Anna M

I love the bubble! When my son (4, not 5) told me he had bad dreams, I told him we needed to 'activate' his dreamcatcher that hangs over his bed (a feathered thing that hangs from the ceiling). We activate it every night to catch bad dreams and let the good ones through, with a little rhyme. This seems to help him a lot. When we were away we activated it remotely, which seemed to work still! Hope you find something that works too.

Hi there. If you're talking about the half term sports academy they run, rather than the specifically football week, then my son has been. He's 5 and in year one now but he went too when he was four and in reception (he's young for his year). They change activity all the time - in kind of lesson-length sessions, and do dodgeball, athletics, football skills, among other things, and drawing if they get too tired! It's organised in classes according to age (and I think how many kids turn up) - if they are full capacity, the groups are split the same as yeargroups. My son isn't particularly footie mad, and wasn't the best at anything, and still managed to have an utter blast. You can opt into extra activities like swimming or trampolining, which happen off-site and cost extra. As far as I gathered, there were other kids around his age. Sorry if you're talking about the specifically football week though, as I've not experienced that one!

I decided on a nanny share for my son when I returned to work (he was about 10 or 11 months when she started). I actually employed her myself and then she introduced me to another person who had contacted her about a share, and we got on really well (are still friends). It was lovely feeling that I could leave him in my home and he would have a lovely relationship with someone. When I started looking for childcare I felt nervous, like you, and had a whole list of things I was looking for. I looked at nurseries first, and then thought I didn't want to do that until he was older. Then I interviewed various nannies - I went to see about one established nanny share but wasn't sure I'd get on with the original parent's style of care. I talked to about three other nannies. When I met the one I chose, I knew it was right - not by anything on my list, but by how I felt instinctively about how she and my child got on. I thought she'd connect with him, listen to him, have a lot of fun with him, and love him to bits. And I found that my list went out of the window. When he went to nursery when he was about two, I chose in the same way - instead of choosing the one that ticked all my boxes, I chose the one that made me feel like I wanted to stay and play. So for what it's worth, I'd say make your list, speak and see prospective areas, and then just leave it for a few days and check what your gut says. Good luck.

I am totally in shock!! In reception, my son had a reading book and a reading record which i could write in and he could change the book when he was done, plus weekly homework which consisted of two work sheets - usually one with phonics they'd been doing in the week and one with a mathsy kind of puzzle. They were usually inventively phrased as challenges or puzzles, or 'investivations' and both pieces he would engage with enthusiastically and really enjoy. I think this would be about as much as he can cope with in year one... In year one we have gone from that to reading 15 mins a day, plus he has to write a report about the book in his reading journal and draw a picture (a few sentences and a picture telling what the story was about or what he liked best about it), plus learning how to spell four words, plus two pieces of other homework which are similar to the worksheets from last year. That might not sound like all THAT much but my partner and I both work, and by the time we get home, my son is too shattered to do anything but play while we cook, eat dinner, have a bath, have a story read to him and go to sleep. He's only just turned five. It just wouldn't be productive to try to sit him down to do homework. The homework is set on Friday and collected on Wednesday. So we have to do everything in three mornings and at the weekend. And today I find myself panicking that we're not going to get it done. I was a total swot so the idea of not finishing the homework doesn't sit well with me - there's a kind of pressure to do it if this is what's being asked of us. I am more terrified that his love of learning and finding things out by himself will be utterly squashed by me saying we have to do homework all the time. Losing his sparky interest in everything would be far more tragic than the swot not doing her homework. So I think I'll take the advice on here - thank you - and brace myself, and write a nice note to the teacher to say sorry, it was just too much this week. And this weekend we will go to his friend's party, crack eggs and make pancakes, build the cardboard robot he's been asking to make, read books that we want to read, chill out so he can even have time to be bored for a bit and then make up some songs and new games and new things to do and be interested in. And if he feels like it, maybe we'll take a look at the stuff he got from school.

I agree with Yak - some of the ways in which the questions were phrased conflicted with how I see it - I am completely a mother and completely an employed person - I think of myself as both at the same time, rather than as separate parts. I actually answered 60/40 because of literal time analysis, but when I am at work I am still a mother! Anyway - interesting and I hope useful!

I recommend Les Deux Fontaines in Brittany! http://www.eurocamp.co.uk/sites/france-brittany/bs016-les-deux-fontaines.html We went last year. It's wonderful if you hire bikes from the campsite - we got a bike trailer for the kids - and cycle around to find your own favourite coves and beaches. Brilliant safe cycling all around. Beach in walking distance from the site is great too though! And the farmer selling cider in walking distance... really lovely little thatched cottage villages around. Beautiful! The site has pools and kids clubs etc. Has lots of green and the sites are reasonably spaced. We enjoyed escaping the holiday camp feel a bit by going out exploring. The kids loved the pools and clubs on site though so it was a good balance.

Hello I originally posted about this last year, when my son was offered a place at Cabrini. Since then he has started in Reception class and has been very happy in the school. I agree that the new reception areas are really stunning, with beautiful toys and play areas, and the outside space is very generous and well used. Academically I have been extremely impressed - my son is one of the youngest in the year and is coming on in leaps and bounds in reading and writing and maths. The teaching has been sensitive to different paces of development and interests, and my son's teacher didn't start him on the reading scheme until she was sure he was ready for it. He is enormously enthusiastic about his work and reading. I have to say that it doesn't matter to me how he is doing academically at this stage as long as he is interested and engaged. I was more concerned that he would be either over or under stimulated in that regard and that would put him off. So I'm happy the teaching is about right for him, as he is showing keen interest. At the beginning of reception there was a lot of emphasis on the children's relationships with each other - talk of them all being friends and focus on where they all came from, play with posting each other letters and making each other cards, etc. It set a nice tone. The class seems to get on well together and they all consider one another friends. I have only seen a tolerant caring attitude in the school which makes me happy. All the children seem so well behaved in the school. There is an emphasis on mindfulness and care which I like. I can't imagine the school supporting intolerance or unkindness in any form. They do say a prayer every morning so I think if religion is something that you actively don't want taught to your child then it's really not the school for you. We don't find it in any way objectionable. If anyone wants to PM me for more info or a chat on the phone I'd be very happy to answer anything else about the school. Anna

I'd just like to amend my original post by saying the second lesson of stage three, this friday gone, was SPECTACULAR. By chance there were only two children in the lesson, three when a boy joined from another group halfway through the lesson. The teacher was personal, fun, playful, inspiring, and FAB. Complete fluke that only two/three people were in the lesson this week, I suppose, but on average I guess I have to say I'm happy with it now! In conclusion - the teaching itself and the teachers I find great. I think if they had the staff to allow them to do their thing instead of being overstretched, I'm sure everyone would benefit.

We have a few fishy ones to add: Kedgeree is a favourite in our house - with grilled mackerel, boiled eggs, chopped any veg in rice with curry powder and chilli sauce to taste for those willing to go there. Also coconut rice with prawns - a kind of thai green curry but low on the green curry paste and chilli for the kids. Steamed salmon with dill, in a steamer above steaming broccoli/other veg, with potatoes boiling in the bottom part. Served with creme fraiche and watercress salad. Mine used to adore this but have gone off it of late. (I lament its passing so I'm hoping someone else will resurrect it!) Am running home now to try out the lovely chicken parcel pies!!

I think it might depend on what he/she takes to, too. My first child didn't go for a scooter really and just really took to a balance bike - we got a very light metal one so not too hassley for carrying. It hung on the buggy well. My second child has been on a scooter from about 18months - just took to it! He's two now and totally reliable on the scooter. My four-year old is only just getting the hang of the scooter really and has not got the same staying power on it. He was ace on the balance bike and would go for ages without tiring. Can you trial both and see if there's any incling either way?

My son started lessons in Peckham Pulse, which I found very organised and consistent and he progressed well. However they didn't seem to get him actually swimming, when he was happy to have a go - it was all float work. It was only when I changed to lessons at Dulwich pool that he really started to swim - they seemed more willing to challenge the children, and let them actually have a go at swimming by themselves if they were happy to do so. I was happy with it, despite the large class size and slightly haphazard feel. And despite the fact that this meant that during the actual struggling-swimming moments, each child has to be attended to individually by the teacher, so it means more waiting around time for all of them when it isn't their turn. Now that he's in the stage three, (admittedly judging by only one lesson so far) the kids aren't doing any float work at all and so have to be monitored on a one-to-one basis practically the whole lesson - so his total time in the water is so minimal, it hardly seems worthwhile. If there was a helper with the teacher they could at least go two at a time...I have been considering private lessons although I really like the teaching there and don't really want to take him out. I think if the lessons stay this way, though, it wouldn't actually work out more expensive in terms of amount of time being taught per pound paid! In short, I would support a request for more staff.

My son who is 4 going on 5 does football club with Soccer Stars on saturdays 12-1.45 outside Peckham Rye park cafe. It's with a guy called Denzil - 07522 425 931. This group is 5-8 year olds, I think, but my son got in as he's in reception and young for the year. The hour before is 2-4 year olds. You buy six sessions at a time - I recommend!

Bugaboo bee can be used parent-facing or away-facing and folds ok either way. I had one with a narrow hallway - it doesn't take up as little space as a maclaren folded but I loved it. Expensive new though, but perhaps there's a second hand one somewhere?

I loved the photo too - and agree with the sentiment. Wasn't it just gorgeous?! Love the park and those crocuses. Thank you for putting it up.

I LOVE world book day!!!

Is the Usborne one too young? http://www.usborne.com/catalogue/book/1~c~ccbc~2503/the-usborne-cookbook-for-children.aspx or http://www.usborne.com/catalogue/book/1~C~CCBC~4751/start-to-cook.aspx The recipes are easy to follow and clear etc.

Hello - alimc, I just wanted to say that yes, ear infections are more painful when lying down and that's why children have more trouble at night with them. My little one has had consecutive terrible ear infections, and is always worse at night for this reason. There are recommendations to try tilting the cot/bed and trying to get them sleeping on an incline. Often my child could only sleep upright, cuddled in my arms. Buggy sleep in the day was fine if only semi-reclined. Hope yours gets well soon - ear infections are the worst!!

Our four year old was given a marble run for his birthday - or was it last christmas - and all the adults who come to the house play with it as well and are worried about setting it up so all the routes make sense. But he loves to set it up and build it and then experiment with the marbles to see where they go when you put them in different parts of the run. He doesn't play with it entirely independently but he loves helping (and directing) building it. His two-year old brother loves putting marbles in it too and 'testing' the runs as we build them. I have to say it's the single most played with item by adults and children in our household. It's quite a big one with stairs and wheels and all kinds of things.

Thank you! :)

I think they are brilliant. I didn't know about them when I was pregnant and had to resort to stroking my bump or holding my back or just plucking up the courage to ask(!) if I needed a seat. And actually it's not as easy as you might think to tell who is pregnant!! I have hovered about it several times wondering if to offer my seat or whether I'll be insulting someone. Wearing a badge avoids the ambiguity and at least if someone wants to offer a pregnant lady a seat, they can do so without fear of getting it wrong.

First time took a LONG LONG time. Second time happened all by itself after I put number one to bed, and DS2 was there in an hour and a half. It was like my body knew what it was doing and just ignored me and got on with it, second time. (First time it was like it was trying to read the manual in Korean.) Good luck, don't worry, enjoy! And Happy Families!!

We have the same - Granny's taking him to the Science Museum for the day. But perhaps the Transport Museum will be easier to get to!

We have the same - Granny's taking him to the Science Museum for the day.

Hee hee. I already tried the, "What was the silliest thing that happened at school today?" only to be told, "Oh you aren't allowed to do SILLY things at school, Mummy." "Oh...the funniest thing then?" "You aren't allowed to do FUNNY things, only GOOD things." "The goodest - er I mean best - thing then?" "I got a sticker for being quiet on the toilet." I'm not sure I want to know any more!! Parents evening tonight...

Have you seen this one? http://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/ It's won awards and looks like ace fun.