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Following on from our bird-spotting article and poster published in March, we now bring you a matching butterfly-spotting activity. Butterflies are both beautiful and adorable. As such, children will love them and will enjoy spending time around them during this activity. Like before, it comes with another free poster for children to print out, display, learn from and enjoy. Butterfly spotting is another wonderful way to get children outdoors to enjoy the fresh air and benefit from everything that nature has to offer.

This time around, we showcase 36 beautiful butterflies that can be seen in many parts of Britain. Indeed, that was one of the main criteria we used when deciding which butterflies to include. Having said that, some of the butterflies will be more common than others and we really don’t expect every child to spot all 36 butterflies that are featured — although it’s possible if they’re patient and adventurous! It’s a lovely challenge for children, though, and spotting such beautiful creatures may begin to instil in them an appreciation of nature and all the amazing creatures within it. That would be a good thing because nature is more under threat than ever and children of today will eventually become custodians of Britain’s phenomenal natural environment. Nature will also benefit children in many profound ways, including spiritually and even academically.

Free Butterfly Poster

Download Instructions

View the poster in the greatest detail onscreen by clicking the big image above or, with some web browsers, you may need to first download it by right-clicking and then saving. Then view it in Acrobat Reader, which is available free. From Acrobat, print out the poster at full size (A3) or choose ‘reduce to fit’ if your printer is only A4. We recommend using high-quality printing paper and the highest settings for the best results, glorious colour, and the finest detail.

Attract butterflies by putting out fruit wedges — they love the sugary taste of ripe oranges, grapefruits, nectarines, bananas, strawberries and apples!

Shown on the poster are some of the more commonly-known butterflies like Large Whites, Peacocks, Red Admirals and Small Tortoiseshells. However, children may also spot some lesser-known butterflies like Purple Emperors, Orange Tips, Green Hairstreaks and Adonis Blues. Butterflies have wonderful names, don’t they? Parents can help younger children with names, as we don’t expect them to be able to read them all if they’re very young. The young will also need supervising outdoors, of course, for their safety.

Look but Don’t Touch the Butterflies

We must also add that children should be encouraged to ‘look but don’t touch’ as butterflies are very delicate creatures. Children should not try to touch or catch them — they are best left in peace as every one of them is a little individual that simply wants to go about his or her day. They’re wonderful to watch, though, and our free poster should help children and adults identify many of the different types. Perhaps see how many different species can be spotted over the course of a year. Take photos too, and compare them with friends! Some butterflies visit gardens, floral window boxes and parks while others may only be found in wilder locations in the countryside. This activity is therefore a great excuse for families to get out and explore The Great Outdoors! Recording the date and location of each butterfly spotted will also help families work out where the best butterfly-spotting locations are for next time.

Fun fact: Butterflies have taste buds on their feet!

Butterflies are In Decline

Sadly, many butterflies are in decline, with studies reporting a 40% drop in populations in recent decades. That’s really sad, so it’s imperative that they and their precious habitats are not unduly disturbed. Therefore, please do take care. If anything, habitats need to be restored and greater protections put in place. Raising awareness of the plight of butterflies and other creatures in decline, like bees and birds, is therefore something that’s also important for children to be aware of. After all, as they grow older, they will eventually take over stewardship of the natural world and can help to steer decision-makers to improve things if they’ve developed a deep-seated interest in nature by the time they become adults.

The Big Butterfly Count

The Big Butterfly Count With that in mind, why not take this activity a step further and get involved in the UK’s annual Big Butterfly Count? For 2024, it takes place between Friday the 12th of July and Sunday the 4th of August, which is when most butterflies are at their adult stage. All it takes is 15 minutes and children will love being little ‘citizen scientists’! The activity can be done in gardens, parks, school grounds or out in the countryside. Taking part will give children a real opportunity to help with butterfly conservation.

Learn more about the Big Butterfly Count and to take part here. Our guide includes links to a free smartphone app that will help you/your children during the butterfly counting activity.

A Fun, Educational & Worthwhile Activity for Children

We hope families and children enjoy their butterfly-spotting activities and use our free poster to learn the names. In this way, they can get to recognise some of the different types of butterflies when they spot them when out and about. It’s a fascinating activity and butterflies are both amazingly beautiful and incredibly endearing. As pollinators, they’re extremely important too and represent a barometer for the health of the natural world. Learning more about butterflies and nature is therefore incredibly important and beneficial for children — and ultimately for the planet. So, we encourage children to dive into this activity at the earliest opportunity. Have fun, be gentle and stay safe.

Little Cedars Nursery & Preschool, Streatham, London SW16

Little Cedars is a high-quality nursery/preschool in Streatham SW16, providing childcare excellence for babies, toddlers and preschoolers under 5 years of age. If you’re looking for a good nursery or preschool for your child, arrange a free tour with us and we’ll show you and your little one around. You’ll be able to get answers to any questions you have and also you’ll see how well your child fits in. Ours is a lovely, welcoming, home-from-home environment where the very best is brought out of every child under our care, so your child will be in good hands. As well as looking after them while parents work or recharge, every child receives an excellent early years education and is prepared for a great start once they leave us to start school. Please choose a button to contact us today, arrange a guided tour or to apply for a place for your child; we’ll be happy to help.

Apply for a Place Arrange a Visit or Message Us 020 8677 9675

Little Cedars Nursery: high-quality childcare services in Streatham, near Furzedown, Tooting, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood

Little Cedars is located in Streatham, just a stone’s throw from Tooting Common and the A214. As well as suiting those families in Streatham and Tooting, we may also be conveniently located for those looking for a nursery or preschool near Streatham Hill, Streatham Park, Streatham Common, Furzedown, Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway, Balham, Norbury or Colliers Wood.

17 June 2023/by Mark

Activities, Animals & Pets, Early Years, Early Years Education, Learning & Development, Learning through play, Nature, Nurseries, Nursery, Parenting, Pre-schools, Preschool, Preschoolers, Toddlers, Under-5s

Bird Feeders: a Creative ‘Nature’ Activity for Kids

A wonderful way to encourage young children to enjoy and learn from nature is for parents to help them make bird feeders. There are many ways to approach this creative, fun activity and it’s sure to result in lots of our feathered friends visiting. Birds are delightful creatures that are simply a joy to see and hear. They will also greatly appreciate the extra food, particularly at times of the year when it’s more scarce or when they have little mouths to feed. So, this is an activity that’s a win for everyone! Some birds may even become regulars if the food is topped up. In fact, we’ve given some of our own visiting birds names as they now come every day and even stare through the window at us when food needs topping up! With all this in mind, today, we take a look at some of the simple ways children can make home-made bird feeders to encourage birds to visit. Take a look and see how easy and creative the activity can be.

Combine with our Bird-Spotting Activity

Children can combine this bird feeder activity with the bird-spotting activity that we published separately (including a free bird-spotting poster to download). Bird feeders are a great way to attract birds and children will find the activity even more fun and educational if they can start to recognise and name the types of birds they see.

The Quickest & Most Simple Bird Feeder

The fastest and easiest bird feeder for children/families to make is simply an apple. This can either be hung with string from a tree branch, bush, or similar, or the apple can be ‘spiked’ on the pointy end of a tree branch, a strong twig or something like a bamboo pole embedded in the ground (so long as it’s tall enough to keep birds safe* from predators). Easy! We suggest stripping some of the apple skin off to expose the flesh. Apples are a particular favourite of blackbirds and bluetits, amongst others.

Tip!

Don’t worry if birds do not come right away after you’ve put out your bird feeder. Birds and most wild animals are suspicious of any changes, so it may take a few days before they learn to trust the new feeder.

Monkey Nut Chains

This is also a very easy bird feeder for children/families to make. All you need is some string and some monkey nuts* (peanuts still in their outer husk). A supervising adult will need to make some small holes in one end of each husk and then string can be threaded through to form a kind of chain (like a necklace). Monkey nuts can be threaded on to form the right length and then this can be tied between the branches of a tree, or similar. See our note about safely locating* them, though.

Home-made Seed Cakes

Home-made seed cakes are another type of bird feeder that is both easy and fun for children to make. Basically, they consist of lots of seeds mixed into a ‘cake’ made from either suet* or lard*. The seeds are mixed in when the lard or suet is melted, so parents/adults will need to help with that part as it’s done by heating it in a saucepan. Once melted, the seeds can be added and mixed in. Once cool enough to be safe, the children can take over to make most of the feeders. First, a piece of string can be tied from the centre of the base of something like a flower pot or yoghurt pot (parents should make the hole, if needed). Then the child can mould the seed cake into the pots, or other similar plastic containers. Once cooled, the seed cakes will harden and can then be suspended from the branches of a tree, bush, fence post or under the eaves of a house or outbuilding. Bluetits, great tits, starlings and robins will usually be the first to try out the new cakes.

A Word About Seeds & Cheese

Your choice of seeds directly affects the success – or otherwise – of your bird feeders. While many commercially-available seed mixtures contain several different types of seed, we have found that birds ignore some of them, so they go to waste. Our own bird feeders have been far more popular when they use more sunflower ‘hearts’ (the sunflowers without the other case) and less of the wheat and barley type seeds. Crushed peanuts* are also popular, but see our notes below about the safety of both baby birds and children when it comes to nuts.

TIP: birds like robins, starlings, wrens, dunnocks and blackbirds also adore grated (mild) Cheddar cheese, but ensure you only put out a little at a time. Don’t give them too much because, although they love it, it should only be given as an occasional treat, not a main meal. It’s also important never to let it go mouldy; mould can kill birds, which is also a reason never to give them blue or veined cheese.

Pine Cone Bird Feeders

Another type of bird feeder that is both fun and easy to make is a pine cone feeder. All you need is a big pine cone, ideally with the cone splines open, a birdseed mixture and either peanut butter*, suet* or lard*. All your child needs to do is paste the peanut butter (or suet or lard that’s been safely warmed to soften it) all over the pine cone, including into the open splines. Then the whole thing can be rolled over your seed mixture, so the seeds stick all over the pine cone. Once complete, the pine cone feeder can be hung with a piece of string in an appropriate place outside. Even better: hang several together so the birds can’t miss them. The birds will love pecking them when they’re hungry.

Carton Bird Feeders

Bird feeders made from recycled cartons can be great fun, fairly easy and can be quite creative. All you need is an empty milk or juice carton, by which we mean the card ‘Tetra Pak’ type, plus some bird seed/food and some string. Parents will need to help younger children safely attach the string to the tops of the cartons and cut flaps/openings into the sides of the carton. These can be folded down, as shown in the photo, and suspended outside somewhere suitable for the birds. For extra creative fun, children can first paint patterns, designs or even faces on the cartons. This type of bird feeder is great because it not only holds the bird food but also potentially gives birds somewhere safe to land while feeding. As they were originally for holding liquid, they can alternatively be used to hold drinking water for birds — or perhaps children can make one for food and another for drinking water.

Plastic Bottle Bird Feeders

In a similar way, clear plastic bottles can be used as bird feeders or for water. The same approach can be used but flaps are not advised as they’re trickier for children to fold and also plastic bottles will have sharper edges than the carton approach above. So, this particular type of bird feeder needs extra supervision from a parent or adult. Take a look at the photos to see what’s possible, though. One photo (the first small image at the start of this article) even shows a plastic spoon that’s used as a landing platform and seed dispenser, all in one. Once finished, plastic bottle feeders tend to last a long time, so long as they’re regularly cleaned and refilled.

*Bird Safety & Well-being

Peanut butter, if used, should be free of salt, sugar and flavouring. During breeding season (Mar-Aug) it should be smooth, so it’s safe for baby birds.	Peanuts and monkey nuts, if used, should be unroasted and clear of any fungus (break open the outer husk/check the nut surface). Do not touch or use if present.	Suet, if used, should be beef suet i.e. from cows. It should be hard and crumbly, not soft and squeezable. Other suets may not be safe for birds.
Lard, if used, should be pure lard. It should remain hard even in warmer weather and should not be squeezable. It is unsafe for birds if it melts in the sun.	Locating your bird feeder is important. To keep birds safe from predators, site at least 1.5m above ground and under the overhang of trees/bushes or eaves.	Change bird drinking water and clean bird feeders regularly to avoid spreading disease or bacteria amongst the birds. See RSPB guidelines, available here.

**Child Hygiene & Safety

Supervise Children
Children should be supervised by a responsible adult to keep them safe from harm e.g. from sharp tools like scissors and knives and choking hazards like nuts and string.
Encourage Good Hygiene
Encourage children to maintain good hygiene. They should wash hands with soap and water after touching bird feeders, suet, lard, seeds etc. and/or wear rubber gloves.
Be Allergy Aware
Ensure your child is not allergic to any of the bird food before coming into contact with it, e.g. peanuts, seeds, etc.

This article was brought to you by Little Cedars Nursery, Streatham. We hope that it was useful and that you and your little one(s) enjoy the suggested activities.

Little Cedars: a First Class Nursery & Preschool in Streatham

Little Cedars is a great choice for families looking for high-quality childcare in Streatham or near Furzedown, Tooting, Balham, Norbury or Colliers Wood

Are you searching for the best nursery or preschool for your child in Streatham? Let us show you and your little one around and we’re sure you’ll soon see how well they would fit in. We offer children under five the very best start in life in a well-equipped, expertly staffed, home-from-home environment.

Apply for a nursery place, book a tour or get answers to any questions by selecting an option below:

Apply for a Place Arrange a Visit or Message Us 020 8677 9675

Little Cedars may also be conveniently located if you are looking for nurseries/preschools near Streatham Hill, Streatham Park, Streatham Common, Furzedown, Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway, Tooting Common, Balham, Norbury or Colliers Wood.

31 May 2023/by Mark

Babies, Childcare, Early Years Education, Early Years Foundation Stage, EYFS, Infants, Learning & Development, Nurseries, Nursery, Parenting, Pre-schools, Preschool, Preschoolers, The Blossom Parent App, Toddlers, Under-5s

The Blossom Parent App (Rough Guide)

Staying on top of children’s activities, nappy changes, meals, and developmental milestones can be a challenge for parents when they happen away from home at the child’s childcare nursery. At Little Cedars, however, we use the Blossom app to take care of all of this. The mobile phone app is designed to help make things easier for parents by providing real-time updates on children’s activities and progress, as well as providing a convenient platform for communication between parent and childcare provider. In today’s guide, we’ll take a closer look at the Blossom app, its benefits, and how it can be used to bolster the partnership between childcare providers and parents.

“A window into your child’s time at nursery. Accessible from anywhere. Anytime.”

Features & Benefits of the Blossom App

The Blossom app is fully-featured and provides a wide range of benefits for parents and ultimately their children. Let’s take a look at some of the features and benefits you can expect:

Blossom Allows you to Stay Connected with your Child’s Activities

With the Blossom app, you can get real-time updates on your child’s activities at nursery/pre-school, including nappy changes, meals, naps, and developmental moments. You can also view photos and videos of your child’s day, helping you feel connected to your child even when you’re not there.

It Helps you Celebrate your Child’s Achievements & Share Developmental Milestones

Blossom allows you to see and celebrate your child’s achievements, developmental progress and milestones, including new skills they’ve learned, special projects they’ve completed, and social interactions they’ve had with their peers. The app also allows you to take photos and feed back to the nursery about progress achieved at home. This is a great way to keep them up-to-date too, while your child is away from their care.

“View your child’s golden moments and formative reports to see how they are blossoming.”

Seamless & Instant Communication with your Childcare Provider

The app provides a convenient platform for 2-way communication with your childcare provider, enabling you to ask questions, provide updates, and receive feedback in real-time. This is particularly useful, for example, if you are going to be late dropping your children off, late picking them up, or if they are unwell.

A Strong Childcare Provider/Parent Partnership

Building a strong partnership between parents and childcare providers is a crucial part of building strong early years foundations for any child. The Blossom parent app makes this natural and easy. It even includes suggestions for activities that can be undertaken with children at home, all explained step by step.

“Through Blossom we track and understand your child’s learning more effectively and build strong, trusting parent partnerships.”

Blossom Provides Flexibility

The Blossom app also provides a useful mechanism for booking non-standard childcare sessions that fall outside of your child’s usual days and hours. With the app, you simply request a particular session and the childcare provider will see your request and let you know whether it’s approved.

It Gives Parents Peace of Mind

With the Blossom app, you can rest assured that you’re always up-to-date on your child’s activities, and can quickly and easily get in touch with your childcare provider if needed. This provides unrivalled peace of mind for parents, particularly if they feel anxious about leaving their child in someone else’s care.

Important Information About Your Child

The app provides for a profile for each child, where you can view and update their personal information, such as their name, date of birth, likes, dislikes and any allergies. The latter is particularly crucial reference for the childcare provider when it’s time to provide food or snacks.

Useful Information About Parents

The app also provides a profile for parents, where you can view and update your personal information, including your contact details and emergency contacts. Should your child become ill, these will be invaluable to childcare staff and will ultimately aid the well-being of your child.

Convenient Payment & Invoicing

The app also allows you to view and pay invoices from your childcare provider from within the app, and keep track of your payment receipts. This makes it easy to manage your childcare payments and keep track of your finances.

Getting Started With the Blossom App

Getting started with the Blossom app is easy and it is available for download for both iOS and Android devices*. Simply go to the App Store or Google Play Store as appropriate for your device, search for “Blossom Parent App”, and download the app to your device. Be sure that it’s the one shown in our preview image.

*Blossom also allows for updates via email for those without smartphones.

Connect With Your Childcare Provider

You’ll need to enter your email address and connect with your childcare provider through the app. If you cannot, check with your nursery/childcare provider that they have registered you for an account and ensure you are entering the email address associated with that account. Once you’ve set up your account and connected with your childcare provider, you can start using the app.

Set Up Your Profiles

When you first join the app, you’ll need to set up a profile for your child. This will include information such as their name, date of birth, and any allergies or medical conditions. Make sure this information is accurate and up-to-date so that your childcare provider has all the necessary information to care optimally for your child.

Also, ensure that you fill in the information relating to you, the parent(s), so that the childcare provider knows your contact information. Make sure you also include contact information for any emergency contacts.

Set Your Preferred Permissions

The app provides permissions settings that allow you to control who can access your child’s profile, information, photos and videos. Rest assured that security has been built into the Blossom parent app, including password encryption and compliance with both OFSTED and the Data Protection Act.

Use Daily & Check Often

Once set up, you can use the Blossom parent app to check for daily updates about your child’s activities, progress and developmental milestones. You’ll be able to use it to communicate with your childcare provider in real-time and feed back to one another. You’ll be able to ask questions, stay connected, receive updates as they happen, pay invoices and so much more. You’ll soon wonder how you ever managed without it!

Whether you’re a new parent just starting out with a childcare provider, or a seasoned parent looking for a more convenient and effective way to stay connected, the Blossom app is an excellent tool. By making the most of its features, you can ensure that you’re always up-to-date on your child’s activities and progress, and can communicate with your childcare provider easily and efficiently.

“By creating higher quality observations and linking them to the EYFS framework we track and monitor children’s progress enabling a greater understanding of your child’s learning and development.”

Download the App

Download the Blossom app today and start enjoying the benefits of this powerful tool for parents. (Download on IOS here or download on Android here).

Information Leaflet

If you’re interested in learning more about the Blossom app, its features, and how it can benefit you and your child, download the Blossom Parent Guide (Acrobat PDF) here. You can also ask your childcare provider to register you for an account, linked to them.

Connect With Little Cedars Nursery, Streatham

A ‘Good Provider’ of High-Quality Childcare in Streatham, SW16

Get in touch with Little Cedars Nursery if we look after your child and have not yet connected with you via the Blossom parent app. It really is a game-changer and will benefit you, your child, and us as your childcare provider — it’s a win-win-win!

If you are living or working in the Streatham area and require high-quality childcare for your baby, toddler, or under-five child, why not bring them along for a guided tour? You can meet our childcare professionals, ask us any questions and see the wonderful setting and facilities. Alternatively, simply register your child for a nursery/preschool place and we’ll be delighted to welcome you and your little one. Please choose a button below to get in contact or to register.

Apply for a Place Arrange a Visit or Message Us 020 8677 9675

Little Cedars is officially a good nursery, which is located in Streatham, SW16. We’re also near Streatham Hill, Streatham Common, Streatham Park, Furzedown, Tooting, Balham, Norbury, Colliers Wood, West Norwood, Wandsworth, Clapham and Brixton, so may suit you if you live or work nearby. We support free childcare for eligible families through the various Government childcare funding schemes for under-fives.

16 May 2023/by Mark

Young children are naturally wired to learn languages and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t learn more than one, particularly if they receive appropriate support. Bilingualism refers to the ability to speak two or more languages fluently. In today’s globalised world, being bilingual – or multilingual – has become an increasingly valuable asset. For children, bilingualism can offer numerous benefits, including enhanced cognitive development, improved language skills, and greater cultural awareness. However, raising a bilingual child can also present a few challenges, such as language confusion and potentially a slower rate of vocabulary acquisition in each separate language. In today’s article, we explore the benefits and challenges of bilingualism in children, as well as strategies for supporting their bilingual language development. This may better enable parents and caregivers to support the language development of children under their care.

The Advantages of Bilingualism in Children

Bilingualism can provide numerous benefits for children, including:

Enhanced Cognitive Development

Bilingual children have been shown to have better cognitive flexibility, focus and creativity. Studies have shown that this often leads to better decision-making, prioritisation and planning skills too. With such skills in place, bilingual children may also have a better ability to multitask and switch between separate tasks.

Better Problem-Solving Skills

Bilingual children have been found to be better at solving complex problems. This is likely due to their enhanced cognitive flexibility and ability to approach problems from multiple perspectives.

Improved Language Skills

Bilingual children have been found to have a better understanding of language structure and grammar, as well as a larger vocabulary in both languages combined. Some may also develop better pronunciation and intonation in each language, according to studies.

“Language feeds the brain and links us to our family, our community and our friends. This is vital for a young child’s sense of self.” (National Literacy Trust)

Greater Cultural Awareness and Empathy

Bilingual children have a greater understanding and appreciation of different cultures and perspectives. They are more likely to be open-minded and accepting of others, which can also lead to greater empathy and tolerance.

Clearly, bilingualism offers numerous benefits to children and can positively affect their cognitive, linguistic, and socio-emotional development. It is therefore to be encouraged.

Potential Challenges of Bilingualism in Children

While bilingualism offers many benefits to children, it can also present unique challenges. These may include:

Language Confusion

Young bilingual children may sometimes mix their languages or use one language inappropriately in certain contexts. This is a normal part of the language acquisition process but can be a little confusing, at times, for both the child and their caregivers.

Slower Rate of Language Acquisition? Actually No!

You may have read that bilingual children may take longer to develop language skills than monolingual children. It was thought that this was because they are learning two languages at the same time, which in theory could be more challenging and time-consuming. However, studies show that this is a myth.

“The idea that two languages cause language delays in children has been a long-standing myth … However, research has dispelled this myth. Children are able to learn two languages at the same pace as other children who are learning only one language.” (Nationwide Children’s Hospital) ^∞

Possible Language Loss if Not Maintained

If a bilingual child does not have consistent exposure to both languages, they may lose proficiency in one over time. This can occur if the child is not regularly exposed to one language, or if they are discouraged from using one language in favour of the other. As adults, many of us know this to be true if we learnt a second language at school and have not used it subsequently — it’s easy to quickly forget vocabulary if not regularly used.

It’s important to remember that being bilingual is a valuable skill and that the benefits far outweigh the potential challenges that we’ve highlighted. With consistent exposure to both languages and support from caregivers and educators, bilingual children can overcome the challenges and naturally become proficient in both languages.

Strategies & Tips for Supporting Bilingual Children

Parents, caregivers, and educators can support bilingual children and promote their language development in several ways. Some support strategy ideas follow.

Speak Both Languages Consistently

Parents play a crucial role in supporting their bilingual children’s language development. To help your child become proficient in two different languages, it’s important to consistently speak both at home. Doing so can help children develop a particularly strong foundation in both languages.

Consistent Exposure to Both Languages

Consistent exposure to both languages can also be aided by children having regular access to reading books (including dual language books) as well as audio and visual media presented in each. Music, movies, and even audiobooks, for example, may help.

Encouraging Language Use

Bilingual children may initially prefer to use one language over the other, but it’s important to encourage them to use both. This can be achieved by speaking to the child in both languages and providing opportunities for them to use both of them in daily life.

Emphasise the Importance of Both Languages

Make sure your child understands the value of being bilingual and the benefits it offers. Encourage them to use both languages and help them understand the importance of maintaining proficiency in both.

Creating a Language-Rich Environment

Bilingual children benefit from exposure to a variety of other language-rich environments, such as bilingual story times, cultural festivals, and family gatherings where more than one language will be spoken. These environments can help children develop their language skills at the same time as increasing their exposure to different cultures.

Be Patient

Bilingual language development is an enormous undertaking, so it’s important to be patient with your child’s progress. Don’t worry if your child mixes languages or takes longer to develop language skills in one language compared to the other. Such a thing is relatively easy to rectify with the appropriate focus being given to the weaker of the two, for example when talking at home.

Seek Out Resources & Support

Look for resources and support for bilingual families, such as bilingual playgroups. These can provide your child with additional exposure to both languages and connect you with other families in similar situations.

Provide Additional Language Support if Needed

Bilingual children may require additional support if they are struggling with language development, although the same can be said for any child learning even only one language. Either way, such support can include enrolling the child in language classes or working with a tutor or speech therapist to address any language delays or difficulties.

As we have seen above, bilingualism offers many advantages to children and can help them develop important cognitive and social skills. However, bilingualism also presents a few, unique challenges that parents, caregivers, and educators may have to navigate. By providing consistent exposure to both languages, creating a language-rich environment, and supporting children’s language development, bilingual children can become proficient in both languages and fully realise all the benefits that bilingualism offers. More tips for parents of bilingual children are available in a variety of languages here.

Little Cedars Nursery & Preschool, Streatham

The Highest Quality Childcare for Babies & Children Under 5 in Streatham

As a childcare nursery, we recognise the value of bilingualism in the children we care for. Therefore, we support their language development in a way that fosters overall growth and development whilst also celebrating their cultural heritage.

Why not bring your baby, toddler or preschooler along for a guided tour of the setting, so you can meet the staff, see the facilities and ask any questions? You can also see how well your child fits in. Or, if you are ready to register your child for a place, we’ll be delighted to welcome them to Little Cedars Nursery. Please take the first step using a button below:

Apply for a Place Arrange a Visit or Message Us 020 8677 9675

Little Cedars Day Nursery is officially a good nursery and preschool and is located in Streatham, SW16. We are also conveniently close to Streatham Hill, Streatham Common, Streatham Park, Furzedown, Tooting, Balham, Norbury, Colliers Wood, West Norwood, Wandsworth, Clapham and Brixton. All Government childcare funding schemes are supported.

28 April 2023/by Mark

Spring arrives in the UK on 20th March, according to the meteorological calendar. As well as plants beginning to shoot, daffodils flowering and trees starting to bud, an increased number of wild birds can now be seen too. While a few overwintered here in England, many will have spent winter abroad, where it’s warmer, and only begin to return to the UK once spring begins. So, come springtime, more and more varieties of birds can be spotted — and that’s what today’s post is all about. To encourage children to appreciate, enjoy and learn from nature, we have put together a bird identifier poster that children and parents can download for free, print out to A3 or A4, or view on screen in beautiful high resolution. It highlights 37 species of bird that are popular in England, which children can try to spot as the days and weeks go by. Children can perhaps tick off each type of bird that they spot. With a little help from parents for the youngest children, this activity is a great way to teach them the different bird names and help them to recognise the different types as time goes by. It’s also a great children’s pastime that will encourage them to really appreciate nature. The A3 poster is free to download and share — simply click the preview image below to save or view it in Acrobat PDF format. Enlarge on screen for extra detail or simply print out as large as you can. Children will love this activity and feel a real sense of achievement as they learn more about these wonderful, feathered visitors.

Free A3 Bird Identifier Poster Download:

Nature is So Good for Children

One of life’s great pleasures is the natural world and nature is something that’s beneficial to children in many profound ways (click the bold link to learn more). Children, including those under five, should be encouraged to spend time around nature, outdoors in the fresh air, whether that’s in the countryside, a park or in a garden (all under adult supervision, of course). Our bird-spotting poster is a great way to encourage them to get outside and take a close look at their natural surroundings. And, of course, putting out home-made bird feeders somewhere suitable will help. We’ll cover that topic in a future post as it’s also great fun for little ones.

37 Types of Bird are Featured

We’ve selected our favourite birds from the hundreds of species that visit the UK each year. There was no way to fit in all of them, so we’ve picked out the most common visitors to our own gardens and nearby parks. In addition, we also added a few extra birds that would be great for children to keep a lookout for, despite a few being shy. Owls are around, for instance, coming out mostly at night. However, barn owls can be seen before dark if you know where to look (the sound of owls hooting or screeching is a dead giveaway). Buzzards, Red Kites and Sparrowhawks are more likely to be seen in the sky overhead, so we’ve shown images where their distinctive silhouettes can give their species away to the onlooker.

We have not yet included waterfowl, ducks, geese, herons, gulls and suchlike in this first bird collection, but may follow up with a second poster if this one proves popular. Let us know what you think!

More Ways for Children to Identify Birds

With a little bit of help from an adult, there are additional, fun ways for children to identify birds in the UK too, all courtesy of the wonderful R.S.P.B. Take a look at some of their bird identification tools available online:

Identify from over 400 birds seen in the UK using filters like location, size, colour, beak shape, activity and leg colour.
Identify a bird by its song (only available, at least for free, for a few types of bird).
Search for a specific type of bird (for example, type in siskin — they’re very cute).
How to tell similar birds apart — is that a Great Tit or a Blue Tit? Was that a Common Swift or a House Martin? All the answers can be found on that link.

Looking for Good Nurseries or Preschools in Streatham?

Little Cedars is a wonderful nursery & preschool in Streatham, offering high-quality childcare services near Furzedown, Tooting, Balham, Norbury & Colliers Wood

Are you looking for the best nursery or preschool in Streatham? We’d love to show you and your child around Little Cedars Nursery if so. We provide high-quality weekday childcare and a rich early years education for babies and under-fives. Our nursery/preschool is also convenient if your family is near Streatham Hill, Streatham Park, Streatham Common, Furzedown, Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway, Tooting Common, Balham, Norbury or Colliers Wood.

To apply for a nursery place, book a guided tour or ask a question, please get in touch using an option below:

Apply for a Place Arrange a Visit or Message Us 020 8677 9675

31 March 2023/by Mark

Mathematics is an essential part of everyday life and an understanding of basic maths concepts is crucial for success in virtually all walks of life. However, many children struggle with maths and have negative attitudes towards the topic. To prevent this, it is important to introduce maths concepts and vocabulary to children at a young age. Fortunately toddlers are at a period of development where they can learn and understand a range of maths words and concepts when given the opportunity. And, by introducing mathematical concepts and vocabulary to toddlers in a fun and engaging way, adults can help children develop a strong foundation in maths and foster a positive attitude towards the subject.

In today’s article, we will explore why it is important to introduce maths language and concepts to toddlers, how parents/caregivers can help those toddlers learn and understand them, and which specific maths-related words can be successfully introduced at this young age. We will also suggest some activities that parents can use to help their toddlers develop a good maths vocabulary.

What Type of Maths Words can Toddlers Learn?

Toddlers can learn and understand a range of maths words and concepts even at their young age. Here are some examples:

Number words

Toddlers can, of course, learn to recognise and say the names of numbers, such as one, two, three, and so on.

Counting concepts

Toddlers can understand the concept of counting i.e. learn to count objects such as toys etc.

Size words

Toddlers can learn to recognise and say size-related words, such as big, small, tall, and short. These all have their root in maths.

Shape words

Toddlers can also learn to recognise and say the names of shapes, which have their root in mathematics. For example, squares, triangles, circles, and rectangles.

Positional words

Toddlers can learn positional words, which again have a kind of root in maths, such as up, down, in, out, on, and off.

Comparatives

Toddlers can learn comparative words such as more, less, equal, the same, and different.

Measurement words

Toddlers can learn measurement-related words such as long, short, heavy, light, full, and empty.

Time words

Toddlers can also learn time-related words such as now, later, early, and late.

The important thing about learning maths words and vocabulary during day-to-day activities is that children don’t even know that they’re learning maths concepts — it comes naturally when nurtured as part of everyday life.

Why Introducing Maths Words to Toddlers is So Important

Introducing maths words and language to toddlers is all part of the EYFS curriculum at nurseries like Little Cedars and is important for several reasons:

It helps develop strong foundations. Introducing maths language to toddlers helps to develop a strong foundation for mathematical concepts that they can build on more fully later on. For example, when toddlers start hearing words such as “one,” “two,” “count,” “more,” and “less,” they begin to develop a basic understanding of numbers, maths concepts and the real world use of counting.

It enhances problem-solving skills. Maths involves problem-solving, and introducing maths-related words and concepts to toddlers helps them develop these problem-solving skills right from an early age. For example, as toddlers learn to count, they also learn to recognise patterns in nature and objects around them. Identifying these patterns is one of the first steps towards developing problem-solving strategies.

It improves language skills. Introducing maths-related language to toddlers can also help improve their language skills, expanding both vocabulary and their ability to communicate effectively. That is incredibly important.

It prepares under-fives for school. Introducing maths words and language to toddlers will also help to prepare them better for when they start school. Once they start, they will already be familiar with the language around mathematics and numeracy and will therefore have a head start in understanding the more advanced maths concepts that school lessons will introduce.

Early maths skills in preschool, such as counting and recognising numbers, are strong predictors of later maths achievement and can help improve maths skills in the long term.

So, as well as helping to lay the foundation for a strong understanding of mathematics itself, introducing maths words and language to children when they’re toddlers helps them develop important additional skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.

How to Help Toddlers Learn Maths Language

Parents and caregivers can help toddlers learn maths words and maths-related language in a variety of ways. General examples include:

Counting objects; parents can encourage toddlers to count objects such as their own fingers and toes, toys, blocks, things in nature or even food items. This will help toddlers develop counting skills and help them start to understand the concept of numbers and what they mean in day-to-day life.

Reading books; parents can read toddlers books that will introduce maths concepts and vocabulary to them. There are many, many age-appropriate books available that use fun and engaging stories in order to teach basic maths concepts.

Singing songs; singing songs that involve counting and numbers can be a fun and interactive way for toddlers to learn maths-related words and language. Parents can even perhaps try to make up their own songs or rhymes to reinforce any specific maths concepts that they want to highlight to the child.

Playing games; parents can also play games with toddlers that involve counting, sorting, or perhaps even matching or comparing objects (some activity ideas follow below). These types of games reinforce maths vocabulary and can also help children develop problem-solving skills.

Using real-life situations; parents can use real-life situations such as cooking, tidying up or grocery shopping to introduce maths concepts and vocabulary to toddlers. For example, parents can ask toddlers to count the number of apples they need for a recipe, ask them to help sort items in the grocery basket, or count how many socks (or pairs of socks) are hanging on the washing line.

Incorporating maths words and language into everyday play and activities can really help toddlers learn and understand basic maths concepts in a fun and engaging way, without them perhaps even realising that they’re being taught mathematics per se.

Activity Ideas

Here are some more specific activity ideas that can help toddlers develop an understanding of maths concepts and vocabulary in a fun and engaging way:

Shape Hunts

Parents can go on a shape hunt with their toddlers, looking for shapes in the environment such as circles, squares, and triangles. If more than one child is involved, perhaps it could be developed into a competition with prizes. This activity can help toddlers learn the names of shapes and develop visual-spatial skills.

Number Hopscotch

Parents can create a hopscotch game using numbers. Toddlers can practise jumping on the numbers and the adult can encourage them to say the numbers out loud. This will help them develop number recognition and counting skills.

Measurement Activities

Parents can engage toddlers in measurement activities such as pouring water into different size containers or comparing the length of different objects. These activities can help toddlers understand measurement concepts and vocabulary such as volume, height, and length.

Pattern Recognition

Young children can look for shapes derived from maths such as circles, squares, and triangles. Parents can create simple patterns using objects such as blocks, toys, or coloured pencils, and ask toddlers to continue the pattern. This activity can help toddlers develop their pattern recognition skills and understand basic maths concepts such as repetition and sequencing.

Sorting Activities

Parents can provide toddlers with a variety of objects and ask them to sort them based on different attributes such as colour, size, or shape. This activity can help toddlers understand basic maths concepts such as classification and sorting.

Building Activities

Parents can provide toddlers with building blocks or other construction toys and encourage them to build structures using different shapes and sizes. This activity can help toddlers develop spatial reasoning and understanding of geometry.

Introducing maths words and concepts to toddlers is an important step in fostering their overall learning and development as well as in relation to success in mathematics itself. By teaching toddlers maths vocabulary and concepts at a young age, we can help them develop strong foundations in maths, enhance their cognitive development and language skills, and improve their attitudes towards maths. It is never too early to start introducing maths concepts to children, and by doing so, we can help them develop a lifelong appreciation of maths as well as nurturing a strong foundation for future success in many areas of their lives.

Nursery & Pre-School Places in Streatham, London SW16

A Nursery Place for Your Child in Streatham

Little Cedars Nursery in Streatham invites parents of babies, toddlers and children under five to apply for a childcare place at the setting. We offer high quality childcare on weekdays, virtually throughout the entire year, and give little ones the very best start a child could ever ask for. As well as being somewhere to look after your child, we also nurture their learning and development, giving them a full early years education. We have a good Ofsted rating.

Come along to see for yourself — we’ll give you and your child a guided tour, answer any questions and you can see for yourself how well your little one will fit in. Please choose an option below to make contact, request a tour or to apply for a nursery/pre-school place and we’ll be delighted to help:

Apply for a Place Arrange a Visit or Message Us 020 8677 9675

Little Cedars Nursery is located in Streatham, near Streatham Hill, Streatham Park, Streatham Common, Furzedown, Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway, Tooting Common, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.

28 February 2023/by Mark

Childcare, Early Years, Early Years Education, Education, Learning & Development, Nurseries, Nursery, Parenting, Pre-schools, Preschool, Speech, Streatham, SW16, Toddlers, Under-5s

Speech Milestones at 30 Months

Milestones are a crucial thing to monitor when you’re bringing up a baby or young child. Speech is an important one and it’s one that parents would be wise to take stock of at regular times in their child’s early years. Today we look at this milestone at around the age of 30 months. So, what should you expect your 30-month-old to be able to say at this age and, if appropriate, how can you encourage them to speak more? Let’s explore speech milestones at 30 months…

So, What is the Average 30-Month-Old Saying?

It’s important to appreciate that children develop skills, including speech, at different rates and times. However, that said, by the age 30 months (2½ years of age), many toddlers can say about 200 or more words. They can also start to put 2- or 3-word sentences together. Conversations between you and your toddler are starting to take shape, with exchanges back and forth. Parents, or anyone looking after your toddler on a regular basis, should understand about 50% of a child’s speech at 2 years of age, increasing to about 75% at 3 years.

30 Month Speech Milestones

By the age of 30 months:

Toddlers are starting to successfully use verbs as part of their language, for example, drinking, dressing, and playing.
They are starting to use two or even three syllable words, like carrot and banana.
They are starting to use three to four words into short sentences, for example, “We go to swings.”
They understand that adding an ‘s’ to nouns makes them plural, for example toys.
They can say their own name.
They are differentiating between big and small.
Having learnt to take turns and share with other children, they may use words like “share.”
The can understand a question like, “Where is the ball?”
They may still be practising putting the correct sound at the beginning of each word.
They may have accomplished the general sound but may still be trying to properly finish words.

Encouraging your Toddler to Talk More

The more ‘chatty’ time you have with your toddler, the more they will naturally get involved — and learn from you. Talking to your toddler facilitates good listening skills and helps them to build up their own vocabulary, particularly when you make physical reference to the things you are talking about. In this way they can associate a word with its physical equivalent (e.g. holding up or pointing to an object that you’re talking about).

Helping them build vocabulary can be as simple as talking to them about what they are having for lunch, or about activities they are taking part in. Maybe talk about friends and family, daily activities such as dressing, meal times and suchlike. Use words that they will relate to and therefore eventually understand. For example, “What jumper would you like to wear today? Would you like to wear the purple one?” or, “It’s cold outside today; shall we put our coats on?”

When talking about objects, try expanding the conversation. For example, say, “The car is going fast,” or, “The big blue ball.” Try and describe things as you speak to your child as it will add to their vocabulary and comprehension.

Use repetition. This helps your toddler through hearing the same words over and over again. They will copy and get used to which words go with which scenario in this way. You can take this a step further too…

There are many songs and nursery rhymes that toddlers can join in with. Sing along to them, do the actions to the songs and encourage your child to join in. Then, they’ll learn words and sentences through both repetition and song — and it’s all achieved in a fun way!

Talk about feeling words. For example, “The boy is happy, the girl is sad”. You can use the appropriate face to back up the words.

Puzzles and books are a great way to lean new words. Basic puzzles, often of farm animals or vehicles, or incorporating colours, are a great opportunity for your toddler to repeat the words relating to the puzzle pieces as you point them out.

The same applies to books. Get your toddler to point out details in pictures sand repeat the words after you. You can also ask your toddler questions about the book and get a conversation going, for example, whether they know a particular character, a particular object or a colour. Point to details and see if they know the word, or say the word out loud and let them repeat it.

Making up games can encourage your toddler to get involved verbally. Pretending to be animals, spacemen or any character at all can promote their speech, even if it’s copying from a character they have seen on screen time.

Remove distractions like TV and music when speaking with your child. It will help them concentrate more on listening to and speaking with you.

Help them with their sentences. For example, if they say, “This ball”, you could clarify it and say, “Yes, this is a ball.”

What if You’re Concerned About Your Toddler’s Speech?

As we said near the start, it’s important to remember that all toddlers are different and you cannot compare them to their friends or family and expect them to all learn and develop at exactly the same rate. That being said, perhaps ask yourself:

Can my toddler say at least 50 up to potentially 200 words (and actually understand up to 500)?
Can they say their name?
Can they respond well to instructions?
Do they respond to questions involving “who” or “what”?
Can they say what is going on in a particular scenario? For example, if you asked, “What is the boy playing with?” can they recognise and say the answer, e.g. “A ball”?
Can they point and say what pictures are in a book or puzzle?

If you have any concerns, it is worth mentioning it to a health professional just in case, for example your GP or health visitor. In some rare cases, this may identify speech or even hearing issues. In such cases, a child can be referred to an appropriate professional, for example a speech and language therapist (‘SLT’) although parents in the UK are also able to make a referral themselves (more information is available here). If there’s no problem, though, advice from a professional may simply put your mind at ease. At the very least, a closer understanding of your toddler’s progress will be beneficial to all parties, including the child.

More information about helping your little one to learn to speak is available on the NHS website.

Childcare Places at our Wonderful Nursery & Pre-School in Streatham

Babies & Under-Fives Get the Best Start in Life at Little Cedars Nursery, Streatham

This article was brought to you by the team at Little Cedars Nursery in Streatham. Here, babies and children under five are lovingly looked after, given the best early years education and nurtured for success in a fun, homely environment. The nursery and pre-school has a good Ofsted rating.

Why not come for a visit, so that you can see the nursery and pre-school in action? Bring your little one and see how well they will fit in. Or, if you’ve already decided you’d like to register for a place for a child — or ask any questions — please get in touch using an appropriate button below:

Apply for a Place Arrange a Visit or Message Us 020 8677 9675

Little Cedars Nursery is based in Streatham, close to Tooting Common and the A214. It is also convenient for families near Streatham Hill, Streatham Park, Streatham Common and Furzedown as well as Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway, Tooting Common, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.

15 February 2023/by Mark

Activities, Babies, Childcare, Early Years, Health & Wellbeing, Infants, Learning & Development, Learning through play, Nurseries, Nursery, Parenting, Pre-schools, Preschool, Preschoolers, Streatham, Toddlers, Under-5s

10 Benefits of Quiet Time for Toddlers

In today’s post, we look at the importance and benefits of periods of ‘quiet time’ for toddlers and children under five. Toddlers are busy little people, often rushing around, going from one toy or activity to the next. They’re at a stage where they realise the world is an exciting place and often want to experience it all at once. However, when they are so ‘on-the-go’, playing and learning from everything and everyone around them, their brains and body have a lot to take in and process. It can be extremely tiring! So, this is where some much-needed quiet time often comes in, bringing with it a whole range of benefits. Studies also back this up.

10 Benefits of Quiet Time for Little Ones

1. An Opportunity to Relax

With so much going on around them, children’s young senses of sight, hearing, touch and smell are experiencing a full-on assault. Their minds are also being challenged with learning new skills. This can all be very tiring for our youngsters, so a period of quiet time will give them a break, to allow them to breathe and unwind.

2. The Space to Reflect

Quiet time gives children the space to reflect on the day, task or activity that they’ve been a part of. A period of quietness and relaxation will give toddlers time to think about what they have done or encountered. For example, they may reflect on the animals they have seen at the zoo or the feeling of excitement playing on the swings at the park. A little period of reflection may indeed allow their minds to ‘join the dots’ and make conclusions and even learn from what they’ve been doing.

3. Some Time to Re-charge

Slowing down and relaxing for a while will help to re-charge children’s batteries. Perhaps some soothing music can be playing in the background, or relaxing videos of underwater sea life can be played on a screen. These are great opportunities for the children to sit, slow down, be mindful and re-charge quietly.

4. An Opportunity for a Refreshing Nap

After prolonged activity or concentration on the part of the child, a well-earned nap may well be on the agenda. As well as giving the toddler a chance to re-charge their batteries, sleep is hugely beneficial to children in their early years. For example, after sufficient sleep, children will be refreshed with improved mental and physical energy, responsive memory, better cognitive performance, increased attention spans and so much more. Their growth hormone is also produced when they sleep, so it is incredibly important in their early years. Click the bold link in this paragraph for more details. By the way, an added bonus, of course, is that a sleep session may also the parent/caregiver a chance to relax a bit and enjoy a few minutes of calm!

5. Renewed Energy to Refocus

After a period of quiet relaxation, a solo task like looking at a book should now be easier for children. They have recharged their metaphorical batteries and are now likely to have renewed mental and physical energy to really focus on a new task.

6. Time for Some Creativity

Quiet time provides an opportunity for children to develop their own, natural creativity. During quiet time, they have the opportunity to make up a game or activity, without intervention from others. This time is totally unstructured too, so children can be as free as they like to explore and adapt the game or activity. They can create their own little environment and immerse themselves in their own new world. Their imaginations are set free and opportunities to be creative will come naturally.

7. A Boost to Independence

As we can see above, during quiet time, children can engage in activities that they have chosen for themselves. This can greatly help them to become more independent and self-reliant. That’s a great skill for them to develop as they approach the time to transition to school. There, they will need to rely much more on such skills.

8. Precious ‘Alone Time’

Research has shown that toddlers and children that regularly have a period of ‘alone time’ often have a more positive outlook on life. During this time without distraction they relax and can then be more in control of their feelings, emotions and any anxieties. As they get older they also learn to use this time to become more content with their own company, with space to gather their own thoughts.

Of course, not all toddlers will want to be on their own. For those that don’t naturally take to it, it may help if perhaps you are sitting in the same room as them. Maybe read quietly to yourself or complete a task of your own, but quietly so the little one isn’t distracted by you. This will help them transition to some alone time.

9. Improving Sleep

Incorporating quiet time into a daily routine can help children to establish a healthy sleep schedule. It can also help them to relax and fall asleep more easily at night.

10. Improved Overall Wellbeing

When combined, all these benefits will help children to develop a sense of calm and inner peace. Stresses and anxieties will generally reduce as children’s minds and bodies relax and rest. They’ll feel refreshed and rejuvenated and ready for the rest of their day. Children’s overall mental and emotional wellbeing will benefit in a myriad of ways and it’ll help them to feel great and to accomplish tasks more easily.

How to Start Your Child on Quiet Time

When you first introduce quiet time to your child, start slowly and begin with short periods each day. This can be increased as your little one gets used to it.
Pre-plan and ensure you have some appropriate ‘quiet time’ toys or equipment already out. In this way, the child can get to them right away and begin interacting with them. This avoids the need for them to rummage through toy boxes or cupboards and keeps things more quiet from the outset.
You could try separating a few ‘quiet activity’ toys into separate baskets, so the toddler has a small choice of them all within easy reach. Examples might include a basket of puzzles, reading books or a basket of colouring books and crayons. Over time, remember to rotate the choices, so that your little one doesn’t become bored with the same options each time.
Books are a good quiet activity, but also consider audio books. In this scenario, try settling your toddler with their favourite teddy and then they’re all set to listen to a story quietly and comfortably.
Soft, relaxing music also makes an ideal backdrop to your toddler playing quietly too. Hand pick the music tracks, though, to ensure a quiet, relaxing mood.
Other great ‘quiet time’ activities include mindfulness and breathing exercises, observing nature, building and constructing, using play dough and even, under supervision, yoga poses and stretches.

Quiet time helps the whole family recharge their batteries if only for 20 minutes to begin with. Everyone will benefit, including not only the children but parents and caregivers too — we need a bit of quiet time too!

Streatham Nursery & Pre-School Places

Little Cedars Nursery: a Wonderful Childcare Service in Streatham offering Childcare Places for Children Under 5

Little Cedars is a nursery and pre-school in Streatham, which provides the highest quality childcare service for babies, toddlers and children under five. The nursery is a warm, welcoming home from home for under-fives and represents a great choice if you want your child to have the best start in life. We’re not just a childcare service; we provide a full early years education. Our key goal is to help children to absolutely thrive and achieve their best potential in all areas of the curriculum, in their personal development, and in life generally. The setting is conveniently located for those in Streatham Hill, Streatham Park, Streatham Common and Furzedown as well as Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway, Tooting Common, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.

Contact us to register your child for a place, ask a question or book a guided tour. We’ll be happy to help!

Apply for a Place Arrange a Visit or Message Us 020 8677 9675

18 January 2023/by Mark

Activities, Early Years, Early Years Education, Infants, Learning & Development, Nurseries, Nursery, Parenting, Pre-schools, Preschool, Preschoolers, Streatham, SW16, Toddlers, Under-5s

How to Nurture Independence in Under-5s (& Why)

It’s easier and often quicker for adults to take the lead in getting toddlers and under-five children dressed, fed, washed and suchlike. However, at some point, our little ones have to become confident and self-sufficient at doing these – and many other things – themselves. After all, they won’t have Mum or Dad around when they’re starting at school. So, today, we look at the ways we can help children under five help themselves and become more independent, including in their learning. First, though, let’s look at the many benefits of encouraging their independence.

The Benefits of Independence to Under-Fives

The benefits of young children learning to become more independent include a whole host of both short- and long-term examples. As well as helping to equip under-fives with many of the tools required for a seamless transition to school, the benefits include:

Increased self-esteem: Children feel a sense of accomplishment when they are able to do things on their own. This can give a healthy boost to their self-esteem.
A greater sense of autonomy: Children who are able to do things independently feel more in control of their own lives and have a stronger sense of autonomy.
Improved social skills: Children who are able to do things independently are often more confident in social situations. This can often can lead to improved social skills.
Improved relationships with peers: Children who are able to interact with others independently are more likely to form positive relationships with their peers, often leading to a better overall school experience.
Improved communication skills: Children who are able to express their thoughts and feelings independently may learn to communicate more readily with others.
Enhanced creativity: As children learn to play independently, they have more opportunities to explore and discover on their own. In turn, this can often foster opportunities for greater creativity and self-expression.
Better self-management skills: Children who are used to taking care of themselves and making their own decisions are better able to manage their own learning and behaviour. This is important, particularly once they move on to a school setting. Studies published in the Journal of Educational Psychology have highlighted better grades and higher levels of achievement in this regard.
Greater confidence: Children who are independent and confident in their abilities are more likely to feel comfortable participating in class and asking for help when they need it. This is incredibly important.
Enhanced problem-solving skills: Children who are independent and able to think for themselves are better able to tackle new challenges and problem-solve, for example when faced with obstacles or problems.
Improved ability to handle stress: Children who are independent and able to take care of themselves are better able to handle stress and cope with challenges.
A greater sense of responsibility: Children who are able to do things independently may more easily learn to take responsibility for their own actions and decisions. Learning from one’s own mistakes is also one of life’s most important lessons.
Enhanced self-regulation skills: Children who are able to regulate their own behaviour and emotions are better able to focus and therefore to learn.
Improved physical coordination: Children who practise doing things independently, such as dressing themselves or tying their shoe laces, will naturally improve physical coordination and motor skills.
Enhanced cognitive skills: Exploring and discovering independently can help children develop cognitive skills including enhanced memory and concentration.
Enhanced emotional intelligence: Children who are able to express their feelings and emotions independently are more likely to develop skills associated with emotional intelligence.

Studies have shown that learning to be more independent can positively impact children’s brain development, help them to develop important life skills and even lead to them achieving higher grades at school.

How to Help Under-Fives be More Independent

Now we’ve looked at the benefits, here are our top suggestions for how to help children become more independent:

Encourage self-care skills: Help children learn how to dress themselves, brush their own teeth, and wash their own hands. These tasks may take longer at first, but children will feel proud when they learn to do them independently. (Look out for more detailed posts about some of these tasks on the blog).
Encourage exploration: Create a safe environment where children can explore and make their own discoveries. This helps them learn to problem-solve, assess risk and make decisions.
Encourage independence during play: Children learn best through play, so give them the opportunity to play independently. This helps them to learn, develop their own interests and gather new skills in their own, natural way.
Encourage children to express their feelings: Teach children how to express their thoughts and feelings in appropriate ways. This is healthy and also helps them feel confident and independent.
Provide opportunities for children to make their own decisions: Give children small choices and let them choose what they want to do. This helps them feel a sense of control, encourages independence and builds confidence. A good example is allowing them to choose what they want to wear.
Encourage children to try new things: Encouraging children to (safely) try new activities and challenge themselves helps them to discover new passions and perhaps new hobbies. While doing so, it will build confidence and independence.
Encourage children to take on small responsibilities: Give children small tasks to complete, such as setting the table or helping to clear up after a meal. This helps them feel a sense of responsibility and independence.
Encourage children to problem-solve: When children encounter challenges, encourage them to think through the problem and find a solution on their own. This helps them develop independence and problem-solving skills.
Be patient and supportive: Encourage children’s independence at a pace that is comfortable for them. Be patient and offer support and encouragement as they learn to do things on their own.
Set realistic expectations: Children are still developing their skills and abilities, so be realistic about what they can do independently.
Provide a safe environment: Children need to feel safe in order to explore and try new things independently. Create a safe environment where children can take small risks, make mistakes and learn from them.
Encourage children to ask for help: Encourage children to ask for help when it’s needed, but also encourage them to try to solve problems on their own first.
Encourage children to be self-sufficient: Encourage children to do things on their own, such as packing their own lunch or getting dressed without assistance. This helps them feel more self-sufficient and independent.
Encourage children to express their opinions: Help children feel confident in expressing their opinions and ideas. Encourage them to speak up and share their thoughts.
Encourage children to set goals: Encourage children to set goals for themselves, which they can work towards achieving. This helps them develop independence and a sense of accomplishment. Learning to progress towards milestones one step at at time is an important life lesson.
Encourage children to be independent learners: Encourage children to explore and learn to love learning. Doing so will help them become more independent and studies show that independent learners generally go on to achieve more.

As the huge list of benefits suggests, encouraging independence in children can have a hugely positive impact on children. Most importantly, it can really help them in the development of a wide range of important life skills. These will serve them well as they transition to school and far beyond.

Are You Looking for the Best Nursery or Pre-School in Streatham?

Excellent childcare services in Streatham from Little Cedars Nursery

If you are looking to give your baby, toddler or preschooler the best start in life, you’ll need a high quality childcare and ‘early years’ provider. Little Cedars nursery and pre-school in Streatham provides a high quality childcare service where staff support the happy children to achieve their full potential in life and in readiness for the transition to school. The nursery is a safe, warm and welcoming home-from-home for little ones, who are nurtured and looked after by caring, high quality staff. The setting and location may also suit families who live or work nearby in Streatham Hill, Streatham Park, Streatham Common and Furzedown or Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway, Tooting Common, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.

Register your baby, toddler or preschooler for a place today, or feel free to ask us any questions. Please choose a button below to get started:

Apply for a Place Arrange a Visit or Message Us 020 8677 9675

30 December 2022/by Mark

Activities, Babies, Childcare, Discipline, Early Years, Early Years Education, Infants, Learning & Development, Nurseries, Nursery, Parenting, Pre-schools, Preschool, Preschoolers, Streatham, Toddlers, Under-5s

The Power of Positive Language for Under-5s

In today’s post, we explore the benefits of using positive language around under-fives. All too often, it’s tempting to say ‘No!’, ‘Stop that!’ or even ‘Don’t Eat That!’ and similar around little ones. This is particularly true when you want them to cease the offending activity urgently or are simply exhausted if it’s been a challenging day. There are good reasons for such negative commands, of course, not least that of their safety in many cases. However, such commands can sound stern and cause stress for the little ones. What’s more, if a child hears too much negative language and cannot understand why they’re not allowed to do a particular thing, problems can begin to arise and, indeed, the issue can become insidious. It may even result in worsening behaviour. Let’s explore, therefore, the issues around negative language and the simple solution that’s available in the form of positive language.

What’s Wrong With Saying No?

There’s nothing wrong, per se, with telling your child not to do something. More often than not, such a ‘negative’ command is given from the need to protect a child — it’s for their own good. The issue is more about how you say it (we’ll come back to that later).

There’s nothing wrong, per se, with telling your child not to do something. It’s more about how you phrase it.

Once babies have become toddlers, they start to explore their surroundings and want to be into everything. It’s all such an adventure for them! However, while it’s fun for them, it’s our job as parents to protect them, and their peers, from harm. When setting boundaries our maturity and experience tells us when things are dangerous. Toddlers just haven’t got that sense of potential danger, though. They therefore may not understand that we are saying ‘no’ or ‘don’t do that’ for their own good.

Sometimes, though, constantly hearing ‘no’ can spark tantrums, particularly if a child doesn’t understand the reason they are not allowed to do something. They can feel particularly frustrated when they receive a succession of negative commands and, in the end, may feel they simply can’t do anything right. This can lead not only to stress for them, but also to possible low self-esteem. Furthermore, if they hear ‘no’ and other negative language too often, they can begin to ‘tune out’ to it. They could then go on to develop challenging behaviour due to this, their confusion and frustration. Stress levels can then rise for the parent too, the infant can pick up on this and it can become a real vicious circle. It doesn’t have to be that way, though …

What to Do Instead – Using Positive Language

The best way to counter a negative result from negative language is to try to use positive phrasing (we’ll come to some examples shortly). The words we choose can significantly influence our children’s behaviour and achievements. So, by changing our tone and choice of words, we can show toddlers an alternative action to what they originally intended to do — all achieved in a positive way.

Positive, encouraging words help children to feel happier about situations. Also, by the child choosing a more positive action, it can make them feel empowered. When they follow positive words and requests, it will bring about a sense of achievement for the child. Suddenly, from their perspective, they chose the ‘right’ course of action rather than coming away feeling that they did something wrong. Gradually, the whole environment at home can become calmer and more positive too. What a contrast this is to the negative alternative!

Examples:

Stop shouting!	Please use a much softer voice.

Don’t hit people!	Please use gentle hands, so your don’t hurt someone.

Do not take his toy!	Let’s find another toy to play with until your friend has finished playing with it. There are plenty to choose from.

No, you cannot have a treat!	Please eat your dinner. If you eat enough of your proper food, you can have a treat afterwards.

Stop running!	Please stop running otherwise you may bump into something or hurt yourself. Let’s walk together and we’ll get there safely.

Don’t throw that ball in the house!	Shall we take the ball into the garden to play? It’s much safer as things won’t get broken outside.

Remember to praise them when they have followed your suggestion and made the right choice.

Tips:

Be clear, with simple explanations.
Provide alternative options — explain what they can do instead of what they can’t.
Let them know what behaviour you want to see from them.
Sometimes use a “yes you can, but later” approach.
Praise them when you see them choose the better alternative.

Before long, your child will catch on and both parent and child will be be more at ease and each will be happy with the results. Indeed, our childcare professionals at Little Cedars Nursery often use this kind of approach — and it works!

High Quality Childcare in our Streatham Nursery & Pre-School

Give your child the best start in life with childcare from Little Cedars Nursery, Streatham

Little Cedars offers under-fives a first class early years education in a safe, homely and nurturing environment. We are an excellent nursery and pre-school in Streatham supplying a first class childcare service to families near Streatham Hill, Streatham Park, Streatham Common and Furzedown as well as Tooting, Tooting Bec, Tooting Broadway, Tooting Common, Balham, Norbury and Colliers Wood.

Please let us know if you’d like to register your baby, toddler or preschooler for a place at the nursery/pre-school. We can show you and your child around, confirm fees, answer any questions and clarify any Government childcare funding options. We’re here to help, so please get in touch:

Apply for a Place Arrange a Visit or Message Us 020 8677 9675

16 December 2022/by Mark