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The Fairytale Mum

Children's Author, Teacher & Play Enthusiast

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Did you see my stories last night? We won!⠀ ⠀ Did you see my stories last night? We won!⠀ ⠀ We won a signed copy of Rachel Bright's new book and are feeling thrilled about it. Actually we're feeling doubly thrilled as we've had some wonderful posts use our #picbookplay hashtag - including this one by @motherandfun which was inspired by another of Rachel's books, 'The Lion Inside'. Perfect timing!⠀ ⠀ Thank-you again to Rachel and to everyone using the hashtag. You've made me feel very lucky indeed!😘⠀ ⠀ Reposting @motherandfun: ⠀ ...⠀ "The Lion Inside by @rachelbrightbooks @_jimfield is Shai’s favourite bedtime story at the moment. We have a lot of fun acting out the lion and the mouse so I thought it would be nice to make a mask that Shai can wear when we’re reading. This is a lovely book that teaches an important life lesson - no matter your size we all have a lion and mouse inside.⠀ ⠀ Shai cut the lion’s mane from pieces of felt (a good one for scissor practise). And we glued it all down to a bit of wood I had at home but you can use cardboard for the base too. A simple cutting and sticking activity to keep your little ones entertained and they’ll love the finished product too! ⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ .⠀ #motherandfun⠀ BOOKISH PLAY #bookplaybingo #creative_bookspirations #learnwithkushagra⠀ ART #masterpieceswithkids⠀ HOME PLAY #inspirationforisolation ⠀ RECYCLE #sharingkidsplay #recycleandplay ⠀ EASY PLAY #quickeasyplay⠀ BOOK #ourlittlemessyhands⠀ COLOUR #mycolourfulplay⠀ ANIMALS #ourplaycommunity⠀ ⠀ #getcreativewith #makecreateplay #creativemamacrafts #playoccupynovember #playsavedtheday #creative_play_everyday #playathometoday #inspireourplaytoday #haveagreatplay #shallweplaytoday #edufunwithkids #haveyoursayplay #marvellous_mumsday #thingstodowith_art #happythursdayletsplay #learningathomefun #playactivitiesforfun"
I've done it again! Clicked video instead of click I've done it again! Clicked video instead of clicking photo and recorded me smiling like a loon whilst Charlotte squeaks with delight! (I think she knew! 😘) Our intention was to take a perfectly poised photo of us with our new ebook, 'How to Teach Your Child to... Spell.' We were meant to be choosing which spelling activity to use for Oscar's spelling list this week: Tenpin Challenge? Go Fly? Or Hide and Spell maybe? But we obviously haven't got our Insta act together yet.😆🎥📸 Scroll across to see our 'outtakes' and then please tell me that you do this type of thing too. . . . #HowtoTeachYourChildto #earlylearning101 #tagfromtheheart #invitationtoplay #emmasdiary #littlesnippetsofus #playathomemummy #playmatters #everydayplayhacks #discoverunder2k #mamacameraclub #imamumand #meaningfulplayideas #lockdownactivities #eyfsteachersofinstagram #eyfsinspiration #iteachtoo #twinklparents #diftk #playtolearnwithmoms #hertford #spellinggame #ebook #thefairytalemum
Our little owls proved popular yesterday so thank- Our little owls proved popular yesterday so thank-you again if you shared their post. I was greeted by them flapping around our bedroom this morning... So much for night owls!😆😉⠀ ⠀ Anyway, if you're looking for an owl themed craft then you might like to try this one by @bookishwaytoplay. It's a super idea to follow on from an autumn walk. The book is available from @littleotterbooks and you're welcome to use my discount code, saved in my highlights.⠀ ⠀ Reposting @bookishwaytoplay: ⠀ ...⠀ "With lockdown here once again we resumed our family walks this weekend and came back with lots of (slightly soggy from all the rain) autumn treasures - leaves, acorns, pine cones and sticks. ⠀ ⠀ So we put them to good use and created our own ‘Owl Babies’ using this classic book by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Patrick Benson as our inspiration. Published by @walkerbooksuk @bigpicturebooks ⠀ ⠀ Super simple...all you need is:⠀ ⠀ 🦉autumn treasures⠀ 🦉clear jars/containers⠀ 🦉cardboard⠀ 🦉feathers (optional)⠀ 🦉glue⠀ ⠀ If you try this or use jam jars to create other animals do tag us - we’d love to see them!⠀ ⠀ #bookishwaytoplay #bookplay #beyondthebook #makemerryandcreate #bookbasedcrafts #bookactivities #owlsofinstagram #natureplaynovember #naturebasedcrafts #autumn #earlyyearsideas #lockdownlearning #creativemamacrafts #creativelittlehands #creative_bookspirations" #celebratingplay_november lay_november#picbookplay
🦉BIG OR LITTLE?🦉I realised something recentl 🦉BIG OR LITTLE?🦉I realised something recently about Hugh's speech delay... Since we are still working on single words, we've become guilty of not extending his vocabulary as much as we would be otherwise and some of those early concepts have got a little lost. Take big and little for example. I think be understands the difference but because he can't vocalise it yet, it's hard to be sure. So today our #picbookplay focused on size comparisons. We read 'Owl Babies' by Martin Waddell and Patrick Benson. Then we made our own owl family. Hugh had to select between big beaks and small beaks, big googly eyes and small googly eyes. There was the chance for him to practice the vocabulary he does know too and if you scroll across you'll see Hugh saying 'eyes'. To make these owls you will need: 🌟Black paper 🌟Chalk 🌟Googly eyes 🌟Yellow/orange paper 🌟Chicken feathers 🌟Glue 'Owl Babies' was kindly gifted to us by @littleotterbooks . You can save 10% off her already discounted prices, including her Christmas range, with my code FAIRYTALE10. Which concepts does your child find hard to grasp? . . . #creative_bookspirations @ecocraftkids @studio_rosie @simpletoddleractivities @playing_withtandb #celebratingplay_november #celebratingplay #booksb4bedtime #kidsbookswelove #beyondthebook #thebookishplayway #bookplaybingo #mumsschooloffun #inspirelittlereaders #readtogetherbetogether #childrensliterature #raiseareader #kidsbookstagram #easypeasyplay #bookishfun #bookish_bingo #bringbooksalive #sharewithmissv #earlyyearsliteracyfun #inspiremyplay #twinklparents #1newplayaday #ourplayfulwonders #simpletoddleractivities #play2learnwithmoms #learnwithkushagra #mythemeplay #simpleplayinspo
🎈BALLOON BANG🎈... We all make mistakes. (Did 🎈BALLOON BANG🎈... We all make mistakes. (Did you spot my mistake in the sneak peak of Balloon Bang in my earlier post?) It's a good job I've not quite published it yet, and have spent some of this weekend editing and proofreading... But we're nearly there. I promise. I also posted to my stories a little video of Oscar learning his weekly spellings from school with my Balloon Bang game. Like mother, like son - he trips up a couple of times in the video - and this is where the learning leaps happen. Sometimes as parents we feel inclined to step in and correct straight away (I know I always do). It comes from wanting to make sure everything is ok for our little ones. I guess it's maternal. But in the video, I show you how by deliberately biting my tongue, I give Oscar time to spot his mistake and correct it himself - which is way more powerful than if I'd stepped him and pointed it out to him first. I hope you've all had a lovely weekend. The sun shone today which has put a spring in my step, ready for the week ahead. What have you been up to? . . . #socialsundayeyfs @activeplayandlearning @henry_at_home @bestdayshomeschooling #diftk #haveagreatplay #creative_play_everyday @this.is.how.we.play #kidslovelylearning #eyfsteachersofinstagram #eyfsinspiration #iteachtoo #playathometoday #earlyreading #playislearningplayisenough #twinklparents #1newplayaday #shareyourplaywithme @shareyourplaywithme #meaningfulplayideas #mumsschooloffun #raiseareader #earlylearning101 #playfulwonders @playfulwonders #mumsnetparents #channelmumvillage #littlesnippetsofus #HowtoTeachYourChildto #playmatters #playathomemummy #discoverunder2k #coolmumclub
🔴 PUSHING MUMMY'S BUTTONS 🔴 One of my tribe 🔴 PUSHING MUMMY'S BUTTONS 🔴 One of my tribe has been pushing my buttons today. So, when I saw @simpletoddleractivities #picbookplay inspired by 'Press Here', I couldn't resist sharing it with you. Hope you're all enjoying the weekend!😉⠀ ⠀ Reposting @simpletoddleractivities: ⠀ ...⠀ "We love the book, Press Here. Using the primary colours of the book, Thomas painted circles of 3 different sizes using dot markers, lids and toilet rolls.⠀ . . . #simpletoddleractivities #creative_bookspirations #kidscraftyplay #craftykids #bookishplay #preschoolactivities #preschoolathome #toddlerart #toddlertimeactivities #happythursdayletsplay @stayathomeactivitymom #ministhatplay #readytoplaynovember #playathometoday @explorewith.oliver #mudpies_rainbowskies @aoeducationlane #thingstodowith_art #playingwithhappyengine" #busybookplay #bookishwaytoplay #playingeyfs #readcreateplayshare #EYFS #eyfsideas #bookinspiredplay #bookplayactivities #booksforchildren
💕📝SPELLINGS📝💕 Here's a fun way to tack 💕📝SPELLINGS📝💕 Here's a fun way to tackle your children's spelling homework this week... I'm super excited to share this with you. I've written an e-book! With more than 10 years of teaching experience, I realised my head is chock-full of games, ideas and tips to make learning fun. I've written 12 of them into a FREE e-book: How to Teach Your Child to... Spell. It will be available on my website soon. I just need to double check my spellings 😉 and apply the finishing touches. Here's a sneak peak of one of the activities for you. We'll be playing Balloon Bang tonight to help Oscar learn his latest spelling list. If you want to play along with us, you'll need: 🌟Some balloons 🌟A pin 🌟A pen Save this post and tag #HowtoTeachYourChildto if you take any photos. I'd love to see them! Happy spelling! . . . #thefairytalemum #ks1teacher #ks2 #spellings #spelling #homelearningmummies #homeschoollife #homeworkhelp #homeworkhelper #literacymatters #literacytips #teacherhacks #teachersfollowteachers #teachershare #teachersofig #ebook #freeebook #imamumand #howtoteachyourchildto #learningthroughplay #learnplayeveryday #learningathome #learningathomefun #learningeveryday #homeschoolcommunity
💦💦 PUDDLES 💦💦 Welcome to our third lo 💦💦 PUDDLES 💦💦 Welcome to our third loop post from the November celebration team #celebratingplay_november . We've been using 'Water' from the 'What on Earth?' series by @isabelthomasbooks and @holapaumorgan as our inspiration for our puddle play. The book has some fab watery experiments to try and beautifully explains everything from the water cycle to erosion is a very child friendly format. It's best suited to children a little older than Hugh, though he fully engaged with the idea of water as an ice cube and water as a puddle.👍💦 I spruced up his #puddleplay with some hidden pompoms in the ice and added our sea creature collection to inspire role play. (I'll be honest - this was a 2 minute throw together job - but it kept him entertained for a while.) 'Water' was kindly #gifted by @littleotterbooks. You can save an additional 10% off her website price by using my code FAIRYTALE10. This week’s team are sharing some of their favourite puddles activities. Just click on @twilight_dreams_and_tiny_feet to follow the loop. We would love for you to play along with us. Use the #celebratingplay_november and tag us in your posts. @celebratingplay @uponatimebooks @huggleschildcare @clairewilsonchildminder @play.together.learn.together @thefairytalemum @twilight_dreams_and_tiny_feet @happy_me_happy_you_ @laurensliteracycorner . . . #celebratingplay #picbookplay #naturalplayfriday #letsplay7senses #steamfunthursday #haveyoursayplay #ournatureplayjourney #lowpreplearningideas #preschoolplayin5 #simplyplaytoday #shallweplaytoday #quickeasyplay #inspireourplaytoday #myeasyplay #everydaypompomplay #storybasketsharing #readplaycreate #bookplayactivities #bookishwaytoplay #readalongplayalong #readandplay #playexplorecreate #playthroughnovember #bookstogethertuesday #creative_bookspirations
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