The importance of Outdoor play despite the weather !

 Whatever the season there is no excuse not to go out and play outdoors!

It doesn't matter if it's too hot out there (put on a hat and sun cream) or if the leaves are turning brown, the conkers are looking ready to drop. It is raining ,when doesn't it rain in this country. It can be tempting what ever the weather to just plonk them in front of Cbeebies and run for your computer catching up on Twitter or Facebook. Though hopefully you are reading this at at sensible time when your little angels have got to bed after you've been playing outside.The weather is not an excuse not to get out and there and  play. You must have all seen the various government campaigns on the television at the moment encouraging your to take exercise of at least 60 minutes outside. And this doesn't even have to cost you any money in most cases.

At my school we have a canopy so they can play outside even when it is raining. We also have a welly shed and raincoats. So they can play in the puddles, stamp on those crunchy leaves, make mud pies and of course the child hood favourite making homes for wriggly worms. Though making their homes out of stones was not a good idea I discovered as a child !. You don't even need toys as they will produce their own toys from what ever is around them.

A canopy makes out door play accessible in all weathers.

Well of course that’s an appealing thought but what about all that outside play that the children got during the summer? Why let it stop just because it’s a bit colder! A few layers, a raincoat and trousers and a pair of wellies and they are all set. In the colder months you don’t even need to give them toys to play with as the changing seasons and the natural toys that they are producing will be enough to keep them entertained.

A sandpit is a marvellous addition to outdoor play just make sure it has a cover otherwise it will turn into a giant kitty litter. It doesn't even have to be an expensive sandpit it can be one you've made your self . Just cover it with tarpaulin.

(photo used with permission from @chocorange )

Just make  sure the children have suitable waterproof clothing on if they go to play outside when it wet.

If a child could design their outdoor space it would be naturalized with plants,flowers,dirt,sand,mud and insects,but would also be rich with a wide variety of play opportunities of every imaginable type.If children could design their outdoor play space then this would further enriching their developmental learning environment and they would want to stay all day. I know as its a hard job getting the reception children in from their outdoor play !



So before you reach for the safety of plonking them in front of a dvd, why not turn off the television get the wellies on( Hunter Wellies if you want to be a scrummy yummy mummy ), dig out a magnifying glass and go looking for insects?( No pulling the wings of fairies !!! ) Or build a den or a fort ?

If you don't get your child into the outdoors they are never going to build up their immunity and be able to fight off those coughs colds and other nasty bugs!

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So get out in the outdoors and just have fun what ever the weather ! It is England after all.

Rollie is bowled over by @HastingsCrystal and a bowl giveaway.

Word had got out that Rollie had been offered a bowl to review and would have to give it back. No the bowl was not gold plated and neither did it belong to Paris Hilton fuzzy handbag dog. So the lovely Hastings Crystal Company stepped to the rescue they have good taste being Chelsea supporters like Rollie.

Rollie is a Chelsea fan.

So here is  Rollie  waving a paw at me to go fetch his food! to put in his personalised bowl. Rollie and I are really please with it the quality of the bowl is outstanding. It was promptly delivered and beautifully wrapped. I wouldn't hesitate to order from Hastings Crystal again. They sell everything you name it they sell it.

So please go and say hello to them on twitter wouldn't want to let Rollie down would you ?

So the very nice people at HastingsCrystal are letting me give away one bowl either a cat bowl likes Rollie's or a dog bowl?There is a choice of colours in each either blue or pink. Delivery will take up to 10 days as the item is personalised.

The personalised dog bowl.

The personalised cat bowl.

To be in with a chance of winning one bowl you must follow the two steps below.

1. So to be in with a chance of winning a bowl you need to go visit Hastings Crystal and comment back here with your favourite item.

2.  Tweet " That @HastingsCrystal and http://ninjakillercat.blogspot.com/ have bowled me over"

Ends 25th September 2011

(Disclosure Hasting Crystal gave Rollie the bowl to keep and Rollie the cat views and my views are entirely are own)

RSPCA tweetathon -Rollie the cat contribution

The RSPCA did a tweetathon to raise awareness of the work they are doing, I was proud to do this being a cat owner myself as you might have guessed by the blog title. Though Rollie the Ninja cat is really quite fluffy really... mostly.

The RSPCA has a 24 hour service which can be of crucial benefit to you sometime in your life. I know it has for me, many moons ago when I had a different cat. Myself and my husband went to see batman and when we came back the cat had caught a bat. To be honest there was not a lot we could do for the bat except call the RSPCA who in touch put us in contact with some lovely chap from a bat rescue group. Bats you see are a protected species. And another time I used their services was when I found an injured cat outside my house late at night, I didn't hesitate I just called the RSPCA and they arranged for me to take it to an emergency very late at night.


The one thing  I didn't know was that the RSPCA has tirelessly be working for animals since 1824 in promoting kindness and protection. Today the RSPCA receives an emergency call every 30 seconds - which is more than 1.25 million phone calls a year. Every day the RSPCA responds to around 1,000 incidents a day, rescuing,caring and re-homing animals that have been trapped, abandoned or hurt whether it's 2pm or 2am. Whats;s more ,the RSPCA is funded entirely by voluntary donations.

Here are some links to adoption stories and information.

• While you can search for puppies, kittens and even ponies via http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/pets/rehoming/petsearch the special cases of Poppy, Lady, Sooty and Inca really show the personalities behind each animal waiting for a new home - http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/pets/rehoming/specialappeals.
• The RSPCA take especial care that animals are all assessed to ensure they find a perfect match, for example they test how the animal reacts around other animals, adults and small children before it is listed for adoption. The same care is paid to finding a responsible and loving owner for the animals – in person and at home assessments are carried out, and a follow up visit once you have taken the animal home. More information can be found on any of the site’s adoption pages – e.g. http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/pets/rehoming/petsearch/details/-/Pet/ELMA/ref/57685/rehome/
• This care and attention leads to some very happy endings, read some of the successful adoption stories here - http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/pets/rehoming/successes.
• An offbeat but heart warming story is how Paul O’Grady adopted Winston the wheelie bin lamb – read more about it and watch the video at http://www.rspca.org.uk/media/news/story/-/article/EM_Paul_OGrady_adopts_wheelie_bin_lamb.

My own cat Rollie.

Please visit and donate if you wish  http://donations.rspca.org.uk/247/online.aspx?seg=11CIN30262 

So even though this tweetathon is now over they are many animals that still need you help.

 Rollie doesn't mean to be rude really....

I have fun with my cat so please donate( or even adopt) from the RSPCA  if you wish to to bring joy in to an animals life.

Here be Dragons.. Fuelsave with Shell review

Now keeping your child or teenager amused in the holidays in indeed a hard task. In this day and day when families are trying to live more frugally and you are counting every penny. Mr T  has just about forgiven me for  hiring a cleaner for the afternoon which cost wait for it £72.. I was rather gobsmacked at the cost because I thought it was £12.00 an hour but what I didn't factor in was the troop of cleaners that turned up on my doorstep (equated to 6 hours cleaning). You see there was three of them and they were here for two hours. Do you  think I  was has bamboozled? All I know that the cleaning gave me a bench mark to work from as my house is now tidy. Mr T says you live and learn , I was really tempted to get them back and clean my kitchen . Mr T has now furnished me with some more cleaning products after muttering it was half his overtime. I think he was just a bit narked because it meant he would have to wait for his new camera. He has two cameras already but this is a camera you can put in your pocket. ! And T does like his gadgets which I will now have to dust myself.

Back to family fun, my husband in his wisdom decided we all should go on a family walk get fit . Yes it was one of those let's go and walk where I walked when I was small. Don't get me wrong I enjoy a gentle walk and yes I am trying to lose weight, I'll be frank with you. With assurances that's it was a gentle walk , off we set. Stopping on the way to of course post a competition entry , well you never know do you?

Well we pull up in the car park it busy good sign , there is a tea room even better.Oh and what was this I spot an ice cream truck heaven. I am given strict instructions "We'll have one after  our gentle walk ". My heart drooped ... I needed sugar ! I did survive the walk however I DON"T do hills! And the walk I got dragged on ... no I willingly went on had huge mountains involved.


This is part of Mr T's plan to keep us fit part of a stay cation if you will. This leads me to an event I went to at  MOSI the Shell Fuel save event .  So I took the ever willing Mr T along to this vent  and J ad I entered up sitting next to Quentin Wilson. When you are faced with a famous person you should not really tell them   their name.

Quentin Wilson " My name is..."

Me interjecting "Quentin Wilson" I did a some point stop shaking his hand.

I am really sure that he did in fact know his own name!

 Thus followed a lovely conversation about family and blogging stats. After all this the wonderful Mr Wilson gave an information talk on Shell's new initiative which is all to save Fuel while you are driving.

This is just before Quentin whisked MR T off to give him some driving tips on how to save fuel. Mr Wilson gave my husabnd some vlauable driving tips which can be found on this website . I always knew my husband wore the wrong shoes while driving ( No , he doesn't wear high heels , while driving !)

The lady from Shell explaing how the new Fuel works ( Which depending how you drive Can save up to 1p per litre of Fuel)

I am so glad they have an informative website I go refresh my memory with all the facts and figures we were bomabrded with in an engaging manner.

I believe I am looking at the fuel injection part of the car!

And even the cab drivers from all over the Uk are getting in on the act. Here are the same tips that Quentin Wilson gave my husband.

A lady who featured on Dragon's Den gave us the run down on her product the Tray kit.


Thank you Shell for a fun and informative day.

Some lovely bloggers that were at the event.

Quentin Wilson again .

Moving from Reception to Year one transition help .

Working in an infant school is great , being their inspiration means the world to me, I say this because at the term received many gifts. It wasn't the wine or the chocolate that touched me but the cards, one in particular that had a sentiment from a parent. "............. comes home speaking of you fondly, thank you for making her Year 1 a magical time" I know that this child will make a happy transition into year 2 with absolutely no problems. For some children this however is not the case, so here are a few tips they make help the transition from reception to year one. pre Year one is know as EYFS ( Early Year foundation Stage) with a huge emphasis on play and free flow between the classes. There are structured activities within this but it is more relaxed.

So my top tips from moving from  Reception to year one are:

1. Remind them that when they moved from nursery to reception they had less play than when they did at nursery.


2. If they have siblings explain that will will leaning things to teach them and even yourself as parents. We all like to learn new things don't we?

3. Factor in treats and rewards to counteract the fact that there will be less playing, This doesn't have to cost you any money even a trip to the park can help.

4. If its of real concern have a word with the new class teacher before they start, sometimes they may have be split up from their friends. This is less likely to happen in year 1 but nether less it might, this is more of an issue in the transition from Infants to Juniors.


4. Don't forget they have just had  six weeks off, that is enough to confuse and disorientate the adults let alone the children.

5. Remind them that their Play times will be an opportunity to let off steam. I know that at my school time we have 'Golden Time ' where some sort of treat comes into play.


6. Routine is key try and keep to a routine during the holidays. They may go to bed later during the holidays, but week by week gradually bring this make to their usual bed time that they have when they are at school. Also always  make sure that they have had breakfast before they go to school, and not on the way to school. it is hard sometimes when you have a line line of children behind you making you look like ' The Old woman who lived in a shoe'

6. Encourage their development of characters they are keen to  be individuals , but need the safety nerd of the herd of the classroom!

7. Any child can find it hard to make the transition , I am not going to say its just boys that have these problems. It is the step up in concentrating that can also before an issue, So play games that help with with this situation again from snap - junior monopoly. Perhaps have a toy that will help them  go to school and be waiting for them when you pick them up.

8. Accept it is going to me a little tough for the first few weeks and don't forget the teacher/ teacher assistant is just as likely to be stressed ( despite it being their job)

9. Make them part of the process I can stress how important this is. Let them within reason choose their school shoes, bag etc. It really does make them feel grown up, though at the same time it has to be fun they are only children after all.

10.  Don't mourn them going into year one , I know its hard seeing them grow up. Try and focus on what joys and achievements this next stage will bring.

Also my school each class has its own bear which you can take on holiday or for the weekend . This teddy bear follows the class through their time at the Infant school, I think this is very sweet and another nice touch that makes the transition from school year to another school year that much easier.