Time to Connect

15/11/2025

🌿 Dads Matter - Nature & Wellbeing: A Journey of Growth, Mud & Connection 🌿

Six weeks, countless muddy boots, and unforgettable moments!

Delivered by Time to Connect CIC, in partnership with Forest Frontiers and supported by Bolton CVS, this project brought dads and children together outdoors to share stories, mindfulness, free play, creativity, and campfire cooking 🔥

The final evaluation revealed incredible impact - stronger father–child bonds, new friendships, and lasting wellbeing habits that continue far beyond the woods.

💬 “By the end, it felt like a community,” said Jan from our team.
💬 “It wasn’t about learning something new - it was about remembering what really matters,” shared one dad.

Read the full story and reflections from the project 👉 https://www.timetoconnect.org.uk/post/dads-matter-nature-wellbeing-a-journey-of-growth-mud-and-connection



Julie Karen Robinson Mini Minds Matter UK

Over six weeks, dads and their children explored the outdoors together through storytelling, mindfulness, free play, creativity, nature walks, and outdoor cooking.

05/11/2025

🌿 Mums Matter - Nature & Wellbeing has begun! 🌿

Our first 0–2s nature session was filled with connection, calm, and creativity 💚

Mums and babies explored mindfulness and play - from making Cheerio trees to finding leaves that matched their hands, writing affirmations like “I am enough” and “My child feels my love.” 🍃

This new 12-week programme alternates between age groups (0–2s and 2–4s) and offers mums a gentle space to pause, reflect, and rediscover confidence in the early years of motherhood.

Read the full story and see how our first session unfolded 👉 https://www.timetoconnect.org.uk/post/mums-matter-nature-nurture-and-new-beginnings

Julie Karen Robinson

26/10/2025

A great article about nature !
This is why we are doing our projects across the year with various groups.

Spending just 20 minutes in nature can lower blood pressure, heart rate and stress levels.

24/10/2025

🔥 Week 6 of our Dads Matter - Nature & Wellbeing Project 🔥

We ended on a high - with campfire chili, reflection, and play! 🌿

Dads and children came together one last time to share food, laughter, and memories from six incredible weeks of storytelling, free play, mindfulness, creativity, and nature adventures.

From river play to plans for garden fire pits, the bonds built through this journey will continue to grow long after the campfire smoke fades. 💚

✨ “It was the perfect ending. Everyone relaxed, connected, and reflected.”

Read the full story from our heartwarming finale 👉 https://www.timetoconnect.org.uk/post/week-six-campfires-reflection-and-lasting-connections

Julie Karen Robinson Mini Minds Matter UK

17/10/2025

🍎 Week 5 of our Dads Matter – Nature & Wellbeing Project 🍂

This week, dads and children joined Russ for a nature walk and foraging adventure - discovering edible plants, tasting apples, and exploring the magic of the forest together. 🌳

From learning about mushrooms and deer antlers to chatting, laughing, and noticing the world differently, this session was all about curiosity, confidence, and connection.

✨ “It was blooming perfect.”
✨ “Switching off and learning together.”
✨ “Playing doesn’t have to cost.”

Read the full story and reflections from this inspiring autumn session 👉 https://www.timetoconnect.org.uk/post/week-five-nature-walks-foraging-and-finding-wonder-in-the-wild

Julie Karen Robinson Mini Minds Matter UK

13/10/2025

Week 4 of our Dads Matter - Nature & Wellbeing Project.

This week was all about creativity, clay, and connection - from building fires and shaping pots to autumn leaves, laughter, and friendships forming in the forest. 🍂

Dads and children explored imagination through hands-on play, learned new skills (including a few very impressive clay creations!), and left with smiles, memories, and muddy boots.

✨ “The little ones are pairing up, remembering names, and forming friendships.”

✨ “I’m amazed watching people flourish like this.”

Read the full story from this heartwarming session 👉 https://www.timetoconnect.org.uk/post/week-four-creativity-clay-and-connection-in-the-autumn-forest

Julie Karen Robinson

Dads and children explored creativity through clay, fire, and forest play - building confidence, friendships, and lasting connections in nature.

05/10/2025

🌿Week 3 of our Dads Matter - Nature & Wellbeing Project 🌿

This week’s session brought mindfulness, sound baths & plenty of mud!

From quiet reflection to joyful play, dads and children discovered calm, laughter, and deeper connection - with many calling it their favourite session so far!

✨ “Relaxing during the sound bath after a stressful day.”
✨ “Quiet time with my daughter - she found the sounds calming.”
✨ “The mindfulness was new learning for me.”

Read the full story and reflections from this heartwarming session 👉 https://www.timetoconnect.org.uk/post/week-three-mindfulness-mud-and-the-magic-of-sound

Julie Karen Robinson

01/10/2025

28/09/2025

🌿 Week Two of our Dads Matter - Nature & Wellbeing Project 🌿

This week was all about free play - stepping back, letting children lead, and discovering the joy of simply being present.

From tree-mud creations 🌳 to butterfly hands 🦋, and even hammocks in the woods, dads and children thrived together in nature. One dad said his child “flaked out in the car and slept brilliantly” after all the fun - an unexpected bonus!

Read more heartwarming reflections, observations, and highlights from this week’s session here 👉 https://www.timetoconnect.org.uk/post/week-two-embracing-free-play-in-the-dads-matter-nature-wellbeing-project

Julie Karen Robinson

23/09/2025

🌿 Heartwarming moments from our Dads Matter - Nature & Wellbeing Project 🌿 with Forest school frontiers.

We’ve kicked off a six-week journey bringing dads and their little ones together through storytelling, wild play, and the magic of the outdoors.

From dads discovering the power of simple play to children fully immersed in nature - the feedback has been nothing short of inspiring. 💚

One dad shared:
✨ “Meeting other dads was really helpful, and I loved seeing my child enjoy interactive stories in the forest.”

And one of our team reflected:
✨ “To see dads’ caring side and 1-to-1 time with their children in nature was really, really heartwarming.”

Read the full story, with more reflections and photos from our first sessions, here 👉 https://www.timetoconnect.org.uk/post/dads-matter-nature-wellbeing-connecting-fathers-and-children-through-Julie Karen Robinsoninson

06/09/2025

🧼 NEW PODCAST OUT NOW

Toileting can be messy, emotional, and full of milestones.

We’re joined by Carol Grech - midwife, nurse, and owner of Baby Blossoms - to talk all things potty training, confidence, and support.

👶 When is a child really ready?
🧷 How can we reduce pressure and increase self-esteem?
💬 What do families need from us during this transition?

This one’s for the educators and parents navigating a sensitive stage with kindness and care.

🎧 Listen now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjWXCB-JoC4

Julie Karen Robinson

06/09/2025

🚨 NEW PODCAST

What would your child do if you fainted at home?

In this powerful episode, we explore the importance of teaching life-saving first aid skills to even the youngest children.

We’re joined by Carol Grech, who shares brilliant thoughts for integrating first aid into early years learning.

👂 Give it a listen - it might just change the way you think about ‘safety’.

Julie Karen Robinson

🔗

In this essential episode of the Time to Connect podcast, we discuss how even very young children can learn simple, age-appropriate skills that could one day...