Little Seashells Childminding

🍦 When it’s too hot outside… we bring the fun indoors! ☀️❄️

Today’s childminding ice cream parlour was a huge hit! Using our favourite clean mud recipe, the children scooped, served, mixed and created endless ice cream treats through imaginative play. 🍨

Role play like this is so much more than fun. It encourages communication, turn-taking, creativity, problem-solving and builds confidence as children take on different roles and invent their own stories.

With today’s soaring temperatures, we simply moved the play inside during the hottest part of the day so everyone could stay cool, comfortable and continue exploring in a safe environment. 💙

A big thank you to for the fantastic printable resources that helped bring our little ice cream shop to life! 🍦✨

Play doesn’t have to stop when the weather changes – sometimes the best adventures happen indoors.

IceCreamShop CleanMud SensoryPlay ImaginativePlay HerneBayChildminder KentChildminder OutdoorLearning IndoorPlay EYFS LittleSeashells

Today’s garden activity 🌼🎨

The children were invited to freely explore painting using a range of colours and tools, bringing these large paper plate flowers to life. There was no right or wrong way to create – just open-ended, child-led fun in the sunshine.

Through this simple invitation to play, the children have been developing so many important skills:
✨ Expressing their creativity and imagination
✨ Strengthening fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination
✨ Exploring colour mixing and making choices
✨ Building confidence and independence
✨ Enjoying sensory experiences through paint and texture
✨ Working alongside others, sharing ideas and space

Moments like this are where the magic of learning really happens – relaxed, joyful and led by the children 🌿💛

🌼🌿 Garden Centre Role Play 🌿🌼

This beautiful little set up has been a huge hit with my childminding children this week…

From running their own flower shop to planting, watering and “selling” their creations, the children have been completely absorbed in their play 🌷🪴

✨ Learning through play opportunities:
• Imaginative & role play – creating their own shop, taking on different roles
• Communication & language – conversations, storytelling, customer interactions
• Maths skills – recognising numbers, using money, counting and problem solving
• Fine motor skills – planting, picking up small items, using tools
• Understanding the world – learning about flowers, growth and caring for plants
• Social skills – sharing, turn taking and working together