Little Bear Cubs Childminding

01/05/2026

Week commencing 27.04.2026

01/05/2026

Week commencing 20.04.2026

01/05/2026

Week commencing 13.04.2026

12/04/2026

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A nap is not just a break from the day—it is vital work time for your preschooler’s brain. When children sleep in the early afternoon, their brains move new information from short-term to long-term memory. Research shows naps can help your child remember up to 40 percent more each day, building stronger focus and better problem-solving skills.

Missing a midday nap can make it harder for your child to hold onto what they learned that morning. The most powerful naps last about 60 to 90 minutes and happen before late afternoon. Shorter or late naps might not give enough time for deep memory work and can even disrupt nighttime sleep. That’s why regular naps support not only your child’s mood, but also their growing mind.

If your preschooler stops napping too young, their thinking skills and vocabulary may fall behind. Daytime sleep is how their brains protect and grow what they experience in the world. To help your child thrive, protect their daily nap. It is when small lessons become lasting knowledge."

02/04/2026

Week commencing 30.03.2026

02/04/2026

Week commencing 23.03.2026

02/04/2026

Week commencing 16.04.2026

24/03/2026

Week commencing 09.03.2026

12/03/2026

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We need to stop asking if a four year old can write their name and start asking if they can climb a tree or hang from the monkey bars. I know it sounds counterintuitive, especially when we are bombarded with the idea that academic success starts with a workbook, but the science of child development tells a very different story.

I see it so often. A child is struggling with handwriting, not because they do not know the letters, but because they do not have the core strength to sit upright at a desk or the shoulder stability to move a pencil across a page. A worksheet is a 2D solution to a 3D problem. If the foundations of the body are not strong, the fine motor skills will always struggle to follow.

When we push children into academic tasks before their bodies are physically ready, we are not giving them a head start. We are actually setting them up for a lifetime of physical fatigue and frustration. If a child has to use all their energy just to keep their body from slumping over, they have no mental energy left for learning.

Our educators know this. When they choose a morning of climbing, digging in the mud, or navigating an obstacle course, they are doing the deep, essential work of school readiness. They are building the core, the grip strength, and the visual tracking skills that will eventually make reading and writing feel easy.

Educators, what is the one thing you wish parents understood about the importance of play over paperwork?

Parents, what is your biggest worry when it becomes to your child being ready for school?

07/03/2026

Week commencing 02.03.2026

🚆 Travelled on a train to Blackpool to meet and greet the Gruffalo and his friends at his clubhouse. Honestly it was one of the most magical amazing experiences that opened a doorway to make the stories come to life.
🐁 As it was also world book day this week - we don't just celebrate books on one day a year, we as a setting celebrate books all year round as we just love them and on this we continued on our Gruffalo journey and made our own Gruffalo hunt in the local woods. Whilst also exploring the natural surroundings.
📖 We again visited our local library to enjoy books of all shapes and sizes and to join in with rhyme time.
🧩 We attended our local playgroup to follow on with what we do each day and that's learning through play, crafting, socialising and joining in with activities on offer.
🌼 We have also loved seeing all the lovely spring flowers blooming in the local area whilst out on our walks.
📖 To celebrate books we took some out with us and chose random places to look/read books.
🎶 Attended music and movement class where we got to make some magical potions, dance to mythical music and use resources to make our music come to life.

07/03/2026

Week commencing 23.02.2026

🧸 Learning through play is the most important way in which a child learns best, so I offer free play throughout the setting so I can find out how a childs like to learn, what they are interested in and how can I adapt/offer further experiences/support to encourage the best out of each and every learning experiences.
🚜 We took a trip to the local mini farm to not just see the animals up close and personal but to see the real life tractor which the children can also sit on.
📚 Visited the local library to join in rhyme time as we missed it not being on last week and to continue exploring the wonderful world of books.
🦆 Went on a walk to the local nature reserve to see/feed the ducks and look in the pond for other wildlife.
🧩 Back at playgroup also this week to continue learning through play, enjoying socialising with others, crafting and having storytime with our grandfriends.
🎵We attended the new term of our music and movement class to explore music through using real life resources.