https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/category/parenting/ Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:26:46 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/spring-nature-hunt-activity-for-kids/ Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:26:46 +0000 https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/?p=7679 — A Fun & Educational Activity for Children (with Free Reference Poster!) It's wonderful for families when spring arrives: the coldest weather is behind us, the sun is out more often, and there is so much beauty to see outdoors. As spring progresses, more and more flowers appear, providing colourful displays, and all kinds of plants and leaves are sprouting forth. Following spring's arrival, we'll see more animals, birds and insects too. They're likely to include delightful bumblebees attracted by newly-blossoming flowers, adorable snails and minibeasts on the look-out for food, and swifts flying acrobatically through the air, having returned to the UK after wintering overseas. Everywhere we look, nature is teaming with life once again. With this in mind, it's a wonderful opportunity to encourage children to get outside once more, enjoy nature and the fresh air, and embark on a Spring Nature Hunt. The activity is both fun and educational for little ones. Spending time in nature is also very good for children's health and well-being. And the icing on the cake? Today's activity comes with an attractive reference poster depicting 25 natural things for children to look out for — and it's free for families to download.]]> https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/whats-your-parenting-style-why-it-matters/ Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:45:47 +0000 https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/?p=7616 We each come to parenting from different circumstances, with experiences, personalities, beliefs, and traits that are unique to us. It's no surprise, therefore, that the way we bring up our own children can be very different to those of other parents. Indeed, our own idiosyncratic upbringings may influence what we believe to be a good approach to parenting — or a bad one. Some parents, for example, may mimic how their own parents brought them up. Others may head in the opposite direction for one reason or another. Now they have become a parent too, should they be permissive, gentle, strict, or even authoritarian in their own parenting style? Is somewhere in the middle a good balance? What's best for children generally, and their child specifically? There are so many questions to ask oneself as a new parent — it's quite a minefield! With all that in mind, we explore some of the most important parenting styles today, and find out what the experts have to say about them.]]> https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/free-antenatal-course/ Mon, 16 Feb 2026 11:19:14 +0000 https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/?p=7552 Whether you're planning a family, are already pregnant, or have recently given birth, it's beneficial to obtain as much knowledge and information as you can so that you are fully prepared. So, when we spotted a comprehensive antenatal course that allows free* access to UK families, we naturally wanted to share the opportunity with parents, expectant parents, and our readers. With that in mind, today's post introduces you to a Complete Antenatal Course. It's a free, 8-hour online course, led by midwives, that you can access today. We have already investigated it for you and thought it was fabulous! Read on to learn more about the course contents, highlights, and easy access details to get started — all at zero cost!]]> https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/tips-for-tackling-toddler-tantrums/ Fri, 15 Aug 2025 07:15:06 +0000 https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/?p=7258 Gentle Ways to Handle a Toddler Meltdown We've all witnessed a toddler tantrum and, sadly, they're not pretty. Perhaps you’ve carefully prepared your child's favourite lunch and set their plate in front of them. They take one look, fling the food away from them, and collapse with a wail that could rival a tone-deaf opera singer. Welcome to toddlerhood! It's a time of wonder, growth … and occasional emotional meltdowns! The good news? Tantrums are perfectly normal. The bad news? They can happen anywhere — at home, in the supermarket, on the bus, or in that quiet café you thought was your “safe place”. However, understanding why tantrums happen, and having a few tried-and-tested strategies to hand, can make all the difference. Let's take a look.]]> https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/world-bee-day-for-under-fives/ Wed, 16 Apr 2025 12:57:17 +0000 https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/?p=6991 Little learners, get ready – it’s almost time to buzz into action for World Bee Day! The annual event arrives in May and it’s a brilliant opportunity for children and families to get involved in something meaningful, fun, and full of learning opportunities. Bees are amazing little helpers, whether in gardens, parks or the countryside — but they need our help too! World Bee Day is a chance for children to discover the magic of these fascinating creatures, learn more about the natural world, and start to build early environmental awareness. They can get proactive too. Whether by planting wildflowers, spotting bees in the garden, or creating bee-inspired arts and crafts, even our tiniest learners can join in the buzz. Read on to learn more about this fun, educational, and hugely worthwhile event, which takes place each May.]]> https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/primary-school-offers-day-guide/ Sun, 16 Mar 2025 09:40:19 +0000 https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/?p=6956 When April is on the horizon, there is a buzz amongst parents whose children will receive school offers that month. It's quite a milestone in the lives of families as it's the time they'll find out if their children have received an offer for their top school choice. If not, will they be offered another “preferred” school listed lower on their application? It will often have felt like a long wait to find out the results, too, with families having applied in mid-January or potentially months earlier. Because we are an early years nursery, today's guide focuses on primary school offers. We'll explain in detail when to expect your child's primary school offer, criteria that may have affected it, and your options if you're not happy with the school place offered. To keep things as simple as possible, we'll concentrate on applications for a standard school start date in the September term (rules and dates for 'in-year' applications are slightly different). If your child is due to start primary school this year, take a look.]]> https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/national-storytelling-week/ Fri, 17 Jan 2025 14:08:38 +0000 https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/?p=6869 With the start of the new year now behind us, it's time for children to get ready to take part in National Storytelling Week. This year it begins on Saturday the 1st of February and ends on Sunday the 9th. It's a wonderful initiative that brings children and families together to use their imaginations, get creative, and entertain one another. What better time of the year to do that than during mid-winter? National Storytelling Week is perfectly timed to be a fabulous antidote to cold, blustery, winter days and is a wonderful way for children to escape through the power of the mind.]]> https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/winter-nature-hunt-activity-for-children/ Sun, 15 Dec 2024 08:15:07 +0000 https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/?p=6832 With the season of winter arriving in December, new opportunities for outdoor activities arise for children of all ages. And, as nature and outdoor play are so beneficial for children, we thought a winter nature hunt would be a great idea (cool even!). With that in mind, we've put together a free, downloadable, reference sheet of 20 things for children to look out for during this season. Despite the colder temperatures at this stage of the year, if children are wrapped up in warm clothes and suitably supervised by an adult, there is still lots for them to enjoy, discover, and learn from. That's even more true for children still in their early years. Nature is a huge educator and is often stunningly beautiful too. A winter nature hunt is therefore a great excuse to get them outdoors, exploring, discovering, learning and simply having fun!]]> https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/applying-for-a-primary-school-place-guide/ Tue, 15 Oct 2024 13:00:30 +0000 https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/?p=6670 If your child is 3 or, at the latest, has just turned 4, it's time for you to apply for their primary school place. What's more, you only have until about mid-January to do so. That's all true whether you intend them to start school at 4 or leave it until they're 5. In today's guide, we explain the rules around applying for a primary school place, the key dates you need to know, what to expect, and the various options open to you and your child.]]> https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/maths-concepts-for-under-5s/ Thu, 13 Jun 2024 13:01:22 +0000 https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/?p=6436 Once babies have transformed into toddlers, it's never too early to introduce them to maths-based concepts and language. Indeed, introducing under-fives to such concepts in the earliest years will benefit them hugely as it lays the foundations for future learning. That's one of the main reasons it is a part of the EYFS curriculum. Continuing this learning at home will also help them instinctively understand that mathematics is a normal and integral part of everyday life. As such, there is no need for it to be perceived as a daunting topic. With all that in mind, today's guide explores why the early introduction of mathematics is so beneficial to under-fives and how parents and caregivers play a vital role in encouraging their mathematical curiosity, knowledge, and confidence.]]>