you as you show the baby your goofy, playful side and warm side, which all helps to bring you closer to your baby. Here are some tips that help your baby get the most out of your playful interaction 1. Talk in a sing-song voice 2. Sing to your baby 3. Chat about what you are doing 4. Repeat sounds your baby makes back to them 5. Name and point things you can both see If this article helps you, please be sure to subscribe for more practical, evidence-based advice to help you along your parenthood journey. References Speaking 'baby-talk' to infants isn’t just cute: It could help them learn to make words https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/12/211210121848.htm OBSERVATION- ‘Baby Talk’ Is Less Clear Than Normal Speech https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/baby-talk-is-less-clear-than-normal-speech Help your baby learn to talk https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/babys-development/play-and-learning/help-your-baby-learn-to-talk/

Parenting is hard out of a pandemic but parenting in a pandemic is REALLY hard, and at times it has certainly put our parenting prowess to the test. - Kirsty Ketley, Parenting Expert Welcome 2022, The New Year! A time of celebration, reflection, and a perfect opportunity to set new targets through New Year's resolutions. This is including yourself, and your children! Today, why don't you sit down with your child(ren) and ask them to write down some New Year's resolutions. Not only will this help develop their communication and handwriting skills, but it will also teach them about commitments and how to achieve goals they set. So here are our 20 New Year's resolutions for kids; I will keep my room clean and tidy (https://www.ducklingspreschool.co.uk/post/encouraging-kids-to-start-tidying-up-their-own-messes is a fantastic article about 'encouraging kids to start tidying up their own messes') I will make (or help make) my own bed every morning I will help cook dinner with my parents once a week (https://www.ducklingspreschool.co.uk/post/recipes-bolognaise a easy to follow recipe your kids will love to cook with you!) I will share my toys more with my siblings and friends I will practice my writing at home I will brush my teeth by myself every morning and night (https://www.ducklingspreschool.co.uk/post/how-to-encourage-children-to-brush-their-teeth. click here to see our guide on how to encourage children to brush their teeth) I will spend less time: watching TV, playing on the iPad, on the computer, playing video games etc. I will wash my hands after every use of the bathroom I will play outdoors more often (https://www.ducklingspreschool.co.uk/post/5-things-to-do-on-a-nature-walk-with-kids) I will try one new food every week I will eat all vegetables given to me during a meal (https://www.ducklingspreschool.co.uk/post/8-easy-ways-to-sneak-vegetables-into-children-s-food If a highly useful article which provides you with 8 easy ways to sneak vegetables into childrens meals) I want to do more painting and drawing at home and at nursery/school I want to play more sports at home and at school/sports clubs I want to learn how to write the alphabet (https://www.ducklingspreschool.co.uk/readers) I want to learn how to read (https://www.ducklingspreschool.co.uk/readers) I will clean up my toys when I'm done playing with them I will try to play a new musical instrument (https://www.ducklingspreschool.co.uk/post/the-best-instruments-for-children-to-start-learning-how-to-stay-motivated, click here for a little guide on the best instruments for children to start to learn) I will visit the library I will finish 3 books I will read more The options are endless, so include your children in the decision making process and have fun with it! Furthermore, here at Ducklings we provide fantastic resources online for free, so for example, if you do wish to develop your children's reading, we have an entire platform set up to help develop your children's love for reading! From free stories, to storytime videos of our amazing Ducklings team reading popular children's books, to dance and sing along videos, to worksheets and activities to download, print off, and do at home to practice writing and reading skills. Find all of this here; https://www.ducklingspreschool.co.uk/readers We also have a ton of blog articles that emphasise the importance of reading, full of tips and tricks you can use in the future. - Characteristics of children who struggle with reading - Easy ways to encourage your child's love of reading - Bedtime stories are a must-have night routine, here's why - Bedtime Story Recommendations - 10 Books Every Child Must Read -5 ways to celebrate Poetry Reading Day - Ways to appeal to your child's unique imagination - Why Storytelling is so important for your child's imagination Likewise, we also have free resources regarding art and creativitiy, cooking and baking, gardening, recycling, at home activities to do and more on our activities and blog page! Check out our other blogs, as we keep learning more together! Love the Ducklings Team References https://www.standard.co.uk/news/health/young-london-sos/young-london-sos-child-mental-health-suffering-warning-signs-b919830.html

It is officially that time of the year, where we are counting the pennies for Christmas, but Halloween is also just around the corner. So, I have decided to write about ways in which you can still have a spooktacular outfit, and your home can be just as spooky too! As a child, I used to love trick or treating. I remember running home from school in order to put my budget-friendly outfit on. It would often consist of black bin-liners, witches hats, broomsticks, and pumpkin sweet tubs. I also recall picking up a cheap pair of knee socks too, to complement the costume. It was all collected from cheap stores. There was one year, with adult supervision, of course, I had a velvet red cape, with a stitched hood. I would use red lipstick to draw on some blood, around my mouth and then cover my eyelids in black eyeliner. Halloween is a wonderful time of year for children. Understandably, some children do not love to dress up and that's perfectly okay too. Dressing up is not for every child, especially those with Autism. Though, that shouldn't mean they should miss out on the experience of Halloween. And for that reason, I will conclude my article with tips and alternative ways in which you can make it just as ghastly, whilst taking into consideration your child's preferences and sensory stimulus. Wizard/Witch Style Hat Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gt65FllIac This video was very child-friendly, other than the use of scissors. They used materials that are cheap to purchase, and it is a design that can be very custom made for your child's preference. If they want to be a wizard, they could add some paper stars and glitter. Or they could become a princess and the paper can be a more light-hearted colour and decorate the hat itself with pompoms and sparkles. I thought this activity would be perfect, to help them express their personality, character, and most certainly get stuck in! Kids love it when they can get their hands dirty, covered in glue, and even just become involved in something. It also allows them to tell their friends about it and scream about how they made the item themselves. Again, this helps with making friends and their overall social and motor skills. DIY Kids Costumes Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtRt7jRcSgs This tutorial is perfect for those parents who are perhaps on a budget or against the clock. She explains alternative ways you can use products and where they can be brought from a very low price. I find costumes like this much more fun, to make and definitely exciting for the children too, especially if they can get involved in certain aspects of the designing process. I loved her enthusiasm and bargain hunting ways. Sensory Friendly Costumes Link: https://imsimplyadad.com/sensory-friendly-costumes/ This website is packed with lots of knowledge on Autism, including dietary ideas. I loved how the costume ideas were simple to make too, as well as the alternative methods. The tone used was very friendly-orientated and easy to follow. Why not give them a go and tag the author on social media or tell them you found their video off a Ducklings Blog Article? I'm sure they'd be delighted to hear about how you took their suggestions on board! DIY Halloween Decorations Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HKO98leVVA She made it really simple to follow, with the step-by-step guide. I personally loved the wall decoration at the beginning of the tutorial. The materials used were often something we would have lying around at home in a kitchen cupboard perhaps or easy to collect at nearby stores at low prices. This definitely made the video more appealing. DIY Sensory Activities Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL_ObfP3jk8 This tutorial was really fun to watch, and I particularly enjoyed the idea of having a spider web box. I loved how the channel catered for all different ages as well as capabilities, in terms of motor skills for example. Their enthusiasm was fantastic, and the alternative methods were also intriguing to make. Happy Halloween!

Winter is upon us and as are some festive holidays! Together, using our free downloadable booklet, we can learn and celebrate these holidays while having fun! So why not try these various EYFS activities at home, on the go, at schools, or anywhere you'd like. Simply download our free PDF by clicking the box below;

Let’s face it - we all dread the temper tantrum! Your child is in tears, they’re screaming and shouting, and maybe even lashing out and trying to hit something. It’s hard to control, hard to calm down, and it’s not pretty! Doubly so if your child has a tantrum in a public place; you can end up feeling very embarrassed and feeling like a bad parent. However, a temper tantrum is never a reflection on you. They’re a big part of growing up, and you probably threw quite a few when you were young too. And seeing as tantrums tend to phase out as your child gets older, they’re usually not something to worry about. But if you’ve got a 3 or 4-year-old who loves to try and throw their weight around, it’s time to find out why. Sure, tantrums can happen for many reasons, but we’ve got the two most common below, as well as a little list of how best to avoid tantrums in the future. No real ability to communicate their feelings Toddlers lack the real ability to tell you how they feel. They don’t have all the words for it yet, and they might not be able to get their anger, sadness, or frustration across to you. Their emotions are still developing, and it’ll take quite a few years before they get used to all the ups and downs life brings them. They certainly don’t know what the words ‘productive’ or ‘constructive’ means yet! So, they resort to the one thing they do know: having a bit of a meltdown. They can get their feelings out all at once this way, and as their parent, you naturally respond! You may try to calm them down, you get them to talk about what it is they want, or you may give them some time out to cool off on their own. Either way, these are the results a child is looking for when they have a tantrum, even if they’re not actively seeking them out. Tantrums simply seem to work and lead to a solution they’re mostly satisfied with, which sorts out their feelings and makes it all better. The need to push their boundaries On the other hand, some toddlers throw tantrums in order to push their boundaries. Maybe they want something you’ve said no to? Maybe they don’t want to go to bed? No matter why they’re having a tantrum, if it’s in response to a negative from you, they’re usually just trying to get their own way. And knowing this can be incredibly frustrating! You’re trying to put boundaries in place that they’re pushing against, and you’re just not sure what you should do here. And standing your ground is easier said than done! After all, you’re both facing off against each other, both of you wanting to be in control, and when it becomes clear to them that you’re in charge, the tantrum comes on in full bloom. But what can you do? Well, avoiding tantrums in the future can be possible. As long as you know what kind of tantrum your child is throwing, you can do things to combat it and reduce the chances of similar episodes occurring. For example: Out of sight, out of mind If your toddler throws tantrums because they don’t get something they want, it’s important to try and reduce their contact with said item(s) as much as possible. Maybe they’re a big fan of sweets? Try storing them up high and behind a cupboard door in the future, where your little one can neither see nor reach. Simply put, they’re much less likely to ask about them when the sweets aren’t in front of them and much less likely to have a tantrum when you say no. Have a distraction ready Toddlers have naturally short attention spans, and that’s something you can make good use of! So, if they want to do something and are willing to have a tantrum over it, offer them something equally as fun to do instead. Say they want to watch a cartoon, but the TV is in use by someone else - take them outside and get them to kick a ball around, or open up their colouring books and do a couple of pages together. Never give in! As we mentioned above, a lot of tantrums are thrown simply because they work. Now, your child might not be actively aware that having a tantrum means they get their own way, but they’ll recognise the pattern. So try not to give in! Stand your ground, even if you hate seeing your child so distressed, and wait for them to calm down before talking things out with them. It’s also a good idea to try and give them back a bit of control, in tiny ways that matter little to their health and safety. Letting them pick which snack they want out of any three you offer them or letting them choose which colour toothbrush when you go shopping, shows them that their voice still matters without needing to have a tantrum about it! Get used to their limits Kids have far lower tolerance levels than we do. This is usually shown when you’re out and about somewhere and the kids are with you; if you’re out shopping, and your toddler has a tantrum in the middle of the veggie aisle, it means they’re reaching their limit. They’re getting tired or hungry, and ultimately, really cranky, and that’s important to keep in mind. If you find your toddler struggles a lot with running errands, try to plan any excursions around their energy levels. If they’ve just got back from preschool, a quick trip around the supermarket is fine, but heading into town and going through 3 or 4 other shops probably won’t be!

Having a nightmare can be a surefire indicator that your child is worried about something; they may be anxious or stressed, or maybe reacting to a sense of trauma that’s come about after an event. And knowing this can make a nighttime disturbance very worrying on your part. After all, nightmares can ruin a child’s entire nighttime routine for that night and the day afterwards. It can prevent them from getting back to sleep, it can cause your own sleep cycle to be disrupted, and then you’ll both feel like total zombies in the morning after! Breakfast will go slowly, and it’ll be hard to get your child off to preschool - they might even fall asleep whilst they’re there, and the thought of this can be another big worry on your mind. But what should you do when your child has a nightmare? There’s a lot of things you can do to help your child feel better after a nightmare. Every child tends to react differently to a bad dream, but you can regularly expect tears, being scared of something hiding in their room, and worries about going back to sleep. Combating these reactions is key to helping your child feel safe in their bed again, and allowing them to come up with their own ways to cope with any bad dreams they experience. What to do if you suspect chronic nightmares: If you have real concerns over the cause of your child’s nightmares, it’s important to note down your child’s nighttime habits to see how often they experience bad dreams. If they’re frequently waking up because of something they’ve dreamt about, more than 2 or 3 times a week, you may want to talk to a doctor about their experience. However, sometimes a child can have a nightmare simply because they’ve read a scary book, or seen parts of a scary movie, and they just need a little reminder that none of what they’ve seen is real, nor can it hurt them. Sometimes it’s because they’re really tired, or they’re struggling to sleep due to being overtired, and their subconscious is simply reacting accordingly! So, try to always take into account what your child has done during the day, and then use methods like these to help your child calm down and get back to sleep. Talk about the nightmare Talking is a good way to get out all of your child’s worries; even in the middle of the night, if they can take just 5 minutes to get their feelings out, they’ll feel a lot better. Let your child lead without interjecting too often. After all, it’s important to keep this kind of talk to only 5 minutes because of how late it can be, but you can always continue talking about it in the morning when daylight makes nightmare monsters seem much less scary! A talk like this simply gets the ball rolling, and helps to remind your child you’re here for them. Talk about a good dream they can have Once your child’s told you all about the nightmare they’ve had, counteract it with a good dream they can have. Delve into your own imagination a little, and give them a dream scenario they can drift off back to sleep thinking about. For example, if they love cats, talk to them about having a dream where they look after cute little kittens and describe the colour and fluffiness of each one to help your child really get into it. Make sure their bedtime routine is calming One of the best ways to help your child drift off to sleep without trouble in the world is all to do with their nighttime routine. Before you put them to bed, allowing them to have a little snack to settle their stomach, as well as reading them a fun and happy story, and even just having a 5-minute cuddle to help them relax are all great elements to include in their bedtime routine. Have a practical way to combat the nightmare Kids have very vivid imaginations, and that’s why they tend to have nightmares in the first place! But this also works in your favour - having a strong and rich imagination means a little bit of creativity on your part goes a long way. So get a normal spray bottle and fill it with normal tap water, and then tell your child it’s a monster repellent, and spray it around their room to keep anything nasty out. You could also tell them that one of their teddies is a secret guardian that keeps them safe, or even that you’ve got a magic blanket you can cover them up with to keep all the monsters away! Trouble sleeping is something children tend to grow out of. And nightmares can be a big reason for that, but there can also be many other reasons behind why your child has trouble sleeping at night. If you’re worried about your child’s nighttime habits, be sure to check out our other article, to learn about the potential reasons and what to do about them.

Within the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) there is an area of learning and development known as ‘Mathematics: Shape, space and measure’ and 'Expressive Arts and Design: Exploring and using media and materials' that every child should learn. Download our free worksheets which will help support this learning while at home - Autumn edition. Click here to download our Autumn Worksheets below; Ducklings also provides a ton of free resources and activities to try at home, which can be found here: https://www.ducklingspreschool.co.uk/activities - feel free to carry out our learning activities at home with your children to further develop their learning, while having fun at the same time!

Even though they always say that they’re not tired, kids need a lot of sleep! Most of all, they need it to help them grow - growth hormone that’s released when sleeping can help a child grow big and strong, as well as repair their muscles and make any cuts and bruises heal a lot quicker. And let’s face it, even though you love spending time with your child during the day, it’s really nice to have some time alone when they’ve gone off to bed! But sometimes getting a child to sleep, as well as sleep straight through the night, can be the hardest thing in the world. Your child might hate bedtimes, and cry and stamp their feet when they have to go to bed. They might also repeatedly get out of bed, and you can catch them playing with their toys, or maybe they simply come along to spend more time with you. And whilst this is a nice thing, in theory, it’s simply not good for their health. What causes a lack of sleep? If your son or daughter has been acting differently lately, it could be a sign they’re not getting enough sleep - but why? You’ve noticed sudden mood swings, as well as poor concentration, and they’ve also been falling asleep at preschool or in the car or indeed, anywhere that isn’t their own bed. Maybe they can no longer jump out of bed in the morning the way they used to? Maybe they’re falling asleep long before their actual bedtime comes? And because you’ve noticed all of these signs, you’re now worried that they’re losing energy or might have something else going on in their life that you’re not aware of. Could they be worried about something? Could they even have a sleep disorder of some kind? But before you get into a bit of a panic, the first thing to do is check on how well they’re sleeping. It’s important to remember that kids can have trouble sleeping when they’re young, so there may not even be a background issue at all. Similarly, a doctor will always ask about their sleep disturbance symptoms, so if you can, check on your child periodically throughout the night, and see what’s going on. For example, snoring can be an indicator that your child’s sleep quality isn’t up to scratch. But seeing as snoring is relatively normal for a lot of people, keep an eye on the nights when they snore, and if they have any troubles during the day afterwards. They could also be wetting the bed more often than they should be, or maybe sleep problems stem from an eating issue they’re currently going through. We all know kids are fussy! But could it be Insomnia? Insomnia can happen at any stage in life, and it can cause a lot of problems for adults, teens, and children alike. However, when you’ve got a young child on your hands who needs all the sleep they can get, insomnia can be extremely troubling! If your child has had regular sleep disturbances, and multiple nights a week they’re either not getting to sleep or seem to be waking up a lot, it could be a sign that your child has a long-term difficulty like this. But insomnia doesn’t have to be the end of a normal sleep cycle! Helping your child to settle down at night So, once you know there’s a bedtime issue, what can you do to help your child settle down at night? Well, there isn’t really a one size fits all answer here. You just have to watch out for a few things in your child’s day to day routine that could be interrupting their nighttime routine. And always talk to a doctor first about your concerns! But in the meantime, there are a few ideas you could put to good use here: Bed is for bedtime only: If your child likes to play or read in bed, try to divert them to using a chair or a sofa instead. Otherwise, they’ll start thinking of their bed as a free for all area, rather than just for resting, which can make it hard to get to sleep in it! Keep bedtime the same: Of course, it’s nice to let your child stay up a little later on weekends, but if they’re having trouble sleeping, try to keep this time the same for the foreseeable future. Getting into a routine is the best way to help your child settle down. Vary nap cycles: Kids need to have an afternoon nap when they’re under the age of 5, and most kids will continue to settle down for an afternoon siesta until they’re 7 or 8. However, watch when your child is taking a nap, and how long for - either one of these factors could be putting them off bedtime! Just waste a bit more energy!: Kids love getting to run around and play games, so why not push this to the max? Really wear your child out before bedtime, but make sure you leave a gap of at least 2 hours between exercise and getting ready for bed. You don’t want to wind them up further! Children can have trouble getting to sleep for a lot of reasons. But most of the time, you’ve got nothing to worry about - children have a lot of natural energy, and that can make them loathe having to hit the hay every night! Simply keep an eye on their bedtime behaviours, and if you notice any long-term disturbances, ask a doctor for their advice on the situation.

It’s difficult to address your own health needs when you’re a parent. All of your attention is on your child and making sure they’re healthy and happy at all times. And as long as they’re OK, you’re OK! However, whilst you may be physically just fine, parenting without ever taking time for yourself can cause a problem for your mental health. You can feel tired and irritable, and it can feel like you’re thinking in a cloud of fog. And these symptoms tend to get worse the longer you go on without tackling them. And in ignoring your own mental health needs, you’re doing yourself a disservice. You deserve to have a break every now and then, to shake off some stress and take some much needed time for self-care activities! But it can be hard to arrange time like that when you’re a full-time parent; where can you go, what you can do, who’s going to look after the kids, etc., are all questions that can flood your mind at the prospect. ( Photo Credit: Today's Parents ) Mental Health and Parenting Guilt can quite often stop us from doing what we really need to do. We feel bad about making certain decisions, so we put them off and try to ignore them. And as a parent who needs to take a little break for their mental health, you can end up feeling like the worst person in the world. After all, you might ask yourself some uncomfortable questions, such as, ‘Why do I need this break?’ and ‘Do I really need to take a break from my child?’ In doing so, you can convince yourself that you don’t need some time at all, and you can feel similarly bad about that decision too. You really can’t win! And if you’re a parent with a diagnosed mental health issue, you know just how hard it can be to want to do the best for your child, but feeling like you’re unable to due to your own thoughts and feelings. You know it can be difficult to cope when juggling caring for your child whilst also ensuring you’re feeling well in yourself. You know best of all how hard it can be to balance everything you need to take care of. But taking a break for your own sake doesn’t make you a bad person. It makes you a responsible person who has just proven they know best! So, when approaching the idea of a mental health break, there are quite a few things you can do to make it part of your normal routine. Talk To Your Child About Your Needs It’s important to always talk to your child when you’re planning to take a mental health break. They need to know that you’re still there for them and that you still love them, but you need to have a few hours to yourself. And this can be a hard concept for young children to understand, but it’s an important one to explain. It’ll ensure that any chats around mental health in the future can be approached in an understanding, ‘grown up’ way. But how do you start this conversation? By relating your mental health to their physical health. For example, scary thoughts can make your heartbeat fast, just like a game in the garden does. Similarly, remind them of how tired they can feel at the end of the day, and tell them that that’s how you feel all the time. Let them know that nothing is their fault, as kids can often wonder if something they’ve done is the cause of a ‘problem’, as they see it. Instead, tell them that looking after mental health is a big part of life and that thoughts and feelings need taking care of just like a cut or a bruise does. ( Photo Credit : Queensland Health ) Know The Support Available To You There’s a lot of support for parents out there these days. If you think you’re alone in taking on the world, it’s important for us to tell you right now that you’re not! You have people who want to help! Talk to your friends and family first; they know you, and they’ll have seen the way you’ve had troubles in recent months. They’ll be able to sympathise better than anyone else, and they can say and/or do a lot to help you focus on your mental health. Even if they just come around for half an hour in the evening to cook dinner, so that you can fit a small nap in, they’ll be able to help in very practical ways. You have the opportunity to talk to a counsellor about your needs as well. A trained professional who specialises in helping parents with their mental health will know everything you need to do to set up a mental health break. They’ll be able to tell you the steps to go through, and who to talk to, as well as ensure you get what you need out of such a break. The Potential Challenge in Arranging Childcare Of course, this can be the trickiest part of all. If you’re taking a day away, and you’ll be on your own with no kids around, who’s going to stay at home to look after them? If you’ve got Grandparents who don’t mind babysitting or a friend who can do a couple of hours after work, it can be quite simple to arrange a time for yourself. But if you don’t have these options available, what can you do? Money is always a big worry when you have no access to free childcare. If you have no family support, or your friends are unavailable, it can become impossible to do something without your children. Thankfully, you still have a few options to look into: Checking your child into a preschool can be a great way to both enrich their life and ensure you have plenty of time to go about your own. Every preschool in the UK allows parents to check their children in for 15 hours of free childcare per week, depending on the age of their child. For more information about this, you can read our guide to funding in early years right here. You can also use the official government website to help find an accredited childminder, as well as get advice on applying for financial support to pay for them. In the same mind, you can also turn to charity aid for both advice and support, with many online mental health charities offering chat lines to talk about your needs. Be sure to thoroughly check out these links if you’re in a tight spot with your budget, as they’ll make the pressure in finding any future childcare a lot easier on your bank account. Go on and take your mental health break! You’re perfectly allowed to, and it’ll be a great way to stop mental health pressures from piling up in the future as well. Remember: addressing your own needs is a big part of being the parent you want to be.

(Photo credit: Day Out With The Kids ) This kind of activity is something you can do throughout every season. Perhaps, in the snow and ice, might be less advisable though! In the Spring, you can watch the flowers and trees begin to pick up as the weather turns. Insects find their feet, ready for the Summer. Colourful fields and walkways are often brimmed with flowers and trees whilst the birds begin to sing their cheerful choruses. Nature provides so much energy for us, especially due to the oxygen the trees provide. Fresh air is always considered healthy, and our beings are born to be surrounded by abundant nature. When Autumn arises, like now, the leaves are changing colours, providing deep browns and auburn tones. It's truly beautiful, so why not throw on an extra jumper and embark into the damp woodlands and take in the natural beauty around us. Although the bees and wasps will be busy finding their hibernation for the winter, we can still find a few animals that bask in the cold temperatures, including squirrels and the infamous Robin with its distinctive red chest. Personally, I love a walk in the Countryside, the aspect of untouched scenery, peace and tranquillity is blissful. In this particular article, I will discuss the ways in which you can introduce children to the wonders of nature as well as some fun activities you can conduct to help them fully feel the benefits and enjoy the outdoors, gaining their well-needed fresh air. • Scavenger Hunt Some children love to carry a pencil and paper around on their walk, ticking off items they see whilst others prefer to be spontaneous, like asking the following question for example, ‘how many different types of flowers are there?’ There are a number of variations of the activity on Google and some are designed for specifics, such as flowers, trees and animals. It would be a great start to perhaps print off a few and let them choose which one they want to do, if not all! This will allow them to feel a part of something and provide that excitement factor into exercise as well. When their adrenaline takes hold and their mind begins to process the game, locating the whereabouts of the items on the list, they may even run to find them. The game allows room for exploration and social engagement, especially in head-to-head challenges. Why not, join in and conduct competitive pursuits, such as: ‘The first one to find a squirrel, gets a bar of chocolate.’ The idea of a prize at the end, (whatever it is they love), provides them with determination to be the first. Though, if they sadly lose, it gives them the purpose of trying again until they succeed. This life skill is something the child will need to understand throughout their lifetime and so, what better way than to learn young? PINTEREST PRINTABLE: *Pinterest is free to join. Outdoor Scavenger Hunt: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/380483868527023786/ Nature Scavenger Hunt: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/15551561204404989/ Sensory Scavenger Hunt: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/9922061668070793/ • Hide and Seek This game is often categorised as a favourite with children. It was definitely one I loved, for sure. In the woodland, it is even better because there are so many open spaces and plenty of trees to hide behind in the process. This game allows them to engage in exercise and enjoy the ambience nature provides. • Picture Perfect If your child loves capturing memories or being a little creative, why not purchase a disposable camera to capture their walk? There are some cameras which are definitely child friendly, to avoid any mishaps when they drop the camera for instance. Once you are home, you can go print out the images and look back on the fun outing. Children love to see what they have produced, and this might inspire them to take more walks, in different places just to capture those specific moments. For the ones that harbour their inner craft skills, why not cut the images up and create a unique storyboard of the walk. This is a great activity and a good excuse to use scissors and glue, with adult supervision of course. Kids love being messy! A montage display of their walks is also a great idea to do, alongside a scrapbook; a collaboration of all the places they’ve embarked on throughout the year. It’s definitely something they can look back on and it may even inspire them to be a little more creative. Who knows, maybe they will want to go back during a different season to take comparison images to see how the woodland has changed? • Splash in Puddles Children love to create a mess and there’s no better way to do it than them jumping in a muddy puddle. They are purely driven by the need for exploration and inquisitiveness. It allows their senses and motor skills to be incorporated too and this is beneficial in terms of child development. Their physical skills are heightened due to the slippery conditions, and this means the child must remain on their feet to avoid becoming completely sodden. Balance and gross motor skills are the main benefits when they partake in activities in rainfall or even just puddles post weather front. Though, of course, being out in the rain too long does mean they may catch a cold from wet attire, so it’s best to make the activity short-lived. Why not join in and see who can create the biggest splash? • Nature Sensory Bin This activity is perfect for those with Autism too as they love engaging in activities that help their sensory stimulus. It also allows you to learn what your child likes and dislikes in terms of appearance, smell and touch. It also gives the child the opportunity to learn about the aspect of forestry, especially in terms of animals, their life cycles and the difference in plants, especially throughout different seasons too. For example, the leaves on the trees in the Summer are green and often feel quite delicate to touch, but as the weather changes and it gets less warm, the leaves become autumnal shades and often feel crispy to touch. Sometimes, after rainfall, they can have that distinctive smell too and this can be picked up in the sensory box, especially if there is debris amongst the other items. It is something that can be done in all weathers or seasons and in order to receive the best results it is best to do so. In summer you can pick up loose petals and grass cuttings which can harbour different smells compared to the other seasons for example. In winter, why not pick up an acorn or two and indulge in their smell and prickly exterior? • From myself, and Ducklings, we wish you a Happy Forestry!

Autumn is just around the corner. Already we can see the first signs of autumn like leaves fall from trees, which will gradually cover the earth in gold, yellow and orange and the fresh, crisp, earthy air that adds the fragrance of homeliness that I love. On the flip side, the weather becoming colder, and wetter can dampen our spirits, making us miss the warmth and excitement that the summer brought. Sometimes we can forget that autumn is just as great as summer is in its unique way, and it also accompanies plenty of fun, messy and creative activities for your kids to enjoy. Here are 8 exciting art and crafts activities to remind your child why autumn is awesome! 1. Pumpkin scented play-dough Here’s an idea. You can make a lightly sweet, scented pumpkin play dough with your kids with love! While playing with playdough children can develop small muscles in their fingers and hands to improve their motor skills. To find the original recipe, source of the photo, and a ton of other wonderful crafts ideas please check out; https://www.happinessishomemade.net/easy-fall-kids-crafts-anyone-can-make/ What you’ll need: 1 cup flour 1/2 cup salt 1 cup water 2 tbsp. oil 2 tbsp. cream of tartar 2 tbsp. pumpkin pie spice 1 tsp. vanilla extract Red and yellow food colouring Here’s the recipe: 1. Mix the flour, salt and cream of tartar and pumpkin spice in a medium-sized saucepan. 2. Gently stir in the oil, water, and vanilla extract 3. Add few drops of food colouring to turn your dough mixture orange 4. Heat the mixture in the oven over medium heat while stirring until the dough turns a stiff playdough consistency. 5. Remember, allow 15 minutes for the play dough to cool before playing as it is very hot! Finally, roll up your sleeves and get stuck in with the pumpkin playdough, (just remember not to eat it). 2. Craft an autumn tree out of tissue paper This artsy activity will involve lots of fun things children like to do, such as cutting, glueing, and scrunching! It can be hard to keep kids engaged for longer than 5 minutes, but this activity involves your child concentrating on each step of their creative process. Allowing kids to practice being independent and resilient is critical for their cognitive development, and this activity gives them the chance to practice both things. To Find the original recipe, and source of the photo used please click here; https://iheartcraftythings.com/tissue-paper-fall-tree-craft.html What you’ll need? • Red, yellow, and orange and brown tissue paper • Paper plate • Carboard • Glue stick • school glue • Child Scissors • Gold paint or yellow acrylic paint How to make it? 1. Cut a medium-sized circle shape from carboard for the main part of your tree and cut a long rectangle shape for the tree trunk 2. Stick the circle shape on top of the rectangle shape, making sure that most of the rectangle is visible to form the shape of your tree. 3. Cut small square shapes out of orange, yellow, brown, and red tissue paper, scrunch them and then glue them all over the circle for their leaves. 4. Paint your paper plate gold or yellow with acrylic paint 5. Display your vibrant craft by sticking it onto your small paper plate. 3. Make a Hedgehog out of natural resources like clay or pinecones During autumn, you can spot hedgehogs working hard to collect lots of food and resources for the upcoming winter months, so that’s why it’s easier to spot them now. Their cone-shaped faces, short legs and porcupine-like spikes make them simply adorable. You can make collect little sticks in the park and then make your y own little hedgehog following these steps, which also help toddlers practice their developing motor skills. To find this original recipe, and source of photo please check out; https://www.happinessishomemade.net/easy-fall-kids-crafts-anyone-can-make/ What you’ll need: Child scissors Clay tools 1 packet of air-drying clay Small Sticks or toothpicks with sharp edges cut) How to make it? 1. Take a ball of the air-drying clay. 2. Knead until it is easy to form. 3. Shape into an oval. 4. Point the nose of the clay hedgehog. 5. Using the end of a clay tool, poke in the eyes and draw a mouth. 6. Poke the little sticks around the body. 4. Make an Autumn Leaf Suncatcher Why not celebrate the wonder of leaves changing colour by making a suncatcher and decorating your home windows with them! To read the original recipe, get a free template download, and find the source of the photo used please check out; https://www.thebestideasforkids.com/leaf-suncatcher/ All you'll need for this craft project is - Multi-Coloured Tissue Paper (Ideally yellow, orange, red, and green) - Scissors - Clear Contact Paper - Glue Sticks - Black Construction Paper 5. Make a scarecrow puppet out of a paper plate, yarn, and buttons Scarecrows are an interesting and cool symbol of fall. They protect ripening crops from birds, so these man-made creations ensure we have a great autumn harvest. They are also fun to recreate with toddlers and pre-schoolers. To find the original recipe, and source of the photo, please check out; https://www.findingzest.com/scarecrow-paper-plate-craft-for-thanksgiving/ Additionally, if you'd like a recipe on how to convert a toilet paper roll into a scarecrow please check out this article; https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redtedart.com%2Ftoilet-paper-roll-scarecrow%2F&psig=AOvVaw3RalXYGHiFNEmZ0DsIdhSi&ust=1632760662159000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=2ahUKEwjioLjLiZ3zAhURwIUKHbmfBeUQr4kDegQIARBR What you’ll need: One Ice-cream stick for the body Paper plate for the face Yellow yarn for the hair Wiggly eyes Cardboard hat cut-out 2 Buttons for the eyes One Black felt-tip pen Crayons How to make it? 1. Cut a simple hat shape from cardboard. 2. Cut as much yellow yarn and stick it around the top of the paper plate to make the hair, and then stick buttons for the eyes. 3. Draw the mouth of the puppet with a black felt-tip. 4. Attach the ice cream cone to the back of your paper plate. You can also colour the cheeks with pink crayons and the nose with orange crayons. 6. Make an owl out of a pinecone, acorn caps and maple tree seeds Did you know owls hoot loudest in autumn? That’s right. Tawny owls, which live in Britain, make more noise during October and November as the young birds reach maturity and look for new homes, which lead to many territorial fights. This amazing craft decoration can also be kept out into Christmas - simply add a little hat and scarf! To find the source of the photo used, and the original recipe please click here; https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.easypeasyandfun.com%2Fpinecone-winter-owls-craft%2F&psig=AOvVaw2mgqJ61_pPBP5BKphc4sUR&ust=1632760885561000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjhxqFwoTCJjBiNSKnfMCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ Anyhow, following these simple steps to can your very own owls out of pinecones. What you’ll need: Pinecones Acorn Caps Maple tree seeds Bark Craft glue Acrylic paint Craft items - feathers, googly eyes, permanent markers, tissue paper etc. How to make it? 1. After gathering supplies on a relaxing nature walk, glue the acorn caps to the front of the pinecone. 2. Glue a piece of bark to each side of the pinecone to create wings for your owl. Use a pumpkin seed or a tiny pinecone for the owl’s beak. 4. Glue maple tree seeds above each of the owl’s eyes to make your owl look like the Great Horned Owl. 7. Design and make a custom Watercolour Autumn Leaf Wreath This amazing craft idea is a perfect Autumn Craft to do which will help brighten and decorate your home! To read the original recipe, and find the source of the photo used, please check out; https://www.happinessishomemade.net/kids-craft-watercolor-fall-leaf-wreath/ All you need - Poster Board (To make the Wreath shape) or a paper plate - Watercolour paper - Watercolour paints in autumn colours - Glue That's it! Happy Crafting 8. Go On A Nature Walk And our final Autumn Celebration activity would be.... to go view and appreciate Autumn outside on a lovely nature walk! If you're passionate about the outdoors and love the beauty of Autumn, why not take your children on an exploration nature walk! If you're worried that your children will also get bored halfway through, then feel free to give our guide on Nature Walks with children a read! Our guide is written with your child's interests in mind, providing a list of fun activities and games to do which also promote healthy learning, exploring, and discovery. To read more about this, please click the button below;

Anxiety is quite common in young children - after all, they’ve got a lot to learn, and a big world to grow up in! And when they’re faced with a new thing, such as attending preschool or moving into a new home, it’s only natural for them to be a bit worried. ( Photo Credit: News Medical ) They might get upset, they might never want to leave your side, and they might be more grumpy than usual. Yet, these behaviours are usually only a blip, and as your child gets used to change, they’ll disappear as soon as they appeared! However, when these worries start interfering with their normal routine, it could be a sign that your child is living with anxiety. We all know just how disruptive anxiety can be to an adult’s life, so it’s something no parent would ever wish their baby to go through. But identifying anxiety can be tricky. Kids can be good at hiding how they feel, and getting them to open up can feel like drawing blood from a stone! But there are still signs you can pick up on when thinking about how they’ve been acting lately. And some of these important signs can look like this: Has their appetite changed? Maybe your child eats less than they did, or maybe they eat a lot more - either one can be a sign that they’re dealing with stress. Both can be a coping mechanism for children who don’t quite know how to talk about their feelings yet. Food is a big part of their life, after all, as they have a lot of growing to do, but it’s a good idea to keep an eye on the way their appetite evolves. ( Photo Credit: Peaceful Parenting Institute ) They’ve often got stomach pains Does your child often complain that their tummy hurts? Maybe they’re actually being sick more often? Obviously, this is a very worrying sign and could require medical attention, but it’s also another big sign that your child is feeling overwhelmingly scared on a daily basis. This is especially true if these stomach pains come on suddenly, such as when you’re about to leave the house to take your child out to preschool or school. Attendance Matters Magazine has also written a wonderful piece on preschool and school attendance, its importance, and how anxiety can negatively impact that. To read more about this, click here. ( Photo Credit : FamilyAPP ) They’ve developed a nervous habit Maybe they bite their nails or fiddle with their hair a lot? Maybe they’ve developed a ‘twitch’ in their face or their hands that they can’t seem to stop doing? Nervous habits are a huge sign that your child is worried, and they’re performing some kind of self-soothing motion to help calm down. Nervous habits range in presentation; Thumb sucking, rocking, making sounds etc. ( Photo Credit: Child Behaviour Clinic ) Maybe they can’t sleep or concentrate Not being able to sleep during the night, or not wanting to go for a nap, can be very worrying to you as a parent. If your child doesn’t get enough sleep, they can be sluggish and moody during the day and may fall asleep at other times, such as a preschool or school itself. And a lack of sleep can lead to low concentration - they could make mistakes when asked to do tasks, or even be unable to listen in the first place. Indeed, you could even notice a ‘spaced out’ look on their face from time to time. (Photo Credit: Be Strong ) Other adults or teachers are noticing the signs too Has someone at preschool come to you mentioning some of the symptoms above? Maybe a babysitter has expressed concern in the past couple of weeks? Maybe even your own parents have noticed that their grandchild isn’t quite their usual self? These are all signs that your child’s anxious behaviours are becoming more frequent. In times like these, it’s best to tackle the problem head-on. (Photo Credit: Parenting From The Heart ) What to do next When you notice one or more of the symptoms above, talk to your little one about how they’re feeling. Make sure they feel safe to talk to you, and know that they can always come to you. Anxiety can make us feel like the world is against us, and as we mentioned above, that’s a very big world when you’re only 4 or 5 years old! ( Photo Credit: SEN Magazine ) Of course, if you’re really worried about the way your child is feeling, be sure to talk to a doctor about the symptoms you notice. It’s good to eliminate any potential physical cause before tackling an anxiety problem, and it’ll also give you more peace of mind over your child’s health. If an anxiety disorder is found to be the cause, therapy is often prescribed. Forms of therapy such as CBT are good for treating your child’s anxiety issue, by allowing them to discuss it safely, and also be taught ways to deal with it when they feel the fear come on. This is a proactive approach for teaching your child that they’re safe and sound, and it can help them to grow up without anxiety issues holding them back. The NHS also provides a detailed description of Anxiety in Children, which can be found by clicking here. This article is a fantastic free resource that will help you learn a bit more about Anxiety as a whole.

We all know how messy kids can be. Just one child can tear a house apart in a matter of hours, but if a brother or sister is involved as well, you can lose all sight of the floor in a few simple minutes! Building blocks will be strewn everywhere, and crayons will be spilt all over the table, and maybe you’ll even find paint flicked all over the walls as well… All in all, it’s a real mess once the kids have had time to play after preschool or before dinner, and you’re starting to run out of energy picking things up after them. So maybe it’s time to start showing the little ones how to tidy up their own messes? It can be done! As long as you make it an accessible and friendly activity, even the most grumpy 5-year-olds can be encouraged to put their own toys away. Here are a few tips to get started: Set some simple rules Kids can find it hard to understand rules that have more than 2 or 3 steps. So if your usual cleaning schedule means you use the yellow gloves in the kitchen and the blue gloves in the bathroom, and one duster for the living room and another for the bedrooms, there’s a good chance the kids won’t even begin to follow! Making it simple will help them to get into the groove by tidying up. (Image Source: Allrecipies) Ask: Does rubbish go in the bin? Check! Toys go in the toy box, and only one is allowed out at a time? Check! Do crayons have to stay in the packet if you’re not using them? Check! These rules are easy to set, easy to enforce, and kids are much more likely to commit to them thanks to just how easy they are to follow. Little brains often need help, so this is one of the best ways to structure a child-friendly cleaning routine. Make it fun! Kids love having fun, and as long as they know an activity is going to make them laugh or smile (or even just let them spend some time with you!), it’s going to be one they’ll undertake with no problem. And even as adults, we put on music or a podcast to pass the time as we clean up, so apply the same principle when trying to encourage the kids to join in as well. (Image Source: Oasis Natural Cleaning) Putting music on is the easiest way to make tidying up more fun, and you can all have a sing-song as you head around the house with a bin bag and spray bottle. Let your child dance as they help you make the bed or wash the kitchen floor, and be sure to join in to let your little one know that this kind of fun is normal during chores. You can also turn cleaning into a game, by handing out tools and setting a timer to see who wins the ‘race’, or by handing out little treats once your child has finished their task, or if they’re young enough, buy them toy versions of vacuums and sweeping brushes and let them follow along behind you. It’ll help them to get used to the sounds and actions, and encourage them to take on the challenge as they get bigger! Try not to give your child a reason to hate cleaning In order to help your child enjoy tidying up, and even take part in it without being asked, you have to understand why they would otherwise hate having to clean. What makes them think of it as a ‘chore’, even if that’s what you plan to turn it into? (Image Credit: Children's Health) The answer is that cleaning tasks are often handed out as part of a punishment. If a bit of elbow grease is involved, then kids are more likely to learn their lesson after misbehaving. However, when using cleaning tasks to set your little one straight, you can accidentally teach them to loathe cleaning and anything that’s involved with it. After all, this is a punishment. It’s not meant to be enjoyed, and it’s supposed to give your child time to think about their behaviour. They’re only allowed to finish and walk away when you tell them to, and they’re probably pouting or frowning as they wash a dish or wipe down a surface. Suddenly, cleaning isn’t fun anymore, and it’s certainly not something they’ll want to do off of their own backs. So they simply won’t, because it’s boring and takes a long time, and they don’t want to have to tidy up any more than they’re told to. This is why it’s important to avoid this as much as possible, and instead, make cleaning the fun and easy game it should be at their age! Tidying up doesn't have to be a big, nasty monster in your home! Let your kids have the right expectations about tidying up after themselves; it’s a life skill we all need to learn at some point! Sure, even as an adult you can hate having to tidy up, but when you’re trying to encourage your child to take part, it’s best to show them that cleaning can be fun and that you can have a laugh during it. You might even find it much more enjoyable yourself this way! Thanks for reading! Feel free to let us know in the comments below what tips and tricks you have to help promote cleaning at home with your little ones.

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It’s happened. It’s finally happened. Your child has reached an age where they no longer need you to hold their hand for everything, and they’re able to stand on their own two feet and get on with things. And whilst this can be an awkward realisation - you can feel like your child no longer ‘needs’ you so much in their life - it can also be a cause for celebration! After all, your little one doesn’t need you to manage all the little tasks for them anymore, which leaves a bit more time for you and your other responsibilities. This will definitely come in handy when you’re rushing to get them along to preschool and also be on time for work afterwards! However, even when your child reaches an age where independence comes along quite naturally, they can still rely on and look to you to do everything for them. And sometimes, that can hold them back, or make you feel like your son or daughter is a milestone behind their peers. And in situations like these, it’s a good idea to encourage them to find their independence, which you can do with the help of the ideas below. Have the ‘responsibility talk’ Children love knowing that their parents trust them, and they relish the feeling of being ‘grown up’, even if they’re only 4 or 5 and have a lot more growing to do! And because of this, it’s a good idea to have a talk about responsibility with them. This can be done by asking them what they feel like they’re capable of doing. Let them walk you through how they can pick their own clothes in the morning, and see how much they’ve learned about food from helping you out in the kitchen. Encourage them to talk about the things they like doing for themselves, to ensure that responsibility never becomes a boring chore in their mind. Be sure to put a talk like this in terms that they understand; responsibility can be a hard concept to grasp for both teens and young adults, so make sure to be gentle with your little one! Delegate simple tasks to them Of course, we all know that a 4 or 5-year-old cannot look after themselves completely, but they can manage little things, such as putting their own shoes on, or brushing their own hair. As long as the task is simple, and doesn’t take longer than 5 minutes to do, you can entrust the management to your little one. When they come downstairs and show you how they’ve done, you can congratulate them on just how clever and capable they are, even if their hair is a bit of a mess! It helps them to get used to this new routine and helps them to feel like they’re doing a good job with this small bit of control they have over their life. However, if you don’t feel like letting your child take a bit of charge over their entire morning routine, you don’t have to! But try to give them one thing to do. For example, one of the most simple tasks you can put your child in charge of is brushing their own teeth. Kids have to brush their teeth twice a day anyway, so why not start trusting them with managing this small task on their own? In fact, we have a guide on helping kids to manage teeth brushing and encouraging them to keep their gnashers clean right here on the Ducklings blog! Tell them how well they’re doing! Encouragement can come in many forms, but the simplest, most effective way to let your child know they’re doing well, and that you’re proud of them, is to simply tell them so. Be specific about what you liked about what they did, so your child can easily understand this kind of praise. As we touched on above, letting your 4-year old know they’ve done something really incredible by strapping the velcro on their shoes or putting a hairband on their head can help them to take on more independence. And independence can absolutely be encouraged, and it’s actually the best way to learn it! For example, many children love having the freedom to decide their own outfits in the morning, as it’s a very good way to express themselves at a young age. And not only that, but it proves that they have a home environment that is both safe and lots of fun, even if responsibility can get boring after a while! All in all, independence encouragement sends your child a message, even subconsciously, that whilst they can’t quite do what they like, they are a part of the decision making in the family.

Although the summer is vast approaching, the British weather doesn’t always cooperate, and this often means there is a rainy day or two. Children require stimulation and with the absence of education for six weeks, it can be a little too lengthy. This is especially the case when there are multiple days of poor weather because they actually start to climb the walls. In this article, I discuss multiple ways that can hopefully entertain them during the drizzly and gloomy days. It may even bring a smile to their faces and brighten up the day, even if the sun doesn’t make an appearance. Checking the weekly forecast and groaning at the thought of how to keep them occupied and tearing your hair out could well be a thing of the past. Build a Den: Children thrive in spaces they can hide in, away from parents especially. Sometimes this can be because they have done something mischievous, but there are times when it’s purely for entertainment purposes. Though some children love to have company in the makeshift den and it’s a perfect cosy little place to have a snuggle with them. The concept of reading a book underneath the blankets seems like heaven. It can also help them calm down and have some downtime, away from everything. You can make the hidden space by using chairs and tables. These items can help support the blankets and sheets that are draped over them. For the smaller sections of the den, you could incorporate cardboard boxes too. From experience as a child, I would often temporarily borrow the clothes airer and throw bedding over it. It would definitely make it spacious and high enough to sit under. Pegs are also a great way to keep the material in place, and a safe method too. Broom handles and brushes with extended handles can be used to make the outer frame of the den too and provide some altitude. Once the den is complete you can place cushions inside and even a carpet to make it look a lot more homely. Children enjoy soft items and teddies are often a comfort item for that reason. The imagination purposes of the den are endless, as they can turn the space into a magic cave and create some magic tricks! On the other hand, they may kit it out, so it appears to look more like a dungeon too. Though, there are children who simply just thrive on making the den rather than using it for playtime purposes. Also don't feel limited to indoor den's. If the weather is permitting, and you have outdoor space at home, why not go on a hunt for twigs and logs, and make you're very own hidden den in the woods! Make a Balloon Car: This activity is eco-friendly in terms of recycling old materials to create something new and exciting for children. It is fairly simple to make, and it can also provide brain stimulation. You can even make a few of them and race them against one another. The possibilities are in fact endless. Things you will need: Cardboard. Scissors. A balloon. Two round sticks (wooden BBQ skewers). Four bottle lids of the same size. Tape. Cut the cardboard into the length and width you wish to have for the overall size of the car – as this will be the base. Create a hole in the bottle lids. Place the skewers into the holes you created in the lids, making sure a lid is on each end of the skewer. It should look like four individual wheels. Tape/Glue a balloon to the top of the car. The balloon will become the wind-powered engine. Though, do make sure you can access the balloon once it’s in place as you’ll need to blow it up, using either a pump or straw for assistance. Blow up the balloon, using an assistance method if desired. – Save your lungs. Place the car on a flat surface and then let go of the balloon. The airpower should be more than enough to help the car go. *If your child thoroughly enjoyed this engineering activity, then there is another one that is quite simple, a homemade lava lamp. You can watch a YouTube tutorial here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh30TxceUIQ. The host explains the method in a fun manner, as well as the scientific purpose of the experiment too. (Photo credit: https://www.mamaofmonsters.com/post/how-to-make-a-balloon-car) Board Games: I used to love board games as a child, the few favourites being snakes and ladders, buckaroo, frustration and later in life, scrabble. Though, I do love the Catchphrase board game too. Children bask in activities they can become involved in or have a chance of winning. It develops their brain stimulation as well as attention span. If they sadly lose, it also teaches them valuable life skills ‘you win some, you lose some.’ If you are quite the crafter, you can make your own board games. There are a few to choose from on Pinterest. The application is free to join too, https://www.pinterest.co.uk/younghosannas/homemade-board-games/. Why are board games so beneficial? Board games can help with motor skills, especially in the likes of buckaroo, as they have to balance the objects. A good game for balance and patience can also be, Jenga. That really gets your heart thumping, desperate not to knock all the blocks off and your brain constantly ticks over, deciding which brick is the safest to pull. Some have explained that board games help soothe anxiety and calm situations down. It helps the child begin to focus on something else, something else usually being hopeful about winning. Language skills are highly important to a child’s development process and these activities can help in doing so, especially if they have to communicate their next movements or ask questions and such forth. A further benefit is understanding the importance of teamwork. In all walks of life, we encounter others, interact with them on different levels and that includes working as a team or understanding the concept of it. A child who learns these aspects early on has a better understanding of the adequate skills, ones that can set them up for years to come. Let us know in the comments below if any of these ideas helped fight boredom at your house! And please comment if you have some great ideas you'd love to share.

Nurturing the Gnashers For young children especially, the upkeep of dental hygiene is integral for healthy development. Milk teeth are more prone to decay, so they need to be well looked after; neglecting them can also cause indirect issues in the adult teeth that grow below. Thus, in order for children to smile brightly, chew strongly and speak powerfully, they must gain the habit of a lifetime – brushing at least twice a day for two minutes at a time! The importance of brushing our teeth generally becomes common knowledge from a young age, and rightfully so. Despite this knowledge, however, children often take brushing their teeth to be a chore. As explained, this can be detrimental to their health, so here are some tips to help remove that stigma and encourage youngsters to tend to their teeth: 1. Avoid brushing their teeth immediately before bed Part of the reason why children may not enjoy brushing their teeth in the evening is that it symbolises something else they do not enjoy – bedtime. Without completely destroying a bedtime routine, it might be an idea to have your child’s teeth brushed just before something they really enjoy doing. This could be half an hour of playing, reading, or watching something as a treat (unfortunately they would have to avoid the popcorn though)! What’s more, this kind of strategy could help them burn some energy and make putting them to bed a whole lot easier too. This approach could improve a child’s relationship with brushing their teeth; brushing their teeth becomes a task that they are rewarded for, or part of doing something they love. Of course, this kind of reward system can be implemented in the mornings too. 2. Involve children in choosing their toothbrush and toothpaste There are endless options of children’s toothbrushes available; in bamboo, electric form and so on. These are designed specifically for youngsters, so it only makes sense that children choose their own! Having a chosen toothbrush can change a child’s negative attitude towards brushing their teeth; by picking a brush based on its (for instance) fun, mature, or sentimental design can lead a child to feel much better about using it. Granting children with some choice in which toothbrush they use can also help them feel like the tooth brushing task itself is something they have chosen to do too. By wanting to brush their teeth rather than feeling obligated, children may be more likely to engage in it better. The same goes for selecting toothpaste. So long as it contains fluoride (and other ingredients you personally consider necessary), it is just important that children are not put off by the taste of the paste! Obviously, if toothpaste tastes delicious, then brushing our teeth is a whole lot better. 3. Allow them to practice brushing their own teeth For obvious reasons, very young children have to have help when it comes to brushing their teeth. Allowing them to get involved, however, is not to say that their teeth will not be brushed properly – you can have the best of both worlds. Before or after you brush their teeth thoroughly, encourage them to have a go themselves. By taking part in brushing their own teeth, children can feel something very true – that they are part of something really important. Not only can this help them engage with their dental hygiene, but it can benefit them educationally. They can learn how best to brush their teeth and as they grow, they can put that into practice; taking on such an important habit is best done from an early age. 4. Do it together! Children love to mirror those who are close to them, so taking the time to brush your teeth together might make it seem less taxing for them. This could be more convenient in the mornings, depending on their bedtime. If you prefer to brush your teeth with them before their bedtime (and then again at your own bedtime), that is only a bonus for your own teeth! If your child is still at the age where your hands will be full brushing their teeth, then understandably you won’t be able to brush your own at the same time. If that’s the case, then why not get another family member or friend involved? Otherwise, you can take it in turns brushing your own, and your child’s teeth – make it a moment that you share together. If this doesn’t suit you, then it might just be wise to make sure that your child sees you brushing your own teeth regularly. Setting this kind of example can really help them to come to terms with, or normalise tooth brushing times. 5. Use other mediums Encouraging children to enjoy brushing their teeth need not only come from the task itself. There are plenty of games, books and TV programmes that you can use as motivating tools. For example, try Topsy and Tim: Our Teeth on BBC iPlayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04j24zj/topsy-and-tim-series-2-16-our-teeth Falling in love with a medium like this can help children fall in love with brushing their teeth (or at least not dread it so much)!

Does your child struggle to make friends? Sure, they can hold their own in a conversation, but they’re not really someone who seeks out other kids to talk to, and they’re definitely not a ‘social butterfly’. Of course, they don’t have to be! But right now you’re getting a little concerned over the way they interact with the world because you want them to be able to face it with confidence and a friend or two by their side. After all, making friends is a big part of life, and knowing how to do so is an essential skill to develop as you grow. We all need to have people who love and accept and understand us in our lives, and making friends at a young age teaches you the necessary social skills, such as empathy and confidence, to carry you through other phases in life with little social difficulty. But what do you need to do now? How can you help your child to seek out friendly relationships with other kids? It doesn’t have to be a complicated process. The first thing to do is understand why Maybe your child just seems to prefer their own company? Or maybe they’ve made quite a few friends but seem to fall out with all of them? Either way, you’re worried about their social skills, and how you can encourage them to seek out friendly relationships with their peers. Most of all, you don’t ever want them to feel left out or lonely. You might know just how damaging these emotions can be, and you don’t want your child to feel them as they grow and develop. So be sure to spend some time with your child when they’re around others. Maybe take a day at preschool with them, or invite a friend and their child around, and watch the way your child interacts with other kids their age. What do you notice? Are they louder or quieter than usual, such as when they’re at home with you? Do they even ignore attempts at other kids to include them? No matter what you see during these moments, you can then use the evidence to fuel the way you encourage your child later on. You know the kind of help your child needs, and you know what you’re dealing with now! Lead by example, Kids copy what they see around them; you probably hate your child watching cartoons that depict characters being naughty because then your little one starts acting in a similar way! And that’s because kids like to emulate behaviours, because it’s been 'modeled’ for them, and anyone under the age of 15/16 will be looking for these answers from the world around them. And with all of this in mind, you might want to lead by example here. Invite a friend over, or head out to a book club or pottery class once a week. Your child will take notice of how social you are, and they might want to either come along with you or start to display the same behaviour in the classroom and on the playground. Set up a Playdate As mentioned above, inviting another child of a similar age around can really help your child to meet their peers on a one to one level, in a comfortable and familiar environment. They’re in their own home and have their own toys to play with, and that can help to foster confidence. After all, your child knows where everything is, they know what the rules are, and they know you’re nearby. A few play dates here and there can make a big difference in the way your child makes friends. It can really help them to step outside of themselves, and learn to use their voice if they’re someone who gets anxious when they’re in a crowded place like a preschool or a classroom. And every kid loves it when a friend comes round after school! It’s fun, there’s a sense of freedom, and the kids can hang out as long as they want. Talk to your child It’s the simplest answer to this problem, and yet it’s one of the hardest ones on this list to accomplish! Talking to your little one about why they don’t like to talk to other kids, or even just asking them if they’ve made any new friends, can be met with grunts, shrugs, tears, and total silence. And this can lead you to believe that something bad is going on. You can start to think that maybe your child is being bullied or has been picked on, and that’s certainly something to consider. But it’s not always the case. Maybe your child is just a bit shy and requires encouragement, or maybe they’ve had a bad experience in the past and need a bit of one to one attention to help them get over it. Either way, talking to them in a calm manner on their level, can get them to open up and feel like you’re on their side. Why not tell them about your own experiences at their age? Above all else, make sure they know that other kids would love to be friends with them!

Is your child a fussy eater? Maybe they’re never managing to clear their plate at mealtimes, or they refuse to try new foods, or maybe they just eat foods of a certain colour? Hey, these are all little quirks kids can show when they are in their early developmental stages, and often they’ll grow out of these food behaviours as soon as they adopt them. But before that manages to happen, you’re probably becoming very frustrated with meal times! You want something to change, but you’re not quite sure how to make it happen. And as the person who loves them most in the world, you’re also probably a bit worried about your child’s dietary habits. Should I worry about my child’s fussy eating? According to official advice from the NHS, your toddler is a fussy eater is nothing to worry about. It’s normal for kids to turn their nose up at certain foods, and absolutely love chowing down on one food over another - they’re little humans with their own preferences, just like us! As long as your child has energy, is active, and is clearly gaining weight normal for their age, their eating habits are just fine. (Of course, it’s always best to check with a doctor before you write off any serious food worries, just to be sure.) However, if you’d really like your child to vary in their dietary habits a little more, you don’t have to stay frustrated. You can introduce new foods to them slowly over time, and we’ve got a bit of advice below to make sure they don’t spit it all back out! To start with, you can check out our guide on sneaking more veggies onto your child’s plate right here! Make ‘healthy’ snacks the norm If you want your child to eat more foods, and specific foods that are good for them, make ‘healthy’ snacks the norm around the house. It’s alright for your child to have something sweet and a little bit naughty every now and then, but these should be rare treats that always follow on from a healthy snack or meal beforehand. Try to remove sweets and biscuits and cakes from out of easy reach, and put fruits and nuts and grain bars around instead. Make these snacks bite-size and easy to eat, so your child doesn’t turn their nose up at the size or texture of the foods either. Even making small, yummy smoothies with Blueberries, or Raspberries and Blackberries can work a treat, and they’re incredibly easy to make if you keep these ingredients diced, frozen and ready to go! Add plenty of flavours Thanks to their difference in taste buds, your child experiences the flavour palette in a much more sensitive way than you do. We all know kids tend to have a bit of a sweet tooth, and you can blame that fact on the greater amount of sweet receptors they have compared to us! However, this also means children are generally much more sensitive to ‘yucky’ flavours as well, specifically things that taste bitter. It’s why a baby’s face screws up so dramatically when they try a citrus fruit for the first time, and it’s probably one of the main reasons why your child hates having to eat their broccoli! And that means it’s important to try and mask these bitter flavours as much as possible. Cooking with spices, for example, is a great way to help your child learn to love the taste of the greens on their plate. Even just with a sprinkle of salt and pepper, and then roasting broccoli in the oven instead of boiling it, can work wonders on your child’s perception of their veggies. Set an example! If the kids have to eat carrot sticks and grapes whenever they want a snack, but the ice cream in the freezer is steadily wearing down thanks to your late-night TV marathons, your little one might start to suspect something… And if they catch you out in a lie about the foods they have to eat, they’re going to continue turning their noses up at the different food you’re trying to get them to eat. So, following on from the point about making ‘healthy’ snacks the norm for your kids, make sure you join in too. Kids learn the most from copying those around them, and as their parents, you set the most important example of all! Eat these foods alongside your child, and be sure to talk about just how much you enjoy the tastes in front of them. Kids tend to have taste expectations about the foods in front of them, and if you like what you’re eating, they’re much more likely to as well.

Music has always been a powerful tool with observable benefits to a child's development. The more music introduced to children from a young age, the more likely they are to want to start learning and playing an instrument. Playing music significantly benefits a child as they grow, as it is one of the most practical and enjoyable ways they can develop the way their mind and body works together; improving hand-eye coordination and focus as well as becoming an expressive outlet as they get older. With that said, there are a wide range and variety of instruments out there, so it can be difficult to choose one that is suited to your child in order to ease them into learning to play music. There are however a few that have proven to be very popular choices. Firstly, they are the perfect entry instrument to start learning as they are easy to play! Your child can sit at a piano, hit a key and thus play a note instantly, accelerating the early learning process and enjoyment they get out of the instrument as they can start to learn how to play from day one, rather than having to learn certain techniques first before being able to play anything, as is the case for playing a note correctly on a flute, or having to be aware of tuning, as is the case for a guitar and other stringed instruments. Moreover, a digital piano or keyboard is a great starting point for developing your child's knowledge of scales and music theory, which can then be later applied to other instruments For example, by simply identifying one key as 'C', a child can play the next 7 white keys one after the other, which would mean they have just played a scale! In summary, I believe that a digital piano or keyboard are the best instruments to ease your child into the fulfilling journey of learning to play music, as well as being an undemanding way for your child to learn the basic theory that can then be developed and applied to other instruments. The longer a child learns and plays an instrument, the more their patience, general commitment and concentration will improve, so it is well worth keeping your child motivated to continue learning! One of the easiest ways is to have music playing in the background at home or in the car every now and then, specifically music that appears to resonate with the child. This can be a powerful motivational tool as it will likely encourage your child to try and emulate what they are listening to, as well as maintain their interest in music. Another way to keep your child motivated to continue to learn their musical instrument is to identify a good music teacher that can teach effectively while keeping it fun and exciting. One great benefit of this is it will allow your child to learn on a real and professional piano! Some teachers do allow the parent to sit in and watch the lesson, so it is always worth asking if you can watch the first few lessons to see for yourself if it is practical and your child is having fun. Finally, it is important to let your child decide what instrument(s) they want to learn next as they grow older. For example, a child who started learning how to play music on a keyboard at age 5 may wish to learn how to play the guitar as they reach age 10. They will be able to use what they've already learned from playing the keyboard but will now be able to apply it to an instrument they would have more fun playing, meaning they will be more inspired to play and continue to learn! Some links https://www.gear4music.com/Keyboards-and-Pianos/MK-1000-54-Key-Portable-Keyboard-by-Gear4music/UT5 https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7333639

Staycation is a big buzzword at the moment. With so much uncertainty about travelling internationally again, it’s all about staying in the UK and making the most of what our country has to offer, and even if international travel will be possible this year, a UK staycation can still offer so much. 1. Devon Devon is a frequent hit for families the UK over, with its bustling activities and picturesque harbour to beautiful sandy beaches, as well as a large array of choices of hotels and restaurants. There is an impressive range of opportunities for families to explore, from museums and boat trips to attractions like Dinosaur World. Beautiful towns and villages in Devon - Clovelly - Lynton and Lynmouth - Dartmouth - Dittisham. Photo credits: https://unsplash.com/@l_tripp 2. Cornwall Cornwall is known for being one of the hottest counties in the UK during the summer and is a popular destination too due to its lovely long sandy beaches. It is renowned also for its exquisite Cornish pasties and top-notch quality ice cream and clotted creams. If you love food why not give Cornwall a go this summer? Beautiful towns and villages in Cornwall - Port Isaac - Looe - Fowey - Charlestown - Megavissey - Mousehole - Polperro. Photo credits: https://unsplash.com/@gregwillson 3. Lake District The lakes district is one of the most naturally beautiful areas in the UK. It is very well known for its idyllic rolling countryside, cosy cottages and countless lakes. With plenty of available activities such as boat rides, kayaking and perfect picnic spots, this is a place hard to ignore, due to its striking scenery and pure fresh air. Beautiful towns and villages in the Lake District - Ambleside - Grasmere - Cartmel - Keswick - Hawkshead. Photo credits: https://unsplash.com/@egems_ltd 4. Peak District The Peak District is the Uk oldest national park and is a perfect place for family-friendly walks. It is also famous for its impressive limestone valleys and moorland plateaus. Dovedale Stepping Stones (and Thorpe Cloude), Padley Gorge and Stanton Moor are all easy Peak District walks and the views of the surrounding rolling hills are truly spectacular. Beautiful towns and villages in the Peak District - Ashford-in-the-Water - Bakewell - Alstonefield - Castleton - Edale - Tissington. Photo credits: https://unsplash.com/@demidroid 5. Yorkshire There are endless choices in Yorkshire for families. Visit the historic city of York, quick and easy to get about, being compact and easy to visit major attractions on foot. Take the child-friendly tour of York minster and walk along the ancient medieval walls. Or you can take a trip to the Yorkshire Dales to climb to the top of the famous Malham Cove known for featuring in the Harry Potter movies. Beautiful towns and villages in Yorkshire - Hutton-le-Hole - Thornton-le-Dale - Middleham - Kettlewell - Grassington - Staithes - Whitby. Photo credits: https://unsplash.com/@davelowephoto Let us know in the comments below your recommendations!

A Better Bolognaise When it comes to pleasing children at mealtimes, you cannot often go wrong with serving up a spaghetti bolognaise. However, by tweaking the classic recipe we can do even better, providing children (and ourselves) with a healthier, and more sustainable option. It is essential that children get to grips with understanding the importance of making informed food choices - for both their tummies and the environment! This dish is one that they can get involved in cooking or sourcing the ingredients for. In the day prior to cooking dinner, a trip to your local farm, butcher, or even farm shop could be an interactive way of educating children on the importance of buying local produce, or how food is grown. You can find your local farm shop here: https://www.farminguk.com/farm-shops-map Perhaps it would be naïve to suggest that trips to the farm or cooking with children is always possible – sometimes we just want to get affordable food on the table fuss-free! Still, the recipe below is worth trying. Even when sourcing the ingredients and cooking in your own way, by following the recipe below you can seriously reduce the carbon footprint of a classic (beef) bolognaise. Granted, this dish may not be eco perfection, but it is definitely friendlier. It is a realistic way to do better for the environment; if we all took small, easy steps by just cutting meat intake, the impact could be great! As well the environmental perks, this dish is perfect for sneaking in extra veggies on those days where vegetables definitely need to be hidden! To the recipe you could add grated courgette or other vegetables – children (if not involved in the cooking) would never know! Ingredients 2 cloves of garlic 1 onion 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary olive oil 200g Quorn 200g pork mince 200g grated carrots 200 ml veg or chicken stock 1 x 280 g jar of sun-dried tomatoes 2 x 400 g tins of chopped plum tomatoes 500 g dried spaghetti Parmesan cheese extra virgin olive oil Method Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/gas 4. Peel and finely chop the garlic and onions, pick and finely chop the rosemary. Heat a splash of oil in a casserole pan on medium heat, add the rosemary, garlic and onion and cook for 5 minutes, or until softened, stirring occasionally. Add the pork mince, breaking it apart with the back of a spoon, then cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until starting to brown. Then add the grated carrot, Quorn and stock. Leave to bubble and cook away. Meanwhile, drain and tip the sun-dried tomatoes into a food processor and blitz to a paste. Add these, along with the tinned tomatoes to the pan. Stir well, breaking up the tomatoes. Cover with a lid then places in the oven for 1 hour, removing the lid and giving it a stir after 30 minutes – if it looks a little dry at this stage, adds a splash of water. About 10 minutes before the time is up, cook the spaghetti in boiling salted water according to the packet instructions. Once the spaghetti is cooked, drain, then return to the pan with a few spoons of Bolognese, a grating of Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil.

Pets can be great animal companions for people of any age. They are often there when you need a shoulder to cry on or feel like giving and receiving attention without the commitment of a drawn-out conversation. They can also be the best naptime partners and secret keepers. However, children have an extra benefit when it comes to pets. According to Rost and Hartmann (1994), pets can teach children valuable lessons about affection, compassion, and unconditional love. This is because, with the passage of time, children stop seeing the animal as an odd but fun entity to play with, and instead begin to perceive their pet as a beloved family member who is just as important as their parents and siblings. One way to really ensure a proper bond between your child and any future pet is to evaluate both the needs and personalities of different animals. For example, if your child is active and loves to go outside, they may see dog-walking as a fun activity to participate in! However, if your child prefers to stay indoors and may not be motivated to change that aspect of themselves to dog-walk a few times a day, a dog may not be the best choice for them, since the dog’s needs may not be met. Also, every pet is unique! It’s important to ensure that the pet and child’s personalities mesh well. For example, a child who loves physical activities and play styles may match better with a cat that is also energetic and playful, rather than one that prefers to nap all day. In contrast, a child who likes mindful activities and dislikes moving around too much may not be in the mood to engage with a bouncy cat and would much rather have a stationary pillow of fur to pet as desired. In any case, it is quite important to monitor your child and pet in the early stages, so that you may inform your children if they unintentionally do something that could upset or agitate the pet. It’s important to be patient with both child and pet during this process! In conclusion, the key to finding the perfect pet for your child is to research different animals’ daily needs and individual personality traits, and match what you best think your child will jive with. You may just find that you’ve created an inseparable bond between human and animal! If you're looking to adopt an animal then please feel free to check out: The RSPCA: https://www.rspca.org.uk/findapet/rehomeapet or the DogsTrust https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming/ If you have any recommendations, please do leave them in the comment section below. References: Rost, D. H., & Hartmann, A. H. (1994). Children and their pets. Anthrozoös, 7(4), 242-254. https://doi.org/10.2752/089279394787001709

Depending on their age, children can find it very hard to express themselves. They just don’t have the experience with their emotions that you do, and they just can’t find the words necessary to tell you what’s wrong from time to time. And this can lead to a real communication issue; floods of tears, poorly tummies and restless nights, and there’s you as a parent tearing your hair out over how to help your child! But there are many good ways to get through to your little one, and one of the best is via the use of arts and crafts. And kids usually love getting stuck into finger painting or learning how to use a paintbrush! After all, kids can draw how they feel through pictures that actually make sense to them, or they can make a big mess that represents the anger or frustration they may be experiencing. And let’s face it, art is often a lot easier to interpret at this age compared to a contemporary piece you’d find in an art gallery, so your child’s artistic ability is of a lot of help to you as well! The benefits of art for kids There are many benefits to allowing children to experiment with their creativity. Most of all, arts and crafts materials are incredibly accessible to children, simply because they’re easy to use and there are literally no rules! You can encourage them to let loose, and express themselves using art materials even as simple as a set of crayons. And kids tend to respond well to being able to make a mess using all manner of sparkly pens, glitter, pipe cleaners and glue, and it can be a great way to really help to relax them as they open up. The colours and textures involved in using these materials make for a great sensory activity that draws their attention and helps to develop their visual communication skills. It’s a safe way to experiment with their emotions Another big reason why art helps a child express themselves is thanks to how safe the medium is. There’s very little chance your child could get hurt while painting a picture or colouring in a book, and they’re far less likely to throw a tantrum during the activity, compared to trying to participate in a sit-down talk with you. We all know that our emotions can get messy, and they can lead to us saying silly things or hurting others, but with art, you can help your child channel how they feel into something creative and productive. It’s a good way to show them how to deal with what they’re feeling in a healthy manner and sets a good example for the future. It’s also super fun! And that’s why kids respond so well in the first place. Art is one of the best ways to allow your child to have fun, thanks to just how creative they can get. Even just throwing a bit of paint around can help your child to get their emotions out, and make them laugh again after a day or two of heavy tears and a frowny face. And the fun part of making art is incredibly important. We don’t want our kids to feel like emotions are scary, or that they can’t talk about the way they feel with you. Kids need to know that their feelings aren't something to bottle up or be afraid of, and when there’s a piece of paper and some paint pots, or jars of Play-Doh in front of them, your child immediately understands they’re in for a fun afternoon! Ducklings also has a great DIY Play-Doh recipe to try at home, which can be found at: https://www.ducklingspreschool.co.uk/artists Art activities to try with your child Art can be very easy to make using just simple household items. Have a dig through your kitchen drawers or your office desk to find the necessary items to try out the art activities below! Make some Salt Dough If you don’t have any dough in the house already that your child can use to make models, you can easily make some Salt Dough of your own with them. Kids will love learning about the process! As long as you have some plain flour, salt, and water from the tap available, you can get this recipe done in about 10 to 20 minutes. Pass the pen This is a great way to bond with your child over the creation of art and is usually a good way to get your child to open up about why they’re drawing certain shapes, or using certain colours. Take a pen and let your child draw something, say for about 10 seconds, and then have them pass the pen to you and you draw for 10 seconds. Repeat until you’re both happy with the picture you’ve created together! Straw blow painting This is a very fun activity that kids of all ages will love to do. If you’ve got some straws in the house, and you’ve got some runny paint or watercolours on hand, you can have a laugh and a giggle together overblowing the paint in different directions to create big, messy, and colourful pictures! So, if you’ve got some paper and pens in the house, let your child have a go with creating art of their own, and check out some of the benefits for yourself. Let us know in the comments which activities you tried at home and loved! If you're looking for more ideas too please check out https://www.ducklingspreschool.co.uk/artists also.