rangers – Page 3 – Tracie's Treasures

childminding, family, Garden Classroom, rangers, Seedlings, wanderers

Grandad And Rosie’s Garden

Posted on 8th Oct 20216th Mar 2022 by Tracie Dowling

Over the summer holidays Poppy went to Grandad Smith and Nanny Rosie’s to see how their wildlife garden and beekeeping were coming along.

Poppy’s sister Chelsea came along for the trip, she loved learning all about the wildlife and the bees in her grandad’s garden. We all talked about nature, looked at the bird houses and saw some footage of the baby birds learning to eat while still in the bird box via a webcam. Never too old to learn!

We brought along some tadpoles from our pond in Liverpool and set them free in Grandad’s pond, hopefully he will have some frogs next time we visit. Do you think they will croak in a scouse accent?

We sat and watched the tadpoles swimming around settling in their new environment. While we were watching them we saw dragonflies, water fleas, snails, hoverflies and lots of beautiful butterflies.

We looked around Grandad’s vegetable garden, he has grown lots of lovely vegetables and fruit this year. Poppy went hunting and found cucumbers, tomatoes, grapes and lemons in the greenhouse.

In the main garden we saw Sweetcorn, Beetroots, Green Beans, Cabbage, leeks, strawberries and lots of Raspberries.

Poppy picked so many Raspberries we had them for tea, snack and breakfast!

childminding, family, rangers, Seedlings, wanderers

Summer Holidays: Week 5

Posted on 20th Aug 20216th Mar 2022 by Tracie Dowling

Wow the summer holidays have gone fast. We have all had so much fun going on walks, rides, parks, beaches, farms, play centres and this week we have loved the indoor fun fair at the Liverpool Exhibition Centre.

Jack, Mason, Poppy and Chloe were so excited when the doors opened at the funfair. They ran straight to the Fun House and all we could hear was laughing and screeching.

Next stop the Swing Carousel, Tracie had to lift everyone into the seats because they were so high, she strapped everyone in securely and the man offered her a job of Health and Safety Operator!

Next we all ran to the Waltzers and we span around and around so fast when we got off we all nearly fell over we were so dizzy!

The Maze was fun, Mason came out saying “that maze is amazing!” Poppy got lost and couldn’t find her way out and ended up coming out via the entrance!

Tracie, Poppy and Chloe went on the carousel while the boys went with Emma over to the bouncy obstacle course.

Chloe was very brave and went on the Freestyler ride, how she wasn’t sick we don’t know! Poppy took it a little safer on the mini hopper.

The Haunted House was fun, Emma and I could tell which children were ours through the screams. Poppy closed her eyes the whole way around, she then said “that was fab!” Bless.

Everyone loved the bouncy slide and the mini Caterpillar Roller Coaster.

We had so much fun and all the children were all so well behaved. It was a perfect end to our Summer Trips. Now its a well earned Holliday time for Tracie and Emma! See you all in a weeks time!!

childminding, family, Garden Classroom, rangers, Seedlings, wanderers

Summer Holidays: Week 4

Posted on 10th Aug 20216th Mar 2022 by Tracie Dowling

Week 4 already! Wow the summer holidays are going fast!

Izzy has had lots of fun with everyone and has settled into our setting really well. She is always so happy, bubbly and watches everyone playing. She lets us know when she wants something or not, and thrives on all the interactions with children, Emma and Myself.

We had fun at the play centre, Jack loved looking through the peep bubbles and trying to point out his friends.

Charlie and Martie both finished off their ‘Liverpool Kindness Rocks’ paintings so next week we can all go out and hide them in all the parks we are visiting.

Tracie, Martha, Ivor, Jack, Sophie and Georgia all went to the Odeon to watch ‘The Croods 2’. It was very funny and everyone behaved so well they had popcorn and sweets for treats!

While we were all in the Odeon Gemma took Poppy around town. They had lots of fun, in and out of lots of different shops. Poppy said the sweet shop smelled so sweet and Lush, which sells bath bombs, smelled like fruit! They both loved looking at the display made out of colourful umbrellas and comics. What a sensory time they had!

At the ‘Liverpool Lighthouse’ this week we went for fun, games and dancing. We played musical statues, musical bumps, superheroes, dancing and tag. We also took part in ‘make your own’ lunch. We all got to make a healthy bag full of fruit, veg and sandwiches which we took to the park for a picnic.

The game of the week was ‘UNO’ everyone joined in so we ended up using two decks of cards. Chloe won the most games, Poppy the most tantrums and Jack the most ‘give aways’.

Poppy and Izzy loved playing together, Poppy read Izzy stories, sang songs and had sensory mat play.

The soft play was used the most this week. The children used them as a playground, hiding seek, building, sleeping, relaxing and role play! Well worth the spends!

Last full week before our week off, then back to school. I wonder what fun we will be having?…

childminding, family, Garden Classroom, rangers, Seedlings, wanderers

Garden Challenge 2021: Tracie’s Update

Posted on 6th Aug 20216th Mar 2022 by Tracie Dowling

When Sophie and I walked around the garden, I asked her to pick out her favourite fruit and vegetables we are growing. Well, she chose these lovely Lilies. Not quite what I asked for but she’s right they are lovely.

While we are talking Lilies, look at our amazing 8 foot Lily trees. They tower so high and they are so fragrant you can smell them all around the garden.

Back to our fruit and vegetables, below is our cucumber and we have grown conjoined twins! Double the trouble and size! Poppy ate it in one sitting!! She said they were delicious.

Our apples are coming on nicely, they are getting plumper, Monty Don says you can tell when they are ready as they twist off easily. Guess we’ve got to keep waiting. Be worth it though. We also have onions, tomatoes and strawberries growing strong.

In the greenhouse the Luffa vines are growing tall and strong. When they fruit the children are going to make luffa soaps.

The Cucumbers and Chillies have now left the greenhouse and are in the garden growing strong. Tracie watered everything and added tomato feed to give them a boost.

Our new project this summer is the bath pond. We had our bathroom turned into a wet room and thought the cast iron bath could be up cycled into a large pond. Our growing tadpoles and frogs will have more space and we might even get some fish! We will add photos next time.

childminding, family, rangers, Seedlings, wanderers

Summer Holidays: Week 3 already!

Posted on 4th Aug 20216th Mar 2022 by Tracie Dowling

Well, what an action packed week we have all had!

We have been walking, playing and having picnics everywhere!

We enjoyed spending time at home with the sensory toys, practicing our walking skills and reading stories.

We all chose to have glittery tattoos done at the Liverpool Lighthouse. We then had a fun afternoon dancing and singing.

We even took part in an fire evacuation practice, we didn’t want anyone to know it was our smoke machine in the disco that set the alarm off! Ssshh don’t tell anyone!! At least we got to practice an evacuation!

Fire Evacuation: Too Marks We Are All Safe!

Jack stood up all by himself and the boys went rambling up the hill all by themselves!

We went to Cirq d-Play in Great Homer Street. Chloe loved the tube slide the best, her mum wanted to have a go too! Looks like you both enjoyed the experience, lovely face Gemma! Hahaha

Jack enjoyed the baby slide and everyone wanted to have a go with him.

Poppy found the way up to the slide very challenging, Gemma and Chloe both encouraged her to have a try. It took about four attempts and quite a lot of screaming but eventually she made it up the ropes and down the tube slide!

Wonder what fun we will have next week??

childminding, rangers, Seedlings, wanderers

Harry And The Dinosaurs Story Sack

Posted on 27th Jul 202110th Aug 2021 by Tracie Dowling

The children all enjoyed our ‘Harry and The Dinosaurs’ themed story sack today.

Alfie asked Tracie to read the story, which made Martha want to draw a dinosaur.

Everyone ended up wanting to join in the activity so Tracie got out the story sack with all the card dinosaur printables in so everyone could choose which one they wanted to do. Our story sack with activities is available to buy on our Etsy Shop along with lots of other story sacks for your children to learn and grow.

Poppy asked if Tracie could read the story while they coloured the fabulous pictures.

At the back of the book it showed the different types of dinosaurs and how to say all the tricky names. Do-you-think-he-saw-us made everyone laugh except Poppy who thought Tracie was silly 😝

After the activity Martha and Poppy decided to go online to find out more information about dinosaurs.

You can buy this story sack and other similar story sacks for your children to play with and grow by clicking this link to our Etsy Shop.

childminding, family, rangers, Seedlings, wanderers

Summer Holidays: Week 2

Posted on 23rd Jul 20216th Mar 2022 by Tracie Dowling

The weather turned too cold and wet for a couple of days. We went to the park on the Monday and got drenched so we all decided to have a games day. The sun ended up coming back out!!

We loved the game ‘Fast Fish’ it was fun rolling the dice and predicting the colours of the fish we had to rush and find. Jack beat Tracie and Martha beat everyone!

Poppy and Sophia love anything Japanese at the moment so after the cinema we decided to pop in to Yo Sushi to try some new foods. The girls loved trying to use chopsticks, it made our lunchtime last forever!

While in town, we decided to have a walk about. The girls loved climbing the suitcases on Hope Street.

Back at our setting we were busy painting our rocks that we made last week.

Tracie and some of the children went on a trip to Acorn Farm. We went into the petting station and loved sitting still and stroking the animals. Tracie made a friend with a goat and Jack loved the meerkats.

Emma went on a trip to Hollywood Bowl. They all jumped on a bus, played a couple of games and had a lovely lunch! What a lovely fun end to a busy second week!

Wonder what fun we will have in week three!? The summer holidays are going fast!

family, Garden Classroom, rangers, Seedlings, wanderers

Fun Day With The Children

Posted on 21st Jul 202110th Aug 2021 by Tracie Dowling

We have had a lovely day today playing in the garden and going to Breckside Park.

Sophie looked at all the flowers and asked me to take photos of her favourites.

Mason wanted to make a snail home using different items from around the garden. Jacy and Jack loved the idea and made their own. They asked me to choose my favourites. I explained they were all lovely and the snail will judge by going on the one it likes best.

After playing in the garden it was time for lunch then off to the park.

The younger children enjoyed a kick about, quoits and catch the ball in the net. They ran about so much all they wanted was the pram, bottle and sleep. Job well done!

The bigger children set up the goal posts and had a kick about trying to see who could get the most goals. After about 2 hours and lots of sweat, tears and moans we decided to go back and have a cold drink and ice lolly’s. Four very over heated children!!

family, rangers, Seedlings, wanderers

Day Out At The World Museum Liverpool

Posted on 21st Jul 202110th Aug 2021 by Tracie Dowling

We had a lovely day out today at the World Museum Liverpool. The sun was shining and the children were on their best behaviour!

First of all, we caught a bus from outside our setting to the city centre. Not this bus though boys! Think of all the delicious cakes we would have had, we would have never have got off that bus would we boys!!

First stop, we took a dive into the newly updated deep-blue aquarium, the tanks were much bigger, had new species of aquatics, immersive projections and even an octopus called Polpo! He was so cute and wanted to get up close and personal with the children giving them all high fives! (Or is that 8’s)

The children then got up close with the hermit crabs, starfish and brightly-coloured wrasse from Liverpool’s Irish Sea coast. Alfie and Jacy popped their heads into the viewing bubbles to see the terrapins immersed in the water who are rescued pets, they love to see a friendly face.

With new projections, we learned about conservation efforts to protect our seas, discover where the sealife live and even what you might find rock-pooling locally and across the UK. Jacy and Poppy talked all about the sea urchins and jellyfish they have seen on Crosby beach.

Alfie and Mason loved watching the Nemo fish (if Tracie didn’t pick Alfie up!), rays, skates and smiling sharks even with lots of teeth!

Jacy loved it when he found a Sloth as it is his favourite animal in the “whole universe!”

Next we all went to Egypt where we looked at mummies (probably daddies too!), artefacts and learned all about the ancient Egyptians.

Jacy and the boys went on a journey around Egypt and walked down the River Nile.

Last stop in our Liverpool World Museum tour was outside using chalks and making pictures of what we had seen for everyone to look at.

Thank you Liverpool World Museum for an amazing day 😁🌏🦑

childminding, family, rangers, Seedlings, wanderers

Summer Holidays: Week 1

Posted on 16th Jul 20216th Mar 2022 by Tracie Dowling

We have had a ball this week, the sun has been out every day and the children have all been so good!

Alfie was so tired one day he was nearly asleep while playing! Izzy had her first day with us and she was such a little giggler, her favourite play was jumping up and down in the activity centre.