childminding forum Monthly Theme!

[littlepixies]

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]

My DO told me themes are a no no and Ofsted no longer like them, is she wrong?

[Trouble]

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

mum said thanks for the crab this morning

we aim to please little ones

[Daftbat]

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]

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]

ofsted man said the same to me

i like having themes and doing different things, i think kids learn more,

i know i do

[littlepixies]

yep me too lol!! sad aint we

So.... whos in for the forum theme thread starting as of August !!

[youarewhatyoueat]

Topics are out themes are in, apparently!

[sarah707]

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

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!

If it works for you, use it

[Mouse]

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

[beckyteddy]

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

[TheBTeam]

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.

[Hebs]

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

my vote goes to...

Mini beasts.... we are growing catterpillars and stuff

[TheBTeam]

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

my vote goes to...

Mini beasts.... we are growing catterpillars and stuff

We have recently grown the caterpillars and triops, the butterflies were amazing!! A fantastic experience for all ages.

[Roseolivia]

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

Me too

[andreaschildcare]

Great idea

[Hebs]

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

making catterpillar using baby photos and butterflies with recent photos of mindees

[polobear1970]

what a great idea.

where did you get the catepillers from ?


lisa

[Hebs]

insectlore

[polobear1970]

insectlore

Thanks for that Hebs, i'll have a look


lisa