View Full Version : childminding forum Monthly Theme!
littlepixies
17-07-2009, 03:44 PM
Hello... i mentioned this idea in one of my recent posts.. about ofsted and what they expect!
Someone said about they do monthly themes so i suggested why not have a post where we decide on a theme! and then all follow and give advice, ideas, activities, outtings ect on the post during that month??
So i thought id start the post with ideas for August Monthly theme to follow!
ideas i come up with are...
seaside/beach **** Mini Beasts**** outings**** Friends****What we Like
So guys which theme shall we start together through out august???
I think Outings would be a good one seeing as its beginning of summer holidays...?? opinions??
FizzysFriends
17-07-2009, 03:46 PM
My DO told me themes are a no no and Ofsted no longer like them, is she wrong?
Trouble
17-07-2009, 03:51 PM
we went to the beach yesterday
we found a dead crab mindee loved looking at it so i put it in her bag to take home meaning to move it out when we got back to mine:blush:
mum said thanks for the crab this morning:D :D :D
we aim to please little ones:laughing:
Daftbat
17-07-2009, 03:52 PM
I do themes and the inspector loved it. What would they have to object to? Surely having something that the children can think about and contribute to is good, especially for the older children we care for even though they are not in the EYFS age bracket. It makes our lives easier i think and the children are less likely to be bored.
littlepixies
17-07-2009, 03:56 PM
No its fine with ofsted they think its a great basis to work your activities and ideas around....
its just a way of getting ideas for crafts and role play and outtings ect..
What you shouldnt be doing is continiously planning activities through out the day with no le way of changing plans last min.. so if you have decided ... today were going to play out side in sand pit then it starts raining.. yyou should have leway to be able to adapt whats happened! if that makes any sense...
Trouble
17-07-2009, 03:57 PM
ofsted man said the same to me
i like having themes and doing different things, i think kids learn more,
i know i do:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
littlepixies
17-07-2009, 04:07 PM
:thumbsup: yep me too lol!! sad aint we :jump for joy:
So.... whos in for the forum theme thread starting as of August !!
youarewhatyoueat
17-07-2009, 04:08 PM
Topics are out themes are in, apparently!
sarah707
17-07-2009, 04:21 PM
:laughing: This argument has been going since I trained as a teacher waaaaay back when dinosaurs roamed the earth!
We were trained using themed activities with the children and they were great fun... we did all sorts of great things and got all the subjects in during the theme...
Then they went out of fashion and everything was taught separately for a while...
Then a couple of years ago my dd's high school announced they were doing these new sessions that included history, geography, ict etc. It was like they'd thought of something new :laughing:
I have always used an overarching theme / topic call it what you will through the month. It is flexible, it moves with the children, it keeps us busy, the children look forward to it, it keeps me motivated and focussed, it involves little ones right up to after schoolers, it is FUN! :clapping:
If it works for you, use it :D
Mouse
17-07-2009, 04:32 PM
I love themes!
Sometimes mine are a bit vague, get adapted as we go through the month and don't always work out, but I love them, the children love them & parents love them...what more can you want :clapping:
beckyteddy
17-07-2009, 04:44 PM
I'll put a vote in for the"outings" theme idea. I'll be back later with some ideas to add!
Great idea by the way littlepixies.....might focus me a little bit amid the chaos of the School Hols:blush:
TheBTeam
17-07-2009, 06:41 PM
I vote for 'outings', we have planned something for each day of the holidays with the other childminders i socialise with, we plan something for every day, it is then up to us which days we join in with and we are adaptable to change days around if we want to.
We go to woods, parks, museums, play areas, farms, walks and spend a lot of time outside looking at nature, building camps, playing ball games etc and generally enjoying being with our friends and getting fresh air.
This covers all of the eyfs as the children help to decide what we pack to take, eat, which way we walk, who they play with, what games they join in with etc. I take lots of photos and just write brief notes on them about what they like/disliked or if they tried something new/different.
It was me who said i use themes instead of planning as it gives more flexibility and Mrs Ofsted loved it, said it makes it more child led and not so formal :thumbsup:
my vote goes to...
Mini beasts.... we are growing catterpillars and stuff :clapping:
TheBTeam
17-07-2009, 06:54 PM
It was me who said i use themes instead of planning as it gives more flexibility and Mrs Ofsted loved it, said it makes it more child led and not so formal :thumbsup:
my vote goes to...
Mini beasts.... we are growing catterpillars and stuff :clapping:
We have recently grown the caterpillars and triops, the butterflies were amazing!! A fantastic experience for all ages.
Roseolivia
17-07-2009, 06:57 PM
I love themes!
Sometimes mine are a bit vague, get adapted as we go through the month and don't always work out, but I love them, the children love them & parents love them...what more can you want :clapping:
Me too:clapping:
andreaschildcare
17-07-2009, 06:58 PM
Great idea :)
We have recently grown the caterpillars and triops, the butterflies were amazing!! A fantastic experience for all ages.
have ordered our catterpillars, being delivered end of july :clapping:
making catterpillar using baby photos and butterflies with recent photos of mindees :thumbsup:
polobear1970
17-07-2009, 07:28 PM
what a great idea.
where did you get the catepillers from ?
lisa
polobear1970
17-07-2009, 07:41 PM
insectlore :thumbsup:
Thanks for that Hebs, i'll have a look
lisa
nannymcflea
17-07-2009, 09:17 PM
I don't do themes every month but sometimes something will make me think "oh lets do so and so", usually it's when i see something one of the lo's has brought in or perhaps we need to get colours moving or something...you lot know what I mean!
As we are doing a lot of outings at the mo I'd plump with that...saves me thinking....:D
Great idea, thanks.
RainbowMum
17-07-2009, 09:31 PM
I'm feeling a new sub-area coming on Pauline? There will be some lovely ideas and informstion coming through - if we have a Planning themes area they can all come together & it will be easy to re-visit - what do you think?
I was already planning beach/seaside theme for summer hols!
RainbowMum
17-07-2009, 09:34 PM
Oh dear -you can tell its been a rough week - I cant even be bothered to go back & correct the typo's in the last post!:o
Trouble
17-07-2009, 09:59 PM
Oh dear -you can tell its been a rough week - I cant even be bothered to go back & correct the typo's in the last post!:o
no one cares about spelling its friday!!!!!!!!!!:clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping:
littlepixies
18-07-2009, 05:31 AM
Morning ladies... up bright and early even on a saturday lol!!!
well theme wise seems to be leaning towards "outings" at the moment... give it till monday and see weekend imputs..
See if we can get our own part of forum to work in so randoms cant just come n use our hard work eh ladies lol
mumof4
18-07-2009, 07:35 AM
outings for me, ive got lots of outings planned over the hols. Mini beasts would be a good choice too, the kids have been doing habitats at school so would follow on nicely. Ive booked the Zoolab for a visit over the hols, has anybody been to one of their shows?
newandlearning
18-07-2009, 07:50 AM
I think outings for a theme is a good un..
have just changed one of my displays so we can take pics next week and start putting them on a display.. also wanna do a summer scrap book for everyone to stick things in..etc as a keep sack..xx
Chatterbox Childcare
18-07-2009, 09:31 AM
I have a theme per month and work on a two year rotation as the children will cover different aspects because of their age
I do two activities a week based around this and we do child leed, routines in between. A lot of the time I cross off the activity and we do something else but at least there is something planned should I want it.
I put down an idea with rough directions and requirements to run it. I do not link any activity to an area of learning until after we have done it as it would take too long and may not be used.
manjay
18-07-2009, 10:15 AM
I did mini beasts in June, July is Space and August is Seaside. Mine is already planned (very loosely;) ) but happy to input into what ever you decide on.
ZoeAlli
18-07-2009, 10:16 AM
outings for me, ive got lots of outings planned over the hols. Mini beasts would be a good choice too, the kids have been doing habitats at school so would follow on nicely. Ive booked the Zoolab for a visit over the hols, has anybody been to one of their shows?
Unfortunately just missed one, am hoping to go to one in August- our support officer has arranged one at a stay and play session!!
Looking forward to it!!
ZoeAlli
18-07-2009, 10:24 AM
I did seaside last month, but as mindees I have are all part-time and due to various other end of term activities, it is apreading into this month!! Plenty to do though.
Think this is a great idea. It's easy sometimes to come up with a theme but requires alot more thought for activities etc to do with them!!
As the phrase says "two (or many in this case) heads are better than one!"
Look forward to reading more on a monthly theme. I think outings is a good one but happy to go with any.
singingcactus
18-07-2009, 11:49 AM
I guess we are kind of doing 'outings' here (although not entirely sure what you all have in mind by that).
I have just received all my stuff from the robinsons offer with the woodlands trust nature detectives club (my goodness, that's a mouthful!). It has posters and stickers and ideas for spotting nature whilst out and about. As we see something we add a sticker to the big posters. I've also printed out a million or so downloads for spotting lists.
Whilst I find it easy to include knowledge and understanding in our days here, I do find it hard to get the wording sorted for my planning, but this website is really helpful for that. SO I guess whilst my theme this month will include, and be supported by all your wonderful ideas to do with outings, I am aiming to make progress with the kids in the KUW area of learning, (as well as all the others holistically).
I am not at all sure that made sense!
elaineg
18-07-2009, 03:06 PM
We are also doing outings, and hoping for sunshine so we can go on as many as possible.
love Elaine XX
Sarahbelle
18-07-2009, 03:18 PM
I'm doing "Fun in the Sun".:thumbsup:
Lets hope we get some!:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
littlepixies
18-07-2009, 03:48 PM
woohooo:clapping:
We have been allocated a little cubby hole of the forum which will be available for members amber + to view and contribute too....
Not sure when our cubby hole wil be on forum:laughing: but should be soon.
Think it will be fourm monthly theme ... where we can run along side one another and give ideas, planning, games, ect each month set around a theme... It will be starting on August 1st.. and our first theme will be " Outings ".... looking forward to helping everyone and seeing ideas florish!!!! :thumbsup:
ORKSIE
18-07-2009, 03:58 PM
Sorry I'm a bit late on this but I would have also said Outings. And glad we getting a cubby hole:D
elaineg
18-07-2009, 07:13 PM
Well done littlepixies, it was a brilliant idea
love Elaine XX
tinytoescm
19-07-2009, 01:24 PM
I'm feeling a new sub-area coming on Pauline? There will be some lovely ideas and informstion coming through - if we have a Planning themes area they can all come together & it will be easy to re-visit - what do you think?
I was already planning beach/seaside theme for summer hols!
I love the idea of a planning/Theme area - maybe split by theme. Being a newby to childminding, its great to see so many ideas on what to do, resources people uses and links to items eg bugs!! Great ideas
Rose
Chanelle
19-07-2009, 02:02 PM
I think this is an excellent idea! Well done!
I also opt for Outings ... :D
Pauline
20-07-2009, 04:11 PM
woohooo:clapping:
We have been allocated a little cubby hole of the forum which will be available for members amber + to view and contribute too....
Not sure when our cubby hole wil be on forum:laughing: but should be soon.
The cubby hole has arrived! :D
I put it in EYFS (then it was pointed out that some don't do EYFS) but it is a pain to move it and I'm sure everyone will find it. :)
At members request is ONLY for Amber and Green members, so you Red folks need to get busy chatting and using the forum, you will then move up the ranks, turn Amber and be able to view the section and join in :) (Lurkers come and join us - we are not scary, honest :D)