top tips

This season is the perfect time to create magical memories.

Here’s our hand-picked list of Christmas activities in and around Windsor to bring joy and sparkle to your holiday season.

1. Visit Father Christmas at Windsor Castle

Step into the grandeur of Windsor Castle and meet Father Christmas in a truly magical setting. This enchanting experience includes storytelling and festive crafts, perfect for young imaginations. Book early for this seasonal favourite!

Runs from 21^st November 2024 to 6^th January 2025 (closed on December 25, 26, and 28).

2. Santa’s Grotto at Daniel Department Store 

A Windsor tradition! Take your little ones to meet Santa in his cosy grotto. Tickets cost £15. Each child receives a gift, plus you can capture a photo of the moment to treasure forever.

Runs from 16^th November to 24^th December 2024.

3. Winter Walks in Windsor Great Park

Bundle up warm and explore the beauty of Windsor Great Park. Little ones will love spotting winter wildlife, and you can warm up afterward with a hot chocolate and marshmallows at The Savill Garden Kitchen.

4. Windsor on Ice

Windsor On Ice is a great day out for the whole family, including toddlers and older children.

Things to enjoy:

• A covered ice-skating rink with viewing area
• Fairground rides (opens at 4pm on weekdays, 11am at weekends)
• Market stalls selling festive food and drink
• Windsor’s main shops and Windsor castle are less than five minutes’ walk away.

Runs from 15^th November 2024 to January 5^th 2025.

5. Festive Storytime at Windsor Library

Cuddle up for a delightful Christmas-themed story time at Windsor library. Sessions are tailored for young children and include songs, rhymes and festive crafts.

Check with Windsor Library for specific dates and events.

6. Windsor Great Park Illuminated

Take an atmospheric evening stroll to admire Windsor Great Park’s twinkling forest trails and light displays. Let your little one soak in the festive atmosphere.

Runs from 15^th November to 4^th January 2025. Find out more and book tickets here.

7. Festive Mini Train Ride at Legoland Windsor

For a bit of Christmas magic, hop on the festive-themed train ride at Legoland Windsor. It’s a gentle, fun activity for toddlers and older children, with plenty of holiday cheer to go around.

Discover more about Legoland Christmas events and book tickets here.

Don’t forget to tell us what you get up to at nursery!

There’s nothing quite like dressing up cosy and heading out to see the sights at Christmas. We’re lucky to have so much on our doorstep.

Here’s some ideas for Christmassy things to do with little ones in and around Windsor:

1. Windsor Castle – Take a look around Windsor Castle’s spectacular Christmas decorations, including a stunning 20-foot Nordmann fir tree laden with coronation-themed decorations. After exploring, why not hunker down with a mince pie and hot chocolate at the medieval Undercroft café?

Christmas at Windsor Castle is open to visitors from 30^th November 2023 to 1^st January 2024. See details here.

2. Windsor Christmas Shopping – Windsor’s town centre is awash with gorgeous shops, restaurants and market stalls. Enjoy browsing and sampling the local eateries. For the chance to meet Father Christmas, visit Daniel Department Store. Santa’s Grotto will be open every day from 16-24th. Check here for opening times.

3. LaplandUK 2023 – Windsor Great Park has been transformed into a magical Elven world. During this theatrical four-hour long adventure, your little one can see real reindeer and even help the elves make toys. The enchanting journey begins with a personalised letter from Father Christmas inviting you to come and visit. 

Psst! Tickets sell out quickly, so it is best to apply early. If it is already sold out – which it may be when this newsletter is published – you can sign up for 2024 ticket updates here. 

4. Neverland Illuminova at Wellington Country Park – Discover a light-filled kingdom in the heart of Wellington Park. Children up to eight-years-old will love following the illuminated Christmas trail. Mum and Dad, why not  sample Basecamp’s delicious mulled wine too? Mmmm fruity.

This year is extra special as the trail has been extended to encompass awakened woodlands. The event runs up to 23^rd December 2023.

Further details and ticket booking can be found here.

5. Aladdin at Theatre Royal, Windsor – Ah, the raucous songs, the slapstick comedy, the ice cream during the break, you can’t beat seeing a pantomime at Christmas time. (Oh, yes you can!)

Theatre Royal’s production of Aladdin runs from 1 December to Sunday 14^th January 2024 and has a host of celebrities, including the nation’s favourite cheeky fox ‘Basil Brush’. Boom! Boom!

Discover the details here.

Have a wonderful Christmas!

When children start school, it helps if they can use the toilet independently. This includes being able to manage zips and buttons, sit on the loo, wipe their bottom, flush the toilet and wash and dry their hands.

We have years of experience in helping little ones become potty and toilet confident.
Here are our top tips for successful potty and toilet training:

Potty Training

1. One question we are often asked is when is the best time to start potty training? The simple answer is that all children become ready in their own time; it is best to take the lead from your child rather than start too early – this can lead to frustration on both sides.

2. Children can most often control their bowel movements before their bladder, and it may take children longer to stay at dry at night rather than during the day.

3. You might want to start using the potty when your child is between 18 months and two years, it is ok to start earlier if you feel your child is ready.

Signals that they might be ready include:

• Telling you they are wet or have a full nappy
• Their nappies stay dry for over an hour between changes
• They let you know they want to do a wee before it happens
• They go somewhere quiet or hidden to do it – going to another room or behind the sofa is common

4. Introduce a potty and explain to your child what it is for – encourage them to sit on it when you’re changing their nappy or getting ready for bed so that they know how it feels.

5. The best place to keep a potty is in the bathroom so that they get used to going there. Have one downstairs too for easy access if your bathroom is upstairs.

6. The best time to try them on the potty is after they’ve eaten. Encourage them to stay on the potty by reading them one of their favourite stories. This also reinforces that potty time is a positive occasion.

7. If your little one becomes upset by using the potty, then it’s best to go to back to nappies and try again in a few weeks. They will become dry in their own time.

8. Let us know about your child’s potty routine so we can follow it when they are at nursery, this will help to build consistency.

9. When your child uses the potty successfully, give them lots of praise. Rewarding them with a sticker will also foster a sense of accomplishment.

From Potty Training to Toilet Training

1. Some children skip the potty altogether and are keen to hop on to an adult toilet straight away – we encourage this as it builds confidence in using the toilet from the start.

2. Keep a small step in the bathroom that they can use to climb up on to the loo.

3. To make your child feel more supported, you can also use a clip-on toilet training seat. That said, if they can go without one, this is ideal as it means they will adjust to using toilets in different settings quicker.

Need potty or toilet training advice? If you would like more guidance, or feel your child is ready to use the potty/toilet, come and talk to us. We’ll work together to devise a plan that’s best for you and your little one.

Our new child-friendly toilets – perfect for helping children use the loo independently.

With Easter approaching, we thought we would put together some egg-citing Easter activities going on in Windsor, or close by:

1. Dinosaur Egg Hunt – No, it’s not a typo, that’s a dinosaur egg hunt. Held at Windsor Great Park on Wednesday 5^th April and Thursday 6^th April 10-2pm.

Add an edge to your egg hunt by looking for dinosaur eggs. This activity is ideal for children aged 4 to 11 years, but children of all ages can join in the fun.

Book and find out more here.

2. Easter Trail and Egg Hunt at Basildon Park, Reading – Follow the clues to find a chocolatey treat at National Trust’s Basildon Park. The event runs from 1^st to 16^th April 10-4pm and costs £3 per trail (including prize).

The egg hunt is suitable for children of all ages. So, get your wellies on and go!

Discover more here.

3. Easter Extravaganza at Wellington Country Park: Wellington Park has more Easter activities than you can shake a smartie-filled chocolate egg at on from April 1^st to April 16^th, including:

• Easter crafts – make-and-take fun
• Canary Mary and friends live on stage
• Big Top show tent with shows daily
• Easter train ride

There is also a huge Easter egg hunt on Sunday 9^th April.

Book tickets beforehand online here.

Looking for fun things to do with your little ones that don’t cost a fortune this Christmas? As experienced child practitioners we have one or two things up our sleeves. 

1. Windsor Sightseeing – Windsor is beautiful at Christmas. Take a look around Windsor Royal Station, see the Christmas tree outside Windsor Castle and swing by the ice skating at Alexandra Park – it’s open until 2^nd January if you fancy trying out your skating legs.
2. Christmas Bake Off! – Hold a Christmas cook off at home. Children love mixing up tasty mixtures, not to mention licking the spoon after. Treats such as crumbly mince pies or cookies only need a few ingredients, some of which you may already have in the cupboard.

See BBC Good Food’s Christmas Baking Recipes for inspiration – little ones will love the chocolate cornflake Robin’s nests.

3. Winter Walks – Windsor Great Park is free and open all year round to pedestrians. There are over 5,000 acres to explore. Wrap up snug, grab a thermos of hot chocolate, and take in the crisp scenery. There’s ancient woodlands and you may even spot the park’s Red Deer herd.

See more about the walks and trails here.

4. Christmas Games – Keep the children entertained by planning some games. Set up a Christmas scavenger hunt with simple clues – there’s some great ones for children online.

Or play a festive game like a guess the Christmas smell – pop a blindfold on players and see if they can identify a selection of smelly Christmas items, such as pine cones, chocolate, peppermints and cinnamon.

5. See The Lights at Wellington Country Park – Neverland Illuminova has arrived at Wellington Park. The grounds have been turned into a symphony of light – perfect for sparking little ones’ imaginations. The event is open until December 23^rd_.

Find out more and book tickets here.

Have a wonderful Christmas!