Summer has arrived at Crawford Childcare, Glanmire! Please remember sunscreen and hats as we are hoping to spend a lot of time outside over the next few months.

The toddlers have kicked off the summer months with a sudden interest in flowers – their colours and smells especially. We have made some beautiful sunflower crafts and even planted our own sunflower seeds – hopefully they will begin to sprout out soon. With a little care they should grow bigger than us. If your seedling grows this big after taking it home be sure to share a photo with us!

The babies have been busy making colourful butterflies and a group summer tree which has been personalised with their handprints. We have also been learning a butterfly song and lots of the babies have the actions. Just flap your hands like butterflies to:

“Butterfly butterfly
Fly fly away
Butterfly butterfly
Happy all day!”

The Montessori have had a very exciting time with their school tour preparations and visit to see Oreo and his other farmyard friends. Oreo lives in Tir Na Si Open Farm and is Crawford Childcare’s very own adopted rescue fallabella stallion – the smallest horse in the world! Some of Oreo’s friends who live with him on the farm include donkeys, cattle, pigs, deer, goats, alpaca, sheep, emus, poultry and more – we even get to feed and pet some of these on our visit. We also get to see a wildlife pond and hunt for fairies in the enchanted fairy woodland. There is a large outdoor playground, crazy golf and pony and trap rides included to. We then visit the indoor play area which has lots of fun and spills. The bus ride home is a lot quieter coming home than setting off as our pre-schoolers are tired after their expedition. Some children struggle to stay awake on the bus trip back to Crawford Childcare in Glanmire but the talk about the tour will no doubt last for a number of weeks.

Thank you to all the parents who were willing to help with the school tour to Tir Na Si without your support outings such as these would not be possible.