Team Green Childminders

Stay safe in the heat everyone

Interesting article in this months Nursery World Magazine around social cues and the effects from the pandemic. Being open throughout we were able to help the children who were with us and didn’t really see a difference to before however others we have spoken to there have been clear delays or effects with some new starters. Others have thrived with their bonds with primary caregivers.
Parents did their best during the pandemic and even though there are these statistics; we wanted to shout out everyone; to those who struggled, those who enjoyed time as a family and found it lovely or those who kept our country going. We all played a part.
That said primary socialisation is key with parents and practitioners and the increased technologies it is hoped that they are an addition not a replacement for those social interactions :-)
What’s your favourite game to play with your children? We made up some new ones on our car journeys on holiday :-) some of them silly 😝

Even though we are away on holiday with our own, the children are missing the mindees; evvy has named her flamingo Sofia 😂🥰

Some new pictures from our outdoor areas with our refreshed displays.

Plus our this is us wall, Our Team at Team Green, which we can’t show as it is the childrens frames with their photos in but we really with we could. It shows our team; our crew. A couple more resources to get for our outdoor areas to give it a little revamp and after the children voted of what they would like to play with or use.

Who said learning is just for indoors, we love being outdoors as much as we can. It is so important to provide an environment where they want to explore learn and grow. It gives so many language opportunities as well as socialisation experiences. Playing with friends, drawing mark making. Sensory opportunities 🙂

Stay tuned for our planting and peacock adventures

We love letters and numbers… mix that with sensory feelings and what do you have? Lots of fun to explore and learn.

These were brought from a lovely company specialising in sensory resources. SPCS and Sensory Ideas at Play Happy

It really is lovely when they want to engage and learn and try and are encouraged to explore language and numbers in different ways.

If you are looking for someone for your pooches 100% Jordan is lovely and patient with horses can only imagine how great he is with dogs. We love to support our fellow local businesses and right on our doorstep xx

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We literally only just said we havent had to send our bad weather policy out; we were fooled by fools spring; please stay safe through these storms everyone. xx

We follow this page with the children keeping an eye on what weather we might see and comparing predictions to what is happening outside. The world around us is a wondrous place xx

To all the mummies (and daddies) out there, you are doing great. x

We don’t usually post pictures with the children however with mummies permission we wanted to share Eliza who is a very big part of our Team with chrissie and one of our little ones.

These pictures speak 1000 words of her kind heart and gentle manner. We are very lucky that she is so good with all the children as well as being Chrissie’s best friend. She has been with us nearly a year after dream passed away and we are so very happy she joined our team.

We also have munchkin (pony) max,penny,bailey(dogs) Rosie,jake and Mia (cats) and pascal the purple tailed leopard gecko. The ducks we hatched also live at the yard where the horses are and it is a lovely place with great people for them to live.

There are so many things the children learn from being around animals, are there any furry friends who are important in your little ones life?

We have had a lovely few weeks doing all things Christmassy. From sensory exploring to Christmas crafts to gingerbread making to brilliant invitation to play including our ice scene.

The big man himself even came to pass across our gifts to the children which was a special surprise.

We would like to wish all our families, past present and future a wonderful christmas and a happy new year. May you all be blessed with health and happiness. # # #

Den building, child led, while it was pouring with rain last week we made dens, and when they fell down we problem solved to build it even better. We sang songs and had a party in it. At one point the children took their mark making in there to colour. We love resources we love all the early years options on the market, but sometimes simple ideas give the best play.

Why don’t you see if you can make a den at home? We would love to see your creations.

We play, we play everyday. But whilst we play we learn. Conker loose parts exploration :-) getting conkers to fly down tubes, counting, sizing, it is a Fab activity. These conkers then will be used to explore mark making in paint, food for the animals that live in the arc, and finally threading caterpillars. A natural and wonderful resource with never ending possibilities. What else could you make with them?

That’s the garden all packed away ready for the incoming thunderstorms after a lovely week playing and enjoying the fresh air, with 5 umbrellas up for shade ⛱ ride ons away, high chairs and toys back in their places in the playroom and living room.
It’s amazing what a week off over half term let us do for the garden - we laid a patio - changed the rear area from bark to play bark - made a large sandpit behind the table - and then are able to have different activity areas on the grass. Still finishing touches to do such as new displays after fence is painted

Child viral infections on the increase in Aylesbury warn Buckinghamshire NHS

This is what we have had over the last couple of months. Please get tests then get treatment as needed. We have seen some very poorly children xx

Child viral infections on the increase in Aylesbury warn Buckinghamshire NHS Buckinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group have sent a warning to Aylesbury's parents that viral infections are on the rise in our area.

Paeds A&E New Build Feedback - 0 to 8 years

Hey we know this page has been quite quiet recently that is because we have been super busy having fun with the little ones; no time for social media 🙈🤣 but please could those with youngsters fill this in to help our local hospital and in particular the nurses of whom we have some good friends. Thank you kindly # # #

Paeds A&E New Build Feedback - 0 to 8 years Online survey BOS

Very thought provoking into the thoughts of some children at school.

Meet Max. He's a y5 pupil in primary school.

This morning, Max had to come a different way to school because they were digging up the road.
Because the road was closed, by the time they'd gone round the diversion, Max was late for school.

Max hates being late. He hates to walk into class when all the other children are milling about. So he waits in the cloakroom until they've all gone in. Mrs White said it's ok for him to do that.

When Max steps into class, Mrs White isn't there.
There's a stranger standing at the front with the Head teacher. Mrs White has gone on a course today and they have a substitute teacher Mrs Grey. But Max doesn't know this because he came in late. He sits down when the Head teacher tells him to, and wonders when Mrs White will be in.

Mrs Grey announces that the class spelling test will be first. Max has been trying really hard with his spellings. He has practised them at home. Mrs Grey starts to read them out, but they're not in the right order. Max can feel a knot in his stomach and writes out the spelling test he has learnt in the right order. Two out of ten and told he will have to try harder. He didn't even get a smiley face and Max likes stickers.

At break time, Max goes out into the playground. He's got an apple for snack, but as he is eating it, a girl playing chase bumps into him and it drops on the floor. One of the boys shouts "football" and kicks it across the playground... It ends up in a puddle and Max goes to get it and gets his feet wet. He hates being wet, so he goes back into class and takes his shoes and socks off.

Mrs Grey almost trips over Max, who is sitting right in the doorway of the classroom. She tells Max to either put his wet things back on or to put his pumps on. He tells Mrs Grey that it is not P.E yet it's literacy next.

Mrs Grey glares at Max and suggests that perhaps Max would prefer to sit outside the Head's office. Max is quite relieved about this; it's nice and quiet in the corridor. He puts his pumps on but they don't feel right without socks, and all he can think about is how scratchy they are on his feet.

On the way out of the classroom, he sees the girl that bumped into him in the playground. He pushes her back and she tells the teacher that he pushed her for no reason. Mrs Grey walks over to Max. She's wearing really strong perfume and he wants to wretch. When she asks him why he is pulling faces, he says it's because she smells.

Mrs Grey marches Max down the corridor and tells the Head that Max is being naughty and very rude. Max tells her she is lying. The Head tells Max to sit there until he feels he can behave.

After half an hour outside the Head's office, Max is feeling much calmer so he decides to go back to his classroom. Still no Mrs White. He looks round to see what he is supposed to do and sees some boys spinning their pens so he goes and watches them cause it looks interesting.

When the bell goes for lunch, Max puts his hands over his ears and runs to the classroom door to be first. Mrs Grey tells him off for pushing and makes him wait at the end of the queue. When he goes to get his lunchbox he can't find it, it's not with his coat where he left it.

When the Mid-day Assistant manages to calm him down, she arranges for him to have a school dinner instead. He has to sit on a different table in the hall and the smell of other peoples dinners makes him feel ill. He looks down and notices that the beans are touching the potatoes so he can't eat that now. Dry food shouldn't touch wet foods. Everyone is talking and the noise of cutlery and scraping of chairs is overwhelming even the playground is better than this.

Max goes back to the cloak room and lies on the floor with his coat over his head. The floor is nice and cool and he starts to feel calmer. He makes the Mid-day Assistant jump when she walks past him, and she chastises him saying " you scared me to death Max!"

Max is really worried about this because he really likes her and doesn't want her to die, but she carries on walking as though she was ok. He follows her round the playground just to make sure.

After lunch Mrs Grey tells the class to get into pairs. Max sits on a table with two other children, and they've already paired up. He doesn't know what to do... Mrs Grey asks for anyone who's not sitting with someone to put up their hand. Max doesn't realise she's talking to him - he's sitting with two people, so he doesn't put his hand up... When Mrs Grey raises her voice and asks why he wasn't paying attention, it all becomes a bit of a blur...and Max has no idea why he is being told off again. He wonders if it is because he made the Mid-day Assistant die. He really can't remember what happens after that.....

The bell goes at the end of the day, and Max goes out to find his Mum.

" Did you have a good day at school Max?" asks his Mum.

*********
Max has spent all day masking and 'holding it all in'. Think of Max child as a bottle of pop. As he goes through the day the bottle gets shaken each time there is a trigger, with the pressure building up as their stress and anxiety increase.

Max managed to hold it all together whilst at school but when Mum picked him up, he had a meltdown - the pop was released from the bottle in one go.

Many parents will be familiar with the Pop Bottle effect - the delayed meltdown which follows a day of triggers and masking.

Great pre writing shapes to practice :-)

This is my most widely shared post. And rightly so, it’s an important one. These are “prewriting patterns”, with the average (not prescribed) age at which children are developmentally ready to achieve these patterns listed below them in years and months. Being able to process visual information and produce a movement in response (e.g. copying these prewriting patterns or letter formations), is known as “visual motor integration”. ⠀
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Note that an X is not typically achieved until 4 years 11 months, and a triangle at 5 years 3 months. If a child can’t form these basic shapes...then they probably won’t be able to form letters. ⠀
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It is quite concerning then that there are 3 year 7 month olds starting formal schooling, where they’re expected to write. Not only are their visual motor integration skills not developed enough, their hands are also physically under-developed. In addition, recognising letters, understanding phonics and beginning to read are all needed in order for a child to write meaningfully, skills which children starting kindy typically don’t have. We also know that when a child learns something that doesn’t hold meaning, it‘s unlikely to stick. ⠀
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So if you have a 3-4 year old who spontaneously asks or attempts to write letters, that’s great; otherwise, there is no need to initiate or worry about this. Unfortunately there is a misconception, particularly with the way that the current curriculum stands, that earlier is better. Earlier is not always better.⠀

Source: Beery Buktenica Test of Visual Motor Integration, 6th Edition
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A little update to our little lockdown crew. They have grown a lot and we ended up with 12 little chicks. Moved to outside now 🙂 enjoying their new enclosure. Animals have so many benefits to children. Their learning opportunities are vast. So great to be close with nature. Here’s to some fresh eggs for our baking :-)

Our ethos here is learning through play; we as parents are having the daily battle of trying to get our 5 year old to do her school work. Yes she is doing some; but she is loving being able to play; to do the things that she would normally miss out on by being at school. This week we have released butterflies after watching 38 erupt from their chrysalides. Learning all about this and their process; tally charts; sizes; science and food processes; pollenation; diagram writing and sentences. It is of course encouraging to let children draw and write if they want to; but we won’t force them to. We aim to provide exciting opportunities to add the learning in with the play. Let’s all join in for funky fingers 🙂 and this week get things ready for our new chick hatchlings next week all being well. What will you find in the egg???

Covid won’t stop us learning 🙂 fresh eggs ready to hatch... 21 days until we find out if it will work this year

Our mud kitchen all set up for pouring and capacity play today, the children learn without even knowing they are 🙂 love this weather to be outside and very lucky that we have our garden with lots of exciting things to explore... what is your favourite thing to explore??

Team Green Childminders are open to care for key workers children during the current crisis following the current guidelines - we are fully flexible and used to providing both day and night care within our home from home childminding setting.

We are also part of Buckinghamshire Community Childminding Network and have experience with children of all ages and abilities as well as some very vulnerable families; this includes settling children with little notice to the setting.

We have spaces coming up for non Key worker or vulnerable children from 1st June providing the timeline stays the same.

If you would like any more information please feel free to contact us.

Never underestimate the effect of play :-)

Some fab ideas x

Team Green Childminders are open to care for key workers children during the current crisis following the current guidelines - we are fully flexible and used to providing both day and night care within our home from home childminding setting.
We are also part of Buckinghamshire Community Childminding Network and have experience with children of all ages and abilities as well as some very vulnerable families; this includes settling children with little notice to the setting.
If you would like any more information please feel free to contact us.

Local authorities can divert entitlement funding in exceptional case

This is going to be the end of many childminders nurseries and pre schools. 20% of childminders had closed their doors permanently at the end of March. Imagine the figures now. The funding, which for many is lower paid than a private funded child, so already a pay cut, was for many a guaranteed source of income where for many no income was coming in. Nurseries charging full fees are painted as bad people in the media as the parents don’t like paying for a space they aren’t using; which I get; however many of these parents (not all granted) will be furloughed with 80% if not 100% of their wages, or their full universal credit monies including the amount set aside for childcare by the government. Paying for your space is the different between that childcare being in place when this is over or fighting 20 other families for it as so many quality providers are closed. Childcare providers and many of their expenses don’t change whether there is 1 child or 10 in the setting; they are still paying staff; same set of bills insurances etc; the countless resources needed and used to provide a varied curriculum and a positive learning environment. The government have never shown how they value childcare in the UK and this u turn of now local authorities being able to claw back funding is quite frankly a kick in the teeth. We are privileged to work with county to provide care to children and families that are vulnerable or need extra support, yet they could loose these exceptional people willing to go the extra mile. I really hope that those that struggle through these tough times to support the key workers of the country are supported by the parents they are there for the rest of the year. We are very lucky to have a fab set of parents who are doing what they can whilst trying to struggle through themselves but we like many others have lost most of our income. We have our own children to feed; the same set of bills whether the children are here or not and the same ethos we have had since we started that we are there 100% for our families. We really hope the government stand by what they said at the onset of the crisis and understand that for childcarers we don’t do the job for the money but we need the money support from them to survive. The self employed grant will not overly help many childminders whose income is heavily used for expenses to provide quality childcare for the children, maintaining healthy meals, days out, resources, and all the other eyfs related costs to provide a home from home setting. We don’t get access to other funding routes like nurseries and pre schools so it comes out of our pocket and we do it because we love the job we do. It was the best thing we did starting the business working together and I really hope we can get through it. This isn’t a poor us post so sorry if you think it but this is a very frustrating subject to us.

Local authorities can divert entitlement funding in exceptional case In England the DfE has announced changes to how local authorities can distribute free entitlement funding while COVID-19 restrictions are in place.

Good luck to all our little ones and the other little ones that are finding out their school places today. You are growing so quickly and it is a pleasure to be part of your journey. Wherever your next step is you got this and you can do this :D xx

We have all had to make changes please celebrate our little ones and their sacrifices.

Free Virtual Tours of World Museums, Educational Sites & Galleries For Children - Family Days Tried And Tested

We are going to start sharing things that will hopefully help us with this period of such uncertainty.

Free Virtual Tours of World Museums, Educational Sites & Galleries For Children - Family Days Tried And Tested Explore the world at your fingertips…. Here’s a comprehensive list of virtual tours you can take with your children, adventure all over the world from the confines of your own home. A fantastic resource to have whilst we push our way through the current pandemic. A wealth of travel, geographical...

Important to note

In keeping with , this week’s guide provides 10 conversation starters for parents around children’s mental health.🗣️ We’ve covered topics to help support parents in encouraging discussions around mental health >> https://nationalonlinesafety.com/guides/supporting-children-s-mental-health-10-conversation-starters-for-parents-online-safety-guide?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=WUW-Supporting-Childrens-Mental-Health

We have been advised of 2 outbreaks of Measles in the Thames Valley area. Please be alert for signs and symptoms. The best way to prevent spread is to be vaccinated, young children and 10-11 year olds in particular may not be fully covered - please contact your GP practice or check your child’s red book if you are unsure if you or your children are up to date.

Scarlet fever outbreak hits UK as 480 children infected in just 1 week

This is not a very nice illness at all.
Sore throat, temperature, generally feeling really pants were Imogen's symptoms that she had x

Scarlet fever outbreak hits UK as 480 children infected in just 1 week Scarlet fever used to kill thousands back in the 19th century.

'Norovirus outbreak' hits dozens of schools

Every year We see similar, and every year the same thing is said, good hygiene and keeping away from schools and childcare’s for at least 48 hours after last episode of sickness and diarrhoea. We have heard it is in schools locally too.

We follow 72 hours as we have had two bugs now where children are ok for 24-48 hours and then relapse. This puts everyone else at risk. I know it is inconvenient for families and working parents to take time off from work, we work full time too but bugs going round small childcare settings affect every single family detrimentally especially when they have to shut never mind the expense to everyone and the fact that it is not very nice to be poorly.

Please think before sending your child in poorly to childcare especially with sickness and diarrhoea. 🤢🤮

bbc.com Children and staff across the north east of England show signs of the vomiting bug.

Having had a family member who this happened to when he was young (many many years ago) we know parents have hot drinks around and as long as they are out of reach or in the kitchen you can make it safe...But lets face it most mums and we know childminders don't get a hot cuppa anyways, its normally left on the side by the kettle until you go to get something and go oh yeah I made that an hour ago.

Today is . A hot drink can cover a large area of skin on a baby and cause serious burns, resulting in years of painful treatment. It's so simple to prevent, keep your hot drinks out of reach.

Get involved with and take the Safe Tea pledge today. You can download free resources and get further support on the SafeTea website - www.safetea.org.uk/

Bit of a plan then let’s go ... I think we know that many already ... be the best you can be :-)

Our accidental pumpkins are growing wild 🙂
We placed them out on the front garden last autumn once we had finished with them so that the animals had some food and they self seeded 🙂 we now have ghost pumpkins growing 🎉

We love listening to sounds on the school run, can you spot them on your way? After all Aylesbury traffic can take a while. 🤣 🎼🎧🎵🎶