Tinkerbel’s Childcare London E4

26/05/2025

Tip the balance back towards movement and play ..

I'm seeing it more and more in kindergartens. Children who don't want to come to kindy because they'd rather stay home with screens. Kids who've missed out on so much movement and play that their bodies literally don't know how to run, climb, or balance properly.

Here's what's happening... Tech is designed to be addictive. Those bright colours, instant rewards and constant stimulation trigger the same dopamine responses as gambling.

No wonder our 4 year olds are choosing screens over playgrounds :(

Here's what we're losing when screen time is winning our child's focus and time:
* Reduced coordination and balance
* Difficulty problem solving through daily routines and challenges
* Reduced social skill development through face to face interaction
* Reduced connection with nature and their environment
* Difficulty with resilience that we once built through physical play
* Difficulty with focus and attention that we developed through unstructured exploration

I'm not saying eliminate all technology. That's unrealistic in 2025. But we need to be intentional about creating developmental alternatives:
* Make outdoor play more appealing than screen time
* Create screen free zones and times in your home
* Join them outside with a snack
* Notice when they choose screens over real experiences

Our children's bodies and brains are literally being rewired by excessive screen time.

They're missing critical windows for movement development, social learning, and building the kind of resilience that only comes from navigating the real world.

If your child is resisting kindy because they want to stay home with screens, that's a red flag worth addressing now and many allied health professionals can help support you and your family when you need.

In the meantime, let's share one small change we can all make this week to tip the balance back toward movement and play. You've got this x

01/09/2024

06/07/2024

13/04/2024

08/08/2023

Sometimes we need to reframe what we see our children doing and remember all of what they are learning in those simple acts.

31/07/2023

16/01/2022

Sentiments from a truly amazing childminder

I met someone whilst out walking Kevin this weekend 🐶
We walked for a little bit and chatted about what we did.
“So, you have really little ones then?” He said
“I have children of all ages, right up to school age. And I also have older children after school” I explained.
“Oh” he said “I assumed they’d leave and go to nursery to get them ready for school. That’s what we did with our two”

Now… I don’t know about other childminders but I have found there is a definite lack of knowledge about what we do.
I have been called a babysitter more times than I care to remember. I am not a babysitter.
(Babysitters are awesome by the way! I HAVE been a babysitter before. It’s how I realised my passion was to work with young children and why I followed my dream to do the job I do now).

I challenged my walking companion “what do you think a nursery teaches children that a childminder can’t?”
He didnt/couldn’t answer.

Being school ready isn’t about learning where to hang your coat. How to carry your lunch on a tray. Using a behaviour chart (don’t even get me started on those shame style management techniques!).
It’s not about putting stuff in a tray with their name on it. Or sitting on a carpet for daily phonics lessons.

It’s having a good level of self esteem. It’s being independent, putting their shoes on and washing their hands by themselves. It’s building social skills, taking turns and showing empathy towards their peers.
It’s showing resilience and the confidence to ask for help. It’s communicating with their peers and adults.

Children do not need a nursery or pre school for those things.

As a childminder I know that my Ducklings will leave my care and thrive at school because between their wonderful parents and my house we’ve equipped them with all of those skills.
Their curriculum has been tailored around them. Their needs, their interests. They’ve engaged with other children and adults at playgroups and outings.
They’ve spent their pre school years in a loving, safe and secure environment where they have been challenged to excel further and their achievements have been recognised.

There are some fabulous pre schools and some fabulous nursery’s out there…
But I am a childminder. A home from home setting. And children don’t NEED to be anywhere else.

As a friend said to me the other day; I’m going to retire one day… does that mean I should start winding down my work load now to ‘get ready’?!😆
Chance would be a fine thing!🙈

01/01/2022

I saw this on another post and agree .. providing no one is waiting at the top of the slide , I always allow time for children to go UP the slide. Risk taking and assessing is an important area of development.

05/11/2021

A few November 5th bonfire / firework activities were done today.. these are the photos I took. told me I should be posting and had to show me how again as I forgot. We also done some bonfire painting, sang songs and talked about hibernation and long winter sleeps and keeping animals safe.

07/10/2021

Gruffalo woods. We had a lovely autumn stroll through the woods, and noticed that the oak trees are not producing acorns this year. The children used sticks as musical instruments, to make dens and to make marks on the ground, all totally made up by themselves. Peggy and Charlie also joined us on our walk and listened to the story.

07/10/2021

The Tiger who came to tea at Paradise Park. Skilful pouring by little one who took charge of serving tea for all. Charlie and Peggy also sat in and listened to the story whilst we observed real tigers from the safety of the viewing room. We were also able to witness a tiger feeding session. set up a lovely tea party play dough activity. I’m sure she’ll share soon x we had lots of children come and listen to the story with us.