Jenny & Chris' Little Stars Childminding

11/06/2025

A few hints and tips on starting toilet training ☺️

When to start toilet training

Every child’s development is unique. Some children can be toilet trained earlier and faster than others. It is important to support children to learn at their own pace.

Starting toilet training after 2 and a half to 3 years can make it harder for some children to learn this new skill.



The NHS provides advice on how to potty train. https://www.nhs.uk/baby/babys-development/potty-training-and-bedwetting/how-to-potty-train/

ERIC, The Children’s Bowel and Bladder Charity, has helpful information and resources on toilet training in early years settings. https://eric.org.uk/resources-for-early-years-settings/

Their 3 step ‘Let’s Go Potty’ approach is broken down into stages:

Preparation

Practice

Stop using nappies

16/05/2025

Today we visited Ropsley Heath Railway with the Grantham Childminding Group. The children were very excited to ride on the trains. Enabling the children to receive new experiences like riding on the trains can help can help them make connections with existing knowledge and develop a greater understanding of the world. The children had lots of questions about how the train works, what’s inside the big sheds? why is there smoke coming from the steam train? Why does the other train not have smoke?
All of the staff at the railway were amazing with all the children and helped to answer all of their questions, and they even let the children have a go at controlling the miniature trains.

08/05/2025

Today the children celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Victory in Europe Day (VE Day). We discussed how this date 80 years ago was the end of WW2 and how we now use this day to celebrate peace. We decorated Jenny & Chris’ house with Union Jack bunting and this sparked lots of conversations amongst the children. One child recognised it from ‘Britains got talent’, another talked about the colours in the flag and how they’d seen some ‘big flags on houses’.
Then the children had an invitation to explore a pasta messy tray in the shape of a Union Jack flag. Within the tray was also pictures of people and objects such as Lancaster bomber and spitfire planes, soldiers and people waving Union Jack flags. The children used a variety of tweezers to help develop and strengthen their finger muscles picking up the pasta pieces and pictures.
Later this afternoon we then had a celebratory afternoon tea party. The children poured their own drinks and drank from teacups whilst enjoying some yummy scones and strawberries 🥰

10/04/2025

Today we visited Wymondham windmill. We had a lovely woodland walk, we found a little den that some other people had already started building. So we went and found some more sticks “I’ve got a big one” “it’s heavy!” The children helped each other to build the den. We then walked on and A found an animal on top of one of the tree stumps “look it’s an owl” all of the children then excitedly began looking to see what else we could see. We spotted many more animals hiding in the woods, there were some rabbits, pheasants, and even a sheep. The children eagerly shouted and showed their friends each time they found something new! The trail through the woods then led us to a lovely play area where we all practised our climbing, balancing and sliding. It was a busy and challenging walk but so much fun!
When we got home the children were all talking about the windmill so we got Jennys iPad and watched a little video all about windmills and how they work, and then the children asked if they could colour a picture of the windmill to show their mummy and daddy.🥰

03/04/2025

Today we visited Tattershall farm park.

A farm visit can help children to connect with nature and learn about animals in real life. They can learn about the importance of caring for animals and treating them with kindness and respect. Today the children got to talk to some of the people who care for the animals at the farm and we learnt so many new things about goats and reindeers. We took some of the goats for a walk, fed carrots to the reindeers and got to hold some real reindeer antlers. Interacting with animals can help support the children with their learning and development and gives children the opportunity to learn how to be kind and gentle to others. We had so much fun exploring all of the farm today!

30/03/2025

Happy Mother’s Day to all our amazing mummies, hope you’ve all had a lovely day 🥰💕

17/03/2025

Today we learnt all about St. Patricks day. We learnt about how it’s a celebration of Irish culture and of the patron saint of Ireland, Saint Patrick. We learnt that the Shamrock ☘️ is a symbol of Ireland and of good luck!

To reinforce what we discovered this morning, the children here at Jenny & Chris Little Stars had an invitation to explore a tray based on things associated with St. Patrick’s day.
*They used tweezers to help strengthen their finger muscles to pick up the objects
*They practised their counting and matching numerals and amounts
*Some of the older children found some gold coins and matched the letters in their names
*Lots of opportunities for new language
*Learning about the world around us

06/03/2025

Today we visited Grantham library to celebrate World Book day. Reading to children can significantly benefit their language development. It can help improve their listening skills and imagination, whilst also aiding them to understand the world around them. The children were so excited to find so many new books as well as some of our favourites we have back home 🥰

04/03/2025

Today is pancake day and a great opportunity for all of our little stars 🌟 to engage their young minds in a hands on sensory experience. We set up a pancake station and invited the children to create some pancakes using various different fruits. The children learned all about the ingredients used to make pancakes, and had a go at flipping pancakes too!
The children had lots of fun in a sensory rich experience that enhances fine and gross motor skills, language development and social interaction.

10/12/2024

Today we completed our run for St Barnabas Hospice around Londonthorpe woods. The children all did amazingly well, and here at Jenny & Chris Little Stars Childminding we are so proud to be able to support the hospice. We have set up a justgiving page so please dig deep and donate what you can to this amazing cause! ❤️