Keeping-Kids-Happy

With everything Halloween in mind, the favourite book in our house is the wonderful 'Room on the Broom' by Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler.

"The witch had a cat and a very tall hat...."

Written in rhyming style and with lots of repetition, this is a book that young children will quickly remember and join in. Infact my two boys know if off by heart and Jacob can recite it almost word perfect whilst Mikey often gets the book and 'reads' it to himself.

It is also great to read aloud. One of the best lines, which is repeated throughout is "the witch tapped the broomstick and WHOOSH they were gone" and you can always add voices for the different animals that the kind witch meets....

"I am a frog, as clean as can be, is there room on the broom for a frog like me...."

After a problem with overcrowding on the broom the witch flies into trouble and meets up with a scary dragon..

"I am a dragon as mean as can be, and I'm planning to have witch and chips for my tea..."

But, no need to worry as with a little help from her friends the witch is OK and she decides to built a "Truly Magnificent Broom"

As you can see from these photos, the illustrations by Alex Scheffler are great and reflect childrens own imaginations of witches and dragons.

So, having read a lot of childrens books over the years, I would definitely recommend this as one of the best for ages from 2 all the way up to about 8. The only problem with it is that you will be reading it again and again and again and again!

**********

For more details about Julia Donaldson and Alex Scheffler go to:

http://www.juliadonaldson.co.uk

http://www.gruffalo.com

Or to order ‘Room on the Broom’ from Amazon go to:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Room-Broom-Julia-Donaldson/dp/0333903382

Amazingly the big day is almost here. My oldest son Jacob, all of four and three-quarter years of age, is starting big school next week.

To me it is simply unbelievable that it has come around so quickly. In fact the momentous and somewhat traumatic occasion of his birth still seems like only yesterday….

Nevertheless, he is very excited about everything, from going to the shoe shop to get ‘school shoes’ and constantly reminding me that he still needs some grey socks, and working up to a fever pitch of excitement when he talks about all his little friends who are in his class and his new teacher – Mrs Ding Dong Bells (she is actually called Mrs Burles but somewhere between his taster session and the summer holidays her name has changed..)

Anyway, here are some helpful hints and suggestions I came across. They come from experienced reception class teachers and are to help the little ones settle in to school life and calm anxious parents:

“ Many parents like a list of suggestions to help their child starting full-time school, for the first time. None are vital, and because every child is different, some children will find them easy, whilst others will not be ready to do them just yet. Even if your child can only do some of these things, it is a big help:

* blow nose efficiently and be used to having a hanky in pocket.

* get undressed for PE (send your child in easy clothes for PE days)and then dressed again afterwards (practise with those buttons and zips!)

* have a go at putting on shoes and fastening Velcro / doing up laces

* put on and take off outdoor clothes, and then hang them up on the peg

* use a knife and fork reasonably well in the correct hands

* go to toilet unaided, and know how to use it properly (but accidents do happen, so don't worry; and again practise undoing those buttons and zips)

* wash own hands and dry them unaided

* tidy away toys or equipment that he or she has been using

* sit still and listen at least for a short time - e.g. for a story

* follow an adult's simple instructions "

Frisbees are one of the world's best-selling toys but they started life as simple pie dishes!

The Frisbie Baking Company (1871-1958) of Bridgeport, Connecticut, made pies that were sold to many New England colleges. Hungry college students soon discovered that the empty pie tins could be tossed and caught, They could make the round metal dishes spin and soar further than they could throw a ball - all it took was the right technique and a flick of the wrist - providing endless hours of games and sport.

The words 'Frisbie's Pies' were embossed in all the original pie tins and from these words 'Frisbie' was coined the common name for the toy.

In 1948, a Los Angeles building inspector named Walter Frederick Morrison and his partner Warren Franscioni invented a plastic version of the Frisbie that could fly further and with better accuracy than a tin pie plate.

Sales soared for the toy, due to the clever marketing of Frisbee playing as a new sport. In 1964, the first professional model went on sale.

The Frisbee world championships were first held in Sweden in 1983 and the farthest a Frisbee has been thrown is 250 metres.

*******

Just came across this history of the humble frisbee and it has inspired me to take a couple along when we next go to the park....if it ever stops raining.....

Putting their best foot forward......

Walk to School is a campaign asking parents, pupils and teachers to incorporate regular physical activity into their daily lives by walking to and from school whenever possible.

Each year, there are two national Walk to School weeks in the UK. In 2006 they are:
Monday 22nd - Friday 26th May
Monday 2nd - Friday 6th October

October is also International Walk to School Month - giving children, parents, school teachers and community leaders an opportunity to be part of a global event as they celebrate the many benefits of walking. Last year, more than 3 million walkers from around the world walked to school together for various reasons – all hoping to create communities that are safe places to walk.

These events encourage schools come together to promote the importance of walking.

For more details on this campaign see http://www.walktoschool.org.uk/

*********

Although I think this is a great campaign, it does seem a sad sign of the times that it is needed at all.

Surely most children live within walking distance of their school? and the benefits of walking to both children and parents are seemingly obvious.

However, you only need look the traffic congestion around any local school, both in the morning and at pick-up time, to realise that the car is definitely king. We are all forced to rush everywhere and driving is seen as the solution - despite the fact that with traffic jams it is often actually quicker to walk.

Due to the fact that we don't own a car, I always walk my little boy to school (a journey which takes about 20 minutes).

I can't say that it is always pleasant or peaceful - especially not in the terrential rain we have had this week!

Wee are usually running late and have to negotiate a couple of major road junctions along the way.

However, I do think that he is learning much more awareness of his surroundings and it is a great time for us to be together and discuss what he is doing / has done that day.

Infact I completely agree with the walk to school campaign when they say that:

"By encouraging parents to walk to school with their children from a young age it helps the children to develop the necessary skills to make their own journeys in the future and lets them learn many skills from experience:
* Road safety and personal safety skills
* Meeting and greeting people
* Time and distance relationship - management skills
* The feeling of the weather
* Exploration - what's around the corner? "

So all you car addicts out there - Why not join in and walk tomorrow or Friday? You never know you might even enjoy it - but don't forget your raincoat and wellies!