Starting School ,Preparing your child for school.

Whether its is because children start school to early , some have just turned 4 when they start school or whether parents or nursery are not preparing children for school. Many are coming to school nowadays without basic skills.

• They can not dress themselves.
• They can not cut up their own food.
• They don't know when to ask for help by putting up their hand.
• They have no manners.

Image courtesy of [ imagerymajestic],/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net

You need to prepare your child for school in conjunction with your nursery  or any one else involved in your child's care.

• Visit the nursery or school with your child to give them an opportunity to see what the class does.
• Explain what will happen during the school day ,: play at school children will love being the teacher!.
• Read books about starting school.
• Reinforce the activities that your child interests and the things they will enjoy " there's be lots of duplo to play with- you love building" or "There's a teddy you can take on holiday!."
• Talk about the fun activities you already do at home that will be replicated in school such as painting,drawing,craft activities story time etc.

Before there first day.... well before their first day that is. You might want to check a few things with the school.

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• What's the typical school day.

• Toilet trained our child where possible- though not a problem if your child has learning delays etc as school will have an intimate care plan in place.

And these tips are the ones that will make your life, your child life much easier at school as it is often the little things that upset them such as not being able to put on their own coat.

• Try and mimic the timings of the school day where possible "Oh Look it's 12 o' clock the children at school are having their lunch now."

• Practice doing up buttons and fastening shoes.... Velcro is ideal but as they get older laces are ideal especially as by the time they get to senior school : Velcros trainers  really are not cool.
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• Practise social skills, such as taking turns, following directions and making choices
• Visit friends with children or invite other children to play
• Teach simple  jobs that may be useful at school, such as packing away toys. The teacher doesn't want to break their neck on a stray sheep now do they?
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• Help your child to recognise his name - most children can't read or write yet, but they may be able to recognise the first letter of their name or even the whole thing

Remember, all these activities should be fun - it's important not to pressurise your child. If you're making your child in the least bit anxious, stop talking about it quite so much.

The first day

The first day of school is one of your child's biggest milestones. How they react depends on many factors up to this pint such as home life etc, personality etc. If they have never been to nursery or playgroup adjustment may be a little more hard. So hopefully if you child has been to nursery / playgroup transition will be easier.

• Talk together about school and listen to any worries they may have.

• Include him in shopping trips to buy their school uniform or a fun lunchbox

• Be upbeat and positive - don't pass any of your worries to your child.

• Be informed - find out as much as possible about how the school works

The school will almost certainly give you information on any items your child needs, such as PE kit, and what happens at break time and lunch time, but be sure you ask if you have any queries.

The first weeks

Starting school can have a huge impact on your child, as it requires them to lead a double life. At home they aredependent, secure and loved, while at school he has to be independent and work hard to make others like him and to gain the approval of the teacher. So it is very hard for children to switch hats.

Problems can occur if their school and home lives are out of harmony. Family tensions at home, for example, can lead him to be distracted and unable to concentrate at school.

During the first few months, try to avoid major changes and keep home life as calm, stable and supportive as possible. Familiar routines are particularly important. Your child's likely to want to find the house as they left it when he gets home.

They should also know who'll collect them and when. Any changes to this routine should be explained.

A warm welcome home is essential. Give them some undivided attention - sit down together and share a snack and chat about the day.

Don't be surprised if there's some deterioration in your child's behaviour or a regression to more babyish ways. It's common for children to display negative or defiant behaviour or to have tantrums. Remember, they are tired, needs attention and wants to reassert some power with you.

Some children have a positive start, then go off school once the novelty has worn off and they realise they have to keep going. If this is the case, it shouldn't last for long.

Share your concerns about this with your child's class teacher.

Common issues

• It is only natural you may find  yourself about your child few few weeks, months at starting school. You'll probably finding your self worrying at various  points in their school life if I am honest!.

• Your child doesn't seem to be making friends.

• Your child is not be picked for games or teams, this is a situation more typical of the playground and not whilst your child is being taught.

• joustled on the playground. Many school with keep reception children separate for a  while then integrated them and make sure that not too many children are on the playground at any one time.
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• Another big stresses is going to toilet at school if it was anything like my son he would not do a number 2 motion at school.
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• Also children get worried about not having enough time to eat at school .

• What you can do.

• You should speak to your child's teachers about any concerns you have. Listen to your child any little thing can be useful. try not to bombard them with asking them what they 've done they seldom remember that very moment. You can always ask them to draw you a picture and see what they produce- though being eaten by aliens probably did not occur during the school day.

•  Your child , will adapt you will adapt it is perhaps their self reliance that will make you sad in a way- they still need you just because they don't need you to put on their coat or wipe their nose,. They need you to guide them through living steering them in the way of the correct life choices.
• Don't assume your child's teacher will help them with coats/ shoes with a class of 30 its really not practical, of course they will help buts it going to take a really long time.
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• I can not stress enough how your world will change from meeting new friends yourself - to in encouraging your child in new hobbies and activities. To the wonders and pressures of the parties but that is a blog post for another time....

Radox Bath Smoothie review

"Radox have released 3 new Bath Smoothies which smell heavenly Each of the Radox Bath Smoothies has a thick creamy texture with a delicious scent which is guaranteed to transform your boring old bath time to the ultimate 'me time' relaxation session.

Radox Bath Smoothies have taken the natural products found in the Shower Smoothies and blended them into a luxurious smooth cream designed to deliver a sumptuous bathing experience that will leave you smelling good enough to eat.

Choose from three tantalising variants based on the Shower Smoothie Range; Spirit booster, Soul Soother and Tropical Tranquillity and create your own perfect bath time.

Spirit Booster is a rich and creamy mix of yoghurt, cranberry and elderberry to boost body and mind.

Tropical Tranquillity is a divine combination of coconut, crushed almonds and myrrh to indulge the senses.

Soul Soother incorporates chamomile, blackcurrant and cranberry to calm the mind.


The Radox Bath Smoothies produce a lot of bubbles , you really don't need to pour alot in to produce s symphoney of bubbles ike this.

Awwwh cute Rubber Ducky aka @mummybarrow

The only down side I think I would like to see a more Man friendly option the only one of the three is neutral and that would  be the Tropical Tranquillity. 

On offer at  Tesco at the momennt for £1.99 usually £2.99 but you can't put a price on luxury can you? . So there no excuse not to go and buy yourself some, then run yourself a nice hot bath, put some music on have a glass of wine, and then the world unwind around you. Then when you are relaxed, you can go to work on your husband and convince him you NEED that handbag and you NEED those shoes!.


Give your skin the yummiest of treats with this rich and creamy range of Bath Smoothies. It’s like food for your skin. All thick and creamy, indulgent and yummy. Your skin will thank you.

New Air wick Odour Dectect Review

I love think that make my life easier especially when I am on my holidays. I was given the chance to review the New Air Wick Odour Dectect.

Now as my friend was going to come and look after my cats for the week I was away I felt same in the knowledge that this was fragrancing my home whilst I was away. And that my friend didn't have to come into pongy house and feed my cats.

The new Air Wick Odour Detect is rather clever( shame it can't do the DIY really) it actually seeks out the smell and zaps a spray into the air.

Sweet as they look cats can smell.

A new survey released today by Air Wick, for the launch of the NEW Air Wick Odour Detect™ air freshener, reveals that 79% of people notice unpleasant or distinctive odours in someone else’s home, that’s almost a whopping 4 out of 5 people! Picking up on the stink isn’t where it ends though, over half of the people surveyed (51%) admitted to judging a person’s cleanliness because of it.

The survey also revealed the following:

·        82% of people are embarrassed by bad odours in their home when guests are around with 43% of people revealing that their most embarrassing moment would be if their bathroom was left smelling less than fragrant.

·        66% had noticed unpleasant odours in their own house and 39% worried about how clean their house was as a result.

·        43% of people would apologise for unpleasant odours in their home when guests were over with a further 20% of people admitting that they couldn’t relax in their own home

·        76% of people surveyed noticed distinctive pet smells. The top three worst odours in the home voted for were: the kitchen bin, the bathroom after someone in the house has used it, the kitchen after you have cooked. 46% of people actually said that a smelly bin was their worst kitchen nightmare

·        82% of people said they felt happiest and most relaxed when their home smelt pleasant with 43% of people feeling most proud when their home smelt its best

NEW Air Wick Odour Detect™is the FIRST air freshener that uses odour sensor technology to automatically detect and overcome unpleasant odours, meaning you don’t have to worry about it!

Now you can be confident knowing that your home will always be welcoming and pleasurable for family and unexpected guests. So if your pet let’s off an unpleasant odour, your partner uses the bathroom or last night’s dinner smells linger longer than you would like, you don’t have to panic!

A result of 5 years of research and development, NEW Air Wick Odour Detect™ uses the same technology found in high end cars such as BMW and Mercedes. The Odour Detect can sense thousands of odours so you can be confident knowing this clever device is taking care of your home and making sure it always smells good.

A spokesperson for Air Wick said:‘As the statistics from the survey prove, it’s not just the look of our homes that is important, smell plays a vital role in how we feel in our own homes and other peoples. A huge 82% of people feel embarrassed by bad odours in their own home when guest are around, with over half saying they judge people because of it. Air Wick Odour Detect automatically detects smells so if you have become accustom to them or just don’t have time to maintain a pleasant smelling home, the product will overcome the whiffs for you so you don’t have to feel embarrassed or be judged because of it!’ 

NEW Air Wick Odour Detect™ Compact will be available to purchase from July 2011 at all major supermarkets,with the NEW Air Wick Odour Detect™ Max being available from August.

 

Air Wick Odour Detect™ is available at all major supermarkets

·        Air Wick Odour Detect™ is available in the following sizes:

    Max(21cm tall x 8.5cm wide) RRP £13.99 –for larger rooms such as the Living Room

       Compact (13cm tall x 6.5cm wide) RRP £9.99 –for smaller rooms such as the Bathroom

·        Air Wick Odour Detect™ starter kits contain:

      Air Wick Odour Detect Compact starter kit – 1 Compact diffuser, 1 fragrance spray (choose from Cool Linen and White Lilac or Sicilian Lemon and Ginseng) and 3 AA batteries

       Air Wick Odour Detect Max starter kit – 1 Max diffuser, 1 fragrance spray(chose from Cool Linen & White Lilac or Smooth Satin & Moon Lily)and 3 AA batteries  

·        Refills for both the Max and Compact are available in a wide range of fragrances RRP £3.49

·        For more information visit www.airwick.co.uk

And I came back from holiday to a lovely smelling home with no whiffs and lingering smell. This is different from those air fresheners you plug in because it is stand alone. I shall be buying one for up stairs and placing it in my son's room as I am sure there is something starting to grow in there. !!! So for cooking your Chicken Tikka meal to the smells and whiffs family life creates, this is a product I think is great.

Behaviour mangement in children a short guide.

Why do children misbehave at home or at school?

• Because they are bored- reported in TES that a third of schools bore their pupils. I suspect the same can be said of us parents !.

• Poorly explained and maintained boundaries.

• Lack of respect.

• Inappropriate teaching/learning or parenting style.

• Problems at home.

How do we change?

• Make the curriculum at school and activities at home  more interesting.

• Remember that boys in particular learn better when they are doing something that is more physically involved.

• Boys need competition to thrive.

• And for those of us that teach - it is an idea to have a no hands up policy, this prevents the same children answering all the time and encourages others to be involved.

• Meet and greet children as they arrive in the class-set the scene as the day starts- look for signs of unhappiness and try to sort before the lessons start. This can be the same if you are a parent and about to either go shopping or perhaps attend a big event like a wedding.

• As it often case of school every lesson is treated as a clean sheet. At home you can move onto a new activity and treat this as your clean sheet.

• Break your lesson /parenting day into small chunks- quiet and still/ physical - ie use hand clap game to brain storm ideas/ share knowledge in pairs. And if you are a parent at home perhaps a game of i-spy?.

• Agree firm fair boundaries and be consistent.

• Respect is a two way street.

• Maintain a child's self esteem .

• An activity that is fun will get done

When things go wrong 

• Deescalate the situation.

•  Gentle reminders- praise then a quiet reminder.

• Use child's name, maintain eye contact, say thank you but not please as this suggests you are asking them or pleading.

• Be aware of everything that is happening.

• Ask child- What should you be doing?Do not tell. A child's attention is maintained and they are taking ownership of the situation and their behaviour ( it is helping develop self awareness)

• Do not disagree with child- this causes an argument and leads to confrontation.

• Humour can sometimes deescalate a situation.

• Give child choices- right choice = praise, wrong choice = consequence.
  
  
  
  

Personal development

• Always seek help and advice - it is OK to say you need suggestions / help.

• Be critical of your own performance and teaching of your lesson if you are a teacher. If you are a parent it is pretty much the same really!.

• Observe other parents and observe your child's teacher if you help in their, class or another class or year group.

• Share knowledge and experience.

• Look for solutions to problems.

• Children can see if you lack confidence- appear confident and remember body language.

I don't have all the answers to behaviour management in children these are just a few useful tips. Your parenting style is up to you and no one can  tell you how to bring up your own child. Do what is right for your child at each stage in their life and take it easy and don't stress over things. Parenting is for life . It is a honour to be a parent and should not be seen as a chore.

Scoobits Scooter review

Why not jazz-up your scooter ready for summer?

A fun way to personalize your scooter, the first ever collectable scooter accessory.

Scoobits are the latest accessory craze to hit the school run this year. Scoobits are a unique range of cute, colourful characters that kids simply strap onto their scooters making them their own. Scoobits personalise scooters, making them stand out from the crowd on the school run and in the playground.

Appealing to both boys and girls aged three years and over, Scoobits are packed with kerbside credibility and personality. They feature a range of popular characters to collect, swap and trade.

Scoobits simply attach to the scooter and hold firm thanks to its clever badge and strap design. Made from tough, durable 100% silicone, Scoobits do not contain UPVC and are safe, soft and squidgy for little fingers.

And don’t forget, Scoobits are not just for scooters. Children can 'scoobit' their bike, trike, or personalise school bags. So why not collect them?

Affordable at just £3.99, there are nine Scoobits characters to collect and swap. They are ideal for pocket money purchases and party bags.

I think they are a brilliant product to encourage your child not to be taken to school by you in the car enabling you to walk while they scoot!. You could always get a scooter of your own I have seen many an adult scooter reviewed on the Gadget show!

To see all the Scoobits characters and stockists go to www.scoobits.com.