Reception children psychology...

So this week I go down to being a TA in a Reception class.

I am not weeping into my cornflakes .... yet.


How do I think its going to go ?

Well I think its not a case of being stoic and all Rose from the Titantic ....


Will I be scared of the Reception children ?

Will unless they represent evil Gremlins then no ... they do go home at the end of the day right ?


How do I approach the "I miss my Mummy" Oscar film winning situation?

Well practicality rules for me as most children starting school will appreciate a straight answer. Which for myself usually goes like this..

Blubbering child "I miss my mummy"...... exhibiting signs of Greta Garbo "I vant to be alone"


Me" Who do you live with?"

The child slowly calming down (mostly)

"Mummy, Daddy .. various brother , sisters , pets, imaginary friends and Justin from Cbeebies"


Myself "So you are going to see them at the end of the day"

A small child has no real concept of time the phrase "Are we nearly there yet is tantamount to this"

So as the said small child continues to muse this situation and rather like a deer trapped in headlights.

I finish with the phrase.

"So Mummy (etc) will be proud of you for being a big boy (girl) when you get home"

They usually accept this situation and topped off with a sticker they are your friend for life.

Reverse psychology works mostly....

Reception child.

Silent Sunday 2/9/2012 Paralympics

"Spasticus Autisticus".. Shock to Rock!

Unless you have been living on the moon or something you will not have failed to realise I went to the opening Ceremony of the Paralympics. I shall blog about this in great detail along with all my photos that I took!.

All of the opening ceremony was spectacular none of it oozed sappy sentimentality but it was honest heartfelt and moving. There was an aspect of it that shocked but in a good way it was Ian Durys shocking : "Spacticious Austicisticious"" I have to admit that this was a shock that I have never ever heard of . And in a way I was ashamed of myself for not having heard this song before. I felt as if my ears have been covered over for the last thirty years.

As a youngster I knew that this was a term that shouldn't really be used though it was , it was different times and some of the Charity campaigns were very much Tiny Tim from "Great Expectations" and that you should help these people because it was a cause. There was little thought given by most to what happened to beyond dropping the coin in the Charity envelope or the charity box that adorned many a supermarket. The lyrics were hard-hitting: "So place your hard-earned peanuts in my tin".

I didn't realise that this song had once been banned by the BBC . It was an electrifying sequence of the Paralympic Opening Ceremony and I was there for this moment in history , I am part of this change this moment that will propel the laying bare of disability in it raw terms and promote debate .

The Paralympics demanded we listen to this song and we did.

Ian Durys "Spasticus Ausisticus" at the Paralympic Opening Ceremony.

Alison's Lapper stunning statue.

Caption Saturday 1/9/2012 #satcap

Paraylmpic Opening Ceremony Slideshow

I have managed to do put a slideshow into Blogger for the first time !

I will write more about this life altering experience soon but for now I will let the fabulous pictures even if I say so myself speak for what I at the lovely Jane Willis witnessed.