Michelle Sorrell Childminder

Good fun today at Askham Bryan Wildlife & Conservation Park with Sara Havercroft. 🙂🐢

Grab a toilet paper roll and paint to make a heart stamp bouquet! #kidscrafts #valentinecraft #kidcraft #toiletpaperrollcrafts #toiletpaperroll

The truth is…
Working in early years isn’t always neat or easy.
It’s messy, it’s loud, it’s sometimes overwhelming.
But it’s also the most meaningful, heart-filling work I could ever do. ❤️

The tiny hand that slips into mine on a walk.
The moment a child shouts “I did it!” with the purest pride.
The quiet hugs that don’t need words.
These little souls aren’t just passing time here — they’re building the foundations of who they’ll become…
And I get to be part of that. 🥹

That’s why, even on the hardest days, I wouldn’t trade this job for anything. Because it isn’t “babysitting.” It’s love. It’s guidance. It’s building futures. 🌿

So here’s to the early years educators, the childminders, the nursery teams, the playworkers, the teachers — the ones who pour their hearts into tiny moments that matter and every single one of us quietly holding space for childhood in ways the world often never sees…

So today, please know this:
You are seen.
You are valued.
And you are making an impact that will live far beyond this moment. 🌈🫶🏻❤️

Lovely walk in the foods this morning. We threaded leaves onto pipe cleaners to make a hedgehog.

Fix your child’s pen grip in 10 SECONDS ✍️ Yep, this little trick works INSTANTLY. No nagging. No fancy tools. Just one smart switch. Why it matters: ❌ Poor grip = bad habits that are HARD to unlearn ❌ Weak fingers = quicker fatigue, slower writing ❌ Delayed fine motor = rough start at school ✔️ Good grip = strong finger muscles ✔️ Less writing frustration ✔️ Smooth start to writing success If your child is starting school in September, this is the kind of thing that sets them up RIGHT from the start. And if you want to know the very FIRST step to getting your child reading-ready… Drop the word “FIRST” and I’ll send you my FREE BLENDING BOOTCAMP that shows you exactly how to start. #PenGripHack #SchoolReady #WritingSkills #ParentTips #EarlyYearsSupport #FineMotorSkills #StartingSchool #ReadyForReception #EarlyLearning #TeachThemYoung #BlendingTraining #PhonicsHelp #LearningMadeEasy #PreschoolPrep #ParentingHacks

They are just three. Haven’t even started school yet. But they’re already learning the sounds that build the foundation for reading. 📉 What we thought we knew about reading? It’s changed. Harvard spent 10 years scanning the brains of babies as young as 3 months old and followed them as they grew, focusing on the reading part of the brain. By 18 months, they saw major differences depending on exposure to early reading foundations. Yet schools wait until age 4+ to start teaching this stuff. In classes of 30. Using one-size-fits-all systems. And kids with SEND are slipping through the cracks. 🧠 But reading doesn’t start when school does. It starts in utero. And between 18 months and 5 years, there’s a golden window where the brain is primed to wire itself for reading, through play, sound, and connection. 💬 It begins with conversation, songs, rhyme, and stories. Then from 18 months, focus on the one skill that makes or breaks reading success: oral blending, hearing sounds and pushing them together to make words. With just 5 minutes a day of simple, play-based practice, you can teach this at home, no pressure. Drop the word ‘FIRST’ below and I’ll send you my FREE 12-minute training to show you exactly how to start. It’s simple. It’s science-backed. And your child’s future self will thank you. #earlyreading #phonicsforkids #teachmytoddler #schoolreadiness #homeschoolmama #readwithme #phonicsworks #literacybeginsathome #earlyintervention #preschoolactivities #sahmtools #readingfoundation #teachreading #earlyliteracy #toddlermilestones #neurodiverselearners #parentpower #phonicsfun #futurefluentreader #phonicsmatters #dyslexic #dyslexia #send #toddleractivities #preschool

Thinking of all the year 6 parents today… 💕

https://www.instagram.com/p/DLKkE3iM26P/?img_index=3&igsh=MWNmd3N0cTJlNGpxdw==

✨50 Questions to Ask Your Kids This Summer ✨Just real questions for real connection. ✌️ The kind of conversations that happen in the car, at bedtime, on a nature walk, or while you’re waiting for the mac and cheese to boil. You don’t need a script to be a great mom. But sometimes a good question can open a little window into your child’s heart and that’s where the best learning starts. ✨ Save this for quiet moments, road trips, or family nights. 🫶 Share this to your stories if you’re the kind of mom who values connection more than checking boxes. #HomeschoolingLife #HomeschoolMoms #SummerWithKids #SlowChildhood #RaisingHearts #IntentionalMotherhood #RealMomLife #FamilyConnection #NoCurriculumNeeded #50Questions #homeschool

It left one toddler '20 minutes from death' ⚠ Read more: https://trib.al/zXgAAtE