Loose Parts .... 'The Day I Discovered the Magic'

I wrote this for the lovely Veronica Green of Ronnie's Preschool for her newsletter ....

I have been a childminder now for over 10 years and it has been an ever-evolving role, I have learnt so much from the little people that come into my life every working day.  I have had many aha moments; you know those moments where you stand back and feel a little spark in your belly as you see the learning unfold in front of you.  Although I have had many enlightening moments in my working day, one that stands out for me came about with my own children and their cousins, it was a few years ago now …

It was the weekend, and my family and I were visiting my brother in law.  We had five children with us, the youngest being 2 years and the oldest 8.

When we got to his house, I started to think that the next few hours maybe a bit of a challenge.  How were we going to entertain these energetic young children in a small cottage with a very small garden that belongs to a single, outdoorsy kind of guy, who doesn’t own a TV, hasn’t got wifi, hasn’t got any children of his own hence not a toy, pencil, lego brick in sight?   Well, let me tell you, those children had other ideas, in his conservatory he had stacks and stacks of round wooden disks and wood offcuts that he used for his log burner, when I say stacks, I mean floor to ceiling, towers of them.  A couple of the older children spotted them, you could see the glint of curiosity their eyes, well that was it, the magic unfolded right before our eyes.

They grabbed armfuls of them, the little ones followed and then the fun began. Those children played and played with those disks.  They made up games, who can build the tallest tower, who can roll the disk the furthest, who can spin it the longest, who can throw the disk in the bucket, the play was just limitless.  After their games, the creativity took a step further and they started building and creating, we had cars and bat mobiles but I was especially blown away by a train that they built, I’m so glad I managed to get a photo of it.  I had only just started consciously using loose parts in my setting at this time and I was becoming familiar with how they ‘worked’, so on the journey home, it just got me pondering, or reflecting even, at what actual learning those children gleaned from their play that afternoon.  I realised that those pieces of wood and the play that ensued unlocked their imagination and creativity more than any iPad or ‘toy’ ever would.  They were learning about teamwork, collaboration, persistence, balance, structure, cognitive skills, critical thinking skills, time, measurement, motor skills, risk-taking but above all they were just having oodles of fun.  So, loose parts, aren’t they just wonderful? I have used loose parts for a long time now, but I think on this day I first discovered the magic of the learning that loose parts can create.

Needless to say, the childminder within me, had to bring home a big bag of those disks and wood offcuts to use in my setting.

Along with the children, I have benefitted aplenty from loose parts.  I have learnt about ‘standing aside and leaving room for learning’, not just the children’s learning but mine also, the quality of observation, and also the need for reflection.

I have discovered which children are the leaders, the artistic ones, the experimenters, the thinkers.  I have learnt to trust, to let children lead the play knowing they will take ownership of their learning.

My collection of loose parts has built up over the years.  We have shells, pebbles, corks, sticks, pegs, pom poms, fabric flowers, fir cones, beads, bamboo tubes, cardboard tubes, wooden cookies, buttons, feathers the list is endless.

We use them lots to enrich play, we add to playdough, use them outdoors in the sand kitchen, in the kitchen area, for transient art, mathematical concepts, literacy, building, they always have a place in our play.  The benefits of loose parts are endless, they have not only enhanced the children’s learning they have also enabled me to evolve into a reflective and thoughtful practitioner. 

Vibrant Chalky Paint

This activity happened by chance (the best ones usually do!).

We were in the garden and the little peeps were playing with some new neon chunky chalks that I had recently bought.  One of the chalks was left on the ground and it got stepped on and abit crushed.  

I quickly picked up the crushed chalk and thought this was the perfect opportunity to make some chalk paint, which I had seen in the fabulous 'Wonder Art Workshop' book by Sally Haughey of Fairy Dust Teaching.

I grabbed a couple of wooden pestle and mortars that I had picked up at a charity shop, and I showed the little peeps how to crush the chalk (I had to start them off by crushing the big pieces down and they carried on).

They loved doing this, using those arm, wrist and hand muscles (building up co-ordination and muscle strength ready for future writing).  

I then gave them a jug of water and they poured in a little, using control and co-ordination, I explained that the less water they added the thicker and brighter the paint would be, the more water they add the thinner and paler it would be (understanding cause and effect).  

They mixed and they stirred, they added more chalk, more water, more crushing, more mixing.  They then used a brush and started to paint, they painted the wall, the outdoor blackboards, the table or anything they could paint!.  

The vibrant colours of the paint looked amazing, although the photo below does not give it justice.  This little one, sat for so long just quietly painting the wall with the paint that she had made.

This was such good fun and they spent a while on this activity, they came back to it the next day.  I think this will be revisited again soon!  

Sometimes the spontaneous activities are the best!  

A Simple Childhood

I recently had the opportunity of revisiting my late grandparents house, I last walked out of the front door of that house around 15 years ago when my dear Nan passed away and it was sold.  The house where she was born, my dad was born, the house that saw lives begin and some lives end.  The house that protected and held the family together in tough times such as my Grandad going to war, and the blitz that saw nearby houses obliterated by bombs.  That wonderful house that had lots of love floating around and held so many magical memories for me growing up.  I drive past that house all the time.  I always look to see if I can get a peek inside or spot anyone living there.  I often wonder if I got the opportunity would I stop and tell them that their house holds a special place in my heart.  I drive past and hope that whoever is living there, cherishes and looks after that house the way my Nan and Grandad did and her parents before her.  When a For Sale sign went up and I found out there was an open house, I was torn whether to go or not.  I still wanted to hold on tightly to those special memories, walking into a house that a stranger had lived in for the last 15 years, would those memories be still there?  I decided to take a chance and go … I'm so glad I did.  I walked back through that door and the spirit of my childhood was right there, waiting patiently.  That day, I really did take a trip back to my childhood ….. 

In the greenhouse

I stepped into the room that was the hub of the house.  The back room where I used to eat toast and marmalade and watch Noel Edmonds Swap Shop on a Saturday morning, sat on the red rug in front of the fire in my nightie.  Where I used to watch for the little birds lining up on the wall outside, ready for their fill of bread crusts.  The back room where I used to warm my hands on a cup of hot Bovril after a frosty walk to the shops for fresh bread. The back room where my Nan taught me to sew and knit, where I learnt to make pom poms, where I played with my dolls, read Twinkle, drew pictures, wrote little stories and poems, made crafts with glitter and glue, built little houses with lego, drew swirly patterns with spirograph and played with fuzzy felt.  The back room where my Grandad used to sit and watch Grandstand on a Saturday afternoon and I used to play hairdressers, combing back his brylcreemed hair.  The window that he sat opposite where, if I was playing ball games or skipping outside, I used to pull silly faces at him and he used to pull them back.  The same fireplace/hearth where my Nan used to put the butter dish to thaw out the butter before lunch, the fireplace where the brass shoe lived with the little mice hiding, the egg timer that I used to love playing with, watching sand pour through time.  At tea time on TV, Pink Panther, Tom and Jerry, Basil Brush, Boom Boom!, eating scrambled egg in a pale yellow cup with a spoon.  The back room where my Nan used to sit on the sofa and knit gorgeous little outfits for my dolls, and squares for blankets that she used to make for the children's hospital. The back room where she used to read me Ladybird fairy stories and I used to snuggle up next to her and listen to her heart beating.

The kitchen, still with cupboards that my Grandad made, the kitchen where I used to bake with my Nan, where we used to make lemon curd tarts and apple pie to take home to my Mum and Dad, where we used to sit and chat popping peas from their pods, where she made tea with a teapot and had a biscuit barrel never empty of biscuits. The kitchen leading to the back yard where a green house once stood.  The greenhouse, where she grew tomatoes, where I used to water her plants.  The greenhouse with its own tap where I used to while away time playing with water, using a bucket and watering can, filling and emptying, filling and emptying.

The back yard where the shed once stood, where my Grandad secretly spent many hours meticulously building me a perfect Sindy wooden bed and wardrobe for Christmas.  Painted white with pink flowers, the little bed with homemade frilly bedding and the wardrobe with miniature wire coat hangers.  I will never forget the surprise and feeling that Christmas morning when I saw that beautiful furniture for the first time, I felt like the luckiest child alive. I truly appreciated how much time and thought had gone into it, I felt the love. The back gate, still there, where Nan and I used to walk out onto the cobbles to visit neighbours, Mr and Mrs Littler and their rocking chair, Mrs Smith and Mr Hopkinson and his boiled sweets.  

The steep stairs with the same wallpaper, up, up, up. The back bedroom where I slept when I stayed over, the bed cosy and warm, heated by an electric blanket.  The little wooden rocking chair, next to the bed, which I now have in my home for little people to enjoy.  The back bedroom, where Nan used to sit in front of the window and do her sewing on her Singer sewing machine.  The back bedroom where we used to have little chats as she sewed, where she used to tell me stories about times gone by and family tales, where she used to teach me nursery rhymes … Sing a song of sixpence, a pocket full of rye ...

and then it was time to go.

I walked around that house touching everything and taking every little piece of it into my very soul.  I walked out knowing I will probably never set foot in that house again and it was emotional.  It was emotional but I was thankful, thankful that the essence of my past was still floating around, thankful that I had the opportunity of reliving my childhood memories so vividly, thankful that I got a chance of reconnecting with the spirit of my grandparents who gave me a simple, magical childhood that I will always cherish and never forget.

Since revisiting my Grandparents house, I 've been thinking a lot about how times have changed, how modern childhood is a rush, wanting too much, receiving too much, expecting too much.  When I think about the time spent at my Grandparents, it was simple, it was real, nothing fancy, no frills, just plain simple love and kindness.  A place where there was a gentle rhythm to the day, where I could just be myself and felt true belonging.  I will always cherish those memories and they will never leave me, they are embedded in my heart and soul, they are part of who I am.  That simple 'feeling' of just being, of calmness, belonging and connection… children today need that ingrained in their hearts more than ever, they really do.

Let's put the Champion into Childminding

I am a childminder

I love my job

I put my heart and soul into my work and the children and families that come through my door.

There are many childminders just like me.

There are also many larger settings out there (and there are some wonderful ones, don't get me wrong), people drive or walk past them, they notice them, they are accessible, they are easy to contact, they have large colourful 'Free Childcare' banners adorning the outside that draw people in.

People also drive or walk past another type of childcare setting, a setting that is someone's home.  This setting has resources and activities just like the larger setting, where a caring adult/s welcomes children and families through their door every day, where children play, learn and have fun, yet people may walk or drive past every day and not even realise that this home could be the perfect childcare option for their child.

You see, childminders are not as accessible as the larger settings, we dont get noticed as much, a lot of people do not even consider a childminder as a childcare option, no fault of their own, they just aren't aware of what we can provide.  We are not championed enough, we don't have huge signs and 'Free Childcare' banners across our gates drawing people in, but behind those doors there may be an amazing childcare service that could be perfect for your child.

So I think it's about time childminders were championed for the wonderful work they do and the unique service they provide.

Here are some reasons that stand out for me, why a childminder should definitely be on your 'need to contact' childcare list ...

Here goes ..

We will always be your child's key person.  However many hours your child is in our care, we are always there.  We are the person that will give them cuddles when they are upset, pick them up when they fall, laugh with them when they are being silly, we are that all round consistent, safe and secure adult.

Being that 'always there' adult we can really connect and get to know your child.  We will know what they like and don't like, what upsets them and what makes them smile, this in turn fosters their wellbeing and confidence.

Research tells us that early relationships are one of the most important aspects of childhood.  Children thrive when they form strong emotional attachments, childminders are equipped to provide this bond over a number of years and beyond.

A stressful, noisy environment can be really detrimental to the wellbeing of a young child.  A childminder can provide a quiet, calm and relaxed environment where children can just be themselves.  We can just go with the flow ... if a child isn't feeling it, we can adapt what we are doing to help them with this.

Parents can get to know the childminder and their family really well and build a trusting relationship.  We do not need to arrange a 'parents evening' to let parents know how their child is doing as we are constantly talking, communicating, and most importantly connecting with parents (and grandparents!) about their children.  We provide a personal service, where you can really get to know the person that looks after your child.

A lot of childminders are parents themselves and have a wealth of parenting experience and knowledge.  They also totally understand the huge deal it is leaving your child with someone, childminders will help make this transition as easy as possible.  Childminders are always there for parents with help and support (door step hugs are common practice for many childminders).

We can easily focus on individual children and their interests, so they are always learning and doing something fun that they enjoy.

Children have the opportunity to mix with other children, both younger and older, whether at playgroups or in the childminders setting.  Children learn so much from other children, the younger learn from older, and the older children learn about empathy and how to be caring and nurturing towards the younger ones.  

Childminders provide a smaller more personable setting which is ideal for a young child who cannot yet communicate their needs.  A larger group setting where there are lots of other children can be overwhelming for a child who cannot yet speak.  

We are not refined to the same space, we are able to get the children out into the fresh air regularly, whether this is visiting parks, the library,  the woods, museums, special days out or just getting out in the garden.  Picnics in the park, splashing in puddles and feeding the ducks are a regular occurence with a childminder.  We provide real life experiences for children.

Children are made to feel like they belong, where they can just be and play at their own pace.

We follow children's progress and interests and provide wonderful learning opportunities which are recorded in a learning journey that parents are able to keep.

Childminders follow the same Statutory Framework as other childcare providers, we are inspected by Ofsted just the same as other childcare providers, we are all First Aid trained, have Safeguarding Training and are Insured, just the same as other childcare providers, we can also provide 2, 3 and 4 year old funding just the same as other childcare providers.

Childminders undertake regular training, we are committed to our own professional development.  We are qualified Childcare Practitioners, we are professionals who have a wealth of knowledge and are passionate about children and their learning and wellbeing.

Children start school very young and are there for many years to come, what better way for them to spend their early years playing, having fun and learning in a relaxed, caring, home environment, just how early childhood should be.

I am a childminder

I love my job

There are many childminders just like me.

If you are considering childcare for your little one, check out the childminders in your area, you might just strike gold.

Iggety, Ziggety, Zaggety, Zoom!! ... Halloween Fun

There are so many fun activities to do on Halloween, that sometimes I find it difficult to narrow it down to just a few quality activities that the little peeps can do.   

I love adding a bit of literacy in the mix, so decided to feature the book "Room on a Broom" by Julia Donaldson.  We have not read it for a while so decided this Halloween was time to dig it out of the book box. 

As the little peeps seem to be enjoying reading books with props at the moment, I thought it would be fun to put a few things together to help the little peeps interact with the story.

I really like putting together story props and this one in particular did not cost me anything, all the items I already had to hand.

In the basket we had a fab witch that my neighbour gave me for the children; a cute witches broom (bought at the local Poundshop); a plastic cauldron; a wand that I made by sticking a silver sparkly heart to a wooden spoon ; a piece of ribbon tied into a bow; and various beanie baby animals (cat, dog, frog). 

The children loved re-enacting the story, tapping the broom with the wand and WHOOSHING off.

It was lots of fun and the book is probably going to be chosen again and again over the following weeks.

As the little peeps were loving playing witches, I thought it was a ideal time to make use of a packet of Gellibaff to make a witches brew.  So, in the cauldron, we mixed together some of the Gelli powder and water, (I've never used this before and I accidentally added way to much powder and the gloop ended up abit lumpy and not the thick gloopy texture I wanted) the little peeps used some sticks to do lots of stirring, adding some creepy spiders and some glitter to the mix.

Oh my, they loved this so much and its definitely something we will re-visit!

Zesty Lemon Playdough

Zesty Lemon Playdough

We love playdough here, and as far a playdough goes, there is nothing better than one that smells really scrummy. 

There are many benefits of playing with playdough not only is it creative and really fun, it also helps with fine motor skills as the children roll, squeeze, knead, pinch, pull, building up those little muscles in their fingers and hands ready for writing when the time comes.

I decided to make a lemon playdough, as I recently bought a lemon balm plant for a sensory tub in the garden, so I thought it would be a good idea to make some zesty lemon dough and incorporate some of the lemon balm leaves into the play.  NB.  Please note that lemon balm plant can sometimes give an allergic reaction to the skin, so please keep an eye on this.

I usually make the 5 minute non cook playdough, but I haven't been happy with the last few batches, so I decided to try another recipe I have.  It is done on the hob but was really quick and not as messy to make and it seriously is the most softest and pliable playdough.

If you want to give it a try, this is the recipe:-

200g Plain Flour
100g Salt
300ml Water
2tsp Cooking Oil
2tsp Cream of Tartar
Yellow Food Colouring (I used around 2 cap fulls)
Lemon Food Flavouring (I used around 1 cap full)

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl to make a 'batter' mix (I used an electric hand whisk to do this but you can just hand whisk yourself).  Add the mixture to a pan and heat gently, stirring constantly until it comes away from the sides of the pan and forms a dough like ball.  Take out of the pan and knead, like you would when making bread and that's it ... .  a lovely ball of soft, pliable lemon smelling playdough. Keep in airtight container (I also wrap the playdough in clingfilm) and it should last for a while and remain really soft.

Once I had finished the kneading, I then passed it onto the little peeps to play with.  I added various items for them to use including rolling pins, silicone cake cases, lemon balm leaves, grated lemon rind, fabric daisies and small bamboo sticks.  One of the little peeps disappeared into the playroom and came back with a little microwave to use as an oven and then they set to work.

Look at these fab little cakes, each one was put individually into the microwave. Lemon rind was added as sprinkles (which made them smell even more delicious), abit of lemon balm leaf for decoration, a daisy and bamboo sticks as candles.  I'm sure we will revisit this activity at some point soon as it was enjoyed by all.  To extend this activity, I've promised the little peeps we will make some 'real' lemon cakes soon.

The Gingerbread Man

Run, run as fast as you can, you can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread Man!!

This month I decided to do a theme based on a traditional story.  I thought The Gingerbread Man would be a good one to start with and I could link in lots of activities.

I started by introducing the story and a box with related props.  In the box we have a very cute gingerbread man, a fox, a horse, a cow, a hen and a dog (my eldest daughter collected beanie babies in the 90's so we have a huge box full of beanie animals which has come in so useful since I started childminding).  I also added some lovely shimmery tactile blue fabric for the river,  a spoon for stirring and a rolling pin for rolling.  I also put in various Gingerbread Man books so the children would have a variety to read (in the end they did prefer to read the same one which was the good old Usborne one).

The children really loved the props and getting involved with the story.

We did some number activities, here I printed and laminated some numbered gingerbread men and the children had to add the correct amount of buttons.

We also practised pegging our Gingerbread Men in a number line, focussing on ordering but also building up those little finger muscles ready for writing by squeezing the pegs.

We looked at space, shape and measure, I laminated a large Gingerbread Man and cut it into quarters and then removed a piece each time we said 'SNAP! ... He was quarter gone, SNAP! ..... He was half gone' and so on.  They really loved this and it also gave them a visual as to what quarters, halves etc look like.

We made Gingerbread Men out of play dough, lots of rolling and cutting.  We used buttons to decorate, (although I had to watch the babies closely as some were small), we also made marks with our fingers for eyes, buttons etc. We also talked about size.

I managed to get hold of this Gingerbread Man jigsaw which is great for problem solving and fine motor skills, but it also has picture story prompts which is great for re-telling the story to development communication and language skills.

 

Last of all, we couldn't do the Gingerbread Man without making some yummy Gingerbread yum yum.  I forgot to get some smarties or jelly tots to decorate but will remember that for next time.

We also decorated some templates of the Gingerbread Man with stickers, ribbon, googly eyes etc.


All in all, I am really pleased with how this month went.  The children really enjoyed it and they now love the Gingerbread Man story and I think it will a firm favourite from now on.