Lulabelle's Childcare

💛 Loneliness Awareness Week – Gifts of Kindness 💛

This week, the children and I headed out into our local community to hide some Gifts of Kindness as part of Loneliness Awareness Week. As we walked, we talked about what it means to be kind to others and how a small gesture can make a big difference to someone's day.

The children loved choosing places to leave the gifts and shared their thoughts about how the people who find them might feel.

We spoke about how finding an unexpected gift could bring a smile, make someone feel thought of, and remind them that they matter. ❤️

These simple conversations help children develop empathy, compassion and an understanding of how our actions can positively impact others. It was heartwarming to see their excitement and pride in spreading a little happiness throughout our community.

A huge thank you to Kinder Essex - Chelmsford for creating this beautiful opportunity and encouraging acts of kindness during Loneliness Awareness Week. We feel very grateful to have been part of it.

Now we wait and hope our little gifts bring joy to those lucky enough to find them. 💛

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💛 Warm and nurturing 💛

Sometimes all we need after waking up is a cuddle. Taking time to reconnect after nap time helps children feel safe, secure and ready for the next part of their day

🎂🎉 Birthday Celebrations 🎉🎂

Today we celebrated a wonderful little girl's 2nd birthday here at our setting! 💕 Turning two is such a special milestone and we loved making her day extra special.

We began our celebrations with a birthday-themed tuff tray, filled with opportunities for exploration, play and learning. The children enjoyed investigating the resources, talking about birthdays and joining in with the excitement of the day.

At our setting, we celebrate every child's birthday because we believe it is important for each child to feel valued, included and truly special. These moments help to foster a strong sense of belonging and create happy memories.

We ended the day with smiles, birthday wishes, singing and of course cake! 🎂🎶🥳 Watching the birthday girl beam with happiness as everyone sang to her was a lovely reminder of how important these shared celebrations are.

Happy 2nd Birthday to our lovely little friend. We hope your day was as wonderful as you are! 💕✨

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This week we are celebrating a very special milestone – my daughter's 18th birthday! 🎉❤️

As I watched her celebrate, I found myself reflecting on the incredible role she has played in my childminding journey.

She was just 9 years old when I first opened my home to minded children, and from the very beginning she welcomed them with kindness, patience and a huge smile. She shared her toys, her space, her adventures and perhaps most importantly, her mummy.

Being a childminder is very much a family affair, and our own children often make sacrifices that go unseen. They learn to share their homes, their routines, their belongings and their parents with many other children. In return, they gain friendships, memories, empathy and a unique understanding of caring for others.

As we celebrate my daughter's 18th birthday, I also want to celebrate all the children of childminders. The children who help little ones settle, who join in with activities, who become role models, and who generously share so much of their family life with others.
Thank you for being such an important part of what we do. ❤️

Happy 18th Birthday to my beautiful daughter. I am so proud of the kind, caring and compassionate young woman you have become. The children who have passed through our setting over the years have been so lucky to know you, and I have been even luckier to call you mine. 🥰🎂✨

🦕 Ready for a Roarsome Day of Play Tomorrow! 🦖

Tomorrow’s tuff tray invitation is all about dinosaurs, exploration and open-ended play.

I've set up a dinosaur-themed tray with green sand, a variety of dinosaurs, containers of different sizes, shapes and textures and loose parts to inspire curiosity and creativity.

For one of our little explorers who loves filling and emptying, there will be plenty of opportunities to scoop, pour, transport and investigate as they discover how different containers hold different amounts.

I've also added paintbrushes for mark making in the sand, encouraging early writing skills, creativity and hand-eye coordination. And of course, there are lots of dinosaurs ready for imaginative adventures for our little one who is currently fascinated by them.

This simple invitation to play supports fine motor development, problem-solving, sensory exploration, mathematical thinking and imaginative play, all while following the children's current interests and schemas.
I can't wait to see where their ideas take them tomorrow! 🦕✨

Sunshine, sandy toes and seaside adventures 🏖️🌊

We ran a couple of errands on our way out to Belhus Woods Country Park today.

We stopped at the supermarket for some essentials then on we went to the party shop to order some balloons for my very own baby who is turning 18 🥰

We spent some time with the ladies in the party shop who were interested in what we do here at Lulabelle's and they kindly gave one of our little ones a balloon 🥰

Then on we went to the park, for a wander through the woods, a play in the play area and some time with the geese. We picked up some litter that one of them tripped on 😢 and we found a bench to sit and watch how they spend their time 💕

Beautiful blue skies, fresh air, time out in the community and adventures amongst our precious wildlife. Perfect 👌❤️

Ready for half term fun with my little play buddies 😎💕

🌸🌹 We made good use of some (end of life) flowers donated to us by our lovely local florist 🌹🌸