This page is a quick link to my (or my childrens) favourite resources/recommendations. I will update links and information as I go along.
Baby and Toddlers:
Confident Baby Care and Confident Toddler Care by Jo Frost - A complete easy to read guide to all aspects of having a baby/toddler. Lots of strategies and ideas on all aspects of parenting including books and toys for children, recommendations. It is easy to read and I found the advice really straightforward and worked well with my boys.
Nappies. For those of you looking to explore real nappies. I would recommend the nappy lady. She is great at giving advise and has very helpful videos. I also purchased some of my nappies from the natural baby shower company. They have great service and good prices. They stock other items as well that you don't find in the high street baby stores so if your looking for something different, try them.
Whats going on? I really like netmums site. It lists local activities, suppliers for all thing related to mums. It has an area where you can chat with other mums who are going through the same issues as you. There are money saving and organising tips. There is also a big section on recipes, great for family meals. It also has a free local for sale board.
Freebies. When you become pregnant, its worth signing up to all the mother and baby clubs as you can get discounts and free items. My favourites were boots (free gifts and advantage points), tescos (clubcard points and offers), mothercare (they do loyalty evenings and discounts), Pampers and Bounty (free packs through pregnancy, birth, baby and toddler). Offers and free gifts do change so its worth doing some research. Also look into the formula companies as they often have free gifts/samples you can claim too. I also use babies 'r' us but find they offer more discounts rather than free things/events.
Baby books - I liked the Roger Priddy baby board books. They were bright colourful photographs of everyday objects. I feel it helps to encourage speech and personally prefer to show them pictures of the actual objects rather than drawings. I also liked the baby bible book. Simplified bible stories over 2-3 pages with a short prayer to encourage them in daily reading/prayer times.
Toys - After 4 boys the toys at this age, toys that stood the test of time were small easy to handle teether rattles/teddies and baby gym mats from ELC, balls, stacking cups (great for the bath too), fisher price door (kids loved opening and closing, light switches and door bell buttons to press), activity cube, shape sorters. When we moved to more toddler age, wooden blocks, hammer and wooden peg sets, walkers, duplo, music rattles and toys, ball pop, plastic cars and whizz around garage,
Preschooler:
God and me - morning devotional book for each day of the year - talking about God and character traits ie sharing, kindness etc.
The Big Picture Bible book - I like this as it tells the story of Jesus through the old testament too.
Books - Dear Zoo, Going on a bear hunt, Each Peach Pear Plum, Peek-a-boo, The Gruffalo series, Usbournes the noisy book series and as they get a bit older in this bracket Julia Donaldons - A squash and a squeeze, Stick man and Monkey puzzle. Alfie and Annie rose stories, Aliens love underpants, You are mine and You are special by Max Lucado. Thomas the tank engine series and Dr Seuss series.
Toys - Water play table, footballs, wooden train track set and engines, scooters and peddle bikes, happy land, figures (superhero), plastic Thomas train set where the engines power themselves around the track. Scooters/trikes. Kitchen and shop play. Colouring, rub ons, stencils and sticker/magic paint books.
Games - Pop up pirate, build a beetle, connect 4, matching pairs, bingo, snap using alphabet and number cards.
Infants:
I still used The Big Picture Bible book but also started to introduce the Jesus Storybook Bible. This book is more detailed and the stories are longer as their attention grows.
Books - If I had a green nose by Max Lucado, Dr Seuss, Burglar Bill, Apple tree farm series, Mr Men, Ladybird fairy tale books, WOW information encyclopaedia books
Toys - still lots of figures of the latest action hero but normal lego is added in along with geo mags. Big builder.
Games - Guess who? Operation, space attack
Junior School:
Veggie tale devotions on character and a Children's NIV or ESV bible as they became more competent at reading.
Books - Horrible Histories/science/geography, Treasure Island, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, David Walliams books, Harry Potter books. Some of my children really like Captain Underpants (boy humour books).
Toys - lego sets, remote control vehicles, science sets, trampoline and basket ball sets.
Games - Monopoly, Uno, Cluedo, scrabble, countdown, cards,
Toys - After 4 boys the toys at this age, toys that stood the test of time were small easy to handle teether rattles/teddies and baby gym mats from ELC, balls, stacking cups (great for the bath too), fisher price door (kids loved opening and closing, light switches and door bell buttons to press), activity cube, shape sorters. When we moved to more toddler age, wooden blocks, hammer and wooden peg sets, walkers, duplo, music rattles and toys, ball pop, plastic cars and whizz around garage,
Preschooler:
God and me - morning devotional book for each day of the year - talking about God and character traits ie sharing, kindness etc.
The Big Picture Bible book - I like this as it tells the story of Jesus through the old testament too.
Books - Dear Zoo, Going on a bear hunt, Each Peach Pear Plum, Peek-a-boo, The Gruffalo series, Usbournes the noisy book series and as they get a bit older in this bracket Julia Donaldons - A squash and a squeeze, Stick man and Monkey puzzle. Alfie and Annie rose stories, Aliens love underpants, You are mine and You are special by Max Lucado. Thomas the tank engine series and Dr Seuss series.
Toys - Water play table, footballs, wooden train track set and engines, scooters and peddle bikes, happy land, figures (superhero), plastic Thomas train set where the engines power themselves around the track. Scooters/trikes. Kitchen and shop play. Colouring, rub ons, stencils and sticker/magic paint books.
Games - Pop up pirate, build a beetle, connect 4, matching pairs, bingo, snap using alphabet and number cards.
Infants:
I still used The Big Picture Bible book but also started to introduce the Jesus Storybook Bible. This book is more detailed and the stories are longer as their attention grows.
Books - If I had a green nose by Max Lucado, Dr Seuss, Burglar Bill, Apple tree farm series, Mr Men, Ladybird fairy tale books, WOW information encyclopaedia books
Toys - still lots of figures of the latest action hero but normal lego is added in along with geo mags. Big builder.
Games - Guess who? Operation, space attack
Junior School:
Veggie tale devotions on character and a Children's NIV or ESV bible as they became more competent at reading.
Books - Horrible Histories/science/geography, Treasure Island, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, David Walliams books, Harry Potter books. Some of my children really like Captain Underpants (boy humour books).
Toys - lego sets, remote control vehicles, science sets, trampoline and basket ball sets.
Games - Monopoly, Uno, Cluedo, scrabble, countdown, cards,
