Family Day Out at Cotswold Wildlife Park, Oxfordshire

http://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk/

Since living in Oxfordshire I have visited Cotswold Wildlife Park a couple of times with the nursery I was working in at the time.  However I hadn't been for about 6 or so years so when we were arranging a day out with my brother and sister in law and nephew we decided to visit here. On the edge of the Cotswolds and not far from Oxford its a popular attraction for families in my neck of the woods.

Price

£15(gate) £14(online) Adult

Under 3s free

Children 3-16yrs £9.50(online)£10(gate)

Whats on

• feeding talks daily
• adventure playground
• train rides
• skymaze interconnecting treehouse maze
• specialised events (link below)

http://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk/whats-on/events/

Eating Facilities

As I always say a cheap way of feeding your children is to bring a picnic and there is lots of outdoor seating and grass areas to pitch up.  As our visit had not quite hit spring at this point it was still quite chilly so we went and had a main meal in the Oak Tree Restaurant.  The food was okay I had lasagne and chips and a drink for under £10.

Value for money?

There is a wide variety of animals including lions, zebras, rhinos, birds, reptiles, penguins and many more.  You can easily spend a day here as a family as there is plenty to do.  My nephew enjoyed the animals but he also just loved running around in lots of wide open space.

Interactive features

The park have an app on the apple store that you can download prior to your visit.  This has quizs, interactive map and will tell you fun facts about the animals in the park.  This is good if you are with older children and want to make more out of your visit.

Favourite Part

I liked the penguins and have done on previous visits here. You get really close to them and I think its at a good height for little ones to be able to see whats going on. 

Accessibility

Most of the park is quite flat and has paths of a good quality for pushchairs and to walk around.  Lots to see but its not spread out to far so you are never far from when you need to walk back on yourself for restrooms/coffee etc.

Throughly recommended for a fantastic family day out if you are ever in Oxfordshire.

Nanny Bicester

Activity of the Week-Building Dens

This weeks Activity of the Week is building dens.  Who doesn't like to build a den? Whether its getting some blankets and sheets and chairs together in the living room or being more adventurous and gathering sticks and putting them together to build something in the garden.

Below I have showed two very different types of dens.  One indoor, one outdoor.


What you need

• carboard boxes
• blankets/sheets
• cushions, soft furnishings

Children can construct dens themselves particularly indoor ones but may need more assistance with outdoor ones as they are working with least manageable materials.  Lots of outdoor places do den building activities within their opening hours look online to see whats near you.

The eden project website gives some great advice about how to build your own den so I have the link below for you to have a look:

https://www.edenproject.com/learn/for-everyone/how-to-build-your-own-den

Happy den building

Autumn themed Activities with Under 5s

Autumn is now here, well in theory it still is fairly warm!! With the older ones back at school this week I thought I would concentrate on what parents and nannies/carers can do in the home or beyond with little ones.  When I write these blogs I try to keep them short and simple when listing ideas so I have bullet pointed some ideas below.

1. Welly walks-see previous blog http://nannybicester.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/activity-of-week-welly-walks.html
2. Puddle Jumping is such a fun and simple to do when in the great outdoors.
3. Collecting leaves for printing whilst on your welly walk or other autumn items.
4. Autumn Collage- this can be created from the items collected on such walk
5. Pick your own vegetables at a pick your own farm then bring them home and make a delicious soup
6. Do some gardening by growing your own vegetables.

What are you doing with your little ones? Do you struggle to think of ideas to do in the colder/wetter weather?

Link to outdoor play post-http://nannybicester.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/the-importance-of-outdoor-play.html

Check out my pin board link for more ideas-https://uk.pinterest.com/nbicester/autumn-activities-under-5s/

2 new activities I have discovered this week-Aug 2016

Hi all,

Sorry in advance to making this a locally based post but I wanted to share two great new things to do that I have done at work this week since being back off my hols.


1. Street hockey-free two hour sessions this summer around Oxford (Sports for Streets)
https://www.facebook.com/SPORTFORSTREETS

In the local park there was a small group of children of different ages that came together for a couple of hours to play street hockey and best of all it was completely free!!! They are a community initiative who provide all their own equipment and the coaching and the children get to learn a new skill.  The people who run it were lovely and have all been semi professional/professional hockey players so really know what they are talking about.  They do play team matches but also fun games and all the children involved seemed to really enjoy it.

2. The Leys, Witney
http://www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/family-fun/The_Leys/5177

This above image is an artist sketch of the play area at The Leys which includes play equipment, zip wire, splash fountains, swings, mini floor trampoline and more.  The equipment provides more challenges for older children and this is what I had heard from different parents so this is why I thought we would try somewhere new today.  When looking after older children you can often find that they outgrow the equipment at the conventional parks. Also on the grounds as well as wide open green space there is a mini golf course, skate park, tennis courts and a decent café to get an ice cream/coffee.  Such a lovely afternoon had and I'm sure we will be coming back soon.

Activity of the week-Musical Washing Lines

Hello, hello its been a little while I must get better at writing blogs but to be honest I have a lack of creative genius sometimes.

Saying that I was going through some of my EYP coursework and came across an idea I thought would be a good activity of the week and that is Musical washing lines.

This activity is suitable for Babies and Toddlers and is another DIY home activity which you can create from things around the house and or their toys.

1. Use some string or washing line cord and attach to something secure, I would suggest draping at the childs height on a fence outside and stapling it to it.

2. Attach some items to the line,  These can be some bells, an old saucepan, a baby rattle, old cutlery(If age approapriate) or anything that jangles.

3. give them a stick or wooden spoon to hit the items with.  I found this photo online and have included it below to give you an idea of what I mean.  This however is a free standing one but as I have said use anything in your own house/garden and improvise.



Go on and have a go and let me know how it goes.

What are you doing May bank holiday weekend /half term?

May bank holiday/ half term are nearly upon us again. Seriously the year is whizzing by so quickly it's almost June already.

What are you upto with your little ones this holiday? here's a few ideas to what you can do.

1. Check out my reviews blog for a day out I have built up a few now including Harry Potter studio tour, monkey world, Edinburgh castle, Edinburgh zoo, Fairytale Farm.
2. Make Pizza for a picnic http://nannybicester.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/simple-pizza-to-make-with-children.html
3. Do some gardening by doing some planting, build a den, generally having some fun outdoors!
4. Set up a football tournament with some friends and get prepared for Euro 2016!!
5. Visit Hinksey outdoor pool if your in Oxfordshire.  If the weather is nice its great to take a picnic and a swim and generally lounge around in the sun.

Check out link for my Pinterest for May half term- https://uk.pinterest.com/nbicester/may-half-term-ideas/

Further ideas link
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/articles/May-bank-holiday-events-around-Britain/

Have a great week whatever your doing.

Activity of the week- local park runs

|So this weekend I have tried something new hurrah and went to do the Bicester Park run on a drizzly Saturday morning at 9am!!
I'll be honest I didn't know how I would do as I can only do short jog/walking as im not fit enough but I liked the look of doing parkrun as its absolutely free and people of all ages and abilities and join in.  I loved it and it only took me 40 min doing a light jog.

I thought it would be good to put on as an activity of the week as I saw quite a few people doing this with their children.  What a great way to get children outdoors and enjoying keeping fit and if they get too tired they can just walk.  The children there seem to really enjoy it as well.



Link to the website is below I suggest you go and see where your local run is its so fun and best of all your not committed into doing it every week.

http://www.parkrun.org.uk/

Edinburgh Zoo-Day Out Review

During our trip we wanted to visit Edinburgh Zoo as my sister in law had heard there was a penguin parade and teamed with the fact it was the only zoo in the UK that housed Koalas and Giant Pandas this sounded to us like a win.  Unfortunately the reality of the experience started to go downhill when we got there about 1.30pm as the receptionist told us the Koala area is closed from 1pm.  I was very disappointed and then she said the Panda part was fully booked for viewings.  I recommend that if you visit here to check ahead of your visit and book the Pandas otherwise you may find yourself annoyed like us!!!

Anyhow I will review this attraction in light of a family visiting as after all I am Nanny Bicester!!

Variety of animals to see
There are was a variety of animals to see including squirrel monkeys, lion, penguin's, meerkats, koalas, pandas, rhino, tiger, wallabies etc. The lion, tiger, rhino I felt were abit sad as they were on their own having no company.  I do understand that all zoos are keeping these animals in an unfamiliar environment but their enclosures felt very small and cramped in comparison to other places I've been too such as London Zoo or Longleat.


Highlights
The meerkats at the beginning were adorable and the penguin parade was good so I recommend that. I will tweet the video that we took whilst there.

Value for money?
Personally I felt that the £19 adult ticket was steep especially when the whole experience was such a let down.  My mum hit the nail on the head when she said "the zoo seems neglected" as it needed some TLC.

Is it Children friendly?
Their were lots of children who seemed to be enjoying the zoo and the animals however as it is on a hillside lots of walking uphill is involved (great views of Edinburgh though!) so expect some moaning from your little ones.  Good luck if you have a buggy although you get some great exercise, my fitbit was loving all the steep inclines!

Interactive features

In an age of modern technology most attractions make apps to use whilst there.  Edinburgh Zoo does have one of these which you can download for free and it does give useful information about the animals.  I like that the app has an explorer trail for children to use to test your knowledge that you learn whilst going around the zoo. 

The photocard section can be a laugh as you can place your face on different animals although I have only just discovered this.

In the actual zoo there are QR scanners to use on your app to bring up the information you need however apart from general information in the areas I didn't feel there was enough interactive things for children to do in the flesh.

Navigation around zoo?
We had a map and there were sign posts but they were confusing and left us unsure if we were going the right way.  Painting some arrows on the floor to the different areas would of helped.

Anywhere to eat

There are many snack kiosk's around the zoo but with exception of the café in penguin rock none of them were open.  I don't know if this is a seasonal thing but its abit annoying if you want to stop and have a coffee when going up the steep hill.  I didn't go in the café so cant comment on this however as I have said in the past I would take lots of snacks if going on a day out with my charges and probably a picnic lunch.

Hope you have found this review helpful? Have you been to Edinburgh Zoo with your little ones? Do you agree/disagree? let me know what you think by tweeting me @nannybicester

Web info
http://www.edinburghzoo.org.uk/

Happy springtime🐥🐏

Photo taken by Nanny Bicester

Springtime is here finally and there have been a few sunny days hooray!!!if I'm honest though it needs to get abit warmer so us nannies can rock out the sandals and shorts and just simply get paid to be in the sun all day.  Don't you hate us?
Time to get out and about if you haven't already with your little ones into the British countryside.  I plan to write a blog on the importance of outside play very soon.  Persil have started a campaign online "Dirt is good" so follow this link https://www.persil.co.uk/why-dirt-is-good/ which is backed by mum blogger Giovanna Fletcher who has done a vlog on her YouTube channel.  I suggest you check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9sWiLssHGo

Personal news;

The hoildays are still going and the oldest still has a week to go-help me!!! After that I will be going to Edinburgh for a few days with my mum and sister in law for some quality girlie time and some nice cocktails I'm sure.

Recently a few friends, one this weekend have given birth to beautiful and healthy baby girls which is so exciting lots of little girlies!! Wow starting to feel my age of nearly 30 now with many friends becoming parents and my calendar becoming full of children's birthdays. Congratulations to all of them(you know who you are).
I have also been to see my niece and nephew the previous couple of weekends and oh migod such cuties and I'm obviously not at all biased.  M is two and has become fiercly independent as they all are at this age and is able to give everybody the runaround.  Her language is expanding every single day and she has started to go to a childminders now so is also learning about the art of sharing. Good luck M!!
Now to my nephew J.  He is about to turn 6 months old and honestly cannot believe how he has changed so much since I last saw him at new year.  Physicaly he has grown loads and never stops smiling and is such a happy little boy to be around. I got lots of cuddles and had to bounce him up and down a lot which is hard to do now hes getting bigger.

Work news;

photo by Nanny Bicester

In my last blog I talked about some of the places I visited this holidays for the first time since then I have also been to Didcot Wave Pool in Oxfordshire with some friends from gymnastics.  Even I went down the water slide a couple of times, the things I do for my charges.  Although I have been known to enjoy a water slide or two when on holiday at a waterpark.  Next to the pool is a really good park and definitely had more to keep a 9yr old boy and 10yr old girl busy as I find that a lot of parks are no longer have challenging equipment for older children.

The kids also did a blind bake challenge which was a great idea in theory but the reality was not so much with one child having an absolute meltdown when the cake did not work out as it wouldn't cook properly.  As I was not allowed to see the process I have no idea what happened but when I tried to help it ended with me getting shouted at, called a cheat and then being sent to her room.  Other charge was trying to make a Swiss roll which turned out a little burnt bless him! 

Think that's all my news for now

Nanny Bicester xx
@nannybicester