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“Will I be a big 5 when I go back to school mummy?” – Starting year 1 and what I’ve learnt from a year of school
Its been a year since Spike started school. A year since we upped sticks and moved to a new city. We threw her into a place she knew no one and had no friends. But she’s coping pretty well I’d say. A Year On What a year its been. Spike has always been slow to make friends, and school was no exception. She was just starting to really make friends when the sh*t hit the fan and school closed its doors for what, at the time, we thought would be an extended Easter break in March. 4 months later and Spike has set foot in her school three times. She’s…
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Our plans for Summer 2020 – What we’ll be doing during Spike’s first summer holidays
Summer 2020 was meant to be Spike’s first proper ‘summer holidays’. With me and T both working full time we arranged a week at Spike’s aunty’s for her, and a week off work together for a holiday. With the rest of the summer spent at kids club for Spike. But of course, because of Covid-19, things were a little up in the air. Now though, it seems to have settled and as long as a second wave doesn’t arrive we’ve got things sorted – though they have changed. Working full time in school holidays We always knew that having full time, 9-5 jobs meant that some of the summer would…
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Our Post-Lockdown Wishlist – Days out and things Spike is looking forward to when we can start the new normal
Early on in Lockdown Spike was asking a lot of questions about the things that we could not do. It was devastating to hear her ask to visit people, see friends and go on her favourite days out and have to say no. While the questions have stopped, the wishing has started. Spike refers to the lockdown period we are in as the ‘Nasty Bug Days’. She often wishes to do things as soon as these days are over. I have told her we’ll keep a list of all the things she wants to do and try and get to them as soon as we can. Here’s just a few…
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Becoming confident with reading – Spike’s exploration into the world of books
Spike has literally been exposed to books since the day she was born. There have been books around her ever since, easily accessible for her to look at. And of course she’s seen me reading my books – knowing she cant and wouldn’t want to read them yet! Now she’s started school she’s become even more interested in reading and its making me so happy. Books from birth I started reading to Spike from the first night and I can count on one hand how many times she has gone to bed without a bedtime story. Even when we used to leave my mums house to drive home after a…
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Keeping the routine – how we’re structuring our day to stay safe and happy
So we’re inside for the foreseeable future. While for some people this wont be a problem at all, for me and Spike it is not usual. We’re always doing something. Spike has been at nursery, then school, every weekday since she was 10 months old. I usually have work and if I’m not at work I’m meeting friends or going to an event etc. Weekends are spent on days out and lots of walks. We’re not stay at home type people. Until now, because we have to be to stay safe. Structuring the day Spike is a very routine child and that probably comes from the fact we’ve had a…
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Taking her dreams with her – a Dreamimals Daydreamimals review
Spike was lucky enough to be gifted a Dreamimals keycharm a few weeks ago. She’s always writing and drawing and I thought it would be a great little gift for her to take her dreams with her to school every day. The Dreamimal Dream Pillow The Dream Pillow was the original Dreamimal. A large, soft pillow with a pillow opening where your child can place pieces of paper. Your child is encouraged to write or draw what they want to dream about on the pillow then they take the pillow to bed with them. It helps build a positive attitude towards sleeping and has helped many children form a lovely…
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The longest of them all – Spike’s first term at school
So we’re through the long one. The longest term of the school year – autumn term. It’s been a learning curve. There were ups and downs, a parents evening, a lot of parenting guilt and more. I thought I would share a bit of our experience with you all. New routines – leaving the house Spike started school this year, so it was our first full term. We got to grips with the school run quite quickly. Or at least we did. We know exactly what order everything needs to be done in for it to be done before we need to leave. Spike is still getting to grips with…
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Check on me in 5 minutes, ok? – How we’re getting round a sudden fear of the dark
Spike has never been scared of the dark. She always went to bed in a dark room with the door open a tiny bit, with the landing light turned down low. It’s never been an issue. Until now. Starting school, moving house, who knows A fear of the dark came about in early September. It coincided with starting school, but we also moved house 3 weeks previously. So it could have been caused by either thing, or neither. Everything I’ve read says that 4 year olds can often suddenly develop an irrational fear of the dark, which apparently goes with time in most cases. Bedtime stalling I’ve written before about…
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Clinging, crippling shyness and resistance to everything – how Spike has reacted to starting school
For 3 years Spike has been full time in nursery. We knew from the changes that occurred within that setting that she takes time to adjust. The first week or so after moving rooms in nursery she was always clingy at drop off. So we kind of expected more of the same starting school… A staggered start Spike’s school opted for half day starts for those starting school this year. She was in 9-11.30am for 4 days, then 9-1 for 3 days and then began full time. They have a high intake of kids who come straight from home, or part time at nursery. So I kind of understand why…
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Thank you for helping shape Spike into the girl she has become – An open letter to my daughter’s nursery
Dear Spike’s nursery, For the last 3 and half years you have looked after Spike when I couldn’t. There were days when I needed to drop her off because she was testing my patience and others, more, when I wished that I could stay with her. But each and every time I left her, I knew she was safe. She was being looked after by people that loved her. People who I could trust. People I knew would keep her safe no matter what. When Spike started, she was only with you 2 days a week. But she was treated like any other. The enthusiasm I got from all the…
