Oh my goodness! Kiddiewink 1 has always had a tendency to whine and speak in a baby voice, when she is shy, wanting something, demanding something…
The fact is, it is just so bloody irritating. The older she is getting the more irritating it gets, then to throw in the attitude, blimey- she is one complex young lady! At the minute, she really is the ‘girl with a girl right in the middle of forehead’ (if any of you remember this rhyme)
I sense the teenage years are going to be interesting…
Why is it children know which buttons to press to get a reaction?
Why do they seemingly cry at the drop of a hat?
With parenting, comes stages and phases! Not all of them lovely and candy coated.
When kiddiewink 1 is in good form, she is an absolute delight and wonderful company; when she is ‘on one’ beware…
Kiddiewink 1 (nearly 7years old)is offering numerous challenges at the moment, mainly in that her attitude stinks! She speaks to us all like rubbish if the mood takes her and she has brief moments of being really mean to little man. If she doesn’t like the answer to something, she will persist on asking and asking and asking. Why do children assume the more often they ask and the whingier they get, the more likely they are to get it. She also cries at the drop of a hat, the slightest thing can bring her to tears (very toddlerish). Today’s list was; daddy sitting on the chair she had planned to sit on; not being allowed a club biscuit; being asked to give her baby sister a bit of space, her brother having a cuddle that was longer than hers.
Bless her, she is an absolute doting big sister,and, plays and looks after the other two beautifully.
She just seems a bit sad at the minute and we seem to be in cycle of grotty attitude from her and nagging and ‘getting at’ by us I think I need to find time to do something special with just her again. Making her feel loved, important and extra special.
When I initially saw Geronimofest advertised, I thought it sounded brilliant! When I saw the cost however, I decided we couldn’t justify it, not with spending money on the house. It was then I spotted an advert on Facebook asking for volunteers, in return you received a free family pass. Daddy was on a stag do that weekend, so Granny, had the pleasure of the kiddiewink’s company on the Sunday 7.30am- 5.30pm, while I volunteered at the festival. I had an absolutely brilliant day, (albeit exhausting). I am so glad I volunteered as I love every minute (even the rain and cold weather). The organiser, Simon, really worked hard to act on feedback received, and will build on its successes and tweak it,based on what families would like to see next year, I am sure. Keep an eye out for this one and if you can get an early bird ticket, and you plan it carefully, it actually seems well worth the money. I was skeptical about this due to initial outlay being quite high, but I was pleasantly surprised.
The festival itself was set in Tatton Park and was full of exciting and memorable things to do and experience. Despite being there 7 hours, we still didn’t get chance to experience everything. Volunteering helped as I knew where things were, useful tips etc and it really did help us get the most out of the day. The weather was bloomin freezing, but even that didn’t dampen our spirits (well maybe Daddy’s a little). With so much to see and do, the children wanted to be here, there and everywhere. It helped that lots they did together, and when kiddiewink 2 & 3 got fed up in the circus show, we left daddy and kiddiewink 3 to it. Having two adults really helped, as for the few things we needed to queue, one could wait and one could let them run of steam somewhere. On arrival we were directed towards information to get free t shirts (these had been five pounds the previous two days), the lanyard guides were also free (previously £3). Thre freeness meant, not all those that wanted them got them, and a few families abused the ‘freeness’ (although the pretty sure they were in the minority). We ended up with two 9-11 t-shirts which they loved wearing to bed.
The festival grounds were split into different zones, spread out well in the venue. Funky zone (DJ, samba, Zumba), Cookery and craft, princess tent, a bear hunt and wigwams, bikes, sea life and legoland, CBeebies and other performances with meet and greets. On arrival, mean mummy made them walk past all the fun, to book onto ‘Monkey Do’ as the previous day’s it had become booked up quickly. I am glad we did, as there were lots of sad children who didn’t get a turn and my two loved it. Such a ‘different thing’ for them to experience.
Neither child wanted to get off, but the circus show tempted them off. Eventually, hubby and I tempted them to the stage area so we could grab a quick sit down and a bite to eat. Kiddiewink 1 nd 2 just tore around, occasionally stopping to check out the stage; kiddiewink three chased them around like an injured dog ( her crawl really is something else).
Pip the flying circus we timed to perfection, getting there for half two, we discovered the next session was about to start, they can’t accommodate many kiddiewinks, so mine were doubly lucky to have a go. The staff were super and the kids loved the dressing up, and helping manoeuvre the strange contraption.
The performances didn’t really interest my three particularly so there was never an urgency to get to the stage.(Daddy was relieved, but I had quite fancied meeting Mr Bloom…) While eating lunch, they enjoyed the shows but other than that, they just loved the atmosphere and festival environment. As for kiddiewink 3, she had a twenty minute power nap all day, and loved being on my back, or crawling around the grass.
The tamer things they enjoyed were donkey and pony rides, seeing the ducklings and the helter skelter… The cookery lesson didn’t really impress the kids or daddy, I was supervising kiddiewink 3 in the soft play at this point.
At the end of the day, we finished with the high ropes and zipwire and what a way to end…despite a long queue, it was well worth it. My eldest two kiddiewinks proved to be proper daredevils and my eldest particularly surprised me! She can be very shy and get sad if she finds something a challenge, however, she does have great perseverance which she demonstrated in abundance today. She mastered pulling her own safety rope along the course, which could be quite stiff and tricky. She was really very confident. Little man was too, until he lost his footing, then his bottom lip briefly trembled until the man helped him move his safety rope. Considering he is only four and the ropes were too high to reach, he did brilliantly. They both love the zip wire and as we were almost the last people of the day, they even got two goes, much to the kids excitement.
Then to end the day, we popped to the market stalls, to buy some discount muffins and sweets (last festival day so 50p muffins to be had)
We had three exhausted children (and parents). A fun, fun day we will all remember for a long time!
Things that weren’t perfect (although these didn’t take away from the fun for us)
Molluscum contagiosum is a common childhood complaint, but unless your child has it, it’s something you are unlikely to have heard of.
It is a very horrible looking skin condition and before they disappear they grow and become really angry looking. The hubby at this point is always desperate to squeeze them, he washed them off with a face cloth the other day and he was in big trouble with me and the elder siblings as they bled lots! Just hoping they don’t scar now. Doctors suggest you just leave them to go on their own-which annoyingly takes a long long time! Some people have found a special cream that gets rid of them sooner, and on different forums you will get all sorts suggested. A nasty thing to have but at least it doesn’t cause them any pain, it just looks unsightly.
Useful Links
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/molluscum-contagiosum/Pages/Introduction.aspx
http://www.patient.co.uk/health/molluscum-contagiosum-leaflet
http://embarrassingbodieskids.channel4.com/conditions/molluscum-contagiosum/
http://www.molludab.co.uk/molludab-treatment-for-molluscum-contagiosum
For the last few months, Kiddiewink 3 has been grabbing her glasses from our hands when waking from a nap. She then, usually proceeds to eat them .
This morning, she grabbed her glasses and proceeded to try and put them on! We were so excited because it means she now completely accepts them as a part of her, she is independently choosing to put them on. Rather than passively accepting them.
This happened again after her nap!
We are so lucky that she accepted them straight away and never takes them off. To see a just turned one year old trying to put on her glasses, is adorable!
Long may the glasses love continue… Our thoughts are with those currently on a glasses battle with their kiddiewinks! Stay strong, they’ll get used to them in the end.
Yesterday’s day at pre school as cost us £70! Somehow, my little boy got hit on the glasses with a wooden bat (apparently it was an accident). However it happened, they are completely and utterly broken, the arm snapped clean off : (
He (and we ) loved those glasses and they have now been discontinued so he can’t even get the same pair again. The opticians just rang to worn me the frames could not be repaired with the voucher so they were going to order him the black pair! As we have to pay again, we are popping back there later so he can at least choose another pair!
It’s so frustrating as he didn’t break them on purpose, in fact he has never broken a pair, but we now have a £70 bill, a bill we wouldn’t have if he didn’t wear glasses. In future, we could have two children breaking a pair and things are going to get very costly!
Essentially, our bank balance is being penalised because the children wear glasses and it feels so unfair. We can’t afford to pay £70 for another pair, he’s only had them 6 months!
Sorry about the rant, just feeling a bit hard done to!
Here is little man in his spare pair, he didn’t want to wear them, he says they feel too small…
Goodbye, favourite glasses, we will miss you!
A friend once told me she was bothered, because her son was not interested in writing (he was four/five). I reassured her and explained it would come and it was important to go with the child. In some countries, writing is taught the same, until around seven!
I suggested if she wanted to actively encourage it, she kept it real and not panic or put the pressure on.
“I’m really busy, can you help me write a shopping list”
Upshot was he began to choose to write. Largely shopping lists, initially… But he was choosing to put pen to paper; a vital skill!
Other things to keep it real could be:-
A note reminding daddy/mummy to do something
A note to an auntie/granny.
Recipe
Book review- they get to give their opinion, give it star ratings
As children get more able, if you feel you want to foster creative writing at home. Keep it fun and interesting. Following children’s lead here can have have a massive impact. It encourages children to practise all their whizzy writing skills! If they don’t want to write, don’t make them! Unfortunately you would be doing more harm than good.
Ideas for Home
Stimulus doesn’t have to be text based- it could be audio recordings, sounds, images, video clips… They need a hook to ignite their writing
www.literacyshed.co.uk has some fabulous ideas for all genres….
Alan Peat had also some brilliant resources, we use lots of his ideas in school, and many would work at home too.
Casually throw in an activity, part way watching a film together! Even just a discussion can support them as writers; talk for writing.
– give them a story opener (book or film) can they predict what will happen and write their own climax and ending
– support them in drawing/creating a character to include in a story
-share lots of quality books with exciting plots, rich and varied word choice.
-pictures- describe the setting, including the senses(see, hear, taste, touch, smell
– recounts/diaries/news reports on family days out and events! Who can think of the best headline? Etc
The Early Years
Some children take longer than others to perfect the art of forming letters, supporting them with fun fine motor skill activities can really help here. My son struggles and needs to concentrate to form a correct pincer grip, he knows he finds it tricky. There are tricks such as putting the one a different way, so when they pick it up, it is in the correct position, for my son, he just turns it too suit home so we are trying other activities that promote fine motor control. The imagination tree has some great ideas as does pininterest https://uk.pinterest.com/pin/204913851772401268/
Don’t rush them
My biggest advice would be don’t rush them, all children develop differently. Don’t get bogged down by all the genius children your friends post on Facebook, maybe they can write an essay at four, but do they have more tantrums, not speak as well, less comprehension…. Remember people rarely post or discuss the things their children find more challenging.
My two eldest kiddiewinks are a prime example of children having different strengths. By four kiddiewink 4 could write neatly and attempt any word phonetically. Kiddiewink 2 is almost five but doesn’t start school until September and his fine motor skills are poor, he always uses a Palmer grip by choice and his writing is definitely more like mark making still! Am I worried ? Nope! He has better comprehension of stories and a ridiculously advanced vocabulary for four. If he is still like this by Year one with his writing, I may start to get frustrated, but for now, I am just going with the flow.
As a teacher, I need to teach spellings; as for sending them home to learn, I have mixed feelings! I send groups of words home for learning but do not necessarily test children on the same words; I just focus on the same sound! My reason… Children can learn words for a spelling test, but the real test is can they apply them in their writing! Instead, I am focusing on them taking home all those words they frequently spell wrong in their independent writing! These differ for all children and learning them will make a real difference. I have children in my class focusing on ‘when’, ‘with’, ‘found’, ‘suddenly’ etc . Every child in my class could tell an adult what spellings they need to learn and why, and that keeps it real.
My daughter gets spellings every week (she is a year two); finding time to practice as regularly as we would like was a nightmare initially (with us working full time) but now she can independently practise for some of the time! This has had a massive impact on her confidence, enthusiasm and success!
We bought an app for about £1.49, it is amazing and there are similar wonderful apps available!
Another fun way of helping them at home, is
saw- smiling aliens win
anything they will remember will work…
This is the key (well I think so anyway)
Even better, is that younger siblings want to get in on the action and experiment with letters!
For months now, my mum has been telling the kiddiewinks she has eyes in the back of her head. Largely, this has been said to stop them winding each other up in the car on the school runs but seems little man has been mulling it over for some time…
While at a farm cottage in Holmesfirth for new year, he asked my mum to go upstairs to wipe his bum when he had a poo. (Lucky her). While mum was stood at the door waiting, he said
“Granny, what’s that behind you”
Mum turned around and said “nothing”
“See! I knew you didn’t have eyes in the back of your head”
One nil to kiddiewink 2! It had us chuckling for days. Clever little monkey!
My eldest kiddiewink has been desperate for glasses since she was three; even more so since both her siblings have them. Everytime she is tested, disappoint is etched on her face, when they tell her her eyes are perfect! This time she had a back up I plan, on being told she didn’t need them, she replied that was fine as she was going to use christmas money to buy some. Despite the staff trying to convince her she wanted to spend it on something else, she was not to be swayed and her first pair of clear lens glasses was ordered.
Days were counted down until their arrival and the opticians made a lovely fuss of fitting them and telling her about glasses care. She was over the moon and I am so pleased. Two weeks on and the novelty has worn off and she longer wears them everyday for school. I think she is just happy to be like her siblings when she chooses to be.
All things kiddiewink 