Looking for toddler activities this Lunar New Year?
We’ve got you covered. From Paper drums to puppet shows and stories to tell, there are all sorts of things you can do to celebrate the Year of the Dragon with your toddler. Scroll through, and Happy Lunar New Year!
Create A Paper Plate Chinese Rattle Drum
A cool fun craft using things you probably already have lying around in your toddler art supplies. It requires two paper plates, a pencil, some string, and some beads (or anything you can attach to the string!)
It takes a bit of adult supervision to staple things into place and hole punch a couple of holes in place, but it’s super simple and creates a fun toy!
Check out the video below by Maggie & Rose to find out more!
Folded Symmetrical Paper Dragon Art
2024 marks the year of the dragon, and this simple painting is a great way to celebrate it.
Get out an A4 piece of paper, your toddler-friendly paints, brushes (optional) and googly eyes/buttons/something for the eyes. Fold the A4 piece of paper in half and get your toddler to paint a pattern on one side of the folded A4. My toddler opted to use their fingers, so we have a cute patchy finger-paint pattern. Once they’ve finished their masterpiece, fold the painted side against the other to create a symmetrical pattern.
Glue on your googly eyes or buttons, and there you have it! Your very own zodiac dragon.
Go To Lunar New Year Themed Baby Or Toddler Activities / Classes
There’s a lot of variety over on Happity. And lots of activity providers love to hold themed baby and toddler classes. Just like Pickled Pepper Books have! Check in with your regular baby class and see if they’re holding any activities for the Lunar New Year.
Or check out the Mandarin tag to find a new class near you.
Paper Chain Dragon Puppet
This cute puppet craft may need a bit of assistance from an adult, but is a cute activity all the same! Cut up some strips of colourful card and then start to create a paper chain (glueing overlapping loops together). Then craft together a face and a tail and glue it on each end.
Check out the full process on this CBeebies video:
Find Lunar New Year activities For Toddlers On Twinkl
There are lots of crafts and activities you can do at home, but if you’re short on time and you’d like to find some easy ready-made activity sheets, then Twinkl offers a lot of free resources.
We did a quick search and found this cute craft pack. Check it out!
Lunar New Year Sensory Bin – Activities For Your Toddler
We love a sensory bin. They’re great for developing your toddlers’ fine motor skills and toddlers spend ages playing with them.
If you’re looking for inspiration, then we found this great one over on Gift Of Curiosity.
Chinese Fan Paper Craft
Paper fans are a nice and easy craft to make. It doesn’t take too many materials, and you don’t need to cut anything either. It’s just a matter of folding and glueing.
We’ve found this useful DIY tutorial below -but be sure to replace the glue with toddler-safe glue!
Tell Them The Story Of the Zodiac (The Great Race)
It’s a great story to share with your little ones and helps them understand the origins of having animals allocated to certain years. You can either tell it in your own words, or we found a video below from CBeebies telling the story very well with shadow puppets!
Figure Out What Zodiac Animal You All Are And Draw It
Drawing animals isn’t far away from what your toddler might already do, but it adds something special if it’s connected with them. Check out a Chinese Zodiac Calendar and then figure out with your children what animal they are in the zodiac. Then, get everyone to draw their own zodiac animal! A nice easy activity.
Want to get out and about, have fun with your baby or toddler, and meet other parents?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for the under-5’s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
How can you, as a parent or guardian, help to support your baby with their brain development?
Did you know that a newborn’s brain is a quarter of the size of the adult brain? But by six months old, it will have doubled in weight, and by five years old, a child’s brain will have reached 90% of its adult weight!
We’re joined by a guest expert from Family Corner, the family arm of the Early Years Alliance, who has offered some fascinating facts about baby brain development. Along with some fab advice as to what you as a parent or guardian can do to help support healthy baby brain development. Enjoy
Amazing Facts About Baby Brain Development
Your baby’s brain contains between 100-200 billion cells called neurons. By the age of five, your child’s brain will be nearly adult-sized. This rapid growth is due to more connections being formed between neurons, which means the brain cells are communicating with each other.
Some areas of the brain take longer to develop than others. One of the last areas to fully develop is the front of the brain which is responsible for more complex behaviours such as thinking and problem solving.
When neurons communicate, they start to form pathways in the brain. Strong pathways are needed for healthy development and will support your child to grow, develop, and learn. Neurons which do not communicate with each other will lose their ability to do so.
The Importance Of Healthy Brain Development For A Baby
Healthy brain development in the early years is vital for every aspect of your child’s development.
Babies learn from the behaviours of those around them. The quality of interaction with your baby can make a huge difference to their brain development. Good-quality interactions will also strengthen your bond and support your baby to have healthy relationships with others in the future.
It is important to remember that exposure to highly-stressful experiences can have a negative impact on a baby’s brain. Too many stress hormones over long periods of time can affect the development of pathways within the brain which can harm your baby’s long-term outcomes.
What Can Parents And Carers Do To Support Healthy Brain Development For Their Baby?
1. Be Responsive:
Responding to your baby in appropriate ways will help them to feel safe. Make eye contact when interacting with your baby. If your baby is upset, reassure them by comforting while speaking quietly and calmly. If your baby shows excitement, respond with smiling and use the tone of your voice to show you are excited too.
2. Physical Contact:
Touch releases ‘feel good’ hormones which are important for healthy human relationships. Daily activities such as feeding and washing all include touch. Cuddling, stroking or holding your baby when upset will also help them to feel safe and comforted.
3. Relax:
Babies pick up on emotional signals from others. It is important to be calm around your baby. Avoid rushing to get jobs done and build routines which are relaxed – for example, winding down routines before bedtime. Give yourself time to relax and enjoy your precious time together.
4. Play:
share fun activities and time together – for example, playing ‘peek-a-boo’ or singing nursery rhymes with actions. Use the tone of your voice and facial expressions to communicate positive emotions. These shared play activities do not cost money and are important in helping your baby to understand shared feelings.
5. Talking:
Talk to your baby lots! This could be counting the objects around you, talking about the weather, or what you will be doing later. Babies’ babbling will soon turn to early words, and the rapid development of language. Talking to your baby involves joint attention, turn-taking and a shared experience which are all crucial to healthy brain development.
Early Years Alliance
For more FREE information, advice and tips on supporting your child’s early learning and development, visit the Early Years Alliance’s Family Corner website. Family Corner is the family arm of the Early Years Alliance, offering expert articles, activity ideas and online learning sessions on key areas of child development such as learning through play, communication, behaviour, health, nutrition and wellbeing.
Want to get out and about, have fun with your baby or toddler, and meet other parents?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for the under-5’s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
What are the changes happening to free childcare through 2024?
As we are all looking for ways to save money, especially young families, any help offered is greatly welcomed. The rolling out of the government’s funding for childcare is a great change for the better, and will help many working families. But, government websites can be a bit overwhelming.
We’ve decided to break down different parts of the scheme, and summarise with some FAQs.
Quick Note: The details here are for families in England, for details in other parts of the UK, please check the Gov website. Also, “15 hours a week” is usually referring to term-time only, and your childcare provider may charge for meals, nappies and outings on top of your funded hours. Before you sign up to anything, it’s best to check the exact details with your childcare provider.
Hours For Eligible 3-4 Year Olds
A scheme that is already in place is funding for 3 to 4-year-olds.
All 3 to 4-year-olds in England can get 570 free hours per year. It’s usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year. (so term time) But you can choose to take fewer hours over more weeks, meaning you can take more hours on other weeks.
If you qualify for tax-free childcare (see the gov website for more details), then you could also qualify for 30 hours of free childcare for your 3 or 4-year-old.
Upcoming Changes:
April 2024 – 15 hours for2-year-olds
If you have a toddler who turns two on or before 31st March and you are an eligible, you can apply for up to 15 hours childcare. To check you qualify, you need to set up a Childcare Account on the Gov website.
If you have a Childcare Account already (if you are receiving tax-free childcare already you will have an account), log into this account. You will see dates for a 3-month window, for when you next need to reconfirm your eligibility for tax-free childcare. When it is time to reconfirm, if you still qualify, confirm the details about your work (and your partner’s, if you have a partner). You will receive a secure message on your childcare account confirming your eligibility. A further message will be sent with the unique code for your child’s funded hours. Keep this number safe, as your childcare provider will need it. Check that your childcare provider is accepting funded places, by asking them or checking your local council’s website.
It is recommended that you apply to get your code between 15th January -28th February 2024. This means you will not need to reconfirm your eligibility again before the offer starts in April.
September 2024 -15 Hours for 9-23 Months
Dates for applying and full details of the next stages of funding have not been shared yet. But it may be similar to applying for 15 hours for two-year-olds. Nearer the time the childcare choices website will give more information.
September 2025
In terms of long-distance future, in September 2025, there will be up to 30 hours for families with a child from 9 months old up to school age.
Helen’s Story
Helen Holding, Growth Marketing Assistant for Team Happity and a mum to a toddler (and another baby on the way!), shares her experience with the new childcare scheme:
I was initially overwhelmed by all of the different headlines saying “you can apply now” and was worried about missing out. As I am eligible with a two-year-old, I am keen to take up this new scheme. Once the time period for my reconfirmation on my childcare account came around, it was really easy and no different to what I do every 3 months anyway. Immediately, I received my unique code for my daughter as a secure message. I also had questions about when I go on maternity leave later in the year, and how that will affect funded hours for my two-year-old. I phoned the childcare helpline, who were really friendly and assured me I can still make use of the scheme for my toddler, even when on maternity leave.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I actually apply for two-year-old funding?
If you have a Childcare Account already (if you are receiving tax-free childcare already you will have an account), log into this account. You will see dates for a 3-month window, for when you next need to reconfirm your eligibility for tax-free childcare. When it is time to reconfirm, if you still qualify, confirm the details about your work (and your partner’s, if you have a partner). You will receive a secure message on your childcare account confirming your eligibility. A further message will be sent with the unique code for your child’s funded hours. Keep this number safe, as your childcare provider will need it. Check that your childcare provider is accepting funded places, by asking them or checking your local council’s website.
Do all nurseries and childminders etc accept 2-year-old funding?
Not all registered childcare providers will accept funded places. Please check with your childcare provider or look on your local council’s website.
Can everyone get 15 hours of free childcare for two-year-olds?
Not everyone. You need to meet the eligibility criteria, which is the same for tax-free childcare:
If you are not working and you have a partner who does work, you may be eligible, so it is worth checking on the Gov website.
If you are self-employed (or employed but do not get paid regularly), you can use an average of how much you expect to earn over the current tax year.
Can 3 and 4-year-olds still get funded hours?
All 3 and 4-year-olds can get 15 hours of free childcare, this is not subject to the eligibility criteria of other offers.
Does the funding cover everything?
No, it will only cover hours during term time. Your childcare provider may charge for meals, nappies, and outings on top of your funded hours.
If I am on maternity leave with my baby but I have a toddler in childcare, can I still get tax-free childcare and funded hours?
If you are on maternity leave with your baby, and have another child in nursery, then you can still get tax-free childcare and help with funding for your toddler. But you cannot get help with childcare for the baby that you are on maternity leave with.
I’m self-employed, can I still be eligible?
Yes, if you are self-employed, you will be asked for your UTR number. You can use an average of how much you expect to earn over the current tax year.
I get Universal Credit, can I still use tax-free childcare?
Yes, you can use tax-free childcare along with Universal Credit Childcare.
I use different childcare providers on different days, will the scheme still work?
You can use your hours at up to two different providers per day, as long as they are registered providers.
What if I use fewer than 15 hours of childcare per week?
If you use fewer hours per week, some providers will allow you to spread your hours across more weeks throughout the year.
Disclosure: Team Happity are not government officials, and do not claim to be. In writing this article, we are hoping to help families to understand this situation. Please check out gov.uk for the official guidance.
Want to get out and about, have fun with your baby or toddler, and meet other parents?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for the under-5’s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
Your first trip away driving a long distance with your baby is very new and exciting! It’s a big step and a wonderful new adventure for your family. That being said, a long journey for a baby isn’t always super easy, so it’s probably a good idea to do a few things beforehand to make the journey go as smoothly as possible.
With some preparation and a few tricks up your sleeve, you can turn a potentially stressful journey into a smooth ride for both you and your baby. Here’s our guide to help.
Plan Ahead
Consider planning your trip around your baby’s schedule. Travel at nap times or bedtime to maximise your chances of a smooth ride!
Take a look at the route and make a note of suitable places to stop. Babies shouldn’t be in a car seat for too long so you’ll need to plan to stop every 1-2 hours. The Lullaby Trust has some great advice on this. As well as giving your little one time out of the car seat, you’ll need to stop for feeds and nappy changes. Stopping frequently can also limit the chance of your baby suffering from travel sickness.
Packing For Car Journeys with Children
Pack a bag of essentials that include plenty of nappies and wipes. There’s nothing worse than running out without a shop in sight! Make sure you have plenty of spare clothes too, in case of any nappy accidents or travel sickness. Take a potty if your child is toilet training. This is also handy for slightly older children to use if there are no toilets around when you stop.
It will also help to bring snacks and drinks for both you and your little one. Don’t rely on being able to purchase snacks on the way. Often your baby will dictate when you need to stop, which could be on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere! Easy-to-eat, mess-free snacks are best.
Comfort For Your Baby When Long-Distance Driving
Dress your baby in comfortable clothing for your long-distance driving. If the weather is cold, make sure you have a coat to hand to put on your little one when you stop for a break. Never put your baby in a car seat with a coat or pram suit on as they could overheat. Thinner layers work best. If your baby appears unsettled when you set off, you might need to stop and check how warm they feel and take a layer off if necessary.
Check that your baby’s car seat is correctly installed and comfortable, and adjust their harness appropriately. The harness should be snug, but not overly tight.
Use sunshades or window tints to shield your baby from direct sunlight. If the sun still bothers your baby even with these measures, try travelling at night or in the middle of the day when the sun is at its highest.
Avoid making the temperature in your car too warm, even on cold days. It’s better to have proper ventilation and the car is at a comfortable temperature for everyone.
Entertainment And Distractions
Car journeys with children can be made more enjoyable by bringing along a few toys and books. Consider toys or board books that you can attach to your baby’s car seat. Bring along their favourite interactive toys and sit in the back with your little one to keep him/her entertained.
Long journeys can make babies and young children irritable. Playing calm music or audiobooks can soothe your baby and distract him/her. Familiar songs or nursery rhymes can boost your baby’s mood!
Perfect Products And Services For Long Journeys
Car Seat Organisers
Seat Organisers attach to the back of the front seat and can store your baby’s essentials and toys.
Travel Coolers/Warmers
Portable coolers or warmers are ideal for storing formula, breast milk, or snacks. Some can be plugged into your car to keep them at the right temperature.
Portable Breast Pumps
If you feed your baby expressed milk, you might need to pump while on a long journey. Non-electric hand pumps are compact and don’t require electricity. Cordless pumps that fit directly into your bra, such as the Elvie, can make expressing on the go a breeze! Make sure the unit is charged up before you set off.
Car Seat Mirrors
When your baby is rear-facing, a car seat mirror attached to the back seat will enable you to keep an eye on your little one while you’re on the go.
Drive-thru Services
Stopping at a drive-thru service for food will make a lunch stop quicker. You may still need to park up in the car park though if your baby is ready for a break. Plus, if you’re driving, it’s safer to stop and eat.
Emergency Roadside Assistance
This is an essential service no matter who is travelling in the car. If you do break down, tell the operator that you have a young baby with you, as they might prioritise your case over others.
How To Keep Calm On Long Journeys
It can be hard to stay patient when driving a long distance with a baby. But your little one can sense your mood, so by making sure you’re looking after yourself and your mental health in your car journey, you’re also looking after theirs too.
If you are travelling with another adult, consider sharing the driving. This not only gives you a rest from driving, but it also allows you to take it in turns to tend to your baby. If you are travelling alone with your baby and you start to feel stressed, find a safe place to stop and take a breather.
With some planning and a positive attitude, you should be able to reach your location without too many mishaps.
Embrace the adventure, stay flexible, and cherish the moments on the road with your little one. Safe travels!
Want to get out and about, going to antenatal and postnatal activities?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for parents and the under-5’s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
Trying to pick a baby name can be quite an intimidating choice. Finding ‘the one’ and getting that gut feeling that you’ve made the right choice doesn’t always happen straight away, if at all! But, baby name books aren’t always the most inspiring place to turn to. You’re left wondering, ‘how can I pick a name that I connect with?’
To help you pick the perfect baby name, we’ve found 9 fun things to do. From baby name generators to day trips out. We hope you enjoy it!
1. Play With Baby Name Generators
If you just want a mass collection of names to search through to get inspired by, then there are some good name generators out there. This one from Pampers is pretty good! You can filter by gender, theme, origins and more. It helps you to figure out what you’re looking for, and is a great way to get the ball rolling if you have no idea where to start.
2. Journey Through Your Family Tree
For several people, looking through your family tree and learning about your inheritance has a lot of appeal. Mainly because it’s fascinating to find out about your relatives from the past. If you’ve been toying with the idea, then this is a great reason to have a look now.
Take this as a chance to learn about your family history and get to know where you’ve come from. And, while you’re there, keep an eye out for any names that you particularly like.
3. Create A List Of People And Places Important To You
This one is a nice way of thinking about names while also doing something mindful. If you have ever done gratitude journalling before, then you’ll know about the benefits of thinking about what (and who!) you love. And what better context to think about those things than when picking out a name for your baby?
Grab a piece of paper (get your partner to join in too!) and write down the following:
5 (or more) people who have had a positive impact on your life.
5 (or more) of your favourite places you’ve been to.
5 (or more) items that always make you smile when you see them
Some might not be applicable as baby names, but this is still a great way of searching and thinking about who or what you would love your little one to be associated with.
4. Babyname
Think Tinder… But baby names! This app is a great one for you and your partner to each do on your phones. Babyname will present you both with names for you to swipe through (right for yes, left for no). Eventually, the two of you will start to find your matches and have a list of potential options.
5. Kinder
Kinder is the same sort of app as the one above. but it’s always nice to have more options, isn’t it?
6. Visit An Art Gallery Or Museum
Take a day trip out with your partner and you’ll be surprised by the number of names that are everywhere. Whether it’s the name of an artist who created a painting that particularly speaks to you, or a name attached to a certain exhibition. There will be a variety of choices with lots of different origins. Plus, it gives you and your partner something fun to do!
7. Watch The Credits On Your Favourite Film Or Game
You and your partner are going to have films and games you’ve watched over and over (and over). If you don’t fancy any of the names of the characters in them, take a moment to sit and watch the names that scroll through in the credits. There are 100s of options, and if you find a name that you like then you’ll be able to subtly keep it connected to your favourite bit of media.
8. Book A Reservation Under A Potential Baby Name
Once you’ve whittled it down to a list of options, it’s entirely possible that the names you’ve thought of have only been discussed between you and your partner up until now. If you want to get a feel for it, and want to hear it in a different setting, then the next time you and your partner are going out for dinner try booking it under one of the potential names on the list.
You’ll be able to hear it in a different environment, and you’ll get the chance to hear other people saying the name to you. You’ll get the feeling of whether you like it or not.
9. Play The “This Or That” Game (Friends Style)
There’s a great episode of Friends where Joey can’t figure out which route to take to get to Vegas (North or South). So, to help, Phoebe tells Joey to relax, clear his mind, and then asks him a series of quickfire trivial questions (Peanut butter or egg whites? Would you rather be a fireman or swimmer?). He has to answer them as quickly as possible, choosing his gut instinct answer. Eventually, Phoebe asks ‘North route or South route’ and Joey responds, ‘North route’.
The quickfire ‘don’t think about it, just answer’ method really does work! If you have just a handful of names left, and you’re not sure which to pick, try playing this game with your partner. You never know, your perfect baby name pick might be sitting right there.
Want to get out and about, going to antenatal and postnatal activities?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for parents and the under-5’s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
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