Screens and a guest blog from Nicholas Carlisle
We are part of the first wave of parents raising our children in a world where screens and online electronic devices are dominant in society, and we are now navigating how we manage screens and devices at home with them, as a family, with limited knowledge. I thought I’d share a few of my…
Our Trip to The Highlands of Scotland (and outdoor holiday tips)
Last autumn we took our first trip as a family of four up to the Highlands and Islands of beautiful Scotland - the homeland of my husband. Although my husband and I have been to the Isle of Skye several times before to visit his mum, this was the first time we had taken the kids.
Christmas in London with the Kids
As someone who was born in London, and has lived at all points of the compass within its 10 mile radius, I have a great affection for our capital city. Yes, it can be busy, dirty, smelly and noisy but it also can be breathtakingly beautiful and it is FILLED with interesting people and fascinating…
Water Safety with the RLSS
Top tips on keeping children safe around water for Drowning Prevention Week (17th June - 24th June) in partnership with the Royal Life Saving Society UK.
GUEST BLOG: From Sydney Piercey - Cardboard Crafting Queen
The Cardboard Queen herself, Sydney Piercey has kindly written a guest blog post. Here just in time for Easter with some brilliant egg box ideas to keep your little ones busy over the holidays using only the simplest of items from around the house...
Our First Family Ski Trip
As promised, a post all about our first family skiing trip. In it I answer all your questions including where we went, what we bought to wear, where we hired from and what we learned along the way.
Moving House and Schools
As the new year swings around again I am reminded that it is now two years since we decided to leave the only town our children had ever called home, and move across to the other side of the country. In the middle of a pandemic. I know, what were we thinking? But for us it was the right thing to…
The Five Minute Elf / Advent
The Five Minute Elf - how our Elf brings magic AND learning, plus is easy for the head of the elves who already has enough shiz to do, thanks very much!
Our Trip to Disneyland Paris
When I was a little girl, aged 7, my parents took me to Disneyworld. I had the most magical, memorable holiday. We returned when I was 18 and I said to myself that one day I would take my own kids to Disney so they could experience that same feeling. Well, last week that day finally came! Here…
Using doll play to help toddlers with a new baby
I’m sure like many of you who have also awaited another arrival, doubts spun endlessly around my head. So I got a doll to help prepare for having a new baby around, and I wanted to share with you what I found useful and the tips I’ve passed on to my brother and his wife for my niece and the…
Children’s Birthdays
Ah the birthday. Swings round faster and faster each year doesn’t it, and often makes us parents look back over photos of years gone by with rose tinted glasses thinking a two year old on a potty looks cute, forgetting you’re stood behind the camera silently begging them not to sh*t on the…
GUEST BLOG - “10 Handy Habits for Making Family Mealtimes Easier” by Registered Nutritionist Emily Longbottom
A guest blog post from Nutritionist Emily Longbottom, with 10 tips on how to make mealtimes with fussy children less stressful for us all, including some links to helpful websites for support on children's eating.
The Building Blocks of Learning
I spoke about this on my Instagram stories the other day but I thought I should perhaps get it down on the blog as I got quite a strong response to it on messages.
Long Car Journeys with Kids
My family live in Sussex. We live in Manchester. Four hour car journeys are a regular thing for us. But I am guessing that given that so many of us are stay-cationing this year due to the pandemic, long car journeys with small children might be something a lot of us are doing/considering/forced…
School Holiday Tips and Ideas
Time to buckle up, school's OUT! When they are at school the day seem to speed by uncannily quickly.You've only just waved your cherubs off before you're back on the playground collecting them. But now suddenly the days have slowed to a halt. They go at snails pace because your…
Anti-racism - some thoughts and resources
I have been writing this blog for the best part of a year. As I have learned (and un-learned) more about racism I have added to it, altered it, gone away to research some more, wanted to try to make sure what I was saying was accurate and reflected the seriousness of this subject, but in my usual…
Playing Together
I recently asked those who watch my Instagram stories what they wanted from see more of from me. Obviously I assumed the overwhelming request would be more of my incredibly coordinated and professional kitchen dancing, but amazingly no. It was people asking for ideas of how to play my games with…
ALL DAY at home with kids - how do I structure the day?
I’ve been getting an increasing number of messages from people who are at home with kids in lockdown. I feel it could be imminent for us here in the UK too. So in order to try and help I am going to write and do a few things to give parents stuck at home with kids an idea of how to not go…
“Tidy Kids” by Katrina Hassan - KonMari Consultant
At the start of January I had had enough. The house constantly looks like a pit. Sometimes it is immaculate at 3pm after hours of work only for it to resemble a Black Friday jumble sale again come 5pm. ARGH!
“Five Minute Crafts” From Emma @messylittlebugs
Now, those of you that know me and this blog well will think…crafts?! WTF….? I know. I am not crafty. We have a craft box and occasionally I grab it down from above the kitchen units but that’s often to rummage through it looking for something for a game I’ve thought up.
Mental Health
So here’s a massive topic. And what on earth do I know about it? Well, I’m no expert, as we all know. I’m a subscriber to the half-arsed way of parenting that means I can get away with doing as little as possible but still have a continuously positive impact on my children. I want them to…
Sibling Play
Got more than one child? Oh you don’t have to worry then because as soon as you have two they can play together right? WRONG! ;) Sometimes they might play yes, but they are equally as likely to be trying to dismantle each other’s limbs with accompanying squeals that drill tiny holes through…
“Two Wrongs Can Be Alright” by Dr Joanne Riordan - Educational Psychologist
Hello folks! Apologies for not blogging for a while. The summer holidays with two small people is really taking a hit on my laptop time. I’m pretty certain you can all empathise. However fortunately, although I am not able to cobble together enough sensible sentences in between shouting “no…
“Oh God, Baking with Kids!” by Laura Brink from @bakefulplay
...yep that’s what I say too. And I used to LOVE baking. I found it relaxing to potter around the kitchen under a cloud of flour, slowly piping buttercream into swirly patterns. Now? “Oh god, put that spoon down, no not in THERE, let Mummy do this bit, can we just LISTEN PLEASE, where did the…
Independent Play
Well, this is a huge topic. I get asked about it almost daily. Here are my top five tip for how to encourage your children to play independently and why it is so important to have this as part of your daily playtime...
Things I Learnt on Holiday
Now let me preface this. I HATE flying. I have a morbid, awful, phobia of it. I have a variety of techniques to help me cope with this and refuse to let it stop me and the kids seeing the world. However, it means we don’t fly abroad often so I’m certainly no seasoned expert. There are plenty…
“Music to My Ears” by Lauren Elliot - Music Teacher
This is the third in the series of these wonderful guest blogs. Today’s post is by Lauren Elliot who is the cofounder of a music school. Lauren is a Mum of two and has some wonderful easy ideas for ways to encourage a love of music in children. As someone who has always loved music I am so keen…
“Bath Time, Fun Time” by Sarah Quirico - Swimming Teacher
Another wonderful guest blog post here. Now my two are like little fish, they absolutely love the water. I’d go so far as to say swimming is their favourite activity and I cannot wait to take them on holiday this year so they can play in the pool as long as they like. I have taken them to…
“Sit Still and Listen!” by Vicky Robinson - Occupational Therapist
Hi all, I’ve decided to do a little series of five minute guest blogs. When I started this blog it felt a very solitary affair. Just little old me, writing about our five minute games. However one of the lovely surprises I have discovered through the building follower numbers is a wonderful…
An Open Letter to Mrs. Hinch
If you don’t know who Mrs. Hinch is, then here’s a brief intro. Sophie Hinchliffe is the cleaning extraordinaire who’s instagram account @mrshinchhome has taken the world by storm and is continuing to rapidly grow towards two million followers.
Homework Tips
I was recently asked by the team at education.com to see if I’d like to have a try of one of the Autumn worksheets on their website. These are free downloadable printables for you to do at home with your little ones, and are themed around the seasons.
Five Minute Mum’s Top Toys
Ready for some imaginary bloke in a red suit to take ALL the credit for your hard work over the next few months, while you painstakingly gather ideas, generously buy toys and dodgily wrap them? No me neither, but here’s something that must just help a wee bit. At least for the ideas part. I…
It Doesn’t Always Work
I wanted to write this blog post because I’ve said it before on my social media pages but I can’t quite always convey what I mean within those limited characters so here’s the truth…it doesn’t always work.
Starting School
Starting School is daunting, exciting, emotional, and I’m not even talking about the kids here! It’s a big logistical change to a routine you’ve probably had for a few years now, and a new prospect for your child and you as a parent. But don’t worry, I’m here to help guide you through it.
Why I won’t be doing games for 0-12m
Bit of an unusual post for me this. But I’ve been thinking about it all week and thought…do you know what, I just need to ‘fess up! So a couple of weeks ago I was asked by a few lovely followers (after my last post on activities and games for babies 1-2 years old) if I could post some ideas…
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