Doodletots

Every Tuesday we attend Doodletots at our local Scouts Hall.  Every sessions starts of with a story time, singing and an explanation of what we can do for the session. The usual set up would be 4 different activity stations and an easel in the centre of the room for the children to do some free painting. The 4 activity stations usually consist of a colouring table, sticking/cutting table, painting table and messy play area all based on the chosen theme for that particular half term. 

We've been going since Aiesha was 18 months and Sophia only 3 months. For the first month or so Sophia would normally sleep through the sessions but as she got more alert I would either let her play in the travel cot provided by Doodletots  or wear her. I must admit those early days at Doodletots were hard going as I was the only one trying to juggle a toddler and a baby. The sessions are run by a group of mums but you must supervise your own child or in my case children. Now that my girls are older it is much easier but still a bit crazy as they rarely want to do the same activity at the same time. So mummy runs around the hall like a maniac so that both girls are happy. Thankfully Aiesha is often quite happy to do her chosen activity without my assistance unless it involves cutting and sticking.

At the end of the session there is 'tidy up time' where they provide little dustpans, brushes, spray bottles and rags for the children so that they know the session has ended and for extra play. The actual tidying up are done by the adults. Aiesha really gets into the tidy up time and loves using the spray bottle and rag to clean up the paint spills around the easel. Sophia is still figuring out the spray bottle and often gets frustrated when it doesn't work. I'm confident she'll figure it out soon enough.

The summer holidays are coming up soon and so will our sessions at Doodletots until school re-opens in September. Come September, Tuesdays will be our crazy day as Aiesha will start school. 12 noon to 3pm from Monday to Friday. We can't stop going because it wouldn't be fair on Sophia. We will have to rush home after the session, have a quick lunch and off to school straight after. May even have to have lunch on the run. I'm sure we'll get used to crazy Tuesdays.

We love Doodletots!