littlemoo

There may already be a thread on this, but I can't find one. We are equidistant from Horniman and Fairlawn (therefore with a chance we wont get either!) and are slightly torn. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the new head mistress who has been appointed and due to start in the new year. My instinct is to go for the smaller more nurturing feel of Horniman, but the results at Fairlawn are so much better in KS2. However a new head might shift that. Any thoughts or insights would be great.

Oh thank you so much for that. Feeling a lot calmer now!

Guys. There is no need to be snide. I have no affiliation to Whipper snappers. I used to attend their class as part of the sure start programme but have only been once or twice in Dulwich Park as I think it's quite expensive. There is no harm in people recommending a local activity for children. If you don't want to go, don't. If you don't want to hear about it, don't read threads with it in the title!

We went this morning as frankly I could face a schlep out of London, or to a shopping centre with a very hyper 2.5 yo. I have to say I thought it was very good. You arrive and are in a nice small group (5 kids in ours I think). You then meet the Reindeers which is lovely, next step is a decorate the ginger bread man which W loved. You are then taken upstairs to a room with vintage toys, where the lovely lady from Whippersnappers did face painting for those who wanted it done but played games and blew bubbles with my rather overwhelmed toddler. Father Christmas wasn't the most convincing I've ever seen but he was fine (better than last years version at Selfridges. The photo was taken (my very reluctant toddler took a few attempts) but they persevered. You get to choose, and it costs ?5 framed so not earth shatteringly expensive. At the end you go and collect your gingerbread man and get given a cake pop, and have a chance to buy some vintage toys (weekends only aparently as I asked if you could go back to buy out of the gaze of the toddler). My only complaint was that the gift was a bit old. A plaster of Paris kit to make dinosaurs. But it's a good quality item. So overall I'd say it's really good value in the end, but I did leave the baby at home as frankly ?18 for a 10mo is ridiculous! Hope that helps.

ooh thanks for all the ideas. Am off to explore the options. ANything will be better than mr grumpy from last year!

Last year I took my son to see a very grumpy father Christmas at Selfridges. At the time I was told about a father Christmas on a farm, not too far out, with reindeer etc. Of course I can't remember where it was, and am probably too late, but does anyone know any details?

Ooh the crooked well sounds a very good plan. I will try and join you. Its ages since I made one of these meet ups!

Fab. Also for those that didn't come last time, the kitchen at the Herne doesn't open til 5.30 so we took picnic tea and bought an ice cream after. See you tomorrow! Rx

Hope everyone enjoys the garden meet up. Jealous of toddler free zone! Is anyone around on Thursday for a with toddler meet? We could go for a repeat of the walk in the park (possibly with real bread for the ducks rather than the less satisfactory although, inspired, imaginary stuff) followed by tea at the Herne?

Ok plan this afternoon is to meet at 3.30 at play things next to the one o'clock club on Peckham rye then on to the herne for toddler tea.

Great. I think we might try out the goose green play group this morning to see what it's like. Park then wine sounds good. We could even do toddler tea at the pub. Anna I have your number, but not yours Laura. Lindsay are you still around? Sadly cluster feed didn't mean more sleep.. Not a terrible night but woke twice between 11 and 7, not liking the new trend. Laura, hope Finn is just having a growth spurt. See you this afternoon. Xx

Oh and as for nap, w fell asleep on the way to stay and play for a few minutes and that always scuppers a decent nap... Thea really struggled to settle tonight, feeding for an hour and a half...now I'm properly frazzled.

I'm actually with toddler all day tomorrow as my nanny has the week off... We went to cheeky c's on Monday though, but to be honest he was pretty happy there! For an afternoon option the weather is looking a bit better so maybe the rye would be a good plan. The other thing is the herne, they have a children's play room as well as the garden, which would give potential for coffee (or a sneaky glass of wine) drinking while watching smalls play.

Hey all, Any suggestions for a with toddler meet up tomorrow afternoon. The weather is crappy so the park may be miserable. I'd happily host again if there are no other ideas... Saying that I currently have a nap free toddler (please let it only be today) and he may find a toddler onslaught a bit much again!

I am currently looking for a Preschool for my toddler to attend as of September. I have him down for a place at the villa, but as it will be additional to my main childcare (he and littlest moo will have a nanny two days a week) the villa seems an expensive option. I have looked at buds which seems good but expensive for what it is, and yesterday I heard about DV preschool which is the sort of price range which would be good! It's really about making him more socialised so it doesn't need to be terribly smart. Does anyone have any experience of Dulwich village preschool or can they recommend anywhere else?

Congratulations on the arrival of your little girl Millymoo. So glad to hear that she is home safe and well. One of my cousins has Downs Syndrome and he is wonderful, and brought untold joy to everyone. I'm childcare free this week so shout if anyone fancies a Thursday afternoon meet up again this week. I might be frazzled by then though! Enjoy coffee and cake this morning all. I would come but sadly my toddler is likely to cause bedlam...

Why don't we say Goose green around 3.30? Unless anyone would prefer a different park?

Hello Sailor, I can empathise with your friends situation having lost my son a week after he was born. Obviously everyone is different but amidst all of the other pain, it can feel horrendously lonely as so many people do not know what to say/ do. I agree with above posters that saying something is far better than saying nothing. One of the nicest things was when people asked about him, his name, what he looked like etc so when you do see her give her the opportunity to talk about the baby. Also we were given a few things in his memory, a beautiful book and a picture frame and those things are very precious to us as we have so little that was his so you could think about something like that. Please feel free to PM me. Ruth

I'm up for thurs afternoon and with the weather looking so good the park cafe option sounds a good plan. Or park then herne toddler play area potential to feed smalls and have a sneaky glass to brace ourselves for bedtime!

Hi, Great we have takers for thursday. My son naps until 3ish on a good day so anytime after that is good. I'll pm my address to people who've said they are coming. Shout if you are thinking of dropping by. I'll do a big bowl of pasta for those who plan to stay for tea. Saffron, was that you in the park last week before cancelled tippee toes? I hope baby makes an appearance soon!

Just been and was a particular hit with our 21 mo who is obsessed with mr tumble. A room full of spotty stickers was heaven!!! Exhibition also great.

I was going to write , bh bakery basket for mum, Aden and Anais muslin swaddle for baby so no new ideas here!

We have a set of monster fairy lights around the door. Son too small to be worried about monsters etc, but a friends older son said that he wanted some to keep the other monsters away at night.. Might be worth a try?

I'm reading this with interest as I sit beside the cot of my 21mo son, having just attempted bath/ bed routine with him and his 3.5wo little sister. My niece is here helping but I wanted to try this more or less on my own, to see if I could do it. The fact that I'm still in toddlers room suggests it didn't go that well, but at least the baby is asleep next door. I managed supper ok, then the had a brief bath together, then I dressed and fed baby while son in bath playing. Moved to sons bedroom, he read his books until baby was ready to be put down (I.e fell asleep on boob) then I came back to tell him his one story (turned into three) he went into cot, I left the room and he started to scream!!! The screaming as I leave the room has been happening on and off since his sister arrived ... I guess we'll figure it out. Just waiting for that glass of wine!!

Great news Caroline, and Victoria! I was thinking of next thurs rather than this if that makes any difference. Will def try to get to G&B at 11 on Friday. Xx