sammygnw23

Hi I am also looking for things to do in the area - people have recommended little bubbles to me - but haven't checked that out yet. I am planning to soon though. However I did try the Fuzzy and Friends class which I LOVED!!!!!! - The concept of a character going on an adventure to a country each week was lovely - the kids get up and pretend to fly - and all the props - from scarves, instruments and puppets meant my toddler stayed engaged. Also there is a different story each week which is both rhyming and alliterative - and the lady who runs that class wrote all her material herself. Also the puppets that she gives out if you sign up for a term are amazing - they look really expensive and not your average freebie at all. Lastly, you get a free tea and biscuits after the class so you can mingle with other parents. The price for this is really good - in North London I was paying almost double for classes that were half as good (and no free biscuits) - I think ?6 for drop in is really cheap and it is even cheaper if you sign up for a term (plus the free toy). HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Hi Thanks everyone - I feel a lot better about the whole thing now - my son is ok - a friends suggested a long bath together to get everything out the wound so that is what we did. It does sting when they get in the water - but not forever and when we got out we cuddled and watched TV and I left the wound unbandaged so it could dry out. I still don't understand about the pharmacy not having anyone trained on-hand. If so why were there 2 of them behind the counter? And I will never ever go in there again. But I really really appreciate the encouragement from you guys. Thanks.

I had my toddler with me in Dulwich park and he had a nasty fall on the gravel by the lake. He grazed a knee and an elbow quite badly so after a stop in the cafe loos trying to stop the bleeding and clean the grit out the wounds I rushed him down to the pharmacy (Rumsey) in the village for large plasters. I got in there - there were 2 men behind the counter and when it was my turn I explained that my child had a fall and asked for assistance - I bought an anti-septic spray and large bandages - but I was really surprised how unhelpful and unsympathetic they were. My child was crying in pain since I had made the mistake of pressing tissue against the wounds to stop the copious bleeding and the tissue had stuck in the deep wounds. (I won't be making that mistake again). There was still loads of grit in there too - despite attempts in the cafe toilets to wash the wounds. I was almost crying myself (it is horrid when your child is so distressed) and the men behind the counter offered no help, no words of sympathy, no advice, but INSTEAD made snide comments to each other about how I was using the wrong spray and should be using a anti-bacterial wipe first. When I entered the chemist I asked for advice which I wasn't given ("we aren't trained to give advice") and they refused point blank to even look at my son. They told me if I was concerned to take him to a doctor. So to then overhear them talking loudly that I was doing it all wrong as my child cried his eyes out was the most unhelpful thing ever. I have never been anywhere and asked for help with a crying child to be met with such indifference. They didn't once look my toddler in the face and ask him if he was ok or offer ANY words at all. They all but ignored us unless asked a direct question - which was met with a wave of the hand. As I paid for the spray and bandages I told them they hadn't been very helpful, and that I had recently been somewhere (the Lloyds pharmacy on Northcross Rd - fantastic service) when my child had been unwell for some advice and they had been so kind and given him lots of attention and lots of reassurance to me - so could the Rumsey think about their customer service levels? They simply told me that if somewhere gave me better service to go there in future and not bother using them. Obviously I will be doing this in future - it is just a shame that this pharmacy in Dulwich village doesn't have any competition around it. Anyway I can't stop thinking about this altercation - is this normal behaviour? Has anyone else found these men rude? Did they for some reason take a dislike to me? Also why wasn't there a trained pharmacist on hand to give advice? Isn't that what a chemist shop is all about? Somewhere to go for advice? Sorry - new to the area and need to vent as just was astonished at this experience. Any thoughts anyone?

Hi everyone Thanks for the additional advice - the EDtots website was really useful - thanks Tara. I am quite excited about your trial class now that you have had rave reviews from other people.... I am also looking into whippersnappers, tippee toes etc and will probably try them too at some point. Minder - in answer to your advice - I do know what you mean - that it is important to try to engage with a class (even if it bores you) otherwise how can your kids enjoy it... and being honest I may have been guilty of chatting to other mums sometimes during classes - (which is wrong I know) but I sing to my kids at home all the time- the same songs and we have the CD's for the car so they hear those songs all the time too - so I don't think that I am stunting their development. I just am now getting choosier about how I spend my time and money (since 3 years of baby and toddler classes has worn me down a bit). I however am really grateful for all the advice everyone has given and I am really enjoying being in Dulwich - it is a lovely place to raise a family. Thanks again everyone Sammy

Thanks for the recommendations guys. That was really quick! Having looked at both websites quickly I am really intrigued by the Fuzzy and Friends class. Fantastic website by the way! I like the idea of an educational class and I am interested to see what it is actually like so please put me down for one of the free trials. 29th August I think. Free refreshments is a nice touch too. Thanks for getting in touch. Please keep the recommendations coming in - any other ideas?

Hi I have recently moved to this area from North London with a 1 year old and a 3 year old. I am looking for activities I can do with the one year old just the two of us on the days my 3 year old is in nursery (Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and also activities I can do with them both together (on Thursdays and Fridays). But here is the thing... as a second time round parent I have already done baby signing classes in North London and really bored of that. Also done trials of the Monkey Music/Caterpillar classes and really unimpressed by them. As a parent the second time round I am finding that I am much more choosy with the classes/ activities I want to take my kids to. And repetition of the same old nursery rhymes and songs are doing my head in. I really like classes (when I find the right ones) since I like something structured in my day to get my out of the house and I like the same faces there every week. My kids are quite shy and cling to me when we go to playgroups. I am happy to try out lots of different classes... what do people suggest please? I am worried about missing the boat with September term sign ups.