Back to school

Sounds of parents rejoicing around the country as this week the kids are finally going back to school. Hope you have all enjoyed your summer break and the kids have had lots of fun. I can't believe how quick its gone and despite some questionable weather at times we have all survived.  On the approach to going back to school everybody needs to be prepared mentally and physically so here is a few tips to be on your best form.

1. Make sure the week before children resume their school bedtime routine as everything becomes more relaxed when nobody has to get up early.
2.repack school bags,check name labels etc so you can get any last min bits
3.keep the first few days back at school calm with lots of free evenings as they are going to be really tired.
4. Night before lay out school uniforms, prepare any pack lunches and put out school bags
5.Set an alarm to make sure everyone has the time they need
6.enforce a no screentime rule an hour before bedtime to enable a more restful nights sleep.




Hope everybody has a great first week back!
Nanny Bicester x

Summer fun ideas 2-Bean bag toss

You will need the following

• A ladder
• Bean bags/small balls
• Cards to write point numbers on

Hope this photo explains what it should look like but it's very simple concept. Take turns to throw bean bags or small balls and add up points. Great for a set of challenges game.

Summer Fun ideas- most likely to game

I had a brainwave today to do a short mini blog series on ideas to do in the Summer hols but just to post an idea at a time.

Today at work we did a game of most likely to as inspired by my new found love of YouTube stars. For any of you don't know what this game is you tend to do it in pairs and each person has two cards with each of their names on it. You then ask a set of questions to the pair and they have to holdup the card of the person most likely to. Example of the questions we used....

1.whos the most organised?
2.who takes longer to get ready?
3.whos more laid back?
4. Who takes longer in the toilet?

These are a few we did lots and swapped around between the three of us. Some were very silly questions haha but we had fun and it was a short game. Just to note I did this with older children and it's only a game you can do with older.

Beale Park, Near Reading Berkshire

This week I have been out and about as I've had some annual leave so had the perfect opportunity to catch up with some uni friends and their little one.

We decided to visit Beale Park as it was kind of a halfway point for all of us and their was enough to entertain a 1 year old also.

As I am the worst blogger ever I didn't take any photos myself which I really need to get better at.  So I will insert some photos within the blog that I will find.

What's there?

• outdoor play areas
• little tikes play area for younger children
• train ride
• the gardens
• animals
• small pool

We had a leisurely stroll around looking at the gardens and animals before stopping for a very extended picnic lunch.

I thought the outdoor play areas for the little ones were really good although my friend did comment that they had gotten really hot (plastic equipment) as it was a sunny day and there was no shade covering.  We didn't use the pool but it was definitely warm enough for older children so if your going on a warm day take some swimwear for your little ones.

There was a variety of animals including squirrel monkeys, peacock, meerkats and tortoises however we expected to seem some more.  They have the space at Beale Park for more animals so maybe that's what I would to see more of.

Eating facilities

We decided to take our own picnic food as it was going to be a gorgeous day and plenty of space outside to do this.  There is a restaurant at the park if you don't want to take your own though.  Later in the afternoon we went in to get an ice cream and they had a few varietys to choose from.  Side note there was a minimum card payment of £10 unless you pay 45p.

Value for money

£10 for adults and under 2s free so I think that's not too bad.  As a family you can definitely make a day out of it and you get a free train ride with the price of your ticket.

This I definitely would say is a good weather day venue as there is not a lot to do inside so save it for then. You can then get the most of your day out.  This is quite a short blog hope you have found it useful.

Useful info
http://www.bealepark.org.uk/

ParkDean Hoilday park, Sandford, Dorset

Here is my long awaited blog on where I stayed in Dorest (only a month late I know) looking abit more in-depth at the holiday park in which we stayed on.  We weren't sure what to expect as it was a Sun newspaper £9.50 holiday but I can say that we were both surprised what we got in terms of the accommodation.  I would definetly do this kind of trip again in the future and I think it would be great for families with older children as there is so much to do. 



Inside our static caravan

We stayed in a static caravan that had three bedrooms with a large living space which would sleep more.  I liked the fact that the shower room and the toilet were separate which is good when there is more than one of you getting ready in the morning.  There was lots of space within the bedrooms for storage and we had more than enough space for us and a small baby (who by the way comes with more stuff than two adults).

The kitchen area was really well equipped with lots of crockery, cutlery and equipment and even gave you some washing up liquid, scrubber and tea towel which I had bought some from home as you don't always get this on a self catering holiday.

The shower I may add was also better than I expected and of a decent size and could rival my one at home (to be fair that isn't great for a home shower).  Despite being in a single bed and having close proximity to a small baby I managed to sleep very well and comfortably.

What is there to do?

• Indoor Pool
• outdoor pool
• arcade
• snooker/darts/poolevening entertainment
• cycle and go kart hire

We were only here for a few days/nights and with a young baby were not excaly partying the night away but we did get to have a quick swim on my last morning there.
The pool seemed warm enough for babies and young children and it was clean and of a decent size.  About 9am in season time they have a water babies session for about half an hour in which I think my best friend would of taken her daughter to but we kind of forgot!! We didn't get to use the outdoor pool while we were there as it was early may and most of the days it was still abit chilly for an outdoor dip.  This would be great though in the warmer weather and children would be entertained for ages.

Children Facilities/things to do onsite

• soft play area
• outdoor play areas
• activity sessions

We were with a 5 month old so I can not rate them from what a child thought but there was a few play areas onsite and it all seemed to be well maintained and clean in these areas.

Stay in or Eat out?

• shop onsite to get all your ammenties
• fish and chip shop
• takeaway pizza
• Main restaurant that serves breakfast/lunch/dinner

We ate breakfast in the caravan and had a main meal out two of the days.  We did try the restaurant on the final night and went early because of the baby and enjoyed a nice lasagne, garlic bread and side salad. I also enjoyed a nice glass of wine.

Pet Friendly
We didn't have any pets with us but the resort was very dog friendly and we saw many people with their dogs.

Accessibility
The Park is 10-15 from many of Dorsets popular attractions by car. There are local transport links nearby but we did not use these during our stay so I cant comment on how they are to use.


Useful links
http://www.parkdeanholidays.co.uk/dorset-holidays/sandford/sandford-holiday-park.htm

Hope you enjoyed this blog and let me know if you want to know anything else.  I have discovered I'm abit of a rubbish blogger as I should of taken more photos of the accomadation and holiday park to insert into this but I found ones online that to be honest are better than any I would take.

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

Fathers Day 2017

          

Fathers Day is around the corner again, Sunday 18th June to be precise so I thought I would try and share some new ideas that don't just repeat what I wrote about last year. So here is five ideas on what to buy. Dad if your reading this I currently have not bought you anything so there is no spoilers haha.

1. Netflix/Amazon Prime/Now Tv- Subscription

2. Portable charger

3. I tunes voucher

4.Timberland Polo Shirt                                               5.  Sports tickets

                                                                  

This is just a few ideas click on the below link to go to my blog I wrote last year for more ideas.

https://nannybicester.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/activity-of-week-getting-prepared-for.html