COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on many businesses, not least children’s soft play centres which were among the last to reopen after the first lockdown. In fact our favourite one, Little Lambs in Coulsdon, didn’t reopen at all and has gone from being a soft play cafe to an actual cafe. So once soft... Continue Reading →
Halloween toddler crafts – paper plate decorations
Wet weather, local lockdowns and coronavirus – in fact, 2020 in general – have left many children stuck indoors. This week is half term and Halloween is this Saturday – and a lot of activities that both children and adults will have been looking forward to will not be going ahead. But staying safe is... Continue Reading →
Pumpkin picking at Tulley’s Farm – Top tips to make pumpkin picking a success!
What to expect when you go pumpkin picking, what do you need to take and what’s it like at Tulley’s Farm? Lured in by Instagram photos of toddlers in wheelbarrows and amid piles of bright orange pumpkins I decided that I did quite fancy seeing what this pumpkin picking lark is all about. It’s an... Continue Reading →
Activities for toddlers: My Gym Children’s Fitness Centres review
A gym for babies - what do they do, lay on a mat while mummy bench presses some weights? Or crawl around during an aerobics class? I was a bit confused when I saw My Gym come up on local listings of activities for children, as it said they had classes from six weeks old... Continue Reading →
Visiting the Natural History Museum in London with babies and toddlers
We visited the Natural History Museum pre-COVID-19, so my review does not take into account the current social distancing measures. To find out more about when the museum is open and what they are doing to help keep you safe, click here. Is the Natural History Museum in London suitable for babies and toddlers? Two... Continue Reading →
Seeing Santa at Chessington Garden Centre – Christmas Wonderland
Christmas is coming – it may still seem a while off, and with the uncertainty over coronavirus and possible further lockdowns, it is difficult to make plans for this year. But many of us will want to carry on in the assumption that we can visit friends and family and still do a lot of... Continue Reading →
Days out around London with toddlers and children: Crystal Palace Park and Dinosaurs
If you want to see dinosaurs in London, where do you go? The Natural History Museum.... or a windswept hill in SE19? Crystal Palace is famous for its dinosaur statues dating back more than 150 years. They really are something special - they were the first time anyone had attempted to make scale three dimensional... Continue Reading →
How to make a floral letter decoration for a girl’s bedroom
My daughter is now two and a half and during lockdown we decided to redecorate her bedroom. She has a lovely mural on one wall (a giant decal sticker) and a bookcase full of books but other than that we hadn’t much much effort in, as she doesn’t really play in her bedroom yet apart... Continue Reading →
Eating out with toddlers – and socially distanced – at the Greyhound, Carshalton
The last time I took my daughter out to a restaurant for a meal was at a Harvester last November for her cousin’s birthday. S wouldn’t sit still for more than five minutes, so members of my family took it in turns to occupy and accompany her as she explored the pub, which already had... Continue Reading →
Book review – The Work/Parent Switch by Anita Cleare – How to parent smarter, not harder
Before lockdown, my husband and I were both commuting to work in London most days (occasionally working from home) which meant we didn't get to spend a great deal of time with our daughter on weekdays. So when I saw someone in a parenting group on Facebook recommend a book called The Work/Parent Switch, by... Continue Reading →