The Kiddisafe Blog

Looking For Ideas to Inspire Your Walks With Little One?

Thanks to Leicestershire Nutrition and Dietetic Service, we have a game for you this week that will inspire your daily walks, using a combination of two classic games.

We present to you…

I-Spy Bingo!

Combining I-Spy with Bingo is a fun way to encourage observation and discussion with your little one on your daily walks.

Have them tick off each item as they find it and see if you can capture all the boxes in one walk. Doesn’t that sound like an adventure!

We have attached both an example one which you can readily use and a blank one to create your own below.

We look forward to finding out what you can find!

The Easiest and Most Delicious Muffins You Can Bake!

Are you looking for any ideas for bank holiday weekend or baking for Eid? We have just the recipe! This is easy and fun to do with your little ones.

Who could say no to banana and chocolate-chip muffins?! We certainly couldn’t.

Ingredients

170G Softened Butter
170G Caster Sugar
2-3 Ripe Bananas
1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Essence
2 Large Eggs
230G Self-Raising Flour
1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Salt
1/2 teaspoon Milk
100G Chocolate Chips
1 teaspoon Brown Sugar

Recipe

In a medium bowl, whisk together the softened butter and caster sugar.

In a separate small bowl, mash up your bananas.

Add your mashed bananas and vanilla essence into the first bowl of butter and sugar. Whisk together.

Once mixed, add in your self-raising flour, salt and cinnamon.

Once mixed, add in your chocolate chips and stir!

Spoon your mixture into your cupcake tin and sprinkle the brown sugar onto the top of each muffin.

Bake for 20-22 minutes on gas mark 180C.

Voila! Allow to cool before removing from the tin and enjoy!

This was recipe was taken from http://www.thismuslimgirlbakes.com/2013/04/banana-chocolate-chip-muffins.html

Mini Pizzas – The Necessary Addition to Your Teddybear Picnic

Through a child’s eyes, cooking is an array of colours, smells and measures. In our activity packs, we included some tips for a teddy bear’s picnic. Why not turn it up a notch and have the picnic proudly cooked for their teddies by the little one themselves?

Farzana Suggests…

Mini pizzas are a great opportunity for your child to take the reins in the kitchen by letting their creativity and curiosity shine through (and are a great starter for dinner!).

This is also an opportunity for them to develop gross motor skills as they practice different techniques, such as chopping up their vegetables, kneading and rolling dough.

Highlighting the colours, and measurements of each ingredient and explaining to them how it all combines is great for their learning experience and will add much joy to their teddybear picnic.

Farzana’s Pizza Dough Recipe…

2 cups flour

1tblsp of sugar

2 tblsp. of oil

1tsp of salt

1 and half tsp of dry yeast

Mix all the ingredients together to create a dough. Continue to bing with warm water whilst kneading until it starts to stretch out.
Cover with a towel and leave to rise for 45 minutes.
Knead again and then roll out your pizza bases according to your size preference.
Sprinkle your favourite pizza toppings on top and voila! It’s ready for the oven!
Cook for 10-15 minutes at 180C.
Allow to cool and then ready to serve.

Pros and Cons of Technology Use in Children Under 5

Produced in collaboration with Taseer Ahmed and Harmeet Singh, of SEO Agency London – Marketing Voice

There is much in the way of allowing children to develop the same habits we adults have nestled into, that is, the sedentary habit of sitting in front of a screen. However, deeper evaluation of the pros/cons of children and technology has given us some insight into a more balanced perspective to ensure your child is making the most of the tools surrounding us today to support you in their upbringing. We will present to you two pro’s and two con’s of each argument, leaving you with a perspective that will help guide your screen time at home.

The Age-Old Sociability Argument

More often than not we are used to hearing those of any generation older than X that as technology develops, younger people are becoming less social as they tend to have a digital screen in the form of a phone, tablet or laptop glued to their hands and their backpacks. However, it could be argued that now more than ever, the new format of sociability means occupying a space in the digital realm, which indeed requires screen time and requires an online presence.

As we progress deeper into the 21st Century, it becomes clear that developing familiarity with technology is essential, as all children are introduced to regular computer use in formal education at school.

Not only this, but technology creates enormous opportunity in supporting children with special and access needs, as highlighted here in UNICEF’s Report on Children in the Digital World 2017. Hence, from home and from pre-school, it is crucial to develop this adaptability to digital resources from a young age.

Building Foundations

Kiddisafe, like other Pre-school’s and Nurseries, are committed to solidifying a foundation that will uphold them throughout the rest of their lives. Our staff are dedicated facilitators of an elementary learning experience that will build that very foundation, and will continue with them throughout their lives.

This includes sharing our expertise on the need for the awareness of building digital literacy skills in the home.

Your child’s environment plays a crucial role in their cognitive and intellectual development, and the availability of technology and screens are now a part of this.

Whilst it can be exciting how quickly your child learns to navigate YouTube and how to find their games on your mobile phone, there are some concerns to keep in mind to ensure that their use of such technology is balanced to keep the intensely negative consequences at bay.

Cons of Screen Time

1. Learning is multi-faceted

Whilst there is importance placed on your child using digital technology to develop digital skills, and there is now an ever-growing marketplace for online learning, it is vital to remember that the greatest learning and development is made through varied and diverse experiences. Different exercises and tasks that work on building emotional connections, lasting memories and cognitive abilities are crucial in building character and a wide array of skills that will best support them in all areas of learning beyond their pre-school years.

Limiting screen time to one-hour a day to develop those digital skills (such as typing and learning with engaging programmes) allows you to dedicate time to those crucial experiences.

2. Physical Strains

A well-known reason (often because we adults experience this ourselves) is the physical strain and stress left on the body as a result of too much screen time.

Especially for children under 5, the strain left on their eyesight and posture can leave damaging consequences that will continue to affect and worsen throughout life. As the linked article highlights, there is a strong correlation between increased screen use in young children and their development of short sightedness.

Because young children are so quick to learn and pick up habits, it is important we encourage healthy digital habits, too.

Pro’s of Screen Time

1. Interactive Skills

The role of digital communication and media in expanding our average vocabulary is significant. Having your child exposed to educative content producers who are well-spoken and focused on child development can lead to improved communication and language skills, like the BBC’s Alphablocks or Mo Willem’s Lunch Doodles.

2. Preparing for School and the Future of Work

Today, we are well aware that some of the best careers are tech-focused. In 20 years time, we are expecting the role of technology to have significantly influenced the job market in almost all industries.

To ensure your child is prepared and familiar with this potential outcome, it is important they become familiar with its use and its ability to communicate with others.

Conclusion

And so, it is clear there is a fine balance and responsibility needed to ensure that the benefits of technology can be reaped, whilst being able to limit the negative consequences that can affect their longterm health.

The most important factor when determining what is too-much or too-little, is to ensure that your child is at least receiving a wide and varied learning experience, encompassing tools from the great outdoors, their toys, natural materials, household items as well as digital tools.

To learn more about how we can support your child’s learning together, get in touch with us today.

Please share in the comments your experiences on managing screen time in the home. If you have any tips to share, or are seeking advice, please share!

What else would you like to see here? Please share below!

This article was produced in collaboration with Taseer Ahmed, a Lecturer on Digital Psychology at De Montfort University and Co-Founder of SEO Agency London – Marketing Voice, and Harmeet Singh, Co-Founder of SEO Agency London – Marketing Voice.

Stuck for Entertaining Ideas on a Rainy Day? Why Not Create Your Own City!

Zeynab’s Activity…

This activity will spur your child’s creativity and imagination and will keep them occupied for hours! All it requires is:

A flat surface
Masking tape – (a mini roll was provided in your learning pack)
Cars
Leggo
+ Any toy they want!

In your learning pack, we provided some coloured masking tape. This activity can be done with as much or as little supervision as you’d like to offer, although it might be more fun to start off with guiding and supporting your little one in designing and planning their town.

Your town can have multiple streets, houses, buildings, shops and schools – you may even be able to re-create your local area!

Here are some ideas for what you could include (this town is your child’s oyster!):

Nursery
Cars, trucks and lorries
Play area with slides and swings / Garden with balls and fences
A car mechanic garage
Buses / Train tracks
Zebra Crossings
Supermarket
Zoos with their favourite cuddly toys inside
Emergency buildings (police, hospital and fire fighters)

This period of lockdown may be troubling and confusing for your children, so let’s jog their memory of what used to be an everyday sight and remind them they will be able to resume the life they were used to again soon.

Let us know how you get on with this in the comments! What role play’s and town ideas worked well?

3 Reasons to Keep Your Child Active During Lockdown

Rukhsar Asks…

How much of a priority is keeping fit in your household?

Everyone knows the benefits of exercise however, in our busy schedule, fitness can often appear a luxury. The reasons below apply to both children and adults, but the implications of a lack of exercise concern young children not only because they may end up carrying sedentary habits with them as they continue to grow, but with us all spending a lot more time at home, it is even more so that these benefits cannot be achieved without the support of their parents/carers.

Here are three effects regular exercise has on your child’s health and wellbeing, and why we should ensure that it is on our daily list of priorities.

MUSCLE STRENGTH AND BONE DENSITY

A recent study concluded that physical activity contributes to the “ideal shaping of bone and muscle tissues, ensuring possible beneficial effects throughout life.” The paediatrician here tells us that building the habit of physical activity from as young as babies brings several advantages: disease prevention, strengthened muscle and bone tissue, improved metabolism and coordination.

From as early as a child’s first year in life, noticeable differences can be observed in the biological development of a child, exerting an influence throughout their life beyond infancy and early childhood.

REDUCING THE RISK OF OBESITY & DIABETES

According to the World Health Organisation, obesity in children aged 0-5 years has now reached over 40 million cases (since 2016) and has been rising exponentially. Without parent/carer intervention, obese infants and children will likely continue their obesity into later childhood and adolescence.

Obese children are more likely to develop a variety of health problems, such as: Cardiovascular disease
Insulin resistance (often an early sign of impending diabetes)
High blood pressure and cholesterol
Musculoskeletal disorders

Your child’s environment plays an enormous role in their risk of becoming overweight and obese. This includes the influence of general family health habits and how much they are encouraged to keep active.

MENTAL AND COGNITIVE HEALTH

Many studies demonstrate the immensely positive benefits of exercise on mental health, and this does not change for pre-schoolers. The impact on mental development extends (but is not limited) to:

– Improved Cognitive Ability (memory, concentration and thinking skills): The increased blood flow stimulates the brain and helps with overall brain performance.

– Enhanced Mood and Reduced Anxiety: You may have heard that exercise causes the body to release ‘feel good’ hormones, known as endorphins. These help to lift your mood, reduce stress and generally improves self-esteem and positivity.

Behaviour patterns in children are established from a very early age and impact both physical and mental health beyond their early childhood. These foundational years are crucial in building a solid foundation that will allow your child to flourish into later childhood and adolescence.

SO, HOW CAN YOU ENSURE YOUR CHILDREN REAP THE BENEFITS?

Children of all ages should be getting a minimum 60 minutes of moderate-vigorous physical activity daily. This can be varied throughout the day: working out alongside YouTube videos (see links below), playing outside and going on walks to name but a few options. The standardised recommendation for pre-schoolers is for at least 180 minutes of active play per day. See the NHS’ Physical Activity Guidelines for Children here.

Rukhsar Recommends….

One of the best ways to encourage physical activity is to check sedentary habits, namely, to limit screen time.This means setting a daily one-hour time limit for 2-5-year olds and discouraging screen time for children under 18 months, with the exception of video-chatting.

However, not all screen time is negative and can be counted within that one-hour limit. Recently, there has been a surge in YouTube videos to assist parents and carers in keeping active whilst having fun with their children, and we’ve included some of our favourites for you to try:

Please share your family fitness experiences in the comments and remember to share your pictures and videos with us on your Learning Book! Is there anything that gets in the way of exercise at home that you would like support on? Share in the comments below and we can work on solving it together.

What else would you like to see on this page? Share in the comments below!

This is Crucial to Your Child’s Outdoor Play

As a young parent, one of the crucial lessons I learnt was about giving my children the time and space to explore their natural environment. Twenty years later, my children (who are now adults!) push me to exploration and adventure! Now more than ever, it’s so important that rain or sunshine, our young children are given the opportunity to explore their natural surroundings to fuel their confidence and curiosity for the world they live in.

It’s very easy to shy away from seeing mud or a bit of dirt on your child’s clothes or palms after being outside, to have them want to let go of your hand to pick up twigs, pebbles and stones that spark their interest when going for a walk. However, in order for your child to most benefit from their natural surroundings, we have to allow our children the opportunity to learn on their own terms.

Allowing Your Child to Learn from Getting Muddy

As Victoria Hackett highlights in this article, the freedom to experience playing in the garden un-tethered supports in a number of ways:

Emotional Development: Creative expression, the release of serotonin and encourages inclusive learning opportunities.

Social Development: Practice listening and turn-taking and inspires care for the environment.

Physical Development: Strong immune systems, nutritional benefit for heart and skin (think mud masks and baths for adults) and improves gross motor skills.

Cognitive Development: Creative problem solving and provides a sensory experience.

This is why we have decided to centre our learning packs around your child’s outdoor experience. Our aim is to encourage creativity, confidence and boost their development in an environment where they feel safe to do so.

I hope you enjoy the packs the team and I put together for you, and we look forward to seeing your lovely pictures and videos on the learning journal and our Facebook Page of what you manage to achieve with the learning packs.

What does your child enjoy most about the outdoors? Any advice or tips you’d like to ask for or share with our other parents?

We would also like to know what else you would like to see us address through this blog. Any ideas or suggestions, please share in the comments below!