Buttercup Childcare

10/10/2026

Booking open online https://www.buttercupchildcare.ie/product/halloween-camp-27-to-30-october-2026/

15/09/2026

CLAY MOULDING — MORE THAN JUST MAKING! 2nd–6th Class

Clay is a fantastic hands-on activity that supports children in so many ways:

SENSORY DEVELOPMENT
Feeling, squeezing, rolling and shaping clay provides rich tactile sensory experiences.

FOCUS & CONCENTRATION
Working with clay encourages children to slow down, focus and become absorbed in the activity.
CREATIVITY & IMAGINATION
Children can turn their own ideas into something real, with no right or wrong answer.

EMOTIONAL WELLBEING
The hands-on, repetitive nature of moulding clay can be calming and provides an opportunity for children to relax and express themselves.

COMMUNICATION
Creating together encourages conversation, sharing ideas, describing what they are making and developing vocabulary.

SOCIAL SKILLS
Children learn to share materials, cooperate, listen to others and appreciate each other’s creations.

FINE MOTOR SKILLS
Pinching, rolling, cutting and shaping clay strengthens hand and finger muscles and develops coordination.

CONFIDENCE & SELF-EXPRESSION
Creating something from their own imagination gives children a genuine sense of achievement and pride.

At Buttercup Childcare, we believe in giving children opportunities to learn, create, communicate and express themselves through hands-on experiences.

15/09/2026

A MASSIVE ACHIEVEMENT FOR BUTTERCUP CHILDCARE!
We are absolutely THRILLED, PROUD and DELIGHTED to announce that Buttercup Childcare has received our THIRD EVER AWARD — the Nature Hero Award 2026! And not just any award… we have achieved the 🌟 SILVER STAG 🌟 level of the Nature Hero Awards 2025–26, recognising the work we do to create a home for nature and give children meaningful experiences in the great outdoors.
This achievement is something we are hugely proud of. A special thank you goes to our Supervisor, Leanne O’Brien, who has headed up our Nature Hero journey, along with our fantastic team of staff who have put so much time, care, creativity and enthusiasm into developing our outdoor and natural environment. We couldn’t have done it without the wonderful support of our children, parents and families.
Our children have been busy making Buttercup Childcare a real haven for nature, including creating bird houses and feeders, a bat box, bee home, bug hotel, dead hedge, pond, rewilding areas, a no-mow meadow and recycled feeding and watering stations, as well as planting trees and encouraging wildlife into our outdoor space. For us, this is about so much more than an award. It is about giving children the opportunity to learn through nature, explore, investigate, take risks, get muddy, ask questions and develop a genuine connection with the world around them.
🦌SILVER STAG — NATURE HERO AWARD 2026🦌
We are incredibly proud to see Buttercup Childcare recognised among the Silver Stag Nature Heroes for 2025–26, and we hope to continue building on this work and apply again in the future, reaching even further for nature and biodiversity.
A HUGE WELL DONE to everyone who played a part in making this happen!
From all of us at Buttercup Childcare — we are very proud to be Nature Heroes! Looking forward to developing it even further in 2026-27 year.
Ballylanders NS Parents Association Limerick Childcare Committee Early Childhood Ireland Ballylanders Community Ballylanders NS

14/09/2026

Week Two at Buttercup Childcare

What a lovely week we’ve had! Our children are becoming more familiar with their new environment and are really enjoying creating, playing and learning through play. This week again we focused on learning names, getting to know each other’s likes and dislikes, building relationships with our staff and, most importantly, developing that sense of trust and security. We even had a very special outdoor activity — making our very own scarecrow! 🌾 The children loved stuffing it with straw and seeing their creation come to life!

Outdoor learning is such an important part of our day at Buttercup Childcare. Being outdoors in a natural environment gives children wonderful opportunities to explore, investigate, be active and develop confidence, creativity and independence. Time spent in nature supports children’s health, wellbeing and overall development, while making learning fun and meaningful.

14/08/2026

National Childcare Scheme (NCS) changes from 31 August 2026

Good news for families! The NCS income thresholds are increasing, meaning more families may qualify for an Income-Assessed subsidy or receive a higher rate. Visit www.ncs.gov.ie to learn more including how these changes impact your award!

01/08/2026

Increasing an ECCE preschool day from 3-5 hours gives children significantly more time for high-quality play, relationships, exploration and routines. When the extra hours are planned using Aistear, they support children’s holistic development across all areas of learning.
Social and Emotional, Children benefit from: More time to build secure relationships with everyone. Developing confidence, resilience & independence. Learning to share, cooperate, negotiate and solve conflicts with better emotional regulation.
Cognitive, children spend longer engaged in meaningful play rather than rushing activities. Develop problem-solving & critical thinking skills. Explore science, maths, nature & creative experiences. Follow own interests leading to deeper learning. Build concentration & persistence.
Communication & Language, with extra time children have more opportunities to take part in conversations with adults & peers. Develop vocabulary through stories, & imaginative play. Express thoughts, feelings & ideas confidently. Listen & practise early literacy through play.
Physical, Longer sessions provide opportunities to develop balance & coordination. Time for healthy meals, self-care & independence skills. Opportunities to support healthy lifestyles through movement & active play.
School Readiness, 5hrs. also helps children, become comfortable with longer daily routines. Build independence, develop sustained attention & confidence in groups. Experience a balanced day with learning, rest, & social interaction rather than a shorter, more rushed session.
In line with Aistear, the greatest benefit of increasing from 3 - 5 hrs. is not more formal teaching—it is more time for high-quality, child-led play and meaningful interactions, which research shows are the foundation of children’s social, emotional, cognitive, language & physical development.
For only €11.32 per day the benefits outweigh the cost and makes the decision very easy for all parents to make.  If your NCS benefit is more than €2.14, the cost is even lower for you.  Limited places in smaller group session for 2 hrs after preschool.  Don’t delay contact us today.

24/07/2026

Our final week of summer camp was Art week where we each day we explored different themes such as Pirates and Mermaids, Under the Sea, Space and Rockets, Animals and Superhero’s. The children did arts and crafts, explored with sensory play, group games, physical activity and much more.
All in all we had a great few weeks of summer camp and full day care! It is a great opportunity for children to make new friends, build confidence, stay active and develop their skills and knowledge during the summer break☀️😃

20/07/2026

14/07/2026

As another wonderful year comes to an end at Buttercup Childcare, Ballylanders, we’d like to thank all of our amazing children and families for being part of so many special moments. Over the past 10 months we’ve laughed, learned, explored, celebrated and created countless memories together—far more than we could ever fit into one video! 💛

Here are just a small selection of the wonderful memories your children have made with us this year. Every smile, adventure and achievement has made this year one to remember.

We are incredibly fortunate to have such a fantastic partnership with our parents. So many of the trips, activities and special experiences our children enjoy are only possible because of your kindness, encouragement and willingness to volunteer your time. Thank you to every parent who visited us to share your skills, careers, hobbies and experiences with the children—you have helped create lasting memories and enriched their learning in so many ways.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to our wonderful local businesses and community groups who continue to welcome us year after year and support our learning beyond the classroom. We are especially grateful for the strong partnership we have with Ballylanders National School, whose staff always welcome us with open arms and work closely with us to make every child’s transition to primary school a happy and positive one.

Finally, none of this would be possible without our incredible team at Buttercup Childcare in what was a very challenging year and industry crisis with staff shortages. Thank you for your dedication, kindness, professionalism and unwavering commitment to every child in your care. You go above and beyond every single day, ensuring each child feels valued, included, supported and encouraged to reach their full potential.

To all of our children moving on to primary school, we wish you every success and happiness in your next adventure. We are so proud of each and every one of you. 🌟

To the children returning to Buttercup, we can’t wait to welcome you back for another year filled with fun, friendships, learning and unforgettable memories. Have a wonderful summer everyone! ☀️