Little Squirrels Childminding

07/08/2026

Just a girl waiting for Autumn weather to finally wear her new jumpers!
Thank you Gbt Embroidery for more of your lovely work wear. 🍂🍂🍂

06/08/2026

🏖 Sand and water play 🏖

Some might look at this as a big mess... this is the aftermath tray of sand and diggers... children have added water, tools, leaves and dandelions at one point. Mixing sand and water is a simple sensory activity that supports learning across several areas of development...

🏖Exploring cause and effect
They discover that adding water changes dry, loose sand into wet, mouldable sand, and that too much water makes it runny.

🏖Sensory development
They experience different textures, temperatures, and consistencies by touching, squeezing, scooping, and pouring.

🏖Fine motor skills
Using hands, cups, spoons, buckets, and moulds strengthens the small muscles needed for writing and self care skills.

🏖Early science skills
Children observe, experiment, and make predictions, such as "What happens if I add more water?"

🏖Problem-solving
They work out how to make sand stick together, build shapes, or fill and empty containers.

🏖Mathematical concepts
They begin to understand ideas like full and empty, more and less, heavy and light, and compare sizes and quantities.

🏖Language development
They learn and use new words such as wet, dry, sticky, soft, hard, smooth, and crumbly, while talking about what they are doing.

🏖Creativity and imagination
Wet sand encourages pretend play, such as making cakes, castles, roads, or animal habitats.

🏖Social skills
Playing alongside others helps children practise sharing tools, taking turns, and working together on building projects.

🏖Concentration and confidence
They become absorbed in experimenting and feel a sense of achievement when they successfully create or solve a problem.

This activity supports learning in a playful, hands-on way while encouraging curiosity, independence, and exploration, so although its messy we go with the children's flow. 🏖

03/08/2026

03/08/2026

✨ NEW! TODDLER TALK ✨

Toddlers don’t come with a manual.

One minute they’re your happy little sidekick, the next they’re refusing dinner, waking in the night or struggling with a big change like starting nursery.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering…

💛 Is this normal?
💛 Why are they behaving like this?
💛 Am I handling this the right way?

…you’re not alone.

We’re so excited to introduce Toddler Talk; a brand new 2-hour workshop designed to help you understand your toddler with confidence.

Together we’ll explore:

🧠 Brain development & toddler milestones
🎨 Play that supports learning & development
💛 Big feelings, behaviour & tantrums
😴 Sleep
🍽️ Fussy eating
🚽 Potty training & big transitions

This is a relaxed, evidence-based workshop packed with practical strategies you can use at home, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions and chat with other parents.

Suitable for parents and carers of children aged 1–4 years.

To find out more and book your place, visit:

https://www.devonantenatal.co.uk/courses/p/x41iseaz1t6hvgswq71vfwhax361v6

29/07/2026

What a cracking start to our summer holidays so far!
We have thoroughly enjoyed spending time with our bigger children, slowing down our routine, enjoying park trips, blackberry picking, crafts and plenty of messy play in the garden.
😎

29/07/2026

Your kids and their clothes are washable.🙃

13/07/2026

Childminder in Barnstaple

🐿️Wednesday and Thursday Space available from September.🐿

🟠 Ofsted Registered and graded Good, a qualified primary teacher, paediatric first aid trained, safeguarding trained, DBS checked and fully insured.

🟡 A fun and caring learning environment with home from home care. We learn through play and exploration, following the children's lead.

🟢Able to accept tax free childcare & government funded hours from 9 months old.

🔵 A dedicated playroom and fully enclosed garden full of exciting resources.

🟣Fun activities in our playroom and garden and local outings to the park, woods, library, museum and playgroup.

Please contact me to discuss more 🙂

17/06/2026

We enjoyed a wellie stomp and finding treasures to make nature bracelets today 🍃☘️🌿🌸

14/06/2026

Our first crops of the year 👏👏
We have grown baby radishes!
We have also had two strawberries so far and the raspberries are growing by the day. 😋🍓🌱