In partnership with Sophie and Shannon
Its my week to choose a book in line with Making it REAL.
I have chosen the book Hideysaurus its the last book at the moment in the set.
đź’– Promotes Emotional Literacy (PSED)
• Validates shyness: It teaches children that feeling overwhelmed or wanting to hide is a normal, acceptable response to busy environments.
• Body-mind connection: The story uses child-friendly phrases like "wibbly knees" and a "squeezy heart" to help kids identify physical sensations tied to anxiety.
• Builds coping strategies: It offers a clear, gentle roadmap for how a child can step away, take a break, and slowly re-engage when they feel safe.
🗣️ Highly Engaging Structure for the early years
• Rhyming text: The rhythmic, melodic flow aids phonological awareness, making it an excellent read-aloud choice that holds short attention spans.
• Visual storytelling: Bright, colourful illustrations by Chris Chatterton give children visual cues to understand character expressions and non-verbal emotions.
🏫 Perfect for Transitions and Social Milestones
• School readiness: Parents and educators frequently use it to prepare children for starting school.
• Promotes peer empathy: It teaches more extroverted or confident children how to notice, respect, and support peers who might be feeling quiet or shy.
Darwin Child Care
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Currently full till September 2025
28/05/2026
Half term fun. Making new friends along the way.
26/05/2026
Half term week means a lovely visit from one of my holiday children 🥰 so we decided on going through the life cycle of different animals.
We also had the perry bag which was minibeast theme so we've had that out along with the other minibeasts.
A wonderful day out, memories made for a lifetime ❤️❤️❤️
21/05/2026
World bee day was celebrated a day early at Darwin Child Care.
The date aims to raise awareness about the impact and importance bees and other pollinators have on the environment, while also raising awareness about the many challenges pollinators face.
21/05/2026
Drawing with paper and pens is crucial for early childhood development because it builds foundational physical, cognitive, and emotional skills.
​Key Areas of Development
​Fine Motor Skills: Gripping pens and manipulating paper strengthens the small muscles in fingers, hands, and wrists. This prepares children for tasks like writing, using utensils, and tying shoes.
​Cognitive Growth: Children learn about cause and effect as they see their movements leave marks. It also introduces concepts like shapes, colors, and spatial awareness.
​Creative Expression: Before they can fully speak or write, children use drawing to express thoughts, feelings, and imagination.
​Hand-Eye Coordination: Guiding a pen across paper forces the eyes and hands to work together, building vital neural pathways.
​Why it matters: Mark-making is the very first step toward formal writing. Allowing children to explore these tools freely boosts their confidence and independence.
15/05/2026
This week we made dens, had our monthly childminding meet up event, worked on fine motor skills along with lots of craft.
In partnership with Sophie and Shannon
Its my week to choose a book in line with Making it REAL.
I have chosen the book Stompysaurus. The key benefits for Early Years Development is:
• Teaches Self-Regulation Strategies: The story introduces practical, age-appropriate coping mechanisms. When Stompysaurus gets angry, he learns to take a deep breath, slow down, and change his perspective.
• Validates Big Emotions: Early childhood is marked by overwhelming feelings of frustration and anger (such as the "terrible twos"). The book sensitively shows children that having a bad day is completely normal.
• Builds Emotional Vocabulary: Reading this story helps children expand their emotional literacy. It moves them away from physical outbursts like stomping and screaming toward verbalising their feelings.
• Encourages Social Empathy: It shows how a bad mood affects friends and family, highlighting the power of a choice and a heartfelt apology.
• Highly Engaging Format: The book features expert rhyming text that makes reading aloud rhythmic and engaging. The bright, charming illustrations display clear facial expressions that help toddlers recognise changing emotional states.
This book is a part of the DinoFeelings series, designed to help children understand and manage their emotions.
06/05/2026
We had the most amazing morning at Sensory Seekerz in Clacton. Thank you so much for the invite . The girls loved Elmer day.
30/04/2026
We had the most amazing day at Woodlands View care home. Thank you so much for the invite .
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| Monday | 7:30am - 5:30pm |
| Tuesday | 7:30am - 5:30pm |
| Wednesday | 7:30am - 5:30pm |
| Thursday | 7:30am - 5:30pm |
| Friday | 7:30am - 12:30pm |