While listening to music has a unique way of resonating with the human spirit, actually creating it on a musical instrument elevates that connection to entirely new levels. What’s more, learning to play an instrument leads to a whole host of multifaceted benefits. Whether tinkling piano keys, strumming guitar strings, or playing a wind instrument, children who learn to play a musical instrument will soon discover a whole world of opportunities and advantages that extend far beyond the realm of melody and harmony. With that in mind, today’s article explores the myriad of sometimes surprising benefits that learning to play music will bring to children, even at a very young age. Take a look below and discover how musicianship could benefit your child, extend their skills and potentially enrich their life profoundly.
https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Musical-Instruments-INSTA.jpg10801080Markhttps://www.littleacornsnursery.school/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Little-Acorns-Nursery.pngMark2023-09-15 08:00:162023-09-13 15:50:38The Rewards of Learning a Musical Instrument in Early Childhood
Children and parents, let’s go minibeast spotting! Whether you have a garden, neighbourhood park, or just a few potted plants, there are bound to be minibeasts visiting or living there. What’s more, summer is the perfect time to spot them. Spending time in nature is hugely important for children and there are many benefits to children simply playing outdoors too. Today’s minibeast activity is therefore the perfect opportunity for young children to reap all those benefits, get closer to nature, and learn about some of its incredible wildlife.
Minibeasts
Minibeasts are fascinating little creatures that come in many shapes and sizes. Each is a unique little character and many are simply enchanting. Take bumble bees, for example, with their adorable furry bodies, stripes and antennae, little ladybirds with their cute spots, or stick caterpillars that look just like twigs! There are so many different types, so we’ve put together a free identification poster showing 30 of our favourite minibeasts that are likely to be lurking nearby if families take the time to look. The poster is free to download and share. Print it out in colour at full size (A3) or reduce it to A4 for children to take outdoors. There are little tick boxes too, so children can mark which minibeasts they’ve seen as time goes by.
This time, it’s all about growing wildflowers that help to feed pollinators and encourage them to come to gardens, balconies, patios, plant pots, and window boxes where children live. As well as butterflies, the pollinators include bees, hoverflies, dragonflies, damselflies, and some non-flying insects like beetles. What’s more, you may well find that wildflowers attract birds and sometimes even bats too!
Pollinators are not only beautiful and adorable, but they’re essential for a healthy environment and to pollinate food crops. So, all in all, this is another hugely worthwhile activity for under-fives and older children to get involved in. It’s also great fun and educational. So, without further delay, here is our simple guide explaining how children and families can start growing wildlife-friendly flowers to support and attract these magical little creatures. Enjoy!
https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Flower-Growing-Featured.jpg10801080Markhttps://www.littleacornsnursery.school/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Little-Acorns-Nursery.pngMark2023-07-14 16:34:542023-08-14 17:37:35Wildlife-Friendly Flower Growing Fun for Under-Fives
Many will have heard of the Big Garden Birdwatch that takes place every year in January. However, fewer are aware of a similar activity called The Big Butterfly Count that takes place in July and early August. As well as being extremely worthwhile, it’s a wonderful activity for both children and adults to get involved in as citizen scientists. The activity helps with butterfly conservation, is educational for those taking part, and encourages families to get outdoors, closer to nature. And, as we know, getting closer to nature is very good for children and people of all ages. Today, we take a look at this wonderful butterfly-spotting activity and explain how children and families can get involved, help these beautiful little pollinators, contribute a little time to the conservation initiative and benefit themselves at the same time.
https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Big-Butterfly-Count-INSTA.jpg10801080Markhttps://www.littleacornsnursery.school/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Little-Acorns-Nursery.pngMark2023-06-16 13:26:312023-06-16 13:26:31The Big Butterfly Count: a Nature-Themed Activity for Families
Are you looking for a fun and educational activity for your children? Why not encourage them to do some bird spotting? Not only is it a great way to spend time outdoors, but it’s also a wonderful opportunity for them to learn about nature and develop observation skills. As we know, being around nature is hugely beneficial to children and outdoor play is important.
To help you get started, we’ve created a free PDF poster featuring 40 British birds that children can try to spot and identify. Whether little ones are in the garden, park, or countryside, there are plenty of opportunities to see these beautiful birds in their natural habitat. Children can even try to spot birds when they’re simply looking out the window — this is quite an accessible activity.
So why not download the poster, print it out, and head outside with your children? Instructions are given underneath the preview image available in the full post below. Who knows, your little one(s) might just discover a new passion for birdwatching and nature!
A Guide to the Game-Changing Childcare Funding Initiatives Announced in the Chancellor’s Spring Budget 2023
Generous and far-reaching childcare funding reforms were announced in the Spring Budget 2023 last month. The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s new funding plans should give more parents, including those of even younger children, access to significant help with childcare costs going forwards. The new initiatives will:
allow parents to return to the workplace sooner after the birth of their child if they so choose;
help fill vacant jobs in the workplace;
allow parents (particularly women) to progress their careers sooner after starting a family;
help to boost the UK economy, and;
perhaps most importantly give more children access to a good early years education, starting potentially at a younger age. Beginning no later than the age of 2 has been shown to better prepare children for the transition to school, boost children’s education overall, improve GCSE grades, improve career prospects and even increase earning potential once they reach adulthood. Learn more about the benefits of a good early years education here.
So, the new childcare funding should make a huge difference for those families that are eligible. Let’s take a look at the 3 key childcare funding initiatives announced…
https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/New-childcare-funding-INSTA.jpg10801080Markhttps://www.littleacornsnursery.school/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Little-Acorns-Nursery.pngMark2023-04-15 14:30:422023-05-05 13:36:19Significant Childcare Funding Announced for Families
Having previously published guides and useful information here for parents, we thought it was time for a news round-up to highlight some of the wonderful activities that have been taking place with children at Little Acorns Nursery. Both children and staff have been extremely busy indeed, with exciting new initiatives, outings, special visits and extra-curricular activities. Let’s take a look at some of the most recent …
https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/News-round-up-INSTA.jpg10801080Markhttps://www.littleacornsnursery.school/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Little-Acorns-Nursery.pngMark2023-03-15 17:10:512023-03-15 17:13:04News Round-Up for Little Acorns Nursery
Are you are a parent or carer of a child under five? If so, you could learn a lot about childcare, parenting and early years learning and development by following Little Acorns Nursery on social media. We’re active across multiple social channels including Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram and share high quality content useful to parents of under-fives. That includes parents of children at Little Acorns although, actually, parents anywhere will find the content educational and useful. Our high quality content includes unusually informative ‘early years’ articles and information. For example, a whole range of guides, the findings from various studies, suggested activities for kids and overviews of things like childcare funding schemes with eligibility guidelines. Also, of course, the social media channels include posts relating to the exciting activities happening at the nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley.
Following is an overview of where you can find — and follow — Little Acorns Nursery and what you can expect to see if you do …
https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Follow-Us-INSTA.jpg10801080Markhttps://www.littleacornsnursery.school/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Little-Acorns-Nursery.pngMark2023-02-15 08:00:052023-02-12 11:34:52Follow for Nursery News, Insights & Early Years Information
Today, we look at how early years childcare providers like Little Acorns Nursery can help children under five if they have special educational needs and disabilities. This is often referred to as ‘SEND’ or in longer forms like ‘SEN and disabilities’. Let’s explore the topic to get an overview of some of the help available.
Childcare Help for Children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities
Early years and childcare providers can support children under five in a variety of ways if they have special educational or developmental needs, and/or a disability. Indeed, helping affected children as early as possible in their lives is of paramount importance…
https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/SEN-square.jpg10801080Markhttps://www.littleacornsnursery.school/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Little-Acorns-Nursery.pngMark2023-01-15 16:30:172023-01-18 11:55:58Help for Children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND)
One of the first challenges when considering childcare for your little one is how to fund it. If you’re an affluent family, then great. However, if childcare costs will be a more significant hurdle to overcome, the good news is that there are lots of options available. Either way, it will help to be well-informed about the various childcare funding schemes on offer from the Government. There are quite a few of them and some are extremely generous and surprisingly easy to obtain. Today’s Quick Guide to Childcare Funding Options in England will give you an at-a-glance overview of what’s available, the key eligibility criteria and how to apply. Note, though, that they generally fund in-person childcare only from approved providers (like Little Acorns). Take a look at the many options …
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The Rewards of Learning a Musical Instrument in Early Childhood
Let’s Find Minibeasts! A Simple Nature Activity for Kids (With Free Poster)
Minibeasts
Minibeasts are fascinating little creatures that come in many shapes and sizes. Each is a unique little character and many are simply enchanting. Take bumble bees, for example, with their adorable furry bodies, stripes and antennae, little ladybirds with their cute spots, or stick caterpillars that look just like twigs! There are so many different types, so we’ve put together a free identification poster showing 30 of our favourite minibeasts that are likely to be lurking nearby if families take the time to look. The poster is free to download and share. Print it out in colour at full size (A3) or reduce it to A4 for children to take outdoors. There are little tick boxes too, so children can mark which minibeasts they’ve seen as time goes by.
Wildlife-Friendly Flower Growing Fun for Under-Fives
This time, it’s all about growing wildflowers that help to feed pollinators and encourage them to come to gardens, balconies, patios, plant pots, and window boxes where children live. As well as butterflies, the pollinators include bees, hoverflies, dragonflies, damselflies, and some non-flying insects like beetles. What’s more, you may well find that wildflowers attract birds and sometimes even bats too!
Pollinators are not only beautiful and adorable, but they’re essential for a healthy environment and to pollinate food crops. So, all in all, this is another hugely worthwhile activity for under-fives and older children to get involved in. It’s also great fun and educational. So, without further delay, here is our simple guide explaining how children and families can start growing wildlife-friendly flowers to support and attract these magical little creatures. Enjoy!
The Big Butterfly Count: a Nature-Themed Activity for Families
Bird Spotting Activity for Kids – with Free Poster
To help you get started, we’ve created a free PDF poster featuring 40 British birds that children can try to spot and identify. Whether little ones are in the garden, park, or countryside, there are plenty of opportunities to see these beautiful birds in their natural habitat. Children can even try to spot birds when they’re simply looking out the window — this is quite an accessible activity.
So why not download the poster, print it out, and head outside with your children? Instructions are given underneath the preview image available in the full post below. Who knows, your little one(s) might just discover a new passion for birdwatching and nature!
Significant Childcare Funding Announced for Families
A Guide to the Game-Changing Childcare Funding Initiatives Announced in the Chancellor’s Spring Budget 2023
Generous and far-reaching childcare funding reforms were announced in the Spring Budget 2023 last month. The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s new funding plans should give more parents, including those of even younger children, access to significant help with childcare costs going forwards. The new initiatives will:
So, the new childcare funding should make a huge difference for those families that are eligible. Let’s take a look at the 3 key childcare funding initiatives announced…
News Round-Up for Little Acorns Nursery
Follow for Nursery News, Insights & Early Years Information
Following is an overview of where you can find — and follow — Little Acorns Nursery and what you can expect to see if you do …
Help for Children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND)
Childcare Help for Children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities
Early years and childcare providers can support children under five in a variety of ways if they have special educational or developmental needs, and/or a disability. Indeed, helping affected children as early as possible in their lives is of paramount importance…
Childcare Funding Options (a Quick Guide)