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With Christmas fast approaching (yay!) it seemed only fitting to write a blog post on some fun family trips out to really get you into the festive mood. Below I've listed some ideas to add to your calendar from attending a pantomime, charitable ideas, light trails to visiting Santa. These will hopefully add some sparkle and magic in the lead up to your Christmas celebrations. Shoebox Gift Donation - A perfect opportunity to encourage your children to think of others and give back at Christmas. Samaritan's Purse, Operation Christmas Child do their national collection week 14-21 November for 2022. If you've missed this date then add it to the calendar for next year. Your child can get involved by wrapping up the shoebox, going to the shops with you to select the gifts, helping to write a message, and by choosing a family photo to include for the recipient. Local Christmas Lights - Visit your local town to see the decorations on display along the high street/in the shopping centre. Are there any local streets that are particularly festive and have put on a display, or any that do the window advent for you to go and enjoy? Or are there any local pop up Christmas stores in a town near you? Big Bee and I had half an hour to kill the other day and the Christmas store in town was a great source of wonder with all the sparkly lights. Pantomime - A wonderful evening for lots of festive cheer and a lovely tradition to start as a family. I still have such fond memories of attending each year as a child with my family. It's as much fun for the children as it is for the adults! Visit Father Christmas - Visiting Father Christmas in his grotto with the elves is a fun and magical experience for the little ones. Big Bee still talks about meeting him last year and loves looking back at the photos. She is very excited about seeing him next month too. Little Bee's first encounter with Father Christmas Christmas Markets and Fairs - For locally made gifts and produce, and all the festive feels then a Christmas market or fair is for you. It's a great way to support local organisations too. Local Garden Centre - We can't be the only family who absolutely love visiting the garden centre?! With young children watching the water features, seeing all the animal ornaments, smelling the flowers and looking at all the pretty colours, to visiting the café for a little babyccino and treat are sure to be a hit alone. But some garden centres may also have a little play area, and when visiting around Christmas when all the lights and Christmas trees are on display it's an added bonus. You can even play a game to count how many Santa ornaments you can see. You may even get roped into buying a little early Christmas present if you find that they have conveniently found their way to the children's gift area. Ballet - Christmas is a great time to go and see a ballet performance and is another one you could turn into a yearly tradition when your children are old enough. The Nutcracker is a classic Christmas performance and perfect for those who are old fans and for new ones too. Ice-Skating - For those that fancy a special and unique seasonal experience. Our local one has a smaller ice rink for younger children and offer support aids too. Lights Trail - With lots of different places offering illuminated Christmas lights trails you are sure to find one near you. Remember to book in advance and wrap up warm! It's a perfect opportunity to make memories with families and friends. Light Trail: The Twelve Days of Christmas Donate to a Food Bank - You can take your children food shopping to make up a charitable food parcel (make sure it's items that they require) and then drop it off at the food bank together. This is a great lesson in generosity and helping to make a difference to other children and families during a time that can be particularly difficult for many. Christmas Service - It's likely that your local church will have lots of things to see and do over the Christmas period, such as a crib service and carol singing. It is a wonderful chance for your children to understand the meaning behind all the food and gifts, whilst having some fun in the process. It's also a lovely opportunity for you to meet with people and connect with the those in your community. Inviting Over Neighbours - Christmas is a great time to connect with your neighbours too. If there are other families or individuals who would appreciate some company, mince pies, mulled wine and some child friendly alternatives then reach out now. Christmas Scavenger Hunt - Before heading out locally make a list as a family as to what Christmas items you need to see on your trip out, such as a snowman, bauble, Santa, reindeer etc. This will help encourage your child's observational/noticing skills and add a sprinkle of festive fun. You could even add an element of competition and split up into teams and include a winning prize. Family Walk - Don some Christmas hats/headbands (yes, I’ve done a walk wearing a tinsel and bell decorated Christmas tree on my head) and sing some Christmas songs whilst taking a walk in your local park or woods. Invite some friends or family (pre-warn them that hats and singing is obligatory) to add some more festive cheer. You can even bring mince pies and hot chocolate or mulled wine! A busy little Santa's helper Toy Donation - Encourage your children to sort out their toys and identify the toys that they don't play with as much, so that other children can get more enjoyment out of them. A clear explanation about what you are going to do together and why you're doing it is important. I appreciate that this may be difficult for many children, but it's a good opportunity to nurture compassion and selflessness. It's also practically a good way to clear space for the new toys that will no doubt be descending on your home soon. Once you have sorted through the toys you can go down to the local charity shop to donate them. Local Concert/Performance - Check out to see if there are any festive music concerts or performances over the festive period. If there is something on in January it may be a nice pick me up to look forward to in what can be an otherwise gloomy month. Carol Singing - On our street some neighbours get together and sing Christmas carols to encourage a sense of community and bring some festive cheer. Is there something similar in the area you live? If not, maybe you could orchestrate something locally? Or, alternatively invite some neighbours, friends or family over to have a good ol' sing along. If you fancy a trip to London you could also tie in some carol singing as mentioned below. Pick a Christmas Tree - Make purchasing the family Christmas tree into a fun trip out all together. Maybe find somewhere where they have food and drink stands available and get the children involved in selecting it. Make sure Christmas tunes are being played on repeat on route to collect and back, and then when you're at home to decorate it all together. By the end of the day you should be sufficiently sick of hearing Christmas songs! Decorating or pulling off the decorations...ummm! Visit a nursing home - Assuming rules and regulations permit I'm certain that someone would really appreciate the company and joy that visitors and children bring. Maybe investigate with a local nursing home? Alternatively, are there any neighbours who live alone who would appreciate a neighbourly visit? Christmas time can be a very lonely time for many people, and it's important we all try our best in supporting those that need it. Festive Afternoon Tea - If your children are anything like mine then the prospect of a festive afternoon tea would go down a storm. You could dress up and turn it into a special occasion too. London - Seeing the Christmas lights and decorations in London are sure to brighten up your winter with all that twinkling. You could wander and soak up the festive atmosphere on famous streets and areas such as Covent Garden, book a performance at They Royal Albert Hall or a 'Bach to Baby' concert, head to the Christmas market on the Southbank, attend Christmas carol singing by the Christmas tree in Trafalgar square (where money is raised for charitable organisations), or (if you're brave enough) a visit to Hamleys. The options are endless! Lapland UK - This is somewhere we would like to visit when Little Bee is a little older. We've heard great things, although it is apparently very expensive. If you've been then I would love to hear your thoughts! I hope that you've found some of these suggestions helpful for either this year or for subsequent Christmases, and that you have a wonderful and stress-free lead up.

Dr. Jessica Round has kindly agreed to be our first interviewee for Head of the Hive, and answer questions relating to your baby, toddler or pre-schooler's teeth. These include tips on how to nurture a healthy relationship with your child's dentist, and how to encourage good oral hygiene in your household. When should I first take my child to the dentist and why is it important to take them from a young age? I just want to highlight the importance of taking little ones to the dentist as soon as their first tooth erupts! But why?! You may be thinking surely the dentist doesn’t do much at this age. However, here are the key reasons: ✴Acclimatisation. So that your child feels familiar and confident. ✴Advice. So we can discuss tooth brushing, dietary advice, dental habits and teething. ✴Assessment. To check on dental development. We can also make sure that we give extra care to those who have a higher risk. ✴Family ethos. Set a good example. ✴Access. Being registered with a dentist means that if you do have any problems or emergencies, you will have someone to call. When should I start cleaning their teeth? Start brushing teeth as soon as the first tooth erupts. How often should I clean their teeth, and for how long? You should clean last thing at night and on one other occasion. Brush for 2 minutes. What toothbrush should I buy? How much toothpaste is recommended? For little ones, a small head with flat bristles. A: This toothbrush shows a FLAT SMEAR of toothpaste 1000ppm of fluoride for ages 0-3 years old. B: This toothbrush shows a PEA SIZED amount of 1350ppm and 1500ppm for children aged 3-6 years old. C: This is what my husband thinks our kids need 😡 Note: Babies can’t spit out any excess and you DO NOT want them swallowing lots of toothpaste. Babies have tiny mouths so there is less to clean. My child won’t let me clean their teeth! Any tips? Helpful suggestions: Try a position where your baby is sat on your lap and lean their head back Distraction - try brushing at bath time when your baby is in a supportive bath seat Sing a special song to build an association (I think Head of the Hive would like this one) Role model the behaviour you want to see 😇 Try baby dental wipes as a new texture (not a substitute for toothpaste Try an electric brush or finger brush Keep calm 😌 More toddler specific advice: Keep calm Happy tone of voice Share the toothbrushing duty with different care givers Practice spitting out as they get older, turn it into a game. Increase the amount of time brushing gradually as they get older and as they have more teeth - aiming for 2 minutes. This can be a mixture of them having a go and you making sure they have brushed everywhere. Brush their teeth for them until they are 7. Teach them to brush using lots of small circles! This book has come by high recommendation. This is the Amazon description: Earn your Tooth Brushing Badge with Duggee! It's a sunny day and Duggee and the Squirrels are on a lovely walk until they meet a lion with VERY smelly breath! Join your favourite Squirrels as they teach the lion a special song to help him learn how to brush his teeth for two minutes. Featuring all of your favourite characters from the triple BAFTA-winning CBeebies show, this board book story is perfect for reading as part of the morning and bedtime routine with little Hey Duggee fans. Any tips on how to encourage good oral hygiene in the household? Set a good example. Model the behaviour you want to see. Routine. If it’s something that you always do kids will get used to it. Talk about why we clean our teeth. I tell my kids that we are cleaning away all the naughty bugs in our mouths so they don’t rot our teeth. How often do you recommend that children visit their dentist? Children should visit the dentist tomorrow every 6 months. It is free for children if you can find an NHS dentist. Some children will need more help and will need to attend every 3 months for their check ups. Any tips for parents before they bring their child to the dentist? As much as we may not want to admit it, Peppa Pig is pretty useful! Familiarising our little ones with the dental environment using their favourite characters as role models is an easy and fun way to do this. Above is a nice book that you can share or there are episodes available on line. Following on from this, I think role play is fun too! You can buy a kids dental kit and take it in turns to be the dentist! Do you have any recommendations on eating patterns to avoid in order to encourage healthy oral hygiene? In my opinion, this is so important because despite everything we have just spoken about, if this is not being addressed it will just undo all of that hard work. When I see families with children with decay. I always ask if the children drink squash. The answer is almost always yes! The parents will say, ‘yes but only ‘no added sugar squash’ or ‘yes but a no sugar squash’. I hear this over and over again. I think squash should be poured straight down the sink. When you read the ingredients the first ingredient is fruit juice, which bacteria love! Sugar allows bacteria to thrive and replicate and secrete acid which breaks down our teeth. Furthermore, the fruit juice makes the oral environment acidic which makes bacteria super happy. It’s an absolute win win for the bacteria. Look at this graph below. If on top of a less than an ideal diet, you are sipping sugary water, you are keeping the oral environment in the red zone. The Stephan Curve If you just switch over to water you can be neutralising that acid and keeping in the blue zone more. Take home message: SWITCH TO WATER!! What can parents do to encourage a healthy relationship for their child with the dentist? A good relationship with your dentist will help improve the situation quality of your dental care in so many ways. A fundamental factor in maintaining a healthy relationship with your dentist is repeated dental visits. Over time we will get to know one another and it can be a real pleasure to catch up and find out how you are doing. More specifically, we will get to know your oral health history. This can help us understand how oral disease progresses for you. We will then be able to make better recommendations for your bespoke treatment plan. We will know when to take a more relaxed, conservative approach or alternatively, when a more invasive procedure would be advised. Knowing your family can also help. It is a combination of genetics and family living that can influence your dental health. If parents model a good relationship with their dentist, this can help them develop a positive outlook on getting dental care. A better relationship will lead to better communication and hopefully you will be more open and honest about your dental health and your concerns. We can start to work as a team! Most of the hard work does need to come from home. Prevention is always better than a cure. There is nothing better than your natural teeth. Trust! Receiving dental work can be a vulnerable and stressful time for many. How many people do you trust to put their hands in your mouth? Getting to know your dentist and understanding that your health and happiness is most important will help you choose the right treatment for you! Dr. Round at work If my child develops a fear of the dentist then what do you recommend the parents/guardians do? Dentophobia (is that even a word?) 1. Help them manage their emotions. Affirm your confidence in them. Ask questions like, ‘how are you feeling about visiting the dentist?’ 2. Prepare them for the visit using some of the aforementioned techniques. Do not sugar-coat the experience or lie. This will affect their trust. Afterwards, reward their bravery in a way that is meaningful to them. I never use words like ‘needle’, ‘injection’, ‘pain’. I use words like magic wand, scratch, fuzzy feeling, I say the tooth is going to sleep and will wake up later. I also practice breathing and meditation techniques with children. 3. Maintain consistency with a trusted dentist. 4. Role play at home as discussed earlier. This will normalise what might be an anxiety producing experience. 5. Help your dentist find common ground with your child. 6. Calm yourself. Set a positive mood for your child approaching their appointment. You can check out Jessica's website here. For more ideas on how to prepare your toddler for the dentist then please read Head of the Hive's blog post 'TOP TIPS ON HOW TO PREPARE YOUR TODDLER FOR THE DENTIST'.

Lucy has kindly agreed to an interview with Head of the Hive, and answer our questions relating to preparations for your pre-schooler's journey into reception. These include readiness expectations of your four-year-old on life, social, literacy and numeracy skills; tips on building your child's confidence and resilience; and how, as parents, we can encourage and nurture a love of learning. What readiness would you expect for a child entering reception with regards to life, social, literacy and numeracy skills? By the time a child leaves us at Nursery for Reception I would expect the majority of children to demonstrate some sense of independence. This would include being able to take off and put on both their coat and shoes (Velcro) and be able to zip up their coat. I would also expect them to take care of their toileting needs independently and wash their hands. Socially we would be working towards the children having an understanding of turn taking and how to share toys with others, and encourage them to say please and thank you for things. By the time children enter Reception I would expect the majority of children to be engaging in some play with others, for some this would mean collaborating in imaginative play together and for others this would be in the form of following another child’s lead in play and responding to what they are doing. However, if your child is more independent in their play and prefers playing alongside others at this juncture that’s fine too. In order to help foster your child’s ability to socialise with others, I always recommend to parents to set up play dates outside of school, see if you’re able to find out about any other families nearby that will be starting in Reception with your child and organise a few get-togethers beforehand. This will also help your child to settle when they first start at their new school. Communication and language is also a key part to school readiness. It would be my hope that the majority of children are able to follow a simple instruction and answer some simple questions. A big part of my job is playing alongside children and modelling language for children, whether it’s the language of turn taking or imaginative language in play, so I recommend taking some time to do this with your child. One of the best things parents can do in preparation for Reception is to sing lots of nursery rhymes and action songs with your child and read a wide range of books. Also, revisit favourite stories multiple times as this will allow your child to join in with certain repeating refrains and give them a sense of independence when ‘reading’. Please, please don’t worry about introducing phonics to your child at this stage! Your child will start this in Reception and each school will have a particular program that they follow. Most children are not yet ready for reading before Reception. However, having said that you can engage in pre-phonic games to help your child tune into different sounds, such as exploring instruments, reading rhyming books, going for listening walks in your local area; this will all help to prepare your child for reading! What can a parent do at home to prepare their child from a literacy and numeracy perspective? Mark making should be a fun experience and it’s important that children have a sense of marks carrying meaning. This could be in the form of making a card for your favourite teddy bear’s birthday, receiving a letter from their favourite book or tv character/fairy/ favourite toy etc and ‘writing’ a reply to them. Then when they have finished, praise them for whatever marks they have made and ask them what it is they have written. When it comes to number and shape, I would expect there to be a real range of abilities. Some children will be reciting and or recognising numbers to 10, some will be able to match number to quantity and some will be able to complete short number problems. Wherever your child is on this scale is absolutely fine and age appropriate. When engaging with your child in these sorts of activities, the key is to make it fun! Whenever you’re out and about point out shapes you see, notice door numbers, bus numbers, count number of steps to the post box, how many blue cars can we see etc. Or perhaps when you’re at home, how many balled up pairs of socks can you throw into the washing basket etc. I also recommend singing lots of number rhymes and engaging with stories linked to number, such as 10 Little Dinosaurs. Is there any expectation on a child to be able to write their name before reception? If so, do you recommend any resources to help parents? By the time a child starts in Reception I would expect the majority of children to be recognising their name and be able to make some attempts at writing it. However, children at this age can have a broad range of skill with their pen control. So, I would recommend doing lots of fine motor activities such as playing with play dough, threading, water play (filling and pouring) etc. This will help to strengthen your child’s fine motor muscles and develop their hand eye coordination in preparation for writing. If your child is demonstrating good pen control, then I would suggest writing their name using dots for them to trace over, explore painting their name or using brushes and water outside on the pavement as larger scale movements will be easier for your child to make. My top tip however, is to praise your child for whatever attempt they make to help build their confidence. Children mark making Do you have any tips on building confidence and resilience in little ones? Always encourage your child to try new things and challenge themselves, but just be sure to show them how to do it the first few times. Model how it’s done and then always remember to praise them for their attempts. When you praise them, be sure to praise for the level of effort and progress rather than just the end achievement. Also allow your child to know that it’s okay if we don’t get something first time and sometimes things take practise, you can even give them an example of something that you found tricky and had to work on to get better at. I would also recommend giving your child the odd small responsibility around the house, such as laying the table for tea, helping to wash the dishes etc. All of these things will give your child confidence that you have trusted them with an important job and a good feeling that they have helped others. For when the time gets closer are there any tips you can recommend to help calm their nerves about starting school? As I’ve previously mentioned, see if it’s possible to organise some playdates with other children who will be starting at the same school in the summer holidays. I would suggest looking at the school’s website and seeing if they have some photos of the school/teachers etc. Look at these with your child and talk about who their teacher will be etc. It’s really important you talk positively about your child’s new school, discuss the fun toys there might be there and talk about their new school uniform with them. Are there any books that you can recommend for parents to read to their children before they start reception? Any stories linked to starting school are always good preparation for helping children to settle and give them a sense of what to expect. One that I have often used is the ‘Usborne First Experiences – Going to School’ but there are a huge number out there to choose from which are just as good. We start school in the UK much earlier than other European countries and our children are measured against formal testing standards from such a young age. What can parents do to help a child focus on their sense of self and encourage a healthy attitude towards learning, rather than achieving external goals (that are not age appropriate) and having to deal with the associated pressures? The early years is a very special time and children have a natural curiosity about the world around them. I believe that the best thing we can do as adults is to help nurture this curiosity and instil a love of learning and a sense that it can be great fun. The early years is all about learning through play and I believe it’s really important to remember that! Discover what your child’s interests are and run with it. It might be that your child loves the story The Gingerbread Man, so make gingerbread biscuits with your child and allow them to help weigh out the ingredients/ stir the mixture/roll out the dough, act out the story using their toys, draw pictures of their favourite character. If your child loves nature, go on a minibeast hunt, do tree rubbings, make a bug hotel together. In other words, learning does not need to involve sitting down at a table, it should be at this stage a totally immersive experience where children are learning through trial and error and enjoying the process rather than necessarily the end goal. Click here to read our other interviews...

With autumn in full swing it's an excuse to do some seasonal crafts with your children at home. Below I have listed our favourite ideas that include leaves, acorns, pumpkins, hedgehogs and autumnal colours - orange, red, yellow and brown. In our household we love any excuse to get out and about to collect materials for crafting, and this time of year is perfect for it! We hope you enjoy creating your own beautiful artwork to decorate your home. Family hand print wreath - Such a fun family craft to do together. You just need some white card to print your hands onto; a paintbrush; autumnal paints - brown, orange, yellow and red; acorns, pumpkins, autumnal animals printed out (pdf FREE to download from the Resource Library for subscribers), scissors to cut out the handprints and the autumnal items; and a cardboard circle from a recycled box (with the middle cut out). Make a hole at the top to thread through some ribbon. Then glue on the hands and additional images to decorate your front door. Our autumnal family wreath A sticks and leaves family tree - Create something a little bit different to showcase on the walls that your little ones will love creating. Sticks instead of lines, and fallen leaves to write the family member's name on. You can include a little photo too to add onto the leaf. Card, sharpie and PVA glue are recommended. Paper plate tree - A painted empty loo roll, a paper plate with two vertical cuts on either side and little pieces of coloured paper to decorate. Your child can even practise their cutting skills to create the different 'leaves'. An autumnal paper plate tree Bubblewrap trees - A popular and different way to paint that is easy to prepare. All you need are some empty loo rolls or in our case we used an empty kitchen roll that I cut in half. Attach some bubble wrap using an elastic band. Ironically, Big Bee picked some big bubble wrap bubbles, and Little Bee some smaller bubbles. They were provided with a pre-painted tree trunk on card and some red, orange and yellow paint. They were then given free rein to enjoy creating their masterpieces. Big Bee decided to showcase lots of falling leaves in her finished artwork. Big Bee in the process of her bubble wrap painted tree Pumpkin printing - Any old apples can be used for making pumpkin prints. Cut in half and dip in orange paint and then print away on some card or paper. You can add green stalks, goggly eyes and mouths etc. too. We did a variety of expressions - shocked, worried, happy, sad etc. You can then talk together about different feelings and discuss how you are both feeling. Leaf art - Such a fun and simple idea. I started off asking the children what they wanted me to draw and we ended up with a fairy, lion and front loader. I used a sharpie and card. They coloured them in before we headed off for a walk to collect some different coloured leaves. Using glue we attached the leaves to create a skirt, mane and piles of leaves to be cleared up. They are now proudly decorating our fridge. Our leaf artwork Cauldron potion art - Print out the cauldron (pdf FREE to download from the Resource Library for subscribers) onto some card or paper and supply your little ones with anything from gems, stickers, cotton wool, lids, sticks, glitter, flowers etc. The options are endless! Tell them they are going to create a special potion and let their imagination's run wild. You could ask them what the special potion is for, the name of the potion and who it's for etc. Nature collages - Any excuse to get out and about enjoying all that nature has to offer. We headed off to collect some leaves, acorns, sticks, grass, flowers etc. on a woodland walk using a little basket. We then found a beautiful spot in the autumn afternoon sun, and using some cut up cereal box we made some different pictures of different objects. No glue was used. It allowed the children to use their imaginations and a variety of materials, and also feel different textures. In my '10 FUN SUMMER ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH YOUR TODDLERS' blog post I mention some other ideas to do with creating a nature collage. Nature bracelets - All you need is some masking tape and some wellies to head out in search for some flowers, leaves, acorns etc. You then just add them to the sticky side of the tape (see below). A really fun and easy activity to put together. A nature bracelet in the making Tree rubbing - Another fun and simple craft that involves being out amongst nature and getting some fresh air. You will need some paper, wax crayons and masking tape to gently attach the paper to the tree. Then create your rubbings on different tree bark to get different textures/patterns. It also provides an opportunity to talk about the different parts of a tree and what animals live in a tree. Leaf shadows - Using some dark card/paper, leaves and chalks you can create leaf shadow artwork by going around the edges. Leaf printing - With some leaves, card and paint in tow you can create all sorts of different pieces of art. You could try a fish, butterfly or turtle, or create a random pretty pattern. A leaf butterfly and leaf shadows Handprint hedgehogs - Inspired by our recent visit to the British Wildlife Centre we wanted to make some hedgehogs. We used some white card and brown paint, and created two handprints next to each other - these were the spines. Once dry we then painted a lighter brown body and ears. We then added some goggly eyes, a black nose and a mouth. If you don't have paint then you could always use brown card to draw an outline of your little ones hands. Warning: my husband said our handiwork looked like a porcupine, and my mother said it looked like a bear with fireworks coming out of its head! So, if you want to go for something that is more easily identifiable then I suggest maybe painting/drawing a side profile of a hedgehog (with the long snout) and doing lots of handprints down it's back to represent the spines. Firework salt painting - A popular craft that does require a little preparation. Create a firework scene (or any scene for that matter) using some PVA glue. Then sprinkle some table salt over the top of it. I left it over night and then gave some watercolours (I've learnt that it's better for them to be diluted in some water) and a paintbrush to Big Bee and let her paint away. The action required is more of a dab and this does take some getting used to, but it's fun to watch the colours being absorbed by the salt and it's something a little different. Conker painting - If you find that you have a surplus of conkers then this is a really easy activity that I'm sure your littles ones will enjoy as much as both Bees did. They painted some (questionable) objects - aeroplane, rainbow, kangaroo, frog and house. My mum was the lucky recipient of these as a birthday present. Happy crafting!

We've all heard of of the term 'baby brain' and I'm sure everyone reading this can relate - either having gone through it themselves, or having been exposed to it. I never really thought of it in terms of changes occurring in my brain per se. But why did this 'baby brain' feel like it was still hanging around years later? What's going on with our brains in motherhood? I decided that it was time to do some research on a mother's brain anatomy. I clearly remember having countless 'baby brain' moments during pregnancy and apologising every other sentence for forgetting something or repeating myself. As someone who would pride themselves on having a pretty good memory (for random bits of information according to my husband) I really struggled with the brain fog, and felt in a constant realm of frustration. Everyone seemed to understand though and could either relate as they had been through it themselves, or have experienced someone who had been through it. I recall a conversation with a stranger in a petrol station who empathised and proclaimed that he was an expert at dealing with the dreaded 'baby brain' as his wife had been through exactly the same. So, not only did I feel validated that everything I was experiencing was apparently normal and accepted, I knew that growing a life involved extreme hormone surges and so there was what seemed a biological reason for it. But, what I had not taken into account what the aftermath (and that's not to mention the hair changes, body changes...the list goes on!). I naively thought that once our beautiful bundle had entered the world, and once my sleep was back on track (albeit a rather different and unpredictable track), that my brain would return to it pre-pregnancy self. Oh how wrong I was...I felt un-prepared and ill equipped to be dealing with those moments of going up the stairs and completely forgetting what it was that I had gone up there for, for feeling constantly overloaded with information, being so reliant on my 'to-do' list and alarms, and repeating myself (I can still see the awkward and shocked faces of those ladies I was sharing the same information with ~20 minutes later). I appreciate that life is busy, and as mothers we are juggling what is comparable to what a consortium of octopuses should be juggling, but I had not accounted for this to be part and parcel of the motherhood journey at this stage. Although it is comforting knowing that I am not alone in having these experiences, my inquisitiveness finally got the better of me and I wanted to actually find out what actually goes on in a woman's brain during and post pregnancy. After trawling through many scientific papers (I felt as though I had taken a step back in time to when I studied Biochemistry at University), there appears to be a small amount of research into the changes that occur in a woman's brain structure during pregnancy and postpartum (after childbirth). There are many animal studies done but few human studies - unsurprisingly. It's an area that is evolving, but requires further research. I did find two papers that were of particular interest and worthy of mention. A study carried out in 2017 that concluded "pregnancy renders substantial changes in brain structure, primarily reductions in gray matter (GM) volume in regions subserving social cognition" (Hoekzema et al. 2017). These changes were present for at least two years after birth and have been associated with maternal attachment towards the baby. To see whether these changes had been maintained or returned to pre-pregnancy levels six years after childbirth, another neuroimaging study was executed. It found that most of the grey matter volume reductions did persist six years later (Martínez-García, M et al. 2021). Although it is not entirely clear why grey matter is lost during pregnancy it is thought that the remodelling may be playing a role in helping women transition into motherhood. Creating more specialised neural networks to help adapt to our new roles, and being able to respond to the needs of our babies. Summary: - There are substantial changes in the brain structure during pregnancy and post childbirth. - These modifications are triggered by hormonal fluctuations and were detectable six years after childbirth. - These changes play a critical role in maternal care and is nature's way of ensuring we adapt to the needs of our child. So, it appears that our brains have gone through big and long-lasting changes. We have had to adapt in order to contend with new adaptive and cognitive problems that come with the challenges of motherhood. Our bodies are beautifully and wonderfully made to adapt for our children, to nurture and help them develop optimally. If it means having to pay the price of having to endure some repetition and rely on our 'to-do' lists more often, then so be it, because fundamentally we are impressive and our babes are glorious miracles. References: Hoekzema E, Barba-Müller E, Pozzobon C, Picado M, Lucco F, García-García D, Soliva JC, Tobeña A, Desco M, Crone EA, Ballesteros A, Carmona S, Vilarroya O. Pregnancy leads to long-lasting changes in human brain structure. Nat Neurosci. 2017 Feb;20(2):287-296. doi: 10.1038/nn.4458. Epub 2016 Dec 19. PMID: 27991897. Martínez-García, M.; Paternina-Die, M.; Barba-Müller, E.; Martín de Blas, D.; Beumala, L.; Cortizo, R.; Pozzobon, C.; Marcos-Vidal, L.; Fernández-Pena, A.; Picado, M.; et al. Do PregnancyInduced Brain Changes Reverse? The Brain of a Mother Six Years after Parturition. Brain Sci. 2021, 11, 168. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci 11020168. 4

Mud kitchen's are play stations and are a fantastic for some outdoor play. Your children can get all messy (if they want) and it provides an opportunity to spark your child's imagination, as well as other skills such as numeracy and fine motor skills. With ideas such as painted vegetable and fruit rocks to recipe cards, read more to see what we have included in our mud kitchen. Purchasing or making a mud kitchen has always been on our ‘toddler bucket list’, and after recently playing with their Grandparents mud kitchen we felt it was time we got one too. It also helped with the decision making when I saw that JoJo Maman Bébé were offering a discounted TP Toys Junior Chef one - the mud kitchen mission had been accepted. The little chefs busy creating many culinary delights Once we erected said kitchen it was time to start kitting it out. Listed below is a brief summary for we needed: Utensils and pots and pans - Ours came with some stainless-steel pans and a whisk. I went to a local kitchenware store and bought some cheap extra little pans, as I didn’t want them to fight over them. I also found some old bits from our kitchen that I didn’t use anymore, such as a wooden spoon and spatulas. Natural materials - Examples include leaves, sticks and pinecones. Painted rocks - Paint a variety of vegetable and fruits on the rocks, either as a little project for yourself, for your little one or attempt as a joint effort. Recipe cards - Subscribe to Head of the Hive and access our recipe cards in the Resource Library. I would recommend laminating for longevity. Aprons or overalls - Depending on what materials you're going to be 'cooking' with and the weather conditions, you may decide you need something to protect your little one's clothes. We went to a local woods to collect some different natural items, which included: pinecones, acorns, leaves and twigs. I also added some shells to the mix. It won't be long before we'll head out to collect some conkers. We have some topsoil that is accessible for the children to use in the mud kitchen too, as well as an external tap to add water. Our natural materials for creating food masterpieces...Junior MasterChef the competition is fierce over here! I then bought some affordable rocks from Hobbycraft, acrylic paint pens and a sealing spray from Amazon. I did quite a bit of research for the pens, having settled on these ones, but there are lots of different types (note there is no brown colour in my chosen ones). I bought the sealing spray to give the artwork some longevity, and when doing it I placed them on some cardboard and wore a mask. They took approximately an hour to dry. Big Bee told me what she wanted me to draw on the rocks and she specifically requested that she draw the banana rock, which had a touch of gold glitter because apparently all bananas should have glitter on them...obviously. Delicious fruit and vegetables (oh, and ice-cream) anyone? I then made the children some A6 mud kitchen recipe cards too, from oak oatcakes to pinecone pie, and laminated them so that they will last longer. It was also a fantastic excuse to buy a laminator (I've always had this irrational need to have one) and add to my stationary collection! Within 1 minute of playing with them, they had gone for a little swim in their sink, so I'm relived I didn't skip this step. If you download the recipes then I would recommend printing onto card first. You can access these for free from the Resource Library when you have subscribed on the home page. Head of the Hive's recipe cards The children absolutely love playing with their mud kitchen, and below I've listed some of the benefits that we've found: Fresh air - It's another excuse to get them outside and enjoy your outdoor space and the natural elements. Also, in order to collect some materials that have fallen off tress you will likely need to explore your garden or head to the woods, or local park etc. so this is another great excuse to get out and about. Appreciating nature - For example, when out collecting pinecones or acorns, it opens up opportunities to discuss nature and help nurture an early respect for it. Imaginative play/role play - I’ve found that the mud kitchen creates endless opportunities for different role-play and (questionable) culinary delights, such as carrot chocolate soup. Your child has the freedom to explore and be independent of adults guiding their play (adults should supervise though). It also provides another platform for older siblings to boss around their sous chef! Fine motor skills - With all the pouring, scooping, pinching, stirring, whisking, stacking, patting etc. on offer, it really is a fantastic way to encourage and develop their fine motor skills. Number recognition and counting - With the mud card recipes I have included the written number rather than the word in order to allow for easy number recognition for pre-schoolers. I have then shown the image of the item the corresponding number of times. I have also included the written name to help with letter recognition and then for reading words for older children. Sensory development - There are so many different textures available to enjoy from the bumpy shells, to the coarse pinecones.

It has been craft central in our household lately (the kitchen no longer resembles a kitchen!), and themed lollipop stick puppets have been all the rage. We have not only made an under the sea backdrop, mermaid, jellyfish and octopus, but also a space backdrop with an accompanying rocket and astronaut - check us out! Keep reading to see how we made and used them, so that you can create your very own puppets too. Big Bee is very much into her crafting at the moment and she recently requested that we make a rocket, this was then swiftly followed by a request to make her as an astronaut, and then the moon had to feature too (the moon has been a firm favourite of hers from before I can remember!). So off I went to our craft and recycling boxes to see what we could rustle up - I had accepted the challenge from my three year old. See below what we needed for each and how we made them. To Infinity and Beyond - what you will need and the process: Backdrop: Black card Glue stick Glitter Yellow, white, blue and green paint Paintbrush Star and round shaped sponges (either pre-bought or cut from an old sponge) - Apply paint to your sponges and/or paintbrush to make the Earth, moon and the stars. You could add other planets if you so wished. - Add glue to where you would like to apply glitter. Whilst wet, sprinkle glitter over the glue (image 1A, below) and once dry pour back any residual glitter back into the pot for next time. Astronaut: Goggly eyes Glue Glue gun Yellow card Black, yellow, blue and red felt Lollisticks x3 White pipe cleaner Black biro - Cut out an oval head shape from white felt. Cut out a smaller black felt oval shape to go inside of the white one. Then cut a oval shape smaller than the black felt from pink card (or whatever colour you prefer) to represent the face. - Glue them on top of one another. - Cut out yellow felt to resemble hair (or whatever colour you prefer) and then stick this on top of the pink card. - Glue on the goggly eyes. - Draw a smile with a black biro. - Cut a small bit off a white pipe cleaner and then glue onto the back of the white felt oval using a glue gun. - For the body, cut out the desired shape from white felt. I used a black biro to roughly sketch the shape I wanted and then turned it over so that the clean side was front facing. - Cut out small design features like circles and stripes from blue and red felt. Glue onto the white body shape as shown in image 1B, below. - Using a glue gun affix a head onto the body. - With the glue gun attached a lollipop stick to the body, but make sure there is room to hold it at the bottom. Then affix another lollipop stick above this to support the head vertically. To support the astronaut further I broke some lollipop sticks in two and then glued them across horizontally on top of the vertical sticks, and making sure that the white felt of the body was attached to them also. Rocket: Kitchen roll tube White paint and paintbrush Tinfoil strip Scissors Red, orange and yellow strands of tissue paper Blue, red, orange, yellow card or paper Cellotape - Paint the cardboard roll white (or whatever colour rocket you would like) and leave to dry. - Once dry add glue to the tinfoil and apply to the roll. - Cut out coloured card/paper circles to act as windows with some circles being slightly larger than others, then glue these to the rocket. - Cut a circle out of some card and then make a slit in the card to the middle of the circle. You can then slide one side under the other and affix it with glue to create a slight cone to glue on the top of the rocket. - Cut out some slanted rocket feet from card (as seen in image 1C, below) and cut a slit into each to then slide onto the base of the rocket. Affix using cellotape. - Glue the top of the tissue paper strands and then position inside the bottom of the rocket to imitate flames. During the process we talked about what was in space and discussed how there were other planets in our Solar System. We even watched a fun little video with singing planets which she absolutely loved. Once completed Big Bee's astronaut enjoyed going on her special mission to space and riding about on her rocket. As the rocket and astronaut were such big hits the next request was for a mermaid and two other sea creatures (I had to draw the line when the whale was mentioned - maybe something to add in the future). Big Bee specifically requested that the mermaid was to have 'naughty' pink hair (not sure where that has come from) and a gem crown. Here's how we created them: Under the sea - what you will need and the process: Backdrop: Blue card Paints for fish, seaweed and sand and paintbrush Pen to draw fins etc. on fish - Paint the sand and seaweed using the paintbrush. Apply paint to finger to create the fish as shown in 2A, below. - When the paint is dry then draw the fins, eyes, lips and tail using a black pen. Mermaid: Lollipop stick Card/felt/glitter card for fin Felt for the hair Scissors Pop poms for shell bra Gems for decoration Goggly eyes Glue Pen - Cut mermaid's tail out of the card and apply decorative gems. - Glue the tail to the lollipop stick. - Cut out the hair from felt and glue to the lollipop stick. Add decorative gems to create a crown. - Apply pom poms and goggly eyes to the lollipop stick. - Draw the mouth with a black biro. Jelly fish: Tissue paper strips Card for head Scissors Pen Goggly eyes Glue Lollipop stick - Cut out the jellyfish's head from card. - Apply glue to the top of the tissue paper strips. Turn the head over and affix the strips on to the bottom of the head, as shown in 2B, below. - On the front stick on the goggly eyes and draw a mouth using a biro. Octopus: x4 pipe cleaners Scissors Card Pen Goggly eyes Cellotape Glue Lollipop stick - Cut out the octopus' head from card. - Cut x4 pipe cleaners in half and curl one end of each one. - Turn the card over and then attach the straight end to the bottom of the head using cellotape, as shown in 2C, below. - On the front stick on the goggly eyes and draw a mouth using a biro. Again, we had lots of imaginative play fun with this one, but we also discussed how jellyfish move (after watching a video) and then proceeded to move around like a jellyfish (I would love to know what the neighbours had thought if they had seen this!) and discussed how octopus squirt ink as an escape mechanism when feeling threatened. We also watched a video of this. We then proceeded to dance about the kitchen to The Little Mermaid, Under the Sea because pretending to be jellyfish just wasn't quite enough! We hope you enjoy making and using these lollipop stick puppets as much as we have. There really are endless opportunities to create a whole range of scenes and puppets, from a safari to a garden theme. If you haven't already, don't forget to follow us on Pinterest and Instagram.

Weddings are a wonderful celebration for those that you care about, and it's an honour to be invited as a guest. Although fun and a beautiful occasion, the travelling and planning required to attend can be tiring and at times stressful, and that's without children. So, if your child has been invited to join in too then the organisation may increases x10 fold. Below I've listed my top tips on what to consider if your toddler or pre-schooler is invited to a wedding. As some of you may already know, Big Bee and Little Bee were recently asked to be key members of my sister's bridal party and my brother-in-laws groomsmen party, respectively. Before this they have attended their fair share of weddings. I'm not professing to being an expert at taking children to a wedding, but I do know it feels like a special ops mission when you take your young children with you. I thought it worth sharing my top tips from my experiences, just in case it is comes in use to someone else taking their own child or children to a wedding. Searching for the beautiful bride Outfit, shoes and back-ups - Wedding attire is smarter than your day-to-day garb, and therefore some preparation for a suitable outfit and shoes may be required. Like anything, you want to ideally select something that can be reused for another upcoming event and that's going to be comfortable. Make sure you pack a back-up outfit that is equally suitable for any explosions or mishaps. On that note, don't forget to pack lots of nappies and baby wipes. Travel - If you can, try and get most of the travel done before the wedding day, as to minimise stress and tiredness on all fronts. If this is possible, then try and arrive at your accommodation in good time to get your child settled and ready for the start of your bedtime routine. Sleep before the wedding - If possible, try and make sure that the children have good naps the day before the wedding (to reduce any impact on night sleep) and ensure that they get to bed on time following their usual routine. Also, try and get a good night's sleep yourself as the following day will be a long one and lots of multi-tasking will ensue. Oh, and if you can perhaps grow some extra limbs in the night that will be advantageous. Prepare the children for what the day will entail (age appropriate) - To say that Big Bee loves a wedding would be an understatement. Any excuse for a party and that girl is practically running out of the door. But giving some context of what the day will entail is helpful to them, and can help make the day go as smoothly as possible. Our emergency entertainment kit Bring entertainment/toys - Weddings can be long, and at times boring for little people. There are a lot of moments throughout the day when they are 'expected' to be sit with the adults, and at times be quiet - the service, meal and speeches. So it's essential to bring different forms of entertainment for your child (and not to expect the bride and groom to accommodate). Our top recommendations include: bubbles, colouring book and crayons, stickers, GALT Water Magic, some of their favourite books, GALT First Sticker Pictures (as mentioned on the 'HOW TO KEEP YOUR TODDLER ENTERTAINED WHILST TRAVELLING' blog), and any of their favourite toys. You may also find it appropriate to take a tablet and headphones too. You will be the best to gauge your own child, but you may find it best to take your toddler/pre-schooler out during parts of the ceremony and/or speeches, or position yourself somewhere for an easy exit if they get irritable or restless and need a run around. Naps and nappy changes - At these sorts of events children can quickly become overwhelmed and overstimulated, so try and stick to your normal schedule as best as you can, especially with regards to your child's nap times. Try and identify before the day whether there will be somewhere for your child to sleep that may be quieter, and also to do nappy changes that won't involve you doing it amongst the wedding party. At a couple of the venues we have been to there has been a room that has been designated for younger children to nap etc. Depending on the venue you may be able to call ahead and speak with someone who works there, otherwise I recommend you speak with the bride or groom before the week of the wedding. Otherwise, it may just involve tucking your pram into a corner (or strolling around the grounds) with a snooze shade over it, or finding somewhere discreet to do a nappy change. Food and snacks - Make sure that you have thought about lunch for the children (and yourselves) before the ceremony. For ease you might find it easier to take a packed lunch. If it is possible, try and find out in good time what time the food will be served, and what the meal for the children will include. If you know that your child will not be a fan of this option then take a back-up meal to keep the wolf from the door. Plenty of snacks and water is a must. Don't forget to pack the bibs! Life is mostly froth and bubble when celebrating a wedding Quiet time - If your child is used to having some quiet time during the day instead of a nap. It may be a good idea to take them away from the crowd and give them some space and some 'chill time'. This may involve going for a little walk with them, giving them a game to play independently, or finding a spot to read them a story. Ear defenders - For those little ones who love to have a dance, or if you are staying late to enjoy a bit of the music then pack these. We purchased ours off of Amazon. Childcare support - If possible, arrange for a babysitter, friend or family member (who is not attending the wedding) to collect the children at a pre-arranged time so that you can enjoy the rest of the evening child-free. Be kind to yourself - It's highly likely that naps won't be as long, healthy food options will be ignored, and some overtired crankiness could potentially ensue...and?! It's for one day. Let all your expectations of how the day should go like float away to a distant magical land and just enjoy yourself with your friends, family and children! We would love to hear if you have any additional tips that you may have up your sleeves when children and weddings are involved.

Listed below are some of our favourite day trips out to enjoy as a family. I've also given some ideas that are on our 'fun bucket day' list. From fruit picking to trampoline parks, hopefully there will be something that you can add to yours: Soft play - Suitable for a variety of ages and an opportunity to develop motor development. We went as a family to a large local soft play, for my husband's birthday no less (his choice - how times have changed!) and we had such fun together. Fire and Rescue Service open day - Find out if your local fire station is hosting any open days where you can meet the firefighters and other members, climb on board a fire engine and learn how you can keep you and your family safe. Local animal rescue centre - A wonderful way to expose your children to animals and provide an opportunity to explain how we should care and respect animals. This is all whilst having a more personal experience and supporting these fantastic charities. Sunflower picking (when in season) - A great day to enjoy the fresh air and be amongst the beautiful scenery. Your toddler can help you pick, cut and you can then enjoy your blooms at home. Most places that offer sunflower picking usually have a maze for you to get lost in too. I spy with my little eye - can you spot Big Bee and I in the sunflowers? Walk and picnic - A wonderful way to enjoy nature locally and spend quality time together as a family. As well as your picnic, you can take a ball and some bubbles to enjoy too. Visit a castle - An excuse to dress up and tell stories whilst roaming around these magnificent buildings. You can ask your toddler(s) questions such as, if you were to be a queen/king for the day what would be the first thing that you would do? Or what would your crown be made out of and look like? Research the different events and workshops that may be on before your visit. Before you go you could also make some medieval crowns, ruffs or coins. Lavender fields - A sight to see and smell! Not only a photo opportunity, but you can take a picnic along to enjoy too and create some family memories together. As a momento of your visit, make sure to purchase some lavender to take home. Pick your own (PYO) - Whether it be pumpkins in autumn or berries in summer, PYO is such a fun family day out. It's something for all the generations to enjoy and will no doubt bring back memories for some. You can introduce new words, such as polytunnels and talk about pollination. One tip, take a spare t-shirt for any messy toddlers to hide any evidence (if you know what I mean). We also took a picnic along with us to enjoy after all our efforts, but mostly strawberries were consumed! Strawberries as far as the eye can see! National Trust house - With a huge number to choose from all over the country the options are endless - from historic house, to castles and gardens. A guaranteed day of fun when you head out to one of these beautiful national treasures. Ride a steam train - Sure to be a big hit with the little ones, and a unique way to spend time together. You can even head out for a fun-filled day with Thomas & Friends. Peppa Pig World at Paultons Park - If Peppa Pig is as popular in your house as she is in ours, then this surely has to make your list. Be warned though, it is not cheap. After advice, we're currently re-mortgaging the house to afford to go! Beach - Slap on some suncream and grab the bucket and spade, what could be more perfect? You can build sandcastles, make sea people/mermaids/monsters with sea weeds, shells etc., go shell hunting, paddling in the water and jump over waves, try and skim (of throw) pebbles into the sea, draw in the sand, go on a rock pool adventure at low tide, and see if you can spot creatures like sea anemone, crabs and fish. Do you wanna build a sandcastle? Come on let's go and play! Garden centre - A zen sanctuary to potter around and enjoy smelling the flowers. A great place to talk about different heights, shapes and colours of plants. Maybe buy a pack of seeds to sow when home, or a plant to pot together? Local garden centres to us have a café and play area that the children can enjoy to. Alternatively, adults could always play the game 'can I leave without spending anything on plants' - I'm notoriously terrible at it! Museum - We have visited the Horniman Museum and Gardens as a family and the children absolutely loved wondering around. Big Bee was asking lots of questions and both were engaging with the different displays. Exposure to museums is said to foster a child's curiosity and spark their imaginations, so get on down to one asap! The Science Museum, Natural History Museum and our local observatory are also on our list to venture to. Trampoline park - This was 2 hours of such fun, and the resulted in all participating individuals taking a nap afterwards. For all the mums out there, it's also a fantastic way to test out your pelvic floor (needless to say, I still have some work to do!). The children absolutely loved it and have not stopped talking about it since. There was a session for under 4 year olds at the trampoline park we visited and you can play with the hoppers, balls, jump on the different sized trampolines and dive into the foam pit. If the persistent questioning as to when we will be visiting again continues, then it is likely to be very soon! Those who don't jump will never fly! Local touring shows/productions - Check to see if there are any local productions touring. This year we have been to see the puppet show, The Hug (Half Moon Theatre) and The Twirlywoos. The children were captivated by both. Swimming (outdoor pool weather permitting) - Any form of swimming can be a sure way to have a fun time together as a family, but if you have a local outdoor pool that you can enjoy in the warmer months then that will be the cherry on the icing. Hire a pedalo/boat - We did this the other weekend and we all have a blast. Hubby did a good job not crashing into others, but there was room for improvement when trying to avoid the shallow waters. We did some people watching, counted and named the ducks, and played I spy. Watching the ducks and world go by whilst munching on a rice cake - obviously! Ceramic painting - Not only a fun activity, but you get to take something home (once fired) to use or enjoy as a keepsake. It also encourages concentration, is calming and provided an outlet for your little ones to express themselves. Farm trip - Is there a better day that feeding the animals at the farm, potentially holding a rabbit and making pig, horse, cow and sheep noises all day long? Bringing the farm books to life is another way to teach your children to love and respect the animals, and create memories as a family. Plane spotting - If your children are anything like mine this is sure to be a big hit! Find a local airport and a recommended spot to watch planes take-off and land. Bring snacks/lunch and water - you could be there for a while. Butterfly house - You can get up close and personal with these magical and beautiful creatures, and learn about their habits and daily life. If you're very lucky you may even have one land on your head! Before going, you could discuss the four stages in the metamorphosis of butterflies and make some butterfly artwork together. Hello little butterfly! Local events/festivals - Farmer's market, free puppet shows, local music or food festivals, school/church fairs and fates, sport's clubs events, charity fundraisers etc. Research what is happening local to you - it's a wonderful way to get involved and support the community too. Woodland treasure hunt - Check out my post on 'THE BEST TODDLER WOODLAND TREASURE HUNT' for an idea to be amongst nature, stretch the legs and to test the whole families' detective skills. Trip to the library followed by a babyccino and cake - Encourage their relationship with reading and books by visiting the local library, and then pop into a local coffee shop for a drink and treat afterwards.

Supermarket shopping with little ones can be notoriously stressful. So, in an attempt to make it a fun and enjoyable bonding activity for all, I've created a food shopping list activity for your toddlers/pre-schoolers. This will help your child identify the different foods to add to the basket or trolley, and be your shopping helper bees. I've also detailed some benefits of going grocery shopping with young children and my top tips to consider before heading off. Big Bee going through her shopping list at the start I tend to do my big weekly shops online, but I do occasionally pop to the shops in person and take the children with me. The visits usually last between 15-30 minutes and I give them little tasks to help me, and make the shop fun. Recently we took a clipboard, pencil and the Head of the Hive's shopping list with images (subscribe to access our resource library here), and Big Bee and Little Bee throughly enjoyed recognising the images, running off to get the items, and then ticking them off. You could even turn the shopping list into a game of BINGO if you so wished. Now, I'm not saying our experience is completely stress free... I find that I have the opportunity to brush up on my negotiation, reasoning and communication skills. Oh, and to contend with moral dilemmas such as to whether I purchase the packet of biscuits (we don't need/like!) that Little Bee dropped on the floor three times or put them back on the sly. Note to self: add these skills to my CV. So why, oh why, do you do it to yourself I hear you cry? Well, firstly, both of our children seem to absolutely love food shopping, and if that isn't a good enough reason to go then here some other benefits of taking your children food shopping with you: Day-to-day life - First off, they gain an understanding of where food is purchased and part of the process involved from getting it from market to table. I mean it would be magical (and very welcome) if those food fairies just delivered the food and it appeared in your fridge, but such are the realities of life. So, having your children appreciate the journey from food being grown in fields or produced in a factory (if you have done PYO with them then you can do some linking with that), then packaged and transported to the shops is a good lesson for them. You can even start spotting supermarket vans/lorries when out and about. They can help you write your shopping list, then buy it with you, prepare it with you and enjoy it at meal time. It opens up so much opportunity for different questions and conversations too. Food shopping is also a way for our children to learn about money or bank cards, and they can help at the end with the transaction. Big Bee loves tapping my card and then taking the receipt off the cashier. Using their senses - You can encourage your child to use their senses and ask what a particular item smells like e.g. fresh bread, flowers. You can ask them about the colour and texture of the item or the packaging. I asked Big Bee what the onion smelt like before she put it in the trolley and apparently it smelt like a watermelon. This was certainly her way of not so subtly hinting that we needed to buy a watermelon...she's learning young! #proudmummoment Experience different foods - Your little ones will be exposed to many more types of foods, and may be intrigued by foods that you don't necessarily have at home. You may feel inspired to buy something new to try as a family. You can also talk about food that are deemed as healthy and ones that are not so healthy. Talk about different cultures - You could use your food shop as an opportunity to discuss how people from different cultural backgrounds eat different foods. I know that Big Bee has tried some new foods at nursery in celebration of different festivals, such as Diwali, or foods that are typically eaten in certain countries. You can reinforce that learning if you come across those foods whilst shopping. "1 or 3 raspberries Mummy?" Numbers and symbol recognition - Depending on what stage your child is at then it can be a great way for your child to practise their number recognition, and provide opportunities to discuss what different symbols mean. It was actually on this shop that Big Bee asked me what '£' meant. You can also reinforce their counting skills in a way that in meaningful. Ownership - What better way for them to exercise their independence by giving them roles such as, identifying and picking out food you need and helping you to bag it up. Involving them will ensure that they take full advantage of the experience. Social skills - It's somewhere for them to develop their social and communication skills. If you're looking for an item you can have your child engage with someone working in the supermarket to help you find it. They will also be interacting with other shoppers and the cashier on the tills. Packaging/recycling - You can talk about different materials and food packaging - cartons, glass, plastic etc. and the importance of recycling materials. It's never too early to turn them into eco-warriors! Little Bee giving a helping hand with the onion collection My top tips before going food shopping: Make sure that your little one(s) are not hungry when doing your shop. I recommend that you give them their snacks beforehand. Also, don't go if they are tired, ill, overstimulated or in a particularly bad mood. This applies to us adults too ;) Don't plan to do your whole weekly food shop with the children (unless you shop at the speed of the Road Runner...with the children). A smaller shop is more ideal with the little'uns in tow. If you need to set clear boundaries with your children then make sure you do this before the shop starts e.g. behaviour, what you're not buying etc. Have your shopping list all prepared before going (ideally in some sort of rough order of how you would work your way around the shop). Try and pick a time (if possible) outside of peak hours, because less busy will mean less stress. Finally, don't go if you have limited time and are in a rush...a recipe for disaster (pun intended!). If you have any shopping tips with toddlers then please let us know, and if you take our food shopping list out with you then we would love to hear/see how you got on.

If you need some inspiration for some toddler garden entertainment ideas and you have a small garden or patio area then this is the blog for you. Listed below are my go-to activities and toys to keep the children entertained, and to get them out in the fresh air. Water play in the garden is a big hit with my toddlers The cherry blossom in the garden has burst into flower, the bees are out in their numbers collecting pollen and nectar, and the little buds on my hydrangeas are green and bursting…spring is officially here and I’m thrilled! Cue the happy sunshine dance…thank you sun for making an appearance, it’s much appreciated (and long overdue). Naturally, this whiff of spring has resulted in many people turning their attentions to the garden, and a friend asked me the other day about what garden toys we had. We have a small garden that is on a slight slope, and a small patio alongside the side of the house for children related activities. So although our options are a little restricted, we have found a few bits work well for us and the children. Water play - This is a fantastic option for sunny days and cooler ones alike (when appropriately dressed). I popped to The Range and bought a big washing up bowl and filled it with warm water and bits like pouring cups, little toy boats, plastic spoons, watering can and mini aquatic animals. Paddling pool - This one is for the warmer weather in summer. Why not scale up the water play with this Intex small recatangular pool. It doesn't take long to pump up and acts as the perfect cooling and entertainment aid. Trampoline - We were gifted a mini Galt Folding Trampoline when Big Bee was 2 and this has hands down been the best addition to our garden. It’s a great introductory trampoline, and perfect if you don’t have lots of space. It’s also worked well with the slight gradient, but obviously the children are not left unattended. They have spent many an afternoon bouncing, sitting and rolling around on it. It’s the go-to piece for them and knowing how much they have used it, and love it, I would buy it brand new if we hadn’t of had the opportunity to recycle it. I can’t speak for other brands, but this one has been through three families and is still going strong. It’s easy to pack away under some tarpaulin at the back of the garden or small enough to fit into a large shed. It’s easy to lift with one arm and to tilt it up to rest against a fence of sorts, if you don’t want to end up with discoloured grass spots in the summer. Sand and water table - Our sand and water table was a hit last summer and although I found that the sand (also purchased from Argos) only went through the seahorse when it was exceptionally dry (invariably the sides were mixed up) this did not seem to bother my daughter and she spent much time engrossed. If we had enough space, I would have probably invested in a stand alone sand pit. However, we have two local parks with huge sand areas so I knew they would be able to get their 'big scale sand fix' there. Some bare-bottomed sand and water playing from Big Bee (last summer) Balls - This is a nice and simple one. Without fail, whenever we go into the garden the balls come out. We have a Peppa Pig one that we picked up from Lidl and a multi-coloured star one we purchased when visiting the seaside. Kicking, throwing, hiding, bouncing - let their imaginations run wild! Bubbles - Bubble machine and bubble wands are a big hit with little ones and provide a great source of entertainment. Big Bee and Little Bee are big fans! So much so in fact that 'bubbles' was up there in being one of Little Bee's first words. We were gifted this whale machine for Easter last year, and we purchased these giant dinosaur sword wands off Amazon, but there are lots of different varieties. Gardening - Big Bee has taken a real interest in gardening and it was only the other day that I was showing her how to prune, and she was digging the flower bed with the trowel. Before now, I have purchased some little terracotta pots and we have potted up some petunias or primroses together, and we have sown some seeds from the garden centre and then watched them grow. We talked about what a seed is and what plants require to grow. It's not only a great way to get some fresh air, but it's also fun and rewarding for them. Even if you don't have a garden, you can still sow and grow indoors! Big Bee was given this Unicorn Magical Garden kit for her birthday recently and you can see our day 6 results below (obviously our Peppa Pig stickers had to feature for the unicorns). The unicorns will be thrilled to hear that their food is growing quickly! Binoculars - Big bee was bought this pair recently and we have used them to go and explore the garden for insects. They have been a fun tool to help engage her with nature and learn more about the little critters that live amongst us. Ride-on - A Scuttlebug does not take up much space in the shed, and the children enjoy scooting around on it. They particularly love starting at the top of our slope and gliding down it. It's a great investment to take out and about too. Slide - A Little Tikes My First Toddler Slide is a great addition to the garden, and both Bees love not only sliding down it, but chasing each other around it, playing peekaboo through it, climbing up it - the list goes on. BBQ set - A recent charity shop find was a little BBQ set from the ELC. The children absolutely love playing with it and are engrossed for ages serving hot dogs and burgers. What do you find that your little ones enjoy outside in the garden? Please share.

Looking for a fun activity to do that get's your children outside and enjoying nature? Then why no try this woodland treasure hunt at your local woodland? If you don't have a local woods near you then you will be able to find quite a few of the treasures in your local park too. Happy hunting with your little ones. It's sure to be an enjoyable activity to do with the kids. Before we headed off on our woodland walk we discussed what we were likely to see on our walk and what we hoped to see - Peter Rabbit was the cherry on the cake apparently! I had to break it gently that we were not going to see him. What we took with us: - Pencils x2 - Print out of 'Head of the Hive's Treasure Hunt' document (subscribe to access the resource library and download the document) The woodland explorers...and they are off! We then jumped into the car with snacks and water in tow, and drove to our local woods. When we arrived we looked at the 'Woodland Treasure Hunt' document and talked through each of the treasures to find. Both Big Bee and Little Bee decided each on what they wanted to look for first and we headed off. It did take a little guidance and prompting to begin with, but once we had got into the swing of things Big Bee was really in her element with observing the different items. I took two pencils to save any arguments (because obviously they would both want to hold a pencil at the same time) and we took it in turns to tick off the treasures that we had found because I'm all for encouraging turn taking and patience. Planning our all important treasure hunting strategy One of our first exciting finds was a woodlouse and we talked about how they like to live in dark and damp places, so under the leaves was a perfect home for them. We found an eight-legged friend sitting in their web, and talked about how they spun their strong web to help catch their dinner. We then had a snack break and listened to the birds singing and watched some dogs enjoy chasing some scents. After our pit stop, we found some flowers on a raspberry bush and detected the little unripe green raspberries. We talked about how we liked raspberries a lot! I also encouraged them to think about what insects like flowers and then when they shouted 'bee' with enthusiasm and pride, I explained how the flowers on the raspberry bushes attracted the bees and help pollinate the raspberries, so that they grow big and juicy for us to eat. Sadly, there were a few that we didn't find on our list, but it was not through a lack of trying. Just another excuse to head back another time! But, we did spot some bonus treasure - dogs, ferns, holly, tree stumps, a light aircraft, and their favourite (that had Little Bee smiling from ear to ear and laughing) was the millipede - we tried to count their little legs to no avail, so we settled on 'lots'. We spotted a woodlouse - result! All in all, we had a wonderful morning of observing and exploration. Big Bee kept mentioning throughout the day how she enjoyed her visit to the woodlands, so it's safe to say that it was a big hit (that's without finding the much sought after worm!). I'm sure your toddlers would thoroughly enjoy it too, and you can tailor your discussions on your different treasures to their age and understanding. Don't forget to subscribe, so that you can access the resource library and download the woodland treasure hunt document. Also, why not have a look at my blog post '10 FUN SUMMER ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH YOUR TODDLERS' for more inspiration on what to do this summer with your little ones.