Have some quality time

Your children won’t care about everything being the biggest and the best, they just appreciate having some time with you! Typical New Year’s Eve activities may also prove to be overstimulating for them.

Keep it simple and I’m sure everyone will have a great time!

Here are some ideas for a low-key celebration:

· Host a party dinner – put on your favourite clothes and have a picky tea filled with everyone’s favourite foods.

· Watch a feel-good film – find a film that you’ll all enjoy and get some snacks.

· Make a non-alcoholic cocktail – your children can’t drink alcohol but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to celebrate with a fun drink! Make a non-alcoholic cocktail for you and the kids to both enjoy.

· Have a games night – play some classic party games on the countdown to New Year- there are some great board games out around this time of year.

Stick to your routine

You can still celebrate New Year’s Eve with children without changing the time that your little ones go to bed. Bring forward the New Year’s celebrations a few hours if you have young children so that they keep to their sleep pattern. Stick to your usual bedtime routine (brushing teeth, reading a story, etc.), as these soothing rituals might help them calm down.

Read: Should you let your kids stay up on New Year’s Eve?

Feel free to carry on the celebrations by yourselves once they’re safely tucked in. So long as the music isn’t turned up too loud, there’s no reason why you can’t have a great time and relax for the evening!

Look back to move forward

New Year’s is a time of reflection, so use it as an opportunity to highlight the best memories of the year gone by. You could even put together a slide show of photos from the year and watch them together, or ask everyone their favourite memory and reminisce!

Ask your children if they have any goals for the year ahead- it’s never too early to start. This helps your children to understand that you care about them and their goals. You can also help them to set realistic targets and explore how you can help them achieve them!

Don’t stress!

Any time spent with your family is special, and sometimes it’s hard just to make space for one another. So just relax and enjoy being together!

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At Schoolhouse Daycare, we enjoy learning, encouraging confidence and we love life! If you think your child would enjoy life at Schoolhouse, then please do not hesitate to arrange a visit.

Need more help or advice? Find more from us here:

• 5 Healthy Habits to Adopt in the New Year
• How You Can Strengthen Family Relationships in the New Year
• Why it is Essential to Encourage a Growth Mindset in Your Children
• How to Build a Positive Parenting Connection

The post A handy guide to celebrating New Year’s Eve with children appeared first on Schoolhouse Day Care.

Now that you have a family of your own, it makes sense that you would want to replicate this for your own children. After all, when they’re older, they will appreciate the work that you put into making this a truly special time of year.

If you’re looking for inspiration to do just that, here are five traditions you can start this time of year.

1. Create an advent tradition

Think of activities that you and your children can take part in every day on the run-up to Christmas. This can be practical tasks such as writing out your Christmas cards, or recreational activities such as making gingerbread houses or Christmas decorations.

2. Go for a Christmas walk

There are many families that go for a walk as part of their family Christmas tradition. Pick a day that suits you best, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Boxing Day, and set out on a short walk. This is a great way to help your children discover the beauty of nature, and you can even help them to collect twigs and rocks that they can use for crafts once you get home!

3. Decorate the tree while listening to Christmas songs

Kids love getting involved with Christmas decorating, and everyone loves a sing-along! So throw on some Christmas tunes while decorating. Family Christmas traditions don’t need to be expensive or extra special – just involve your kids in the things you do each year, and they will have fond memories of the time you spent together.

4. Make homemade crackers for the Christmas table

Not only is this a great money-saving hack, but it’s also a more sustainable option than buying Christmas crackers from the supermarket. Many Christmas crackers contain foil, glitter or plastic, which means they can’t be recycled!

Find out how to make your own Christmas crackers here.

5. Take a holiday trip to the local library

Let your children pick out a festive book and read it with them during December. Most of these books focus on the theme of giving and can help your kids to appreciate the spirit of Christmas. If you don’t have access to a library nearby, have a look at second-hand websites or download an audiobook.

Read: What are the Best Christmas Stories to Read at Bedtime?

Family Christmas traditions can be anything that you want them to be. They don’t need to cost much money or even take a lot of time! Just do something together that you all enjoy, and it will be special.

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At Schoolhouse Daycare, we enjoy learning, encouraging confidence and we love life! If you think your child would enjoy life at Schoolhouse, then please do not hesitate to arrange a visit.

Looking for more ideas and inspiration? See more from us here:

• How Much Do Children Really Need From Santa? The Benefits of Having Less
• How to have more happiness with less this Christmas
• 18 Creative Gift Ideas to Save You Money at Christmas
• Why You Should Use Kindness Elves This Christmas (Instead of the Elf on The Shelf)

The post Five family Christmas traditions to start this year appeared first on Schoolhouse Day Care.

Always keep a first aid kit and clean-up kit

Even though you´re likely doing all you can to keep your kids safe, accidents do happen, so it´s good to be prepared.

Packing a small first aid kit along with the rest of your stuff doesn’t take up that much space. Plus, if one of your children gets a bump, a scrape, or even an unexpected ailment, you’ll be equipped to deal with it on the spot.

Tantamount to this is a clean-up kit: tissues, wipes, hand gel, etc. are all items you should never leave home without. No matter how young or old your kids are. They can prove to be very handy when you least expect it.

Sunscreen your way to fun

Skin cancer affects not only healthy adults but also children. Plus, why let a perfectly good day at the beach get ruined by sunburn?

Many people think getting sunburnt isn’t possible with cloudy or overcast weather, but that’s a misconception. If you or your kids plan to go for a dip, reapply the sunscreen every two hours, either before or right after swimming.

Come up with a nice entertainment checklist

While there´s sun, sea, and sand, children still need to be entertained.  At the bare minimum, here’s what we recommend as part of our family beach trip essentials:

• A bucket and spade for all the sand digging and castle building (great activity for the grownups too)
• A beachball, beach paddles or football for fun-filled family games
• A fishing net and sturdy waterproof sandals for the rock pooling
• Bodyboards and snorkels if your kids are a little older and know how to swim
• Reading material when you want to sit back and lose yourself in a good book for a while

Time to hit the road and lose yourself at the beach. Hopefully, the weather won’t turn!

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At Schoolhouse Daycare, we enjoy learning, encouraging confidence and we love life! If you think your child would enjoy life at Schoolhouse, then please do not hesitate to arrange a visit.

Need more help or advice? Find more from us here:

• A Parent’s Survival Guide to the Summer Holidays
• 10 Things to Do with Your Children Over the Summer Holidays
• 5 Ways to Make Happy Memories this Summer
• 4 healthy snack ideas to try during the summer holidays

The post Family beach trip essentials: What to pack for a successful day at the beach appeared first on Schoolhouse Day Care.

Choose a good variety of snack foods

Staying at home and away from school means your kids are usually tempted to have snacks high in sugar, salt and fat. Once in a while may be okay, but we want to avoid this whenever we can.

When it comes to choosing healthier snacks, aim for ones that are nutritious and low in empty calories. Things like:

• low-fat dips and spreads,
• raw vegetable sticks,
• fruit salads,
• wholemeal toast,
• low-fat yoghurt,
• reduced-fat cheese,
• and so on.

These types of snacks – think high fibre, high protein, and low sugary carbohydrates – are the name of the game. They will keep hungry bellies fuller for longer.

Healthy snack ideas

1. Granola, granola, everywhere!

Homemade granola bars are very popular with kids, especially when you pop them fresh out of the oven. You can even store them in the freezer for a while, and then just heat to serve when needed.

If you want to bypass making granola yourself, however, you can buy them from almost every supermarket. Here are some of the best options.

2. Irresistible low-sugar fruit and yoghurt cups

If you can find a good low-sugar fruit and yoghurt cup from your local shop, great! However, make sure to check the ingredients as they can still be loaded with sugar and carbs that will make your kids run in circles for at least a few hours before they have a sugar crash.

If you want to be sure that what you´re giving your children is in the bracket of healthy snack ideas, homemade fruit and yoghurt cups are the best way to go. They are easy to make too:

Put fruit and organic/raw honey at the bottom of some mason jars and stuff in the yoghurt. Add frozen berries as they get mushy after being thawed. Now, pack a small travel container or mason jar with some granola to stir in the yoghurt and berry mix. Stock it in the freezer and whip that good stuff out when your children crave a cool, sweet and tangy snack any time of the day.

3. Good old-fashioned toast

Did you know that toast, as basic (and boring) as it sounds, is still among the most common healthy snack ideas this summer?

The truth is, toast makes for a very nutritious lunch or even tea for your toddler, and it takes minimal effort too. Smashed avocado on wholemeal toast works brilliantly. Add a sprinkle of seeds and some nut butter with cucumber sticks. Alternatively, you can try an egg on the toast with some tomatoes on the side or baked beans.

Life is good indeed!

Well, what do you think? Give the above healthy snack ideas a try and admire the ear-to-ear grins on your children’s faces.

___________________________________________

At Schoolhouse Daycare, we enjoy learning, encouraging confidence and we love life! If you think your child would enjoy life at Schoolhouse, then please do not hesitate to arrange a visit.

Need more help or advice? Find more from us here:

• 8 Healthy Foods for a Growing Child
• Tips for Parents – How to Live on a Budget with Children?
• 10 Packed Lunch Ideas For Parents
• The Best Inside Activities for High Energy Kids

The post 4 healthy snack ideas to try during the summer holidays appeared first on Schoolhouse Day Care.

So, whether you’re looking to explore the great outdoors or acquaint yourselves with some exotic animals, we have an adventure for you!

Here are our suggestions for family days out in Wales:

GreenWood Family Park

GreenWood Family Park is an oasis for outdoor activities! With rides, slides and rivers to excite the entire family, you can enjoy endless amounts of fun in this magical forest!

Located near Snowdonia National Park, GreenWood Family Park is one of the most popular family attractions in North Wales! So it’s certainly worth a visit.

Or, if one day simply isn’t enough, you can always treat yourself to an overnight stay in one of their luxury Tipis!

Snowdon Mountain Railway

If you’re looking for family days out in Wales, why not take a trip up our world-famous mountain?

With views stretching as far as Scotland and Ireland (on a clear day), Mount Snowdon is a sight to behold! You can soak up some of the local history by taking a trip on the traditional steam locomotive or even walk up if you’re feeling adventurous!

So what are you waiting for? This Welsh mountain isn’t something you’ll want to miss!

Cefn Mably Farm Park

Our list of family days out in Wales wouldn’t be complete without a trip to the farm. And Cefn Mably Farm Park is the crème de la crème of farmyard fun!

Perfect for children of all ages, you can visit the petting zoo, ride the Cefn Malby Railway or even play a round of mini-golf! There really is something for the whole family!

Manor Wildlife Park

Manor Wildlife Park is a magical location for a family adventure! Suitable for children of all ages, you can immerse yourself in the wildlife walkthroughs, interact with exotic animals and enjoy hours of fun exploring the indoor play areas.

So, whether you pack a picnic or tuck into some treats from cafè, we can assure you that exploring Manor Wildlife Park isn’t an experience you want to miss!

Barmouth Beach

We couldn’t write about family days out in Wales without mentioning our beautiful beaches!

Barmouth beach is one of our most famous beaches, making it the perfect spot for some family fun. Whether you choose to paddle in the sea, visit the arcades or see how many sandcastles you can build – we know you’ll have a whale of a time enjoying our wonderful Welsh beaches.

Start making some precious memories!

So there you have it – five family days out in Wales we know won’t disappoint.

Whether you choose to do one, none, or all of the activities we’ve mentioned, remember to enjoy your time together! Soak it all in, take lots of photos and continue making precious memories whether your children are four or fourteen!

At Schoolhouse Daycare, we enjoy learning, encouraging confidence and we love life! If you think your child would enjoy life at Schoolhouse, then please do not hesitate to arrange a visit.

Looking for more ideas and inspiration? See more from us here:

•  A Parent’s Survival Guide to the Summer Holidays
• 10 Things to Do with Your Children Over the Summer Holidays 
• The Best 20-Minute Activities to Keep Your Children Entertained 

The post Family-Friendly Places to Visit in Wales appeared first on Schoolhouse Day Care.

Whether you’re jetting off into the sunset or staying home for the six weeks holidays, we’re confident we have a summer suggestion for you. Here are 5 ways to make happy memories this summer:

1. Plan ahead 

Time flies when you’re having fun. So, it’s a good idea to map out your summer holidays before they begin. Otherwise, you could blink and miss the whole thing!

Start by scheduling play dates and day trips – we recommend planning at least one activity for each week. That way, you’ve always got something to look forward to!

These activities don’t need to be expensive or extravagant – it’s more about creating concrete plans to spend quality time with your family. 

2. Book a trip

We couldn’t discuss which memories to make with your children without mentioning the classic summer holiday!

Summer holidays provide us with the perfect opportunity to step away from our daily distractions and really soak up some time with the kids. 

Again, these breaks don’t need to be expensive. Just try and find a holiday the whole family will enjoy – whether that’s camping for the weekend or visiting a resort that hosts a kids club! 

3. Spend time outside

Nothing says summer like a bit of British sunshine! So make the most of the warmer weather and spend lots of time outdoors. 

You could plan a family picnic, plant a vegetable patch or even purchase a paddling pool!

Whatever you get up to in the garden, make sure you’re using sun protection. That way, you can enjoy all the benefits of playing outdoors without the risk of burning yourselves!

4. Have fun with your daily chores

I bet you didn’t expect to see household chores on our list of memories to make with your children this summer, did you? 

But the truth is, trivial chores can be a lot of fun if you put some thought into them! 

For example, try making your next family shopping trip into a treasure hunt! Let your child lead the way as you scour the shelves for their favourite cereal. 

It’s actually surprisingly easy to make memories out of mundane tasks – you just need to use little imagination. 

5. Ask your children what they want to do

Sometimes we’re reluctant to ask our children what they want to do during the summer holidays just in case they say something wild or wacky (or way too expensive). But letting your children decide for themselves is a great way for them to establish their interests and develop some independence. 

So, try setting aside one day a week where your child is allowed to choose the activity for the day. It could be playing their favourite sport, watching their favourite film or going to the local park. 

Whatever they decide, your child will always remember the day they were allowed to do whatever they wanted (within reason).  

Enjoy your time together

So there you have it – 5 different memories to make with your children over the summer holidays!

Whatever you choose to do this summer, whether you’re staying home or going away, remember to cherish your time together. Because before you know it, it’ll be time to take them back to school! So enjoy every second, soak up the sun and make memories that will last a lifetime.

At Schoolhouse Daycare, we enjoy learning, encouraging confidence and we love life! If you think your child would enjoy life at Schoolhouse, then please do not hesitate to arrange a visit.

Looking for more ideas and inspiration? See more from us here:

• The Big Benefits of Outside Play for Nursery Children
• A Parent’s Survival Guide to the Summer Holidays
• The Best 20-Minute Activities to Keep Your Children Entertained

The post 5 Ways to Make Happy Memories this Summer appeared first on Schoolhouse Day Care.

While this is how many people are feeling – wondering how to be happy this Christmas – it is possible to make the end of 2022 a special one. It’s all about reframing this time differently and being happy with less.

Here’s how to do just that.

Cut back on the gift-giving

Everyone has been in the same boat, so they won’t judge you for cutting back this year. Have a talk with your family and if you want to cut back on gifts, decide on what you’ll do all together when it’s safe to meet up again. Maybe you will have a big dinner later in the year or go on holiday together?

Whatever it is, talk it through and decide as a family. It’s been a stressful year so you don’t need to pile on extra stress to find gifts when shops are closed and many relatives can’t even get out to look themselves.

Christmas is about spending quality time together and making memories so reframe it this year and be thankful that your loved ones are safe and healthy.

Focus on what you truly love

Think about your Christmas traditions. What is truly important to you and your family? Maybe it’s having a movie night on Christmas Eve or eating altogether, decorating the house or baking on Boxing Day. Whatever your favourites, focus on these and let the rest go.

This is a very different year, so instead of letting it get you down, get creative and make those all-important things happen. Yes, they will be different, but you can make that movie night tradition special by doing it virtually or meet up with family for a socially distanced walk on Christmas Day.

If you want to know how to be happy this Christmas, you need to think about what makes the season for you and make those things happen (just in a different way).

Embrace nature

Instead of sitting indoors, take a walk in the frosty morning or after dinner. As we said previously, maybe you could meet up with some family members for a socially distanced walk close to home.

Nature is healing and it makes us happy, so embrace it. Breathe the cold air. Collect pine cones. Make a snowman if you’re lucky enough to have snow. Whatever you do, look for ways to enjoy and appreciate the nature that surrounds you and you’ll feel a lot better for it.

Be charitable

If you’re worried about how to be happy this Christmas, maybe look beyond you and your family and to those in need. How can you make someone else’s Christmas?

It feels good to make others feel good so look for opportunities to give others your time, to listen to them, and make them smile. It can be something as simple as giving some toys away to children’s charities or having the grandparents on a video call as the children open their gifts.

While it’s not the best time to volunteer or get involved in activities with others, you can still use this time to teach your children to be charitable. That’s what Christmas is all about.

Reconnect and reflect

Last but not least, use this time to reconnect and reflect. Not just with your family, but with yourself. What has been positive about this year? Which challenges have you overcome? What are you grateful for? How have you become closer as a family?

By focusing on what you are grateful for and the positives of the past year, you can better be in the moment and enjoy the day without any stress or worry.

Spend this day reconnecting with each other – play board games, eat great food, and spend the day laughing. Just remember to take a little time out for yourself too.

Please try not to worry. This year will be different but it’s also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to focus on the most important traditions and to reinvent the rest! Try to embrace the differences this year, be grateful for what you have, and take comfort in the fact that there’s no pressure this year other than to spend quality time with your children.

At Schoolhouse Daycare, we enjoy learning, encouraging confidence and we love life! If you think your child would enjoy life at Schoolhouse, then please do not hesitate to arrange a visit.

Need more help or advice? Find more from us here:

• 18 Creative Gift Ideas to Save You Money at Christmas
• How You Can Strengthen Family Relationships in the New Year
• 10 Fun Winter Activities To Do with Your Little Ones
• The Best 20-Minute Activities to Keep Your Children Entertained

The post How to have more happiness with less this Christmas appeared first on Schoolhouse Day Care.

1. Hot Lava

The floor is hot lava and you can’t step on it! This game involves a lot of jumping around on objects that are strewn around the room. Pick certain things that you don’t mind the children stepping on such as couch cushions and blankets, and you’ve got yourself a cost-effective, energy-burning game!

2. Scavenger hunt

Scavenger hunts don’t have to be elaborate (although treasure hunts are cool!), they just have to be fun. Some of the best indoor activities can be scavenger hunts that have been put together last minute. Children find any games fun, such as ‘find everything downstairs that is round’ or ‘find a yellow object in every room.’

3. Old school games

Children love learning old school games like hopscotch, so create an outline of hopscotch together. You can use tape if you want to do it indoors or colourful chalk if you want to do it outside. Either way, it’s a fun activity to do together and there’s lots of jumping to make everyone tired.

4. Build a fort

Who doesn’t love making a fort? Some of the best indoor activities involve making forts out of household objects such as empty cardboard boxes or couch cushion and bedsheets, just try it and ask your children afterwards! This is such a great activity to do together as you can keep it up for a while after and act out stories or camp in the living room.

5. Mix up the usual routine

If you are too tired one day, why not just make the usual routine longer? You have the time and it gets dark earlier! This can be as simple as letting your kids have a longer bath or making it more fun for them by breaking some glow sticks and having a glow in the dark bath. When it comes to bedtime, how about getting the whole family in bed to read a chapter together every night?

6. Bust out the board games

We all have some board games stored somewhere in the house, so why not get them out and have a few fun and competitive hours together. Whether you have Cluedo, hungry hippos, mousetrap, battleships, snakes and ladders, twister, or even just a jigsaw puzzle, there is nothing like this kind of quality time as a family.

7. Camp in the living room

This is a great family activity and it can easily last all day. From setting up the tent and sleeping bags to watching films, having a picnic, and sleeping in it overnight, camping indoors is a fun and easy activity to entertain the little ones.

8. Crazy obstacle course

Building an obstacle course doesn’t take much time, but it can provide hours of fun until everyone is completely burnt out. Get creative when you build your course. You can outline a track where your children have to crawl under blankets and hop over pillows, you can even set up areas where they have to do a certain activity (such as bowl over a certain amount of objects before they can move on). If you have older children, keep them engaged by tying them together with a younger sibling so they have to work together to complete the course.

9. Play hide-and-seek

One of the best indoor activities has to be hide-and-seek. It is a family favourite after all. As well as being fun for all ages, hide-and-seek allows you to spend some time as a family making memories. You can mix it up too, by playing it in the dark or by allowing the hiders to move around the house!

10. Bring nature inside

It’s getting cold outside and we can’t do much anyway with the current Covid restrictions, so bring the outside indoors! Why not bring piles of leaves or sticks inside and try and make some arts and crafts with them? If it snows, gather some in buckets and let your children experiment with spatulas, measuring cups, and their fingers. Although this will need to be cleaned up, messy play is very stimulating and is important for a child’s development!

11. Bowling

Out of the best indoor activities, bowling is quite a good one. You can buy a soft indoor bowling set or set up your own skittles with pop cans, toilet rolls or empty washing up liquid bottles. Whatever you have, get creative and see how many everyone can knock over.

12. Movie marathon

Having a movie marathon is a great indoor activity to have when it’s cold or raining outside. Take in turns to choose the film and make it a cosy activity by pulling the couch forward and bringing out lots of blankets.

Tip: If you have high-energy children that find it difficult to settle for long periods, then consider exhausting the list of physical activities first before moving on to this one!

13. Arts and crafts

What’s great about arts and crafts is that you can get creative with anything and children love getting messy! All you have to do for this one is to cover the table with newspapers or a plastic sheet and then bring out the arts and crafts. You may have bought some paint or you may have certain materials and fabrics that your children can use, but if you don’t, you can try baking and decorating instead.

14. Make chores fun

Having the children home a lot these past few months has meant that parents have had to get even more creative with what ‘fun’ means. We’re talking about – making chores fun! It is possible, and if you have a lot to do around the house, it’s a win-win for everyone. Children love to get involved so give them certain task and challenges to do every day. You can load the dishwasher together, hang the washing up, or tidy their bedrooms, just think of ways that you can make it into a game and you’ll have some keen little helpers.

15. Makeshift playroom 

Do you have a garage or a spare room that you can convert into a temporary playroom while your children are indoors? If you have any outdoor toys that be used indoors, wash them off and utilise your garage space for playing. If you have to work from home, then move all your children’s toys into the spare room so they can play and not disturb you. Your kids can really get active if they have space to draw with chalk, roller-skate, skip, play basketball, or throw a ball around, so work with what you have.

When in doubt, ask your children what they want to do

Here are some of our best indoor activities to get you through the next few months. If you don’t find everything you need here or you are still worried about keeping your children entertained, then don’t forget to ask them what they want to do. Ask them what they enjoy doing or what they can come up with and you may just be surprised!

At Schoolhouse Daycare, we enjoy learning, encouraging confidence and we love life! If you think your child would enjoy life at Schoolhouse, then please do not hesitate to arrange a visit.

Need more help or advice? Find more from us here:

• The Best 20-Minute Activities to Keep Your Kids Entertained
• How to Create a Daily Routine that Works for Your Family
• How to Encourage Your Child to Get Involved
• 20 Activities to Keep Your Children Entertained During Lockdown

The post 15 energy-burning activities for children stuck indoors appeared first on Schoolhouse Day Care.

Unless you are a superhero parent with multiple arms and a renewable amount of energy, I’m sure that the answer to both of these questions is a resounding “Yes.”

Whether you want some peace and quiet to unload the dishwasher, clean up the kitchen after dinner or just to sit down with a cup of tea by yourself, here are numerous go-to activities that you can have on hand to keep your little ones entertained.

12 go-to activities for children

1. Playdough

Let your children’s imaginations run wild and allow them to explore the feeling of playdough as they manipulate it to make special shapes. Throw in some cookie cutters, a rolling pin and other household objects and you have a fun-filled activity that will last more than 20 minutes!

2. Slime

There are not many things more fun than playing with containers full of slime. Younger children love to explore the feel of it while older children like to create slime-filled scenes with other toys. (not suitable for under 3’s)

3. Sticker books

Young children love sticker books especially when they can create pictures themselves such as funny faces. Sticker books are perfect distractions for short periods.

4. Hidden picture books

A perfect 20-minute activity for the 5+ age group as hidden picture books take focus. You can stow away a few different picture books for a rainy day such as the good old “Where’s Wally?” and your children will love the distraction.

5. Water wow books

If you want to entertain your little ones for a short period, simply fill up a painting pen with water and let them colour the pages of their water wow books. When they do so, vibrant pictures will be revealed until they dry again just 5-minutes later.

6. Water beads

Not only are they extremely inexpensive, but they are also incredibly fun too! You buy them as tiny little sprinkles and once you let them sit in water, they expand to the size of jelly beans. These are great fun and perfect for tactile learning. (supervision required for under 3’s)

7. Water colouring

Watercolours are a great minimal-mess alternative to arts and crafts and painting. Not only that but they are easy to set-up, quick to tidy away, and they will stimulate your children’s creativity for the time being.

8. Building blocks/supplies

Building supplies such as Lego, magnet tiles or wooden blocks can keep your little ones entertained for hours as they are only limited by their imaginations. If you want to, you can also create your own supply kit of junk modelling by collecting items such as toilet paper rolls, coffee filters, adhesive tape, and stickers etc.

9. Art supplies box

Similarly to the building supplies box, create your own art supplies box for your children to experiment with. Items such as cardboard, glitter pens, tape, felt, pipe cleaners, and ribbon are perfect.

10. Sensory bins

Sensory bins are great for stimulating creativity, innovation, and critical thinking. With this activity, you can get creative too! For the Winter, create a snow sensory bin and fill it with snow, small shovels, cups and toys. You can even fill squirt guns with dilute food colouring too so that they can paint the snow.

11. Gel window clings

A perfect 20-minute activity whether in the house or travelling in the car. You can get all kinds of gel window clings and let your child create different scenes.

12. Temporary race track

A super easy activity for your children when you need some time alone is to give them rolls of painter’s tape. They can transform the floor into a race track, taking time to design their city and playing until their hearts are content.

Tips to remember!

To get the most out of your 20-minute activities or to create your own, it’s useful to keep these three things in mind:

1) Keep these activities separate from the ‘everyday toys’ – have a draw in the kitchen or a box in one of the cupboards reserved just for these activities that you need when you need 20-minutes to yourself.

2) Rotate the activities – that way, they won’t lose their appeal and you’ll be met with excitement every time you bring them out.

3) Make sure these activities are quick to set up – this just makes your life so much easier!

You deserve some quiet time

As parents, we always have a lot to do and sometimes we just need our quiet time. By having these 12 20-minute activities to hand, you can always make sure that the children are stimulated and entertained while you enjoy no interruptions.

At Schoolhouse Daycare, we enjoy learning, encouraging confidence and we love life! If you think your child would enjoy life at Schoolhouse, then please do not hesitate to arrange a visit.

Need more help or advice? Find more from us here:

• A Parent’s Survival Guide to the Summer Holidays
• The Secret to Throwing a Kid’s Party on a Budget
• Age Appropriate Chores for Children to Help Them Learn Valuable Life Skills
• The Best Inside Activities for High Energy Kids

The post The Best 20-Minute Activities to Keep Your Children Entertained appeared first on Schoolhouse Day Care.

Although we don’t have the magic answer to make this time of year completely effortless and stress-free, we do have some essential tips that will make it easier. Yes, you will still have to juggle work and fun whilst attempting to hold on to your sanity as you try to organise who can look after the children, BUT this guide will help you survive it!

Step 1: plan and prepare!

Like with most things in life, preparation is key. To prepare for the 6 weeks that are looming ahead, print a calendar of the two months and start planning. Which weeks, if any, are you going on holiday? Which days or weeks can you and your significant other book off? Which days or weeks are family members or friends available to help? When you lay everything out and you know where you are, you will find that the stress will lessen. Tip: the sooner you do this the better!

Step 2: get creative with childcare arrangements

Many parents have to both work during the summer holidays, so this calls for creativity in the childcare department. If you don’t want to burden grandparents too much, ask around the schoolyard to see if you can arrange playdates with parents. Maybe you have a friend that works from home and is willing to help out? If you’re really stuck for support, how about finding a summer camp that your child would love?

Step 3: be ready to combat boredom

“I’m bored” are the two most dreaded words that a parent can hear, especially if it follows hours of entertainment, so be ready for it! As a lot of activities that we suggest to our children sound ‘boring’ in this digital age, why not get them to come up with their own activities so that they can create their own boredom jar? That way, when they say those scary words, you can encourage them to dip into the jar without looking and voila! That will be the activity that they have to do.

Step 4: make long journeys as fun as possible

If the summer holidays involve a few long drives, challenge yourself to never hear the words “are we there yet?” Believe it or not, this is possible! With snacks, books, and a trusty iPad and earphones, you can get through the longest of journeys stress-free. Arm yourself with a few games and sing-a-longs to their favourite soundtracks and you’ll be laughing!

Step 5: leave time to be spontaneous

While planning and preparation are key to survival, leaving room for spontaneity is key to making magical memories. Don’t worry too much about days where you don’t have plans as these are often the times where you come up with activities to do ‘just because.’ Things like a water fight in the garden or turning the living room into a den for a movie night can end up being the moments that will be remembered forever.

Being away from home or thrust out of your normal family routine can be incredibly stressful, but with planning and preparation far in advance, you can make it through. Need ideas for fun things to do? Check out our blogs 10 Things to Do with Your Children Over the Summer Holidays and The Best Inside Activities for High Energy Kids.

At Schoolhouse Daycare, we enjoy learning, encouraging confidence and we love life! If you think your child would enjoy life at Schoolhouse, then please do not hesitate to arrange a visit.

Need more help or advice? Find more from us here:

• Age Appropriate Chores for Children to Help Them Learn Valuable Life Skills
• The Secrets to Handling Toddler Tantrums like a Pro
• How to Choose the Best Educational Toys: the Ultimate Guide for Parents
• 5 Reasons Why Messy Play Is Important and Benefits Children

The post A Parent’s Survival Guide to the Summer Holidays appeared first on Schoolhouse Day Care.