As adults, it’s lovely to reflect back on the type of childhood memories that give us a warm, fuzzy feeling. These are memories that still bring joy when we think about them, even years later. They’re often memories of events and special moments shared with parents and siblings, in times of wonder and togetherness. Sometimes, they might be of a family adventure of some kind — a holiday somewhere wild, an unforgettable activity, or a magical moment that’s simply so wonderful we’ll never forget it. We can think of such memories as almost foundational parts of our childhoods, very much akin to milestones in the progression of our growth as children. These moments are irreplaceable. With that in mind, we’ll explore some ideas today for how to gift your own children such wonderful memories — moments they’ll remember fondly — perhaps for the rest of their lives. What a gift that would be!
Going on An Adventure
Children’s ears will always prick up when you tell them they’re going on an adventure! These can take many forms, so they are limited only by your imagination, time, and resources as a parent. Need an example? Try taking them on a ramble or hike. Take a picnic! Take rucksacks, suitable footwear, wet weather gear (just in case), something to drink, and a smartphone with a camera for any photos. Maybe first show them a map of where you plan to walk with them. Aim for some interesting places. Viewpoints, interesting landmarks, beautiful countryside, woodlands, and riverside walks are good examples, and will give children something to look forward to on the journey. Ensure there is somewhere to stop for food, drinks, and/or snacks along the way. Maybe build in some activities or games en route too. All such things will make for a really memorable day. Even if they find it hard at first, they will end up with lots of fresh air and exercise, a feeling of accomplishment, and some great memories.
Cloud Magic
Next time it’s sunny, and you and your child are out and about in the garden or open space, look out for the big fluffy, white ‘cumulus’ clouds. If there are some gently gliding across the sky, encourage your child to lie on their back, look up, and study them (avoiding looking directly at the sun, of course). Many of these enormous clouds are quite beautiful. Even better, there’s a game you can play together — looking for cloud animal shapes, faces, or even dragons and monsters in the clouds. Such shapes sometimes form naturally as the clouds shift and change formation on the winds high above us. There is even a name for this type of illusion; pareidolia, although it applies to seeing faces and shapes anywhere, not just in clouds. Searching for and finding an animal or face, whether in the clouds, the bark of a tree, or on a rocky formation, is sure to delight any child. It will be something they’re likely to remember and repeat throughout childhood and even into adulthood. Indeed, it’s another magical aspect of childhood and the world around us.
A Magical Sunset
Setting aside 30 to 60 minutes specifically to witness a sunset with your child is also something that can be magical. It’s also an incredibly simple but powerful activity to do with children. Some sunsets are truly awe-inspiring, with incredible colours, cloud patterns, and shapes that look like they’re something from a fantasy movie or book. If the timing is right, children can even see the distant sun slowly disappear over the horizon as dusk and then nighttime arrive. It is a beautiful thing to witness, and it also teaches children more about the world and our place within the universe. It will be a lovely memory of shared, high-quality family time too, and will also demonstrate to little ones that some of the most magical activities cost no money at all, and do not involve toys or electronic screens.
Safety note: teach children never to look directly at the sun and always accompany and supervise them when outdoors.
A Last-Minute Getaway
Surprise your little ones with a last-minute getaway. Editor’s note: My father did this for us a few times each year when my sister and I were children. He’d come home from work on a Friday evening and excitedly ask the family, “Who wants to go away for the weekend?” and my sister and I would shout, “We do!” with great gusto. We’d quickly pack, and off we’d go. By Friday night, we’d arrive at a campsite, or sometimes a random spot en route, and sleep like babies. After spending the weekend visiting our favourite places, we’d arrive back on Sunday night feeling like we’d been away for a week. Those are still some of my fondest childhood memories. And, it’s the kind of exciting last-minute break that doesn’t cost the Earth and is huge fun — something we could all do for our children occasionally, perhaps.
Garden Camping
If going away for a last-minute short break is not feasible, camping in the garden may be the next best thing! Children’s imaginations are incredible; even if they’re camped in the garden, it’s every bit an adventure for them. You should sleep out there with little ones, of course, and supervise their safety and wellbeing. That can help it become more exciting for them, though, as you can supervise a small bonfire, perhaps, where you can all toast some marshmallows or bread, away from the tent (it could be flammable) and ensure it’s damped down afterwards for safety. Some torches, sleeping bags, packed sandwiches, and hot chocolate or similar in a flask will make the camp more realistic, but the house is always there if they get spooked and ask to go back indoors. Garden camping is also the perfect opportunity for our next activity idea…
Stargazing
On a clear, cloudless night, stargazing somewhere away from neighbourhood lights will open children’s eyes to the magic of the nighttime sky. Even if you spend just 5 or 10 minutes together watching the night sky, you’re bound to bring out the wonder of space in your child’s mind. The Moon, twinkling stars, the little star tinged red (Mars), the pan-shaped form of the Plough (a.k.a. ‘Big Dipper’), and helping your child find the North Star are all things they’ll find fascinating and remember longer-term. Stay watching long enough for them to see little satellites marching their way across the darkness as they loop around the world, nowadays often in the company of others in a satellite ‘constellation’. Even better: help your child spot their first shooting star — and make a wish. Magical!
Discovering Their First Fossil
There are many places around England and the UK where fossils can be found if you/your children take the time to look for them. Children love it when they find them (as do many adults), and it’s always incredible to see their reactions when you tell them that this fossilised creature or plant they just found lived literally millions of years ago. It puts things into perspective and opens their eyes and minds to the wonders of Planet Earth and even life itself. Not only that, they have a magical keepsake to remind them of their fossil hunt(s). Try Googling good fossil-hunting locations near you, or visit this site and click a local region on the coloured map to get started. Parental supervision over children is, of course, essential at all times with all activities, especially for the youngest children and outdoors.
Nature Watching
Children are naturally fascinated by the world around them — and especially the natural world. The UK is lucky to be a lush environment with lots of flourishing flora and fauna. So, for little ones, there is so much to see and discover. That’s one of the many reasons we will soon be providing Forest School sessions at Little Acorns Nursery in Hindley Green, in fact. It’s also why we’ve published various nature-based scavenger hunt activity ideas here on this website. So, another interesting, informative, educational, and memorable activity that will enrich your child’s childhood is a nature-based scavenger hunt. Check out our leaf hunt, spring nature hunt, winter treasure hunt, autumn nature hunt, or take them mammal-spotting, minibeast-spotting, bird-spotting, or butterfly-spotting. These activities are all designed for families, and each comes with a free reference poster to get children started. Perhaps spend a few hours with your child doing some of these next time the weather is suitable. They’re sure to remember them and think fondly of their time spent looking for all these magical things. Spending time in and around nature is also hugely beneficial to children, and it’s a great way for them to slow down, take in the beauty of nature away from electronic screens, and create high-quality family memories.
Bedtime Storytime
Let’s not forget that magical memories can be made indoors, too! Reading books to children before they go to bed can build lasting memories. Editor’s note: My own children, now in their late twenties, still recall me reading to them every night, as we gradually worked through all the Harry Potter books. This was before they had started making the movies, and I made sure to put on different voices for different characters, whisper when there was a tense moment, or speak more urgently when Harry Potter was in mortal danger. They loved it! And now they’re parents themselves, they’re paying it forwards and reading books in a similar way for their own children. And, not only were those book-reading sessions “an integral part of their childhood” (they tell me), but they’re also incredibly good memories for me, as a parent. It really was magical on so many levels, so it is thoroughly recommended.
Music & Song
Editor’s note: Another thing my own children remember fondly was singing songs each evening with me when they were very young. These were home-spun songs that we made up as we went along, sung together near bedtime most evenings, along with some basic guitar playing. It was both entertaining and amusing as we took it in turns to make up new, often silly, verses. What’s more, my children described it recently as a ‘free concert every night’, and it’s lovely that they remember it so clearly and fondly over two decades later. So, regularly playing musical instruments and singing together is highly recommended and highly creative for all parties. And, who knows where it could lead — a possible career in music, perhaps!
Magical Memories Are Like Gold Dust
We hope you’ve enjoyed our ideas today for creating magical memories for your child. They’re just a starting point, though, to inspire new ideas for families. When high-quality memories are made, they can last a lifetime. Children may well look back on them as integral parts of their childhood, and instantly be transported back in time as they recall them. Such memories can bring togetherness, as well as a warm, fuzzy glow. What’s most important, though, is that the proactive creation of such memorable times lets children know that their happiness is important, they matter, are loved, and, all in all, it really is a wonderful world.
Welcome to Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green
High-Quality Childcare Provision Near Wigan
Little Acorns is a fabulous Nursery in Hindley Green, near Wigan. Providing high-quality weekday childcare, from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm over 51 weeks of the year, we represent a great choice for working families. What’s more, we support free childcare for eligible children. We’re also pleased to announce that we’ll soon also be providing Forest School sessions to children at the setting. These are hugely popular and allow children to get the most from close proximity to nature and woodland settings. We’ll soon publish more about Forest School at Hindley Green, here on the blog, so come back soon for our imminent announcement and more detail about this wonderful initiative.
Interested? Apply for a nursery place, ask any questions, or come for a guided visit using an option below:
Little Acorns Nursery is located in Hindley Green. And, if you live in Wigan, Bolton, Bickershaw, Leigh, Atherton, Westhoughton, Ince-in-Makerfield, Platt Bridge, Tyldesley, or Greater Manchester, Little Acorns may also be a very convenient choice for your childcare.
Once summer has gone, observant children will begin to notice a change in the behaviour of wild birds. Many of our feathered friends will begin migrating to warmer locations, evidenced by often noisy flocks heading south overhead. Those that stay in the UK, like robins and blackbirds, will soon find that all the wild berries, seeds, and grubs have been eaten — food becomes scarce as remaining supplies disappear in the run-up to winter. In view of this, wild birds will become more reliant on good-natured humans to ensure they still have enough food to eat over the colder months.
This simple type of bird feeder is quick and easy to make. Simply thread string or gardening twine through the outer husks of unroasted monkey nuts to form a garland. Holes can be made in the monkey nut husks using a small matchstick. Alternatively, if using something sharp like a darning needle, an adult should make the holes so that little ones don’t hurt themselves. Once a whole chain of monkey nuts is in line along the string, the ends can be tied between twigs, branches, or bushes, so the nuts dangle in a stretched arc. Blue tits will love pecking at the husks to get to the nuts inside!
Apple bird feeders are by far the most simple to accomplish. In essence, they are simply an apple either dangling from a tree, bush, or fence, or are held high in the air from underneath by a vertical bamboo cane pushed into the ground. Whether the apple is dangled by string or held aloft by a cane, it’s best to expose some of the apple by removing some of the outer skin, so birds have a weak spot to begin feeding on. Check the apple daily to ensure it does not go mouldy; discard if so – mould can be dangerous to birds. (Adults should also supervise* children to keep them safe around hazards and other possible dangers, of course).
These bird feeders are extra fun because little ones can decorate them! You’ll first need an empty juice or milk carton. With help from an adult, rectangular or arc-shaped flaps should be cut on 3 or 4 sides of the carton, ensuring the bottom of the rectangle or arc is not cut. Crease and fold the flaps out at that lowest point, as shown in our example. The flaps provide a landing platform for birds, as well as access to the inside. That’s where the birdseed will go when the feeder is complete. After painting the exterior with a nice design and leaving it to dry, the carton bird feeder can be suspended by a string. This can be attached at the top, for example, by trapping it with the carton’s lid. Fill with birdseed to the level of the open flaps once suspended in place.
Pine cone bird feeders are great fun for children! You first need to forage outdoors for a large pine cone. Ideally, it needs to have its many splines open, although that’s not critical. Children should smear peanut† butter all over the pine cone, ensuring it gets pushed into the cone’s many crevices. The whole thing should then be rolled around in a bowl of bird seeds, which will then stick to the sticky covering that was just applied. The completed pine cone bird feeder can then be suspended by string outdoors, somewhere suitable for the birds (usually at least 1.5m off the ground but under the protection of a tree canopy or similar so that feeding birds avoid attack from predators like sparrowhawks).
Seed cake bird feeders are a firm favourite for children to make. They’ll need some small, empty pots — plastic flowerpots would be perfect. With adult help, attach a string or garden twine to the base of the pot(s), for example, by threading it through the flowerpot drainage holes, and secure with a knot. Ensure that most of the string is left on the outside of the pot. Next children will need to mix bird seed in a suitable bowl with something to bind it together. For this part, adults will need to help by melting some lard† or beef suet† on the stove for children. They will then need to supervise to ensure it’s cool enough before children have access to it. Once mixed with bird seeds into a thick, gloopy mixture, children should fill the pots. A wooden spoon is perfect for the purpose. Once the mixture has cooled and set, the filled pots can then be turned upside down and dangled somewhere suitable for birds outdoors, for example, suspended high above the ground from a tree branch or on the side of a bush.
There are lots of different seed mixes available and each will attract a different range of birds. Our personal favourites are sunflower hearts, which are available in most supermarkets, garden centres, and online, and robin peanut cakes, which are similarly available. We’ve found them both to be popular food sources, attracting birds like robins, blue tits, great tits, blackbirds, doves, pigeons, nuthatches, starlings, and more. A small amount of grated cheddar cheese is also very popular, especially amongst robins and blackbirds, but must not be allowed to go mouldy (mouldy cheeses are dangerous for birds). We suggest avoiding mealworms, as each represents a little life lost unnecessarily. In any case, we love 
Since September 2024, the number of free childcare hours available for eligible children aged 9 months to 2 years (inclusive) is 570 per year. This is usually taken as 15 hours per week over 38 term-time weeks of the year*. In further good news, the allocation is set to double to 1140 hours per year from September 2025, thereby aligning with what eligible 3 and 4-year-olds are already entitled to (see below).
Meanwhile, a total of 1140 hours of free childcare is currently available for eligible children aged 3 and 4 each year. This is usually taken as 30 hours per week over 38 term-time weeks of the year*.
Draw up a short list of possible settings for your child, having first whittled down the choices by 
If your child already has a friend or neighbour of a similar age who will also attend your chosen nursery, it can be very useful. Both children will then have a friendly face to play with from Day 1. If not, it should be easy enough to ask around to find out about other local children who will start at the nursery when your child does. Arranging play dates for them in the weeks running up to the start date will help each child familiarise themselves with one another, so they each have a friend or two at the nursery right from the start. It’s a great way of settling them in.
Aside from the initial guided tours undertaken, we schedule 2 formal settling-in visits for children once a place has been offered. These hour-long settling-in sessions usually occur in the week before children are due to start at the nursery formally. They are both free of charge. Here’s how they are approached:
Reassuring your child will also help them settle into nursery – so communication is key. This is true both before they start and once they attend, particularly at the beginning. Before starting, it’s important to ensure they know that changes will soon happen, what to expect when the time comes, and that it’s going to be a big adventure with lots of fun! Encourage questions and answer them sensitively. They also need to be reassured that you will always be there, behind the scenes, looking out for their best interests. And, of course, it’s crucial for them to know you’ll be there to pick them up at home time (don’t be late!).
As we said previously in our 
Encourage children by celebrating their successes at the nursery. Whether it’s the successful completion of their first day, the first tear-free day, the making of a new friend or any other accomplishment, ensure you congratulate your child. This will give them a sense of achievement, reassure them that they’re doing well, and encourage them to keep attending and building on their progress.
With children sometimes taking as many as 2, 3, or even 4 weeks to fully settle into a new nursery, it’s also important for staff to closely monitor and nurture them. That’s indeed exactly what we do at Little Acorns Nursery in Hindley Green. We ensure the setting is a home-from-home environment for children as much as possible. Children will feel valued, loved, listened to, and well cared for at Little Acorns. We’ll reassure them when they need it, communicate well with parents/carers, discuss any challenges and work to address them speedily and in the most effective ways. We have children’s best interests at heart, so parents can rest assured that their little ones are kept safe, happy and well and, even if not immediately, they’ll grow to love being at the nursery. A couple of recent testimonials prove the point beautifully (hover over them to pause):
One of the most widely accepted truths among professionals involved in ‘early years’ education is that play is incredibly important to children. That’s not just because it comes naturally to them and is fun; play is the key tool through which children learn about themselves, each other, and the world around them. Indeed, the act of playing benefits children in a wide array of profoundly beneficial ways, including socially, mentally, physically, and emotionally. With that in mind, today’s post highlights some of the many benefits of play to children, particularly in their early years. So, if you have a child under five, take a look and you’ll soon see why encouraging your little one to play in a variety of ways will bring out the very best in them and help set them up for life.
One of the most obvious things about children’s play is that often it gets them exerting themselves physically, as they run, climb, jump, make, create, and construct. Such activities help them to master gross and fine motor skills, balance, movement, and coordination. All such skills are enhanced significantly through play and are a fundamental building block of children’s development.
Right from an early age, the act of playing helps in the development of young minds and even contributes to the rapid growth of new connections in the brain. This is true even for babies, whose key tool to learn about the world is through play, as they explore with their senses as well as by reaching out to grasp toys and objects around them.
Whether playing with peers or with parents, the need to gradually master communication and language is imperative. Play helps that to happen in the most natural of ways. All the time they’re playing, children are naturally communicating, picking up new vocabulary, learning new phrases, getting to grips with grammar, and so on. Play is indeed a wonderful facilitator of communication and language.
Playing is an integral part of every happy childhood. It’s fun and, put simply, makes children happy. That’s wonderful for children’s emotional and spiritual well-being and the importance of that cannot be overstated.
As we have seen in this article, play benefits children in a completely holistic way. Play enhances their lives through a multitude of benefits that include improved skills and abilities, a deeper understanding of the world and society, solid friendships and the myriad of opportunities that all of that will bring. Play also fosters a deeper love of learning, because play makes learning enjoyable. Indeed, through play, children explore, discover, and learn instinctively — with zero ‘friction’. As such, play should be at the very core of every child’s learning and development journey.
