Cotton Socks Child Care

Cotton Socks Child Care I’m Rachel, an OFSTED registered, Forest School Qualified, SEND experienced Childminder based in Alvaston, Derby.

What a brilliant time of year it is! 🌼🐣We’re so lucky to have Alvaston Park so close to us – it’s the perfect place to s...
06/05/2026

What a brilliant time of year it is! 🌼🐣

We’re so lucky to have Alvaston Park so close to us – it’s the perfect place to spot the adorable baby ducklings and goslings at this time of year. The children absolutely love watching them and exploring all the wildlife around us.

From Cotton Socks there is a safe walk down the canal path, which takes us directly to the park. It’s such a lovely, peaceful route and a great way to get some fresh air and sunshine.

We often head over for a little adventure – feeding the birds, enjoying a picnic, watching the anglers by the water, and of course having lots of fun on the new play equipment. There’s always so much to see and do, and it’s a wonderful way for the children to learn about nature while staying active.

Days like these are what make childminding so special 💛

🌿🦍 Our Zoo Adventure! 🐒🌿What an absolutely amazing day we’ve had on our trip to the zoo! The children were full of excit...
05/05/2026

🌿🦍 Our Zoo Adventure! 🐒🌿

What an absolutely amazing day we’ve had on our trip to the zoo! The children were full of excitement from start to finish, and it was wonderful to see their curiosity come to life as we explored all the different animals.

From watching the cheeky monkeys swing through the trees to spotting the tigers and leopards lounging in the sun, there were smiles, laughter, and lots of “wow” moments all around 🥰

We talked about the animals, the sounds they make, and where they live, turning our day into a fun learning experience too! The children especially loved choosing their favourite animals and sharing why they liked them 🐅🦒

30/04/2026

🌿🐐 A Lovely Day at Lanes Farm 🐄🌿

We had such a wonderful outing to the farm this week with our little explorers 💛

The children were fascinated meeting all the animals – we saw cows, goats, sheep, pigs, donkeys, hens, and even a beautiful peacock showing off its stunning feathers! 🦚✨

Our older child was incredibly confident, happily feeding the animals carrots and cabbage 🥕🥬 It was so lovely to see their curiosity and bravery grow as they interacted so gently and eagerly.

There was also a tractor for the children to climb on, where they enjoyed turning the wheel, exploring, and engaging in imaginative play 🚜

A day full of fresh air, new experiences, and lots of smiles – just how we like it 😊🌱

✨ Our Tonie Box ✨We love how accessible the Tonie Box is for children of all ages to use completely independently. They ...
26/04/2026

✨ Our Tonie Box ✨

We love how accessible the Tonie Box is for children of all ages to use completely independently. They can choose their own stories, songs, and characters, giving them a real sense of control and confidence while exploring storytelling in their own way 📚

The children love the recordable Tonie. They can record themselves reading a story and then play it back, which has been such a great way to build their confidence, language skills, and creativity 💛

We also have a Tonie with calming music that we use for quieter moments and sleep time. It’s perfect for helping create a calm environment when we need to slow things down 🌙

Throughout the day, we use it for so many different reasons – from energetic songs and engaging stories to soothing lullabies. It’s such a versatile little box that really supports learning, imagination, and emotional wellbeing 🎶

A simple, child-friendly way to bring stories to life ✨

24/04/2026

We have had such a wonderful trip and said “Hello” to lots of sea creatures at the Sea Life Centre 🐠✨

We’ve been absolutely fascinated by all the beautiful fish and sea creatures. It was amazing seeing these magnificent animals up close — it really brings learning to life in the most magical way.

One of our highlights was watching a stingray enjoying its dinner, which was both exciting and memorable! It has sparked curiosity, conversations, and a real appreciation for the natural world.

It was a calm, immersive environment that encouraged the children to observe, ask questions, and learn at their own pace. Experiences like this are not only educational but also incredibly soothing and inspiring.

A truly lovely day full of discovery 💙🦈

We have enjoyed a wonderful walk to Elvaston Castle, and it really reminded us how lucky we are to have such a beautiful...
22/04/2026

We have enjoyed a wonderful walk to Elvaston Castle, and it really reminded us how lucky we are to have such a beautiful place just a couple of miles from Cotton Socks Child Care. 🌿☀️

Spending time outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine is so valuable for young children. It supports their physical development as they walk, run and explore, and it also boosts their mood, wellbeing and curiosity about the world around them.

During our walk, the children were excited to spot dogs, horses, birds and ducks along the way. These moments support the children to learn about animals, nature and their environment.

A special thank you to Carole for the lovely donation of knitted birds that came along on our adventure with us. 🧶🐦‍⬛ We had a blackbird, a robin and a blue tit join us! They even sat with us while we enjoyed our snack, and they really captured the children’s interest. The children were inspired to look closely for the real birds around them, making wonderful connections between play and the world around them.

One of the loveliest parts of the day was watching a beautiful friendship continue to blossom between two of the children. Walking side by side, laughing and supporting each other is such a special thing to see.

Days like this are a perfect reminder that some of the best learning happens outside, through simple experiences, shared moments and a little bit of sunshine. 💛

20/04/2026

What an absolutely amazing day we’ve had today at CBeebies Land! 🌈🎢

Spending the day out together gave us such a lovely opportunity to really connect, build our bond, and enjoy each moment at our own pace.

We’ve had the best time exploring, laughing, and making so many special memories together. From exciting rides to meeting some of our favourite characters, every moment was full of smiles and pure joy 🥰

19/04/2026

Our busy week 🥰

13/04/2026

Happy Monday everyone! ☀️

There’s something so special about starting the week with positivity, fresh air, and lots of smiles. 😊

Today we made the most of our Monday by heading out to a lovely stay and play session in the community. The double pushchair was ready for action, giving us the freedom to explore and enjoy our surroundings together.

We’ve spent time in the garden, had lots of fun in the playroom, and even enjoyed a little walk to the library 📚 Such a wonderful mix of learning, play, and adventure!

Days like today remind me how important it is to embrace every moment, encourage curiosity, and create happy memories right from the start of the week. 💛

Here’s to a week full of laughter, learning, and little adventures! 🌈

🐾 Our best Buddy 🐾There’s something really special about the bond between children and dogs 🐾Spending time with dogs isn...
10/04/2026

🐾 Our best Buddy 🐾
There’s something really special about the bond between children and dogs 🐾

Spending time with dogs isn’t just fun — it actually plays a big role in a child’s social and emotional development. Dogs help children learn empathy by encouraging them to think about how another living being feels. Whether it’s noticing when a dog is tired, excited, or needs space, children naturally start to become more aware and compassionate.

Dogs also bring out confidence in children. Reading to a dog, playing together, or helping care for them can give children a sense of responsibility and achievement — without any fear of judgment. For children who are shy or anxious, dogs can be incredibly comforting companions.

And then there’s the calming effect. Being around dogs has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, helping children feel more relaxed and secure. Something as simple as stroking a dog can lower stress levels and boost those “feel good” hormones, creating a sense of happiness and calm.

Most importantly, dogs offer unconditional love. They don’t care about mistakes, bad days, or worries — they’re just there, steady and loyal. That kind of connection can be incredibly powerful for a child’s emotional wellbeing.

Buddy isn’t just a pet… He is a best friend, a teacher, and a source of comfort all in one 💛

What a lovely day we’ve had today! ☀️We started off with a very special moment, our little one spent time looking at a b...
09/04/2026

What a lovely day we’ve had today! ☀️

We started off with a very special moment, our little one spent time looking at a book independently 📖. It’s so amazing to see this at such a young age, choosing to explore books all by himself! Moments like this support early communication and language, as well as fostering a love of stories right from the start.

We then had lots of fun in our tent in the garden ⛺ where our children enjoyed a little role play session. They were both sitting together holding dolls with the doctors kit beside them, carefully looking after their babies 🩺. It’s always so exciting introducing new environments like the tent – it sparks their curiosity and imagination! This kind of play links beautifully to understanding the world around them and real-life experiences, as well as early imaginative play.

In the home corner, the children showed some lovely cooperative play 🏡 One child was pretending to feed the other – such a kind and thoughtful interaction! They took turns and played alongside each other so nicely, building those important social skills and early friendships

To finish our day, we headed out into the garden 🌿 where the mud kitchen was a big hit! Outdoor play is so important for exploring, getting messy, and developing physical skills – plus it’s always lots of fun!

Such a busy, happy day full of learning through play 💛

Address

285 Boulton Lane
Derby
DE249FW

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+447951180980

Website

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