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Let’s Go on a Leaf Hunt!

A Simple, Nature-Based Activity for Kids — with a Free Poster!

Summer and autumn are particularly good seasons for children to get outdoors, breathe in fresh air, and enjoy all the benefits of the natural world. Nature is incredibly important to children, and it’s one reason why Little Acorns Nursery runs Forest School sessions as part of its childcare provision. With all that in mind, today’s suggested activity is a leaf scavenger hunt for little ones — and it comes with a free ‘leaves’ poster for families to download. Featuring 16 different types of tree leaves commonly found in England, the poster will serve as an excellent visual reference to inspire children in their search. It also presents children and families with a challenge — how many can they find and identify? Such an activity will encourage children to get outside, closer to nature, and learn about Britain’s trees as they go. Take a look and grab your free poster below.

Download Your Child’s Free ‘Leaves’ Poster

Shown below is a preview of the free poster that we’ve put together for children and families to get them started on their leaf hunt. Simply click the image to open/save the poster in Acrobat PDF format. Then, choose your printer’s highest-quality settings and paper. Print the poster in full colour for the best results. Choose high resolution printing and select A3, A4 or A5 scaling as desired. A3 and A4 are great for displaying on children’s bedroom walls, while A5 may be best suited for children to take with them on their leaf hunt. They can use the little tick boxes provided to tick off each type of leaf as they discover them. See how many of the 16 you and your child can find — enjoy the outdoor adventure together!

Enjoy the outdoor adventure together!

Types of Leaves for Children to Look Out For

Children may already be familiar with some of the leaves featured on the poster. They may be able to identify oak leaves, for example, especially when acorns are growing amongst them. They may also be able to identify ‘conker tree’ leaves from horse chestnut trees, and perhaps even those from their close relatives, sweet chestnuts — but ensure they’re careful of the spikey sweet chestnut cases! Sycamore leaves, ivy leaves, and hawthorn leaves may also be fairly easy for children to recognise — or soon get to know.

This activity is a great way to teach children to look more closely at the natural world, learn to name different types of trees, and to discover things they’d never taken time to notice before. Nature is full of incredible things and is immensely varied, and today’s activity will help open their eyes to more of its magic!

This activity will help to open children’s eyes to more of nature’s magic!

How Many Different Leaves Can Your Child Find?

Some types of leaves may be more challenging for children to differentiate between than others. However, that’s all part of the fun and the educational challenge. Hazel and Lime leaves are similar to each other, for example, although unlike hazel leaves, lime leaves have a sheen and the incredibly beautiful seed fronds that you can see on the poster in the third row. Elder and Ash leaves are also similar to one another, although the quite different number of leaves per stem will help children identify which is which (see the first row). Acers (a.k.a. Maples) are often found growing in gardens and parks. Their leaves are very pretty and come in a variety of colours, from deep burgundy or bright green to golden yellow depending on the variety and time of year. Our acer example in the first row should give children a good idea of what kind of shape to look out for in the main, although some acers are even more fancy!

Nature is Hugely Beneficial to Children

Nature is incredibly important to human beings. Both children and adults experience an incredible array of benefits through spending time in and around the natural world — which is why we have Forest School at Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods. The benefits of nature are holistic and hugely impactful. Just a few examples of nature’s benefits include improving mental well-being, reducing stress, helping to improve sleep, boosting Vitamin D production, enhancing creativity, improving social skills, encouraging creativity, boosting knowledge about the world, and even improving academic grades. Time spent outdoors close to nature also encourages outdoor play and exercise, and thereby helps improve fitness, coordination, and motor skills. That’s all so important for little ones. Learn more about the importance of nature to little ones here.

It’s Why We Have Forest School at Little Acorns Nursery, Chorley

Coming Soon: Creative Activities Using Leaves

Coming Soon: Creative Activities Using Leaves In a follow-up to today’s leaf scavenger hunt, and in view of autumn being just around the corner at the time of writing, we’ll soon publish a new post that outlines some fun, highly creative activities that use leaves. From leaf painting and leaf rubbing to leaf collages, leaf pressing, and more, visit again soon for some wonderful activity ideas for your child using leaves. They’ll get your child’s creative juices flowing and, once the leaves have been gathered, it’ll be something different for them to do indoors, yet still involving nature.

More Free Stuff for Children & Families

Today’s leaf scavenger hunt poster is just one in a series of free posters that children and families can download here on the Little Acorns Nursery website. Other free posters involving nature-inspired activities include a summer nature hunt, an autumn scavenger hunt, a winter nature hunt, a spring nature hunt, mammal spotting, bird spotting, minibeast spotting, and butterfly spotting. They’re all great activities as well as coming with interesting and informative posters that are free to download for children. Follow the bold links to learn more and to access the posters.

Many exciting nature-inspired posters are available for children and families to download free of charge.

Nursery Places in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

High-Quality, Convenient Childcare for Under-Fives

Do you live in the Chorley area and have a baby or child under five? If so, Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods would be a fabulous setting for their weekday childcare. With excellent facilities for babies and under-fives, a self-contained preschool unit, regular Forest School sessions, a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating, and support for funded childcare places for eligible families, the setting represents a wonderful choice. The nursery is open early too, from 7:30 a.m., also closing later than many at 6:00 p.m., making it even more convenient for working parents, particularly those seeking wraparound childcare.

Get in touch today to book a guided visit, register your child for a place, or to ask any questions. Please choose a button below to get started:

Apply Today Book a Tour Message Us 01772 696288

Little Acorns Nursery is located in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, so may suit families living nearby in Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Penwortham, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Whittle-le-Woods, Lostock Hall, Leyland, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Thorpe Green and Euxton.

Safety Note: A responsible and vigilant adult should always accompany children, particularly the very youngest, when they’re exploring outdoors. There are many potential dangers out there, including physical hazards, choking hazards, poisonous or toxic plants, stranger danger, and more. So, always accompany little ones and ensure they learn what to do, what not to do, and the potential dangers to look out for and avoid. Supervising them outdoors and teaching them about safety is also a proactive way to help them learn to assess risk and ultimately learn to keep themselves more safe.

26th August 2026/by Mark

Children, Parenting, Safeguarding, Under-5s

New Guidance for Electronic Screen Use by Children Under 5

Toddlers and under-fives are naturally drawn to electronic screens. From TVs and game consoles to tablets and smartphones, these amazingly powerful, colourful devices hold such wonder! After all, they’re rather magical to young minds and can entertain and captivate children in so many ways. However, there have been loud voices of concern lately over how potentially detrimental watching electronic screens may be for our little ones. Indeed, the UK Government has recently published new guidance around the topic, which we’ll explore in today’s post.

There are, of course, pros and cons to children watching electronic screens and a few examples spring to mind:

Without proper safety measures and oversight in place, screens may lead children to unsafe places, whether on TV, tablets, or smartphones.
What’s more, many parents also want to keep little ones away from social media as long as possible to keep them safe.
Other parents, however, like children to have mobiles as a way to track them, for safety purposes, when not in their direct care. This is also understandable.
The use of electronic screens can also be helpful for children with SEND (special educational needs or disabilities). For example, they may benefit from screen-based assistive technology, an invaluable tool that may help with communication, mobility, and so on.
Children are naturally captivated by brightly-coloured, moving screen images and stimulating audio. They can therefore be invaluable as a distraction tool when a parent simply needs a few minutes’ peace.
Older children may not want to miss out on chats, social media, and all the online goings-on that their friends and peers may be up to. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) is real for kids. That said, it’s less likely to affect under-fives, who usually have far less, if any, access to it.
And, to quote the findings of a recent report by Government advisors:

“Some evidence has linked large amounts of screen time with negative effects on children’s health and development, including on social, emotional, language and brain development, sleep, eyesight and healthy weight.” — Findings from the EYSTAG Report

Now, the UK Government has become proactively involved and has made a series of official recommendations. So, let’s take a look today at some recent new guidance for smartphone use by children that was issued in March 2026 by the Government.

What is the New Government Guidance for Screen Time for Children Under Five?

“We’ve created this evidence‑informed guidance to support parents and carers in shaping healthy screen time habits for little brains.” — Gov.uk

In March 2026, the UK Government issued the following recommendations* for electronic screen use by children under five:

Parents and carers should proactively “Limit total screen time for young children, wherever possible”, they say.
For children under 2, they recommend that screen time be avoided completely, except where it’s part of a shared family activity that encourages conversations, interactions, and closer bonding. Examples given include activities like viewing photograph albums together, group family/friends video calls, or reading e-books together.
For children between 2 and 5, they recommend that children should spend no more than 1 hour per day viewing electronic screens — ideally less, and in short chunks of no more than 30 minutes at a time that’s not close to bedtimes or mealtimes. Solo viewing should be minimal.

Such guidelines may not apply to children with SEND, who often use screen-based assistive technologies to help improve quality of life, for example, facilitating enhanced communication with others, mobility, etc. Such children will therefore require a more tailored approach, and parents/carers will need to balance both the potential risks and benefits of screen use for such children.

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“Screen use becomes particularly problematic when it crowds out sleep, physical activity, parent-child interaction, creative play, household routines, real-world exploration or learning.” — EYSTAG Report

What is the New Guidance Based On?

The Government guidance for under-fives follows findings and recommendations made by the independent Early Years Screen Time Advisory Group (EYSTAG), whose full report is available here. They took into account the views of a wide range of stakeholders, including parents, early years professionals, and children themselves, as well as findings from the latest research around the topic. The new Government guidance is therefore evidence-based. It also spans all kinds of screen use for under-fives, including TVs, mobiles/smartphones, tablets and computers.

“The new Government guidance is evidence-based.”

What Else Does the EYSTAG Report Recommend for Families with Children Under Five?

As well as the key recommendations, the EYSTAG report made the following additional recommendations for parents/carers of under-fives, suggesting they should:

Interact when the child is using an electronic screen. Ask questions, comment on what’s happening there, and so on, just like you might if you were reading a book to them.
Ensure that children’s use of screens is balanced with activities that are inherently more healthy, for example, creative play, interactions with family and friends, and so on.
Ensure that little ones achieve the appropriate amount of sleep each night. They cite the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s recommendations of a minimum of 11-14 hours for children aged 1 to 2, and 10 to 13 hours per night for those aged 3 and 4.
Ensure, as part of that, that children’s bedrooms are screen-free and that no screens are used in the hour before bedtime.
Ensure children get sufficient physical activity, including screen-free play, each day. The UK’s Chief Medical Officers suggest at least 3 hours per day for under-fives.

“Who uses screens with children, and how they use them, matters. Responsive interaction between parents and children when using screens can prevent harms and promote development for young children.” — EYSTAG Report

Electronic Screen Content Matters

The report also highlighted important conclusions about the type of content being watched on screens by children.

They suggest that “Well-designed content and interactive activities that are appropriate for the child’s age can support young children’s language development, problem solving, memory, and early literacy” and that’s especially so when the content is viewed along with a responsible, supervising, supportive adult or older sibling.

In stark contrast to this, they concluded: “Fast-paced short-form videos raise particular concerns, with suggestions that rapidly changing, highly stimulating content may affect children’s attention and excitement.”

“What children are viewing also matters in determining whether screen use brings harms or benefits” — EYSTAG Report

So, if screens are watched by under-fives, parents should ensure that content is slower-paced, has limited movement, has a decent level of focus on faces, has backgrounds that are simple, and includes some repetition to make it easier for the youngest to understand it more fully. That said, long periods of repeated viewing of the same clips over and over again should be avoided. Content should also avoid speech that is too fast, too many characters speaking at the same time, and images and audio that change constantly. Screens like TVs should also not be on in the background as they could be detrimental to and a distraction from children’s more natural play and learning activities.

Online Safety

The EYSTAG recommendations, against which the new Government guidance has been made, also states some common sense suggestions for parents and carers around the topic of online safety. As one might expect, they include recommendations like using parental controls to limit access to potentially harmful content, ensuring that young children can’t access social media, avoiding access to AI tools, AI-enabled devices, and chatbots, and ensuring that children don’t see potentially harmful content on the phones of parents and carers. Should a parent or carer allow a young child to use their smartphone for a short while, then the EYSTAG recommendation is that they should watch the content with the child at all times to ensure suitability.

Parental Use of Smartphones in Front of Children

As the EYSTAG report states, children are heavily influenced by the behaviour of parents, and therefore if a parent spends significant time ‘doomscrolling’ on a smartphone, children will naturally want to copy. The report goes further to state that “there is growing evidence that parental use in front of young children could negatively impact upon their development or health.”

The main message there is therefore to think about how and how often you use an electronic screen/device in front of young children — as it does impact.

Final Thoughts

Much of this is common sense, of course. Moreover, in its report, EYSTAG recognised that parents always know their child best and the vast majority, of course, have their best interests at heart. Therefore, in tandem to taking on board the Government’s advice, they should therefore trust their instincts.

“Parents should trust their instincts as they make decisions about what is best for their child and for their particular circumstances. However, we recognise that in an ever-changing technological world, trusted and evidence-based information can help parents make informed choices that reflect both their values and their child’s needs” — EYSTAG Report

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods

A High-Quality Childcare Nursery With its Own Forest School

The staff at Little Acorns Nursery fully understand how important it is to safeguard the wellbeing of children and under-fives around their use of screens. As part of that, children at the nursery regularly attend Forest School sessions, which get them outside, close to nature, which is so good for them. There, they learn about the world as well as hone a vast array of new skills as they play, explore, and discover. It’s a wonderful antidote to electronic screens! Learn more about Forest School in our ultimate guide.

Nursery Places in Clayton-le-Woods, Near Chorley

Are you looking for a nursery place for your child in the Clayton or Chorley area? If so, we would welcome your application. We are Little Acorns Nursery (Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley), are a good childcare provider according to Ofsted, and support funded places for eligible children. The nursery day also supports working parents by opening at 7:30 am and closing at 6:00 pm. If that sounds of interest to you for your child, please get in touch — we’d love to hear from you.

To explore a possible nursery place for your child at Little Acorns, please select an option below to get started:

Apply Today Book a Tour Message Us 01772 696288

Little Acorns is a high-quality childcare nursery in Clayton-le-Woods and may be convenient for those living or working nearby in such places as Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Chorley, Penwortham, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Leyland, Thorpe Green, Whittle-le-Woods, Lostock Hall, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, and Euxton.

29th June 2026/by Mark

Active Play, Activities for Children, Nature Activities for Kids, Parenting, Play, Sport

Why Every Family Should Try a Digital Detox

For most families, electronic screens are everywhere. Across the country, there are TVs in living rooms, with many households also having them in kitchens, dining rooms, and even bedrooms. Smartphone use is also prolific. Additionally, we have tablets, computers, game consoles, e-readers, and even wearable smartwatches that have screens. So, rather like the movie title, “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” electronic screens are nothing short of ubiquitous. But what effect does watching such screens have on people, particularly children? And is there an argument for taking a significant break from them once in a while? Today’s post explores the topic and explains Why Every Family Should Try a Digital Detox, whether for a day, a week, or significantly longer. Let’s dive in.

Are Electronic Screens Bad for Children?

Common sense alone would dictate that spending hours watching electronic screens is, at the very least, unnatural for children. When you think about it logically, time spent staring at one spot, remaining physically inactive, cannot be good for young – or even old – brains and bodies. Indeed, studies have revealed some unsurprising findings relating to excessive screen use, especially for children, whose young brains and bodies are still in their infancy. Those under five are undergoing rapid brain development, so it’s a particularly crucial time for them. Indeed, new Government guidelines recommend that children under the age of two should not be watching electronic screens alone, while those under five should watch no more than one hour per day.

New* Government guidelines recommend that children under the age of two should not be watching electronic screens alone, while those under five should watch no more than one hour per day.

* 27 March 2026. For more information, click this link to view the BBC video entitled, “How screens Impact Children” and learn more about what they really do to a child’s brain development.

Research surrounding the use of electronic screens by young children includes the following conclusions:

Excessive screen use, particularly close to bedtime, may interfere with the production of melatonin. This can adversely affect the quality of children’s sleep as well as delay its onset.
Language development can also become delayed when children watch electronic screens excessively. This is especially true for children under five. Indeed, one study revealed that such children’s language development was three times more likely to be delayed if they watched TV for 3 hours each day.
In the same study, school-readiness skills were also found to be adversely impacted by screen use.
Another study found that just 9 minutes of watching fast-paced TV was all it took to — at least temporarily — impair the executive function of children aged 4.

Just 9 minutes of viewing a fast-paced television cartoon had immediate negative effects on 4-year-olds’ executive function.¹

Source: Lillard AS, Peterson J. “The immediate impact of different types of television on young children’s executive function.” Pediatrics. 2011 Oct;128(4):644-9. doi: 10.1542/peds.2010-1919. Epub 2011 Sep 12. PMID: 21911349; PMCID: PMC9923845. View here.

Conversely, there are many benefits associated with taking a significant break from screen time.

What Benefits Can Children Expect from a Digital Detox?

Children who take significant breaks from staring at electronic screens enjoy a wide variety of benefits, including:

A decrease in levels of stress, anxiety, and other emotional difficulties;
A lift in their overall mood;
Increased well-being;
Improved physical health and fitness;
A resetting of their perception of time, with days feeling longer and fuller;
Improved engagement around physical activities;
An improvement to social behaviour and skills like cooperation, kindness, and other prosocial tendencies.

Studies back up the benefits of unplugging from screens. For example, teens undertaking a 48-hour break away from smartphones for a study experienced improved sleep, an increase in outdoor activities, better engagement with such activities, and improved family interactions.

In another study, children taking part in an unplugged 5-day camp encountered significant improvements in their ability to tune into the feelings and emotions of others. An example of this improved emotional intelligence was that they became more able to recognise the emotional expressions in others.

“Reading with an under-five can boost their language skills by 20%”

The absence of screens also gives parents the opportunity for more reading with their children. That’s important, because studies have shown that reading with an under-five can boost their language skills by 20%. Learn more about the benefits of reading with children here.

Of course, adults and whole households also enjoy related benefits when they unplug from screen use.

How Do Families Benefit from a Digital Detox?

Unplugging from electronic screens has been shown to benefit families as a whole. Days and evenings together seem more relaxed and often feel significantly longer when screens are switched off. Then, families are soon likely to increase levels of connection and presence. Away from screens, there is likely to be more spontaneity and creativity too, with more talking, reading, playing, drawing, and making. Children will often display excitement about beginning each new activity, too. The overall family mood is often also improved, leading to a healthy and congenial atmosphere, with noticeably more laughter. What’s more, everyone becomes more aware of each other, engaging in group or sibling activities more readily, and being overall more attentive to one another. Then, when it’s time for bed, everyone feels more rested, and children will generally fall asleep more easily than ever before. Incredibly, all such benefits and this newfound quality time are achieved simply by stepping away from electronic screens.

The Snowball Effect of Increased Outdoor Activities

When children and families unplug from electronic screens, it becomes natural for them to spend more time outdoors, closer to nature. That’s important because both outdoor play and a closer proximity to nature have incredibly significant benefits all of their own. To demonstrate that using just one example, studies showed that a mere 20 minutes spent closer to nature will improve a child’s happiness. In fact, nature boosts mental health so significantly that even just a view of nature through a window has been shown to boost academic grades, test results, and overall academic focus — incredible!

It’s Why We Have Forest School

So, as you can see, unplugging from screens has a snowball effect and is one of the many reasons why, here at Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, we have regular Forest School sessions. They’re not only great fun for little ones, but also benefit them in a vast number of ways. Through Forest School, they learn new skills, new things about the world, its wonderful flora and fauna, and about their place within it. Empathy, responsibility, curiosity, resilience, emotional intelligence, risk assessment, social and prosocial skills, and so much more are boosted during outdoor exploration and discovery. That’s in stark contrast to the time spent looking at electronic screens. Learn more about Forest School and its benefits here.

A Nursery Place for Your Child, Near Chorley

If you’d like to explore the possibility of a nursery place for your child at Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley, we’d love to hear from you. We’re graded as a good childcare provider by Ofsted, have our own Forest School, and accept funded places for eligible children. Full days at Little Acorns Nursery begin at 7:30 am and finish at 6:00 pm too, meaning working families have reliable childcare cover right through the working day.

Select an option below to start exploring a nursery place for your child at Little Acorns:

Apply Today Book a Tour Message Us 01772 696288

Little Acorns Nursery is a high-quality childcare nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley. As such, it may also represent a convenient choice for those living nearby, for example, in Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Penwortham, Thorpe Green, Leyland, Whittle-le-Woods, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Lostock Hall, and Euxton.

18th May 2026/by Mark

Spring Nature Hunt — a Fun & Educational Activity for Children (with Free Reference Poster!)

Activities for Children, Flora & Fauna, Learning & Development, Learning Through Play, Nature, Nature Activities for Kids, Parenting

Spring Nature Hunt Activity for Kids

— 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.

Download Your Free Spring Nature Hunt Reference Poster

Click the poster preview image below to save the poster in high-resolution Acrobat PDF format. Whether you left- or right-click will depend on your device’s settings. Print it out, and give it to children as reference for some of the many natural things they can discover in this wonderful season.

How Many of the Wonderful Spring Things Can Your Child Spot?

After printing out the poster as reference for you and your child, challenge them to go into the garden, local open space, or on a walk with you and see how many of the wonderful spring things they can discover. They can perhaps tick each one off as they are spotted.

Some of the easiest things to find are flowers like daisies, dandelions, and buttercups, which can be found throughout most of the spring season. Other flowers, like crocuses and snowdrops, and things like pussy willow, bloom very early in spring and may not be visible later in the season. Butterflies, bumblebees, honeybees, and ladybirds, however, should be amongst the insects that are abundant all spring and beyond. The fact that some items will be more challenging to find than others is, however, all part of the fun!

Teach Kindness – Nurture Empathy

It’s best to teach children to simply spot them, not try to collect them. Doing so is more kind and will help them understand their responsibility towards the environment and encourage empathy towards living things.

Nature is Important to Children & Adults Alike

Nature is incredibly important for the world and to us, as humans. Spending time in the natural world is also hugely beneficial to children, including those under five. That’s one of the many reasons why we love Forest School at the Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, which provides regular Forest School sessions and follows its approach. Learn why nature is so important to children here and discover more about Forest School here.

Enjoy!

Today’s Spring Nature Hunt activity will get children outdoors, away from electronic screens, and give them valuable insights into our incredible flora and fauna. Through such an activity, they’ll learn through exploration, discovery, and play, while also benefiting from fresh air, exercise, and close proximity to nature. Discovering some of the beautiful things in the natural world will also give children a better sense of their place within it and open their eyes to the natural riches that are available when they venture outdoors. Spending time in nature will teach them valuable knowledge and skills, stimulate their senses, benefit their mental and physical health, and so much more.

Your High-Quality Childcare Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods

With its Own Forest School!

Little Acorns Nursery is located in Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley. We are an award-winning childcare setting and provide high-quality childcare from Monday to Friday, virtually all year round. We support funded childcare hours for eligible children, provide Forest School sessions, and are graded by Ofsted as a good childcare provider. We also open early each day at 7:30 am and remain open until 6:00 pm, which will be particularly convenient to working parents. And, for our little ones, we provide the very best start, in a well-equipped, warm, loving and stimulating environment that brings out the best in them.

If you’re looking for high-quality childcare with Forest School sessions near Clayton or Chorley, we’d love to hear from you. Select an option below to start your child’s nursery journey with Little Acorns Nursery today:

Apply Today Book a Tour Message Us 01772 696288

Little Acorns Nursery is located in Clayton-le-Woods, Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, and Chorley. As such, we may also suit families living nearby in towns and villages like Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland, and Penwortham.

Important Safety Note:

Appropriate adult supervision is essential when children, especially the very young, are playing and exploring outdoors. There are many dangers out there, including hazards like ponds, lakes, water, traffic, stranger danger, steep inclines, and so on. So, please remain vigilant at all times when supervising little ones outside. Teach them to recognise and become aware of the dangers, hazards, and potential risks associated with all aspects of the outdoors.

17th April 2026/by Mark

Parenting, Parenting Styles

What’s Your Parenting Style? (& Why it Matters)

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.

So Many Parenting Names & Styles!

There is an incredible array of names for parenting styles. You may have heard, for example, of names like helicopter parenting, velcro parenting, indulgent parenting, parent-led parenting, and mindful parenting, along with a myriad of other descriptions. Some styles are quite distinct, others are subtle variations of each other, and several have more than one name. No wonder it’s confusing!

In light of all of this, we’re going to concentrate on just a few key parenting styles today. These are styles that have been around long enough to have undergone a reasonable amount of study by experts. So, for our chosen key styles, we can share some useful findings, valuable feedback, and perhaps provide a little guidance for new and expectant parents. If you’re one, see what you think — and where, perhaps, you’d like your own parenting style to fit in.

Key Elements of Parenting Styles

Before we launch into specific styles, bear in mind that all parenting styles can usually be broken down into the ways in which they mix several key elements. These include:

the amount of emotional warmth and empathy provided by parents for the child;
the amount children’s input and feedback is taken on board by parents;
how strictly rules, structure, boundaries, and discipline are applied by parents;
the amount of help, guidance, leadership, and even role-modelling provided by the parent.

Some, for example, may show high warmth, relaxed rules, two-way feedback, and lots of guidance towards the child. Others may provide the complete opposite — or indeed somewhere in between. Crucially, outcomes for children can be quite different, depending on the exact mix.

It’s also important to mention that parents may not stick to just one parenting style all the time, as there will be circumstances where, for one reason or another, they may need to switch styles. Every child and every parent is different, too. For such reasons, it’s simply not possible to say, with any certainty, that one style will fit every family perfectly — indeed, a mix is often needed as circumstances change.

Authoritative Parenting

The So-Called ‘Gold Standard’ of Parenting Styles

Let’s start with a style that’s often referred to as the ‘gold standard’ of parenting styles — authoritative parenting. For many years, experts have suggested that this particular parenting style has possibly the best overall balance in its approach. However, it’s important not to confuse authoritative parenting, which is fairly gentle, with authoritarian parenting, a far more strict style. Authoritative parenting is thought by experts to have a well-balanced mix of elements in its approach, resulting in good outcomes for children raised under its style. The style typically has the following elements in its make-up:

Parents are very warm towards children, showing a huge amount of empathy, love, understanding, and compassion towards them. Parents are attuned to children’s feelings, needs, and abilities.
Two-way feedback is encouraged, with children’s perspectives and points of view being acknowledged during interactions and activity planning. They will therefore feel listened to and heard.
When it comes to rules, authoritative parents give children clear, age-appropriate structure, defined boundaries, and clarity, using a cooperative approach, without threat of punishment. Instead, rules are gently applied through positive reinforcement (praise and rewards) and an approach that has clear reasoning and is fair, empathetic, and measured. Children will thereby know what is expected of them and why.
‘Authoritative’ parents are good role models, teaching by doing, demonstrating, or explaining clearly, so that children can learn how to mirror their behaviour and logical approach to things.
Children’s achievements, however large or small, are celebrated.

Outcomes from Authoritative Parenting

Professional studies suggest very favourable outcomes from well-implemented authoritative parenting. Children raised using this parenting style tend to do well academically and show high levels of self-motivation. They are naturally curious, eager to learn and discover, and are often very creative. They tend to take the initiative and are self-reliant, independent children with appropriate boundaries and self-control. They are sociable, with healthy bonds with friends and family, and show respect to others. Statistically, they also tend to be happier and have better mental health than children raised using many of the other parenting styles. Interestingly, they are also less likely to misuse drugs and alcohol when they’re older. What’s not to like about authoritative parenting!

The Gentle Parenting Style

Gentle parenting is a style that’s been very prominent on social media in recent years. Many may not realise, however, that it’s simply a soft variant of Authoritative parenting. That said, though, it still retains clear rules and boundaries for the child to follow. It’s crucially important, however, not to confuse gentle parenting with permissive parenting (also known as indulgent parenting), which, as the name suggests, has far fewer boundaries — very few in fact. Not so, though, with gentle parenting if approached correctly.

Being a soft variant of authoritative parenting means that the same kind of elements make up the gentle parenting style. These include a very high level of empathy and warmth towards the child, close bonds, a collaborative approach to rules and boundaries, avoidance of the threat of punishments in favour of rewarding/praising good behaviour, and acknowledgement of the child’s feelings, opinions, and perspective.

Outcomes from Gentle Parenting

Being a close variant of authoritative parenting also means that outcomes for children are likely to be very similar, i.e. extremely positive. However, we should add that, for gentle parenting specifically, there are not the years and years of study that authoritative parenting has enjoyed as a whole. We can take educated guesses to conclude that, if well implemented, gentle parenting has very similar benefits to authoritative parenting. Those are wide-ranging and comprehensive, as you can see in the section above. However, if gentle parenting is badly implemented, there’s a danger that it could stray into territory more akin to permissive parenting, which does not have such good outcomes. We’ll come to that parenting style next.

The Permissive Parenting Style

Permissive (a.k.a. Indulgent) parenting is a style that prioritises a child’s happiness over virtually everything else. As such, it’s a warm, empathetic, and loving parenting style. However, rules, structure, and discipline are extremely thin on the ground. Parents and children prioritise fun and their close relationship. When under-fives go through emotional periods in their development, it’s true that this permissiveness can counteract some of their emotional turmoil, but it does come at a cost.

Outcomes from Permissive Parenting

Children raised using a permissive parenting style have few boundaries and rules to follow, so are free to do pretty much whatever they want. That can often make for immense fun and a level of freedom that they will often enjoy. They will feel well-supported emotionally, be able to express themselves freely, be resourceful, and often have good self-esteem.

However, such an upbringing, with a lack of discipline, structure, and boundaries, can lead to several negative outcomes. These may include feelings of entitlement as well as behaviour that falls short of what’s usually expected by others around them. They may also lack self-discipline, accountability for their actions, and respect for the feelings of others. The lack of parental control and oversight can also, of course, lead to danger for the child. It may also mean children do not develop good eating and hygiene habits, which could cause health problems further down the line.

The Authoritarian Parenting Style

Authoritarian parenting (not to be confused with Authoritative parenting explained earlier) is the harshest of today’s parenting styles. As the name suggests, parents who use this parenting approach tend to be rather like dictators, whose rules must be followed … or else! With this parenting style, children must do what they’re told, often without understanding why, and the parent dominates them. There is no warmth or empathy for the child with this style. What the parent says goes. High standards are usually demanded, with stern discipline and punishments if children do not comply or achieve such standards. There is also no debate, so children’s views are not listened to or taken into account.

Outcomes from Authoritarian Parenting

Although authoritarian parenting is a hard style, as such it can mean that rules and boundaries are quickly understood. However, they may be understood simply because of the fear of the repercussions and punishment should they get things wrong. Blind obedience is expected. So, children learn, but through fear. They may learn the rules, but they often do not understand the reasons for the rules — because they’re never explained. They may struggle at school. Children may even need to develop deceitful tactics in order to avoid conflict following misdemeanours.

Research suggests that children raised using the authoritarian approach can develop mental health problems like depression and anxiety. They may also be more prone, through frustration and resentment at not being heard, to anger outbursts. It may not surprise you to learn that, sadly, they often also have low levels of self-esteem and confidence.

Uninvolved Parenting

Also known as neglectful parenting, uninvolved parenting “does what it says on the tin” i.e. children are very much left to their own devices with this style. They receive no love, affection, or empathy from parents. There are no rules or structure to their daily lives. They receive no guidance, and parents are certainly not role models. Children just have do make to as best they can, unsupported by parents. There may be different reasons for this, of course (not all ‘neglectful’ parents are uninvolved by choice — for example, they may be physically or mentally unwell or be working three jobs just to survive).

Outcomes from Uninvolved Parenting

Overall, studies found that uninvolved parenting has amongst the very worst outcomes for children. It may be true that children brought up via an uninvolved/neglectful parenting style may, by necessity, grow up resourceful, good at problem-solving, and capable of great independence. However, because of the neglect during their childhoods, they are also likely to suffer from a variety of negative outcomes. These include attachment issues, a disconnect and lack of bonds with parents, emotional insecurity with others, low self-esteem, and behavioural issues. Given that parental input in children’s education is also incredibly beneficial to children, a lack of it is clearly going to be detrimental to their academic performance, which is likely to adversely affect their career potential too.

Final Thoughts

There are many other names for parenting styles, but we have covered the most important and well-studied ones above. It’s clear that some have significantly better outcomes for children than others, so we hope today’s guide helps to shed some light on the key options. Clearly, there are some styles to avoid, and some that seem to have very positive outcomes. And, as we said before, it’s likely that parents may need to juggle more than one style, from time to time, as circumstances — and perhaps danger and stress levels — demand. Parenting is hard, and every child and family situation is unique. Whichever parenting style(s) you use, we wish you well on your parenting journey.

High-Quality Childcare in Clayton-le-Woods

Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

We hope you found today’s post interesting and useful. Please feel free to bookmark and share it if so. We’re Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley. We’re officially a ‘Good’ childcare provider, so you know your child will be in safe hands, and we offer support for funded childcare hours for eligible working families. We also have our own, newly reopened Forest School, which both children and parents love!

Get in touch today to explore a possible place for your child at Little Acorns Nursery:

Apply Today Book a Tour Message Us 01772 696288

Little Acorns Nursery represents a high-quality and convenient childcare choice for families in Clayton-le-Woods, Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Chorley, Penwortham, Leyland, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Euxton, and many other locations nearby.

18th March 2026/by Mark

Antenatal Course, Babies, Free Courses, Parenting

Enrol on a ‘Complete Antenatal Course’ — Absolutely Free!

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!

“This course has been carefully designed to guide you through every stage of your antenatal journey.” — NowBaby.

This well-presented antenatal course is delivered in video format. It contains 8 hours of content, divided into bite-sized chunks, which can be perused at your own pace. You can dip in and out, as time permits, via your login, which we’ll cover later in this article.

* Is the Course Really Free?

Yes — the Complete Antenatal Course is currently free (correct at the time of writing, mid-February 2026). That assumes, of course, that you don’t choose to upgrade to premium options or sign up to other courses etc. We found it quick and easy to sign up without such add-ons — achieving virtually instant access to the course, without cost. That said, some families may consider paid upgrades if they so wish, for example, if they would like access to speak with midwives during the course, or get involved in Q&A sessions. It’s also worth pointing out that the main course is free because it’s funded through a commercial partnership — apparently saving £175! You may therefore see some short commercial clips during the course, but we found them minimal and unobtrusive.

“It’s divided into easy-to-follow modules, each containing short, focused videos. This structure allows you to learn at your own pace, whether you prefer to watch a few videos at a time or complete a full module in one sitting.” — NowBaby.

What Does the Antenatal Course Cover?

The online course provides evidence-based, practical guidance for new and expectant parents through the stages from pregnancy, through birth, right info early parenthood. Each module is led clearly by experienced midwives to inform and empower parents on their early parenting journey.

The following course content is included:

Pregnancy

The Pregnancy module includes 6 sub-sections that cover choosing a care provider, an antenatal appointment schedule explainer covering scans and tests, your diet including what you should/shouldn’t be eating during pregnancy, smoking, etc., self-care during pregnancy, possible complications to be aware of, and informed choice and consent information.

Preparing the Mind & Body for Birth

Preparing the Mind & Body for Birth has 7 sections that cover what affects the birth experience, choosing a birth place, what to pack in your birth/hospital bag, writing down your birth preferences (your Birth Plan), hormones and labour, your birth environment (a.k.a. Birth Zone), and finally perineal massage and its benefits.

Labour & Birth

Labour & Birth has ten sub-sections that include discussions around foetal position and which is best, signs that you’re heading towards labour, how to know you’re beginning labour, the various stages explained, the optimal time for cutting the umbilical cord, what’s known by midwives as ‘the golden hour’, the importance of skin-to-skin contact, checks on the newborn baby, the role of birth partners, and assisted births (using ventouse or forceps).

Pain Management

Pain Management comprises 6 course videos explaining the various options available to manage pain during labour. These include hypnobirthing, warm water showers, baths, TENS machines, Entonox (gas and air), opioids, and epidurals.

Induction of Labour

The Induction of Labour module is divided into 6 sub-sections that cover everything from what being induced means, augmentation of labour, decision-making, methods of induction, starting the process, and pain management during induction of labour (bearing in mind induced labour may be more intense for some).

Caesareans

The Caesareans module is divided into 3 sub-sections that include possible reasons for caesarean sections, the process of giving birth via caesarean and what to expect, and finally what to expect when you go home following a caesarean.

Postnatal Recovery

The Postnatal Recovery module discusses possible blood loss following birth, breast changes to expect, perineal tears, emotional and mental health considerations, and common postpartum concerns.

Newborn Care

The Newborn Care module is a very comprehensive course containing 12 sub-sections. These cover the Golden Hour that immediately follows birth — and why it’s important — along with the checks that are likely to be made for newborns, dressing your baby, swaddling, cleaning and bathing your baby, sleep for newborns, nappy change preparation and tips, jaundice and what to look for, and more. Towards the end of the module, there is also a commercial that you have to watch before being able to proceed to the next module, but it’s only short.

Breastfeeding

The Breastfeeding module is another comprehensive one and contains 9 sub-sections. These cover everything you need to know about breastfeeding, including anatomy and physiology, the benefits of breastfeeding to both mother and baby, how best to establish successful breastfeeding, expressing/pumping, ‘responsive’ feeding explained, what cluster feeding is and how it presents itself, potential problems or concerns around breastfeeding, and much more.

Infant First Aid & Medical Conditions

Infant First Aid & Medical Conditions is the final module in the free online course. This is a huge section, although most of the 20 or so sub-sections are only 1 or 2 minutes long. Covered are common conditions that may affect your baby, tips about how to manage them if you were at home without medical assistance nearby, common breathing problems, how to do resuscitation, first aid and basic life support for babies, tummy troubles, screening and tests commonly undertaken for babies, growth and centiles, followed finally by a section about jaundice and what the course midwife refers to as ‘funny head shapes’.

Remember: if you’re ever concerned about your baby, do reach out to a health professional, for example, your midwife, health visitor, GP, or paediatrician. In the event of a medical emergency, dial 999. For non-emergencies, the NHS number is 111.

The course is a “comprehensive guide for expectant parents to navigate pregnancy, prepare for labour, and care for newborns, ensuring a healthy and informed journey into parenthood.” — NowBaby.

How to Sign Up for the Free Antenatal Course

How to sign up for the free antenatal course. You can currently sign up for the course here. Currently it’s free of charge and, when we tested it, we didn’t need to enter any payment details at all, having not selected any extras during sign-up. In fact, it was surprisingly quick and easy to gain access to the online course.

Choose your preferred password and, once you’ve signed up, you’ll receive various emails by return. These will include one welcoming you to the ‘Complete Antenatal Course’, and another confirming the login web address and a username reminder. Enjoy!

We hope many parents and prospective parents take the opportunity to make the most of this wonderful — and free — antenatal course. It’s incredibly comprehensive and informative, while also being presented in an easy-to-digest way. By immersing yourself in the course, you should feel more confident, informed, and empowered, and ready for the parenting journey ahead.

Your Childcare Provider in Clayton-le-Woods

Little Acorns Nursery provides high-quality childcare in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

Are you looking for high-quality, reliable weekday childcare for your baby, toddler, or child under five? If you live in or around Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, Little Acorns Nursery would be a great choice! With a Good Ofsted rating, support for free childcare hours for eligible working families and our own Forest School, Little Acorns would make a fabulous choice.

To start exploring a possible place for your child at Little Acorns Nursery, please get in touch via one of the following options:

Apply Today Book a Tour Message Us 01772 696288

As well as suiting families in Clayton-le-Woods, Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, and Chorley, Little Acorns Nursery may also be convenient for those in nearby locations like Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland, and Penwortham.

About NowBaby The free antenatal course is delivered online by NowBaby, whose website states: they provide expert antenatal education online and in-person to expectant parents across the nation; courses are run by qualified and highly-experienced midwives and healthcare professionals and are peer-reviewed for accuracy; they work in partnership with over 140 NHS antenatal clinics across England and Wales and have partnered with the NHS for 24 years; they have a 4.8 rating on Trustpilot. (Learn more about NowBaby here). That said, we cannot make any guarantees in relation to third-party information, services or websites, including those of NowBaby. It is therefore important to do your own research and due diligence.

16th February 2026/by Mark

Childcare, Chorley, Chorley Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Forest School, Nature, Nature Activities for Kids, Nurseries, Under-5s

Our Clayton-le-Woods Forest School is Open!

We’re delighted to share some very exciting news: our much-loved Forest School in Clayton-le-Woods has now re-opened (Spring 2026). After dedicated staff training, careful preparation and thoughtful planning, we’re ready to welcome children back to outdoor learning — and we know it’s something they will be extremely excited about.

Forest School has always been an important part of who we are as a nursery. In fact, we are proud to have been the very first setting in the area to establish a Forest School, and it quickly became a highlight of the week for our children. Bringing it back now feels like a natural and meaningful step forward, rooted in the proven belief that young children thrive when they are given time, space and freedom to explore the natural world around them. Indeed, spending time in and around nature is profoundly beneficial to children.

A Natural Choice for Our Nursery & Children

Our nursery is surrounded by local parks, green spaces and natural open areas, making Forest School a perfect fit. What’s more, nature is already part of daily life here, and Forest School will allow children to experience it more deeply and more intentionally. They are naturally curious and want to touch, observe, ask questions and make sense of what they see around them. Being outdoors opens up the enormity of the natural world to them. It gives them opportunities to notice changes in the seasons, discover plants and wildlife, better understand the circle of life, and their place in the world. It helps them develop a real sense of connection to their environment, and their power and responsibility over it. Those are all things that would be difficult to replicate indoors alone.

Safety First Forest School’s re-opening follows comprehensive training for our team, alongside detailed preparation of activities, routines and risk assessments. Safety is, of course, always our top priority. Sessions are well supervised, thoughtfully structured, and designed to support exploration in a calm, nurturing, and safe way.

What Forest School Is All About

Forest School is a child-centred approach to learning that takes place outdoors and encourages children to explore, investigate, and learn about the natural world through hands-on experiences. Sessions are led by trained practitioners and are carefully planned to be age-appropriate for under-fives. They allow children to learn about nature, build new skills, learn to assess risks, and grow in confidence and independence.

Forest School isn’t about rushing or achieving a set outcome. It’s about giving children time — time to wonder, to try, to persevere and to feel proud of what they can do — all at their own pace.

Supporting Development, Confidence & the EYFS

Forest School offers rich opportunities for learning across all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage. As children climb, balance, build, dig, collect and create, they naturally develop physical strength, coordination and problem-solving skills. They learn to communicate with one another, take turns, share ideas and work together, supporting social and emotional development in a meaningful context.

Being outdoors also supports children’s emotional wellbeing. Nature has a calming influence, helping children to regulate their emotions, build resilience and develop self-confidence. Whether a child is energetic and adventurous, or quieter and more reflective, Forest School offers something valuable for every personality and learning style.

Learning About Nature, Responsibility & Our Place in the World

Spending regular time in nature helps children build an understanding of living things — plants, animals and insects — and how they all play a role in the world around us. Through observation and gentle guidance, children begin to develop empathy and respect for flora and fauna, learning that all living things need care and consideration.

Forest School also supports early understanding of responsibility towards the environment and one another. Children learn that their actions matter, helping them develop a sense of stewardship for the planet and a growing awareness of their own place within it. Such early experiences lay important foundations for values such as kindness, responsibility and respect.

Forest School Beyond the Woodland

Forest School is not limited to time spent outdoors for children at Little Acorns Nursery. The Forest School approach is also reflected throughout our nursery environment, both indoors and in our garden and grounds. Natural materials, open-ended resources and opportunities for exploration are woven into everyday play, allowing children to continue their connection with nature — whether indoors or outside.

This consistency helps children feel confident and supported, reinforcing learning and curiosity across multiple areas of the setting.

Discovering Nature in Every Season

Re-opening Forest School means children will initially experience the unique magic of nature in winter. Frosty mornings, muddy puddles, bare trees and changing weather all offer rich learning opportunities that will inspire meaningful — and often profound — conversations. Forest School is a year-round experience, though. So, as the seasons pass from winter, through spring and summer into autumn, each will bring new discoveries and moments of wonder to the children in our care.

A Special Part of Nursery Life

For families already with us, Forest School adds another enriching layer to the care and education your child receives. For those considering joining our nursery, it’s one of the many reasons we believe our setting offers something truly special. Being able to offer Forest School — especially as a nursery that pioneered it locally — reflects our commitment to high-quality, thoughtful early years practice.

After all, childhood is about curiosity, connection and discovery — and there is no better place to begin than in nature itself. Learn more about Forest School in our ultimate guide here.

Contact Little Acorns Nursery

Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

The whole team at Little Acorns Nursery is incredibly excited to see Forest School come back to life this spring. We can’t wait to watch our children grow, learn and flourish outdoors. If you’d like to find out more about Forest School or our weekday childcare services for under-fives, contact us, speak to our team, or come and see us; we’ll be delighted to tell you more.

Apply Today Book a Tour Message Us 01772 696288

Little Acorns is a childcare nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, but may also suit families living close by, for example, in Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Penwortham, Buckshaw Village, Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Euxton, and Leyland.

15th January 2026/by Mark

Babies, Baby Facts, Learning & Development

15 Fascinating Facts About Babies

Human babies are incredible. Indeed, the more we learn about them, the more we realise just how incredible they are! Not only are they little bundles of joy that have evolved in less than a year, but they also conceal some amazing secrets. Did you know, for example, that babies have gills (kind of), fur and a tail during their development in the womb — and that they have three times more taste buds than adults when they’re first born? In today’s article, we explore some fascinating baby facts that surprised us — and may surprise you! Take a look.

We Remember Nothing Before the Age of 3

Scientists are not completely sure why, but none of us tend to have memories that go back beyond the age of three. Can you recall anything from when you were 2 or 3 years old? The vast majority of us can’t, and it is believed to be because of two possible reasons. One possibility is that we can’t remember our earliest years because the memory system in our brains was not developed enough at that time. The other possibility is that it’s because memory could be tied to language, and our language skills were not sufficient to store memories until the age of three. It could also be a mixture of the two, perhaps.

Newborn Babies have Heart Rates Twice as Fast as Adults

Newborn babies have a heart rate of somewhere between 120 and 160 beats per minute. That’s around double that of adults!

4.44 Babies Are Born Every Second!*

Every second, an average of 4.44 new babies are born around the world*. That’s about 266 babies per minute and almost 16,000 per hour. On a daily basis, it works out to over 383,600 new babies per day and about 140 million every year. The world population is currently growing at a rate of 0.9% annually.

The Birth Rate in England & Wales is Falling

In England and Wales, 591,072 babies were born in 2023 according to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data^(¹). That is the lowest birth rate for the region since 1977, as well as being the first time the rate was below 600,000 since 2002. Indeed, women in England and Wales give birth to an average of just 1.44 children over their lifetimes in the latest data, which is the lowest on record.

September is the Most Popular Month for Baby Births

September remains the most popular month for births in England and Wales, according to the same ONS data. The most popular day for births was 28 September, a date that has been in the top ten days for births since 2021.

Boxing Day Has the Lowest Birth Rate

Boxing Day, 26 December, has the lowest birth rate for the whole year, according to the ONS. What’s more, this has been the case for 11 years in a row!

Parents Are Getting Older When Babies Are Born

Data analysed by the ONS over the last 50 years shows that, for babies born in England and Wales, parents are gradually getting older. In the last count (for 2023), a new baby’s father was, on average, 33.8 years of age, while mothers were 30.9.

Over Half the World’s Babies are Born in Asia*

Almost 53% of births happen across the continent of Asia, 30.7% across the African continent, 10.7% in the Americas and just 0.7% in Oceania. That compares to 5% of births that occur in Europe.

Babies Have Gills in the Womb (Kind of)

There has been much debate about whether foetuses — developing babies — have gills when they’re in the womb. The answer is ‘kind of’ according to many experts, including the late Dr Michael Mosley/BBC^(∞). While they do have tiny gill-like folds called pharyngeal arches, which may be evidence that humans evolved from fish, they are not gills in the true sense of the word. The so-called ‘gill slits’ can be found on the foetus’s neck in the very early stages of development, but are not for breathing. Instead, the structures migrate and evolve into the top lip, palate, and jaw of the baby.

Human Foetuses Have Tails

In the early stages of development in the womb, human foetuses have tails, which even have vertebrae. However, around the 7th and 8th week of gestation, those vertebrae fuse together, and the tail disappears, leaving only the ‘tailbone’ or coccyx that we’re all born with.

Babies Grow Fur in the Womb

Lanugo is a soft, fine, usually colourless body hair that’s grown by babies in the womb and that eventually covers the baby’s whole body. In tandem with the creamy covering of vernix caseosa that babies are born with, the Lanugo fur’s purpose is to help protect the developing child and help regulate its temperature. Developed from about the 14th week and visible on the foetus’s skin from the 21st week of pregnancy, it is usually shed by about week 35, before birth. It is replaced by vellus hair, which is commonly known as ‘peach fuzz’ on newborns. That said, up to 30% of babies are born with lanugo hair still evident somewhere on their bodies, and this is especially true for premature babies. (Source).

Babies Have 3 Times More Taste Buds Than Adults

Did you know that newborn babies have three times more taste buds than adults? It’s true! Newborn babies have around 30,000 taste buds, whereas adults have no more than 10,000. However, in a newborn, the taste buds are distributed not only over the tongue, but also the palate, throat lining, and tonsils. It is thought that this helps them better identify advantageous foods over potentially toxic ones. That said, the number of taste buds gradually reduces as the infant gets older, eventually being present only on the tongue, as with adults.

Babies Have Almost 50% More Bones Than Adults

Similarly, babies are born with many more bones than adults. It may surprise you to learn that a baby has 300 bones in their body when born, whereas an adult has only 206. As they mature and grow, however, some bones in children fuse together to form single bones. A great example of this can be found in the human skull, which, in babies, consists of several separate bones which, come adulthood, have fused together into a single bone. It is through this kind of process that humans reduce the number of bones in their bodies by almost one-third.

Babies Do Not Cry Tears When First Born

We all know that a baby’s first cry is an important milestone and one that signals that the child is breathing. However, not all of us may notice that most babies do not cry actual tears during the first part of their infancy. That’s because their tear ducts — or lacrimal glands — are not yet fully mature. As such, it may be several weeks or even as long as 2 or 3 months before normal tears are evident when a baby cries. Premature babies usually take the longest to exhibit full tears when crying.

Babies’ Brains Double in Size in the First Year

During the early years, a child’s brain grows rapidly. In the first year alone, babies’ brains double in size and, by the time they’re three, are already four-fifths the size of an adult’s. By the age of five, they’re usually nine-tenths the size of an adult’s brain. That said, traditional wisdom suggests that the human brain continues to develop right into a person’s mid-twenties. However, some experts now believe that some areas of the brain continue to mature right into the thirties.

We hope you found today’s list of fascinating baby facts interesting. We may follow up with another set of fascinating baby facts in a future post, so watch this space!

High-Quality Childcare in Clayton-le-Woods

Little Acorns Nursery: a first-class weekday childcare service for Under-5s near Chorley

Little Acorns Nursery provides families with a first-class childcare service in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley. We have a Good Ofsted rating and support free childcare funding schemes for eligible working families with children as young as just 9 months of age. Little Acorns represents a fabulous choice for weekday childcare, which we provide for babies and children under five. Contact us today to apply for a nursery place or to learn more — we’d love to hear from you.

Apply Today Book a Tour Message Us 01772 696288

Located in Clayton-le-Woods, Little Acorns Nursery will also be conveniently close for families in Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland, and Penwortham.

^{* (Correct at the time of writing — 12 December 2025 — according to the Live Birth Counter).}

16th December 2025/by Mark

Babies, Childcare, Children, Chorley, Chorley Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Early Years Education, Lancashire, Nurseries, Nursery, Nursery News, Ofsted Report, Preschool, Preschoolers, Toddlers, Under-5s

Fabulous New Ofsted Report for Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

A fabulous new Ofsted report is out for Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley. Published on 30 September 2025, it follows an inspection earlier that month. Parents and local families will be delighted to learn that, once again, Little Acorns Nursery was rated as ‘Good’ across all categories. That’s a high rating for overall effectiveness, the quality of education, the behaviour and attitudes of those attending, the personal development of staff, and the quality of leadership and management at the setting. A clean sweep! It’s news that will instil confidence in families that are considering enrolling a child at the nursery, and a clear demonstration that little ones who attend will benefit enormously — and be kept safe.

“What is it like to attend this early years setting?”

“The provision is good” — Ofsted.

Overall effectiveness: Good
The quality of education: Good
Behaviour and attitudes: Good
Personal development: Good
Leadership and management: Good

Let’s take a look at some of the positive findings and encouraging comments from the Ofsted Inspector who prepared this latest report.

Children Feel Happy, Settled,
Safe & Secure at the Nursery

The Ofsted Inspector could clearly see that children at Little Acorns are happy and feel at home at the nursery:

“Children are happy and settled at the nursery… Staff help children to learn important language, such as to describe their feelings. This helps children to feel safe and secure at the nursery.” — Ofsted.

She later also remarked that staff “are responsive to children’s needs, feelings and moods” and “encourage children to express and say what they feel,” later concluding in the report that “Children’s well-being is supported effectively.”

A Positive Attitude to Learning

As the Ofsted Inspector said in her report, “Children make good progress in their learning of the nursery’s curriculum”, and she recognised the positive approach to children’s learning at the setting:

“Leaders are ambitious for children’s learning and development. They are clear about the knowledge that they want children to learn and why.” — Ofsted.

And, with that in mind, it was clear to the Inspector that children’s learning and development are nurtured well by thoughtful and attentive staff:

“Staff know the children well. They provide meaningful learning opportunities that build on children’s interests effectively… Children demonstrate a positive attitude to their learning.” — Ofsted.

Children’s Personal Development is Promoted Well

Ofsted’s report also points out that children’s personal development is nurtured very effectively, resulting in them becoming independent and “confident in their own abilities.”

“Leaders make certain that staff promote children’s personal development well. Children benefit from the many opportunities that staff provide to help them to become independent.” — Ofsted.

Help Making Friends

The Ofsted Inspector also recognised the nursery’s positive role in helping babies and children socialise and make friends:

“They develop important knowledge about how to make friends because of staff’s skilful help. Babies show curiosity and are inquisitive about others. Older children are confident when meeting new people.” — Ofsted.

Help Developing Physical Skills

The way the nursery and its practitioners help children develop physical skills was also picked up in the latest Ofsted report. The Inspector sang the praises of the ‘thoughtful’ early years practitioners and the appropriateness of equipment:

“The nursery provides plenty of opportunities for children to develop essential physical skills. For example, staff working with babies provide climbing equipment, such as low-level steps, for babies to explore how they can move their bodies. Staff working with older children provide them with access to large equipment, such as the outdoor slide and wheeled ride-on toys. Children delight in testing out how strong they have become because of the thoughtful help of the nursery.” — Ofsted.

Strong Safeguarding at the Nursery

Ofsted’s inspector applauded the nursery’s “effective” safeguarding arrangements:

“There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children’s interests first.” — Ofsted.

She also recognised recent safeguarding enhancements. With regard to possible allergens, for example, she remarked:

“The provider ensures that known allergies for children are identified, understood and managed well… It is now a nut-free nursery. Staff have attended relevant training and leaders have strengthened risk assessments.” — Ofsted.

And, with regard to security, she noted the excellent measures in place:

“The provider ensures that the premises are safe and secure […] additional locks and entrance bells have been added to the nursery’s external gate. Staff understand their responsibility to ensure that external doors are locked and that they adhere to the nursery’s risk assessments. Leaders ensure that children are adequately supervised. This ensures the safety of children.” — Ofsted.

Staff Recognised

Another key area that Ofsted inspectors look at is staffing. For example, are staff happy, are they adequately supervised and managed by leaders, and are they given the opportunity to grow? Well, as the ‘Good’ ratings for ‘Personal Development’ and ‘Leadership & Management’ in this latest report testify, it was a resounding ‘yes’ on all counts. The Inspector recognised that the leaders ‘ensure the smooth running of the nursery’ and support the work of staff. She went on to report:

“leaders ensure that supervisions for staff are effective and include opportunities to discuss individual staff’s training and development needs. Staff receive effective coaching from leaders that improves the quality of education that children receive.” — Ofsted.

Click here to view/download the September 2025 Ofsted Report for Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley.

Little Acorns Nursery: a High-Quality Childcare Service in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

As the latest Ofsted report testifies, Little Acorns Nursery is a great choice if you’re looking for a high-quality childcare service in Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley. We’re open virtually all year round, support funded childcare places for children aged 9 months to 4 years (inclusive), and give under-fives the best start in life. Contact us today to arrange a guided visit to the nursery, ask any questions, or enrol your child for a nursery place. We can’t wait to meet you!

Apply Today Book a Tour Message Us 01772 696288

Little Acorns is an award-winning nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, near Chorley, Central Lancashire, and may also represent a convenient choice for families living nearby in Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland, and Penwortham.

26th November 2025/by Mark

Childcare, Chorley, Chorley Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods, Lancashire, Nurseries, Nursery, Nursery News, Preschool, Under-5s

Little Acorns Nursery Open Day: Saturday 1st November 2025

Little Acorns Nursery is holding an Open Day on Saturday, 1 November 2025. We’ll be opening our doors to Lancashire families, so they can see this wonderful childcare setting in person. There’s no need to book — you are welcome to come along at any time between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. What’s more, being on a Saturday, it should prove more convenient for working families. On the day, our team will be available for guided tours. We can show families the rooms, excellent facilities, and well-equipped outdoor areas, and answer any questions that you might have. Saturday is a non-working day at the nursery, so you’ll have our undivided attention. Why not bring your own child with you, so they can see the setting too — and get a feel for how well they would fit in? Come along — we’d love to meet you!

“A fabulous enabling environment, indoors and outdoors.”

Come Along — And Save!

If you sign up for a nursery place on the day, we’ll waive the registration fee!

Nursery Open Day: Saturday 1 November 2025, 10 am – 1 pm

Little Acorns is a wonderful childcare nursery at 34 Sheep Hill Lane, Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, Lancashire, PR6 7JH. We are a convenient choice for families seeking high-quality childcare near Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Chorley, Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland, and Penwortham. We operate virtually all year round, closing only for Bank Holidays and over Christmas/New Year. We support free/funded childcare places for eligible children aged from just 9 months— great for working families. Little Acorns Nursery is recognised by Ofsted as a Good Provider.

“Children are happy and settled at the nursery.” — Ofsted, September 2025.

• ‘Good Provider’ status from Ofsted (September 2025 report). • Government-funded childcare places are supported for eligible families. • A nurturing & enabling environment, inside and out. • Forest School re-opening in 2026. • Baby Massage and Baby Yoga sessions planned for 2026 — training already in progress! • 5-Star Food Hygiene Rating from the Food Standards Agency (June 2025). • A purpose behind everything we do at the nursery.

“Children demonstrate a positive attitude to their learning.” — Ofsted, September 2025.

We’d love to show you our fabulous nursery and preschool on the 1st of November, so please come along anytime from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — we can’t wait to meet you!

Need More Information? Call 01772 696 288

15th October 2025/by Mark

Tag Archive for: preschools

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Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley

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