damzel

Do it! As soon as you get stuck in the school system, you are stuck. I didn't really appreciate how free we were prior to school and wish we had done something similar. Now it feels like we won't get any decent opportunity for adventure for 10+ years. Reception is a lot about learning social skills and your kids will learn that in spades when you're travelling.

Definitely don't worry - mine didn't start crawling until 13 months and walking till 16 months. She was a late talker too but now is a right old chatterbox at 5yo. Was in no hurry to be out of nappies either actually. We realise now that she only ever embarks on anything when she feels really confident about it, so as soon as she sets her mind to it, it's like she's been doing whatever it is all her life. I've stopped worrying and comparing and life is oh so much easier! (sorry for the ramble)

Sorry, haven't read the whole thread so might not be the best place to ask but didn't think a new post was warranted. Can anyone advise how to request a 2 way cycle path on a one-way street? It would make my life so much easier cycling to Peckham Rye station if the 2 northern sections of Choumert Road were 2-way for cyclists. I can't seem to find a quiet alternative that doesn't add time to my journey.

I was just searching for a bicycle cover and stumbled across this http://totcycle.com/ which you might find interesting

I think 1:30am is reasonable. I used to worry that my next door neighbours noisy bbq's would wake my daughter, but they never do. Most kids sleep through anything, once they are actually asleep. If I got a note I would try to get her to sleep before it really kicked off. I think Partygirl could be a bit more sensitive however, especially if she's planning another one in a few months. Be nice, you might win people over. Nothing to gain by rubbing people up the wrong way.

35 was about the age I STARTED partying! After working far too hard for 19 years, I thought it about time.

At what time does the office start taking calls though? I doubt I can call them before I'm supposed to leave for work at 7am which leaves me a bit of a problem. Fingers crossed they are open!

Does anyone know if Goodrich usually stays open and if not, how much notice they usually give? I leave home just after 7am and am at my desk in the City for 8am - just wondering if I'm likely to get snow call just after defrosting! My OH drops her at breakfast club at 8am

I used the EASY theory from birth because I found it logical and it worked brilliantly with my daughter. Never had a problem sleeping or getting herself back to sleep if she woke up. Highly recommend it. I never finished the book as I found it annoying once I actually had my baby!

Did the thumb guard work? My daughter sucks her thumb out of habit. She doesn't want to anymore and wants something to help so am considering it. They are expensive tho. Shame they aren't pink!

Stupid question but I'm a new school mum. Why do schools have to close if it snows?

I'm considering www.thebedlambunch.co.uk for my daughters party. Anyone used them?

Vik - pop in and have a look. They've got this huge spinning thing that you put a large piece of paper on and then drip paint on it when it's spinning fast. Makes really great designs. The kids loved it and the guy that runs it is really nice. Great for adults too - I want to do one myself! The shop is amazing - it goes much further back than you expect. The kids loved running around the place and they had a long table out at the end for food etc. Worked really well. My daughter is insisting on a pyjama party now so I'm working on that idea and will probably do it at home. Thanks for all your advice - very useful.

Definitely not swimming, my daughter is scared of water and altho we are obviously working on that, doesn't seem fair to do it for her birthday. Anything arty crafty around? I vaguely recall some sort of art place on Barry road?

What options are there around ED for kids parties - I mean places that you go to and actually do something, like All Fired Up (daughter is not keen) or Colour Makes People Happy (absolutely brilliant but we were only there for a party a couple of weeks ago). Not keen on soft play or outside adventure stuff. Any tips?

I only want to use it for the next 6 weeks or so whilst the roadworks are slowing my bus journey..

There doesn't seem to be many and all were full when I returned this evening. Does anyone know if it is hard to get a spot in the mornings? I'll be there about 7:20am. Where else around there can you leave a bike for the day? I have no clue of the legalities of chaining to lamposts etc. as I haven't cycled for years

susyp Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > that sounds like a brilliant idea! I use that for > eating - sounds terrible but if I get her to race > eating with her dad (another very slow eater) then > we can be done within an hour.... They are so > competitive at this age! She sounds very like my > daughter . Good luck and post about how you get > on! > > susypx Well we didn't race - I suggested that idea to her at bedtime but she said that it would be the one that dressed the slowest that would win, so I canned that! However, I did take all my clothes in her room this morning and we got dressed whilst singing and doing the actions to the Oki Koki with a "knees bend arm stretch" after each item was on! Worked a treat although I still had to help just a little, but after reading the other posts on this thread I am not quite so concerned about that now. All I want her to do is make an effort to try and get dressed, which she was point blank refusing to do before. Try the race or oki koki Susypx and let me know how it works for you!

Thanks for sharing, always good to know there are others doing the same. Mine has had to get fully changed for PE since week 3 which I thought was a big ask. It's reassuring to know that she's unlikely to be the only one needing help. We've had lots of problems similar to this in the past and have always eventually found the trigger that changes the behaviour, something that motivates her to want to do whatever it is. That's what I'm looking for here - some ideas to make getting dressed fun. I think tomorrow, I'm going to take all my clothes into her room and see if she's up for a race. That works for other things

My daughter will be 5 in 2 months and is still unwilling to dress herself. We've probably made a rod for our own backs as due to the morning rush to get her to childminder then nursery and now school, we've just got on with it and dressed her ourselves. This Christmas break I've made it a mission to get her dressing herself before school starts again. It's not that she can't, it's that she won't. But she frustratingly just pulls a little on her top or whatever and says "I can't, I can't". Drives us nuts! Any tips to make her "want" to do it? Stickers/star charts etc. are not much good anymore. I've been leaving her to it and it's taken up to 2 hours so far and we've always resorted to a tiny bit of help. I'm sure she's messing with us!

There are some amazing train journeys through Switzerland and the scenery is fantastic. Our daughter was 4 when we spent 10 days travelling by train through Italy and Switzerland earlier this year. Highly recommend it, although I should mention that my daughter is quite happy to sit in the same place, drawing or whatever, without needing to run around much. Search for the Glacier Express for example.

Vicks on feet? I'll be trying that on my little girl tonight. How funny

We buy all our ballet kit from Push now. So happy to have a choice other than that miserable fella who owns Duo Dance!

Bit late in the day for an explanation but they were fixing a leak outside our house on 31st (Landells). My OH was home and said they had to turn the mains off. It doesn't look like they've finished yet so might happen again (not that they have been back since). Leak was first reported at the beginning of the year!

Apols if this has already been posted somewhere but I am on iPhone so hard to search. We are venturing out TorT ing this year and I vaguely remember seeing a post from last year about a road that reaaly goes all out, dressing up gardens and the like. Think it was friern road or nearby? Does anyone know? We want to do it on way home from The Hernes kids party so walking towards the library from there