Learning made fun

What's your view of the term 'mumpreneur'?

By Linda Jones

When blogger Jen, from Mum in the Madhouse, recently wrote about how much she hates this label, commenters agreed they weren't a fan either.

How about you?

It's not a description I've ever been in favour of where I am concerned. But for some women in business, I know how much sense it makes.

Sometimes women call themselves mumpreneurs because they find it empowering, it helps them find like-minded people and access excellent support available, advice and inspiration, and in some cases funding for their businesses, even. It can also help with publicity in some circles.

Where do nursery rhymes come from? Humpty Dumpty

By Linda Jones

DID he really fall and was he really an egg?

The answer to both these questions is 'not likely!'

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again.

The term Humpty Dumpty used to be a term for someone who is overweight. Later, around the 18th century, we are told it was used to describe someone who was ham-fisted or clumsy.

A Humpty Dumpty was also a concoction of boiled brandy and ale mixed together.

A Humpty Dumpty character appeared in Alice Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll.

But according the the Rhymes website, the Humpty of the nursery rhyme fame, was in fact a cannon used in the English civil war.

I never knew that!

I thought he really was an egg...

Here's a detailed explanation.

The following, alternative wording, is included in an informative post from Associated Content:

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
Threescore men and threescore more
Could not place Humpty as he was before.

Picture shows cover of a 1904 adaptation of Humpty Dumpty by William Wallace Denslow, shared through Creative Commons Licence.

Previous posts: Where do nursery rhymes come from?

Ring O' Roses

London's Burning

What's your trickiest moment juggling work with children?

By Linda Jones

LIFE is never easy is it?

As much as we try to organise our much sought-after work-life balance, there's often something to trip us up.

Recently, during a rare day working from home, I was busy with what I would like to call a very important phonecall when the sounds of all hell let loose came from another room.

Actually it was the bathroom and the source of the commotion was my daughter Emily and what can be politely described as a blockage.  From the volume of her shouting, you could tell how put out she was.

Emily complaining loudly about the smell wasn't exactly what I or the lady on the other end of the phone needed to hear.

New Franchisee for Bedford Musical Minis

HAVING successfully run Musical Minis in Bedford for 7 years, the existing franchisees decided it was time to sell their franchise.

We were delighted that they sold their franchise to Tracey Gentle.

Tracey (in the centre of the photo with her family) had previously attended Musical Minis with her children and recognising the benefits of Musical Minis both for her children and as a great business, jumped at the opportunity.

Tracey has three children, aged 17, 3 and 1. She has always enjoyed working with children, training both as a nursery nurse and a social worker.

Tracey is going through an extensive training and handover period to ensure there is continuity. She intends to expand further into the Bedford area and open new venues to meet demand.

To find out about where the Bedford area classes run, click here.

We are looking forward to working with Tracey and wish her every success.

What benefits does a franchise business bring you?

IF you're thinking of going into business to work around your family, then there may be all sorts of ways to make money that you can consider.

For some, buying into a franchise can bring peace of mind, knowing that there are others sharing a similar journey across the country as well as support from the business founder.

'Thousands of children not ready for school'?

By Karen Sherr

DID you see a recent report in the Telegraph that said busy parents weren't taking the time to help their children's skills progress enough before they started school? 

Here it is:

Thousands of children not ready for school at five'

In the article, it's reported that a lack of communication with parents is to blame, as well as a rise in video games.

Of course it's very sad that this is being reported but there also is a degree of scaremongering.

Happy Father's Day from all at Musical Minis!

IN an ideal world, dads play such an important role in their children's upbringing, they should be celebrated every day, not just on a middle Sunday in June!

But we'd like to say Happy Father's Day to all the dads who come along to our classes, to our friends, family and contacts.

We have quite a few children who come along to Musical Minis with their dads.

It's great that the dads comment that they like attending because it's an activity they can do with their child and easily fit in.

Where do nursery rhymes come from? Ring O'Roses

By Linda Jones

KAREN'S post about a new wave of politically correct nursery rhymes sparked quite a discussion. It's interesting to see how language evolves and the passion this unleashes.

Equally fascinating is the origin of some of our best loved nursery rhymes and the less than fairytale circumstances which have inspired them.

In my last post I reported on the story behind London's Burning. Lisa from Talking Tots brought our attention to the grisly Ring O Roses origins in the comments.

Join In The Fun At Oxford Musical Minis Summer Events

MUSICAL MINIS SUMMER EVENT

Musical Minis Oxfordshire is proud to announce its forthcoming summer events of music, movement and lots of fun.

Come along for an hour’s Musical Minis.

Bring your own picnic and come rain or shine. Tickets are £5.50 per child.

Sessions running in the following areas:

10.30am – 12.30pm  on Sunday 14 August 2011 – ARNCOTT near Bicester

10.30am – 12.30pm on Tuesday 16 August 2011 – BODICOTE, near Banbury

10.30am – 12.30pm on Wednesday 17 August 2011 – WOODSTOCK

10.30am – 12.30pm on Thursday 18 August 2011 – CALVERT GREEN, Bucks

10.30am – 12.30pm on Friday 19 August 2011 – BICESTER

2.30pm – 4.30pm on Friday 19 August 2011 – BICESTER

10.30am – 12.30pm on Saturday 20 August 2011 – FRITWELL, near Bicester

Places are limited and must be pre-booked. All ages welcome. Payments must be made prior to the event to secure the booking.

To book a place call Leena on 01296 738652 or email: leena@musicalminis.co.uk

Politically Correct Nursery Rhymes - Bah!

SHOULD nursery rhymes be subject to political correctness? When devising the Musical Minis programme I realised some of our traditional nursery rhymes would come under criticism but decided to use most of them anyway as they are such an important part of our heritage.

The majority of our favourite nursery rhymes are based on historical facts, something I don't feel we have the right to amend. Occasionally parents or carers at Musical Minis sessions do object to a particular nursery rhyme but most often Children's Centres forbid us to use ones they find problematic.