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Activities for Children, Birds, Children, Nature Activities

Simple Bird Feeders – A Fun & Worthwhile Activity for Children

One fantastic way to encourage children to connect with nature from an early age is by making homemade bird feeders. It’s a hugely popular activity amongst children of all ages, so today’s post is all about how to get started with your child. Although bird feeders can be made at any time of the year, the activity is perfectly suited to the winter and early spring. At this time, wild birds like robins, blackbirds, doves, and sparrows are really struggling to find food. And, with World Wildlife Day arriving in the first week of March, it’s very timely. Take a look!

Why Make Bird Feeders with Your Child?

Making bird feeders is a wonderful way to nurture children’s curiosity, creativity, and understanding of the natural world that’s just outside their door. The activity is also a great way to introduce children to the importance of caring for wildlife, which often struggles to survive in the coldest months of the year. As well as helping wild birds survive, making homemade bird feeders will bring delightful birds closer and provide an enjoyable and educational experience for children. Through this hands-on activity, they will soon learn about different types of birds, what they eat, and how we can help them thrive. It’s also a fantastic opportunity to encourage fine motor skills, sensory exploration, and a love of the outdoors.

Easy Bird Feeder Ideas for Children

Our suggestions below will give parents/carers some ideas for the kind of bird feeders children can make. However, they should be undertaken under appropriate adult supervision, paying close attention to safety, well-being, and allergies, etc*. Some of the bird feeder ideas are extremely simple, while others offer greater potential for creativity. Take a look and see what may be suitable for your child.

Pine Cone Bird Feeder

What You’ll Need:
- A large, dry pine cone
- Some string or garden twine
- Peanut butter (or suet for a nut-free alternative)
- Some birdseed
- A shallow dish or bowl

Instructions:
Tie a piece of string securely around the top of the pine cone to create a hanger. Then, let your child spread peanut butter all over the pine cone using a spoon or butter knife. Next, roll the sticky pine cone in a tray of birdseed until it is fully coated. Once completely covered in birdseed, hang it outside on a tree branch or hook and watch as birds come to enjoy their treats!

Monkey Nut Garland Feeder

What You’ll Need:
- Monkey nuts (unroasted peanuts in their outer shells)
- A darning needle (for adult use only) …
- Or children can use a spent matchstick to make the holes
- Strong thread or relatively thin string

Instructions:
Carefully thread the string through the outer shell of the monkey nuts, tying knots if needed to keep them spaced apart. Once you have a long garland, either tie the ends together to form a loop that can be suspended vertically or attach each end to stretch them horizontally between branches of twigs on a tree or bush. Once birds are used to the new addition to the garden, watch as blue tits, great tits and others enjoy cracking open the shells!

Recycled Carton Feeder

What You’ll Need:
- A clean, empty milk or juice carton
- Scissors (to be used by adults only for the youngest children)
- Some string or garden twine
- Some birdseed
- Markers, stickers, or non-toxic paint for decoration

Instructions:
Cut out one or more large holes on the sides of the carton to create openings (adults should do this part for younger children). Thread can be attached at the top – try trapping it under the lid or get an adult to thread it through a hole. Let your child decorate the feeder with paint, stickers, or non-toxic markers. Fill the carton up to the opening(s) with birdseed and hang it up in your garden or balcony.

Plastic Bottle Bird Feeder

What You’ll Need:
- A clean, empty clear plastic water bottle
- Scissors or a knife (to be used only by an adult)
- Some string or garden twine
- Two wooden spoons or sticks (optional)
- Some birdseed

Instructions:
There are a few options for this type of bird feeder, as indicated in the photo examples. Either way, small feeding holes or ‘hatches’ will need to be cut (by a supervising adult) as openings. Optionally, cut small holes on opposite sides of the bottle and insert wooden spoons or sticks through them to create perches. Fill the bottle with birdseed and tie a string to hang it outside. Watch as birds land on the perches and enjoy their treats!

Apple Bird Feeder

What You’ll Need:
- An apple
- Some string …
- or a garden cane or stake
- That’s it!

Instructions:
Expose some of an apple’s sides by removing some of the skin. Then, either attach string through (or around) the apple and hang it from a branch outside, or push a stick into it (carefully aimed away from you in case it goes right through) and push the other end into the ground. Watch as birds peck away at the tasty treat! Blackbirds, in particular, love apples!

Which Bird Food is Best?

There is a huge variety of bird food on the market and it can therefore be difficult to know which type to purchase. While there are many ready-made ‘birdseed’ mixes available, we have found that many types of harder seeds within such mixes go to waste as they are not eaten. So, what’s best?

Our personal favourite and key recommendation is sunflower hearts. These are the little kernels inside sunflower seeds and the good news is that by buying them as sunflower ‘hearts’, birds don’t need to remove the shells. Robins, blackbirds, doves, dunnocks, bluetits, great tits and pigeons love them! They’re generally inexpensive, in our experience, and are available widely, including in supermarkets.
Wild bird ‘suet balls’ are also a huge hit with garden birds, whether put into commercial suet ball ‘cage’ feeders, suspended on s string, or crushed up to put into children’s homemade bird feeders. They’re available widely, including in most supermarkets, and birds love them! However, ensure they are made from proper suet, which should feel rather hard and be crumbly when crushed, not soft and malleable.
Bird-safe peanuts (unroasted) are another obvious option and are popular with birds. However, they present a choking hazard, so keep them away from young children and supervise closely if you do use them. Note too that they are a choking hazard for chicks and fledgling birds that are around in Spring and early Summer. So, if you do decide to use peanuts, it’s best to crush or chop them into tiny pieces (Mum or Dad should help with that part) so they’re more easily eaten and the potential choking aspect minimised. Also, inspect peanuts for signs of mould (e.g. dark dots or flour-like dust) before putting them out for birds because mould can make birds ill — or even prove fatal.

As a side note, we think feeding mealworms is a bit mean (to the mealworms), so we don’t recommend that. With so many other foods available, there really is no need for mealworms to have to suffer in our view. Perhaps that’s a potential lesson in empathy and responsibility for children to learn from too.

What Birds Might You Spot?

Once your bird feeder is in place, keep an eye out for common garden birds. Typically, birds that are attracted to bird feeders in gardens include robins, bluetits, sparrows, and dunnocks although it does depend on what food you put out for them. Children are also likely to see larger birds like blackbirds, doves, pigeons, magpies and even crows, as they are likely to scavenge underneath for seeds that have dropped from the feeders. To help children identify which birds visit, ensure you have printed out our free bird-spotting identification sheet for your child. It features 40 British birds that children can try to spot. Children can tick them off, using the included tick boxes, as each one is spotted. It’s a great way to add extra interest and learn to recognise different species.

Final Thoughts

Making bird feeders is a wonderful way to help wildlife while also providing a fun and educational activity for children. It’s a chance to get creative, develop new skills, and foster a love for nature that can last a lifetime. What’s more, spending time in and around nature is incredibly beneficial to children (and adults!). So, why not give this incredibly worthwhile activity a try this weekend and see which birds come to visit? Have fun and happy bird feeding!

Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham

The Natural Choice for Childcare in Padiham, Lancashire

Little Acorns is a first-class nursery in Padiham, Lancashire. Here, children are given a wonderful start in a warm, homely environment with caring staff and a curriculum that brings out the best in them. As well as fabulous indoor facilities, children can enjoy our lovely garden where they can explore the wild zone and get close to nature under the care of our childcare practitioners. It’s a wonderful childcare setting that supports funded childcare through free, government-backed childcare schemes for eligible children as young as just 9 months and right up to children aged 3 and 4. To learn more, arrange a visit with your child, call us, message us, or apply for a place today. We’ll be delighted to meet you!

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

As a nursery and preschool in Padiham, we may also be a convenient choice for families in Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End.

*Safety Tips to Keep in Mind

Always supervise young children when using scissors, peanut butter, or small items that could pose a choking hazard.
Make sure bird feeders are securely fastened to prevent them falling and hurting birds or children.
Choose bird-friendly ingredients with no added sugar or salt.
Wash hands after handling birdseed or peanut butter to maintain hygiene.
Be mindful of bird food ingredients if your child has allergies, for example nuts.

28 February 2025/by Mark

Why Every Child Should Learn to Play a Musical Instrument

Activities for Children, Children, Early Years Education, Learning & Development, Parenting, Playing Musical Instruments, Preschoolers, Toddlers, Under-fives

Why Every Child Should Learn a Musical Instrument

Even the youngest children seem to have an affinity towards playing a musical instrument. Put any child in front of a piano, guitar, or drum, or hand them a tambourine or shaker and they’ll immediately engage in generating sound and rhythm. It seems to be instinctive and children find music-making almost compelling — and great fun to boot. What’s more, children seem naturally keen to become better at playing instruments and, in time, to be able to play a recognisable tune. With that being the case, it’s often very easy to encourage them to take lessons, whether formally or informally, often leading to a lifelong vocational skill. What many parents may not know, however, is just how beneficial learning to play musical instruments is to little ones. Indeed, learning to play benefits them in often profound ways and that’s what we take a look at in today’s post.

The Educational Benefits of Learning a Musical Instrument

It Boosts Reading Skills

When children play a musical instrument, learning to read music is a natural progression. Although it is communicated using different symbols, reading music is akin to reading words in a book. There is a flow from one side of the page to the other, every detail needs to be taken into consideration, and the left side of the brain is doing the work. Indeed, the left side of the brain controls reasoning and processes language. Whether reading music or words, each mark means something and communicates something to the reader. As such, children who learn to read music and do so regularly may find that it also helps them to read words in books.

It Enhances Mathematical Skills

Music is deeply linked to mathematics and indeed one of the first things children will learn when playing or learning music is to count the beats in a bar. Music, they will discover, is a real-life, tangible, application of maths. There are notes that last a full beat, two beats, fractions of a beat and so on. So, when children learn a musical instrument and play musical pieces, they also get a mathematical workout for their brains.

Playing Music Supports the EYFS Curriculum

As well as helping with mathematics and reading, playing a musical instrument helps children in other areas of the EYFS curriculum. Creativity, communication, personal and social development, and understanding the world are all supported through the endeavour. It’s a powerful skill to master.

The Physiological Benefits of Learning a Musical Instrument

It Aids Cognitive Development

Learning to play a musical instrument and read music requires thought, deep concentration, and analysis. All such activity is great exercise for a child’s developing brain. It gets synapses firing, helps in the development of new connections, and truly enhances cognitive development. It’s rather like a multi-gym for the brain!

It Helps Boost Motor & Coordination Skills

Learning to play musical instruments also requires fine control over movement and good coordination. Practising helps children hone such skills, with the brain learning how to coordinate hand-eye movements and the coordination of the hand, finger and arm movements needed for successful playing.

Music Improves Listening Skills

Good listening skills are incredibly important in life, particularly during childhood. When they listen attentively, children will learn far more deeply. Playing a musical instrument, learning to read music, and analysing music and rhythm naturally encourage children to listen closely. By doing so, they’ll catch on to the small details as well as the overall picture. And, by practising deeply focused listening, they will naturally become more adept at it in their day-to-day lives, at school, and later as adults in business. Indeed, active listening is one of the most powerful tools for any consultant to master.

The Social Benefits of Learning a Musical Instrument

It Can Boost Children’s Social Circles

When children learn to play a musical instrument, collaboration is a natural next step. Whether joining a band, writing songs as part of a team, or playing in the school orchestra, such collaboration is a fabulous way for children to make new friends and acquaintances. Through making music, their friendship circles will naturally grow and that’s a wonderful benefit.

A Boost to Interpersonal Skills

Such musical collaboration also boosts interpersonal skills. Examples include leadership, teamwork, cooperation, support, problem-solving, speaking, debating, persuasion, good manners, and more. These are transferable skills that will stand them in good stead as they grow older and move from nursery, through school and perhaps higher education, right into adulthood.

A Window to the World

There are a myriad of different styles and types of music. Many have roots in specific cultures or perhaps stem from particular countries and this is often easy to recognise. Because of this, music can spark children’s imaginations and allow them to be transported to faraway places. So, through widening their knowledge of music, children can get a glimpse into different cultures, religions, countries and societies. It really can expand their view of the world and the people within it.

The Personal Benefits of Learning a Musical Instrument

It Boosts Well-Being

Music is almost magical in its ability to set moods. It can bring calm and reduce stress, for example. It can make us – and children – more meditative and reflective, more energetic and ‘pumped’, and anything in between. It can and often does lift our spirits too. It’s a wonderful way for children to experience and even change emotions and, when chosen appropriately, is good for their well-being.

It Facilitates Self-Expression

Playing music on an instrument, composing melodies, and writing songs are fabulous ways for children to express themselves. Music is a great vehicle for their creativity and allows them to express feelings and emotions in ways that may simply be impossible through any other medium. It’s also worth noting that there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ type of music; it’s so subjective that children can make it sound however they deem fit; it’s entirely their choice and that’s likely to be something that’s welcomed in early childhood.

It Boosts Children’s Confidence

Children get a great sense of achievement when they learn a skill like playing a musical instrument. Positive feedback from peers solidifies this and children’s self-confidence and self-esteem will receive a boost as a result. That can only be a good thing and one that will encourage them to continue improving or even attempt additional new skills.

It Teaches the Benefits of Tenacity

Learning that practising any skill will improve it is an important life lesson for any child. Playing a musical instrument is a great example and one that demonstrates the benefits of perseverance to improve outcomes. Through striving to learn to play an instrument, they’ll discover the positive effects of trial and error, patience, persistence, and an unwavering focus to their efforts. As they’ll see, the results from such endeavours are transformative. What’s more, the same approach can also be used to enhance other areas of their learning.

Playing a Musical Instrument is a Delight!

The results attainable from learning to play a musical instrument are nothing short of life-changing in many ways. Playing music, or listening to an instrument played well, are amongst life’s great delights. What’s more, it’s all great fun for children. They’ll often love performing their new skill. They’ll feel empowered and they’ll enjoy spending time with the friends they’ve made during the process.

Start Them Early!

Even the youngest of children will take pleasure from shaking a homemade shaker, beating a box or drum, or jangling a tambourine. Such things are great starting points to introduce little ones to musical instruments. They can later progress to more advanced instruments like ocarinas, recorders, keyboards, guitars and so on.

Mozart was 3 when he started learning piano, 5 when he wrote his first concerto, and 6 when he began performing at the imperial court.

Encouragement from parents or from a relative who can play is worth its weight in gold too, and may even help fast-track a child’s musical learning. What’s most important, though, is to give every child the chance to try this hugely beneficial and enjoyable opportunity. Music can potentially open children’s worlds to a whole new host of possibilities. It could even lead to a career in music, performance, production, or the creative industries.

Little Acorns Nursery & Preschool, Padiham

At Little Acorns Nursery, we know how beneficial learning to play an instrument is for under fives. Indeed, children at this Padiham nursery have multiple opportunities for making sounds, tapping out rhythms, and making music of some kind — along with a whole host of other sensory and creative activities. Such activities are hugely beneficial and, what’s more, the children thoroughly enjoy them. We therefore hope parents and carers can encourage children to continue their musical journey when at home. Music making is so good for them — and who knows what heights it could take them to!

If you’d like to learn more about a nursery place for your child at Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham, please get in touch. We support all the childcare funding schemes on offer to eligible families, making it more affordable to Lancashire families. We may also be a convenient childcare choice for families nearby in Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End. Simply choose a button to get started:

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

29 January 2025/by Mark

Activities for Children, Activities for Kids, Children, Halloween Activities, Padiham, Parenting, Preschoolers, Under-fives

Fun Halloween Activities for Under-5s

Let’s get ready for some fun Halloween activities for our under-5s — as well as for older children. Children of all ages are naturally drawn to the unique imagery, fun activities, and spookiness of Halloween.

Halloween arrives on the 31st of October each year. Although its original roots were tied to ancient festivals including the celebration of All Hallows’ Eve, it’s generally celebrated simply as a fun night for children nowadays. With that in mind, today’s post is designed to give children’s parents or carers some great ideas for Halloween activities for little ones. These are great opportunities not only for fun but also for getting creative and socialising — great activities to stimulate young minds and grow skills.

Spooky Fun

Take a look at some of the activity ideas below, which should make Halloween extra fun for children. At the time of writing, there’s still plenty of time to prepare and make this year’s Halloween spooktacular!

Picking Pumpkins

A simple but fun activity for children in the run-up to Halloween is to pick pumpkins. Whether it’s simply a case of visiting a local garden centre or store to choose a pumpkin from a themed display, or visiting a local farm where children can search for a favourite pumpkin in fields laden with them, it’s great fun for little ones. Children are sure to enjoy choosing from the usually huge array of different sizes and shapes.

If you’re in the Padiham area during October, there are usually several nearby places where children can get outdoors to search often extensive fields full to the brim with beautiful pumpkins and gourds. Try Googling ‘Pumpkin patches in (your area)’ or keeping your eyes open for local pumpkin patches being advertised. Lancashire families can also discover some Lancashire pumpkin patches here, including several close by in places like Simonstone and Clayton-le-Dale. Note, however, that you may need to book in advance for some venues.

Pumpkin Carving & Lantern-Making

Once your child has a pumpkin or other gourd, it’s almost imperative that it’s carved (by a supervising adult) and made into what Americans call a Jack-O’-Lantern. Many families will be totally familiar with these, typically being a hollowed-out pumpkin with eyes, a nose, and a mouth — or indeed other kinds of design as indicated in the accompanying image. Children can be involved in the design, painting with paint if going that route, and perhaps spooning out the inside flesh (keep for later; see the food and drink section below). However, any cutting will be too dangerous for little ones, so should be done only by an adult. It’s the same with the next step, which is lighting a candle or tea light to put inside once it’s dark. The pumpkin lanterns can then be placed outdoors for neighbours and friends to see and the children themselves will find these fascinating once night falls. They make for a great atmosphere and a bit of spookiness!

Decorating the House With a Halloween Theme

Children will also love spreading the Halloween theme around the house. This activity is made easy by purchasing inexpensive Halloween decorations that are available commercially in places like supermarkets each October. Whether it’s cotton spider webs, complete with pretend black spiders, that can be strung from picture frames, furniture or across ornaments, little LED strung lanterns that have a Halloween theme, or glow-in-the-dark plastic skulls, ghosts, or pumpkins, there are a myriad of fun decorations that children can use to theme bedrooms and living rooms. It all makes for a very spooky and fun atmosphere come Halloween.

It’s also possible for children and families to create their own Halloween-themed decorations, with a bit of imagination. Stretched-out cotton wool can mimic spiders’ webs, for example. Children can get creative and make cut-out (with adult help for the youngest) spiders, bats, and suchlike to put on and around such webs. Children can paint oranges with faces to represent mini pumpkin Jack-O’-Lanterns, or even string these together into themed garlands. They can get involved in making Halloween-themed decorated biscuits or cookies too, which we’ll come to next.

Making Halloween Food & Drink

Parents/carers can help children make, or simply decorate, Halloween-themed biscuits. See the photo to get an idea of how they can be baked and painted to represent wonderful ghosts, spider webs, bats and more. These are attractive as well as being great fun for little ones to get involved with, under supervision. What’s more, they can be eaten and are often delicious!

Earlier in this article we mentioned pumpkin carving. Well, all that pumpkin flesh can serve another purpose too, so there’s no need for it to go to waste. Children can help parents make it into pumpkin soup, having first discarded any seeds, or else kept them to perhaps plant outdoors if your family has an allotment. Pumpkin soup is delicious, particularly if you follow a good recipe, and highly nutritious.

Getting Creative With Halloween Costumes & Fancy Dress

One of children’s favourite Halloween activities is dressing up. Children, including those under five, love to put on themed costumes to become a ghost, witch, wizard, spider, skeleton or character from a film like Harry Potter. Even better is when their friends, neighbours or siblings join in and they can each compare outfits and get into character. “Boo!” they may shout, or perhaps they’ll cast pretend spells and ‘fly’ on makeshift broomsticks. It’s all great fun!

Outfits can be purchased, often inexpensively, online or through supermarkets when Halloween is approaching. Alternatively, children can get creative and make their own. A white sheet with suitable holes cut for eyes is perfect for a ghost outfit. Black material or capes are a great start for a witch or wizard outfit and pointy hats can be made, perhaps with a bit of help from adults, from cardboard and then painted black or covered with black tissue paper. Any number of different outfits can be made, in fact, and all that’s needed is imagination, the right materials, and a bit of time. Children’s creativity will be stimulated and they’ll get a great feeling of accomplishment once the fancy dress outfits are complete.

Host a Halloween-themed Party

All of the above activities can be combined when children throw a Halloween party for friends and/or neighbours. It’s all the more fun when other children come along in their own themed outfits. Together, children can play games, get into character, listen to spooky music, eat homemade Halloween-themed food and drinks, and have a wonderful time. Not only are parties fun but they also deepen bonds and help little children strengthen social skills. It’s all hugely creative too.

If you’re the organiser, don’t forget the option of party bags for children to take home once the party is over. These could be filled with suitably-themed stickers, plastic spiders and bats, perhaps some Halloween cookies and so on. A note of caution, though: watch out for allergens for anyone affected by them and be mindful of potential choking hazards.

Trick or Treat?

Part of the party could involve, perhaps, a ‘trick or treat’ session around the neighbourhood — under close supervision of one or more adults, of course. Children get great glee from this tradition, which often results in the bonus of lots of goodies to take home and sweets to eat (… and it’s only once a year) or perhaps a light-hearted, though often hilarious ‘scare’, should a neighbour decide to go with the ‘trick’ option.

If organising a trick-or-treat session, do pre-warn neighbours so those who would rather opt out have the option to.

Little Acorns Nursery – for High-Quality Childcare Services in Padiham, Lancashire

We hope these ideas today help to make your children’s Halloween night fun and memorable — and to get their imaginations and creative juices truly flowing. Have fun this Halloween and, while there’s time, our advice is to plan ahead to make the most of it.

Today’s activity ideas were brought to you by Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham, Lancashire. We provide a high-quality ‘early years’ childcare service for babies and children under five near Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End.

Contact Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham, to register your child for a nursery place, ask any questions, or request a free guided visit with your child:

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

30 September 2024/by Mark

The Incredible Power of Reading With Children Under 5

Activities for Children, Children, Early Years Education, Learning & Development, Parenting, Preschoolers, Reading, Toddlers, Under-fives

The Incredible Power of Reading With Under-5s

Parents and caregivers have a simple yet incredibly powerful tool at their disposal to significantly boost the education of children under five: reading with them. In study after study, this simple activity has been shown to transform a child’s early years of education, giving children short-, medium-, and long-term benefits that even extend into adulthood. With that in mind, we take a look today at the many benefits and incredible power of reading with children, especially those under five.

Read with children, not just to them for the most positive impact.

That’s important as the most profound benefits to children come about when you read with them rather than just to them. It’s a case of involving and immersing them in the reading, which can be done in a variety of different ways to make it more interactive. We’ll explain more about how parents can do that later in this article*. First, though, let’s take a look at the benefits of reading with under-fives.

What Are Some of the Benefits of Reading With Your Child?

It turns out that reading with little ones punches well above its weight when it comes to enhancing young lives. In a nutshell, some of the key benefits of reading with children include significantly improved cognitive, emotional, and social development. Indeed, some of the benefits of reading with children are simply transformational. Even social mobility is improved because of reading with children in some circumstances. Let’s take a closer look.

Cognitive Benefits

When you read to them, the cognitive benefits to children are profound and this is backed-up by findings from multiple studies. The benefits include improved memory, problem-solving, logical thinking, and memory skills. Even children’s attention spans are seen to improve when parents regularly read with them.

A Long-Term Academic Performance Boost

What’s more, many of these benefits are long-term ones and this means they positively impact children’s academic performance throughout all the school years and even beyond. This results in better grades, a wider choice of further education choices later on, and even career and income advantages once they become adults. That’s all accomplished simply through the act of reading with children in their early years — it’s incredible!

Reading with children in their early years encourages good reading habits and a natural love for learning.

A Social Mobility Boost

You can see why the above benefits can go on to improve the quality of lives once children reach adulthood. Indeed, studies have produced some remarkable findings in that regard. Several have found a strong link between children regularly reading with adults in the early years and improved socio-economic mobility later in life. This boost is even more prominent in children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. So, reading with children is a great way to level the playing field and improve outcomes right into adulthood.

Emotional Benefits

Books are great vehicles through which children can glimpse and immerse themselves into different situations. For example, through reading books, they’ll learn about different characters, their successes and perhaps their struggles. As such, they’ll learn to see things from the point of view of others. This is a great way to nurture emotional intelligence in children, boost feelings of empathy, and better understand the feelings of others. This will be particularly important for their interactions with peers, friends and surrounding adults.

Supercharged Creativity

Books are a wonderful conduit to greater creativity in children. When adults read with young children and older children read solo, it opens up whole new worlds, situations, and characters to them. Through stimulation of their imaginations, they can see new possibilities, be inspired to create in different ways within their own writing and arts, and significantly boost creative skills.

Enhanced Language Skills

One of the biggest winners when reading with children is the boost to their language skills. Indeed, a 4-decade study (∞) saw a massive 20% boost in such skills when adults regularly read with them. For the children studied, the average age was just 3 years and 3 months, meaning their language skills were boosted by the equivalent of about 8 months. That’s an enormous boost at such a young age. Receptive language (understanding), expressive language (verbal use of grammar and vocabulary), children’s understanding of word structure, and pre-reading skills especially benefited from early years reading with a parent or adult caregiver. Such skills lay wonderful foundations that will help children excel across multiple areas of education.

And Much More

The benefits outlined above are really just the tip of the iceberg. As well as these, additional benefits include allowing a closer bond to develop between the parent/caregiver and the child, greater comprehension of the world, a wider knowledge of multiple subjects, better self-expression, and social skills that are enhanced because of children’s improved vocabulary, understanding, and knowledge.

* How to Involve Under-5s When Reading

The best results from reading with children will come when you make it interactive, engaging and fun to ensure they are involved. If children are to get the most from reading, it’s important to read with them. That’s all about making it interactive, engaging and fun to ensure children are involved. There are a number of ways to accomplish this and doing so will be the key to them gaining the most benefit from the activity.

Bring the storyline to life by being animated when you read to under-fives. Gesticulate, speed up or slow down your reading to reflect what’s going on in the text and to give life to the story. Give characters different voices, and try accents and different tones to really bring characters and storylines to life. Use different volumes as appropriate to the story unfolding, whisper to give tension, shout when a character shouts, and make the story seem as real as possible. This will make the reading on your part, and the story from the child’s point of view, more fun. It’ll draw and retain children’s interest and engagement, so they immerse themselves and really listen.
Encourage your child’s interaction. Let them exclaim or answer characters, and ask them what they think may happen next, or what they might have done in that situation.
Whether the book is fiction or non-fiction, encourage questions; it’s a great way for children to learn.

By making reading more engaging, it will help improve comprehension, boost critical thinking skills, and stimulate children’s creativity.

As you can see, the benefits of reading with children in their early years are truly profound. Through reading, children are learning constantly, improving themselves in multiple areas, and setting amazing foundations for present and future success.

High-Quality Childcare & Early Years Education in Padiham

At Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham, Lancashire, we fully understand the importance of reading with children. It’s therefore one of the many tools used in the early years education of children under our care. At Little Acorns, we tailor the learning and development of every child to bring out the best in them across all areas of the curriculum. If you are a parent looking for a Padiham nursery for your child or a childcare nursery near Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham or Wood End, consider Little Acorns Nursery for your little one. To explore the possibilities, get in touch and we’ll be happy to answer questions, show you and your child around, or explain the next steps towards registering for a place.

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

30 July 2024/by Mark

Activities for Children, Butterflies, Children, Early Years Education, Learning & Development, Nature, Nature Activities

Little Citizen Scientists Wanted for the Big Butterfly Count

Calling all little citizen scientists — we need your help — and parents too! During part of July and early August the Big Butterfly Count takes place across the UK and the more children and families that take part, the better. All it needs to take is 15 minutes and taking part will help butterflies, daytime-flying moths and the conservation of nature and biodiversity in general. What’s more, it’s a free, enjoyable, educational, and hugely worthwhile activity for children and families to take part in. In today’s post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know in order to take part in 2024’s Big Butterfly Count. Little citizen scientists: get ready!

The Big Butterfly Count 2024

Starts: Friday 12th July
Ends: Sunday 4th August

What is the Big Butterfly Count All About?

The Big Butterfly Count is the world’s largest survey of butterflies. It takes place in Britain each year during the period when adult butterflies and daytime-flying moths are at their most prolific and active. These wonderful creatures are sadly threatened, with UK populations of many having plummeted over the last few decades.

“Right now, butterflies and moths are sending an SOS” (Butterfly Conservation)

The giant ‘citizen’ survey therefore aims to keep tabs on populations of particular species each year so that any changes in their numbers can be identified and any adverse issues affecting them identified. Only then can appropriate conservation measures be implemented to help them recover.

In addition, because butterflies and daytime-flying moths suffer from the same threats as other pollinators and wildlife (climate change, use of indiscriminate pesticides, habitat loss, etc.), trends in their populations can be used as a barometer for the state of wildlife, biodiversity, and nature in general.

So, if you and your little one(s) would like to take part and become citizen scientists, read on and we’ll explain the easy process of taking part.

“One of the great things about the Big Butterfly Count is that anyone can play their part, whether young or old.”

What You’ll Need

Families can use either the free app or ID sheet to identify butterflies and daytime-flying moths they spot. You’ll need a tiny bit of preparation, but it’s quick, free, and easy…

Either:

Download and print out the free butterfly reference sheet — here’s the butterfly ID chart for England (alternative charts are available for other languages and UK areas);

or:

For families with smartphones or tablets, download and use the Big Butterfly Count app — it’s free and also includes instructions and all the identification charts, links, and useful information you or your child will need to complete the task.

Choose a Location for your Butterfly Count

Before commencing your own butterfly count, you’ll need to identify a suitable location in which to do so. That could be your garden, local park, somewhere in the countryside, or simply somewhere like a hedgerow. Wherever it is, it will need to have flowers in bloom in order to attract butterflies and/or daytime-flying moths. And, of course, it needs to be safe, with any little ones having suitable adult supervision.

The Best Places to Spot Butterflies

You/your little one will want the best chance of spotting butterflies during the Big Butterfly Count. With that in mind, the following types of locations are likely to have the greatest potential for success:

Places where there are lots of flowers, blooms, or wildflowers;
A sunny location that’s also sheltered from the wind;
Flower meadows and anywhere with brambles;
Clearings in forests where wildflowers are growing;
Areas with long grass if they contain wildflowers;
Hedgerows that contain wildflowers;
Glades or forest clearings where a wide variety of trees and plants can be found at different developmental stages;
The middle of the day is often a great time to see butterflies.

How to Do Your Butterfly Count

Once you’ve chosen a suitable location that has flowers blooming and is ideally sunny and sheltered, you are ready to count butterflies and submit them to the Big Butterfly Count survey.

Over the course of 15 minutes, count the butterflies (and daytime-flying moths) that are included on the ID chart or smartphone app (only about 21 of the possible 60+ species are targeted in the Big Butterfly Count*). You/your child can log your sightings either directly in the app or by marking them on your butterfly ID printout. Don’t worry if you don’t see any at all within the 15-minute window — that counts in the survey too.

* If you/your child would like to identify and log butterfly and moth species not included in the Big Butterfly Count, you can do so using an alternative smartphone app, iRecord Butterflies, which you can use any time of year.

Tips!

You can either stay in one spot or walk while counting during your 15-minute slot.

If staying in one spot, you need to count how many of each targeted species you see at the same time. That’s so as to avoid counting the same butterfly more than once.
If walking during your 15 minutes, it’s far less likely that you’ll encounter the same butterfly more than once. Therefore, you can simply count up how many of each species you see during the 15-minute walk.

You can do as many 15-minute surveys as you like within the survey dates. Each can be submitted as a separate survey, along with the date and location for each.

See the Results!

Once you and your child have counted and submitted your results, you are officially Citizen Scientists! Well done! We hope it was fun and interesting as well as being a good thing to do to help the adorable butterflies, moths, and conservation of the natural world itself.

If you’re wondering what the results of the thousands of citizen scientist surveys across the UK are, you can check these out on this interactive map or the equivalent map available through the Big Butterfly Count smartphone app. You will have to wait until the results are available, i.e. for 2024 this will be from the 5th of August. Once available, you’ll be able to see counts and details of what was spotted in all areas of the UK. Try zooming in on your own area, which will include your own survey(s) within the data presented.

Other Ways Children Can Help Butterflies

In addition to taking part in the Big Butterfly Count, children and families can help butterflies in other simple ways too. What’s more, they’re also fun, educational, and make the world a better place. Additional ways to help butterflies – and other pollinators – include:

Sowing wildflowers in gardens and outdoor spaces;
Making gardens and outdoor spaces more wildlife-friendly;
Putting out pieces of overripe fruit (apples, oranges, bananas) and shallow dishes of water for them to sip at;
Refraining from using harmful chemicals in gardens (e.g. pesticides, weedkillers, slug and snail killer, etc.);
Keeping gardens ‘natural’ — e.g. avoiding replacing lawns with fake grass, mowing too often, or paving over areas that can be kept natural.

Nature & Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham

Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham is perfectly located for children’s involvement in the Big Butterfly Count and for being close to nature. That’s important, because nature is incredibly beneficial to children — and adults, of course. Nearby are parks, hills, waterways and the gorgeous Lancashire countryside. And, at our Padiham nursery itself, we have a lovely garden with a wild zone for children to explore. These areas allow children to get close to nature in a safe, supervised, environment. They also support the nursery’s tailored curriculum including any specific areas of interest for children under our care.

Consider a nursery place for your child at Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham today. Here, they will get the very best start in a nurturing, homely environment where we will bring out the very best in them. Choose an option to get started:

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

Our location in Padiham, Lancashire, means that our nursery is also near Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End.

30 June 2024/by Mark

Activities for Children, Children, Early Years Education, Education, Exercise, Lancashire, Learning & Development, Nursery, Padiham, Parenting, Preschoolers, Toddlers, Under-fives

Lancashire’s Walk & Talk Scheme – Boosting Children’s Communication & Language

Lancashire’s Walk & Talk Initiative is a scheme that’s wholeheartedly supported by the childcare practitioners at Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham. We encourage all Lancashire parents to take part too. It’s an initiative that is incredibly simple but has far-reaching benefits for children in their early years. Let’s take a look today at what Walk & Talk is all about, what its aims are, the benefits to children, and how families can get involved.

What is the Walk & Talk Scheme & Where Did it Come From?

The Walk & Talk scheme is an initiative started by Lancashire County Council back in September 2022. The idea is simply to encourage families to get outdoors and, while doing so, to communicate with each other whilst they walk so that children can improve a variety of skills. As their explanatory video explains, going for a walk helps children hone attention skills, listening skills and, when proactively conversed with, communication and language skills too.

Key Aims of the Scheme

Key aims of the Walk & Talk Initiative include:

a reduction in the ‘word gap’ — helping children learn new words and widen vocabulary;
supporting parents with ideas for deeper interactions with their children;
encouraging adults to talk with children more during everyday activities;
garnering a deeper sense of curiosity in children;
encouraging conversational skills in children, for example, knowing how to take turns when discussing things;
getting children outdoors more often — it’s great for their well-being.

The Walk & Talk Scheme

There are so many beautiful places in Lancashire where families can explore. While doing so, they can both walk and talk with little ones to promote the importance and benefits of communication.

“Our Walk & Talk initiative aims to get families outside and promote the importance of communication.” (Lancashire District Council)

The scheme also aims to encourage children to use a variety of senses. These include, for example, sight, smell, touch, taste, hearing and, of course, active listening. When out on walks there are so many different things for children’s senses to be stimulated by and each lends itself to a conversation. Whether it’s the sound of birdsong, the feeling of the wind on their faces, the smell of freshly-cut grass on the breeze, the noise of traffic, the dazzlingly beautiful colours of blossom, or the mouth-watering smell of food cooking around the neighbourhood or town, walking is indeed a feast for the senses.

The secret, of course, is for adults to discuss such things with the children and that’s all a part of what the Walk & Talk initiative is all about. So, whether you’re at the beach, in a shop, at the park, in the garden, or out in the street with a child, take every opportunity to ask them to describe what they see, hear, feel, touch and, when appropriate, taste. Feed back to them too, to expand the conversation.

Get Involved

“Let’s make walking and talking a priority.” (Lancashire District Council)

Walk & Talk Examples

Stuck for ideas of what to talk about as you walk with your child, or do you need some examples to get you started? No problem. Here are a few ideas to give you a flavour of the type of conversations you can start with your little one.

When you’re walking along streets, in town, or travelling on roads with your child, ask them to spot and name any numbers on signs, road signs, number plates, or buses. Ask them how many wheels the bus or lorry has. What noise do the cars make when they pull off from the traffic lights? What does a red traffic light mean? How about a green one? Have they noticed the difference between the sound of an electric car compared to a petrol or diesel one?

If you’re at the park with your child, get them to notice things around them and point them out to you. Examples might include flowers, dogs going for a walk, ducks on the lake, birds, bees, and different types of leaves. Discuss them. Perhaps even encourage your child(ren) to make up a poem about what they see or hear.

Similarly, you can instigate a conversation with them about the flora and fauna in a garden. Can they spot and describe a butterfly? What is the butterfly doing? What is a bee doing and why are they important? (Click the thumbnail images for more ideas).

At the local shops, you might ask your little one what they can hear, for example background music, the babble of chattering people, tills being used to scan items, and so on. How many bananas do we need this week? Can you fetch them for me, please? Let’s discuss what’s left on the shopping list. And can they smell the lovely scent of food cooking in the bakery section?

More examples are available, along with downloadable activity cards, from the Lancashire Walk & Talk website.

Tips for Successful Communication with Your Child

Get their attention, for example, by saying their name or by pointing out something interesting during the walk.
Try getting down to their level. There, you can communicate face to face whilst ensuring they’re actively engaging with you and looking at or listening to things you’re pointing out to them.
Ensure they know you’re listening and responding to them too, for example, through what you say, nodding, keeping good eye contact, not interrupting, avoiding finishing sentences for them, and so on.
Allow your child(ren) proper time to respond to something you’ve pointed out or asked them about. While their language skills and knowledge are still developing, they’ll need more time to respond than an adult might.
When appropriate, add extra verbal detail for them to build on their language, knowledge and understanding of conversations.
If your child expresses an interest in something, ensure you follow that interest and explore it further with them. When they’re already interested, you are pushing at an open door.
Say, “well done” to them and give them praise when they do well, for example, when they learn a new word, phrase, or fact.
Don’t forget that communication is not just verbal and children will therefore need to take your lead in the way you also use facial expressions and body language to convey some types of communication.
Remember too that every activity is an opportunity for talking, communication, and learning.
Make it fun! When you make walking and talking with your child fun, they’re more likely to enjoy and learn from it.

A High-Quality Early Years Education at Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham

Fostering good communication and language skills is, of course, all part of the wonderful early years education that children under five gain at Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham, Lancashire. Indeed, we nurture all aspects of the learning and development of all our babies, toddlers and preschoolers; we bring out the very best in them to ensure they have all the tools to thrive and succeed in every way possible. So, if you are looking for the best nursery for your child in Padiham or live nearby in Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham or Wood End, contact us to explore a possible place for your child at our exceptional nursery and preschool. We’ll be happy to answer any questions, show you and your little one around, or register your child for a childcare place.

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

31 May 2024/by Mark

Activities for Children, Early Years Education, Learning & Development, Mammals, Nature, Nature Activities, Outdoor Play

British Land Mammals – Free Poster for Children

Last month, we published 20 Benefits of Nature to Children, which explained the profoundly positive impact that nature has on children. Indeed, it can transform their lives cognitively, emotionally, spiritually, creatively, and even academically. With that in mind, we continue our series of free nature-based posters that children and families can download and print out. Today’s poster is all about British* Land Mammals. Children can display it in their rooms or print it out as a reference sheet to use when out in nature. How many of the mammals can your child name — or spot over the coming months?

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” – Albert Einstein

The free poster features high-resolution reference images of 20 land mammals that can be spotted in Britain, including anything from badgers to weasels. There are several types of deer, plus mice, foxes, hares, hedgehogs, rabbits, squirrels and more for children to name and try to spot when out and about. Some, like red squirrels, for example, are less commonly seen than others — but that’s all part of this challenge! Here’s a preview:

Click the poster image or this link to first download the poster in Acrobat PDF format, then either view it on a screen or print it out using your printer’s best printing settings and paper for best results.

More Reasons to Get Children Interested in Nature

As well as the benefits of nature already mentioned, getting children interested in the Great Outdoors will also benefit their fitness, knowledge, empathy, and awareness of ecological matters. Learning that we need to nurture nature and look after the future of the planet are all things that can come from an interest in nature in childhood. So, downloading today’s poster may well become a step along the path to a healthier lifestyle and greener choices for a child. As the saying goes, “from little seeds grow mighty trees” and that’s a perfect metaphor to illustrate where the simple act of printing out nature-based posters could lead for any child.

“Children are born with a sense of wonder and an affinity for nature. Properly cultivated, these values can mature into ecological literacy, and eventually into sustainable patterns of living.” – Zenobia Barlow

Nature Around Little Acorns Nursery & Padiham, Lancashire

Children and families from Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham are lucky to be surrounded by parks, hills, waterways and Lancashire countryside. Here, a rich variety of wildlife may be seen, including perhaps some of the mammals featured today. Patience, perseverance, self-control, active listening, and a degree of quietness will be needed if some of the more shy creatures are to be spotted. Those are all good skills for children to practise, though.

“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder … he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in.” – Rachel Carson

At our Padiham nursery, we also ensure that children get to spend time in our lovely garden and its wild zone. These are regularly adapted to complement specific learning topics being covered in the nursery’s curriculum, as well as to suit children’s individual nature-based interests.

If you are considering sending your baby or child under five to our excellent childcare nursery and preschool, please select an option below:

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

It may help to know that our nursery/preschool is also close to families in Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End.

^{* For the purpose of this poster, British refers to those mammals that can be seen and found in Britain. While not all of those featured were originally indigenous to the British Isles, they’re here now and are therefore an integral part of today’s Britain.}

30 April 2024/by Mark

Get ready for Pyjamarama 2024. This year it arrives on Friday 17th of May in nurseries, preschools, schools and homes all around the Nation. That date is not carved in stone, though, as some settings may find an alternative date more convenient for their particular circumstances.

What is Pyjamarama?

Pyjamarama is a one-day fundraising event that’s organised through the children’s reading charity BookTrust. It takes place each year across a variety of UK settings including homes, schools, preschools, nurseries and more. As well as being great fun for those organising and taking part, the initiative is beneficial to millions of disadvantaged children. The ultimate aim is to raise money to fund the purchase of books and resources, so that every child in the UK gets the chance for bedtime stories and each family has proper reading opportunities. The initiative is hugely popular, great fun, and transforms lives. Today, we take a look at what to expect, how to get involved, and the many benefits of Pyjamarama.

“Spend a day in your pyjamas to raise money for BookTrust and be part of something amazing.”

How Does Pyjamarama Work?

Settings like Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham first register with the Pyjamarama fundraising scheme, well ahead of the event date. In return, they receive a free downloadable fundraising pack. This contains information and activity resources that they’ll be able to use with the nursery children on Pyjamarama day as well as things like posters to publicise the event. Access to BookTrust’s Pyjamarama Hub will also be given. This allows access to additional resources and activity ideas for children to take part in.

On the day itself, the idea is for children and staff to come to the nursery/preschool dressed in pyjamas to add an extra element of fun. Having said that, PJs are not obligatory — children can wear something else if they prefer, for example colourful T-shirts. Either way, we ask that each child brings £1 with them. This will be donated to the BookTrust charity to raise money for disadvantaged children, who might otherwise not have access to bedtime stories. The ensuing day will be relaxed and fun, with time spent together reading and sharing stories, watching specially-recorded videos from children’s favourite authors and taking part in a whole host of other fun, reading- and story-related activities.

At the end of the day, children who took part in Pyjamarama will receive certificates to take home. All money raised by the children and setting will subsequently be sent off to the fundraising team at BookTrust.

Pyjamarama is Fun, Educational & Worthwhile

Pyjamarama is always a fun day for both adults and children. The added aspect of pyjamas makes it special, quirky and relaxed. And, at the end of the day, it’s incredibly worthwhile. Not only does it raise money to give disadvantaged children and their families opportunities for reading and bedtime stories, but it also encourages those children taking part in Pyjamarama to read more, for pleasure as much as anything. Additionally, it gives children a different perspective and encourages altruism and empathy for others less fortunate than themselves.

“Raise vital funds to help every child get a bedtime story.”

How Pyjamarama Helps Disadvantaged Children

Every £1 helps. So, children and parents — please get involved. Here’s how fundraising can typically help:

£25 is enough to provide 15 under-fives from deprived communities with books and reading resources.
£50 is enough to provide an entire class of primary school children with a selection of books to share and read at home.
£100 would allow the BookTrust charity to help teenagers in a struggling secondary school reconnect with reading.

How Can You Get Involved?

“Through Pyjamarama we want to help support the children who are at risk of missing out on the joy and confidence that bedtime stories provide.”

If you haven’t already seen them, look out for posters and a letter to parents highlighting the date for Pyjamarama at your child’s setting this year. On the day, please ensure your child goes to nursery/preschool or school with £1 and is ideally dressed in PJs although, as we said before, it’s not obligatory — but is a lot of fun when everyone joins in.

More details and a FAQ about getting involved in Pyjamarama as a setting or individual can be found here.

“Naomi has seen how reading takes her into imaginary worlds and helps her deal with everyday worries and is amazed how it is also helping her to do well in all subjects at school.”

Little Acorns Nursery & Preschool, Padiham

High-Quality Weekday Childcare in Padiham, Lancashire

Babies and under-fives get the very best start at Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham. As well as offering a convenient childcare service in a loving and homely environment, children also receive a comprehensive early years education at Little Acorns. We also support all Government-funded free childcare schemes including free childcare hours for eligible 2-year-olds and free childcare hours for eligible 3 and 4-year-olds. Contact us if you’d like to register your child for a childcare place. Or, if you’re not yet sure, why not arrange a guided tour? We can show you and your little one around to see how well they fit in. We’re also here to answer any questions. Please choose a button to get started:

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

Little Acorns is a nursery and preschool in Padiham, (BB12), also being conveniently close by for those in Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham, and Wood End.

^{BookTrust is a Registered Charity, number 313343.}

24 April 2024/by Mark

Active Play, Activities for Children, Children, Early Years Education, Learning & Development, Nature, Nature Activities, Outdoor Play

20 Benefits of Nature to Children

One of the many reasons we love nature and nature-based children’s activities here at Little Acorns Nursery is that nature is incredibly beneficial to children. What’s more, the benefits start right from their earliest years and are profoundly powerful to little ones. There have been many studies about this over the years and they all seem to conclude that nature is incredibly good for us all, especially so during the early years. Today’s post looks at 20 of the key benefits that spending time in and around nature holds for children and, with Spring now upon us, it’s the perfect time to begin getting little ones outside more, weather permitting.

1. Nature Stimulates Imaginations & Creativity

The natural world is an amazing and multi-faceted place, brim-full of wonder and fascinating flora, fauna, landscapes and terrains. As such, it’s a place where children will naturally play, build, create, invent and imagine. Young imaginations can simply explode with creative ideas; such is the range of possibilities that are available to children who spend time out in nature.

2. Nature is Good for the Body

Spending time in and around nature means children are more likely to be active, for example, walking, running, skipping, climbing, playing, making, or simply building a den. Such activities will not only help them hone fine and gross motor skills, but will also improve coordination, balance, and fitness. Those skills will help them day-to-day while expending energy in this way will help them maintain a healthy weight and body-mass index.

3. Nature is Good for the Mind & Spirit

When the world is getting on top of you, time spent in or around nature is sure to be a great antidote, even for children. Spending time in nature is known to reduce stress, relieve depression, lower anxiety levels and naturally give people, including children, a greater feeling of well-being.

4. Nature Gives Children Freedom

One of the more obvious benefits of nature is that it gives children a huge sense of freedom that they might not otherwise experience. Being in The Great Outdoors allows children, under appropriate supervision, to run, explore, and play in ways that are far more free than in any other situation. This will also give them a huge sense of natural joy.

5. Nature Facilitates Discovery

Time spent close to nature aids natural discovery too and that’s never more important than in children’s formative years. Out in the natural world, there are a myriad of amazing things to discover, whether they’re flowers, trees, blossoms, insects, minibeasts, animals, birds, or seasons. Even rocks can be fascinating! Discovering new things first-hand is a perfect way for children to learn more about the natural world around them — and their place within it.

6. Nature Promotes Profound Thinking

All this discovery and freedom will spark natural questions in the minds of children. What does this do?” … “Why does it look and behave like it does?” … “How did it get here?” Indeed, “How did I get here?”. Nature encourages children to think about the world in new, profound ways. Such questions are a healthy part of every childhood; they help children learn, and may even lead to careers in such things as science, medicine, or research.

7. Nature is a Feast for the Senses

The stimulation of the senses is never more important than during children’s early years and spending time in nature is the perfect vehicle through which to do so. With so many colours, sounds, smells, textures and even (under adult supervision) tastes available in the natural world, it is indeed a feast for children’s senses. Through the senses, children will learn more about the world and generate millions of new connections in their developing brains. It’s almost magical!

8. Nature Fosters a Sense of Responsibility

When a child is tasked with feeding animals or tending to growing seeds and plants, they will naturally gain a sense of responsibility. After all, feeding and watering flora and fauna is literally a matter of life and death when you think about it. So, allowing children to become more responsible and to look after someone or something else is one of life’s most valuable and important lessons.

9. Nature Promotes Empathy

Nature can also promote feelings of empathy in children. That’s another key trait for children to nurture, and nature will help them achieve it. Whether they’re looking after a plant, feeding a bird or animal, or simply observing them, such activities will help many to put themselves in another living thing’s shoes. Fostering greater empathy is a great skill to develop and will stand children in good stead into adulthood.

10. Nature Fosters Environmental Consciousness

Being around nature regularly can also help children lean naturally towards environmental issues, learn about the problems and become part of the solution. An appreciation of nature is indeed the first step towards becoming environmentally conscious and proactive. That’s a great thing for the planet, particularly as today’s children will become tomorrow’s custodians of the Earth.

11. Nature Gives a Sense of Perspective

Nature is also a great leveller. When issues are troubling children at home or day-to-day, spending a little time in nature, surrounded by beautiful trees, flowers, wildlife and landscapes, will help to put things into perspective. Sometimes seeing the bigger picture can help children see the little things for what they really are. That’s a healthy thing too.

12. Nature Helps Children Academically

Studies over recent decades have shown that, if children spend time in and around nature, they perform better academically. Findings include improved reading, writing, mathematics and even better test results.

13. Nature Improves Concentration in the Classroom

Part of the above may be to do with improved concentration following time spent in and around nature. For example, children coming in from a break in the park or the setting’s garden are shown to have greater focus, i.e. improved concentration once they return. It’s almost as if nature recharged them! Even a simple view of nature from the classroom window has been shown to help children’s performance in the classroom — which is incredible when you think about it.

14. Nature Supports the EYFS Goals

A key part of the education of children under five is the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This is an important framework that prescribes the format, content and approach that will benefit children significantly during their early years learning and development. A set of EYFS ‘goals’ is part of that and spending time around nature helps children achieve many of those goals, particularly with respect to understanding the world, physical development, communication and language, and personal, social and emotional development. We’ll follow up with more information about the EYFS in a separate guide in due course.

15. Time Spent in Nature Improves Sleep Quality

Studies also show that spending time out in nature helps children to sleep more deeply. Sleep, particularly deep sleep, is immensely good for children and adults alike, so that’s hugely important and will help young minds and bodies to recharge and refresh.

16. Nature Promotes a Healthier Lifestyle

Spending all this time outdoors, and it being so interesting and a lot of fun, means it’s more likely that children will have an interest in nature and outdoor life when they’re older. That’s healthy for them in all the ways described in this article, and can therefore only enrich their lives and encourage healthier lifestyles into adulthood.

17. Nature Enhances Social Skills

Children generally team up with friends when they’re playing and exploring outdoors. Spending time playing together in natural environments fosters many different kinds of interaction. This can boost confidence, language, communication and social skills. Stronger bonds and a deeper understanding of peers are likely to form from this.

18. Nature Helps Children Build Additional Skills

Playing, learning, creating and discovering with friends in natural environments will present both opportunities and challenges. These are great for the development of skills like teamwork, cooperation, leadership, problem-solving, critical thinking, the assessment of risk and more. Such skills will be useful throughout children’s lives.

19. Time Spent in Nature Opens Up Possibilities

When children spend time around nature, all kinds of possibilities open up to them. These include the chance for discovery, learning, adventure, invention, hobbies and even careers that are in some way linked to or influenced by childhood exposure to nature. Conservationists, zookeepers, wildlife photographers, travel writers, explorers and even some TV presenters ended up doing their jobs because they connected to nature from an early age.

20. Spending Time Around Nature is Great Fun!

We should not forget one hugely important aspect of nature — spending time around it in childhood is huge fun! The natural world opens up endless opportunities, adventures, new places, discoveries and new ways for children to be entertained. It’s no wonder that children love being outdoors so much — the joy is clear to see on their faces whenever they spend time in The Great Outdoors.

With all that in mind, the overall message is to give children safe access to nature as often as possible — it’s incredibly good for them and nature teaches them so much.

Nature at Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham

At Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham, we know just how important nature is to children. That’s why the nursery has its beautiful garden, a wild zone, a mud kitchen and a planting area where children can get hands-on with nature. We often adapt such areas to suit particular learning activities that children are focusing on at specific times of the year.

To enquire about a place for your child at Little Acorns Nursery, please get in touch using one of the following options:

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

Our high-quality nursery/preschool in Padiham is also conveniently located for those nearby who require a childcare nursery near Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End.

29 March 2024/by Mark

Activities for Children, BB12, Childcare, Children, Food & Drink, Healthy Eating, Lancashire, Learning & Development, Nursery, Nursery News, Padiham, Preschoolers, Under-fives

It’s 5-Star Food & Fun at Our Padiham Nursery

It’s been five-star food, fun, and feasting at the Nursery during February this year! Children enjoyed making and eating pancakes, parents got to eat breakfast with nursery staff and children for Valentine’s Day, our 5-Star Food Hygiene rating was awarded again for another year, and our little ones even got involved in our Recipe of the Month. We’ll spill all the beans for you below, although not literally of course.

A Renewed 5-Star Food & Hygiene Rating

Our Padiham nursery had its annual inspection by the local Environmental Health Officer recently. The purpose was to ensure, as required in all settings serving food, that Little Acorns Nursery has high standards of hygiene and follows the food preparation guidelines specified by the UK’s Food Standards Agency. Once again, Little Acorns Nursery passed with flying colours, achieving a full 5-star rating. That’s the best rating possible and reflects the highest levels of quality for food preparation, the food itself, cleanliness, and competence of staff. So, our thanks and utmost respect go to Kim, our in-house chef/cook, whose high standards, skill and expertise do the children and the nursery proud.

Recipe of the Month

To expand their learning and development and to nurture children’s interests, nursery children get heavily involved in our Recipe of the Month each month — and it’s been no different during the first part of the year. For January, it was the inclement weather that influenced the outcome of the new year’s first Recipe of the Month. Having witnessed snow, rain, hailstone and wind in recent times, the decision was made to choose a warm and healthy meal and, indeed, the final choice went down a storm! The recipe chosen for January was Warm Winter Stew.

Because the recipe heavily involved potatoes, this also tied in nicely with the book Supertato, which our preschoolers have been looking at in tandem with discussions about food and the importance of a healthy diet. The photo shows one of the children peeling potatoes. Others peeled vegetables and even made their own dumplings. The fun activity helped to nurture children’s learning and the development of new skills and knowledge. The final result was both tasty and a huge hit with the little ones!

Recipe of the Month for February almost decided itself, as you’ll see below…

Pancake Time!

Shrove Tuesday, a.k.a. Pancake Day, arrived on the 13th of February and it gave us a great opportunity to organise pancake-themed activities for the nursery/preschool children … for the entire week! After all, who doesn’t love pancakes? So, as you’ve no doubt guessed by now, our Recipe of the Month for February was home-made pancakes and it’s a recipe the children really enjoyed getting involved in. They loved mixing ingredients in a bowl to make their own pancake mix. We even set up a ‘Pancake Bar’ (see the main photo at the top), which included lots of yummy toppings that children could use to decorate their pancakes. The toppings included strawberries, bananas, chocolate spread, jam, lemon, sprinkles, honey and cream.

The theme continued all week with further pancake-themed activities laid on for the children. Even the toddlers had fun as they recreated pancake-making by ‘pat-pat-patting’ play-doh pancakes at the play-doh table in the nursery’s home corner.

On Valentine’s Day, the Food Theme Continued

Valentine’s Day, which arrived on the 14th of February, also involved lots of food. After all, as the saying goes, it is often thought of as the language of love! At the nursery, we organised a lovely Grab ‘n’ Go Breakfast for our parents. This was followed by a special 3-course Valentine’s Day meal for our children in our lovely new dining room, which was set up like a little restaurant (see the photos). Children had sausage rolls to start, cheesy chicken and red pepper pasta for the main course and strawberry mousse – with sprinkles – for pudding. Accompanying this was some delicious blackcurrant juice. It all went down a treat with our nursery children, as did several other activities that were themed towards Valentine’s Day.

Healthy Meals & Snacks at Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham

Kim, our talented in-house chef, prepares tasty home-made meals and healthy snacks for children at the nursery. Meals are prepared freshly, on site, using high-quality ingredients, which are locally sourced whenever possible. They are delicious as well as being nutritionally balanced to include a healthy mix of fish, meat, pulses and vegetables. Learn more about our menus and our approach to serving children here. The link also includes some new example menus that we’ve recently put together.

Special Diets are Catered For

All diets are catered for at Little Acorns Nursery, so if your child is allergic to anything, is vegetarian, vegan, or requires things like halal or kosher food, simply let us know and we’ll make the appropriate arrangements.

Little Acorns Nursery

High-Quality Weekday Childcare in Padiham, Lancashire (BB12)

If you have a baby or child under five and require the best weekday childcare service near Padiham in Lancashire, do consider Little Acorns Nursery. As well as looking after little ones, we give them a high-quality early years education too. Indeed, we bring out the very best in every child and help them achieve personal bests across the board, so they’re ‘school-ready’ by the time they leave us to begin school around the age of five. Contact us if you’d like your child to have the very best start in life — we’ll help children grow into the very best version of themselves, so they’re ready to take on the world and thrive! We’d be delighted to show you and your little one around and you’ll soon see how well they will fit into our warm, caring, and homely environment.

Get in touch today to explore more about a childcare place at Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham.

Apply for a Place Book a Tour Message Us 01282 680 822

Little Acorns Nursery & Preschool in Padiham may also suit families in nearby towns and villages including Hapton, Rose Grove, Burnley, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham and Wood End.

29 February 2024/by Mark

Tag Archive for: activities for under-fives

Why Make Bird Feeders with Your Child?

Easy Bird Feeder Ideas for Children

Pine Cone Bird Feeder

Monkey Nut Garland Feeder

Recycled Carton Feeder

Plastic Bottle Bird Feeder

Apple Bird Feeder

Which Bird Food is Best?

What Birds Might You Spot?

Final Thoughts

Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham

The Natural Choice for Childcare in Padiham, Lancashire

*Safety Tips to Keep in Mind

The Educational Benefits of Learning a Musical Instrument

It Boosts Reading Skills

It Enhances Mathematical Skills

Playing Music Supports the EYFS Curriculum

The Physiological Benefits of Learning a Musical Instrument

It Aids Cognitive Development

It Helps Boost Motor & Coordination Skills

Music Improves Listening Skills

The Social Benefits of Learning a Musical Instrument

It Can Boost Children’s Social Circles

A Boost to Interpersonal Skills

A Window to the World

The Personal Benefits of Learning a Musical Instrument

It Boosts Well-Being

It Facilitates Self-Expression

It Boosts Children’s Confidence

It Teaches the Benefits of Tenacity

Playing a Musical Instrument is a Delight!

Start Them Early!

Little Acorns Nursery & Preschool, Padiham

Spooky Fun

Picking Pumpkins

Pumpkin Carving & Lantern-Making

Decorating the House With a Halloween Theme

Making Halloween Food & Drink

Getting Creative With Halloween Costumes & Fancy Dress

Host a Halloween-themed Party

Trick or Treat?

Little Acorns Nursery – for High-Quality Childcare Services in Padiham, Lancashire

What Are Some of the Benefits of Reading With Your Child?

Cognitive Benefits

A Long-Term Academic Performance Boost

A Social Mobility Boost

Emotional Benefits

Supercharged Creativity

Enhanced Language Skills

And Much More

* How to Involve Under-5s When Reading

High-Quality Childcare & Early Years Education in Padiham

The Big Butterfly Count 2024

Starts: Friday 12th July Ends: Sunday 4th August

What is the Big Butterfly Count All About?

What You’ll Need

Choose a Location for your Butterfly Count

The Best Places to Spot Butterflies

How to Do Your Butterfly Count

Tips!

See the Results!

Other Ways Children Can Help Butterflies

Nature & Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham

What is the Walk & Talk Scheme & Where Did it Come From?

Key Aims of the Scheme

The Walk & Talk Scheme

Get Involved

Walk & Talk Examples

Tips for Successful Communication with Your Child

A High-Quality Early Years Education at Little Acorns Nursery, Padiham

Other Free Nature-Based Posters Available for Kids

More Reasons to Get Children Interested in Nature

Nature Around Little Acorns Nursery & Padiham, Lancashire

What is Pyjamarama?

How Does Pyjamarama Work?

Pyjamarama is Fun, Educational & Worthwhile

How Can You Get Involved?

Little Acorns Nursery & Preschool, Padiham

High-Quality Weekday Childcare in Padiham, Lancashire

Starts: Friday 12th July
Ends: Sunday 4th August