Search This Blog

Friday, April 26, 2013

AROUND THE WORLD ...

This term we are going around the world... we are issuing "passports " to the children visiting our Stay and Play sessions and inviting them to collect a weekly "stamp".  Once they have collected 5 stamps they can borrow one of our fabulous Play and Share sacks - absolutely FREE! (toy library membership is required).
Display of our journey around the world...


Having checked out some different modes of transport we set off this week for Australia.  We have looked at koalas, kangeroos and snakes but kept away from the Black Widow spiders ... we have sampled some Australian delicacies including some Anzac biscuits as Australia and New Zealand held their commemorative services for those who lost their lives in Gallipoli in 1915 on 25th April.

The recipe is as follows - (to make around 20 biscuits)

85g Porridge oats
85g desicated coconut
100g plain flour
100g caster sugar
100g butter
1 tbsp golden syrup
1 tsp bicarbonate soda

Pre heat oven to 180 deg
Mix oats, coconut, sugar and flour in a bowl
In a pan melt butter add golden syrup.  dissolve the bicarbonate of soda in 2 tbsp boiling water stir this into butter and syrup mixture.
Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the butter mixture.  Stir gently to combine.

Put dessertspoon fulls of mixture onto buttered baking sheets leaveing 2.5cm apart.  Bake for 8 - 10 mins until golden /  cool on wire rack.
Eat and enjoy!

Next week .... Africa here we come!  Do come along and join us!

Sunday, March 10, 2013

TOY AUDIT

Many thanks for bearing with us through our latest toy audit.  We are delighted to have now completed this task (for now!) and are now launching on the task of decluttering the toy lending room as we know to some it can be rather daunting even knowing where to start to look for what you want.

WATCH OUT FOR DUPLICATE OR EXCESS TOYS FOR SALE IN THE COMING WEEKS!

We are also launching our "outreach" projects whereby we are actively seeking play groups, toddler groups, childminder networks and nurseries to visit and demonstrate the value the toy library can bring to those in the rural community around us.

If your child attends any child care setting / group please think about recommending us to the leaders and passing on our contact details - or getting theirs - so we can make contact and hopefully bring about  a difference to more children and their carers.


Some of our most popular games...
Our promotion this month is for our most popular games so do come in and see what we have available.  Especially with the cold weather forecast, perhaps it is just what we need for Easter - some family games for fun and entertainment.  Games can be borrowed at 3 games counting as one choice and anything borrowed now will be yours for the whole Easter break at no extra charge.

Have you tried our Play and Share sacks - we now have 50 fully updated and bursting with activities - only an extra £1 to pay over and above your normal borrowing rate - a feast of fun and such good value for money!

Saturday, February 2, 2013

It's a chance to have your say...

Please take a few moments to take our on line survey to pass on your thoughts and comments about the toy library.

Follow the link below

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/B9P7FVD

Many thanks

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

MUSIC TALKS

IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO BOOK THE FINAL PLACES FOR THIS EXCITING ACTIVITY BEING OFFERED THROUGH THE TOY LIBRARY!

Next week sees the start of our music talks sessions where we have invited local childminders and early years practitioners to join staff and volunteers at the toy library in this exciting series of sessions.

Music Talks will be delivered by our local Musical Bumps organiser - Angela Bogie and will help build confidence and the repertoire of adults working with children to help their speech and language development.

The course details are as follows -
Location - Shepshed Toy Library, Hind Leys Campus, Shepshed, LE12 9DB
6 week accredited course on promoting communication through music for under 5’s.

Course dates: 16 / 23 / 30 Jan. & 20 / 27 Feb. / 6 Mar.

Wednesday afternoons 1.30 – 2.30

Open to childminders, early years practitioners and child care students, with children aged between 2 – 4 years - with their minded children!

Maximum 12 children permitted.

So please book to reserve a space.

Must attend all 6 weeks.

Toy Library Members Free. Others £10.

Contact: Shepshed Toy Library 01509 601146. / email: shepshedtoylib@tiscali.co.uk

This is what Musical Bumps has to say about it's course-
A unique six week programme for pre-school settings supporting the development of speech and language through music.

It is well known that musical activities support the development of speech and language – but choosing the right activities to plan for progression is key to success. Music talks helps to ensure that every child is a talker.

The Music talks programme:

• An experienced and skilled teacher delivers weekly music sessions focusing on speech and language.

• Learning is through playful activities and supports circle time as well as free play.

• Staff are actively involved in each session and encouraged to use the songs and games between visits.

• Best practice is modelled and demonstrated – offering practical CPD appropriate to each individual setting.

• Time for additional support; additional follow-up sessions may also be arranged.



Curriculum matters… Activities and repertoire are carefully chosen to support the

development of oral motor skills and incorporate the use of puppets, resources and

percussion. The songs and games provide practical support for delivering phases one and two

of the ‘Letters and Sounds’ phonics strategy. Transactional singing provides opportunities

for the development of conversational skills; in addition skills of listening, turn-taking and

team-work are reinforced and practised. Gross and fine motor skills, co-ordination, spatial

awareness, sequencing and patterning also feature as part of the programme, along with the

development of fundamental musical skills for both children and staff.

Resources matter… Our children deserve excellent resources. Clarity of sound from real

wooden percussion is incomparable. Good quality, versatile puppets (as opposed to commercial

characters) reflect a child’s real world and can persuade even the most reluctant child to

participate. Such resources also motivate and encourage practitioners – helping them to

enter into activities wholeheartedly.

Songs matter … A core repertoire of simple songs and rhymes is essential; it is vital to use

these with innovative and exciting activities. Music talks material includes traditional songs,

rhymes and melodies; new ways with old tunes, and always uses music appropriate for young

voices.

Music talks is devised and written by Sarah Carling, an advisory teacher for primary and

EYFS music, and draws on her extensive experience in settings across the UK.

DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS ONE OFF OPPORTUNITY

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

NEW YEAR - NEW YOU!

Happy New Year to all our members, followers and supporters.

We are starting the new year off with a concentration towards healthy bodies, healthy lifestyles and healthy children!

Over the next five weeks leading up to half term we are looking at -
Healthy Eating
Doctors / Hospitals
Dentists / Teeth
People Who help us
Sports and Physical fun

Our stay and play sessions will have activities to support these themes with role play and crafts.  The lending library will promote associated toys and games especially our "Play and Share" story sacks.

The sacks have all now been fully revised, updated and filled with toys, games, puzzles, books and pretend play items to support the themes or books they are centered around.  You may like to try

The Selfish Crocodile (Dentists)
Food fun - cooking with your little ones!
Handa's surprise - all that healthy fruit...
I can do it - encouraging independence and self skills
People who help us
Sports for fun
The Very Hungry Caterpillar

There are now 50 sacks to choose from - if you have never tried one - take advantage of our JANUARY SALE OFFER - All Play and Share sacks only £2 for pay as you go / £1 for pay in advance members and they count as only one of your toy choices!

See the full list of available sacks in the page - "Play & Share sacks"

Friday, November 9, 2012

NEW TOYS

We have been fortunate in acquiring some good quality toys and games from the Pre School Learning Alliance in Leicester which is shortly to cease operation.  The PLA Resource Centre in Knighton Lane, Leicester is however very much still operating - they stock a wide range of arts and crafts materials, wooden toys and games for sale - excellent quality Christmas present ideas!  They open Tues pm / Wed / Thurs / Fri am - flyers at the toy library will give you more information.

Here is a list of the new toys you will be able to try out -
INSEY WINSEY SPIDER COUNTING GAME
SNAILS PACE RACE
SPOTTY DOGS COUNTING GAME
BUILD A VILLAGE
WOODEN BEAR FAMILY 
BUILD A VILLAGE
NOSH
DOODLEBUGS GAME
SCAREDY CAT GAME
INTERSTAR CONSTRUCTION SET
COLORAMA
WOODEN TIC TAC TOE
MUSIC SET 1
MUSIC SET 2
SOUNDTRACKS AROUND THE WORLD
MATCH AND COUNT 
WOODEN THREADING SHAPES
FIVE LITTLE MEN SONG MITTEN
HONEYCOMB HIKE
CONNECTING PEOPLE
NUMBER CHAINS
FARM ANIMAL SORTING SET
MINIBEAST WOODEN DOMINOES
VET PUZZLE
DOCTOR PUZZLE
WOODEN NUMBER MATCHING BOX
WOODEN FISHING GAME
WOODEN HAMMER BENCH
TABLE FOOTBALL PUZZLE
SPORTS DAY PUZZLE
FEED THE BIRDS GAME

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Play & Learning Sessions

This week sees the start of our series of structured "guided play" sessions thanks to the funding support from the Lloyds TSB Foundation for England and Wales. 

We start with two sessions aimed at tactile and creative play inspired by Halloween and Bonfire Night.  Our activities will include food tasting - but only if you can pick it up with chopsticks!; splatter painting - aprons provided!; mini beast hunts .... but in jelly!; craft masks and bags to take home.

Posters are displayed around the toy library and we have leaflets to tell you about the other sessions leading up to Christmas.  We are extending the taster sessions we did last term on schema, treasure baskets and heuristic play to enable you to explore further the whys and wherefores of children's learning through play.

Do come along and support these sessions which are being run during our normal play times - this seems to suit the majority of our members having tried different days and times last term.  Normal stay and play charges apply.

Many thanks for your support