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Spark festival

Although today proved to be ‘one of those’ days, I still don’t know what triggers ‘those’ type of days but it did result in a curtain pole being brought down mid tantrum and far too many unkind words between siblings and too many tears.  One of ‘those’ days normally leaves me with the dilemma to either tough it out solo at home or risk an improvement in behaviour by going out somewhere, which is risky if you do not like getting disapproving looks from others while you try to deal with challenging behaviour.

We opted to go for risk 2 and together with friends visited Leicester’s New Walk Museum who are participating in the Spark Festival. Today’s exhibit/workshop was called ‘diversions’ and involved lots and lots of huge sheets of cardboard on one level of the museum combined with imagination and some sticky tape resulting in some fabulous constructions.  When we arrived there was no large sheets left/free for use, my eldest son initially skulks then we find some small boxes and together make a dragon, out of three boxes, masking tape and two treasury tags. The twenty minutes of one to one interaction was just what we both needed and made the trip out worthwhile, a simple experience that I will treasure far beyond the life of the cardboard dragon! (the opportunity was helpfully aided by the youngest sleeping and the middle one with friend!)

Earlier at home we had played with pom poms, recycling items and pegs and made spiders and cane oh’s.  

I think it is worth remembering that regardless of what the latest television adverts try to convince you, that play and toys do not have to be financially expensive although are likely to be more costly in terms of your time, interaction, patience and imagination but experience shows me that this type of play has the greatest rewards for both adult and child and kinder on the bank balance. (The fabulous constructions today were a great demonstration of this interaction…you don’t think that was all the children’s handiwork, do you??!!)

 

Potty training

‘Potty Training,’ if those two words do not instantly fill your head will a range of emotions normally nearing towards dread and doom then you should instantly inform the parents of the potty training world your fabulous secrets!!

Third time round and last time (for the time being)…I have vested interest in this. I have sieged those few days that looked remotely like spring/summer type weather and replaced the pull ups with undies.  The less layers of clothing that need changing and changing and washing and washing, the easier on my brain and washing machine!  We have endured nearly a week of working out the sensation of weeing and the dislike for it disrupting his playtime.  The potty has quietly followed him in his tracks so it is ever so conveniently there when needed. Clearly all is not so slick, with other children’s needs and dare I say it our own needs there have been many accidents and as a parent that does not banish all nappies once potty training commences in fear of confusing the child, my child is oh so aware and prefers not to wee in his pull up now but sometimes just sometimes situation means that for sanity sake a back up nappy layer is required.  

Less than two weeks in and the accidents are minimal (ignoring the one in the lift of a museum when I was not on duty!!!) and after a day or so of thinking this is not going to happen, my son’s body is getting used to the feeling and sensation of toileting needs.

For the reduction in soiled clothes I am thankful, as the rain has reappeared.  My best bit of potty training my children has to be the cheers and excitement that we all express when my son does a wee or poo independently in the correct place.  It is so silly and extreme but praise and positive reinforcement does the trick no matter what the skill of mastery is.  And the more children in the family the more ‘woops!’

 

My Potty Training Top Tips:

1. Start potty training when YOU think your child is ready.  Awareness of bodily functions is a helpful indicator.

2. Potty Training takes as long as YOUR child needs it to.

3. Summer months are helpful times of year for reduced layers of clothing for washing and undressing.

4. To minimise stress I would put a nappy on when needed, banishing them may speed up the end result but also increase stress…your call!

5. No fancy pants needed…just lots of them.

6. More than one potty for upstairs and downstairs to minimise the running round the house trying to locate it moments.

7. Stickers for ‘pretty much’ being on target or successes can be helpful, especially if you point them out to friends and family you visit and talk positively about how well your child is doing (while they are in your presence!)

8. Celebrate with ‘yays’ and ‘clever boy/girl, well dones’ when your child uses the toilet or potty. Encourage them to go and tell someone else in the house (even if they already know) and repeat praise. It is great to hear older siblings singing their praises too.

9. Don’t brag to your friends with similar aged children that your child is potty trained as it is likely that someone will feel pressure to join the fun (even if they make out they are not bothered by this)

10. People can give you as many manuals, books, ideas, guides, products and top tips but it is YOUR child, YOUR family and YOUR set of circumstances that will find YOUR best way of potty training.

 

Distraction with stories or singing helps to keep them on the potty for the needed duration!! (Demonstrated in the Gents of the pub we visited today when a man walked over to our table and commended my husband on his singing to our son!!!)

Bedtime themed stories

As a parent I feel a small sense of satisfaction when I find bedtime stories that help with just that ‘bedtime’ combined with a story that can be accessed and feels rewarding and enjoyable to both a two year old and a four year old, whose brains by the very fact they are two years difference in age are developmentally very different.

Yawn combines great illustrations in which a hole in the page that acts as the yawn is passed on from one character to the next with the added bonus for literacy development, (see the nudge toward the pre school aged child) that the link to the next page is connected by a rhyming word, this enables your child to work out what character is resident on the next page without first seeing…lots of smiles and well dones! While the repetitive reading of this book, which is obvious proof of its popularity enables my two year old to know which character is coming up through memorising!  The last sentence in the story instructs children via the authority of Nellie the Elephant that jim jams need to be put on and  beds need snuggling into.  Instruction via a character or puppet always seems to hold greater gumption that tired mum!! 

 Find Yawn here:   http://www.walker.co.uk/Yawn-9781406330823.aspx

 

 

Bedtime Peekaboo is my second find that appeals primarily to my toddler but also to his older brother.  Bedtime Peekaboo provides ‘touch and feel’ AND flaps in one book, luxury!  The story again aids the progression into bed with each page prompting the elements o f a  bedtime routine or sequence (curtain closing, story reading etc) misses out any washing or teeth cleaning but this is a minor issue! Great sturdy board book for toddler hands and lovely photographic pictures throughout.

Find bedtime Peekaboo from DK books right here! http://www.dk.co.uk/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9781405312769,00.html?strSrchSql=bedtime+peekaboo/Bedtime_Peekaboo!_DK_Publishing

 

Off to locate more great reads that encompass my eight year old too…and maybe even sit down and drink coffee!!!

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Romper

Hello…I have an ongoing fashion issue

…whether it is because I live in hope of the sunshine returning combined with my internal desire to keep my children dressed their age and as children not dressed as mini- men but I love this style of romper…maybe with a few less frills that I found on www.sistersguild.co.uk 

It is unfortunately sold out and as I normally find is not made large enough…I am not trying to put my 4 year old in one but my 2 year old son. I believe it is designed with totally age appropriate; funky, childrens fabric (no need for stereotypical rockets, dinosaurs, diggers, cars) combined with gender free styling.  A refreshing change for me however sure it would gain a few stares in the park….not that he will remember!!

 

If anyone knows of cute gender free rompers for 2-3 years out please point me in the right direction, otherwise I may be left to attempt one on my sewing machine…now THAT would leave the poor boy traumatised!!!

It made it out into the garden!

Wahoo! I allowed the car out into the garden, this may sound obvious and simple however I am very protective over our cozy coupe, note ‘our’ not ‘their’… I vividly remember going into our local ELC with my mum and driving round the shop the well loved little tikes car while she did something far less interesting, I loved the cozy coupe but knew there was no way my parents could afford to purchase one for me so after waiting nearly 30 years to be the owner of one I was able to purchase one for my children…it was definitely worth waiting for…it is well loved and my OCD tendencies ensures that is rarely sees any dirt and is obviously dusted regularly, it normally resides indoors and only goes outside when there is no danger of rain, mud or any other item that may be unfriendly to my…. I mean ‘our’ red and yellow beast!

I am actually so glad and pleased that my parents could not afford it when I was younger as this paves the way in appreciation of belongings and earning treats. I continue to implement this moral value with my children, helped by the very fact that money is not flowing!! Good things are worth waiting for…and earning!

It is also far more heart warming to be part of something that clearly two generations are enjoying…now that is getting your money’s worth!!!
However the car is back inside clean and dry…one day out in the elements is enough…and the duster is back out!!! Phew!

Soreen in the sunshine: completing a product trial with mum panel and Soreen to celebrate 75th anniversary of Soreen with their limited edition chocolate Soreen. My children, mum friends and their children have loved it. Really enjoyed doing the product trial and Elias has enjoyed eating it too! It has taught me to try new products with my children, my eldest is rather fussy so I have not bought my younger two children things that my eldest does not like however I will now experiment with new and different products as old child’s diet does not need to restrict my other two children’s! Ocado here we come!