Quick note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links; if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
It is clear our little one is musical. She loves singing and dancing and often falls asleep when we have loud music playing. Therefore, we need to eventually take her to a music festival. She would absolutely love it. Are you also looking for Friendly Festivals?
It got me thinking about what is on offer. Here is my rundown of family-friendly and affordable festivals for you to attend as a family.
Either look to attend this year or keep them in mind for next year!
PLEASE NOTE – I have no affiliation with any of these organisers. The list is from my own research about places we would visit as a family
This is based in York on 12th & 13th August and looks to have everything you could want as a family. There is even camping available to get the full festival experience. Check out ticket prices here
This looks like a great range of activities, including comedy and literary activities. However, you can only book weekend tickets and it is quite pricey. Check out ticket options here.
Let’s face it, as a parent of a toddler, you have to watch kids’ TV programmes. But honestly, Bluey is my fave and, we as adults, often keep watching it when our little one has run off to the next activity.
I feel seen and heard when watching the Heeler family navigate the trials and tribulations of parenting.
What I love the most, is how they get those magical parenting moments right. So heartwarming. But it’s also full of real-life examples of how frustrating toddlers can be. I feel seen and heard when watching the Heeler family navigate the trials and tribulations of parenting.
I was inspired to write this post by Claire Mac. It was time to share my favourite Bluey episodes. I’ve watched a lot recently!
Quick note: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links; if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and thinkwould be useful for you.
Charades
Season 2, Episode 11
Episode description
Bluey and Bingo want everyone to play Charades, but Muffin and Socks are too young to understand the rules, which threatens to derail the game. But Nana has her own special rule so everyone is happy!
My thoughts
We are always moaning about how our little one gets away with everything at the grandparents’ house. It’s true. My mum has to remove all chocolate from the fridge before she goes there. She will just help herself and eat it all!
This episode makes me love Muffin, but also realise I also have a child who likes to tantrum a lot. What warms my heart is how they all go along with Muffin and her dance. It’s one of those lovely proud parenting moments, even if she did get her own way.
Grandad
Season 2, Episode 50
Episode description
Grandad is supposed to be resting, but when Bluey and Bingo go to visit him, he makes a run for it with the kids and takes them on a madcap adventure into the bush.
My thoughts
It’s so heartwarming that Chilli wants to look after her dad and there’s a cute moment at the end of the episode. Which actually inspired my toddler to tell me she loved me. I will let you watch and experience it for yourself.
Flatpack
Season 2, Episode 24
Episode description
With Mum and Dad assembling the flatpack furniture, the kids improvise games with the discarded wrapping materials. As the flatpack swing seat takes shape, so does Bluey and Bingo’s mini-world.
My thoughts
We all know about the dramas of flatpacks. Especially with kids. The worst one we’ve done is our little ones’ “big girl” bed.
But this episode makes me all warm and fuzzy inside, about family time. And it’s lovely to see Bluey and Bingo playing together and their sweet moments.
Makes parenting worth it.
Want to learn more about the Bluey characters? How about purchasing this amazing set of weebles? Look at the fun we had with them…
Bluey and Bingo love to video chat with Muffin and Socks so they can all draw pictures together. When Muffin won’t give Socks a turn, the kids discover what happens when you hog.
My thoughts
I belly-laughed throughout the whole episode. And it made us realise we have Muffin living in our house. Not bingo, or Bluey.
This is the episode we watch when my parents come around. it’s also the one my toddler requests the most.
Grannies
Season 1, Episode 28
Episode description
A game of Grannies is fun until Bingo and Bluey can’t agree on one simple question: Can grannies dance? Now they need to video call Nanna to get the answer.
How cool are these Bluey items? A dancing teddy. And I am currently ordering the hoodie for my little one!
My thoughts
“I slipped on my beans” – this is currently my hubby’s ringtone. And he is part of a Bluey Facebook group!
Pretending to be grannies – so comical. I also love that mum joins in for a while, till there is too much mess, then says “go ask dad”.
Writing this post has inspired me to get on the hunt for some creative Bluey activities to do with my little one. Here are a few I found:
It’s Dad’s turn to get the kids ready for school and kindy, but Bluey and Bingo aren’t making things easy! Dad tries to keep everything on track, but can’t help playing along with their games.
My thoughts
I have so much to relate to in this episode. Being late, even when you get up really early. We “talk on the telephone” daily with our little one and I can just imagine her doing something like this in the car.
But then it melts my heart that dad still plays wind up, even though they are late. Toddlers don’t care if we’re late. They have no concept of time. It’s a boring concept for adults. And something we beat ourselves up about. And shouldn’t!
Bluey, Bingo and Dad always take out the bins. Over a few weeks, Bingo tells Dad about a new kid at Kindy who is mean to her and Mum offers some good advice.
My thoughts
The lovely family ritual of putting out bins and talking about emotions. It makes me smile.
In the end, Bingo ends up helping the person who was nasty to her. And what an amazing lesson this is, to teach your little ones and explain why it is important.
Ice Cream
Season 2, Episode 46
Episode description
Bluey and Bingo want a lick of each other’s ice cream. But they are so focused on making sure each lick is fair, they don’t notice their ice creams are melting.
My thoughts
A perfect lesson in learning to share things. Heartwarming. And as always with parenting, dad is required to give up his treat.
Fairies
Season 1, Episode 30
Episode description
Bluey’s house has fairies! Tails are being braided, stickers are everywhere, and Mum’s got a peg beard. Now the family must band together to hunt for these invisible mischief-makers.
My thoughts
I just love dad making a fool of himself in Infront of the neighbours and the family having so much fun.
It’s a dad requirement to make a fool of yourself daily, in order to make your kids laugh.
Worth Valley Railway is a fun day out for the kids. And definitely worth the price tag, if you make a day of it. Not only can you get a wonderful train ride on a steam train, but there are two museums and fun activities for the kids.
We last took my little one to Worth Valley Railway when she was a bit smaller. There was a craft train for the children, where she made some bookmarks and did some drawing. She absolutely loved the museum, sitting in the train carriages and looking at all the memorabilia.
The staff in the smaller museum, with a gift shop, were also really friendly and great with kids. We all had a wonderful day out and we really want to book one of their exprience days.
Let’s dive into the practical information you need when visiting for the day
Fares
TICKET
ON THE DAY
ONLINE 3 DAYS IN ADVANCE
Adult
£21.00
£18.90
Concessions
£17.85
£16.07
Children (5-15)
£10.50
£9.45
Children under 5
Free
Free
Small Family (1 adult & 1 child)
£26.25
£23.63
Large Family (2 adults & 3 children)
£52.50
£47.25
Local Resident Card Holder & Members
£10.50
N/A
You can see all the other options for travelling here.
Timetable
As the railway has a lot of special events, they run certain timetables on certain days. It is always best to check before planning your visit.
Places to eat & drink
It’s important to know where you can rest for a pit stop. Especially when you have a little one in tow. There are some wonderful pubs and cafes along the train lines and you won’t be disappointed.
The stations
There are some lovely stations you can visit, each area has its own special charm.
Accessibility
Accessibility is such an important aspect for some people. And it can be vital to planning your day out.
All the details you need about accessibility are here.
Private hire & birthday parties
Yes, you heard it right, why not book your special occasion at such a wonderful venue?
Shop
The best thing about visiting places like this is the gift shop. As a family, we love to buy a souvenir because this helps inspire great memories we’ve made.
Benefits of Membership of the KWVR
If you plan on visiting regularly, you can consider a membership. And you will be giving something back to such a well-preserved museum and community activity.
Everything you get when signing up for a membership:
THREE free Day Rover tickets per year,
Half-price travel on standard operating days
Discounts on tickets for selected special events
Copy of our prize-winning quarterly magazine “Push and Pull”
The opportunity to volunteer on the Railway.
The satisfaction of belonging to one of the foremost Railway Preservation Societies in the world
TYPE
PRICE
Adult
For Ages 16 – 64
£35.00
Senior
65 or over
£30.00
Joint
For any 2 Adults or Seniors living at the same address
£60.00
Junior
Age 5 – 15
£17.50
Family
2 Adults & up to 3 Children (aged 5-15) living at the same address
£70.00
Overseas Individual
Anyone resident outside the British Isles
£60.00
Overseas Family
Anyone resident outside the British Isles 2 Adults & up to 3 Children (aged 5-15) living at the same address
£105.00
Final thoughts
I hope you enjoyed reading all about our experience at Worth Valley Railway.
Have you visited before? Will you be planning a visit?
We have an independent toddler. She has her mummy’s personality. Although it can be difficult to manage at times, I want to nurture this side of her.
We’ve had a difficult few weeks, learning about emotions and basically having a fight for independence. As parents, we have lots of tools in place and we’ve always allowed her certain freedoms. The last few weeks have been about putting tools in place to manage emotions, whilst also encouraging independence. Challenging, but I’m sure it will be rewarding in the long run.
Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
Today I want to share with you the practical tasks we allow our toddler to do around the house. And more importantly, how this creates independence
Why it’s essential to allow a toddler to make their own decisions
We have an independent and determined toddler. However, even if we didn’t, we would still allow our children to make daily choices. Simply because it teaches great life lessons. In the future, she will need to be empowered in decision-making, in order to be successful in life.
It’s an important step in growing up. And gives them some power and control over what they do.
Benefits of providing choices include:
Giving them some control
Avoiding power-struggles
Teaching cause and effect
Helping them gain confidence.
Trust in themselves and their opinions
Self-confidence
Decisiveness
Thoughtfulness
Analytical thinking
Empathy
Here are a few tips for offering toddlers choices
Avoid too many options. Stick to two or three
Offer clear and simple choices
Make sure choices are age-appropriate, like picking what to wear or what to play with
I want to discuss some of the freedoms and choices we give our toddler. And how those choices help to teach valuable life lessons
Picking their own drinks & snacks
To successfully allow this to happen, you can ensure everything they need is easy to reach. Such as plastic toddler plates and cups, along with fridge organisers containing the snacks. Even down to a separate small bottle of milk in the fridge. The latest addition to our accessible snacks is easy-to-reach cereal dispensers. We recently bought a small dining table, so she can sit and make her own snacks safely.
Permission from an adult is a must, but the physical act of getting the snacks prepared is down to the toddler. Be prepared for spillages and mishaps – explaining it’s fine and it will clean up. As you would with any other accident in the house. At the nursery, the class learn to break up their own cereal and become more independent at meal times – something we want to mirror at home.
These days she tells me, “I’m helping you mummy because you’re busy” and it’s so lovely to watch her becoming an independent child.
Providing a choice of activities for the day can make a toddler feel empowered to feel part of the family. And more importantly, decision-making skills are developed.
It’s also more fun as an adult to just go with the flow. As parents, we see through any decision she makes. This is an important step in making your little person feel fully empowered and listened to.
What this teaches
Independence
Socials skills
Avoiding power-struggles
Their opinion matters
Their input is valuable
Picking out their own clothes
Ensuring the clothes are in an accessible and safe place is a must. But why not let the toddler go out in trousers which are back to front, if it enables them to learn to dress themselves?
I’ve done this before when we are going out on a quick journey. Some battles are simply not worth fighting.
What this teaches
Independence
Self-care skills
Learning where the clothes are located, for next time
Our toddler now has the weekly task of filling up the toilet roll holders in the bathroom. And I’m making a big deal of the fact it’s her job and she’s really good at it. Giving praise to your toddler when they complete the smallest of tasks can give them confidence.
Setting the table
At the moment we are struggling with meal times. She is fidgeting and it turns into a negotiation about how much she will eat. We are working on it – but that’s a whole other blog post!
Setting the table has helped in allowing the whole family to sit down for a meal and talk about our day. This routine and her feeling she contributed her part really help tackle the other issues we are facing.
Put dirty clothes in the laundry basket
As a toddler, she gets very dirty clothes. We have regular paint stains from the nursery. Tomato sauce stains from eating. And I won’t go into the toilet habits she is learning at the moment. Let’s just say, this creates more washing for the parents involved.
Getting her to put dirty clothes into the laundry basket can help to explain the process of washing clothes. And hopefully, make her realise that natural consequences occur when a mess happens. That said, we want to nurture the creative, messy, painting side. It’s just great to teach her about the consequences of accidents and other inappropriate messy behaviour.
It’s all a learning curve – for us as parents, and for her.
I recently introduced you all to our hamster, Fluffy. For anyone who’s ever had a hamster as a pet, you will know it’s about perseverance. We have a female and she is also very independent. My toddler apparently stood in Pets At Home and said “This is the one for me” and I maintain to this day that they are kindred spirits. Anyhow, it’s been a long road trying to tame her and we are not even at the picking-up stage yet.
Download the free toddler chores checklist – amend as needed or download the PDF file below:
Despite this, both my toddler and hamster are doing well. My toddler can now open the cage, and hand the hamster treats. And because Fluffy knows her smell she carefully takes the treat from her.
The cutest moments involve my toddler sitting by the cage and telling Fluffy about her day. The next step is creating an obstacle course (with safety gates so she can’t escape) and taking her out of the cage for playtime – TikTok videos will follow. Watch this space.
As parents, we’ve always explained the importance of recycling. And thanks to programmes like Cocomelon it was easy to do! We have separate recycling and rubbish bins and frequently ask her to put rubbish away for us.
This has in turn resulted in her also taking plates and cups to the kitchen when we’ve finished eating. As a parent, it’s like being looked after in a cafe and it’s actually really nice.
Check out all the other blog posts in the parenting section:
Our toddler loves standing on her stool and helping with the washing up. We make sure the water is lukewarm and she only has plastic plates and cups to wash up. Her grandparents also mirror this when she stays at their house. It’s a great task to allocate to a toddler, with parental supervision of course.
Making the bed
What toddler doesn’t love making bed day? A chance to jump on a freshly stripped bed. We now get her involved in putting the pillowcases back on and sorting out the duvet cover.
Setting up the bathroom for bath time
Our little one knows where her bath towels are and we have a box with bath toys in it. Because we sometimes get morning baths and we are in a rush, she always asks me whether she can play with her bath toys first.
We also have a basket with shampoos and body wash – she is learning which one to use in which area of her body. And also now washes her own hair. She’s even recently got out of the bath, using her stool and we find her chilling on the sofa in her bath towel.
Gardening
Our little pumpkin was recently given a sunflower by my dad’s work friend and she regularly waters it. She’s also got her own gardening tools. When we move house, the aim is to build her a mud kitchen. I’m sure this will contribute to the volume of dirty clothes I need to wash. But it’s all good fun.
Clearing away toys
Something nursery teaches the toddlers, is tidy-up time. Where regardless of who has made the mess, they all participate in the tidying-up efforts.
At home, we’ve recently organised toys into storage boxes and explained where each one lives. As a parent, it makes my life much easier. And she is learning to put toys back into the correct, allocated boxes.
Dust furniture and clean the glass
Like any toddler, she loves spraying water. It was only right that we eventually gave her these small cleaning tasks around the house. Because of the chemicals involved it’s only recently she’s allowed to do it. And we are careful to explain she should only spray the surface and wipe it with a cloth. (DISCLAIMER -parental supervision is also involved and she is a pretty intelligent child, who would never mess around with chemicals anyway).
In turn, this has also helped with her aiming her toddler perfume in the right direction too!
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed reading about the tasks we give our toddler to encourage independence.
What tips do you have for dealing with toddler emotions and encouraging independence?
Please share them in the comments, because they will help other parents out there.
Now we have an energetic toddler, we require activities to stimulate her and wear her out. Soft play is a great solution. A safe environment, where I can have a coffee, possibly do some blogging tasks on my phone, and she can play. These days, she often goes off on her own to explore and I think this skill is important for any child.
In this post, I wanted to cover some of the venues we have recently visited, including Kidzplay Shipley and also outline the important benefits of soft play.
PLEASE NOTE – I have no affiliation with any of these play centres. These are places we visit as a family
Billy Bobs, Skipton
Let’s dive in, as eagerly as my little one does in the ball pool
Great venues to visit in West Yorkshire
We are quite lucky, as we have a lot of soft play centres close to where we live, including Kidzplay Shipley. Here are some of the best ones we have visited:
Billy Bobs
I have written about Billy Bobs before. We love it for a family meal out and also for play. We recently took the little one for a play session. We filled up with a big brunch beforehand and then only had to pay for the wristband, which is £3.00 for one hour’s play. We got a coffee each and had an ice cream treat afterwards.
What I love about Billy Bobs is the outdoor playground, featuring several amazing structures, including a monster truck, aeroplane, ark, fire truck, tractor and train! As we cannot guarantee the weather will be nice enough to be outside here in the UK, it’s great they also have an indoor play barn. In the barn, you will find rope swings, racing slides, an alligator alley, little kid rope swings, and a toddler trike track.
All of this can be found in the wonderful Yorkshire Dales countryside. It’s so relaxing to sit on the amazing swing benches with a nice coffee and enjoy the sunshine.
Billy Bobs will now be one of my go-to places on my days off with the little one. A warning – weekends and school holidays can get very busy and they make this clear on their website.
Kidzplay Shipley
Kidzplay has several play centres, but we recently visited the Shipley one on a day out. It’s huge and even has a football pitch floor, with a racing track underneath. There is something for all ages, a smaller play area for toddlers, a specified area for babies and for the bigger kids, a huge slide.
When I take my little one here, I get the most relaxation time, simply because she has so much to explore. But the building is secure and you can see them at all times. This gives you peace of mind they are okay. And we can all enjoy our coffee when we know the little ones are okay!
I also love the fact you can book online and therefore it’s less hassle when you get there. I know there will be a table for us and we can quickly scan our tickets upon entry. These are important factors when you are on your own with a toddler. I have also booked last minute on several occasions, which is another bonus when you are trying to decide if you have a tired, moody toddler. Or whether they need activities to tire them out that day. There is only so much planning you can do with an unpredictable toddler.
Little Daisy’s is a small and cosy play place. Definitely for the younger end, if you have babies and small children, it’s perfect. The food is great and you can see your little one at all times from wherever you sit. It’s such a cute place and well hidden at the back of a church.
Little Daisy’s, Shipley
Brewers Fayre pubs
We recently visited the soft play centre at our local Brewers Fayre Pub. It was a weekday and the little one had the frame all to herself. We bought some drinks and snacks and everyone had fun. She also loved playing outside on the climbing frame, which was easily accessible from the soft play area.
If we did want to eat, there are tables near the soft play section and the food is cheap. They also have loads of great deals, including refilled coffee for parents. They even offer parties for just £50, before 11 am on a weekend. I am seriously considering them for our party needs next year. Given that we have promised a party for their next birthday.
Brewer’s Fayre
Let’s discuss the great benefits of soft play
Balance
Climbing through all those challenging places definitely improves balance. Billy Bobs even have balance beams in the play barn.
Waiting your turn
At busy times there are a lot of toddlers, all wanting to get down the slide at the same time. They have no choice but to figure out how to wait their turn. Or risk being bumped by another child. It’s great to watch this problem-solving in action.
Playing with others & sharing
There are only a limited amount of footballs on the pitch at Kidzplay. Therefore, it’s all about sharing. A while back my little one was telling me the ball was hers and insisting on taking it to our table. A bit of explaining ensured she quickly learned how to share and play well with others. Another valuable skill for any toddler.
Making decisions
I love watching her think about something and come to her own conclusion. It’s all part of growing up.
At Kidzplay, there are four seats on the big slide. The decision for her was, which of the four slide seats I go down? I literally watched her switch seats, and then she made a decision and stuck with it. It’s nice to watch from afar without reprimanding them because they are in danger. There is no danger in a soft play centre.
Days out with the kids during the cost of living crisis
I am sure we could all do with money-saving strategies at the moment. But anyone with a toddler will know, you also need to balance this with taking them out of the house. It’s great that I can do these activities on my days off work, for much cheaper than a day at nursery.
It’s also great to see businesses offering cheaper or free meals for children during the summer holidays in the UK. If you are taking the little one out anyway, you could have a meal out and then visit the nearest soft play. Any cost savings you can make are great.
Final thoughts
I hope you enjoyed reading how much we love soft play. I’ve wanted to write this post for a while and share our favourite places to visit.
Parenting is the most challenging job in the world. Children need love, attention, patience, meals, clothes, guidance, boundaries – all before 8.30 am. It’s exhausting, draining. But also incredibly rewarding.
I’ve seen other parents talking about how to handle toddler emotions. But we’ve recently experienced the full force of raw emotions, coming from my feisty little pumpkin. She is full of sass at the best of times – it’s just her personality! But these recent emotions, which she is clearly unable to handle, are coming across as anger and moodiness.
As a parent, it’s easy to react in these situations (trust me I have, we all have – no parent is perfect). But the correct way to deal with this situation is to help your toddler handle the feelings they are experiencing. Put simply, they don’t know how to do it themselves. I’m in my late 30’s and sometimes I can’t handle my own emotions. As such, we’ve recently explained to her that adults also struggle with emotions and created some emotion cards to help her communicate how she is feeling.
Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
Let’s explore the range of emotions your toddler might be feeling:
Anger
Fear
Sadness
Boredom
Happiness
Excitement
Tiredness
Confusion
This is not an exhaustive list. We know as adults, there are many more emotions we deal with on a daily basis.
I wanted to share some of the tips and tools we’ve used:
Children sometimes don’t have the tools or vocabulary, or actions to communicate emotions effectively. it is up to us as adults to help them communicate effectively. And sometimes verbally speaking about it just isn’t something they are equipped to do yet. How many adults do you know who struggle to verbalise their emotions? I know a lot!
As a family, we are all going to benefit from these tools we’ve put in place, to effectively communicate our emotions.
Emotion Flash Cards
I was going to buy some of these. However, being okay at designing, due to running three blogs and a t-shirt business (all self-taught), I thought I would have a go at creating some myself. And of course, as a blogger, I will be sharing them with you all. In the hope they also help other parents out there.
Feel free to click download below, for access to the flashcards.
These cards are great because sometimes toddlers need adults to question, help or prompt them. To start a conversation about how they are feeling. When they are unable to initiate this. I’ve started off by printing some of the cards, to see how well they work. But, I’ve included a full set for you to download.
I’ve already arranged mine in the living room. In an easily accessible place.
As a family. we’ve agreed that if we are struggling to express our emotions, we will show someone the card. And we can start a discussion about how we are feeling.
Read my blog posts about our journey with gentle parenting:
As someone who struggles mentally, with anxiety and depression, I’ve now accepted the fact that as humans, we are not all happy all of the time. It’s important to feel our full range of emotions, as and when they come up. Being happy is a wonderful feeling. And as a family, we try and create as many happy family memories as we can. However, it’s natural we will all feel tired, scared, alone, and sad at various times throughout an average week.
There are many factors which can impact your emotions. Due to the health conditions we face as adults, sometimes our communication can be poor and as human beings, we lash out.
For a while now, we’ve explained to my toddler, that it is normal and completely okay to feel these other emotions. And to become frustrated in the moment, when we don’t know how to deal with them.
Fight or flight is a real thing. A pre-historic reaction to stressful situations. We often cannot control it.
Equipped with this knowledge, we humans need to give ourselves more credit. And accept we will sometimes react in the moment and apologise later.
Why not sign up for my freebie library – where you will get access to free planners and workbooks – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED ON THE BLOG
Finding safe & appropriate ways to manage emotions
If my little one is sad, moody or tired we talk about cuddling and laying down to have a nap. And I explain ‘Mummy is also tired and it’s okay to feel this way’. Luckily, she has a few days with us during the week, where she can relax and chill out if this is what she wants to do.
Set a good example
Toddlers learn about managing their emotions by watching us. As adults, it is our responsibility to set a good example of how to behave. However, as humans, we don’t always get it right.
Something we do as parents is apologise if we displayed incorrect behaviour. And we talk as a family about why we did that.
Other great online resources to deal with emotions
It is a proven fact, that the early years of our lives shape who we are and how well we cope with challenges in adult life. A traumatic experience in childhood can have lasting effects. Exploring emotions is vital.
All human beings have emotions. They start to develop at an early age, often when toddlers don’t really understand what they are yet. The common one in our house at the moment is missing other people. This involves a daily conversation filled with reassurance, that everyone misses the people they love.
Because toddler emotions are a challenge I currently face. And I know other parents definitely go through this cycle, I wanted to write a post dedicated to the best stories I could find, discussing children’s emotions.
Quick note: Mummy Conquering Anxiety is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people
Let’s look at the research into why we should explore emotions
Understanding children’s emotions are critical to understanding their behaviour. Early years children feel a range of emotions, but often cannot express, interpret or process them like us.
With poor emotional skills, it could be harder for children to learn:
Children grow and develop rapidly in their first five years across the four main areas of development. These areas are motor (physical), communication and language, cognitive, social and emotional.
Social and emotional development means how children start to understand who they are, what they are feeling and what to expect when interacting with others. It is the development of being able to:
Form and sustain positive relationships.
Experience, manage and express emotions.
Explore and engage with the environment.
Positive social and emotional development is important. This development influences a child’s self-confidence, empathy, the ability to develop meaningful and lasting friendships and partnerships, and a sense of importance and value to those around them. Children’s social and emotional development also influences all other areas of development.
Parents and caregivers play the biggest role in social/emotional development because they offer the most consistent relationships for their children. Consistent experiences with family members, teachers and other adults help children learn about relationships and explore emotions in predictable interactions.
To nurture your child’s social and emotional development, it is important that you engage in quality interactions like these on a daily basis, depending on the age of your child:
Be affectionate and nurturing: hold, comfort, talk and sing with your baby, toddler and child.
Help your baby experience joy in “give-and-take” relationships by playing games like “peek-a-boo.”
Provide your toddler with responsive care, letting them practice new skills while still providing hands-on help.
Support your child’s developing skills; help him/her, but don’t do everything for your child, even if it takes longer or is messy.
Teach social and emotional skills, such as taking turns, listening and resolving conflict.
What happens if we don’t manage emotions
One of the most important ways parents or guardians can help is by listening to their children and taking their feelings seriously. They may want a hug, they may want you to help them change something or they may want practical help.
Children and young people’s negative feelings usually pass. However, it’s a good idea to get help if your child is distressed for a long time if their feelings are stopping them from getting on with their lives, if their distress is disrupting family life or if they are repeatedly behaving in ways you wouldn’t expect at their age.
What’s Troubling Tawny? The award-winning second book in the Sumatran Trilogy! Tawny longs to make friends with another rhino, but her shyness holds her back. When she meets a hornbill called Tallulah, she is surprised to learn that she has a lot in common with the beautiful bird.
Poppy the porcupine has always wanted to make a friend, but her defensive nature prevents her. When a young tiger cub stumbles upon her one day in the rainforest, she reacts badly and scares him away.
Determined to change her ways, she sets out to find him, but little does she know that the tiger cub is about to have a problem of his own. In the face of danger, will Poppy find a way to save the day?
The Problem with Poppy is the award-winning debut picture book by British author Emma Sandford. Illustrated by Ukrainian artist Olena Osadcha.
If you could change something about yourself, would you do it?
When Sarah Simpkins is teased about her shadow in the school playground, she finds herself wishing she didn’t have one.
That night she has the chance to make the wish come true. But will losing her shadow really make her happy?
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Let’s Be Friends Again
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Let’s Be Friends Again
Kids World Books – Sibling fights, tantrums and subsequent bonding is the theme of this story.
The story is narrated by a boy and he narrates rather than shares his experiences with his sister. The boy and the girl play together. They spend most of their leisure time together. Just like every sibling, they fight often and bond subsequently.
The boy finds some trouble with his sister. The boy sometimes babysits for his sister and she used to trouble him! However, she was a good listener and the boy used to tell some great stories. The boy refused to share his toys with her. Yet, the smart girl used to grab all her brother’s toys. The tantrum began when the girl played with his brother’s pet turtle!
The girl thought that the tank where the pet turtle was kept was too small for the turtle. She carried it to the pond and let it free in the pond.
The boy was as angry as he lost his pet turtle. He showed his anger in many ways. He shouted at her. He threw away his toys and kept on thinking about his turtle. His parents supported his sister. He planned to avenge the loss of his pet and imagined many things. (This is definitely a fun part that everyone would die laughing).
He couldn’t sleep for hours thinking about the pet. He then saw his sister playing in the garden so happy like never before. The boy was surprised as well as very angry seeing her sister happy.
He made a decision! What was that?
Let’s be friends again, the lovable brother and sister, their cute fights, rivalry, etc are narrated beautifully. It happens very commonly in every household.
Children and young people are still developing – they don’t have adult brains or bodies, so need help to understand and manage their emotions.
You’ve probably heard your parents or grandparents say “they’re just attention seeking” or “they’re being difficult”. But there’s usually more to it than this.
We often ask people who contact Children 1st Parentline: “What is your child trying to tell you when they’re acting like that?” Looked at this way, unwanted behaviour is usually about a child needing something – or their way of trying to work out how to manage something.
From a toddler’s need for comfort to a teenager’s conflicting desires for independence and security, testing behaviour is common and is often set off by everyday experiences rather than big events.
Jodi also thinks the book will come just at the right time for children who have had to shut themselves away all year and might be scared to try something new.
She added: “It is a lovely story for 4–7-year-olds about taking yourself out of your comfort zone to try new things.
“Worley’s story is a fab way to engage children with these cute little monsters and learn how to develop their confidence.
“The book also included suggested activities for parent and adult readers.
“I’m also now writing my second story for the series about Worley and Co!
“Having suffered quite a bit as a kid – I lost my dad at 10 and my best friend at 14 – and had a lot of bullying and not nice things going on and I didn’t know how to cope,” she explained.
“That had a massive effect on me as an adult which led to a breakdown. I don’t want kids to go through what I did. The more people I can teach and I can help the better. I don’t think I would have had as big a meltdown if I already had tools to use.
“My characters are all monsters – I have a whole tribe of emotions monsters that teach children about emotions. Worley is the main one and he meets his friends with different emotions.
“The first one was teaching him to be brave and through the monster, you learn you might make a mistake but it will be fine. He realises he doesn’t need to be the best at everything.
“The second book is about anger. The book is written as a rhyme; basically, Worley gets angry and doesn’t know what it is. His friend George, the angry monster, teaches him it is ok to be angry and how to manage it.
“It is done in quite a fun way so children can understand.”
Buster Finds His Beat
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Buster Finds His Beat
A feel-good story about an autistic boy, That will capture your imagination and fill you with joy.
Buster uses ear defenders to soften sounds he hears, Find out what happens when he faces his fears…
Pick up your copy, you’ll be in for a treat, As he uses the power of sound to find his own beat.
The first book in a new rhyming picture book series from D.M. Mullan and Kirsteen Harris Jones – welcome to D.M. Mullan’s Curious Tales… Hector van Groat If something is missing, and you’re feeling blue, you could learn from Hector, who feels this way too. This little genius lives in an upside-down boat, and he grunts from his hill like a grumpy old goat. “Hector van Groat needs no one but Hector because he is a genius, a crazy inventor”.
A beautifully illustrated picture book about mental health for young readers. Where Is My Smile? is the story of a little boy who can’t find his smile anywhere. He searches and searches, but it’s nowhere to be found. Where could his smile be? This delightful picture book is perfect as a bedtime story, and to help little children understand that it’s okay to be sad sometimes, but we can always find our way through it.
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed reading my list of books to inspire conversations with your toddler about emotions.
Do you have any of these books? Or will you be purchasing them? What techniques do you use to explore emotions?
I would love to hear from you in the comments below.
Gift-giving can be difficult, especially when the recipient is a toddler! Whether it’s for a birthday, holiday, or just to show how much you care, picking out the perfect gift for your little one can be quite challenging. But don’t worry – here are seven ideal gifts for toddlers that will put a smile on their faces!
Photo by Tatiana Syrikova
1. An Activity Table:
An activity table is a perfect way for toddlers to learn and explore new activities! Activity tables come in all shapes, colours, and sizes and can feature anything from educational games to puzzles. They are an excellent way to keep toddlers occupied and engaged while developing problem-solving, coordination, and creativity skills.
2. A Doll House:
Dollhouses offer endless hours of imaginative play, and they’re great for little ones who love pretend play. Whether it’s assembling a mini family or creating storylines between their dolls, kids adore acting out stories with their friends or siblings. Plus, they make great additions to any playroom!
3. Ride-on Cars:
Let’s be honest – what kid doesn’t love a cool ride? Ride-on cars are a great way to get toddlers moving and provide them with hours of entertainment. From electric models that look just like mom and dad’s cars to those featuring cartoon characters, such as this children’s Lightning McQueen ride-on car, these toys will surely bring great joy!
4. Kitchen Sets:
Kitchen sets are a great way to get toddlers involved in pretend cooking and baking activities. They can even help with real tasks such as stirring ingredients and setting the table. These toys also allow children to use their imagination while having fun playing together!
5. Puzzles:
As kids age, puzzles become very important for cognitive development and problem-solving. From simple three-piece puzzles to more complex ones featuring multiple pieces, they help children learn how to think through problems by working out each piece until the puzzle is complete. Puzzles are also a great way to keep little ones entertained when you’re on the go – just grab one of your favourite travel puzzles, and you’re good to go!
6. A Swing:
Everyone loves a swing! Swings are an essential part of childhood, providing toddlers with lots of fun and joy. From traditional swings that you hang from a tree branch or ceiling to modern ones featuring adjustable heights, there are plenty of options out there that your toddler will love!
7. A Play Tent:
Play tents are an excellent way to get toddlers to explore their environment. From simple indoor play tents to those with endless features, they help kids use their creativity while having a blast in the process. Your little one will love creating stories and adventures while playing in their tent!
When it comes to picking out the perfect gift for your toddler, these seven ideas are sure to please. Whether it’s a ride-on car or a kitchen set, you’re sure to find something that puts a smile on your little one’s face! So shop around and pick out the ideal gift – your toddler is sure to thank you for it!
When you’re a mum, your whole world revolves around your kids. You want to keep them safe and happy at all times, which can sometimes be a challenge, especially regarding home safety. There are so many things to think about! This blog post will give you some essential tips for keeping your child safe at home. We’ll cover everything from fires and falls to poisoning and electricity. So read on, and conquer those anxiety demons – your little one will be safe and sound!
Tip 1) Fires:
Install smoke alarms and fire extinguishers on each floor of your house, and make sure to check them regularly. Keep all flammable materials away from heat sources such as stoves or radiators. If you have a fireplace, buy a protective mesh gate and keep the area around it clear of debris.
Tip 2) Falls:
Baby-proof your home by covering sharp corners with bumpers, installing safety gates at stairs, and installing locks on kitchen cabinets containing hazardous items. Also, make sure no small objects like coins or marbles are lying around where curious fingers can get to them.
Tip 3) Poisoning:
Keep medications, cleaning supplies, and other potentially poisonous substances locked away in a secure location, preferably up high out of reach. Be sure to label all containers properly and dispose of expired medicines correctly.
Tip 4) Electricity:
Cover unused electrical outlets with plastic guards and make sure that barely used appliances are unplugged when not in use. Teach your children the dangers of electricity by explaining why they cannot touch exposed wires or put objects into wall sockets.
Tip 5) Health Risks:
Purchase a good first aid kit and keep it in an easily accessible place. Make sure you know where to find the emergency numbers for your local doctor and hospital, as well as the Poison Control Center. Keep up to date on vaccinations and checkups for your child, too.
Tip 6) Cleaning:
Cleaning and maintaining a safe home can be challenging, especially with small children running around. To help you stay on top of this task, make sure to vacuum regularly, clean up spills immediately, wash bedding frequently, and replace worn carpets or rugs. Be sure to get vertical blind cleaning tools to get in those hard-to-reach spots.
Tip 7) Sanity:
Taking care of yourself is just as important as keeping your little one safe. Make sure to get plenty of rest, exercise regularly, and take some time for yourself each day. This can help reduce stress and anxiety, leaving you more alert and prepared to handle any safety issues that arise.
Children are our most precious gifts, and ensuring that their homes are safe and secure is essential. By following these home safety tips, you can help reduce the risk of accidents or injuries in your child’s environment so they can grow up happy and healthy. Don’t forget to take a few moments each day – you deserve it!
If you follow the blog, you’ll know I’m all about self-care. In addition to other aids, it’s what helped me recover from my breakdown. I finally started looking after myself after years of not doing so.
And sometimes we need some products to assist us with our regime. A self-care package. What better way to relax?
In this post, I wanted to draw your attention to some of the trusted products I’ve used for years. The type of gifts I open, smile, and think to myself my family knows me well.
Getting a new self-care product makes me happy. It’s also an excuse to ask my hubby to cover childcare so I can spend time trying it out
Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and thinkwould be useful for you.
The reason we ALL need a bit of self-care in our lives
These days, with lack of sleep and toddler madness, sometimes self-care for 15 minutes is all I have to make me feel a little bit better. And I take the opportunity. I’m currently writing this post with a face mask on, listening to yoga music. This is the first 15 minutes I grabbed to myself today and it’s 9 pm. I always need a self-care package on hand, for the moments I get to spend alone.
As a parent, making time for self-care is so important, and we should take time for ourselves. Even if it’s 5 minutes. Focusing on yourself will make you feel better. It will boost your energy and spur you on for the rest of your day.
I learned the hard way, we should never neglect ourselves. Personal care is a basic human need and one I love to indulge in now.
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Speaking of indulgence, let’s dive into the list of must have products to add to your self-care package
Shopping online at The Body Shop brings back so many memories. I remember buying the animal-shaped soaps because they smelled and looked amazing.
I was impressed by their ethos and I love scrolling through their range of products.
They come highly recommended by family and friends and are my go-to gift when I need to purchase something for Valentine’s Day. For any special occasion, you cannot go wrong with a purchase from The Body Shop.
Some of my product highlights
My brother loves the satsuma range and you will always find this in my shopping basket.
I love the sweet-smelling body butter and scrubs. The raspberry scrub smells good enough to eat. What an amazing addition to a relaxing bath, or even a quick shower for the busy mums out there.
For a previous anniversary, I purchased from the spa range. If you feel like getting romantic, it smells divine and you won’t be disappointed.
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I’ve been checking out the self heating eye masks and they look fantastic. They also come highly recommended, by customers leaving reviews and also top beauty influencers. You can find out more on their website.
Getting a new self-care product makes me happy. It’s also an excuse to ask my hubby to cover childcare so I can spend time trying it out
The beauty of it is, through sensory retreats, you can also buy now and pay later with Klarna. (PLEASE see their website for specific T’s & C’s.)
I’ve recently been checking them out for an occasion I have coming up. My relative loves make-up and I am impressed by the huge range of cute brush collections I found on their site.
Alice In Wonderland bundle
I am loving the Alice In Wonderland bundle and would love this as a present for myself. Hehe!
Hello Kitty
For the present I need to buy, I love the look of these Hello Kitty brushes.
It’s also a huge incentive, free delivery applies to all orders over £40.00 and you can use the Klarna app for your purchases. Mine got used a lot over the Christmas period.
Final thoughts
If you like any of the products discussed in this post, or you want to browse at your leisure (I love a good internet shopping session!), click on the buttons below.
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