Currently Browsing : Parental choices

Before I was a mum I had all sorts of grand ideas about what I would and wouldn't do or allow my children to do when I was a parent.  One was watching TV.  Now that I am a mum my standards and expectations have somewhat changed.  I recognise that TV is not altogether a bad thing and sometimes a ...

“What is an earworm?” I hear you ask. No it is not some horrid parasite or toddler disease, it is what a friend of mine calls those little comments people make that you think have just washed over you, but that actually burrow into your mind and undermine your confidence in your own choices and abilities. Earworms can come from well ...

A few weeks ago I wrote a blog about my dislike of the mainstream magazines available for children.  The price, the advertising, the social stereotypes; all things which really rankle me.  The response from you all in comments and tweets was fantastic and I had various smaller publications recommended to me.  Since then I have contacted all those magazines which ...

There was no way I could not blog about the proposed childcare changes which were all over the news yesterday.  The government is announcing that nurseries and childminders in England are to be allowed to look after more children per adult to help cut costs. The costs of childcare are extortionate for parents and something needs to be done but, 'quality' ...

Sarah came to our More than a Mum course last March.  She was  keen to start something for herself; perhaps as a hobby; perhaps as a business.  A little while ago she contacted us again having started up some websites.  Today she has written us a guest blog to share her experience so far; hopefully inspire some of you to have ...

Magazines; Munchkin loves reading magazines. She loves choosing them; will happily sit and 'read' them in the shops as if it's a lending library; covets a new magazine whenever she sees one. She will sit in the back of a car leafing through a magazine on a long journey and not complain once about the distance travelled. She loves the ...

Last September my ultra-organised friend joked with me as to whether I had submitted Bear-Cub’s school application yet – I of course hadn’t - it was only a few days after you could apply but she also knows me well and is great and reminding/prompting me about things!  She by contrast had submitted her application and I did promise her ...

Maths can be something that we shy away from.  Somehow it is more socially acceptable to say that you are bad at Maths than at English - despite the fact that Maths is such a part of everyday life.  If we are going to inspire future mathematicians we must move past this negativity and inspire our children to be interested ...

Last Monday I uploaded a free factsheet about reading and promised that maths and science would follow.  So, here, today is science: Fact sheet science.  These are collated thoughts about the world of science and how to introduce your child to these things. There are many blogs out there with brilliant science experiments for little ones. We have a good number ...

As you may well be aware, I chose not to send Munchkin to preschool. We are also considering our options with regard to home schooling instead of reception. During this time I have thought a lot about what experiences and styles of learning best suit my daughther and also how best to help her progress in the key areas of ...