To many parents, the prospect of 7 weeks of school holidays causes mixed and conflicting emotions. For working parents, on one hand there is an opportunity to spend more time with the children than the two day weekends usually allow, assuming, that is, you can book some leave. On the other hand, most working parents get less than 30 days annual leave a year, so the school holidays present a logistical childcare challenge.
You are torn between wanting to be delighted that the children are not at school, but actually feeling fairly gutted that the children are not at school.
This is also because the working parents amongst us don't get nearly as much childcare practise. We are just not used to entertaining the children, or indeed pointing them in the right direction of the garden/playroom/bedroom (delete as appropriate) so that they can entertain themselves. We spend our time getting very good at filling school bags with the right letters, prepping lunchboxes, prepping and distributing breakfasts and evening meals, bathing, stories and bed time. That bulk of time in the middle of the day that needs filling with other stuff? Well that's something of an enigma to us.
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Showing posts with label school. Show all posts
Saturday, 2 August 2014
Sunday, 22 September 2013
10 reassuring and helpful tips for getting organised: for mums whose children are starting school
Little Miss George started in Reception just over a week ago. Already she has brought home two reading books without any words in them; a sponsor form to raise money for the school; 3 separate newsletters with dates for parent evenings, school photo sessions, coffee mornings and encouraging suggestions that I attend the annual general meeting of the "mums and dads" committee; and lots of tales of playing with lots of Lego. If she was my elder daughter I would be wondering what on earth the school was playing at and would be feeling completely overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information.
If she was our first, I would have diligently attending the welcome meeting for new parents last week in order to be told exactly how important it was to read the reading books "the same night" and return the next day to ensure that the book was available for the next child.
I would be feeling under pressure to attend every meeting, and already panicking about the potential risk of forgetting to dress my daughter in appropriate "dress-up" gear on various fancy dress days to come.
I would be scanning every letter and marking in my diary every single event, without having a clue which pieces of information were more important than others.
As it is, I know better.
This year I am much more relaxed. Here's my list of top tips that will help you work out what information is important, what to prioritise and what to just ignore. I hope it helps.
Tuesday, 20 August 2013
Teaching children the value of money
Our children are spoilt. There is no getting away from it. It doesn't matter how many times we try and remind them how lucky they are, they are still spoilt.
I worry about the value, or lack of value, they place on things.
I also worry about how it's possible to teach them the value of money and the relative size of different numbers, when actual physical real money hardly exists any more.
Virtual money vs actual money
My daughters have a shop set up in the playroom. (It's huge, and I blame my mother.) They also have a till. On numerous occasions we have started playing shops only to get to the payment point when, after happily asking me to enter my plastic play credit card into the machine, and happily asking me to put my code in, they confusingly try and give me, the customer, some cash. I think they get confused having witnessed the phenomena that is "cash back".
So how do you explain that usually it's up to the customer to pay the shop? And even more confusingly, how do you explain that the card machine actually mysteriously transfers mummy's money to the shop?
Friday, 15 March 2013
Panic! No school places for 2013 baby boomers!
Are we, in England, so incredibly inept, that we feel the need to panic when a statistician tells us that there won't be enough school places for children starting school in 2 years time?
2 years? That's a long time, right? That's long enough to go out and recruit a few extra reception teachers, or to canvas the supply teachers already on the books, isn't it?
The BBC news website indicates that "a quarter of a million extra school places will be needed in England by autumn next year, with one in five schools already full or near capacity". They talk about the rising birth rate which was higher than expected over the last few years. Really? In a recession there's a high birth rate? Oh you do surprise me. Sarcastic? Moi? Never!
2 years? That's a long time, right? That's long enough to go out and recruit a few extra reception teachers, or to canvas the supply teachers already on the books, isn't it?
The BBC news website indicates that "a quarter of a million extra school places will be needed in England by autumn next year, with one in five schools already full or near capacity". They talk about the rising birth rate which was higher than expected over the last few years. Really? In a recession there's a high birth rate? Oh you do surprise me. Sarcastic? Moi? Never!
Sunday, 23 September 2012
There will be NO scooting in the playground!
My daughter's infant school have gone straight from 'not expressing an opinion on scooters' to 'banning them from the playground entirely'. There was no middle ground. No gentle request that parents ensure to keep an eye on their own children and ensure they weren't ramming the ankles of other parents or crashing into other children. There was no recognition that scooting is currently preferred to biking as a method to encourage children to walk to school (yes, walk) rather than get in the car. There has been no view expressed on whether bikes (larger, harder to control) also come under the 'too dangerous for the playground' category.
You may be able to sense a little frustration in this post. You would be right.
I am sick and tired of 'health and safety' and the 'litigation culture' effecting our children's ability to just BE.
How are they going to learn how to look where they are going, avoid collisions, do those amazing mental calculations that happen automatically when you see someone coming towards you at speed and you have to work out if you have enough time to keep walking in front of them, or if you need to change direction. These mental calculations need to be practised on scooters, bikes, skates, basically anything with wheels, in order for children to have half a chance of taking that ability and applying it to the oncoming cars when they attempt to cross the road.
Apparently children do not have the mental ability to assess speed and distance accurately enough to safely cross the road on their own until they are 11 years old. (If anyone at the Times can point me in the direction of the link for the article I read this in a few months ago I'd be grateful.)
If it takes them until they are 11 years old to master that skill now; what age will they be if we take away their opportunity to practise that skill with slower wheeled vehicles?
I suspect that the schools 'banning' of scooters in the playground has occurred either because one child has bashed into another child, or because a parent has had their ankles bumped. I would humbly suggest that any child that has bashed into another on a scooter would be far less dangerous a rider after the event than before because, dare I say it, they will have learnt that if they don't look where they are going it will HURT.
So now the risk of accidents has actually decreased overall.
Hmmm. It's funny how, despite being such a risk adverse person, I still want our children to be children. Even if I have to put knee and elbow protection pads and a helmet on my child riding a scooter, I'd much rather they RODE THE SCOOTER.
Hey, maybe that's an idea? Maybe the school could change their rule to "No scooting without helmets and pads". At least the kids would have a chance to be kids.
What do you think? If you were in charge of the school would you have immediately placed a ban? Does it depend on what circumstances (that we may not be aware of) have happened? Should they have issued a 'warning' first? Do your children walk, scoot, bike, skate to school? Do they wear any protection?
Feel free to share your thoughts by clicking on 'comments' below or connecting with me at the Facebook Page or on Twitter @ymummyreally.
You may be able to sense a little frustration in this post. You would be right.
I am sick and tired of 'health and safety' and the 'litigation culture' effecting our children's ability to just BE.
How are they going to learn how to look where they are going, avoid collisions, do those amazing mental calculations that happen automatically when you see someone coming towards you at speed and you have to work out if you have enough time to keep walking in front of them, or if you need to change direction. These mental calculations need to be practised on scooters, bikes, skates, basically anything with wheels, in order for children to have half a chance of taking that ability and applying it to the oncoming cars when they attempt to cross the road.
Apparently children do not have the mental ability to assess speed and distance accurately enough to safely cross the road on their own until they are 11 years old. (If anyone at the Times can point me in the direction of the link for the article I read this in a few months ago I'd be grateful.)
If it takes them until they are 11 years old to master that skill now; what age will they be if we take away their opportunity to practise that skill with slower wheeled vehicles?
I suspect that the schools 'banning' of scooters in the playground has occurred either because one child has bashed into another child, or because a parent has had their ankles bumped. I would humbly suggest that any child that has bashed into another on a scooter would be far less dangerous a rider after the event than before because, dare I say it, they will have learnt that if they don't look where they are going it will HURT.
So now the risk of accidents has actually decreased overall.
Hmmm. It's funny how, despite being such a risk adverse person, I still want our children to be children. Even if I have to put knee and elbow protection pads and a helmet on my child riding a scooter, I'd much rather they RODE THE SCOOTER.
Hey, maybe that's an idea? Maybe the school could change their rule to "No scooting without helmets and pads". At least the kids would have a chance to be kids.
What do you think? If you were in charge of the school would you have immediately placed a ban? Does it depend on what circumstances (that we may not be aware of) have happened? Should they have issued a 'warning' first? Do your children walk, scoot, bike, skate to school? Do they wear any protection?
Feel free to share your thoughts by clicking on 'comments' below or connecting with me at the Facebook Page or on Twitter @ymummyreally.
Friday, 10 August 2012
Starting School: Everything you need to know
So your little bundle of joy is starting school in September.
"I'm not ready!" I hear you all cry. He/she is only a BABY! He/she can't possibly be old enough for school, surely!
But the time travels so fast and they are, indeed, growing up. So to ease the transition I've pulled together some of the best blog posts and articles on the web at the moment on 'starting school'. What skills they need to practise in advance, what you can do to ease your own pain as a parent, help for parents with children with allergies, what extra things expats may need to consider and a whole lot of resources to help you out. I hope it's useful!
Five Key Skills: Over at Mindful Mum, Lorna Clark, parenting consultant and maternity nurse, explains five important skills that will help make your child's transition to school that little bit easier.
Potty Training? Karen is flabbergasted that potty training before school seems to be so difficult for some parents. Or does it become an issue when they are engrossed in the new tasks at school and forget to ask to go?
What do you think?
Have you toilet trained your little one in preparation for their new school life?
K is for Kit: Over at PinkOddy's Blog, preparation for school includes talking about the different letters of the alphabet. In this post; K is for Kit.
It's a great idea to incorporate some activities like this through the summer period.
Reading Tips: Over at Life, Ninja Killer Cat and everything else, Claire provides some great tips for starting to read with your pre-schooler. It's good to get them familiar with books and reading as early as possible. After all, to learn about other things you first need to be able to read!
Get Crafty: Maggie, at Red Ted Art, has pulled together a collection of the best back to school crafts to get you in the mood for the start of school.
If the idea of a yummy Schultuete doesn't get them running through the front gates, maybe the gorgeous notebooks and decorated pencils will? At the very least, the last week of the summer holidays are sorted!
Sentimental? Wondering what she'll fill her time with, and whether Little Miss will settle in OK, Mum on the Brink is a mum feeling sentimental about the next stage in her young girls life.
This post is sure to strike a chord with mums everywhere.
Struggling with logistics? Lady Briggs ponders how her daily schedule will change when K starts school in a few weeks. Nursery's often cater very well for working parents, but with the move to school, and a 3.30pm finish she's got some logistics to work out. Find out how the preparation is going with this follow-up post too.
Proud? Kel, at Writing, Rambling and Reviews, is really proud of her growing boy. Legs is really looking forward to attending his new school in September.
Over at Allergy UK this comprehensive post provides information on how to establish a management plan, what questions to ask and how to prepare for school when your child suffers from allergies.
For those with food allergies I particularly like the idea of sending a 'special treat' tin to school so that your child doesn't miss out on a treat when other children bring in birthday buns or treats to hand out. This is just one of many useful tips on this site.
In the Netherlands they hang up their school bags with their national flags in June, have a unique way of keeping the school clean and accept new intakes every week!
Find out more about Funky Monkey's start at her new Dutch school in this vibrant and enlightening post over at Tales from Windmill Fields.
In Australia it's different again, with the school year starting in January (I suppose it is their summer!). Trevor Cairney, leader of the New College at the University of New South Wales (Sydney) talks us through the varied starting age across Australia in his Literacy blog and how this compares to other countries. This post is an insightful and comprehensive discussion as to the best starting school age for children, including what to consider if thinking about holding your child back for a year.
Welcome packs: If you want to get a head start, you might want to invest in some resources to help support your child's learning. Twinkl Resources provide educational materials for schools, but there's nothing to stop you being 'teacher'!
Their Key Stage 1 Welcome Pack is a great place to start.
Phonics Tests: If you've heard rumours about a worrying new test that your child will have to take in Year 1, don't fret. My post, here, outlines my views on the new Phonics Screening Tests, and rest assured, my summary is that you shouldn't be at all concerned with this test. It's a test of the teacher's method, not the child's ability.
For books that serve a double purpose; firstly getting the process of reading underway and secondly, reading about starting school! This is my special collection of books to get you and your child, in the mood!
I'd appreciate it if you'd share this post with your friends, using the sharing buttons below.
If you notice any glaring omissions in this post, then please contact me! I want to ensure this is a useful and accurate article. Or feel free to add any of your own tips in the 'comments' box below. Commenting is welcome.
Good luck to all those children starting school in 4 short weeks. Have fun!
Unless otherwise stated, all the pictures used in this post are from the contributing articles and are used with the permission of the websites referred to.
"I'm not ready!" I hear you all cry. He/she is only a BABY! He/she can't possibly be old enough for school, surely!
But the time travels so fast and they are, indeed, growing up. So to ease the transition I've pulled together some of the best blog posts and articles on the web at the moment on 'starting school'. What skills they need to practise in advance, what you can do to ease your own pain as a parent, help for parents with children with allergies, what extra things expats may need to consider and a whole lot of resources to help you out. I hope it's useful!
Preparation
What preparation can I do with my child before starting school?
Five Key Skills: Over at Mindful Mum, Lorna Clark, parenting consultant and maternity nurse, explains five important skills that will help make your child's transition to school that little bit easier.
Putting on coats and shoes: It's really helpful for a child to learn this skill before school. With one teacher to up to thirty children, it's difficult for the teacher to help everyone get coats and shoes on. Check out these top tips for helping your child learn this important skill at The Nurture Store
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| Photo by Flickr djwudi |
Potty Training? Karen is flabbergasted that potty training before school seems to be so difficult for some parents. Or does it become an issue when they are engrossed in the new tasks at school and forget to ask to go?
What do you think?
Have you toilet trained your little one in preparation for their new school life?
It's a great idea to incorporate some activities like this through the summer period.
If the idea of a yummy Schultuete doesn't get them running through the front gates, maybe the gorgeous notebooks and decorated pencils will? At the very least, the last week of the summer holidays are sorted!
What about me?
How will I cope? What are other mums feeling?
This post is sure to strike a chord with mums everywhere.
Making the most of time at home: Pippa, over at A Mother's Ramblings, has collated a list of the things she wants to do with her Big Boy before he starts school in a year. It's a long list! Are there things you want to do before the new term comes around?
What if my child has allergies?
For those with food allergies I particularly like the idea of sending a 'special treat' tin to school so that your child doesn't miss out on a treat when other children bring in birthday buns or treats to hand out. This is just one of many useful tips on this site.
What about schools outside the UK?
Find out more about Funky Monkey's start at her new Dutch school in this vibrant and enlightening post over at Tales from Windmill Fields.
Resources
Reading, phonics and books!
Their Key Stage 1 Welcome Pack is a great place to start.
Books: Starting School
For books that serve a double purpose; firstly getting the process of reading underway and secondly, reading about starting school! This is my special collection of books to get you and your child, in the mood!
Next steps
If you found this post useful, please help share it with other mums just like you, who may also find this guidance useful as their child takes a first step into the education system.I'd appreciate it if you'd share this post with your friends, using the sharing buttons below.
If you notice any glaring omissions in this post, then please contact me! I want to ensure this is a useful and accurate article. Or feel free to add any of your own tips in the 'comments' box below. Commenting is welcome.
Good luck to all those children starting school in 4 short weeks. Have fun!
Unless otherwise stated, all the pictures used in this post are from the contributing articles and are used with the permission of the websites referred to.
Sunday, 22 April 2012
Help! My child doesn't want to go to school!
Late on Sunday evening, the night before school was due to start a new term after the Easter break, my friend's five year old daughter took a tube of toothpaste, squeezed out three or four large gloops, and rubbed it all into her dry hair like shampoo. All over.
Her mother, understandably, was fairly upset. It took four actual shampoos and rinses to get the bulk of it out of her hair. Bedtime was somewhat delayed.
You'll obviously have worked out that this child wasn't keen on school. It's nothing new; she's been coming up with excuses to avoid going to school for the whole 18 months she's been in attendance. Luckily, her mum, being the sensible woman she is, hasn't let her daughter win this battle of wills. Attending school is not a debating matter. But, the daughter has obviously inherited her mother's fighting spirit and stubbornness, so it's a battle of wills that continues to rage.
Excuses have included;
Ironically, once at school, all reports suggest that she enjoys it. She is super bright; reading texts far beyond her years; but appears to socialise happily in the school environment.
Her mother, though, is starting to wonder if she'll ever go to school without fuss.
Can anyone help?
Is this something that she will eventually grow out of? Or is it a habit that she'll find hard to break? Is there anything more mum can do?
What inventive things has your child done to avoid school?
Her mother, understandably, was fairly upset. It took four actual shampoos and rinses to get the bulk of it out of her hair. Bedtime was somewhat delayed.
You'll obviously have worked out that this child wasn't keen on school. It's nothing new; she's been coming up with excuses to avoid going to school for the whole 18 months she's been in attendance. Luckily, her mum, being the sensible woman she is, hasn't let her daughter win this battle of wills. Attending school is not a debating matter. But, the daughter has obviously inherited her mother's fighting spirit and stubbornness, so it's a battle of wills that continues to rage.
Excuses have included;
- I can only go to school when it's sunny.
- I've broken my leg. (she obviously hadn't).
- I can't find any socks (she'd hidden them all)
- I can't find my shoes (she'd hidden those too)
Ironically, once at school, all reports suggest that she enjoys it. She is super bright; reading texts far beyond her years; but appears to socialise happily in the school environment.
Her mother, though, is starting to wonder if she'll ever go to school without fuss.
Can anyone help?
Is this something that she will eventually grow out of? Or is it a habit that she'll find hard to break? Is there anything more mum can do?
What inventive things has your child done to avoid school?
Saturday, 31 December 2011
Yummy? Mummy? In the Winter? YES!
How on earth can we be yummy and still be a mummy in the winter!
Happy New Year!
The cold spell continues (though so far without the dreaded 's' word!) and the school run is fraught enough, without the added pressure of looking good whilst doing it!
The cold spell continues (though so far without the dreaded 's' word!) and the school run is fraught enough, without the added pressure of looking good whilst doing it!
I am not a photographer by any stretch of the imagination, as previous posts will testify. But even with a camera phone, the smiles of these mums is clear to see.
If you have some similar pictures of mums doing what mums do best, (no smut please; you know what I mean!) Email them in and we'll perhaps display them.
We need to remember that we are all yummy, regardless of celebrities trying to persuade us that we can't step out of the door without 5 inch heels and a designer buggy.
We need to remember that it's only 5 degrees Celsius out there, and it's nigh on impossible to find winter coats that keep us warm but also make us look red carpet ready.
We need to remember that its a miracle if we even remember to put our shoes on after the children have ran us ragged from 5am until school drop of time.
We need to remember that we are all yummy, regardless of celebrities trying to persuade us that we can't step out of the door without 5 inch heels and a designer buggy.
We need to remember that it's only 5 degrees Celsius out there, and it's nigh on impossible to find winter coats that keep us warm but also make us look red carpet ready.
We need to remember that its a miracle if we even remember to put our shoes on after the children have ran us ragged from 5am until school drop of time.
We need to remember that simply brushing our hair some mornings is a major challenge.
We need to remember that we face similar challenges to millions of other mums, that we are not alone, that we have friends, family, children who love us.
We are yummy mummies!
Really!
Even this dodgy looking one in the bright blue coat!
* * * *
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Friday, 16 December 2011
Wearing Pyjamas on the school run - I'm not proud
OK, I admit it. I didn't technically get dressed this morning. But I stress the 'technically'. It's not like I had my best lingerie on; baby doll nightie's don't sit well with blue noses in this wintry weather, and I wouldn't want to freak out the local Lollipop man.
But I did leave my comfy Canterbury of New Zealand jogging bottoms on. I didn't bother with a bra, and with my big blue coat, snow boots and scarf, who really noticed?
I though I said in the title that I'm not proud, actually, I have realised that I am pretty proud of myself. Obviously not for helping the cause (it's definitely not one of my yummiest mummy moments, particularly as I haven't yet mentioned that I didn't even brush my hair. OK, I'm ashamed at that bit. I apologise profusely and ask for Santa's forgiveness).
I am proud that, by getting my daughter to school on time, despite appearances, I put her education before my vanity. And frankly, I think I consider that fairly yummy in itself.
What do you think? Is it ever OK to be so ungroomed at the school gate!
But I did leave my comfy Canterbury of New Zealand jogging bottoms on. I didn't bother with a bra, and with my big blue coat, snow boots and scarf, who really noticed?
I though I said in the title that I'm not proud, actually, I have realised that I am pretty proud of myself. Obviously not for helping the cause (it's definitely not one of my yummiest mummy moments, particularly as I haven't yet mentioned that I didn't even brush my hair. OK, I'm ashamed at that bit. I apologise profusely and ask for Santa's forgiveness).
I am proud that, by getting my daughter to school on time, despite appearances, I put her education before my vanity. And frankly, I think I consider that fairly yummy in itself.
What do you think? Is it ever OK to be so ungroomed at the school gate!
Tuesday, 29 November 2011
Christmas Assembly Confusion! You need to take 'what?' to school?
My eldest girl (5 yrs) came home with instructions yesterday.
Thinking about it though; it’ll be harder to get hold of a kilt for this assembly than it would be to supply a quilt, so maybe she’s on to something!
“Mummy…..” she said in that slightly irritating whiny way that 5 year olds have perfected and which you know will precede a question that involves you doing something, or that presents you with a new complicated job to do.
“Mummy…….. I need a costume for school for the Christmas assembly”
“OK luv, what do you need?” I say overly cheerily to suppress the groan that is threatening.
“I need a quilt, mummy”
“A quilt?” I frown.
“Yes” she says seeing the doubt in my eyes and nodding her little head furiously. “A quilt”. Obviously I am doubtful. I have an image in my head of a small child swamped with her winter quilt, over her head, wrapped around her like Mary’s shawl in the nativity, a large belt strapping it all together. Ahhhh... I think I may be on to something.
“Is it to dress up as Mary? Or a Shepherd?” I ask thinking I’ve worked it out. But she’s not at all happy with that suggestion and I can see very quickly that she is disgusted with my apparent stupidity.
“NO Mummy” At one point I think she’s going to tut at me and she says very slowly and slightly loudly.. “We have to dress up like the Countries.”
“Countries?”
“Yes Mummy.” I can tell she’s getting exasperated now. “So I need a quilt. Like they wear in bonny Scotland…………”
And so it transpires that the children have been learning about the Olympics and are doing a Christmas assembly on this subject, in which my daughter is supporting Scotland. I am not sure which made my laugh more in the next 10 minutes until I finally came up for air, the ‘quilt’ or the fact that my daughter had used the word ‘bonny’. A word we have never used in any context previously before!
Wednesday, 23 November 2011
Today's Lesson Learnt..
It's not a good idea to walk to school if you haven't left extra time to put on the required coats, hats, scarfs and gloves. My eldest arrived at school a good five minutes late this morning to an empty playground. The secretary did a marvellous job of not looking too disapproving and I scuttled off like the failure of a mum I must be.
My excuse (if needed) and reason for feeling more smug than embarrassed is this:- we walked. A greener, healthier method than driving. Less stressful too...IF you leave enough time!
Note to self: - when it snows sleep in coat, hat and scarf or leave house before 8am!
My excuse (if needed) and reason for feeling more smug than embarrassed is this:- we walked. A greener, healthier method than driving. Less stressful too...IF you leave enough time!
Note to self: - when it snows sleep in coat, hat and scarf or leave house before 8am!
Monday, 19 September 2011
Back to school! Aaaaagggghhhh!
I always thought that my children would go to school to learn how to read, write, count, solve problems and generally become more intelligent than me. I never quite realised how much homework is code for mumswork.
Cheeky Monkey number 1 is starting her second year at school. This bizarrely puts her in year 1 (I thought they taught them how to count?) We've had to buy a homework book off the school for £3.50 which you can't do the homework without (so someone can count). She now has a weekly spelling test of words that it's up to me to teach her. And I thought that I paid taxes to fund teachers to do the teaching for me?
So now I have mumswork. Hopefully it'll make friends with mumschores and mumscleaning and they'll all sod off to the pub and leave me in peace?
Cheeky Monkey number 1 is starting her second year at school. This bizarrely puts her in year 1 (I thought they taught them how to count?) We've had to buy a homework book off the school for £3.50 which you can't do the homework without (so someone can count). She now has a weekly spelling test of words that it's up to me to teach her. And I thought that I paid taxes to fund teachers to do the teaching for me?
So now I have mumswork. Hopefully it'll make friends with mumschores and mumscleaning and they'll all sod off to the pub and leave me in peace?
Saturday, 28 May 2011
Worried your child isn't doing well at school?
Seriously, don't fret!
Particularly if they are in Reception and are young for their year.
My daughter is now 5 years old, as of last week; and she is writing well even if the teacher continues to criticise her method of writing (she likes to start at the bottom of letters, not the top. I'm a big believer in results, not method, so can't see why this is a problem), and she is reading well, struggling only with naughty words like "was" and "here" which don't sound like themselves at all when you try and sound them out a letter at a time.
She's been at school now since September 2010. 8 months. Her sister won't start school until a week before she turns 5 years old, and therefore, in order for her to be anywhere near the same stage as her sister as at her 5th birthday I will have to have taught her all the stuff that school have been teaching my eldest for the last 8 months.
And so, when the teachers compare my eldest's performance (one of the youngest children in her year) with the oldest children, I am frustrated, as the developmental differences between children of 4 and 5 years old is vast, and yet the teachers seem insistent on them all being the same.
Don't worry. Don't fret. Reading and writing are important. But they are only young, and have plenty of time to work it out. Plenty of time.
Convinced yet?
Particularly if they are in Reception and are young for their year.
My daughter is now 5 years old, as of last week; and she is writing well even if the teacher continues to criticise her method of writing (she likes to start at the bottom of letters, not the top. I'm a big believer in results, not method, so can't see why this is a problem), and she is reading well, struggling only with naughty words like "was" and "here" which don't sound like themselves at all when you try and sound them out a letter at a time.
She's been at school now since September 2010. 8 months. Her sister won't start school until a week before she turns 5 years old, and therefore, in order for her to be anywhere near the same stage as her sister as at her 5th birthday I will have to have taught her all the stuff that school have been teaching my eldest for the last 8 months.
And so, when the teachers compare my eldest's performance (one of the youngest children in her year) with the oldest children, I am frustrated, as the developmental differences between children of 4 and 5 years old is vast, and yet the teachers seem insistent on them all being the same.
Don't worry. Don't fret. Reading and writing are important. But they are only young, and have plenty of time to work it out. Plenty of time.
Convinced yet?
Sunday, 15 May 2011
Still trying to get the kids to school on time...!
Time to school bell : 30 minutes
So I’m sat on my knees on a wooden floor.. (don’t snigger)…. And I’m pleading with my daughter to put her pink all-in-one waterproof suit on to go to Chatsworth County Estate on her first ever school trip. She’s not having any of it, and I’ve no idea where her other waterproof coat is.
25 minutes.
I could put my foot down, but I‘m stressed, and I don’t want to be the mother that spoilt her first trip for her. So I run around the hall, flinging coats about in an attempt to trace at least one waterproof coat (rain’s definitely forecast). In the chaos the youngest is happily putting her waterproof on. Of course she isn’t going on a trip – just to Nursery. But irony wouldn’t have a job otherwise.
23 minutes…
Eureka! Brainwave! All waterproofs are in the utility after we wore them to do the gardening at the weekend. I grab them in relief.
Which is short lived.
20 mins…
They are, of course, covered in mud, since the girls helped us plant our spring garden so well.
Cue a sprint through the house to the kitchen cupboard for baby wipes, which come to the rescue, and a quick wipe down makes one coat suitable to wear; though whether it passes the in-law test remains to be seen.
Ok, so she’s got her packed lunch, her 2 (not 1) drinks, her trainers (in case of rain), her waterproof (freshly wiped down), sun-cream on (the weather is really that temperamental), and her sun hat…… no. No sunhat.
19 minutes…
Now don’t laugh. I know I’ve just stressed about the waterproof, so why on earth would she need a sun hat as well? Easy. It’s May. In the Midlands. It’s 20 degrees Celsius one minute and hailing the next. But her sun hat is no where to be found.
17 minutes…
She’s had her sun hat roughly 3 weeks. What was I saying about irony.
I find two other old hats. Neither will squeeze onto her head. The youngest finds hers and promptly struts around in waterproof and sun hat as if to mock us.
15 minutes…
I still have the youngest to drop at Nursery so we run to the car. (I run, the children are encouraged in a very exuberant way that results in them slowing down.)
We drop off the youngest. Who is still wearing her waterproof all in one, and her sun hat, and I haven’t the heart to argue with her.
2 minutes…
We park the car and run……….
I so hope she has a good time!
So I’m sat on my knees on a wooden floor.. (don’t snigger)…. And I’m pleading with my daughter to put her pink all-in-one waterproof suit on to go to Chatsworth County Estate on her first ever school trip. She’s not having any of it, and I’ve no idea where her other waterproof coat is.
25 minutes.
I could put my foot down, but I‘m stressed, and I don’t want to be the mother that spoilt her first trip for her. So I run around the hall, flinging coats about in an attempt to trace at least one waterproof coat (rain’s definitely forecast). In the chaos the youngest is happily putting her waterproof on. Of course she isn’t going on a trip – just to Nursery. But irony wouldn’t have a job otherwise.
23 minutes…
Eureka! Brainwave! All waterproofs are in the utility after we wore them to do the gardening at the weekend. I grab them in relief.
Which is short lived.
20 mins…
They are, of course, covered in mud, since the girls helped us plant our spring garden so well.
Cue a sprint through the house to the kitchen cupboard for baby wipes, which come to the rescue, and a quick wipe down makes one coat suitable to wear; though whether it passes the in-law test remains to be seen.
Ok, so she’s got her packed lunch, her 2 (not 1) drinks, her trainers (in case of rain), her waterproof (freshly wiped down), sun-cream on (the weather is really that temperamental), and her sun hat…… no. No sunhat.
19 minutes…
Now don’t laugh. I know I’ve just stressed about the waterproof, so why on earth would she need a sun hat as well? Easy. It’s May. In the Midlands. It’s 20 degrees Celsius one minute and hailing the next. But her sun hat is no where to be found.
17 minutes…
She’s had her sun hat roughly 3 weeks. What was I saying about irony.
I find two other old hats. Neither will squeeze onto her head. The youngest finds hers and promptly struts around in waterproof and sun hat as if to mock us.
15 minutes…
I still have the youngest to drop at Nursery so we run to the car. (I run, the children are encouraged in a very exuberant way that results in them slowing down.)
We drop off the youngest. Who is still wearing her waterproof all in one, and her sun hat, and I haven’t the heart to argue with her.
2 minutes…
We park the car and run……….
I so hope she has a good time!
Monday, 20 September 2010
Starting school.....Aaagghh!
It's a nasty, rainy morning in the Midlands. Standing in the rain, huddled together with matching book bags and water bottles are three parents. Waiting for the bell to ring, they are trying to keep dry, catch up with friends, keep an eye on their children, and stop the bottom of their trousers soaking up any more water but subtlety hitching them up to Simon Cowell heights every 3 minutes. They are carrying all the school paraphernalia required. Their children, 4 years old, are too busy running amok to hold said paraphernalia, and will, if unprompted, probably run into school without required book bag, water bottle, a photograph of themselves as babies (this week's homework for the parents), and a signed letter saying that, yes, they are allowed to have their eyes tested by the school nurse.
The mums all have the look of a frightened rabbit about them. It's only week two. They thought school would mean; drop off at 9am, pick up at 3.30pm. But no. Their children are all 'Rising Fives', which essentially means that they are not five at all, in fact they are nowhere near five, having only turned four a few measly weeks ago, and are so young that the smallest size of school uniform looks massive on them. They are, as a result, starting school in September for 'mornings only'. Which means, by the time you've dropped them off at 8.55am, and returned to pick them up at 11.55, you've barely had time to boil the kettle. They have spent the first two weeks of school coming home with letters to their 'frightened rabbit looking mums' almost daily, inviting said parents to sign various forms, attend a school meeting (week one), attend a PTA meeting (week 2), become a school governor (week 2), obtain a minimum of £25 sponsorship for an event all children are participating in in week 4, sign their children up for football classes, dance classes, and remember to take in a copy of their child's birth certificate so that their identity can be confirmed.
On top of this they are required to remember to send their children with a clear (not coloured) bottle of water at the beginning of each week (presumably schools don't use their own cups for drinks anymore?), ensure name labels are in every item of clothing and dress them in 'easy' clothes on PE days (as the teachers presumably don't have the time to help them get dressed or undressed, regardless of their young age). I can imagine a bunch of school children running around a school hall half-dressed. A young boy still in his school shirt because he can't quite do the buttons yet. A young girl still in her coat for the same reason. Shorts on back to front. Plimsolls on the wrong feet. Oh dear.
And all of this on top of the added strain of having to get the child to school on time. Not just to a relaxing play group once a week. But to school. Everyday. Where I'm sure they do detention for parents that are stupid enough to be late.
It turns out that school now runs our lives. We can't go on holiday anymore without consulting the school timetable. Though looking at the prices is an easy way of spotting when the holidays are. When the prices hike.
Am I stressed? Ever so slightly.
Can I still be yummy doing all this? Goodness knows. I will try my best.
The mums all have the look of a frightened rabbit about them. It's only week two. They thought school would mean; drop off at 9am, pick up at 3.30pm. But no. Their children are all 'Rising Fives', which essentially means that they are not five at all, in fact they are nowhere near five, having only turned four a few measly weeks ago, and are so young that the smallest size of school uniform looks massive on them. They are, as a result, starting school in September for 'mornings only'. Which means, by the time you've dropped them off at 8.55am, and returned to pick them up at 11.55, you've barely had time to boil the kettle. They have spent the first two weeks of school coming home with letters to their 'frightened rabbit looking mums' almost daily, inviting said parents to sign various forms, attend a school meeting (week one), attend a PTA meeting (week 2), become a school governor (week 2), obtain a minimum of £25 sponsorship for an event all children are participating in in week 4, sign their children up for football classes, dance classes, and remember to take in a copy of their child's birth certificate so that their identity can be confirmed.
On top of this they are required to remember to send their children with a clear (not coloured) bottle of water at the beginning of each week (presumably schools don't use their own cups for drinks anymore?), ensure name labels are in every item of clothing and dress them in 'easy' clothes on PE days (as the teachers presumably don't have the time to help them get dressed or undressed, regardless of their young age). I can imagine a bunch of school children running around a school hall half-dressed. A young boy still in his school shirt because he can't quite do the buttons yet. A young girl still in her coat for the same reason. Shorts on back to front. Plimsolls on the wrong feet. Oh dear.
And all of this on top of the added strain of having to get the child to school on time. Not just to a relaxing play group once a week. But to school. Everyday. Where I'm sure they do detention for parents that are stupid enough to be late.
It turns out that school now runs our lives. We can't go on holiday anymore without consulting the school timetable. Though looking at the prices is an easy way of spotting when the holidays are. When the prices hike.
Am I stressed? Ever so slightly.
Can I still be yummy doing all this? Goodness knows. I will try my best.
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