NHS Colouring in Pages

How are we all finding the current situation? I feel like we have got into our new normal and are bumbling along quite nicely. I won’t lie, it’s been really tough and I have noticed a huge spike in traffic on my post about being a “shouty mum” - I know tensions are high and this is super stressful, I think we have all found ourselves being that mum at one time or another. Just remember, we are all in this together.

Darcie the Ballerina

For months and months and months Darcie has expressed a big interest in Dancing, in particular ballet. So last month we decided that she was now ready to give it a go and signed her up to a ballet and tap class. For anyone that know's me personally will know that this excited me greatly. Why? Well through my childhood and teen years I was slightly obsessed with dancing, Ballet, Tap, Modern, Jazz, Street, Disco you name it I did it! My poor parents gave up so much of their time for me to be able to attend and develop, they paid for endless lessons, exams, shows (some which included performing at Disney Land  and the Royal Albert Hall) and now its my turn to become a "dancer mum" like my mum before me.

5 Summer Garden Activities for the Children

Tearing the tykes away from Peppa Pig is no easy task unless you want tears and tantrums, but as us mums know, sitting in front of the television for the entire summer is probably going to do them more harm than good. 

So when the sunshine finally appears it’s no surprise that we all want to make the most of the weather and embrace as many of the good days our British climate has to offer. 

The trouble is, once you get out into the garden and have no pink pigs to entertain the children, the dreaded ‘I’m bored’ motto soon rears its head, and you want to instantly throw in the towel as you wonder whether it’s really worth all the effort in the first place. 

But unfortunately that moment seems to come no matter their age, and finding unique activities that will keep them outside is not only good for their health, but also for your own sanity. 

Take some inspiration from the games below and whether you’re feeling active or not there will be something to keep them entertained well into tea time. 

Quiet Activities

My little three year old can be a bit of a world wind at times, charging around in full imaginative play, normally causing havoc around the house. I have to say, I do love watching her play. I adore to see her wonderful imagination come alive. However, there are occasions were I would love Darcie to spend the afternoon doing quiet activities, especially after a good spring clean! Last week we did just that, Darcie spent a good amount of time doing a quiet activity with me and her Granny. My mum got her a little snail set which you then paint and keep. 

Imaginative Outdoor Play

Imaginative play is one of my daughters favourite things to do and to be honest it’s something that I try to encourage. There is nothing more magical than taking a glimpse into their own little worlds of wonder. You may be asking what exactly is imaginative play, and essentially it is when children are role playing and are acting out various experiences they may have had or something that is of interest to them. It's key for a child's development as it shows they are experimenting with decision making, how they are to behave and also polishing off those social skills. Children learn from experience, they take in everything around them and then, to absorb those experiences and make sense of it all, they then become engaged in imaginary play.

Five playground games for little ones

Another wonderful guest post from the lovely Mary.

5 Playground Games For Little Ones 

When the garden is overgrown after a winter of neglect, and it’s too wet and wild for the children, the playground becomes an essential destination for helping to burn off some of that excess energy. 

There’s sometimes nothing worse than being stuck inside with bored little ones. Whilst you try and think up any form of entertainment that might help pass an hour at least. 

But despite the wet weather the Playground is the perfect place to develop some essential skills for youngsters such as balance and co-ordination. 

So when the going gets tough inside, pop on their wellie boots and wrap them up for an afternoon of play. 

You’re IT 

Getting active along with the children can benefit you and them. 

You can burn off a few calories whilst they have an absolute fun time with their mum. 

Playing tag is one of the activities that will get you both running around, much to their hilarity as you try and tag them. 

They’ll be running around in fits of giggles before you can say ‘Your IT’, and you’ll feel great for being outside and enjoying quality time with them. 

Who needs a gym when you’ve got a little one to run after? 

Colourful Chalk 

If your youngster is the creative type then grab some coloured chalks and set-off to beautify the playground. 

Letting me release their inner artist will encourage them to be confident in the activities they enjoy the most. Just don’t forget to take along some water to wash it away, as many local councils may frown on any leftover artwork. 

Just in case perhaps call the local council and suggest an area for creative chalk play. 

Colourful art should be encouraged and can brighten up some of the dullest parks. 

A Mini Circuit 

There is so much to do at the playground from swings to slides, to monkey bars, to roundabouts. 

Instead of following them around idly, create a mini circuit and time them to see how fast they can do it all. 

They will love the challenge and find it fun to know you’re helping them.

Giving them the chance to use all that the playground has to offer, is a great way of making them use and improve multiple skills. 

If you want to know about other activities that can help them with life skills, there are various articles online such as this one, which can tell you about the benefits of outside play. 

Kick or Throw 

Ball games are always the easy way out when it comes to playground games, but hand-eye co-ordination is a skill that ball games are great for. 

Whether you become their goalie, or you’re just playing a game of catch, ball games will make them concentrate on the task at hand and work with you. 

For much more fun, allow them to bring along a friend so they can do this with a team mate.

An Adventure for Explorers 

If your little ones get bored easily after a while in the playground, encourage their in explorers to take a nature trail. 

Help them find some treasures and wildlife that they can learn about. 

Whether you find a pretty flower to take home with you, or find a beautiful lady bug to watch. 

Showing them the wonders of the outdoors will make them feel as though they’re off on an adventure each time you visit the playground. 

Whichever game you decide to play just ensure you have done a quick safety check of the playground to ensure no little accidents may occur. 

If your local playground is not clean or safe encourage your local council to have it maintained by professionals such as these. A safe environment is a fun one, and it should be kept in pristine order for the community to enjoy. 

I hope you have enjoyed this post as much as I have, we love the nature trail idea and will be trying this out next weekend!

Mummy B xoxox

Healthy Halloween Toddler Treats

Healthy Halloween Toddler Treats with Aldi 

With Halloween just around the corner, we decided to take on Aldi's challenge to make some healthy Halloween treats for little ones. We were kindly sent some ingredients and some ideas of some rather spooktacular treats. I have to admit, I haven't really shopped at Aldi's before but I have been pleasantly surprised. The price of the items gobsmacked me and did wonder whether quality would be risked - but it hasn't! I'm looking forward to discovering more that Aldi has to offer in November, when one opens in our town. Anyway, I digress, lets look at these tasty treats!

Not so autumnal walk & autumn activity

This morning I messaged my Mum asking her if she fancied a nice autumnal walk through the forest - except it actually turned out to be blooming beautiful! The sun was shining, and feeling very warm whilst we walked, so warm we needed an ice-cream! The aim of our walk was to collect some foliage, leaves and flowers for an autumnal activity. Hopefully we can use them for another activity for later on in the week too!

So anyway, back to the walk... We popped to Knettishall Heath, our local forest walk and decided to do the Heathland walk - its was 2.5 miles long and Darcie virtually walked it all!

We spent sometime taking some photographs, letting lady and Darcie explore nature . We even stumbled across some grazing ponies and a hungry caterpillar!

Some of the photo's we tried out included this one of Darcie and my mum. Last year we took a similar one in the exact same spot...

Can't believe how much Darcie has changed - time goes by way too quickly as a parent. I'm sure my mum would agree, in fact I think all mum's would agree time goes too quickly when you have little ones.

My mum also managed to take this beautiful picture...

I think its hilarious! Darcie looks so grumpy - but I'm having a hoot! hehe!

So, once our lovely walk was over and we had collected a bag of leaves, we headed home to create some art!

 Unfortunately, someone was a little too tired to get too into the arts & crafts. But we managed to do some leaf rubbings...

Like I said, we are hoping to do some more artwork using autumnal  leaves maybe even some printing using leaves. For now, we will stick with our pretty leaf rubbings.

How have you spent your Sunday? I'm now off to relax and help my mother set up her own blog!

Mummy B xoxox

A Busy Bowl Activity

I'm naming this a "busy bowl activity" because its an activity, that keeps toddlers busy and I keep it to hand in a bowl - how ingenious am I?! (haha)

In the mad dash to get myself organised and ready to go back to work, I have had to spend a bit of time organising the blog so when I do go back I can concentrate on my first week back (as you read this I will be well under way at work!). Due to this, I have been doing some activities with Darcie that she can happily get on with whilst I tip tap away! 

One of these activities is actually very very simple. Someone actually suggested in on my Facebook Page! Its just a simple pasta jewellery making activity! In a bowl, I place a piece of string, a variety of tubed pasta and just let her get on with it! I keep it to hand so if I'm cooking dinner I can just get the bowl out of the cupboard and she is good to go.

Its a great activity for their fine motor skills and to keep them focused. Darcie loves it when she gets a couple on there, she is always proud of her little achievement!

What activities do you like to do to keep the little ones busy?

Mummy B xoxox

Autumn Bucket List

An Autumn bucket list has become a little bit of a tradition for us. Autumn is one of my favourite seasons, and not only is it because it's my birthday this month! Last year we created a simple list, you can check it out HERE.

So here we go....

1. Conker collecting - Darcie LOVES doing this, last year we did it on more than one occasion and even this morning we even found a couple whilst at the park. It is slightly too early but it won't be long before we can get a bag full! We tend to collect them, then put them in old Yankee Candle jars around the house. 

2. Create an Autumn themed drawing - Darcie is really into her drawing and I'm thinking of doing some leaf printing with her.

3. An evening stroll along Southwold Beach - I love going to Southwold at this time of year, as Lady can now go on the beach too.

4. Have a pumpkin spice latte - Just because they are so yummy!

5. Use the slow cooker - We have had a slow cooker for a couple of years now but have only used it a handful of times. It's also a bid to help me to be a bit more organised, but I have seen so many yummy recipes that I really must try!

6. Complete Christmas shopping - I am determined to be organised this year, I don't want to have the finical stress this year leaving it all to the last moment! Though I have to admit, I am struggling with ideas! (Leave your suggestions below!)

7. Make something - I say this every year, but I really want to have a go at making something! I would love to have a go at making a pushchair liner... could be a little project in the colder months!

8. Autumn Family Portrait - I'm really getting into my photography at the moment, so this would be an ideal project. 

Do you have an Autumn bucket list?

Mummy B xoxox

Darcie goes to the cinema

So on a rainy morning whilst on honeymoon, we decided to take Darcie to the Cinema for the first time. The cinema is a real treat for us, as we never really go! But we felt the time was right and she was just about ready to sit for a long(ish) period of time and enjoy a film and popcorn!

The film of choice was Disney's Planes 2, we had only just seen the first one a couple of days prior so Darcie was familiar the characters. We decided on an early viewing to try and avoid a busy period, just incase she was a little unsettled. There were only a handful of parents with their children, one could of been Darcie's age - so that was a little comforting! I don't know why, but I have always felt a little nervous about taking a tot/small child to the cinema, but really, if they play up/don't like it all you have to do is leave! 

So, we bought our tickets and stocked up with popcorn and we were good to go!

We made a 'big deal' about what we were doing,  letting Darcie know that this was a special treat and we were about to go and see the special planes we watched the other day. Darcie got so excited when we were watching the adverts, she clapped at the end of every single one! So cute... When the film eventually started she shouted "Aeroplanes" in such a gleeful way, it brought such a big smile to mine and Jamie's face! 

She was pretty much settled through 3/4 of the film but then she started to tire. We just rolled with it, I let her sit on my lap then she wanted to sit on another seat, then take her shoes off... But to be perfectly honest she wasn't at all that bad! I would definitely take her again for a rainy day treat!

When did you take your little one to the cinema for the first time? 

Mummy B xoxox

Nature Misses You

Im teaming up with the lovely people at The National Trust to let you know that nature misses YOU! We are all guilty, at times, of spending a little bit too much time in front of the telly, on our phones or laptops and not enough time enjoying the wonderful world around us. As a parent, I'm conscious of making sure that I encourage my daughter, Darcie, to get out and explore, whether its just in the garden, a local park or something a little bit more adventurous.

The National Trust launched a fantastic website called "50 things", the site inspire children to get outdoors and complete 50 activities before they are 11 3/4! I think this is a brilliant idea and was really surprised at some of the "things" of the list. Most of them are simple and free activities - there are really are no excuses for not getting stuck in and to start exploring! 

The website itself is fantastic, if you join up you also get the opportunity to unlock special certificates, games, hidden challenges and rewards for the best exlporers.C

During our honeymoon in Cornwall, we decided to tick a few things off the list. We managed 8 in total! Not bad going! We had so much fun completing these things, all of which didn't cost us a penny. This is perfect for the summer holidays, especially as we are now well into the holidays and the kids might be getting a little bored, so why not give it a go?! If you want to download your own 50 Things list head over HERE.

Here are a few snaps from our adventures so far...

I think Darcie was most keen on the wave jumping, rock pool searches and kit flying... she is a definite beach tot! We can't wait to keep going on with our adventures, I'm determined to get everything ticked off the list... and as she is only two its definitely doable! I'm hoping to keep you updated on how she is doing, I would love to hear from you guys as well if you fancy joining in!

Do you think your children would enjoy this? Have they already completed the list?

Mummy B xoxox