Hello,
It’s been a while since I last posted, so much has changed in such a small space of time, it’s been a few weeks now and I have slowly adjusted to my new normal. I hope you have too. Like many of us, the last few weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions, I’ve found it very strange to go from being constantly busy to having so much free time, something I’m definitely not used to. Though isn’t it funny how we always wish for a longer weekend or to have more time? We’ve certainly got that!! Life feels like one long Sunday…
I’ts taken me a while to write this post as I wasn’t able to process my feelings. I spent months working hard on Bluebells childminding and growing my business, I hired an assistant who barely worked two weeks before we were told to close (though I’m open to key workers). As childminders we are self employed, therefore like many we will be out of work while we are under lockdown. We also don’t know how long this will go on for so there is a lot of uncertainty. However, with all this uncertainty I do feel we have a lot to be grateful for and it is times like this which remind us to be thankful. Especially to those key workers who are working so hard right now and putting their own lives at risk everyday this virus is out there. It’s also reminded me of things we all take for granted, such as going food shopping or meeting family and friends. I know once this is over there will be normality again, but we will not get this time back with our families. So, like many people I am enjoying family time, finishing jobs around the house that I put off and cleaning out the playroom, updating learning journeys – I also feel like this time has given me a chance to pause and reflex back on the last 5 months of work and instead of putting of the changes I want to make I can actually do them now. I’m also baking lots and started going for runs -two things I’ve not done in a long time but now I have all the time in the world to do so. I’m also using this time to do some online courses, I recently took part in a enabling environment webinar that made me reassess the playroom and help me clear out the house (I highly recommend childcare webinars, they are free and so informative! I will link the website below). Keeping busy is helping me get through is, though there are days where I’m watching Netflix or reading a book!
We are going through an unprecedented time right now, however you are coping with it is completely normal, do whatever you feel comfortable with. There are a lot of things that are not in our control right now, and those things are probably making you worry. Something a dear friend of mine shared with me was to mindmap all the things you are anxious about then mark them as things you can control, influence or accept. It means you can focus your energy on the things you can actually change! I hope this helps ♥️
For children it’s a lot to deal with, their whole world has changed and they probably are missing family, friends and normality. They also most likely are loving having their parents, family members home! We all get to so busy with life, why not use this time to get to know each other better? Play together, cook and have adventures at home. Let your children remember this time as fun and an adventure that they can look back on fondly. It’s also ok if your child is watching more TV right now (especially if you are working from home). You also don’t need to be entertaining your children all day long, it’s good for children to be bored – it helps them be creative! However, If you are looking for ideas, I will add a few activities below that I’ve been doing with Sanya, I’ve been using things I have around the house and easy to set up activities! I hope they help, please let me know if you want to more activity suggestions ☺️
Activities
Other activities we regularly enjoy are painting with water in the garden, reading and music time, mark making in flour (you can use anything to mark make such as coloured salt sand etc), salt dough decorations, having a picnic, den making, though my one of my favourite activities to set up has to be sensory trays! Super easy and quick you can use anything that comes to hand, water and containers or bottles so they can empty and pour. Rice, lentils and cooking utensils, hiding objects in foil and putting them in sand, honestly the list can go on but if you have never set up a sensory tray before, do it! It will entertain your little ones for hours 🙂 Twinkl also has lots of educational resources that you can try, such as cutting practice, letter formation, colouring, ordering numbers and so on.
If you are looking for more ideas, I regularly post ideas and activities I am doing on my Instragram and Facebook page @bluebellschildminding.
When all this is over, and we resume some sense of normality there will be many things we will change and be grateful for but as long as we have our health we are the lucky ones. Wouldn’t it be lovely to look back on this time as precious family time?
Love Sammi xx
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Bluebells Childminding 