Little Acorns Stay and Play Group

One of the most beautiful shows I’ve ever seen. Highly recommend for under 5s

Hi all! Just a quick reminder that there is a Little Acorns Nativity service tomorrow at 10:30am.
Merry Christmas to everyone and see you in the New Year on Friday 13th January 2023. Love, K and the Nanas and Papas # #

Don't forget any puppets for Friday's story with Nana Ruth (I don't think the ones we will make will be dry in time)! # # #

Thank you to everyone who came on Friday! It was so nice seeing our little ones engaging in the craft; the chalk was certainly a hit! I loved the props Nana Ruth made for story time.
Next week we are having a messy play based on a cold climate so if you have any toy snow ploughs, penguins, polar bears, etc, please could you bring them to add to the imaginary play?
Thank you to those who have signed up for our little outing to see Father Christmas at Manor Farm. The most popular dates are as follows:
Afternoon of Sunday 18th December 2022
Saturday 10th December 2022
Sunday 11th December 2022.
Please let me know by this Thursday if you want a place as I am going to call Manor Farm and hold slots while we collect in the money?
Have a lovely week. # #

Update for seeing Father Christmas at Manor Farm:
Please see the photo and sign up tomorrow. If you are unable to come tomorrow, please message me privately and I will add your name and child's name to the list (please indicate their age). Thank you! Kelly # #

Thank you everyone for a great session and the huge amount of homemade cake Nanas!!! The craft acorns looked brilliant. I will cut them out next week. Speaking of next week, there is a planetary theme where babies can make handprint stars and toddlers can make chalk planets.
For those interested in the trip to see Father Christmas, I will contact Manor Farm to see if they will hold two potential slots for us while we decide a date and collect in the money. Therefore, next week, I will display a sheet of dates and times for us to sign up to as well as the cost.
Have a lovely week # #

Hi everyone! It was lovely to see so many families after the summer break. The children loved the new toys and played together very well. I did seeing some of the older children. I hope they have enjoyed their first few days at school.
Thank you to those families who have shown an interest in seeing Father Christmas at Manor Farm in East Leake. I have sent an email today to see what they can offer. I have given approximate numbers so any families who still want to come, just let me know or sign up on the sheet at Little Acorns.
Next week is craft week...yippee! We are making acorns with sponge painting and gold sequins. Those of you who want to make an extra one will be turned into a bauble for our Little Acorns Christmas Tree ready for the festival (fingers crossed there is one this year!). We will base our tree on the Gruffalo's Child.
On Friday 23rd September, I am offering a messy play based on a ice-cold climate. If you have any igloos, penguins, polar bears, seals, snow machines, etc which you would like to add, please bring them in the week before so I can include them on the morning.
Have a lovely week. Kelly # #

Hi Little Acorn families! I hope you have had a fun and safe summer. Little Acorns is open on Friday 2nd September at 9am. Every session is £3 per family. If you have taken a box of toys to clean, please can you bring it back. Alternatively, church is open this Sunday from 9:30am to 10am if that is easier.
Those of you that know me know that I LOVE Christmas and I have already been thinking about how we can celebrate it. Firstly, if the Christmas Tree Festival is going ahead this year, I would like to design our tree around the Gruffalo's child. Most of the activities I have planned are connected to it so it shouldn't be a mad rush towards Christmas when everyone is so busy! Also, I wondered if we wanted to arrange a Little Acorns outing to see Father Christmas at Manor Farm in East Leake. I am going to put up a sheet on the first Friday back for any families who are interested. If you are not able to come to the first few sessions, message me privately and I will sign you up. Once I have a rough idea of numbers, I can contact Manor Farm and see what they can offer us.
Take care and see you soon, Kelly # #

Hi everyone! I hope you are all okay. The Nanas and Papas have asked me to post this message ahead of the new term at Little Acorns. For the new term, some new toys and safer coffee mugs are being purchased. To help fund this, the entrance fee will now be £3 per family each week. The first day back will be Friday 2nd September. If you have taken any toys home to clean, don't forget to bring them back. Looking forward to seeing you soon, Kelly # #

What a cracking end-of-term celebration! Thank you to everyone who came and the Nanas and Papas for making it very special. It was great to enjoy the orchard and chase the bubbles around the trees!
As I said to one mum, it does leave you with a little heavy heart that we won't see each other for 6 weeks but watch this space for the first day back date and details. On behalf of everyone, we wish our oldest children a great start to school life. We will miss you!
Before I sign off, I just wanted to say a huge thank you, on a personal level, for the cards and gifts I received today. It was totally unexpected and it reflects what lovely families come to Little Acorns. There is such a warm and caring environment at Little Acorns which allows our children to flourish. Have a wonderful summer everyone. Kelly # #

Today the children had the opportunity to have a messy and edible play with a builder's yard! Great fun! Cake was delicious as always Nanas and it was lovely to sing to so many people to wish them a happy birthday. Enjoy looking through the snaps and next week is the last session before the summer hols begin. Have a good week # #

Aww! Happy Father's Day to all the special chaps in our lives. I am sure there won't be a dry eye to be had! All the Nanas and Papas would like to warmly welcome you to the Father's Day service at Church this Sunday, 10:30am.
There are only two weeks left at Little Acorns before the summer break. Next week will be a messy play (based on a builders yard) and the week after a special time in the local orchard.
Have a good week everyone # #

Welcome back everyone! It was a busy session today: making crispy cakes, painting feet and taking photos...not to mention the dancing and singing! It is a good job we had some delicious drinks and snacks to keep us all going - thank you Nanas and Papas. Enjoy the photos and see you next week (gifts for Father's Day is the activity) # # #

Hi Sarah here
Hope this is ok to share here. I used to work with Spark Arts and they run a fantastic pre school program.

Happy weekend everyone! It was lovely to see lots of families on Friday and some new ones too. We hope you all had a good time. Making the bunting for the Queen's Jubilee proved to be a popular activity. Nana Ruth is going to use them to decorate the lounge for us next Friday. Next week will be making crowns to make Little Acorns a Right Royal Occasion!!!
Just to let you know that Friday 27th May will be the last Little Acorns this half term. We will have a week off and return on Friday 10th June where we will be making crispy cakes and preparing some Father's Day cards. # # #

Would anyone be interested in a pack of ASDA's Little Angels size 6 nappies - free to a good home! # # #

Is it a bird...? Is it a plane..? No it's a peacock!!! Today we had great fun creating peacocks, ladybirds and eagles with the children's hand and foot prints. Thank you to those families who made one for the Church too. Look out for them in the front porch as you wonder by.
Next week we will be making some bunting ahead of the Jubilee celebrations. The children will be using staplers to attach their triangles to the ribbon so please accompany your child at the craft table. Have a good week until then. K and H # #

Get the paint ready...get the sponges ready...get the paper ready...let's get creative! It was lovely to see our Little Acorn families getting arty. There will be another chance to get arty next week as we are making winged creatures using hand and foot prints to make a hanging display in the main entrance to Church. I am sure we will make another one to take home too! Have a good week everyone # #

It was great to see everyone back and some new faces too! Thank you to Ruth for arranging the sunflower planting and another thank you to a special young lady for the cupcakes (happy birthday Helen!).
Next week we will be sponge painting. Have a good week # # #

Hi everyone! The spirit of Easter is certainly in the air and the children made some cracking (punn intended) cards! Thank you to the Nanas and Papas for the Easter treats too.
Little Acorns is now closed for the Easter break and reopens on Friday 29th April 2022. Have a lovely couple of weeks and take care, K and H # # #
P.S. There is an Easter egg hunt supported by Hathern's Youth Club. It is taking place on Friday 15th April and Saturday 16th of April, 11am to 3pm. Maps can be purchased at their stall on Cross Street opposite the school. Good luck!

Happy weekend everyone! Thank you to those who came yesterday. It was lovely to see so many families. Enjoy looking at the photographs!
Next Friday we will be making Easter cards with peel-off stickers. I can't wait to get creative with my little one! Kelly # # #

Thank you to all the families who came today. There was a lovely atmosphere and everyone looked so happy...playing hard, crafting hard and dancing hard!!! Thank you to the Nanas and Papas for looking after us today - Ruth the cake was scrummy. Enjoy looking through the photos.
Happy Mothering Sunday to you all. My family will be attending the service on Sunday (jewellery included!).
Have a good week # #

What a fun session! The children loved the messy play - eating and playing with it!! There was a real buzz across the room and I think every toy was played with. I know my little one was shattered at the end!
We are sorry that some families tried to join us this week but we reached full capacity. We want all families to have a safe and fun time and that was why we felt we had to put up a sign to say we were full.
Nana Ruth would like me to remind all families about the Mother's Day service taking place on Sunday 27th March at 10:30am.
Have a lovely week everyone # # #

Wow! What a fabulous turnout today! Thank you to everyone who came and I hope you had a great time. Making musical instruments was a hit and l loved the dancing at singing time! Nanas and Papas thank you for the delicious cake and endless cuppas!
Next week will be an edible messy play based on a farm scene. If your child has any allergies, please let us know. Have a wonderful week # # #

Hi all! I hope you all get to read this before tomorrow...
Helen has an almost full packet of size 5 nappy pants by Pampers if anyone would like them. She said she would bring them to the group tomorrow. See you in the morning # # #

Feeling the love today...! We had great fun making Valentine gifts. Enjoy looking at the children's creativity...
Today was the last session before half term but we will be back on Friday 25th February. I have planned a messy play activity that day: playing with water. You may want to bring a change of clothes for your child/ren! Take care, K and H # # #

Hi everyone! I just wanted to let you know I tested positive for Covid today. Both Ian and I haven't had the typical symptoms so I am really sorry if I have passed it on. I have only had a headache and a spell of feeling tired. Ian has a stuffy nose. # # #

I have come away dancing and singing to "wiggle, wiggle, wiggle...freeze!" Thank you for another cracking session everyone!
Next week is a child-led craft activity: Play Doh. I wonder what will be made?! Don't forget if you have any small pop bottle, please wash them and bring them the next time you come along.
Before I sign off, I just wanted to let all the families who live in Hathern know that a young lad, on a bike, is trying car doors. Our car was targeted in the early hours of Thursday morning so please make sure your car is locked. We think it is the same lad who tried a few cars in the village last year.
Have a lovely weekend everyone. Take care, K and H # # #

The hand of friendship...this was the theme for today's session! It was great seeing all the children's creations with their handprints, from independently painting their hand to others who decorated their pictures and made it their own.
Next week Nana Ruth would like to share a story about bread and fishes. Ellie with be running a craft activity to make a mobile and / or a basket of bread so get those colouring skills ready little ones!
Just a few notes...from next Friday masks do not have to be worn at Little Acorns but if you feel more comfortable wearing one then please do. Also, if you drink any small bottles of fizzy drinks, please could you wash and save the bottles? In a few weeks time I plan to make musical instruments with them! And finally...I promise! This Thursday coming is a singing and story time at Hathern's library. It starts at 10:30am and finishes at 11am. I know Gill and Anne would love to see families there.
Have a great week and enjoy looking at the photos # # #

Happy New Year to all the Little Acorn families!
So...in today's story Jesus was invited to have a meal with a friend and this was the basis for our activity: a messy play tea party. There were lots of vibrant colours, different textures and possibly new smells to explore and what a hit it was! Nana Ruth and I would like to arrange another messy play!
Next week's story is centred around Jesus helping a friend to get better so friendship is the core of our activities. For our youngest children, we will make a handprint picture to represent friendship. For our oldest children, we will make 'telephones' as it is always good to talk with friends!
Take care and stay safe. Kelly # # #