This week we’re returning to our musical theme and reviewing a lovely little class run by a lady called Sarah Priddice called Boogie Woogies. Held in Compton Dundon village hall (just outside Street), the group is energetic, fun and loud – designed to get little ones up on their feet and moving about. It’s clear that this group has a really strong local following and the children were already happily running circles around the room when we arrived; an activity that the Not So Little One wasted no time in joining in with! From that point on, the fun never stopped.
Unlike Rock the Tots (which I reviewed earlier this month) this group is wholeheartedly geared towards the children so, while we didn’t have the standard nursery rhymes, we had some very popular alternatives – Ridin on a Donkey was a memorable one – all of which encouraged the children to move in different ways and dance along with the music.
There were props a-plenty – at the beginning of the class Sarah pulled out a huge bag filled with teddies and we all had to make lots of noise to wake them up, before each choosing one to join us for the rest of the session. A few songs were designed to get us moving with our teddies – lots of head patting and waving – and the rest were about getting us as active as possible. This was where the hall really came into its own – lots of space for us to go marching or twirling around the room or to make a large circle in the middle and dance together as a group.
At the end, the pace slowed and we said goodnight to our teddies… I think the Not So Tiny One was ready for a nap herself!
It’s not all running about though. After about 45 minutes of movement, it’s time for refreshments! This is where the grown-ups get a bit of a rest and the chance to sit and have a natter and a cup of tea while the little ones can either join them or continue burning off steam, with a variety of toys to entertain them.
The group is term time only and runs from 10-11:30am. The first session is a free trial and then its £5 per week thereafter. There’s also a group in Edington if you’re Bridgwater way. You can find out more here.
The Not So Tiny One is nearing 18 months old. She’s out in the garden at any given opportunity; she’s constantly seeking out opportunities to smother herself in mud; and she has a penchant for waving hello to passing ants (which is super cute by the way). But whilst looking into available groups to take her along to, I would never have considered Forest School. Only because I thought it was for older children (how many other toddler groups involve campfires, after all?) The Little Big One has been doing her nursery’s equivalent – “Welly Wednesdays” – for a few months now and loves it, but I thought she was at the perfect age to really embrace it (she’s 3). Apparently though, Forest School is something that can be started at a very young age (basically, from walking), because it’s all about encouraging children to follow their own interests outdoors. It’s a simple philosophy that reaps all kinds of benefits – I’m sure we’ve all heard them: the Forest School environment is proven to help build confidence and self-esteem, promote curiosity and sensitivity and teach children how to assess risks and make choices. I guess it’s never too early to start fostering these values.
I was delighted then to see that Earthwise (an outdoor learning centre that works across the South West) was launching a Forest School for toddlers at Wells Cathedral School, in partnership with the school and Little Wellies nursery, and led by Forest School leader Claire Rosling. The Not So Tiny One and I gave it a try this week and we both had a great time. Here’s what we got up to.
Foraging for elderberries
A big part of Forest School is to encourage children to explore freely and independently (which is hard when your child is just 18 months old) but the activities were designed to give children as much freedom as possible. The main activity of the session was making, and painting with, natural dye. We went foraging around the garden for elderberries and mulberries, picking them and popping them in a bucket before mashing them up into a paste using sticks we’d also found in the garden. The individual berry crops were put into a big pot, mixed with water and cooked on the campfire before the toddlers were given brushes and pieces of fabric and let loose with the dye, creating their own masterpieces. While foraging for berries and other garden produce is a fantastic activity for feeding curious minds, Claire was quick to teach us one of her class rhymes: “No pick, no lick, be careful with that stick,” which teaches children not to pick anything living, not to put anything in their mouths and to always be careful and safe. While Forest School encourages curiosity, it also provides boundaries that allow children to explore independently, but also safely, and this rhyme is a fun way to help them remember this!
Next step: mashing! And… paint!
The Not So Tiny One was then keen to do a spot of bug hunting, where we met a very speedy centipede, some woodlice and plenty of her little ant buddies. She loved tipping over logs and digging around in the mud and was fascinated when we looked at the centipede’s legs under a magnifying glass.
That’s a lot of legs…
We then had fun exploring some of the apparatus that was dotted around the garden – a swing, a rope ladder and a hammock, in which she was thoroughly entertained as she discovered she could swing herself from side to side. There was also an opportunity for tree climbing, which under normal circumstances I wouldn’t have considered. She has oodles of confidence but like all children her age, she also has zero understanding of consequence so I sometimes feel like my protective nature can hold her back. Within the Forest School environment, I felt more comfortable allowing her to explore independently and was super proud (as was she) when she climbed into the nook of the tree and smiled back at me.
Wheeeeeee!
The final part of the session was based around the campfire. We all sat on tree stumps and sang some nature songs I hadn’t heard before but will be adding to our repertoire (if I can remember them)! Tea, coffee and mini hot chocolates were provided and we were encouraged to bring snacks along that could be shared with the group. All in all, it was a fantastic group and we plan to sign up for the half term block. It’s £8 a session, so £48 for the 6 weeks. After attending just one session I can see how over a period of time Forest School can have real benefits for children. But, for now, I’m just going to enjoy spending time together outdoors and seeing the Not So Tiny One’s curiosity and adventurous spirit grow and grow!
Songs around the campfire.
You can find out more about Earthwise and the toddler group here.
Here are a couple of other Forest School groups in the area that cater for pre-school children (I haven’t attended either group but they come recommended!):
Oh hello September. You’ve come around sooner than I was hoping. Those fresh mornings and shorter evenings have sprung on me with a rapid pace. I’m not champing at the bit for autumn to arrive like I usually am at this time. I mean, our summer was pretty special. And with the Little Big One starting at preschool this week, there’s an ominous sense that summers of the future will feel a little different. After weeks of being unshackled by commitments and playing the ‘yes’ game; exploring new places and getting out and about, it’s time to get a bit of normalcy back. And with September arriving in earnest, we get to welcome back the Old Familiars – those groups and activities that make up the tapestry of our day-to-day lives but have been absent for weeks. Although I don’t feel quite ready to bid the summer farewell, l am feeling grateful for the OFs. There is something to be said for routine; it certainly makes planning the week ahead a lot easier. And it’s nice to know that there are go-to activities for those days when you just can’t muster the energy to come up with an alternative plan.
With the Little Big One at preschool two days out of five, I’ve been trying to decide which of the regular activities we should be reinstating; which ones we really enjoy doing as a family – the ones that appeal to everyone and really add value to our weeks. Having the commitment of preschool two days a week, we like to keep the other days pretty flexible so we tend to opt for drop-in groups rather than booking a block of classes in advance. However, just for you lot, I’ve rounded up 3 of our favourite drop-in activities and 2 fabulous book-in-advance classes, so you can make up your own minds. Hopefully you’ll find something you like the sound of to keep you and your little ones occupied throughout the Autumn.
Drop-in activities
Sing and Swim | Wells Cathedral School | Tuesdays and Fridays 10:15-12pm | £5 per family | Starts back 17th September A longstanding Old Familiar, we’ve been attending Sing and Swim since the Little Big One was about 5 months old and I still think it’s hands-down one of the best value for money activities we do. The group kicks off with a sing and dance session, run by one of the school’s dance teachers, featuring action songs and musical games and a bunch of props (including bubbles – always a winner). This goes on for about half an hour, after which they bring out a host of toys and snacks, giving parents the opportunity to take a breath before heading across to the heated swimming pool for a swim! I’d like to say the pool is warm all the time but it can get a little chilly after the holidays so just a word of warning there. Another thing to mention is that it’s a fixed price of £5 whether you swim or not. The pastries and brownies make it worth it in my opinion (as does the fact that you can bring along multiple siblings and the hubby and the grandparents, if you wish, and it will cost you no more).
Free play time or “adult’s cup of tea and brownie time”
Tumbling Tinies | Wells Blue School | Sundays 9:15-10:45 | £2 per child| All year round
Now, you may have noticed that this group is a Sunday group. They used to run a session on Tuesdays too but unfortunately, due to timetable changes, they’ve had to stop it. However, it’s just a great little activity to get you out and about early on a Sunday morning. It’s soft play but not as we know it (and for me, that makes it a winner). It’s always quiet – sometimes you can be there with just one other family – and it runs all year round. There’s a ball pit, slides, tunnels, plenty of ride-on toys and… a bouncy castle! What’s not to love.
Hop, Skip and Sing | Red Brick Building, Glastonbury & Wells Town Hall | Thursdays 10:30am & Fridays 10am | £8 per child (drop-in price)/ discount rate for siblings| Starts back 12th September
For children that love music, this class is perfect. It’s quite a bit more expensive than most of the activities we do regularly, which is why we haven’t ever booked on to a whole block of classes, but each time we go, all three of us thoroughly enjoy ourselves. It’s run by a lovely lady called Eliza Wylie who specialises in early years music, with a particular focus on learning music by ear and encouraging everyone to start singing young. Unlike Sing and Swim, the class is very pared down; there are no backing tracks, just Eliza playing and singing simple songs, unaccompanied. Everyone is encouraged to participate, which can feel a little daunting initially but you soon get used to it. If you’re anything like me, you’ll find it hard not to join in when the beat of the Djembe drum kicks in! Your children (and possibly you) will leave the class having sung their hearts out, wiggled, bounced, trotted around the room wearing a horsey tail, swished through the air, and played a zillion different percussion instruments.
Tiny Tutus is hands-down one of our favourite weekly activities. It started out as an activity for the Little Big One to enjoy with me when the Not So Tiny One was actually tiny. Since then, the Not So Tiny One has progressed from a mere spectator clapping along in her pushchair from the sidelines to a fully-fledged participant, stomping around waving a wand with the best of them. The Tiny Tutus class is run by the brilliant Andrea Taylor (“Miss Andrea”) and is open to children from 18 months to 3 years (but we’ve been lucky enough to have the Not So Tiny One attend as a sibling) and is all about exploring dance in a fun and imaginative way, using music, singing, props and movement. Parents are actively encouraged to join in with all aspects, which takes a bit of getting used to but is actually really sweet. The Little Big One is now ready to progress to preschool ballet but I’m hoping we can find a way to do both.
The Little Big One and I did Millfield Minis for a couple of terms before the Not So Tiny One came on the scene and it was a great way to introduce her to the world of structured play as well as feeding her love of all things crafting. It’s open to 1-3 year olds and is run by Millfield Pre-Prep staff. Each week has a different theme and there are a range of activity stations set up to explore this, meaning that during each session, children can try their hand at a few different crafts, do some sensory and role play and enjoy a bit of story time too. There’s also dedicated time for outdoor play. On top of this, each term there’s usually a forest school session and a visit to meet the school’s resident ponies too, so lots of variety and fun. Snacks are supplied and the children are encouraged to sit together at a big table to eat which is super cute and great practice for nursery. I’m planning to sign the Not So Tiny One up for this one as it’s a great all-rounder.
A very fresh-faced Little Big One enjoying all that Millfield Minis has to offer
This is, of course, just a snapshot of what’s on offer – there are loads of other groups and classes about (some of which I’ll be reviewing over the coming weeks) as well as a bunch of great playgroups (which I reviewed earlier).
The girls and I visited the Somerset Rural Life Museum for the first time last week and tried out their Toddler Explorers group. What a lovely place to spend a morning, or perhaps longer; next time I’m definitely packing a picnic lunch as there is a whole lot more to see than we had time for.
Toddler Explorers is a great little group with an educational slant (I’d expect nothing less from a preschool group hosted at a museum). It takes place on the third Friday of every month between 10:30-11:30am. This month’s session was entitled Cave Babies and we learnt about prehistoric art and creatures. Did you know that the Sabre Toothed Tiger is officially called a Smilodon? Me neither. Yep, it wasn’t just the kids that learnt something! There were lots of opportunities for the children to get messy, with painting (we were encouraged to use our hands to create our very own cave art) and gluing (we stuck bits of coloured wool onto a printed template to make a Smilodon) as well as a colouring station and a fun game of Woolly Mammoth skittles.
The group kicked off with a prehistoric themed story and there was a nice selection of books and toys laid out to keep the early birds entertained while we waited for others to arrive. And after everyone had had a chance to do all of the activities, we all gathered together in a circle to sing a song – Ten Cave Babies (based on the old Ten Green Bottles song). For this, the group leaders had created special song sheets for us so that grown-ups could sing along and children could follow and join in with the actions. The ladies that ran the group – Polly and Natasha – were super lovely and obviously passionate about what they do and their enthusiasm was contagious.
The group is open to ages 1-3, which is perfect if you have two children the same age as mine. Both girls enjoyed the morning, and I’d say the activities were perfectly suited to the Little Big One – she adores painting and sticking and loved the Mammoth skittle game too – but possibly a little advanced for the Not So Tiny One, who, while she joined in with the painting with the best of them, was more interested in chewing on the glue sticks and pencils than creating something with them. This is hardly surprising – as anyone with more than one child will know, it’s very hard to find an activity that all ages enjoy in the same way. However, the class costs £5 per child, and I’d say, on reflection that this seemed quite a lot for the very little ones. However, and this is worth reading on for… the class fee includes general admission to the museum so all three of us were able to have a scout around afterwards, and this made paying that much for the class well worth it.
The museum itself tells the story of working life and the history of farming in rural Somerset. It’s got a replica Victorian farmhouse kitchen, various pieces of old farming equipment (complete with a taxidermy horse – which the Little Big One thought was pretend, thank goodness!) and some old fashioned clothes and items from the home, which prompted lots of questions from the curious preschooler! It’s a brilliant museum for kids to explore – everything is open and there’s nothing hidden away behind glass so it feels really accessible, even though you obviously still need to discourage them from touching the exhibits. If you head upstairs, there’s a room all about learning, which has a dolls house and a wooden farm, which I couldn’t drag my two away from. Outside in the courtyard, adjacent to where the toddler group took place, you’ll find an old tractor and a model “milking” cow which the Little Big One took great pleasure in trying out! Just off here is the orchard where there are a handful of sheep grazing and a picnic area set up with a few benches. There’s also a cafe if you fancy a cuppa and some cake or a light lunch.
Another great thing that the museum offers (that we didn’t have time for on this visit but will definitely do next time) is the Rural Ranger backpack trail (ideal for children aged 6 and under). For this, you collect a mini backpack (that needs to be returned afterwards) from reception filled with activities and a little cuddly toy who can join you as you explore around the site, helping you find clues to complete a trail.
If you were planning on visiting the museum frequently, and not necessarily on the days that the toddler class runs, then it’s worth knowing about the Museum Unlimited Annual Pass. If you pay the standard adult entry rate of £7.50, you get a free unlimited annual pass which means you can then visit FOR FREE for a year (under fives go free with an adult too so it really is great value)! The annual pass doesn’t include entry to the Toddler Explorer group and some other events though, so you’d still have to pay for the children if you wanted to attend that.
All in all, I’d say this is a great day out and we’ll probably be booking on to next month’s Toddler Explorers session which is pirate themed (always a winner in our house). Next time we’ll take a packed lunch and hang about afterwards to make sure we’ve taken in all the museum has to offer.
*It’s worth mentioning that there is no Toddler Explorers group in August as they take a break for the summer, so it will reconvene in September.
Since having my girls I’ve discovered a wealth of stay and play groups in the area. These are great for parents or carers with children of any age, right from tiny babies to energetic toddlers. They offer adults the chance to have a cup of tea and a friendly chat with other adults (which, let’s face it, we ALL need sometimes) and kids the chance to play with a bunch of exciting new toys and socialise with other children of all ages. What’s more, you will almost always see someone you recognise! They tend to be run by volunteers, often mums themselves; hosted in village halls or community centres; and best of all, they are cheap to attend, costing anything from a couple of pounds to absolutely nothing!
As I said before, we’re pretty spoilt around here, with plenty of groups to choose from – and if you really want to, you could go to one every day of the week. Here’s my pick of the bunch:
MONDAY
Little Woottoners | North Wootton village hall | 10-11:30am | £3 per family| Term time only | Visit their Facebook page Smaller and more relaxed than a lot of other playgroups, Little Woottoners is well worth the 10 minute drive out of Wells (and the extra money). Run by a group of North Wootton mums, it’s super friendly and small enough that you can happily approach anyone for a chat. The format usually involves free play – they have a slide, a kitchen and a bunch of other toys – and an optional craft activity (we’ve had a go at making our own Stick Man – said Stick Man is still a favourite play thing in our house – and cardboard tube animals, amongst other things). Having this additional element means this group works perfectly for my two girls, as the Little Big One can focus on crafting while the Not So Tiny One can enjoy playing with the toys. Snacks are provided and the group always finishes with a story and a song. Around once a month they run a themed session. The last one was We’re Going on a Bear Hunt and involved creating a 3D map (pictured below), some sensory play stations based on elements of the story (think squelchy squerchy “mud” and swishy swashy “grass”) and a real live bear hunt on the village green followed by parachute games.
Other Monday groups: Vineyard Tots at The Vineyard Church, Wells, 10-11:30am (term time only)
TUESDAY
Connect Tots | Elim Connect Centre | 10-11:30am |£1.50 per family | Term time only This is a more established group – it’s been running for a long time and there appears to be a core group of mums that attend regularly with a mix of babies and pre-schoolers. Plenty of toys and crafting materials laid out to entertain little ones and a good spread of tea and cake for the adults too! Again, snacks are provided for the kiddies and there’s always a group sing song at the end. This isn’t one of our regular groups but it’s a good fallback if you need to get out on a Tuesday morning.
WEDNESDAY
Rainbow Tots | ST Thomas’ Church Hall, Wells | 10-11:30am | £1 per family | Term time only One of mine and the Not So Tiny One’s favourite weekly ventures (while the Little Big One is at nursery). It’s loud and busy but the hall is relatively small so you can pretty much let the little ones loose to explore the many many toys that are laid out while you enjoy a cuppa provided by some very sweet and chatty church volunteers. There’s always a handful of parents you’ll recognise from around and about so it feels nice and sociable. Snacks are provided here too and the children all sit down together at a long table to eat. After snack time, its circle time where everyone joins together to sing a few favourites including Hop Little Bunnies and Wind the Bobbin Up to name a few.
Other Wednesday groups: Strawberry Tots, Draycott Memorial Hall, 10-12pm (all year round)
THURSDAY
Stay, Play and Learn | Glastonbury Children’s Centre | 10:30-12pm | FREE | All year round This playgroup is unique among the list as it is council funded, so as well as being FREE to attend, the emphasis is on education rather than simply free play. The activities and toys on offer are designed more for parents and children to interact, play and learn together which is really nice, particularly if you just have the one child with you (it reminds me of some of the paid classes I did with the Little Big One in the early days – the ones that the Not So Tiny One has rather missed out on due to the now dwindling budget!) It’s one of few playgroups with a great outdoor space, filled with slides, tunnels and a multitude of ride-on toys. It’s more structured too with a variety of play stations including water play, messy play and painting. And to top it all, they put on a gardening and/or cooking activity each week, so there’s plenty to keep you and your little one/s busy. It’s open to 0-5 year olds and runs throughout the holidays. Unfortunately, due to funding cuts, it’s likely that this group will only run until March 2020 so I’d suggest going along to it sooner rather than later so you don’t miss out. There’s no parking at the library but the Butt Close car park is just round the corner and costs £1.50 for 2 hours – given the group is free, it won’t leave you out of pocket!
FRIDAY
Little Angels| St. Joseph & St. Teresa’s Catholic Church | 9-11am | £1.50 per family | Term time only A lovely friendly playgroup run by parents of children who attend St. Joseph & St. Teresa Catholic Primary School. It’s in a small hall and feels more intimate than many of the other groups, but the parents are a super friendly bunch and it has an almost family like feel to it. As well as the usual spread of toys, there’s a craft table and a table for “messy play”; each week they alternate between a sand pit and Playdoh. The Big Little One was delighted when a box of chocolate fingers were passed around to the children and adults are all offered a cuppa. The best thing about this group is the 20 or so minutes of singing at the end, which all of the children joined in with, at one point throwing some instruments into the mix too. To finish it all off, there was a quick parachute game while we sang The Grand Old Duke of York. A massive thumbs up from my two.
The Parent Play List 