by CoombeMill
27 March 2013 12:57
Hooray for Horrible Histories
Everyone with a child in primary school will have heard of the horrible histories books. Loved by teachers, kids and parents alike they captivate the young with fun facts from history in a way that is fun and engaging, just as learning should be. All of my children will happily recite the words from the Henry the 8th song, yet no one made them learn it. I am the biggest fan and wish more subjects could be given the horrible histories treatment.
Bring the books to life
New to the shops in March are some lovely Horrible Histories Toys to support the books. They come in handy starter packs of Roman and Egyptian figures for £14.99 and battle sets for £9.99 complete with Action cards, instructions and all you need to start to play. If your children have some Easter Money to spend this could be the answer; available to buy from John Lewis, Amazon, Smyths and Toys R Us.
For building up a collectors set there are individual characters to purchase. These retail at just £1.99 and I can see becoming the latest playground must have with pocket money savings. There is a childish excitement to opening the shiny packs and assembling the characters.
My children were quick to open up the sets and set up a battle ground in the garden with twigs laid out as the dividing line between armies. There are handy Action cards to create battle scenes from the most basic to more complex games depending on the age of the child. Mine took a cursory look and soon it fired up their imaginations for how the battle would be played.
The range is aimed at six to eight year old children and I would say this is about right. My triplets are eight and certainly didn't feel it was in anyway beneath them, even the 10 year old came over to join in for a while. The pieces of armour are a little fiddly to attach for less dexterous children but the base and the figures are very simple to construct and arrange. Catapults and pigs are all ready to go so it is just a case of open and play! Hours of fun with some good team work, negotiation, some heated discussion and imagination. The sort of play I am always keen to encourage.
Horrible History Toys get the thumbs up from us.
Check out the official web site at www.horriblehistoriestoys.co.uk for more information, sign up to their newsletter and see the characters at play.
Disclosure: Disclosure: I was given my Horrible History Toys to review for this post. However, the views and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
by CoombeMill
5 September 2012 22:44
Every Toddler will want one!
Whether it is carrying Lego pieces indoors or sand, grass or chippings from the garden or park, this truck is sure to be a favourite toy for any preschool child. It is solid and robust and perfect for hands that are beginning to coordinate. Careful treatment is no issue here. They can even go in the dishwasher for a safe and hygienic clean. This makes it fun for the kids and relaxed for parents.
Ethically produced
The Dumper Truck is made in California by Green Toys and sold here by the lovely from Roobub and Custard as part of her Recycled Plastic Toy range. It is made from recycled milk bottles and other environmentally safe products with no nasty metal pieces, though you would never know it as it has a perfect quality finish. To date over ten million milk cartons have been recycled into the green toys range, so they must be popular! We have one here in one of the play areas at Coombe Mill and I can vouch for how well it stands up to good use! Retailing at £20.95 it is a toy that will outlast its user so great value for money.
Win a Toy Dumper Truck with Roobub & Custard and Coombe Mill
I have one Dumper Truck to send free to a lucky winner. All you have to do is leave a comment below saying that you'd like to enter, remember to also leave a way for me to contact you.
To increase your chance of winning:
Follow Roobub&Custard and Coombemill on Facebook and leave a separate comment here to say you have done so with your facebook name.
For an additional entry, like Roobub&Custard and Coombemill on twitter and leave an extra comment here with your twitter name.
For one final entry, please tweet the following sentence and leave another comment to say you have done so:
I have entered to win a child's toy dumper truck from @RoobubCustard with @coombemill here http://bit.ly/TnYep1 Why don't you? Pls RT
The competition is open to UK residents and will close on Wednesday 19th September at midnight with the winner announced the following morning. Good luck to all taking part.
Disclosure: I was given a Dumper Truck to review for this competition and keep for our holiday visitors to use. However, the views and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
This Competition is now closed. I am delighted to announce the winner via Random.Org as Michelle Fullerton
Well done Michelle a lovely toy dumper truck will be on its way to you!
True Random Number Generator 1 14146 Powered by RANDOM.ORG
by CoombeMill
5 May 2012 09:00
Weather from the BBC
So it was officially the wettest April on record, I guess it was always going to be after the BBC announced their hose pipe bans! Please BBC, don't go forecasting of a BBQ summer next!
Rain, rain we don't care!
There is no keeping my 6 indoors whatever the weather is up to! In fact I think they possibly stayed out longer in the rain last weekend than usual! Whether it was a quick jump around in the garden or a trek down the banks of the river they really didn't mind that it was raining and cold. Clio in complete denial insisted on wearing her new birthday leggings and t shirt and going bare foot, seemingly unaware it was only six degrees outside!
Our Trampoline saves the day
I love these Pictures of Jed and Theo after a wet day with only indoor play at school. They couldn't even wait to change out of their school uniforms, instead dashing straight from the car to over the lane to our trampoline. There they let off steam for an hour while it poured down on them. They were having so much fun I just left them too it and resigned myself to another wash load that evening.
Lucky on the Farm
We are lucky to have the space and freedom here on the farm, but even if we didn't live here I think my children would still need to find a way to release some energy outdoors and I know many of you agree too as I have had some lovely links to the site in April through sun and rain. Thankfully the week here ended so much better than it started, we even cycled to and from school, a 5 mile round trip with some serious hills!
April's Winner for Country Kids
Once again choosing a favourite link up for the month for the lovely Coombe Mill kids sun Hat has left me agonising, some lovely outdoor learning ideas from Cerys , simple fun days out that really worked from PixiesPocket , Nicola and Emma B and Great coverage of the National Trust 50 things before your 12 from and but I have finally decided on this one from mumofthreeboys for their amazing trek up Snowdon as shared in this post http://mumofthreeboys.wordpress.com/2012/04/20/hiking-up-mount-snowdon-with-young-three-children/ . Angoe, Please DM or email me your details to send our sun hat out and coax out the sunshine for summer!
Joining In
Please stay with me supporting outdoor adventures for children into May, grab the badge and link up. Anything with kids outside is welcome, from fun in the garden to a family day out.
by CoombeMill
19 November 2011 17:07
Country Kids is in week 6!
When I began this linky I did promise that my favourites each month would receive a free Coombe Mill Kids sun hat; a little thank you for taking part and something to help the children enjoy the outdoors and stay sun safe in summer.
Here are all the lovely entrants from the first 5 weeks, any help on deciding on who should have the 1st hat much appreciated!
Round up of weeks 1 - 5
Next week I will create a top 5 shortlist and announce who will have the 1st of many hats the week after. If I am dragging the process out a little, it is only to have an opportunity to showcase all the wonderful pictures you have captured to date of your little ones enjoying the magic of the great outdoors.
Without further ado, here Comes week 6
Clio helping Daddy on the farm after school, balancing on the back of the trailer. How did Theo manage to be there?
Whether you have joined in before or popping by for the first time, please do come and link up with a picture or pictures of your children enjoying some fresh air. The countryside, the park or the back garden, rosy cheeks are healthy for kids at any time of the year.
by CoombeMill
12 November 2011 13:18
Are my Kids typical?
With 6 children in 6 years I suppose I have to expect a little banter, the odd fall out and a bit of possessiveness over toys. But when I signed up to 6 (OK not quite the right phrase) I really didn't know what I was letting myself in for. As babies and toddlers the squabbles were mischievous and even endearing at times but underneath
it all there was no doubt they adored one another. Tears and howls of "mummy" one minute were laughter and play again the next. Some days were a joy and I can happily recount them playing for hours imaginary games, with soldiers and army teams, in dressing up clothes together or with friends. Happy days! Equally I remember feeling exasperated, permanently mediating and apologising to other parents for my children as they laid into one another with a thump, punch, scratch or bite. Disgraceful behaviour with much shouting and time out on the naughty step imposed from me, or a real talking to from Daddy (worse).
I believed at the time that they would grow through this stage, that the playful squabbles would reduce and sensible polite young people would emerge. Either I was mad to imagine this or Nick and I have gone horribly wrong along the way somewhere with our parenting style!
Am I the Original Shouty Mummy?
I still have days when I feel I am endlessly nagging and shouting at one or another. Days when they just seem to team up and decide whose turn it is to goad me next. I can’t tell you how many times I wake up and say to myself, today I am going to be really patient with my children and understand and encourage them more. Then it all goes wrong even before they are even dressed for school!
Whose fault is it anyway?
If I am honest, when things kick off there is usually a reason. Addressing the problem is always better than just shouting, but I am human too and it doesn’t always happen.
Thank goodness for space!
Having the farm is my salvation. To me, the children are just like puppies. When they all become unreasonable or start play fighting in the house they all find themselves marched outside. A healthy run around and calm is restored. I have space to think and they have space to run off some pent up adrenalin. If I didn’t have the farm I would definitely make a point of taking them to a park or something for at least half an hour a day. They often do this after school as well. Once everyone has calmed down I can assess what is behind the behaviour. Invariably it is one of the following, all of which are easy enough to sort but not always easy to identify at the time!
Top causes of sibling fighting in our home
- Tired children – Too many late nights from after school activities etc leaving them prone to pick at one another.
- Hungry – It is close to dinner time and Mummy is running late for any number of reasons! This seams to affect children so much more than adults.
- Lack of exercise or change of scene– I find indoor play at school on wet days the top culprit here.
- Finally me being tired! If I am tired then a playful squabble which is nothing serious can be blown out of proportion by me. Then I find myself shouting at them when it is really me who needs the time out!
How do you cope?
I would love to hear your thoughts, is it just my kids? How do you diffuse fractious fighting?
