Claire's Childcare - Hygge in the Early Years Accredited Setting

14/01/2026

Reading is a HUGE part of my setting.
But sadly I know not everyone has the confidence to tell stories every day.

This year the Government has launched a new initiative to get more homes reading. The National Year of Reading will help you make stories part of everyday life in your setting. You’ll find simple ideas, playful activities and ready-to-use tools to help you spark children’s curiosity.

There are a wealth of resources for settings, families and schools
The link for more information is in the comments

13/01/2026

How often do you bake?

We are getting back onto our routine of Tasty Bake Tuesday.
This week its Bird Bread.
A simple and easy recipe, great for fine motor skills.

Have you ever made it?

03/01/2026

“I am 2.”

Two is big feelings. Big curiosity. A brain growing faster than words can keep up.

Those tears? Not bad behaviour. Not naughtiness.
Just a little person trying to make sense of a very big world.

At this age, children are learning:
✨ independence
✨ cause and effect
✨ how to express feelings without the language yet

It can look messy. It can sound loud. But it’s all part of healthy development.

In my setting, two-year-olds are given:
• time
• patience
• reassurance
• clear boundaries
• lots of language and comfort

Because being two isn’t easy.
And they’re not giving us a hard time they’re having a hard time. 💛

(And yes… they’re pretty amazing too.)

03/01/2026

02/12/2025

It's that time of year..
A great poster shared.

03/11/2025

Who LOVES sparklers? ✨
Me! I absolutely love them, and under the right conditions (and with plenty of supervision) they can be enjoyed safely with our little ones.
We all know the sparkle of Bonfire Night is magical , but tiny hands and sparklers aren’t always the best mix!

Here’s a simple tweak that makes it safer and still fun:
➡️ Use a carrot, parsnip, potato, or sweet potato as a chunky “sparkler handle.”
They’re sturdy, easy to grip (even with gloves on), and make a great safety barrier for little hands.
Then just enjoy watching the lights, colours, and sounds from a safe distance or make your own “sparklers” with ribbons, pipe cleaners, or sticks for an indoor version.
Because staying safe means staying calm and that’s a win for little nervous systems (and ours too!). 💛

25/10/2025

Here's to fighting the germs quickly, celebrating birthdays and relaxing with blankets, onesies and biscuits!

21/10/2025

⭐️Best Start in Life⭐️

Childcare Choices has now evolved into 'Best Start in Life' in line with the government's Best Start in Life Strategy. Parents can check their eligibility for government funded childcare support as well as much more! https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/

Please ensure you are signposting parents to the new website for advice and support from pregnancy to childcare, right through to starting school.

17/10/2025

09/10/2025

🎃 Pumpkin Painting – Simple Magic in Action

Sometimes the simplest setups spark the most imagination.
This little pumpkin painting activity took five minutes to put together but gave us so many moments of learning, laughter, and conversation.

🖌️ The children explored brushes and dabbers, building fine motor skills without even realising it.

🎨 They experimented with colour mixing and patterns, chatting about what they saw and felt “Mine’s a happy face!”

💬 We even talked about emotions as they drew how we can show feelings through art and expression.

I love how activities like this remind us that children don’t need fancy resources just space to explore, create, and lead their own learning.

Simple. Joyful. Full of learning.

03/10/2025

🍂 Autumn Adventures in the Leaves 🍂

One of the simplest joys of childhood is an autumn walk and as you can see, the children loved every moment of leaf play!

But it’s not just fun… there are so many hidden benefits:

✨ Physical Development – running, jumping, kicking and throwing leaves helps with coordination, balance, and those all-important gross motor skills.
✨ Language Growth – autumn walks give endless chances to learn new words (crunchy, crispy, rustling, swirling!) and to share their excitement.
✨ Sensory Exploration – leaves are nature’s loose parts! Children get to feel different textures, hear the crunch underfoot, smell that earthy autumn air, and see the changing colours.
✨ Social Skills – collecting, piling, throwing, and giggling together helps children practice turn-taking, teamwork, and kindness.
✨ Imagination & Creativity – leaves become confetti, blankets for teddies, pretend soup in the mud kitchen… their play has no limits!

Autumn really is a magical classroom. 🍁 Every walk is a chance to slow down, notice the world around us, and see the season through the children’s eyes.

Next time you’re out, scoop up a handful of leaves with your little one and see where their imagination takes you the best resources really do come free from nature!

29/09/2025

You know it’s going to be a good Monday when your park trip comes with a live construction show.

What better way to kick off the week than a sunny autumn morning at the park? 🍂

The children were captivated watching a digger and a tractor hard at work pulling up bushes real-life learning in action! 🚜 Once the show was over, they dived straight into the sand for play and exploration.

👉 Tip for the week: Notice the little unexpected moments. Whether it’s a digger at the park, a squirrel chasing acorns, or a change in the leaves, slowing down to watch with the children turns an ordinary outing into something extraordinary