It’s been a while since I posted about our play but today I wanted to share one of our current favourite activities that we tend to do a couple of times a week and it’s one that not only does Florence really enjoy, but it’s a great opportunity for learning too!

Florence knew animal sounds before she had words and it’s safe to say she is an animal lover through and through. I came up with this game to help her match the sounds she already knew with the animal that made them and then help her make the connection between a toy animal and a photograph of the same real life animal. I also hoped it would help build her vocabulary a little more.

It’s a super simple game to set up and is perfect for playing at the breakfast table or when you need to fill 10 minutes while tea is cooking.

Lay out your animal photo cards (we use the ones from this Baby’s First Animals pram Book from M&S) in a line or grid in front of your little one. To start with, a line might be better. Then place a selection of toy animals that can be found on the cards you’ve laid out in a basket. I’ve used a mix of Happy Land, Lanka Kade & Lego Animals as they’re just what we have here, but any would be fine!

One by one, make your way through the animal cards, asking your little one to find the matching toy.

To start with you may want to show them how to do it, reaching for each toy and each card and repeating the animal’s name as you match them together. Once matched you could also remind her of the sound each animal makes – ‘What does the cow say?’, ‘The cow says Moo!’.

Once you’ve shown her how to play a couple of times (it may take a few repetitions for her to grasp the idea, just take your tots lead), you can encourage her to match them up herself. Talk your child through each animal and get her to match them with the toys.

For example, Point to the card with the Zebra and ask her ‘Can you find a Zebra in the box?’ Encourage her to search through the box and place the corresponding toy on the card.

If she’s finding it a bit tricky to find the right animals in the box, you could line them up in front of her instead to make them a bit more accessible.

Since introducing this game Florence has come on leaps and bounds when it comes to matching the animals and does them without hesitation now. When it comes to learning their names she knows them and points at them when you ask her and can confidently say horse, cow, dog, cat and pig and makes a good attempt at trickier ones like elephant and giraffe. With a bit more practice I know we will see her animal vocabulary grow and grow.

I hope you and your little one enjoy this animal matching game as much as we do! Let me know in the comments below how you get on if you try this at home, I’d love to know how you get on.

It’s almost upon us, the ‘month of love’ and while Valentines Day is often poorly labelled a ‘Hallmark Holiday’ I like the reminder it gives us to make sure the one we love knows how special they are to us. And as the saying goes, often the best way to a persons heart is through their stomach! This Valentines, I’ve teamed up with Biscuiteers to showcase one of their beautiful gift sets lovingly made to order at their London bakery. Possibly my favourite collaboration ever as biscuits have been my pregnancy craving all the way through!

The Vintage Love Letter Biscuit Tin contains 9 stunningly hand decorated biscuits in a variety of different designs. Ranging from simple hearts with messages of ‘Just for you’ and ‘Be Mine’ scribed upon to the more intricate detailing on the pen and dove. The tin itself is just a beautifully thought out and reminds me of an old war film and two lovers separated for miles sending each other love notes.

You can also add your own message to your Valentine’s biscuit gift of choice from Biscuiteers which makes for a lovely personal touch. I do love a good personalised gift, don’t you?  Especially at Valentines.

Artistry aside, They are seriously delicious! Baked using Biscuiteers own special recipe, they’re vanilla in flavour and have a wonderfully crumbly shortbread-like texture. They are quite sweet so perfect for anyone like me who has a sweeter tooth. They certainly seemed to go down well with our in house chief biscuit taster…

As well as this gift set, Biscuiteers make and sell a wide range of Valentines gifts (and loads for other occasions too), from letter box sized personalised biscuits, hampers, iced chocolates and even cheese and biscuit boxes! Prices start from £6 and go up to £65 in the Valentines range so there is something for every budget, big or small. The Vintage Love Letter Biscuit Tin retails at £35.00 with the option for next day delivery and while some may think that’s quite a price to pay for a box of biscuits, personally the talent and artistry that goes in to each biscuit, let alone the delicious flavorings more than justify the price as a luxury gift. I would definitely return to Biscuiteers to send birthday and other gifts to friends and family who are maybe further afield as a welcome alternative to mail order flowers etc and I would love to actually go and pay the London bakery a visit one day too to see their work in action.

Just so you know…

I was gifted a Vintage Love Letter Biscuit Tin by Biscuiteers in return for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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