Monthly Archives: October 2012

Once A Teacher … Twinkl Review

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For the last few weeks I have been familiarising myself with the Twinkl Early Years and Primary Teaching and Learning Resource website.

As a mummy and a teacher I think it is fabulous. When I was teaching Year 2 I spent a lot of my time making resources for my classroom walls, cupboards and for children to use.

This website would mean if I were to go into a classroom now I would be able to print of most of what I might need from here.

But I was not really viewing Twinkl through my teacher eyes. I have been out of the classroom for a few years now. I was looking with my mummy eyes and I am seriously impressed.

I will definitely be using Twinkl over the coming years to brighten up our playroom, link to preschool learning and to enable learning at home.

I want to share with you some of the great things I have found on the site and how I might be using them in my home.

Firstly I have been really impressed with how easy it is to search and browse this huge library of resources. My children love stories and so I typed the names of some of their favourites into the search bar and was rewarded with a fast response and a plethora of relevant activity ideas and resources.

With Autumn now in full swing we will be colouring and collaging the Owl Babies characters one rainy day soon.

Colour in Characters from Favourite Stories

Almost every meal time in our house we read the story of The Gruffalo. It is also the DVD that Esther and William like to watch when they are a little poorly or feeling tired. Twinkl provides lots of resources to go with this book including stick puppets, colouring sheets and sequencing activities.

Gruffalo Cut Outs

These Gruffalo cut outs are a fantastic resource that can be used in so many ways such as creating a scene from The Gruffalo, making a very simple 2D animation, predicting what happens next in the story. They are a great way of making the reading of the story come alive for young children.

Twinkl have not only made resources for popular stories but also for lots of songs. On a Monday we go to a wonderful music class called Fun Train and we often sing the songs from that class at home. One of our favourites is 5 Little Men in a Flying Saucer. The song has accompanying actions but now with resources from Twinkl we can act out the song with stick puppets and even make our own pop style video. Esther and William are going to have such a wonderful time once I am all organised. I am storing all these ideas for the long, cold winter ahead!

Five Little Men in a Flying Saucer

As well as activity ideas and resources Twinkl also provides labels for your home. Esther and William’s language is wonderful and their vocabulary is growing every day. Today during puddle play I introduced the words shallow and deep. They can now confidently say the words and use them in the correct context. I have always planned to make labels for things around the house but with three children under three I don’t have a whole lot of spare time. How wonderful then for me to discover that Twinkl have found the time for me. They have made labels for the main things found in each room of the house. I am going to start with the bathroom!

I love that the labels are in a cursive script so that the children can get used to the shape of the letters and the form of the words. Their Daddy is a visual speller and so I think by introducing the written word at such an early age will help them if they inherit this learning style from him. It is also just good practice I think to get children to interact with words.

Esther and William love words. They talk all the time. They also love numbers. They recognise numbers to ten and can count with one to one correspondence up to four. I am a very proud Mummy!

They also love shapes and can identify circles, squares, ovals, rectangles, triangles and pentagons. I love the playdough mats on Twinkl and love these creative shape activities. Using shape knowledge to add to pictures. What a great idea!!

Creative Shape Playdough Mats

As well as learning Twinkl has also thought about home and school routines and they provide one of my favourite things. A visual timetable. I have found a childminding routine timetable that will really work for us at home. Esther and William love routine. They are comforted by knowing what they are going to do and so I think a visual timetable could really work for us. The pictorial cards could also be used as a way of choosing what activity we might like to do next. Again a resource, I think, with lots of possibilities!

Routine Routine Routine!

Because our playroom has a jungle theme we will be using this snake to display our timetable in. Love it!

SSSSSnake!

Esther and William love imaginative play and in our playroom we have a castle. Inside the castle we have a wizard’s hat, a princess hat and a dragon. With the role play resource pack from Twinkl we will be able to add a lot more and extend our ideas for its use. Twinkl has lots of role play packs for different settings and situations.

Role Play Corner Castle

Twinkl also has lots of photos of classroom displays including children’s artwork. I found this lovely fingerprint picture that I am hoping to recreate with mine this week. A perfectly pretty idea for pinkies!

Perfectly Pretty Pinkie Prints!

I have really enjoyed my time browsing Twinkl and I am certain that there are still lots of things for me to find. Plenty that I will find useful with my own children at home and with pupils when I return to the classroom or tutor from home.

Twinkl is a community for parents and educators. The website is full to bursting with bright, colourful resources for children of primary age. Twinkl covers a huge range of topics and events. There really is something for everyone. And if they do not have what you are looking for, just tell them, and they will most likely be able to add it to their ever growing collection. Twinkl uses social media really well to get people talking about their products and sharing ideas and resources. They have an active Facebook page and a brilliant blog.

The vast majority of their quality resources for early years settings and schools are free but there are some things which you are only able to access with a Premium subscription. This membership is annual and costs just £29.99. Well worth the money I believe.

Twinkl Premium is a low cost subscription based service, giving you access to the following…

Over 10,000 fantastic new premium resources, including lovely new and unique role play and storybook and nursery rhyme resources

Download whole sections of our lovely resources quickly and easily using our resource packs feature!

You have full access to the complete twinkl range of over 65,000 resources for just £2.50 per month, payable as £29.99 over a year (this price is £24.99 plus VAT). We’ll continue to add thousands of new resources to this collection.

Unlimited downloads, subject to acceptable use

Help to financially support both our work and also the twinkl community; your community.

First access to new and lovely resources. These will be released to twinkl premium users first

Benefit from first access to upcoming new twinkl projects.

Twinkl has so much to offer anyone looking to teach or learn with little ones I am sure I have barely uncovered the tip of the iceberg so please do go and explore for yourselves.

And watch this blog too as I am planning to write about some of our activities and flag up the resources that we choose to use from the site.

I am very excited about Twinkl and plan on making the most of the Premium subscription we were given in return for this honest review.

Not Such A Bad Mummy After All?

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Today has been a mammoth day and even with my mum here to help me, it has just been an exhausting day. To be honest most days with three children under three (technically under two) are tiring but today has pushed me quite close to the edge of exhaustion although I must admit we got very little done and it was all actually rather nice.

Not making any sense? Have a look see.

Baby Matilda woke at 5am and I think we were both dozing in and out of sleep from then until finally at 7.00am I fed Matilda before giving her to Nana and Daddy so that I could have a wash and sort myself out for the day.

At 8.00am I joined Daddy to have breakfast with the toddlers and also with Matilda Mae as it was Nana’s turn to get washed.

At 8.30am it was time to feed Baby Tilda again who then had a sleep in her Daddy’s arms while he started his work in the office.

As Nana is here at 8.45am I was able to organise and pack our bags for the day. We have our regular change bag, our puddle play bag, a snack and toy bag and our spare clothes for EVERYONE bag. Mostly these are just checked each day with snacks replenished, nappies and wipes refilled and toys rotated.

At 9.00am I begin the task of sorting and loading washing. Often unhelpfully helped by at least one toddler!

Today at 9.15am I changed all nappies and got everyone dressed to go.

At 9.45am Nana and I loaded everyone into the car and drove to our first activity, Jumping Beans.

We get to the hall at 10.15am where we put the toddlers socks and shoes on, unload everyone from car and walk into the class where we then take off coats, socks and shoes ready for the fun to begin.

At this time I also set up a play mat for Baby Tilda, before joining in the class with Esther and William before taking an enforced break to feed Tilda. Though I have to say sitting down to feed really is not a break though perhaps to some it may look like one.

At 11.15 Esther and William’s class finishes as Matilda’s is about to begin and so I set up a toddler picnic and activities for Esther and William then join in the baby class with Tilda.

The class ends at 12.05pm whereupon Baby Tilda promptly falls asleep and so quick as is possible I pack up all our stuff back into bags, put on coats, shoes and socks and ferry us all out to the car.

By 1pm socks and shoes are going on again and I unload everyone from the car and pack Matilda into the baby carrier.

At 1.10pm in public facilities I begin to change three nappies once again involving the on and off of slothing and shoes!

By 1.30pm with Tilda tucked safely away in the carrier again I play on the play equipment with the toddler twins while Nana runs back to pay for the parking ticket we have forgotten to buy.

When Nana is back we order some lunch and afford ourselves a few minutes to scoff it down before Esther and William are off playing again. Where do toddlers get their energy from? Whilst eating my lunch I am also, of course, giving the baby hers. Where do babies get their appetite from?

By 2.00pm we are heading back to the car but have to take a detour to the changing rooms again. Two terrfiying toddler nappies later we are back on our way.

By 2.30pm we are back in the car and ready to drive to the doctors.

3.00pm sees us arrive at the doctors, put socks and shoes on and unload everyone from the car.the short way to the surgery with Esther suddenly not wanting to hold hands and threatening a tantrum in the middle of the road.

Traffic incident averted it is time for Baby Tilda to have her jabs and Mummy to have a emotional moment.

William needs yet another nappy before we are loading up and once again hitting the road.

At 4pm we all arrive home and unload everyone and everything from the car.

A nappy change and feed for Matilda Mae whilst Nana takes the toddlers out the garden.

4.30pm the Tesco man arrives and I begin to unpack the delivery. At the same time I am organising the fridge and the cupboards, sorting the washing and re tumble drying the washing that my unhelpful helper has appeared to rewashed!

Just before 5 I make toddler tea whilst continuing to sort out the shopping. I dash upstairs to source pyjamas for all and sort out clothes for the following day.

I at the same time oversee toddler tea and serve dessert before giving the baby her feed.

Baby Tilda falls asleep while feeding only for the toddlers to wake her when they come crashing down from their bath.

Time to get the toddlers to bed and then start all over again with Matilda.

Such a busy day.

It sometimes feels like I never have time to draw breath. Even when I am driving I am constantly talking and ensuring everyone is okay, pointing out tractors and horses and trucks.

I love getting out and about and I make sure that we do so at least once every day but it really is tough. And through every activity with Esther and William I have to have the baby on. It can be physically exhausting. My poor shredded back is proof of that!

I think I would add minutes to our day and reduce stress levels by finding a way of getting the toddlers to keep their shoes and socks on in the car! Every time we get in the car their shoes and socks are lost.

And though I love days like today when we are exploring and adventuring and having lunch out as a treat we still have to come home and come down – the house is dirty, there are dishes and clothes to wash and to dry. My to do list goes on and on because nothing on it can ever be done!

And thank goodness that Jumping Beans comes with a cup of tea for the mummies or else I just would not have had one today.

But today was actually a lovely day and Esther and William had a wonderful time but it was hard hard work for Nana and I, and more often than not I am doing this on my own!

Maybe I’m not such a bad mum after all!?!

Mums’ Expo

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For the next two weeks I have my mum with me and as well as helping out with the children we are also hoping to have some time together too.

Our girly night out (with Matilda Mae in tow) will be to the Kings Hill Mums’ Expo.

the expo

Mums’ Expo has been set up by Joanna Hammond and Elizabeth Seage of prepmybaby.co.uk
and Marika Cooke who runs Kings Hill Mums Magazine. The aim of the Expo is to bring together local businesses to showcase what they do to the local community. We are real
supporters of ‘looking local’ and supporting those around us trying to make a difference with their business. We also wanted to create a fun evening for local mums and friends to go out, meet new people and have a bit of ‘me’ time as well as a shop, sip of wine and nibble of a cake. (We aren’t excluding dads!)

This will be our first event which is taking place on the 19th October at the Kings Hill Community Centre, starting at 7.30pm and finishing at 9.30pm. The interest from local businesses in and around Kings Hill, West Malling and Maidstone has been quite over whelming in that the event is now over-subscribed with 30 confirmed and a few on the waiting list. This is fantastic as we are building a great list of future exhibitors should we hold the event again.

Having attended a number of local Expos in and around the South East, we were spurred on to organise our own, since there has not been anything like this at Kings Hill for some time.

All three of us are mums and juggle family and working life to provide us all with a way of life that suits us, we want to try and make a difference in our community with what we do. As much as this is a great exhibition opportunity for local businesses, it could give other mums the encouragement they might need to also set up their own business.

Our aim is for this to be a great packed event, all our exhibitors are detailed on our Facebook page and if this is a success, we will certainly look to hold the event again… and possibly not just in Kings Hill….watch this space!

I am really excited about this local event and so pleased that my own mummy is here to come with me.

If you are local please do come along to support to ensure that great ideas like these are repeated creating great events and possibilities for us local mums.

See you on the 19th! And in the meantime check out Prep My Baby for gorgeous baby goodies x

The “It Only Takes ONE Mum” Meme

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ONE International are campaigning to put nutrition on the global agenda.

They need our help to convince world leaders to

help 25 million children reach their full potential by making measurable commitments to reduce chronic malnutrition by 2016.

Mummy Bloggers across the UK are playing their part and lending their voices to this vital campaign.

You can too and I am going to tell you how.

But first I am going to tell you why.

ONE is not a charity that asks for your money it is an organisation that asks you for your voice.

By supporting ONE, you have the opportunity to take action to support effective, proven initiatives that are delivering results in the poorest places on the planet: protecting families from preventable diseases like AIDS and malaria, putting children in school, providing economic opportunity and stabilising communities.

Join me and millions of people around the world who believe that where you live shouldn’t determine whether you live.

Two mummies that I have had the pleasure of meeting and who’s blogs I read are currently in Ethiopia, travelling with a group of 11 other inspirational Mums and Moms as part of the ONE Campaign.

Our trip is about success – Living Proof – of what is working and why it is important that we continue to support projects that are making a huge, measurable difference for less than one percent of the entire US budget. It is about letting more people know what a tremendous difference the US and UK are making in the lives of millions around the world. And it is about adding thousands more voices to those already letting their elected officials know they support these life-saving programs.

From Michelle, Mummy From The Heart.

Many other mummies are coming together in the form of a blogging meme.

I have not been tagged in this meme but I want to join in anyway and lend my voice to such a worthy cause. I hope that nobody minds. I want my voice to join the throng as together we try to make a difference.

Seasider Clare started the initiative and has asked mummies everywhere to use the slogan ONE MUMS to write an acrostic poem sharing what it is like to be a mummy. What does being a mummy mean to you?

Here is my go at a #OneMums acrostic.

Overwhelming in every way
New discoveries every day
Endless worry, stress and guilt
Many magical memories built
Unconditional love, no matter who does what
Makes use of all energy, every effort, talent, you’ve got
Such a rich tapestry of respect, wonder and awe, I am Mummy to three and I still want more!

Why not join us? Lend us your voice? You can join the meme as well as signing up to support the campaign.

You can also follow the journey of Michelle and the team with the #ONEMums and #ONEMoms tags. I know they would value your support.

Please please pass this on!

One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should
One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers
One life
But we’re not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other
ONE

A Mother’s Love

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Today David and I are in London with Matilda Mae.

We are at a wedding.

Esther and William are entertaining Granny and Grandad at home.

I have been looking forward to this night away for ages.

I bought new shoes, a £240 dress.

The wedding was at 4.30pm.

By 9.15pm I was in my Melba nursing pyjamas snuggling up with Matilda Mae.

This is where I want to be.

Snuggled up with my baby in my arms.

I am missing the toddler twins too.

So why am I always seeking an escape?

I love lying here watching Matilda sleep.

She is so peaceful.

So tiny on the expanse of crisp white hotel sheets.

I am drinking her in and wishing we had more times like these.

Have I really missed out because I have never been a mother of one?

Her little hands are resting on my chest.

She keeps reattaching herself to me for a sleepy feed.

We could not be closer than we are in this moment.

It is beautiful.

I am totally and utterly in love.

There is nowhere I would rather be.

Though I would love to have my beautiful two with me here too.

I am going to read this post and remember this feeling when a day at home is hard

Because above all else

Is love

Love Me!!