REVIEW: Jooki - The Smart Player with ToyTouch Technology

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Turning up the volume, having a boogie, listening to stories or bringing a performance alive children love to be surrounded by music. A day doesn't go past where we don't have a kitchen disco dance or Isabella wants to show us her latest dance performance. However, to access music children often need an adult to select a certain playlist or song, which in turn limits their ability to be creative with sound. Jooki have created The Smart Player with ToyTouch Technology to solve this exact problem and allow children to safely access music and stories; bringing back their creativity and enabling them to enjoy screen-free time.

PARENTHOOD: How to Support your Childs Gross Motor Skills Outdoors

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Gross motor skills are those that require your whole body to move, as well as the use of the larger muscles in our bodies to perform everyday activities including walking, standing, running and jumping. Hand-eye coordination is also a big part of our gross motor skills, which enable us to complete activities such as throw, catch, kick, ride a bike and swim. Supporting your child's gross motor skill development is really important as it allows them to do everyday activities, like climbing and walking, but also self-care skills like getting dressed, getting out of bed or climbing into a car. We use our gross motor skills almost constantly throughout the day, so ensuring children develop them successfully from a young age sets them up with skills for life. 

CHILDREN: Why Playing Outside Is So Important

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The great big outdoors...a place for learning, exploring and adventuring for all ages, but why is embracing it so important for our children? Anyone who has children will know how hard it can be to keep them entertained; they seemingly constantly need stimulus or focus and making the most of outdoor play is the perfect way to take a step back from technology. Technology is a big part of all of our lives nowadays, there's no escaping it; whether you're watching television, playing computer games, browsing social media, taking photographs or learning via apps it creeps into our day to day life with worrying ease sometimes.

AUTUMN: 5 Child-Friendly Outdoor Blackboard Activities

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Autumn is that time of year that can be quite awkward when you become a parent. One day it will be raining, then the next it will be blue skies and bright sunshine. Personally, I love the cooler weather and it is the perfect time for us to get outside as a family. Our garden probably gets more use in the autumn months than the summer to be honest, but whatever the weather Isabella and Poppy love exploring outdoors. Autumn is such a generous season when it comes to 'gifts from nature' with the colourful leaves, conkers, sticks, apples etc. There are so many different activities you can do with children outdoors that cost almost nothing, by simply using what nature provides. 

OUTDOOR PLAY: Learning to ride with a Strider Balance Bike

Learning to ride a bike is a big part of childhood for many and quickly becomes a life long skill. I remember getting my first bike and my parents excitedly taking me out to teach me, which then became the way I got to school for the whole of secondary school. It feels a bit surreal to now be starting to teach my daughter to ride a bike of her own and at a much younger age than it was done when I was younger. At three years old Isabella is the very proud owner of a Strider 12 Sport Balance Bike in Pink (£88). 

OUTDOOR LEARNING: 10 Number & Counting Activities for Pre-School Children

I honestly can't believe that Isabella is now three years old and classed as a 'pre-schooler' rather than a 'toddler' - where has the time gone? Since turning three her level of interest in the world and learning as much as possible has noticeably increased, as we are greeted with around 10485943 questions a day. It always fascinates me quite how quickly children learn new things; they're like sponges at this age. Due to this it makes it the ideal age to start introducing key life skills, such as counting and phonics. I'm not talking sitting down and working through workbooks for hours on end, but more exploring the world with a slight twist. 

GARDEN: Supporting Childrens STEM Learning Outdoors

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, which focuses on how parents and educators can support children to think in a more connected or holistic way. Toddlers are naturally curious, so are often taking part in STEM activities without even realising. Being curious and playing go hand in hand, as questions are always being asked and answered. All we have to do as parents is provide stimulus, materials and experiences for our children's to explore and discover. 

TODDLER: Encouraging Play Outdoors with the Plum Play Toddlers Tower + Competition

The great outdoors. A place to learn, discover and play when you're a child, with so much to see and do. As a family we love nothing more than exploring the outdoors together, whether that be a beautiful walled garden attached to a big old house, a park or simply in our garden. The combination of fresh air and lots of space makes being outside the perfect place for toddlers and children alike, as they can burn off their seemingly endless energy and learn through play. Plum Play create a wide range of garden play equipment to enable children to do just that, with something for all ages and garden sizes.