Childhood is full of magic — not just the kind found in fairy tales, but also the quiet, everyday kind that’s instinctively fed by a child’s curiosity. Little ones have an innate sense of wonder; the world is vast, mysterious, and full of possibility. Whether they’ve discovered a camouflaged moth on a tree trunk, a rainbow stretching across the sky, or the miraculous shape of a fresh snowflake, each can feel like an amazing discovery to a young child. And they really are amazing!
As parents and caregivers, we have the privilege of seeing that magic unfold to our children. We also have the power to nurture it. Sometimes such moments appear in the most unexpected of places, while at other times, they grow from shared adventures that have taken a little more planning. All such experiences can become treasured memories that a child can carry with them for years — and we can help.
See the World Through Their Eyes
Young children experience the world differently to adults. They notice details we’ve long since stopped paying attention to — the way water ripples in a puddle, a cloud that may be shaped like an animal, or the captivating sparkle of a ‘special’ rock as it glints in the sun. To little ones, these are truly magical. What’s more, they’re all around us but, with our busy lives, go unnoticed so often by adults.
However, such wonders are to be celebrated! Taking time to see things from a child’s perspective helps you reconnect with that sense of awe. As well as reinforcing how magical the world is to little ones, it also reminds you what you may have forgotten about the amazing planet we inhabit. So, next time you’re walking or exploring outdoors with your child, try slowing down and letting your child lead the way. You might find yourself stopping every few steps to inspect something special that you’d have otherwise passed by. To young children, such exploration and discovery is a truly magical part of childhood. What’s more, reconnecting with such moments can open adults’ eyes to forgotten wonders too.
Even ordinary outings can become big adventures when seen through a child’s eyes. For young children, a trip to a new park, feeding some particularly fancy ducks, or watching an unusually spectacular sunset can seem every bit as magical as a faraway journey.
Nature’s Magic in Everyday Moments
The natural world offers endless opportunities for children to experience wonder. It’s a place where all the senses come alive. Take time with your child, therefore, to enjoy such opportunities — the feel and beauty of soft moss, the smell of fresh rain in the air, the sound of leaves crunching underfoot, and a million other such possibilities.
Everyday nature moments can be as simple as collecting interesting leaves, following the flight of a butterfly, or taking time to listen to birds singing in a forest. These small discoveries encourage curiosity, teach children about the universe, and help them feel more connected to the world they live in. Follow the bold, green links to download free reference sheets for such activities.
Childhood Magic in Bigger Adventures
Sometimes, though, it’s worth going a little further to proactively create an experience that feels truly special to you and your child.
Starry nights lend us a good example. On a warm summer night, perhaps wrap up in blankets, grab a hot chocolate, and sit outside together to watch the stars. See if your child can spot a satellite on its quiet journey, or a shooting star racing across the night sky. Discuss what it might be like up there in space. Ponder whether there are other creatures on faraway planets looking back at us — perhaps a tiny speck of light to them, just as they are to us. We don’t have all the answers to such big questions, but that’s OK — it demonstrates the enormity and complexity of life and the universe — and can only increase the child’s sense of wonder.
A sunset watch is another good example. Find a high spot or hilltop together and take a half hour or so to watch the colours of the sunset sky together. Notice the luminous clouds and beams of light shift and change as the sun makes its way down towards the horizon (avoid looking directly at the sun, of course). Discuss how the day is drawing to a close as the sun dips down and disappears — only to reappear come morning as we travel together on this planetary merry-go-round.
A family adventure or expedition is another great way to give focus to some magical childhood moments. First, build some excitement by announcing the plan for an expedition or ramble in advance. Perhaps it’ll be along a local trail, scenic path, river route, or in an interesting new park. Be sure to call it an “adventure.” Take a picnic, stop to watch horses, feed ducks on a river, or visit a cosy café or tearoom along the way. On such a trip, there is an incredible array of opportunities for memorable and magical moments to mesmerise your child. Whether it’s a spectacular butterfly, a caterpillar that your child has never seen before, an amazing wildflower meadow buzzing with chirping crickets, or an exciting view or discovery around a corner, there is so much to excite and fascinate a young child!
It’s important to know that these little adventures don’t need to be elaborate or costly, though — it’s the sense of discovery, and the feeling of doing something special together, that makes them unforgettable — and wonderful learning moments too.
Cherish Everyday Wonder & Emotional Connections Through Shared Moments
Magical memories often come not just from what we do with our children, but how we do it. Giving a child and their special discoveries your full attention, feeding back, pondering questions, and marvelling together, all make such moments more special and memorable. The real magic lies in connection — in being fully present with your child, sharing laughter, the sense of wonder, and the warmth of togetherness. The most meaningful memories from childhood need not come from big events or expensive outings — they often come from simple moments that make a child feel curious, loved, and seen.
So, next time your little one spots something wonderful — an interesting feather, dewdrops caught on a web, a sunbeam coming through the clouds — take a moment to pause with them. Those few seconds of shared wonder might just become one of their most magical memories, or rightfully fill them with awe at our incredible world.
Little Acorns: a High-Quality Childcare Nursery in Padiham
A Weekday Childcare Service for Children Under 5
If you are looking for a good childcare nursery in Padiham for your baby or child under five, consider Little Acorns Nursery. We provide a wonderful home-from-home environment for children under our care, nurturing their learning and development proactively to bring out the very best in them. In this way, they become as school-ready as possible by the time they are old enough to begin school. As well as serving Padiham families, we may also suit those nearby in Burnley, Hapton, Rose Grove, Altham, Huncoat, Read, Simonstone, Sabden, Higham, and Wood End. We are rated as a ‘Good Provider’ by Ofsted and support free childcare funding for eligible families.
Click one of the buttons below to begin your child’s application, to ask questions, or to arrange a free tour of this fabulous Padiham nursery.
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.
a reduction in the ‘word gap’ — helping children learn new words and widen vocabulary;
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.
During the autumn half-term break, adults and children from Little Acorns Nursery in Padiham embarked on a sponsored walk around Gawthorpe Park. The walk took place during a cold and wet Tuesday, on 24th October, with children from our Little Seedlings, Little Acorns and Great Oaks rooms donning Wellington boots, anoraks and wet weather gear for the task. Once assembled, little ones and adults braved the inclement weather and went on to complete the walk admirably, even making the local Burnley Express paper
When the rain persisted, children were also encouraged to use magic wands to wish it away!
The sponsored walk was dedicated to a cause that’s extremely close to our hearts — the memory of Yusuf, the baby son of one of our families — as well as aiming to raise awareness of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). £148 was raised through our sponsored walk and a further £52 through a cake sale by our 