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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…
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Learning to read – Watching Spike learn to read through phonics
Last week I really enjoyed sitting down with Spike to read a storybook. She’d picked this particular book up off the shelf at home and asked to take it to Grandma’s with her so I told her to put it in the bag without really looking at which book it was. Ant and Bee, a learning to read book The book in question was Ant and Bee. A lovely book blogger friend sent me it when I had Spike saying it helped her to read and thought it would be nice for Spike. It introduces simple words starting with each letter of the alphabet and puts those words into a…
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Overwhelmed, nervous and full of questions – What to expect when visiting primary schools
The Primary School applications season is underway and if you are like some of my friends you’ll have already applied. If you are like others, you haven’t got a clue! Its hard to know where to start but visiting primary schools was one of the most important things for me. I started looking into everything in August and it was easy for me to narrow down our options to three schools. The application allows you to enter three choices but I didn’t know which I would prefer Spike to go to, without visiting. Which is why I arranged the visits. Read on to find out how each visit went and…
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Working bank holidays – missing out on that extra little us time
I work in the travel and tourism industry. Although I work an office job, I’m one of a small minority for my company. Therefore our contracts are written like those on the holiday parks we manage. We aren’t meant to have a large chunk of time off within July and August. And we work bank holidays as standard days. The only exception to this is Christmas. Working Bank Holidays I don’t really mind too much as my parents were never off on a bank holiday. I grew up in a shop where my parents time was spent working 7 days a week, 363 days a year. The only days they…
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Applying for school places – Trying to get the best for Spike
The time has come to look at schools for Spike. It scares me how fast the last 3 years has gone. Starting nursery seemed like hardly any time ago, yet now we’re looking at school places! The idea that she goes to school next September is already freaking me out. My school preferences The first thing I did was look into schools in our area. I have always said I do not want my child doing to a church school. T is atheist, I am undecided. I am most connected to Paganism and I really hate the idea of organised religion. Having attended a church primary school and growing up…
