Learning made fun

The Top 5 Posts In 2011 On My Blog

LOOKING back on 2011 there was one post on the Musical Minis blog, Learning Made Fun, that  had more hits than all the others.

On Saturday 9th July, the post on 'how to have a baby girl............or not' (originally published in 2010) had more than 3,500 hits. Since then the hits have continued, although at a slower pace. The success of the post was linked to the Beckhams' baby daughter, Harper Seven, being born after 3 boys. BBC news quoted the post as a feature on the health pages on Saturday. The article by Helen Briggs titled 'Sugar and spice and all things nice' was popular remaining as one of the most read articles for the whole day - even more so than the phone hacking and space launch articles, which were current at the time. My blog was a featured link and led to blog hits soaring.

The second most read post on the blog was my response to my experience of appearing in the Daily Mail also in July. The Daily Mail made up quotes and wrote a totally different article  to what I had expected to be a positive piece on my 25 year marriage. If you missed it you can read my post  'Don't believe everything you read: My experience of appearing in the Daily Mail'

At number 3 in the most popular posts was the post published in June on Politically correct nursery rhymes. This seemed to strike a cord with many of the blogs readers.

Number 4 was a guest post by Linda Jones  in September on Sarah Jessica Parker? I dont care how she does it. This post was in relation to her film and being a working Mum.

As a suprise the 5th most read blog post in 2011 was one in a series we had written about 'Where do nursery rhymes come from' and this one was in May about the song London's burning. This was also written by Linda Jones and at the time, although it was read, it wasn't a popular post. However, in the London riots last Summer, Londons Burning, was a popular search and a total new bunch of readers found the blog!

If you missed any of these posts at the time please read them and comment on them if you can. Thank you to everyone was has read, commented or shared a post on the blog in 2011. Anything you would like covered in 2012 just let me know.

Sarah Jessica Parker? I don't care how she does it

Guest post by Linda Jones

I can't be the only mum to be irked by Sarah Jessica Parker in a seemingly relentless publicity blitz surrounding her latest film, I don't know how she does it.

Based on the book by caustic former Daily Mail columnist Allison Pearson, it's inevitably being marketed at mums - oh can't we all identify with the *hilarious* antics of the working mother? She wants to be the best at everything but ends up in a pickle...with rib tickling consequences.

I can't begin to tell you how patronised I feel at the thought of sitting through this critically panned film.

The book? I hated it. To now see a pampered Hollywood A lister being held up by TV interviewers as some sort of role model? Don't get me started. I care as much about what Sarah Jessica Parker has to say about being a working mum as I do about what Ryan Giggs can offer on long term relationships.

Welcome to the new look Have a Lovely Time backed by Musical Minis

By Linda Jones

SINCE working with Musical Minis, we've also been busy with our family activities and travel website, Have a lovely time.

Now the two have come together as a new-look version of Have a lovely Time has been launched, with a fresh design and regular features and reviews of fun stuff to do and places to go.

We've incorporated Musical Minis branding on to our home page and are also keen to share news of any upcoming events from franchisees. If you have any stories about what you have going on, please get in touch.

Calling all Musical Minis franchisees - tell us your stories!

HERE on the Learning Made Fun blog, we're really keen to help spread the word about what we get up to at Musical Minis and how much our customers enjoy what we do.

It's heartening when commenters share with us their positive feedback for our activities and help show our readers how much we care about our sessions. Like in this post from Hazel.

If you're a Musical Minis franchisee and have some good news you'd like to share, or details of an event coming up, or perhaps you'd like to submit an account of your day to add to our profiles and stories, then we'd love to hear from you.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Musical Minis backs Have a Lovely Time

At Musical Minis, our emphasis is on fun.

That's why we're delighted to now be supporting the family travel and activities website, Have a Lovely Time.

This popular resource, written by parents for parents, is set to be relaunched in June and will be branded with some Musical Minis images and information.

We're looking forward to this partnership, which will also see the Have a Lovely Time team publish regular news from Musical Minis.

Join the Have a Lovely Time and NurtureStore sunflower challenge

WE'VE teamed up with the family activities and travel blog, Have a Lovely Time.

This popular family activities and travel blog will now also carry news, announcements and more from Musical Minis.

More of that at a later date...

But for now, I wanted to tell you about the Have a Lovely Time and NurtureStore Sunflower challenge. Here's the information you need in the organisers' own words:

HAVE a Lovely Time and NurtureStore have joined forces to help a hospice bloom in June.

Last year Cathy at NurtureStore had an amazing response to her Sunflower Club so she seemed the perfect lady to ask to come onboard for a fun initiative that's going to help people with life-limiting illnesses in the West Midlands.

We're asking you to dig in and join the fun to be in with a chance of winning some great prizes too.

Achievement Cards - good or bad idea? Please help me decide.

THIS is my first post of 2010 and I really could do with your feedback.

The Government's guidelines for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) recommended that a record is kept to show what different children are doing, emphasising that effort is worthwhile. Each group is encouraged to provide means for children to keep track of and share their achievements. As the owner of Musical Minis, a preschool music franchise available around the UK, I'm delighted that our programme fits snugly around the EYFS, however, I'm struggling with the idea of whether to record preschool children's abilities.  

Discovering my online personality!

I NEVER knew blogging could be so addictive!

I've signed up to an e-course in how to do it properly from LittleMummy, otherwise known as Erica and have joined the online community British Mummy bloggers.

But, as I’m new to blogging and it's still early days for me, I feel like there is so much to learn.

I set up this blog partly to showcase my business and I hope encourage interest in what we do, how we do it and even possibly joining us.

I was interested in what Linda over at You've got your Hands Full had to say about online personalities versus 'real' ones.

Mine are the same, I hope. I guess I’m pretty similar whether you meet me while away from a computer or to be found as I am now, tapping away here.

But being online does give me the chance to properly think out the points I’m raising and amend anything I think it’s wise not to say. I’m a very honest person both online and in real life..

...And sometimes being honest isn’t that great as the truth can be hurtful.

Online, I get the chance to rephrase comments so I’m still honest but can cushion what I’m saying with constructive feedback.

So that's my approach to blogging and my online personality. What's yours?