Another muffin tin lunch

I have so much fubn with these lunches and Joshua loves them. Dont show them all on here but they are so versatile!! any theme goes!!!

1. Juice
2. Rice cakes
3. Yoghurt with smarties on top
4. |Dried apricots
5. cheese biscuits
6. I cant remember what that one was...sorry

lots of love
Ellie xxx

colour!

Found these lovely little ideas, so thought I would share them:

lolly sticks with felt sewn jackets for colour matching!

taken from http://sstorywindow.blogspot.com

also clothes pegs can do the trick too:

Taken from http://wendyjanelle.blogspot.com

you could also go about making a drop box like these:

taken from  htpp://happyhooligans.wordpress.com
and

taken from http://playathomemom3.blogspot.com

this one is a lovely idea as I know how much Joshua loves pom poms! (and saying the word!)

taken from http://spiralmontessorimama.blogspot.com/2009/04/on-pl-shelves-this-week.html
have fun
Lots of love
Ellie xxxx

glow sticks and shaving foam

I managed to pick up these glow sticks at Wilkinsons for 35p for 2 (very reasonable I thought!). Joshua had a lot of fun with them in the bath! Highly recommend it! And apparently if you break open the sticks and add the contents to a bottle of bubble mixture you get glow in the dark bubbles!!!

also shaving foam and food colouring makes great paint for the bath!!!

lots of love
Ellie xxxx

Welcome To Teddy and Monkey!

Hi I'm Ellie, a full time mum who is also a qualified early years teacher and Infant massage instructor and has over 15 years experience of working with children, including those with special needs. I also have a psychology degree with specialist knowledge of child development and behaviour.

I offer classes in infant massage instruction and child development. I also offer advice and guidance on activities and 'make at home' toys to stimulate your baby's development and learning.

I offer Infant massage instruction to mums and babies from 6 weeks to crawling and baby development classes to 0-6 months, 6-12 months, 1-2 years and 2-3 years.

I called the company Teddy and Monkey after my son's love of two small comforters that he took everywhere with him (and still does!).

On this blog I will share with you my ideas and all the things I have picked up over the years working with children and as a mum.

I hope you enjoy it and most of all have fun!!

Lots of love
Ellie xxx

water beads!

I had to buy some of these!!! everyone has been talking about them on the blogs I have been reading and they are awesome!!! they feel really soft and cold and Joshua played with them for ages! they also bounce!! I picked up a jar from the pound shop. They seem fine so far although Joshua has broken a few of them!

Highly recommend them for sensory Play!!

lots of love
Ellie x

A crafty Xmas

Me and Joshy spent today making chrsitmas decorations before having dinner with family. We made a chrsitmas tree out of a cardboard box. Joshua had a lot of fun sponging the paint onto the box and then mummy cut it out in to the shape of a tree :

we stuck a star on the top. We then spent the rest of the time making baubles. There was glitter everywhere! Joshua particularly liked shaking the glitter and as you can see there is a lot of it about! I will cut these out at a later date and stick velcro or blutac to the back so he can stick them to his tree!! We had a lot of fun doing this! definitely an activity I will repeat...although I know I will still be finding glitter in the summer!!!

after we had finished the baubles Joshua didnt want to stop so I let him carry on on another piece of card! I will think about what to do with these later (maybe frame them? ) anyway here he is getting 'stuck' in!

Cant wait to move on to the next thing!!!
Lots of love
Ellie xxxxx

sensory bottles

These bottles are fantastic fun for little ones!!
First find several empty water bottles (these are best as they are clear). Fill them with one of the following:


from left to right:
1. Water, oil and coloured sand (effects similar to a lava lamp)
2. Density stack - from top to bottom Honey, golden syrup, water, baby oil, vodka (you cant really see it here but the layers are very obvious
3. Water with beads, glitter, coloured marbles, a feather, bits of pipe cleaner etc
4. Marbles and shampoo (this one is very cool!!)

Be sure to glue the tops on the bottles to avoid the obvious mess!! (I found hot glue gun glue the best but PVA worked ok)

Joshua had a lot of fun with these and I have since made another one containing sand and small objects for him to find!!

lots of love
Ellie xxx