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The Fairytale Mum

Children's Author, Teacher & Play Enthusiast

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🖤💙DIVERSITY💛❤️ Celebrating our simila 🖤💙DIVERSITY💛❤️ Celebrating our similarities as well as our differences... Welcome to the second week of #celebratingplay_january . This week the we are sharing posts all about diversity. I've been wanting to share this book with you for a while. It's a super collaboration and a brilliant conversation starter. I printed out a page of children's faces alongside some sentence prompts. We discussed which games we liked to play, our favourite foods, how we felt, places we'd like to visit and then I asked Oscar if he thought any of the other children MIGHT share any of his thoughts. I wanted him to appreciate our similarities as well as our more obvious differences. I also set the boys a ' How many different faces can you make' challenge using our Mr Potato Head pieces and some play dough. To play along, just use the #celebratingplay_january and tag us in your posts. To follow the loop click on @little_wild_wonders . Celebration Team @celebratingplay @play.together.learn.together @play_adventures_fun @littlegreengem_ @twilight_dreams_and_tiny_feet @samgoldsworthychildminding @thefairytalemum @little_wild_wonders @mancunian_mum #celebratingplay #picbookplay #renewmyplay #oursensorybooks @oursensorykids #ourbookplay @at.home.with.charlie #everydayinvitationtoplay @perfectpreschoolplans #perfectpreschoolplans #celebrateallplay @mam_teacher_always @montessoriathomeuk #screentimealternatives @oh.mylittlecorner #diversebookplay #celebratediversityinplay #learningisfunwithus @learningisfunwithus #meaningfulplayideas @play_to_learn_msj #shallweplaytoday @five minutemum #playwithmemammy @playwithmemammy #ourplayjourney @wheelsonthebus_childcare #allabouttheplay @all.about.the.play #adaptmyplay @brody.the.lion #lchi_ activity #simpleplayinsp @our_play_today #thebookishplayway #shareyourplaywithme @shareyourplaywithme #bookishwaytoplay #bookplayactivities #bookinspiredplay #beyondthebook #picturebooksforkids #diversechildrensbooks #diversebooksforkids
🇪🇺BORDERS AND BOUNDARIES🇪🇺... Today ha 🇪🇺BORDERS AND BOUNDARIES🇪🇺... Today has been much harder than yesterday. We're only onto day 2 of our homeschooling experience and there were definitely moments today where I questioned where the boundaries were. TV in the morning? Sure. Another slice of cake. Why not? Uncompleted school work? That was us too. With all the questions surrounding boundaries, borders and dare I mention Brexit, I thought @the_learning_paige 's #picbookplay was really uplifting. Inspired by a very topical book right now, I'll let her explain... Reposting @the_learning_paige: ... "Borders Book Play 🌎 📖 Today we read Borders by Chris Tamasi illustrated by Mark Brayer. It is a children’s book that asks what would the world look like of children were in charge of making the borders. Would there be borders or would we all get along and be happy? It is an awesome book that gets both children and adults thinking. After reading the book Paige and I talked about what she would want the world to look like. She said it would be beautiful and everyone would be friends. She said everyone would be able to live wherever they wanted and travel however they chose. I gave her some jewel stickers and let her design her own world on a coffee filter. She used all the different shapes and colors to represent different people and put them all over her map to create her own beautiful, happy world. Thank you @forewordpublicity and @chris.tamasi for this wonderful, thought provoking book! . . . #Xmasactsandkindness #akindchristmas #bookplaybingo #december_play #inspired_creative_kids #creativemamacrafts #geografridays #diyforlittlelearners #mycolourfulplay #craftandplayyourway #playtoshine #travelviastorybook #preschoolplayin5 #picbookplay #masterpieceswithkids #sparkculturalcuriosity #childhoodunplugged #learningthroughplay #invitationtocreate #picturebooksforkids #picturebooks #kidsbooks #bookrecommendation #readtogether #readingislife #childrensbooks #diversebooks #bookishwaytoplay"
❄️SNOW/ICE❄️is usually the reason that sch ❄️SNOW/ICE❄️is usually the reason that schools are closed at this time of year. We all love a snow day! I can't say we feel the same about Boris's big announcement tonight.😥 However, in light of it, I'm going to try to use my account to show you more activities with an educational spin. I'm sure we're all going to feel very overwhelmed going forwards. Just do whatever works for you and don't feel bad about it. No one is going to manage it all - even if a shiny Instagram account suggests otherwise. Anyhoo, embracing and celebrating play will help our children massively. Welcome to the first week of #celebratingplay_january . This week we are sharing posts about snow/ice. You may have seen this set-up on my reels earlier. Hugh used the snow (salt) to practice drawing shapes like numbers with a stick. Meanwhile Oscar used the resin digits to make hide 3 and 4 digit numbers in the snow and asking me to guess what they were. I had no chance until I introduced a quick game of higher or lower.😆 Our play today was inspired by 'Stick Man'. To play along, just use the #celebratingplay_january and tag us in your posts. To follow the loop click on @little_wild_wonders Celebration Team @celebratingplay @play.together.learn.together @play_adventures_fun @childmindingwithemma @huggleschildcare @growing_with_mae_and_roo @twilight_dreams_and_tiny_feet @lowcarbonkids @samgoldsworthychildminding @mumwhatmay @theimaginationwaves @thefairytalemum @little_wild_wonders @clairewilsonchildminder I giving you all the squeeziest virtual hug I can muster this evening. I think we're going to need it...🤗💕 #celebratingplay #picbookplay #snowplay #markmaking #learningthroughplay #learningtowrite #eyfsinspiration #eyfsteacher #ks1teacher #mathskills #learningnumbers #countingactivity #counting #learningtocount #motherhoodinspired #motherhoodunplugged #mymummyisateacher #booksb4bedtime #easypeasyplayuk #diftk #coolmumclub #twinklparents #snaphappybritmums #playtimethatseasy #readtogetherbetogether #tinkerplayplaytime #tinkertrayplaytime #tinkertrayplay #playislearningplayisenough
ONE MUM'S YEAR IN APPROXIMATE NUMBERS... Humans b ONE MUM'S YEAR IN APPROXIMATE NUMBERS... Humans birthed: 1 Piles of washing washed, dried, folded and put away: 500 Bottoms wiped: I dread to think Successful attempts at homeschooling: Some Homeschooling failures: Many Story ideas: Hundreds Stories written: Several Stories submitted: 2 Rejections: 1 Stories critiqued: 48 E-books written: 1 Lists written: 1200 Hours spent at home: Countless Countries visited: 0 Times I've roared at the children/husband and wished I was far far away on a hot desert island, sipping a cool strawberry daiquiri and getting lost in the best book ever: 25 (Probably fortnightly) Times my husband has wished I was far far away: Probably weekly Drunken nights out-out: Too few, if any Boozey nights in: Let's move on swiftly... Haircuts: 2 Legs shaved: Err... Eyebrows threaded: What?! Tears shed: 100 Tears wiped away: 300 Big squeezy cuddles: A gazillion Times I've heard, Mummy mummy mummy: 750 (per day) Times I've heard, Mummy I'm hungry: At least hourly Times visited by the Ocado man: 50 Times visited by the Hermes dude: 500 Children kept fed, watered and momentarily clean: 3 Days I've felt sad: Some - maybe more Days I've felt lucky, thankful or happy: Lots Days I've given myself a pep talk: Most Hopes for 2021: A million and more . . . #imamumand #myyearinreview #yearinnumbers #mymotherhood #motherhoodinspired #mumlife #momlifekeepingitreal #momlife #joyfulmama #2021 #nye2020 #familyoffive #motheringittogether #mumofthree #mumsquad #mumswithhustle #childrensauthor #scbwi #picturebooksaremyjam #picturebookauthor #picturebooks #discoverunder2k #writingcommunity #writersofig #writingforsanity #writersofinstagram #coolmumclub #snaphappybritmums #picturebooksofinstagram #stationeryaddict
🦢12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SCAVENGER HUNT🦢 Happ 🦢12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS SCAVENGER HUNT🦢 Happy post-Christmas-but-not-quite-new-year-yet to you all! And welcome to the final week of #celebratingplay_december. I'm sure for most, Christmas felt a little different this year, but I hope it was enjoyable regardless. We were at home - our first as a family of 5 - and took the children's lead as the day unfolded. You can see a quick snapshot on my stories. This week we are sharing posts all about the 12 days of Christmas. Being stuck in tier 4, we created a scavenger hunt in our garden to blow away the cobwebs. The children had to find each of the gifts from the 12 Days of Christmas. Oscar had to read the story and Hugh has to count our collected gifts. The book was one of mine from childhood - I love feeling nostalgic about books I used to read. The gifts were a printout from @twinklparents . To play along, just use the #celebratingplay_december and tag us in your posts. To follow the loop click on @samgoldsworthychildminding . Celebration Team @celebratingplay @play.together.learn.together @clairewilsonchildminder @littlegreengem_ @theimaginationwaves @twilight_dreams_and_tiny_feet @thefairytalemum @samgoldsworthychildminding @joyful.learners #celebratingplay #picbookplay #picturebooksaremyjam #twinklparents #smallseekersspring21 #falalaintoplay #firstchristmas #playandlearntoday #readplaycreate #outsideplayanyday #outdooradventures #playoutside #playoutdoors #natureplayalong #bookishwaytoplay #playathomemummy #eyfsinspiration #ideasforisolation #tier4 #tickettocoffee #readeveryday #earlyyearslearning #keepingplayreal #inspiremyplay #inspireourplaytoday #inspirelittlereaders #playfullylearninginsg #playfulwonders #grossmotorskills
🎄🎅'Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good 🎄🎅'Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!'🎅🎄 . . . #twasthenightbeforechristmas #avisitfromstnicholas #clementclarkemoore @penguinrandomhouse #randomhouse #christmasisnotcancelled #christmas2020 #stayhomestaysafe #christmaspyjamas #matchingpjs #childrenseemagic #childrensauthor
🎅SANTA OR FC OR MAYBE SAINT NICK?🎅⠀ .⠀ T 🎅SANTA OR FC OR MAYBE SAINT NICK?🎅⠀ .⠀ Two more sleeps! I imagine that the man in red is playing it cool right now - even though he only has the entire world's child population to consider... So why am I feeling anxious about Christmas this year when I only have three children to think about?🤦⠀ ⠀ Anyhoo... I saw this post by @little_home_jones and had to share it with you. I wondered how Father Christmas is depicted in books around the world. There's definitely room for more diversity in children's literature - and I wondered how diverse Father Christmas might be?⠀ ⠀ What do you call the man in red? Are their any diverse Santas lining your shelves?⠀ ⠀ Reposting @little_home_jones: ⠀ ...⠀ "🍃 Mix & Match Diverse Santa 🍃⠀ ⠀ All of the books in our house depict Santa as an old, chubby white guy... so I was hoping to bring a more diverse representation to our project. AJ helped me mix four different shades for the skin tones of our Santa’s. I thought about including a female Santa, a pride Santa or including other forms of diversity... but that will have to wait til I have time to make another bunch of cutouts!⠀ ⠀ I outlined four hats and four Santa faces on recycled cardboard. AJ helped me paint some of the patterns on the hats and the white Santa beards. Take a look at the last photo- I had a proud mama moment watching her paint those awesome stripes!! ⠀ ⠀ We mixed and matched the hats and talked about how people have all different shades of skin. She noticed that even my skin and her skin are slightly different shades. ⠀ ⠀ 🍃⠀ ⠀ #falalaintoplay #playindecember #wasteless_playmore⠀ #ourlittlemessyhands #easypeasyplay #christmascardboardplay #averycardboardchristmas #akindchristmas #playalongchristmas #ourcuriousplay⠀ #kidzplayinspo #invitationtoplayandgrow #playathometoday #theseasonofchristmas⠀ #weplaywinter #createrecycleandplay #letsexplorewith⠀ #peppermintpinetreesandplay⠀ #thingstodowith_christmas #ministhatplay #messyplayalong #mudpies_rainbowskies #festiveseasonplayideas #anytrayanyplay #ourrainbowplay #diversechristmas #santacrafts #blacksanta #blacksantasmatter #talkaboutrace"
⭐️WE ARE ALL STARS ⭐️ Wow! What a crazy we ⭐️WE ARE ALL STARS ⭐️ Wow! What a crazy week! Welcome to week four of #celebratingplay_december . As I said earlier on stories, there's an odd vibe floating around... Part frustration, some sadness, a few glimmers of hope - I'm finding it impossible to find just one word to sum it up. But I have found one story... Think the nativity as told through the eyes of the innkeeper - who after being woken so many times in one night is very VERY frustrated. Parents of newborns and probably everyone on the planet will be able to relate easily to that. Fortunately, 'Jesus' Christmas Party' by #nicholasallan is funny. And as we move into Christmas week and a brand new year, a sprinkling of humour is probably what we all need. This week we are sharing posts about stars, so it seems appropriate that I share this book and our twinkly #picbookplay star decorations we made earlier because I know that whatever this week throws at us (and the next one and the one after that too) we will not stop trying to make Christmas special for our children. We are all stars - and whichever tier you're in, I hope you continue to twinkle and dazzle and shine your way through Christmas. We may be fed up - but we're not burnt out yet!🌟🌟🌟 To play along, just use the #celebratingplay_december and tag us in your posts. To follow the loop click on @samgoldsworthychildminding . Celebration Team @celebratingplay @play.together.learn.together @childmindingwithemma @littlegreengem @enchanting.early.years @happy_me_happy_you_ @twilight_dreams_and_tiny_feet @huggleschildcare @thefairytalemum @samgoldsworthychildminding @joyful.learners @the_crafty_kiwi_teacher . . . #celebratingplay #christmasisnotcancelled #doingdecemberdifferently #picturebooksaremyjam #picbookplay #imamumand #bookplayactivities #falalaintoplay #festiveplaynlearn #festiveplayalltheway #storybasketsharing #bookishwaytoplay #inspiremyplay #inspirelittlereaders #Inspirationforisolation #readplaycreate #readeveryday #readchatplaymake #samgoldsworthychildmindingplayideas #creative_play_everyday #creativelittlehands #christmas2020 #playtolearnwithmoms #playexplorecreate #eyfsinspiration
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