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I have been writing recently about why children need risk. In The Sunday Times (4 July 2010) there was an article about an interesting aspect of this. Two parents had decided to let their children, aged 8 and 5, cycle to school alone. They live in Dulwich. They were cycling along pavements and only crossed one road, with [...] I recently posted about categories of mums including ”competitive” mums. Naively I wondered why mums were getting so stressed about the achievements of their young children. Then I read a letter in Nursery World describing how a private prep school sends a 24 page document to parents of children joining its reception class stating that before [...] School was open today and weather forecasters are predicting a big thaw over the weekend. Now I’m starting to panic how I will cope next week without my “snow day”. Despite my objections to the principles, I’ve got used to our days off. It’s become a treat to be protected by the muffler of snow [...] Okay, so it’s quite hard work getting children in and out of coats, hats, gloves and boots, but I’m quite enjoying living with snow. It’s beautiful; cold and crisp, huge crystals glittering in the sunshine. We are finally experiencing the stereotypical images of winter that are usually only seen in Christmas cards and history books. Maybe [...] Tonight I have been to book club – what joy it was to get out of the house and talk to adults! Inevitably, we discussed school closures. Someone made a point I wanted to share – that the fact schools close so easily is actually a sad indictment of society. It’s because we’ve all become [...] During the snow in February 2009 I had a rant about how easily schools closed and how this sets a bad example to our children. “…What it says to them is that when things get tough we just give up…” I fear I must vent again! This morning my 6 year old was crying because, at [...] I love the one-off comments children come out with – funny but at the same time often sad and poignant, an insight into their perceptions, fears or passions. I have a book called Lots of Love, a collection of such phrases edited by Nanette Newman. “My mother ses she’s cold and then she makes me [...] Today was my son’s first school Sports Day, for me a morning of stomach-churning emotion. I hated Sports Day when I was at school. I was one of the chubby girls; embroiled every year in an unspoken battle with my friend Sarah to see which of us would come last. I can still remember the [...] T came out of school and collapsed theatrically at my feet because he was sooooo tired. Said the best part of the day was having lunch. Wasn’t sick on the coach. Success! My five year old is out on his first school trip. He is very excited. Last week he came home with a note and specific instructions: he had to have a lunchbox with a handle and no unhealthy food in it. Since then I have been duly making preparations as directed. They are going to a [...] |
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