They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and for full-time mum of three, Rebecca Hove, this was certainly the case.
Whilst in her first year of primary school in 2016, Rebecca’s daughter was given an activity pack based on a nursery rhyme, to complete over the weekend. Her daughter enjoyed the pack, and it meant that mum and daughter spent some quality time whilst looking at the little tasks, rather than watching TV or reaching for a computerised game.
Loving the ethos behind the activity packs, Rebecca created sixteen activity packs herself for her daughter’s school class, and was met with incredible feedback from both children and adults.
That concept sparked an idea with Rebecca, which brought about her business, “I’m A Mini”, creating in-depth activity boxes with a difference, with the backing of The Princes Trust.
Now with her own website and popular Facebook and Instagram platforms, the boxes are adored by both children and their parents, and are based around occupations and hobbies. New themes are launched every few months, and the range currently boasts boxes for Mini Explorers, Mini Bakers, Mini Doctors to name just a few.
Rebecca is very socially responsible and it is important to her that her business reflects that. The boxes are designed to be gender neutral, all packaging is eco-friendly and she has researched to ensure that the typefaces used are friendly to children who may be dyslexic or have difficulties reading.
One of the other aspects that makes the I’m A Mini brand different is that none of the activities require technology. There are no apps to download, there is nothing to complete online. No buttons to click or screens to stare at.
Rebecca said: “With three children myself I know how hard it can be to keep them entertained. I also know it is easy sometimes to allow them to watch TV or play a console game, but spending time learning new things, trying out new skills, completing tasks which gives them a sense of achievement is so important to them, and everyone who has tried the activity boxes has absolutely loved them. I want to give children a piece of their childhood back, returning to simple pleasures such as a bug hunt, or making a model, baking a cake, being able to explore the world around them. These are the moments they remember for years to come.”
Rebecca’s three children have been a huge inspiration for the ‘I’m A Mini’ brand. They allow her to see the world through their eyes, viewing the everyday world so differently from adults. They see adventure in everything, and are always curious about the world around them. Rebecca’s daughter also designed the company logo – which features a representation of her and her brother and sister.
