The lockdown in 2020 meant I didn’t post anything on my blog for several months, as I tried to juggle a full-time job with a toddler at home every day for nearly three months while nursery was shut. So I’ve only just realised that I never posted anything about her birthday cake in spring of... Continue Reading →
Little Seedlings Softplay at Dobbies Garden Centre, Wallington
I was really pleased when the soft play area opened at Woodcote Green garden centre as it’s only a few minutes from where we live. Dobbies, the garden centre chain that recently added Woodcote to its portfolio, runs something called Little Seedlings, which includes soft play and a monthly children’s gardening club, and we have... Continue Reading →
Easter egg hunt for children without chocolate
Easter is great fun for children, and not just because of chocolate. I think it is important to teach children why we celebrate Easter, whatever your religious beliefs - but for our family, as we don’t practice any religion, we don’t spend a lot of time on that aspect.My four year old daughter is mainly... Continue Reading →
Is it worth buying the Ikea Antilop high chair?
Which high chair is best? Is the Ikea Antilop high chair worth buying? And can you get a food tray that fits the Ikea Antilop high chair? This is one instance where I believe quite firmly that you don’t need to buy an expensive top-of-the-range item to get something that works perfectly. The Ikea Antilop... Continue Reading →
Bounce at the Barn Softplay at Flittons Garden Centre, Wallington
We are very lucky in that recently not one but two new soft play areas have opened within a few minutes of us – and they are both smaller-scale places much more suitable for smaller children than some of the other soft play providers near us. Bounce at the Barn is an inflatables-based soft play,... Continue Reading →
Crafting with Kids: Valentine’s Heart Suncatchers
Here’s a fun Valentine’s craft activity you can do with children where they will need adult help at the start and end but can go to town by themselves in the middle. And you have some pretty valentines decorations you can use again next year or something you can give away as a handmade gift.... Continue Reading →
Baking with kids: Valentine’s Chocolate Bark
This is fun to make with children and as it does consist entirely of sugary treats - chocolate, sweets and popcorn - it is a nice thing to make as a gift for friends or teachers! It's an easy no-bake recipe. This is a treat known as chocolate bark - a slab of chocolate with... Continue Reading →
Valentine’s Day Tea Party and Treats for Children
When we were in lockdown last year I tried to think of as many different things as possible to brighten our days and celebrate the small things. So when it was Valentine’s Day I decided to go all out - even though we couldn’t actually go out. I did a few Valentine’s crafts with my... Continue Reading →
How to make your own Story Spoons
This week is National Storytelling Week in the U.K. - I hadn’t heard of it until recently so if you are as unfamiliar with it as I was, there are some great resources here. The idea is to encourage and promote storytelling, whether that is folktales and fairytales or telling your own story. There are... Continue Reading →
Children’s birthday cakes – Unicorn cake
This is a relatively easy way to make a unicorn cake as most of the work is done for you by the cake pan, and it's really easy to decorate. The trickiest part for me was working out what quantity of cake batter I needed to fill it! The pan is a silicon pan in... Continue Reading →