We spoke with Emily Cooper, Manager at the Bright Little Stars Watford Nursery, to find out about her experiences with the Big Toddle over the 10 years she’s been involved!
How long have you been involved with the Big Toddle?
"I have been participating in the Big Toddle since Bright Little Stars Watford first opened in 2016! It’s always one of our favourite days of the year.”
What does the Big Toddle look like for you at Bright Little Stars Watford?
“In the lead-up to the event, the children take great pride in gathering sponsorship from their families and friends, speaking about how important it is to support such a worthwhile charity and help children in need.
“The children get so excited coming into nursery dressed up and showing off their costumes to their friends! The nursery parents show great participation. They love getting involved by dressing up with the children and joining us for a walk.”
What do you love about the Big Toddle?
“What I really love about the Big Toddle is how it brings all of our staff and children together for such a worthwhile cause. We invite our parents in to participate, and it brings such a sense of community.
“[The Big Toddle] is a really easy and fun way for everyone to get involved with fundraising. We love getting out and exploring in our local community, so giving extra purpose to this and knowing we are making a difference to the lives of other children really inspires our team to keep registering every year."
What’s one of your favourite memories from over the 10 years?
“One year, we planned a toddle to our allotment plot, and on the way there we had the biggest downpour of rain. We got absolutely drenched!
“This didn’t dampen our spirits, though, and the children found it hilarious as all their face paint began to drip down their faces. We still had such a good time [and] they showed determination and powered through to complete their toddle.”
What keeps you coming back to the Big Toddle and fundraising for Barnardo’s?
“I think the key inspiration for us to [fundraise] for Barnardo’s every year is the difference we can make in other children’s lives, and how relatable that is to the children we care for at Bright Little Stars. Add to this the fact that parents and families are so generous and really help us support the cause. As a group we’ve raised over £61,500 so far.”
Want to get involved? Sign up for the Big Toddle 2026 now!
Join us from 8-14 June 2026 for a safari-themed adventure, specially tailored for your littlest explorers.
Whether you're a parent, carer, childminder, or part of a playgroup, nursery, toddler group or any other organisation, you can choose your date and location to create an adventurous half-mile walk to change childhoods and change lives.
Five top tips for your Big Toddle
Want to read some tips to host your own Big Toddle? Read below!
The impact of your fundraising
We know how important it is to be open about how we spend the money you raise. That’s why we share information about the different ways we use your donations and how they help to change lives.
More info about the Big Toddle
Want to find out more about the Big Toddle event, pictures from previous years, and links to support? Read on below!