Childminder Gillian shares her memories of last year’s Little Garden Gathering
We hope you are considering hosting a Little Garden Gathering this June supporting Make A Wish Ireland. These gatherings are a wonderful way to connect with other childminders, the children you mind and their families while celebrating outdoor play and learning.
To help inspire your own event, we are delighted to share childminder Gillian’s experience of hosting a Little Garden Gathering last year. Her story may give you some useful ideas and encouragement as you begin planning your own gathering.
Teddy Bears’ Picnic – June 2025
On the last day of term in June 2025, we held a little Teddy Bears’ Picnic to support Make-A-Wish Foundation.
As a term-time childminder, this was also a really special day for us as it marked the end of our year together. Some of the children were getting ready to move on to primary school in September, so it was their last day with me as well.
All of the children I mind, along with my own child, took part, with ages ranging from 11 months to 5 years old. The children were really excited to bring their teddies to Gillian’s that day, as they don’t normally bring toys, and they were so excited to have their little picnic with their teddies on the green.
We set everything up on the green in front of our house and were so lucky to have a beautiful sunny day, which really made it feel even more special.
The parents were really supportive and got involved by doing some baking, many of them involving their own children at home in the process, and the children were so excited to bring in what they had made. We all shared these as part of our picnic lunch outside.
We also organised a few simple races and games with the children and their teddies, which they absolutely loved—some of the children crawled, some ran, and some waddled their way to the finish, which made it all the more fun. There was lots of laughter and excitement, and it was just a really nice way for them all to play together.
It was a simple little event, but it meant a lot. We were able to raise some money for a great cause while also giving the children a really fun and memorable day, and a lovely way to mark the end of our time together.
Gillian
How to Take Part This June
Hosting a Little Garden Gathering can be as simple or creative as you would like. Whether you are planning a small picnic, outdoor play session, teddy bears’ picnic or garden tea party, the event can be adapted to suit your own childminding service and the children in your care.
If you are thinking of taking part, you can:
• Pick a date that suits your service during June, with 18–21 June suggested as our shared celebration time
• Request a Make-A-Wish fundraising pack by completing the online form
• Plan activities that work well for your group and outdoor space
• Invite families to get involved and support the fundraiser
We will continue to share ideas, resources and parent-friendly materials over the coming weeks, and the link to donate is already live here.
Most importantly, we hope this initiative brings plenty of fun, connection and outdoor enjoyment for the children, while helping to support an incredibly worthwhile cause.