Welcome to the Blogger Spotlight Interview. This week we have Jenny from Rabbit Ideas taking part in the Blogger Spotlight interview.
If you would like to take part, and your blog is under six months old, or has been re-launched in the last six months, please email me randommusings29@gmail.com
1 Firstly, tell us a little bit about yourself
I am a mum with a previous career in education. I have always had an interest in reading and literacy and believe passionately that those skills should be available to everyone. Since becoming a parent, I’ve become more aware of the impact that the early years have on children generally, and, along with my professional experience of teaching, want to concentrate on helping to making early literacy accessible to all.
2 What is your blog’s name and what is it about?
The name of the blog; ‘Rabbit Ideas’, came from a quotation:
“Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.” (John Steinbeck)
The tag line for the blog is Literacy Ideas for Toddlers, on a Budget. Combined, those two statements sum it up really; to hopefully inspire parents, carers, and Early Years workers by offering ideas which will grow and multiply in their own practice as they try new things out with their children.
3 Why did you decide to start a blog?
There are two main reasons: Firstly, I wanted to try to bridge the gap between home and the Early Years setting. I feel like I have a foot in both camps to some extent; being a mum and a former teacher, so I would like to encourage experts working in both these spheres to be part of a shared conversation on early literacy.
Secondly, for myself! I have always enjoyed writing, being creative and contributing. This is hard to achieve when you are working full-time looking after children, either in paid work or your own children, at home. I blog weekly, scheduling one post to update at 7am on a Sunday morning. This is a manageable amount for me, and it means that I have a regular deadline to aim for which helps me to stay motivated and consistent.
4 Do you have any goals for your blog?
I write for myself because I love it. I love thinking up ideas for activities to do with Little (my toddler). If others discover ideas on the blog and adapt them into activities which help toddlers to gain a better understanding of letters, mark-making, or language skills, then my goal has been met.
5 Tell us one random fact about you
I first flew on an aeroplane when I was 17 years old.
6 What is the best piece of blog related advice you have received so far?
I listened to a podcast by The Minimalists about writing; Joshua Fields Milburn emphasised the importance of being consistent when blogging. I’m grateful for this advice; very useful for a newbie like myself!
7 What is your favourite thing about blogging?
It helps me to be creative in other areas of my life, as the constant vulnerability of sharing my work helps me to be braver in creating in the first place.
8 Is there anything you would do differently if you were starting over knowing what you know now?
I would not be so worried about starting out, about trying to make it perfect before I first pressed ‘update’. I would not be concerned about using up a good idea for fear that I needed to ‘save’ it or that another one might not come along any time soon…
9 Anything else you’d like to share with us?
One of my favourite quotations: “Creativity is intelligence having fun” (Albert Einstein)
10 Where can we find you? (blog link and links to any social media)
Blog: rabbitideas.wordpress.com
Twitter: @rabbit_ideas
Pinterest: rabbit ideas
Thank you for sharing…love the name of your blog!!!!