Mark, Author at Little Cedars Day Nursery

About Mark

Mark helps companies market themselves online through the use of strategic, search-engine-friendly copywriting for websites, blogs and social media. High quality, original content of this type radically improves search engine rankings and increases traffic and qualified enquiries for any business. Mark and his team also create high quality, responsive websites for clients, as well as high performing pay-per-click advertising campaigns (e.g. Google Ads) where required. Learn more.

Entries by Mark

Activity Ideas for Children, Reading, Storytelling, Under-5s, World Book Day

World Book Day Fun for Under-Fives

Children of the UK, it’s time to get ready for World Book Day! Arriving in early March, it is a wonderful annual event where children across the nation get to immerse themselves in books, storytelling, and other book-inspired activities. Such activities are incredibly important for children. Did you know, for example, that children who regularly read for pleasure are happier children who also go on to have greater success in their lives? This uplift is even more significant for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. Such is the power of reading for little ones! With all this in mind, today’s article outlines more about World Book Day and why it’s so important. It also suggests some activities that children and families can take part in to celebrate this year’s event.

28 February 2025/by Mark

Activity Ideas for Children, Children, Flora and Fauna, Indoor Activities for Kids, Nature, Nature Activities, Outdoor Play, Under-5s, Wildlife

World Wildlife Day Activities for Children Under 5

World Wildlife Day - 3 March Families: get ready for World Wildlife Day! On 3rd March each year, we celebrate UN World Wildlife Day, an important event that is all about protecting nature’s flora and fauna. At nursery age, little ones are naturally curious and eager to learn more about the world around them. World Wildlife Day is therefore the perfect opportunity to inspire a greater love for nature and wildlife in our young. Exploring the wonders of plants, trees, and the animal kingdom teaches them more about the world and also helps children develop key skills like language, creativity, and empathy. Whether through outdoor play or wildlife-themed activities, engaging with nature’s wildlife can therefore create valuable early learning experiences. With that in mind, today’s post outlines some simple activities that children, including those under five*, can take part in to celebrate World Wildlife Day. We also highlight some of the benefits of nature to children towards the end of the post.

18 February 2025/by Mark

Activity Ideas for Children, Children, Indoor Activities for Kids, Learning through play, Parenting, Rainy Day Activities

Rainy Day Activities for Children

Rainy Day Activities for Children: Fun Indoor Ideas for Kids

Today we are outlining some fantastic rainy-day activities that will turn an otherwise dull day into an exciting adventure for children. When the weather keeps little ones indoors, it can sometimes be a challenge to keep them entertained without resorting to screen time. Fortunately, there are plenty of fun and engaging rainy-day activities to spark their creativity, encourage movement, and keep boredom at bay — take a look! Perhaps bookmark this post so you have these exciting activity ideas ready for when the weather takes a turn for the worse.

31 January 2025/by Mark

Activity Ideas for Children, Early Years Education, Free stuff, Learning & Development, Nature Activities, Outdoor Play

Winter Nature Hunt Activity – with Free Reference Poster for Kids

Today, we publish a free reference poster for children and families to download and use as the basis of a fun, nature-based, winter treasure hunt. It’s mid-winter right now, temperatures are low, and daylight hours are short. Families could therefore be forgiven for staying home in the warm rather than venturing out. However, if the right clothing and footwear are worn and children are supervised, there are treasures to be found and fun to be had outdoors — even this time of year. With that in mind, today’s post is here to introduce little ones to a wonderful outdoor activity that’s free and easy for them to take part in during the winter months.

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” — Alfred Wainwright, walker and author.

18 January 2025/by Mark

Food, Health & Safety, Health & Wellbeing, Healthy Eating, Hygiene, Parenting

Food Safety & Hygiene Around Children — a Guide for Parents

Today's post outlines various ways in which parents can stay on top of hygiene and safety around the preparation of food. With all the food and feasting associated with Christmas, it got us thinking about food hygiene and safety for children. Aside from keeping alert to possible allergens, parents need to be careful to ensure families remain safe from illnesses caused by food hygiene mishaps. After all, such illnesses can be particularly dangerous to little ones, who are fragile, but can be largely avoidable when good hygiene measures taken. With that in mind, today’s post outlines various ways in which parents can stay on top of hygiene around the preparation of food for their children. And, of course, such measures will keep adults safer too.

31 December 2024/by Mark

Activity Ideas for Children, Children, Early Years, Language, Learning & Development, Parenting, Preschoolers, Speaking, Speech, Storytelling, Under-5s

The Magic of a Storytelling Nook for Under-5s

A storytelling nook at home is something that children, particularly under-fives, will find magical. It’ll particularly come into its own once winter arrives, being somewhere warm and cosy that children can nestle with a parent, carer, or older sibling. There, they can enjoy high-quality shared moments together. In a corner dedicated to the task, an adult and child can read and share stories, steer clear of inclement weather, and escape on an unlimited number of imaginary adventures. Through the power of the written or spoken word, children’s imaginations can be taken to a myriad of destinations, situations and climes. Sharing stories in such a way will be a truly precious part of their childhood, particularly if undertaken regularly. What’s more, reading with children is proven to benefit little ones enormously. With all this in mind, today’s post outlines how to set up a storytelling nook at home and make it successful for your child.

17 December 2024/by Mark

Babies, Childhood Development, Early Years, Health, Health & Wellbeing, Infants, Nursery, Parenting, Under-5s

The Dangers of Kissing Babies

The Dangers of Kissing Babies & How Parents Can Protect Them

The natural instinct of many adults is to kiss the new baby of a friend or relative. Yet many are unaware of how potentially dangerous kissing an infant baby can be. Indeed, in the worst scenarios, the child could be permanently damaged or even lose their life. As many adults are simply unaware of such dangers, today’s article exposes the risks that a simple kiss can represent to a newborn or infant baby and why it’s essential for parents to take precautions to protect them.

“A nationwide survey of 2,300 new and expectant parents … found that 54% would let friends and family kiss their newborn baby, unaware of the risk of serious infection.” — The Lullaby Trust

29 November 2024/by Mark

Babies, Childcare, Childcare Funding, Early Years Education, Free Childcare, Nurseries, Nursery, Preschool, Streatham, Under-5s

Deadlines for Free Childcare Codes (Time-Sensitive!)

There are three possible deadlines when applying for free childcare funding for working families and that’s true whether you are applying for the ‘15 hours’ scheme for children aged 9 months to 2 years (inclusive), or the ‘30 hours’ scheme for children aged 3 and 4. And, with a child’s exact age affecting which term they can begin using the free childcare, correct timing of applications is crucial. If you apply too late, you won’t receive your childcare code in time for your child to start in the term you had envisaged. Applying too early is also not a viable option. Put simply, timing misjudgements could leave you and your child high and dry.

With all that in mind, today’s post outlines the application timing requirements for these key childcare funding schemes for working families. It also serves as a reminder that those who want their child to start childcare next term have very limited time left to apply — and receive that all-important childcare funding code.

19 November 2024/by Mark

Babies, Childcare, Children, Early Years Education, Learning & Development, Little Cedars Day Nursery, Nurseries, Nursery, Preschool, Streatham, SW16, Under-5s

38 Weeks, 42 Weeks & All-Year-Round Childcare in Streatham

38 Weeks, 42 Weeks & All-Year-Round Childcare Options in Streatham
At Little Cedars Nursery in Streatham, we offer a range of three main options for weekday childcare and early years education. Some families require all-year-round childcare for their under-five child. Others may prefer (or, if funded through Government schemes, only be eligible for) “term-time” cover over 38 weeks of the year. Between those two options, Little Cedars Nursery also now offers a ‘midway’ solution that provides childcare cover for 42 weeks. In today’s post, we clarify how the options work and differ over the course of the year, including in calendar form so that parents can see the differences graphically. See our overview below and click the calendar image for a larger view. If you have any questions, use one of the contact options at the end of today’s post and we’ll be happy to help.

31 October 2024/by Mark

Children, Early Years Education, Parenting, Preschool, Preschoolers, Primary School, Reception

Top Tips for a Successful Primary School Application

If you're the parent of a 3-year-old child, or one that's just turning 4, choose your 3 preferred primary schools now and submit your application by mid-January. Are you the parent of a 3-year-old child, or one that’s just turning 4? If so, you need to choose your 3 preferred primary schools now and submit your application for them at the latest by mid-January of the coming year. It’ll be here before you know it! Whether you want your child to begin school at the age of four or five, you have limited time left for your application. With that in mind, today’s post outlines our top tips for a successful primary school application for your preschooler. Read on to learn how to maximise your potential success in achieving a school place that’s best for your child.

18 October 2024/by Mark