Good advice here:
In the news…
categories: Children's Health, News stories
Gardening with kids
Here at Aston Childcare, we have been busy planting and growing. The children all show a great interest in the garden and have loved colouring in their own flower and vegetable garden pictures too. As well as our sunflowers, the children have tried their hands at growing carrots and rhubarb with fantastic results.
Next up, cressheads!
Hungry Little Minds
categories: News stories
The Department for Education has launched a new campaign called “Hungry Little Minds” aimed at parents and carers to help boost children’s communication, language and literacy development.
Take a look here at the fun, simple activities you can try for children from newborn to five:
Children’s Puzzles
We love a good puzzle here at Aston Childcare and have a huge choice for the children to choose from.
Melissa and Doug and Orchard Toys are my favourite go-to brands for colourful, educational puzzles.
On our bookshelf: Elmer’s Friends by David McKee
Here at Aston Childcare, we love our books!
We have a wide range of books to appeal to all children. Here we are having a closer look at what is on our bookshelf.
I’ve recently been reading Elmer’s Friends to the younger children – aged 22 months, 2 and 4 years old.
It’s a fantastic story about a colourful, patchwork elephant. Elmer’s Friends is a lovely, fun book about how we are all different but worth the same. I think this is a lovely message to give to children and is at the heart of Aston Childcare.
Read more about the author here:
Buy the book here:
Sowing and Growing: Sunflowers
categories: Gardening, Sensory Garden
Here at Aston Childcare, sowing sunflower seeds and watching them grow has become a favourite annual tradition of ours.
Easy and low maintenance, sunflowers are the perfect first flower for children to grow. The children love to hold their seeds and choose where to plant them. Week by week we can watch them grow in to impressive bright yellow blooms.
This year we seem to have got off to a good start! So far, they are all looking lovely and healthy. Check back regularly as we monitor their growth over the Summer!
Safari Animals
categories: Arts and Crafts
Here at Aston Childcare, Safari Animals are always a big hit with the kids and these Safari Animal card cut outs were no exception. Aren’t they fun?!
Cooking with kids: Cheese Straws
Not only do the children love cooking and baking here at Aston Childcare, it’s also a great opportunity for them to learn.
Cooking helps children to develop fine motor skills, eye hand coordination, and even early concepts of maths and science.
This particular recipe for Cheese Straws was recommended to me by a parent and is now a firm favourite!
Painting with babies and toddlers
categories: Arts and Crafts, Painting
Here at Aston Childcare, painting is always a big hit with the children.
Because I take children on from babies quite often their first ever painting will be done here and it’s lovely to give these to their proud parents at the end of the day.
Finger painting is a great way to introduce babies to painting. Edible paints and washable paints are good to start off with.
Painting is not only fun for the kids but helps stimulates their brains too. Process Art (Where it’s all about the process and not the end product) is also a great way to foster creativity in children too.
In the news: Sugar in baby food
Here at Aston Childcare, food is home made to ensure the children don’t have unnecessary amounts of salt and sugar in their diet that is so often found in pre-packaged baby food.