Most children love stories and they all have amazing imaginations. With a little support and guidance, they can become a confident writer too. It goes without saying that if you want to improve at something, first you have to practice. The more you practice, the...
Today marks the start of #NationalStoryTellingWeek and in honour of this, I’m sharing my book recommendation for February and asking the question, do you still read with your children? I’m not talking the dreaded book scheme reading, that from my own personal...
ENOUGH I’ve been out of the loop for some years, but now I find myself with a 13, going on 14 year old and I’m learning there’s been a lot of changed in the world of teenagerdom. Of course, I’m not naive enough to think teenagers will remain tee-total until they’re...
For reluctant writers, the mere mention of story writing is enough to bring them out in a cold sweat. I know from experience that my own little reluctant writer will do the minimum he can get away with when it comes to English homework. He might have ideas, but he...
With the effects of his delayed gross motor development still very much present in his everyday life, my youngest, who is now eight and a half, is becoming increasingly reluctant to write. You can read more about his developmental delays, hypermobility and food...
New research shows children who write creatively outside of school do significantly better in the classroom. In an effort to assess how writing enjoyment has changed over the years, along with children’s enjoyment of writing, The National Literacy Trust used data from...
I’ve written many times before about my children and their reading struggles. The eldest found learning to read difficult and as a consequence refused to even try. The reading schemes did nothing to inspire her and rather than face a daily battle of tears and...
When we left the house where we'd begun our little family, I was so emotional, I wrote about it (of course!). I love where we live now, but leaving the place which was filled with so many memories from our children's early lives was so hard. I came across this piece...
Out with the old, in with the new. I don't know about you, but with the appearance of that big yellow thing in the sky and the lighter nights, I have more energy. That is, once I got over the loss of the hour following the clock changes (when did that start to be a...
It looks as though testing in primary schools may be changing once again, with the abolition of SATS at Key Stage 1. Almost a year ago, my son was due to sit the new-style SATS tests and I was one of the thousands of parents who took part in the Kids Strike in...
Who needs expensive day trips when you can get outdoors and have fun in your own garden? Well, that's what I said this morning and my two little ones looked at me as though I'd gone loopy for even making that suggestion. Regardless of what they may have thought, I...
What are your top tips for keeping the children amused in the summer holidays? This is the first year I haven't arranged lots of activities for the children and I'm going to see how that goes. Wish me luck eh? My theory is, the children are old enough now to be able...
How do you manage your family's social calendar? I don't know what's gotten in to me at the moment, but I can't seem to stay on top of the family's social calendar. I don't work as an executive PA in the real world for a reason, I suck at it. Tell me, what more can I...
Wow, what a day yesterday turned out to be. The Kids Strike against the new SATS testing saw parents up and down the country taking their kids out of school for the day. I was one of those parents and although one person was out to target us with comments about having...
I am not the protesting type. To my shame actually. I'm one of the sheep who just gets on with things. But ever since my son's school called a meeting to show parents the new SATS tests, something has been niggling away at me. First of all, when my older girls sat the...
Read January was so busy and full of illness, that it left me with little energy or enthusiasm for reading. That said, I have an extensive list of books I've read over Christmas. These include: Boston Terrier (Smart Owner's Guide) - As we picked up our Boston Terrier...
My middle daughter isn't very sporty. She's not as bad as she thinks she is, but she doesn't enjoy it, particularly team sports. Last term, she played netball for the first time (as Goal Keeper) and although learned to tolerate it, she could take it or leave it...
I'm watching his every move, looking for signs. Does he need the toilet? A nap? Has he slept too long? I worry about leaving him. Will he be ok if I go out of the room for a moment? Will he sleep through the night? Getting ready to go out anywhere seems to take an...
I watched my daughter read a piece of her work in her class assembly this week and it struck me that it is the first time in her junior school career that she has done something like that. She's in year six and just about to leave to go to secondary school. Being one...
We are currently in the process of choosing a secondary school for our eldest daughter. We live in a county that is heavily influenced by the grammar school system, so most children take the 11+ test at the beginning of year six. This is regardless of whether they are...