Cafés and kids. 

This is for every parent who has ever taken toddlers out to a cafe/restaurant/event where they are required to sit for more than five minutes.

Let’s face it. They’re kids. They’re meant to be loud, inquisitive and adventurous. But sometimes it would be nice to head out and actually SIT, eat and catch up with your friends, family or partner.

Before kids, hubby and I would dine out often. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and if I could twist his arm dessert too.  

After kids, we still continued to do this. Sometimes is easier than others but we’ve never stopped or not taken the kids with us. We’ve also never (ok almost never) given them an ipad or phone at the table. It’s a rule in our family. When we eat we don’t use technology.  I know how much of a life saver giving a child a phone/tablet can be, so I’m not judging. However one thing I will never leave the house without is our Activity Bag. 

The name speaks for itself. It’s a bag filled with activities that we take to cafes. The activities in there are only for cafes, so they aren’t ones they play with all the time and get bored of at home. I also change them up when I find something I think will fit well!

Here are a few of the items that rarely leave our bag:

1. No Mess Water Art set.

Whoever came up with this is a genius. Fill the little pen with water. Let the kids “paint” over the white card. A picture will appear when wet. It then dries and can be reused a million times.

2.  Magnetic fishing game.

Again…genius. Comes with 2 rods, 12 foam fish that entertain for ages!

3. Sticker books.

Always a great thing to have. These in particular have stickers and activities which is great!

4. Threading animlas.

Animal cut outs with holes. Shoe laces also provided to practise those fine motor skills and thread the string around each animal!

5. Notebook and pencils.

Your standard go to activity.  Let them create whatever they like.

All the items above (minus the bag) have been purchased from Kmart. (Not a sponsored post (I wish) just amazing stuff!) Most of them aren’t online so here’s another reason to visit your local Kmart 🙌
The bag is personalised from Small Print design and can be found here.

If you haven’t got yourself an Activity Bag already, trust me you need it. It’s a cafe game changer & above all LIFE SAVER. 

(You can thank me later 😉)

Sending you love,

MBS

xx 

Get Ready for School Australia

There is nothing I love more than a good educational resource!

As a former Primary School teacher myself (fun fact in case you didn’t know) I have always had a strong passion for learning and education. There is no greater achievement in life, than watching the face of a child accomplish something they have been working on. This passion of mine was heightened ten fold, when I became a mother myself.

I’m always on the look out for great teaching and learning resources to stimulate my children’s minds, but more importantly instil in them a life long LOVE of learning. This is why I am SO excited to have come across the “Get Ready for School Australia” program.

The program has been developed by an early Childhood teacher; Anne-Marie and is aligned to the Australian Curriculum. It has been designed in a way that is easy and comprehensive for  parents to use at home, making getting ready for school and learning in general, FUN and ENGAGING.

We have been using the Early Learning Pack at home and I can not recommend it highly enough.  Hunter is currently 3.5 years old and he has absolutely loved the activities. We have been working on Numeral Formation and Name Writing.

The Complete Get ready for School Australia Program includes a personalised first name writing card set. This resource is 6 pages of guided name writing sheets for your child to practice. I have laminated a set, and so we can reuse them multiple times and Hunter loves using the markers!

All the activities are well produced and of high quality but most of all, easy enough for parents to do without the usual struggle!

Even though Hunter is not starting school next year, I have briefly covered some of the activities in the “How to get your child ready for English” and “How to get your child ready for Mathematics” as well. (there is also a science one, we haven’t covered just yet)

What I absolutely love about these, is that the program outlines the expectation from the Australian Curriculum at the top, gives you a task to complete, and at the end also supplies ways in which you could support your child’s learning. Most of the activities are things you could do while out and about or as you go along your normal day to day life. The benefit of this is not only can it be done anywhere and anytime, but most of the time the kids are having so much fun they don’t even realise they’re learning!

“Behind every young child who believes in themselves, is a parent who believed first”

So because I love this SO much I have a special discount code for you all. Use “EXPO17” at checkout to receive $30 off the COMPLETE collection (normally $129.95) and FREE shipping Australia Wide.

Click HERE to find out more.

This is not something you want to miss out on, so get in quick!

Sending you love,

MBS

xx