Isn't the Countryside obvious ?

I was asked by a school child when I was  on a school coach trip once  " Is this the countryside?" Now I admit where I live is suburban but its not a city it is in fact surrounded by the countryside. We need as parents to take time out of our busy lives to make sure we give our kids a countryside experience . This is something I have been doing with my own son.

Isn't the countryside obvious?

NATIONWIDE BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES TO SELL NATURE

A billboard campaign backed by the NHS, and the National Trust begins today - Monday 3^rd September - aiming to persuade one million children to enjoy the benefits of Nature.

The billboard campaign, the first of its kind, will cover the whole of the UK for two weeks, in hundreds of sites. The aim of the billboards is simple: to get people to spend more time outdoors. The poster depicts a young girl, IVY BOND, licking a frog, with the caption, “Get Into Nature”, along with a link to the campaign website - projectwildthing.com.

Running the campaign is filmmaker DAVID BOND, who has appointed himself Marketing Director for Nature, with the sole purpose of explaining the benefits of nature to the nation.

“Big brands like Apple, Shell, BP, even The Conservative Party, all use symbols of nature to advertise their products for a profit. I am advertising nature because it’s good for you and it’s free. The billboard campaign is one small step towards encouraging people to spend less time watching screens, and more time outside.”

The project challenges parents and children in towns, cities and the countryside across the UK to leave behind the cosy indoors and get outside into the wild. With the help of advertising and marketing experts, Bond’s goal is to persuade one million children of the benefits of Nature – an amazing, free, wonder-product – in just two weeks.

“According to UNICEF we are raising the unhappiest kids in the developed world. Fewer than 10% of children play in wild places, compared with 50% a generation ago, kids roam far less and half of kids have been stopped from climbing trees, and 20% from playing conkers or tag.

“The lure of the indoors – with TV, the internet and computer games – is creating a generation that has no connection with the natural world. My kids are 3 and 5 and they scream if I switch off the TV. I’m now fighting to get my kids back before it’s too late. I’ve spoken to teenagers across the UK many of whom say, ‘Why would I want to go outside – staying indoors is much more fun’. I don’t want to hear that from my children.

“Spending time outdoors is fun, it's good for you and it's free. Given the opportunity, kids love being outdoors. They just need to be given the opportunity. If we don't act now, a generation of children will miss out on developing a fundamental connection with nature. Without future custodians of the natural world, who will look after our planet 50 years from now?”

Bond’s marketing campaign is being filmed for a documentary. The British feature-length documentary PROJECT WILD THING, is being produced by film company Green Lions, in conjunction with the Channel 4 BRITDOC Foundation. It is due to be released nationwide in cinemas in Summer 2013.

As part of the film director David Bond appoints himself the Marketing Director for Nature and launches a REAL LIFE campaign encouraging parents and children to spend less time indoors, or in shopping malls, and more time outdoors in nature. The campaign is running now, 3-16 September. You can see it here: www.projectwildthing.com

We are encouraging people to go to the Project Wild Thing site and sign a nature pledge. When you pledge, the site tells you which pledge number you are. There's a special pledge number (already randomly selected - to be announced when pledges reach 5,000) that wins that person a week's holiday in Nature (Swaledale, Yorkshire - picture of cottage attached). Could that be of interest to your members?

As well as the pledge, you'll see the website has loads of information and ideas for parents on how to get kids into nature. You may also be interested in the Out and About pack for new mothers: www.projectwildthing.com/projects/out-and-about-pack

The goal of the campaign this September is that we reach 1 million people and make them aware of the importance of time outdoors, to adults and children. Project Wild Thing is the beginning of a major 2013-2015 campaign that we are developing with the National Trust, Play UK, RSPB, The NHS and others.

So I have made my pledge  I do hope that you make your pledge to!

Bridge #snaphappybritmums

Shoes bust

So at my sons school just the boys in his class were hauled up for shoe inspection and not the girls. They questioned him on his shoes and said they were borderline till they further inspected the soles of his shoes. He wears Clarks Bootleg shoes that do not look like trainers.

Boys Bootleg shoes from Clarks.

I like my child to wear practical shoes to school that stand up to the rigours of the school day football, etc ,dragging their feet along like Quasimodo under the horrendous weight of all their school books.

So I understand the need for tidy uniform that it instill good behaviour and all that.

But to single out just the boys in my sons class is just a tad ridiculous or as my son put it sexist.

If they are going to take such draconian measures its much fairer that the girls should have their shoes inspected as well.


I hasten to add this was not a spur of the moment inspection by the class teacher but the head of year and the deputy swooped on the class, perhaps someone was wearing white socks and sandals ? We are talking about teenagers here its not a drugs bust....


This is Year 9 we are talking about they are on the cusp of pondering their options taking their GCSES or what ever other exams the government choose to cook up ...

So please schools treat children fairly .... 

Come Parents Evening I shall be checking you are wearing the correct shoes...

This is not a private school but is in a way its one of those super duper academies you know the ones where you sell your granny to get into the school catchment area.

Starting School tips

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.

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.

• 
  
• 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?
• 
  
• 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.

Humour tickling your fancy.

Humour what tickles your fancy  nether regions what gets you going ?

Weeping to you say NO NO more ?


Is it funny cat pictures ?

Is it endless pictures of only  a face a mother would love cute babies with bowls of spaghetti on their heads ?


Humour is either individual or collective ....


So go on what floats your boat I promise to laugh .... maybe .