• Schleich Lion Cave Set
    family - parenting - playing - toy review - UKMums.TV Preferred Blogger

    Schleich’s Wild Life range

    April 12, 2016 - By 

    There are some toys that my children return to again and again and these are their Schleich toys. Schleich make great quality figurines and accessories which are perfect for imaginative play. Each item is very detailed and hand painted. We received some of the new animals and accessory sets from Schleich’s Wild Life range, which are suitable for pre-school children: The Shark Set, contains three of the most dangerous sharks:  the blue shark, the tiger shark and the white shark. This set compliments the Schleich Ocean figurines set we have and has been well played with in our tuff spot. They are…

  • outdoor mud kitchen
    mindfulness - parenting

    Monday happy list – week 81

    April 11, 2016 - By 

    I was really happy that my choir started again last week, I missed it over the holidays. This term we’re singing a concert arrangement of My Fair Lady based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion. The book and lyrics are by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe and it’s fun learning something new. It also makes me want to watch the film and Pretty Woman too! I’ve started the Minimalsim Game with my sister. Our house is in desperate need of decluttering and this is a fun way to do it. I wrote a little more about it on…

  • PlaymobilBrigade
    days out - London - parenting - Playmobil Playologist

    A day with London Fire Brigade

    April 9, 2016 - By 

    Last month I mentioned that London Fire Brigade fire stations will be hosting 65 collaborative open days with Playmobil across the capital throughout 2016 to teach children about fire safety in the home. These events are part of their 150th anniversary and today we attended the Playmobil VIP launch party at Soho Fire Station to kick off these open days. It was great to see behind the scenes at the fire station. Soho is London’s busiest station covering famous theatres, hotels and London landmarks such as Buckingham Palace and Horse Guards Parade. The present station dates from the 1980s but there has…

  • Michael Rosen exhibition at the Discover Children’s Story Centre
    days out - Local Review - London - parenting

    Michael Rosen exhibition at the Discover Children’s Story Centre

    April 6, 2016 - By 

    Yesterday we were invited to the Discover Children’s Story Centre in London to see Michael Rosen’s new exhibition Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake & Bad Things. The exhibition closes on 10th April 2016 so I’m really glad we were able to squeeze in a visit before it goes on tour around the country. Bear Hunt, Chocolate Cake & Bad Things Discover Children’s Story Centre is one of those places I’ve always meant to go and visit but never got round to. I’m now kicking myself for not making the effort as it is an amazing place! Discover Children’s Story Centre is…

  • parenting

    Preparing for the Tooth Fairy

    September 25, 2015 - By 

    My children are 3 and 5 and obsessed with loosing their teeth. I’m not sure why they are worrying about their tooth, I think an episode of Peppa Pig may be the cause! They’ve always been good about cleaning their teeth twice a day and regularly ask for new tooth brushes and paste. I’m not sure if they just like to try new things or are attracted by the displays at the supermarket though. I’m a little obsessive about them cleaning their teeth after eating sweets and I don’t think it’s a bad thing to teach them about looking after…

  • parenting

    The Clangers returns to our screens

    June 12, 2015 - By 

    A large part of my parenting journey seem to a full on nostalgia-fest, reliving with my own children some of my favourite childhood toys and tv programmes. Did you know the Clangers are coming back to children’s tv via CBeebies? The first episode will air at 5:30pm on Monday 15th June and will be on daily. We saw a brief advert for it yesterday and my children were intrigued by the little mouse-like creatures who live on, and inside, a small moon-like plane. My favourite character has to be Granny Clanger who is fond of knitting. Luckily for them (and…

  • book review - mindfulness - parenting - What I'm reading

    What I’m reading: Mindful discipline

    January 18, 2015 - By 

    Today I wanted to share two new parenting titles from Scribe with you. They aim to help parents solve two of the most commented on, despaired over and debated about parenting dilemmas: sleep and discipline using Mindful discipline The Happy Sleeper by sleep experts Julie Wright and Heather Turgeon offers an alternative sleep training method to ‘cry it out’ or ‘attachment parenting’. Using an approach rooted in making children feel safe, secure and happy in their bedtime routines, The Happy Sleeper offers practical advice for parents wanting to create good sleeping habits, or undo poor ones. The fantastic thing about…

  • book review - parenting

    What I’m reading: The Playful Parent by Julia Deering

    January 11, 2015 - By 

    I’m not a huge fan of parenting manuals. You can probably tell from the books I share here that I love my craft books and the odd piece of fiction. At the end of last year HarperCollins asked if I wanted to take part in in their 31 days of inspiration and ‘live a book’ in January. This month they are bringing 31 of their inspiring books together covering areas such as; professional development, parenting tips, health, exercise and general well-being. Some of the ideas in these books involve a complete overhaul, whilst others require small changes to effect positive…

  • parenting

    Sponsored video: Barclays and Mumsnet ‘Your Bank Live’

    November 14, 2014 - By 

    Today I wanted to share a video with you. I don’t know about you but sometimes I wonder if shops and brands ever think about their customers experience, especially customers with young children. I dread visiting my local bank as my children have a tendency to go crazy. They love to play with the button which opens the door and they swivel on the chairs until they get dizzy and fall off! Luckily for me Barclays have listened, with a little help from some members of Mumsnet. The video shows some real mums from Mumsnet road-testing a real Barclays branch,…