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Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reading. Show all posts

4 May 2014

Inside activities for a dreary day

Its a windy, rainy, cold day so what can you do with your nestlings? Try some (or all) of these. You're sure to find something the children will enjoy, and hopefully you will too!

10. Dressing up - a perennial favourite with boys and girls of all ages (and some mums and dads). If you haven't got a dress up box let them have some of your old clothes and jewellery. Accessories are always a hit.
Fox & Finch Planes tee
9. Cooking up a storm - anything that requires mixing by hand is good for little people. Just keep it safe and don't stress about the mess.

8. Face painting - make sure its the kind of paint that washes off easily and go easy on the black, just in case...

7. Reading a story (or being read to) - important and fun for the reader and the one being read to. Stuck for ideas? Check out our blog: Children's book suggestions by age.


6. Drawing or colouring - as long as its on paper, not the walls, or carpet, or the dog...

5. Making an inside cubby house - there is something about pushing the chairs together and throwing a blanket over the top that always makes me smile.

4. Writing a story - rainy days are great for creativity. If your nestling isn't old enough to write their own, write a story just for them. Everyone likes being the hero/heroine.
Fox & Finch Faith colour block dress
3. Playing in a nice warm bath - fun for the whole family if your bath is big enough. This one can be combined with number 7, and may be necessary after 8 and 9.

2. Dressing up the cat or dog, or a soft toy - the soft toy may be the safest option, depending on the temperament of your cat or dog. I'd suggest you make sure the face paint has been put away before you start this one too.

1. Snuggling in front of the fire/heater - possibly while watching a movie and drinking hot chocolate. What better way to spend a dreary day?

Don't let the weather get you down. There are lots of fun things to do inside - you are only limited by your imagination. Just ask your nestlings, they're sure to come up with something creative. Enjoy!

The team at nestling.

10 March 2014

Ten children's book suggestions by age



Reading, and being read to, are such important building blocks for children's education and learning. So, for your reading pleasure (and that of your nestlings) we have compiled a list of some of our favourite stories for each stage of your child's development. We hope you get hours of pleasure from these suggestions.

Babies & toddlers

Each Peach Pear Plum - Janet & Allan Ahlberg
Guess How Much I Love You - Sam McBratney
Where's Spot? - Eric Hill
Maisy's Bedtime - Lucy Cousins
Can't you Sleep, Little Bear? - Martin Waddell
There's a Hippopotamus on our Roof Eating Cake - Hazel Edwards
Rumble in the Jungle - Giles Andreae & David Wojtowycz
Where is the Green Sheep? - Mem Fox & Judy Horacek
The Cat in the Hat - Dr Seuss
The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eric Carle


Preschool - young readers

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy - Lynley Dodd
The Tiger who came to Tea - Judith Kerr
Lost and Found - Oliver Jeffers
Stick Man - Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler
We Honestly Can Look After Your Dog (Charlie & Lola) - Lauren Child
Meg and Mog - Helen Nicoll & Jan Pienkowski
Mr Men and Little Miss stories - Roger Hargreaves
Knuffle Bunny - Mo Willems
Madeline - Ludwig Bemelmans
One Snowy Night - Nick Parks


Older readers

The Magic Faraway Tree - Enid Blyton
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Brian Selznick
Alice Miranda at School - Jacqueline Harvey
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J K Rowling
Sophie the Awesome - Lara Bergen
Beware of the Storybook Wolves - Lauren Child
Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Jeff Kinney
The Complete Chronicles of Narnia - C S Lewis
The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett

Happy reading!

The team at nestling.