Cotton Socks Child Care

13/02/2026

I’m now on the Derby’s Childcare Directory on the Family Information Services website 🥰

11/02/2026

🐸 Five Little Speckled Frogs… Sat on a Speckled Log… 🐸

Thank you so much to our friend Carole for knitting Cotton Socks ten little speckled frogs to use while we’re singing! Now me and the children can have five finger puppets each as props!

Counting songs like “Five Little Speckled Frogs” are so much more than just catchy tunes — they’re packed full of early learning magic ✨

Here’s why we LOVE them at Cotton Socks 💚

🌟 Early Maths Skills
Little ones are learning to count forwards and backwards without even realising it! As each frog “jumps into the pool”… SPLASH! 💦 … we’re introducing early subtraction in the most fun way possible.

🧠 Memory & Language Development
Repetition helps build memory, vocabulary and confidence. Before long, they’re filling in the missing words and proudly shouting “FOUR little speckled frogs!” 🥰

🤲 Fine Motor & Coordination
We use our fingers to represent each frog, helping strengthen those tiny hand muscles ready for mark-making later on ✏️

😊 Confidence & Participation
Even our quieter little ones often join in with actions first — a wiggle, a splash, a giggle — and suddenly they’re singing too! 🎵💛

👂 Listening & Attention Skills
Waiting for their turn, anticipating the “splash,” and watching the frogs disappear helps build those important early listening skills.

Most importantly… it brings us together 💚
There’s something very special about a group of toddlers proudly counting frogs, giggling at the splashes and celebrating when there are no little speckled frogs! 🐸💦

Learning at this age should feel like joy — and sometimes that joy looks like five knitted frogs on a log and lots of very enthusiastic singing! 😄🎶

🐸💚

09/02/2026

✨ Big News! ✨

I’m so excited to share that I am now officially Ofsted registered as a childminder 🎉

This means I’m fully registered on the Early Years Register and the Childcare Register, meeting all Ofsted requirements to provide safe, high-quality care for children.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me on this (very long) journey — it truly means the world. I’m looking forward to welcoming families and starting this next chapter ❤️

If you’d like more information or want to chat about childcare availability, feel free to message me.

08/02/2026

Our advertising banner has been ordered 🥹
The work on the garage conversion in to a play room is moving along nicely and will be ready for Cotton Socks opening 🥰✨

07/02/2026

🌈 At Cotton Socks we LOVE dry rice play! 🌈

To little hands and curious minds, it’s serious learning 😄

Dry rice play is a brilliant sensory activity that supports children’s development in so many ways:

👋 Fine motor skills – scooping, pouring and grabbing helps strengthen little hands for future writing
🧠 Curiosity & problem solving – what happens if I pour it? scoop it? mix it?
💬 Communication & language – chatting about colours, textures and what they’re doing
🎨 Creativity – open-ended play lets imaginations run wild
😌 Wellbeing – calming, focused play that helps children regulate their emotions

All of this links beautifully to the EYFS, supporting:
✔️ Physical Development
✔️ Communication & Language
✔️ Personal, Social & Emotional Development
✔️ Understanding the World

Plus… it’s FUN! 🎉
Yes, it can be a little messy 🙈 but the learning (and smiles) are always worth it 💛

LittleHandsBigLearning ✨

04/02/2026

31/01/2026

Painting and colour mixing is a magical adventure for children 🌈🎨 As little artists swirl, splash, and experiment, they build fine motor skills, confidence, and problem-solving abilities without even realising they’re learning. Mixing colours sparks curiosity and excitement, turning art time into a joyful mix of creativity, discovery, and self-expression ✨🖌️

27/01/2026

🌧️☀️ Cotton Socks’ Mud kitchen: messy play with big benefits! 🍃👶

At Cotton Socks, the garden and outdoor environment are key parts of our learning — and the mud kitchen is always a favourite. 💛

While playing through scooping, pouring, mixing and pretending, children are developing so many important skills while simply having fun:
• 👐 Fine motor skills and hand strength
• 🧠 Curiosity and problem-solving
• 💬 Early language through chatter and role play
• 😊 Confidence and independence
• 🤝 Social skills when playing alongside others

This type of play links closely to the EYFS, supporting children’s physical development, communication and language, personal and social skills, and understanding the world — all in a natural, playful way ✨

We enjoy outdoor play in all weathers ☀️🌦️❄️ (with the right clothing, of course!), helping children build resilience and a love for the outdoors from an early age.

Muddy hands wash clean…
But happy, confident little learners are what really matter 💚

If you’re looking for a warm, nurturing childminder who values outdoor learning and hands-on play, feel free to get in touch 🥰

25/01/2026

💦🧽🫧 Water play 🫧🧽💦
G decided to “help” with the washing up this morning.
Quick thinking with the bibs prevented the kitchen flooding 🫣😂
I love our standing tower!

17/01/2026

Banana and peanut butter oat “bars”
G loves to get involved with cooking and baking in the kitchen and will help with the mixing and filling cupcake cases, and eating! 🥰🧑🏽‍🍳🍪🧁