tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44373125313149613612024-03-14T04:33:45.619+00:00Taming the GoblinThe Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.comBlogger549125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-12482886311389472062014-10-23T14:39:00.001+01:002014-10-23T14:39:42.275+01:00Making Early Literacy Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Goblin is 5 years old<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2pgkQu9lbyQ/VEj7Iwfoz1I/AAAAAAAAxBs/fjfKgXbYIPs/s1600/PhotoGrid_1413747464981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2pgkQu9lbyQ/VEj7Iwfoz1I/AAAAAAAAxBs/fjfKgXbYIPs/s1600/PhotoGrid_1413747464981.jpg" height="640" width="562" /></a></div>
Before Goblin started school in September he couldn't read. In fact he didn't know that many letters either. I try to follow his lead, and as he never showed much interest in letters and reading so I didn't push it. Occasionally I had a little wobble and worried that I was disadvantaging him by not getting him started early. But Hublet came to the rescue pointing out various pieces of research that show that early reading doesn't reflect on later attainment. What is important is a love of reading - and that only comes when a child doesn't lose interest. So now that he is being introduced to reading through school I am balancing a tightrope, trying to support his school based learning, but not wanting to force things or make it boring. So we've been playing games. Goblin really enjoyed sight word hide and seek.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PIZDIxmLEAI/VEkB5yqR8AI/AAAAAAAAxB8/99BVr6Bu7jk/s1600/2014-10-19%2B12.47.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PIZDIxmLEAI/VEkB5yqR8AI/AAAAAAAAxB8/99BVr6Bu7jk/s1600/2014-10-19%2B12.47.06.jpg" height="486" width="640" /></a></div>
I wrote a little bingo grid of simple sight words that have been showing up in his reading books frequently. Then I made another set which I chopped up and stuck (with blue tac) around the house - mostly at his eye level.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hj8b34r4JPk/VEkB8teTMmI/AAAAAAAAxCM/wgH4LRBSGz4/s1600/hidden%2Bwords.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hj8b34r4JPk/VEkB8teTMmI/AAAAAAAAxCM/wgH4LRBSGz4/s1600/hidden%2Bwords.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
I sent Goblin off to find them, bring them back, attempt to read them, and match them to the bingo card. Even when he wasn't able to read the word, the letter recognition and matching are still important steps to literacy. Matching them to the bingo card is also self correcting as he can see if he's got all the words I hid.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DOVv6uWbyJo/VEkB6joQUbI/AAAAAAAAxCE/g22cTlxBZMg/s1600/2014-10-19%2B13.09.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DOVv6uWbyJo/VEkB6joQUbI/AAAAAAAAxCE/g22cTlxBZMg/s1600/2014-10-19%2B13.09.54.jpg" height="464" width="640" /></a></div>
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Some other games we've been playing include sliding words, haunted house word matching, fishing for letters and making our own simple reading books.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mHHtVT_VnZs/VEkEghOQC2I/AAAAAAAAxCY/gGu9VfBU6Tc/s1600/other%2Bgames.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mHHtVT_VnZs/VEkEghOQC2I/AAAAAAAAxCY/gGu9VfBU6Tc/s1600/other%2Bgames.jpg" height="640" width="542" /></a></div>
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The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-25703603316053718392014-09-25T14:20:00.000+01:002014-09-25T14:20:26.215+01:00After school archeologyGoblin has discovered the TV series <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_Team">Time Team</a>. Its all about archeology and it appears to fascinate our little guy. So I thought I'd leave him a little excavation of his own to try after school.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XuchstlVzJI/VCQUJAZy5sI/AAAAAAAAuDI/5Hd-XZMjm98/s1600/20140925_113844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XuchstlVzJI/VCQUJAZy5sI/AAAAAAAAuDI/5Hd-XZMjm98/s1600/20140925_113844.jpg" height="458" width="640" /></a></div>
I got a big plastic container and filled it with playdough (this is hand made using <a href="http://nurturestore.co.uk/homemade-play-dough-recipe-herbs#more-20055">Nurturestore's </a>fail safe method which takes about 2 minutes - mine is made with wholemeal flour to add texture and black food colouring to make it look like clay/mud). I buried some dinosaurs in it - but you could use any toy that won't get damaged by playdough.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IwS5j4vCBYk/VCQUKZipKkI/AAAAAAAAuDQ/_m0Udk0ozFo/s1600/20140925_114911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IwS5j4vCBYk/VCQUKZipKkI/AAAAAAAAuDQ/_m0Udk0ozFo/s1600/20140925_114911.jpg" height="382" width="640" /></a></div>
I covered the dinosaurs with playdough and added a layer of stone - I intended to use sand but we've run out and our sand pit is currently full of old aquarium gravel so thats what I used.<br />
I tied some string over the container to provide a grid and marked it out on paper - this will provide a simple maths element to the game if Goblin feels inclined - although I suspect it will be more a frantic digging session.The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-46061642688521926832014-08-07T22:27:00.000+01:002014-08-07T22:29:22.530+01:00A New Member of the Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Goblin is 4 years old)</span></div>
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At the weekend we did something exciting. We bought a puppy. </div>
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The cat we've had for many years sadly died recently. I've always had cats but since I was a child I've always wanted a dog. Hublet and I had talked about it but its always seemed like quite a big commitment and we've always concluded we shouldn't ..... until now. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HV8N2DstpEg/U-PfQZzgn3I/AAAAAAAApuk/XnI9J1a-xTc/s1600/20140803_172017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HV8N2DstpEg/U-PfQZzgn3I/AAAAAAAApuk/XnI9J1a-xTc/s1600/20140803_172017.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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PUPPY! PUPPY! PUPPY! SHE'S SO FLUFFY I MIGHT DIE. </div>
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Despite being uber excited about her cuteness, having a puppy is quite scary and we have done a ton of reading to make sure we don't screw this up. We researched the breeds for ages before deciding on a Newfoundland. This is a giant dog breed (as you can probably tell by how large she is at just 8 weeks old) but they are supposed to be excellent around children.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XPAxzi9wvpU/U-PfNxRQhrI/AAAAAAAAptw/xdZnleYR7Ms/s1600/2014-08-04+06.31.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XPAxzi9wvpU/U-PfNxRQhrI/AAAAAAAAptw/xdZnleYR7Ms/s1600/2014-08-04+06.31.02.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">Having a puppy feels a bit like having a second child. We are having to get up about three times a night to take her to the toilet. And its not just a quick trip to the garden, there is the whole settling her down afterwards - it reminds me of night feeds. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o-xzi3T4yS4/U-PmquxuhOI/AAAAAAAApv4/XsDLtt7HHl8/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o-xzi3T4yS4/U-PmquxuhOI/AAAAAAAApv4/XsDLtt7HHl8/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg" height="226" width="640" /></a></div>
On top of this sleep deprivation Goblin is being rather Jekyll and Hyde about the new addition to our family. He is not amused about all these 'stupid rules' like leave the puppy alone when she is sleeping, leave the puppy alone when she is eating, don't strangle the puppy, don't hit the puppy, be gentle with the puppy - and the list goes on. He also feels we are giving her too much attention.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WdbCmTkjpXg/U-PfRHVRxnI/AAAAAAAApuc/wwAPLjO7Bcs/s1600/20140807_205334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WdbCmTkjpXg/U-PfRHVRxnI/AAAAAAAApuc/wwAPLjO7Bcs/s1600/20140807_205334.jpg" height="402" width="640" /></a></div>
Puppies need to be vaccinated twice before they can go out for walks in public areas. So Goblin is stuck in the house (and garden). This is not making life easy. Goblin's excitement about having a new friend to play with, is wearing off when his friends come to call and he isn't allowed out to play because we can't leave the puppy. Once puppy is a bit more acclimatised we will be able to leave her for short periods so this should ease off (I hope).<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g13CLWW0biQ/U-PfOoVwgxI/AAAAAAAApt4/957EDRoZ8bE/s1600/2014-08-07+14.03.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g13CLWW0biQ/U-PfOoVwgxI/AAAAAAAApt4/957EDRoZ8bE/s1600/2014-08-07+14.03.17.jpg" height="516" width="640" /></a></div>
In the mean time I decided we needed to get out and about so I have broken out our old bike trailer buggy. As long as Puppy isn't on the floor or meeting other dogs, she is OK to be outside. And Goblin loves being able to show kids in the park his puppy.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mM_D6e0I6MI/U-PfSTd6LNI/AAAAAAAApu0/2wI2-7CmhX4/s1600/IMG-20140805-WA0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mM_D6e0I6MI/U-PfSTd6LNI/AAAAAAAApu0/2wI2-7CmhX4/s1600/IMG-20140805-WA0001.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
Puppy does also sleep a lot - about 90% of the time. Which gives Goblin and us a lot of quality time.<br />
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<br />The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-81944631090664755272014-07-23T21:16:00.000+01:002014-07-23T21:45:27.500+01:00The International Language of Play<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Goblin is 4 years old)</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7_qXoEYzk0/U9Ae0PJSoJI/AAAAAAAAot0/G3VCaYDdnOU/s1600/title.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7_qXoEYzk0/U9Ae0PJSoJI/AAAAAAAAot0/G3VCaYDdnOU/s1600/title.jpg.jpg" height="640" width="484" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">This weekend we met up with my University friends. They are a collection of Eurochums from Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Belgium. We have tried to meet up on an annual basis but with babies, bad weather, financial crisis and the rest we haven't actually all managed to be together for some time. So I was terribly excited that we finally got the gang together in Yorkshire. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z47cb9RKIZ0/U9APVHj7ZkI/AAAAAAAAotk/DWGtJtKEDnk/s1600/2014-07-20+12.51.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z47cb9RKIZ0/U9APVHj7ZkI/AAAAAAAAotk/DWGtJtKEDnk/s1600/2014-07-20+12.51.53.jpg" height="482" width="640" /></a></div>
Over the years our breeders have produced two German children, two French, two Belgians and one British kiddo. This was the first time since Goblin could talk that he had met any of them, and I wasn't sure how it would pan out what with him not speaking their languages and them not speaking his.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oxPP6vBRiRs/U9AOyEHpZyI/AAAAAAAAoq0/8LRVRSoF_jY/s1600/2014-07-18+14.34.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oxPP6vBRiRs/U9AOyEHpZyI/AAAAAAAAoq0/8LRVRSoF_jY/s1600/2014-07-18+14.34.40.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
But I needn't have worried. The children played as if they all spoke the same language. Goblin just chatted to his new friends in English and they jabbered back in their respective language.<br />
When that didn't work they smiled or pointed or gave each other one of their toys to play with so they could join a game.<br />
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My friend who was hosting us all remarked to her five year old neighbour</div>
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"Isn't it amazing that they play together when they don't speak the same language"</div>
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"Not really" said the five year old "Jumping means Hello"</div>
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Out of the mouths of babes comes the truth </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Play is an international language </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_GI3jpJv6f0/U9AO5vk9UUI/AAAAAAAAorc/o-IS1MqIslI/s1600/2014-07-18+15.14.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_GI3jpJv6f0/U9AO5vk9UUI/AAAAAAAAorc/o-IS1MqIslI/s1600/2014-07-18+15.14.06.jpg" height="632" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-26613862982321791782014-07-06T11:10:00.000+01:002014-07-06T12:02:08.138+01:00Taking it out of the classroom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Goblin is 4 years old)</span></div>
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Kentwell hall holds a recreation of Tudor life for two weeks each year, and we take part and play at being Tudors while schools and the public visit. You can read more about it on this blog <a href="http://www.tamingthegoblin.com/2013/07/learning-by-living-in-history.html">here,</a> <a href="http://www.tamingthegoblin.com/2013/05/kentwell-may-day.html">here</a>, and <a href="http://www.tamingthegoblin.com/2013/03/16th-century-adventures.html">here</a> and on the official Kentwell Hall website <a href="http://www.kentwell.co.uk/">here</a>. </div>
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Life 'in the 16th Century' offers a lot of freedom for Goblin to develop his own friendships, and make his own choices about how he spends his time.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vf9gceDozXs/U7kN_XxWPUI/AAAAAAAAngs/sgYUQHHQ0l4/s1600/SAM_0694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vf9gceDozXs/U7kN_XxWPUI/AAAAAAAAngs/sgYUQHHQ0l4/s1600/SAM_0694.JPG" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
We were sottling on the barn sward (cooking on an open fire for a group of about 100 people) so we needed to work. But we had many eyes watching our son including our extended family (my sister and her husband, and my mother in law) and many friends on the manor who know Goblin and would happily redirect him if he looked like he needed it. We checked on him from time to time if we couldn't hear him playing, but only once did he actually disappeared - untraceable for half an hour because he decided to go into the coppice wood for an adventure but forget to tell us first - anywhere else I would have been beside myself with worry, but on the manor after checking all the standing water, I was only mildly concerned.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NPWCpCVcEN0/U7kN9EY8FtI/AAAAAAAAngE/djOpqU5BQB0/s1600/SAM_0657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NPWCpCVcEN0/U7kN9EY8FtI/AAAAAAAAngE/djOpqU5BQB0/s1600/SAM_0657.JPG" height="640" width="520" /></a></div>
One day Goblin found a polystyrene spitfire plane and played with it in the morning before the manor opened to visitors. He was so obsessed with the plane that he kept trying to talk about it during the day - a strict 'no no' as we mustn't break our 16th century character. So I suggested instead of a plane he referred to it as an eagle. I picked up a pinecone and a bean pod and lashed them together with twine.<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"Look Goblin an eagle".</span><br />
The next thing I knew he had commandeered a group of school children and had them making eagles for him. Some might think that this group of children were there to learn about 16th century living, not make eagles for Goblin. But what they learnt was how resourceful children would have been in the 16th century. They couldn't pop to the shop to buy a toy, they had to make their own entertainment, and that is something Goblin excelled at. <br />
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He did take advantage of the opportunity to learn to shoot a bow, practice swordsmanship with the soldiers and play skittles with the children of the barn school. But for the best part of the week he made his own entertainment, whether it was rummaging in the midden, fighting with sticks, building eagle nests with yew tree branches, or herding the sheep.<br />
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Interestingly Goblin didn't just play all day. He wanted to help us work. He spent a good portion of each morning helping us shell beans, make crumb from yesterday's bread or chop vegetables - he focused on apricots and mushrooms (the softer things he could cut without too much help). Then he'd disappear again when his work was done.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a_McyUIZxxI/U7kOA3DLIGI/AAAAAAAAnhQ/bFyM0EF6cIs/s1600/SAM_0711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-a_McyUIZxxI/U7kOA3DLIGI/AAAAAAAAnhQ/bFyM0EF6cIs/s1600/SAM_0711.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sometime he'd return when he heard the school parties arriving. As the large school parties of eleven year olds rounded the corner, he would halt them and addressing their teachers ask them to spilt into two groups. His confidence and clarity surprised the teachers who did as this little four year old instructed. He would them take one group and show them how to shell broadbeans, handing out the pods and explaining how to snap off the top and find the thread that runs down the back of the bean. </div>
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He worked hard and played hard. A week of living and playing outdoors coupled with late nights on the campsite made for a weary little fellow by the end of the week. But his experiences will stay with him long after the smell of woodsmoke has cleared from his hair and a weeks-worth of grime has been scrubbed from his fingernails. I hope we will be able to repeat this adventure next year when we will have to justify to the state why he should be doing this rather than sitting in a classroom.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p8c79tnhAVo/U7kN_6u5hOI/AAAAAAAAng8/dqQBLm8TUqc/s1600/SAM_0697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p8c79tnhAVo/U7kN_6u5hOI/AAAAAAAAng8/dqQBLm8TUqc/s1600/SAM_0697.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
Interesting 16th Century Fact: Goblin's Kentwell name is Creature. Creature of Christ was a common name given to children who were not expected to survive childbirth. A midwife would take hold of any part of the baby from inside the labouring mother and christen them. It was the only time when a child could be christened by someone who was not a priest. This practice was to ensure that babies who died in childbirth were able to go to heaven (and be buried in the church yard cemetery) but many actually survived and kept their name into late childhood.<br />
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<br />The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-69744571876313682452014-06-20T23:11:00.000+01:002014-06-20T23:11:25.945+01:00World War II Diorama<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Goblin is 4 years old)</span></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aEnOfI_s1q0/U6Soy-8Zh1I/AAAAAAAAnF0/oh_nWyDjw_U/s1600/2014-06-19+18.48.48.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aEnOfI_s1q0/U6Soy-8Zh1I/AAAAAAAAnF0/oh_nWyDjw_U/s1600/2014-06-19+18.48.48.jpg.jpg" height="546" width="640" /></a><br />
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The other day Goblin announced that he wanted to make a model of the D-Day landings. I thought he just meant he wanted to play with his WWII planes and soldiers but when I suggested it he 'tut-tutted' me and explained that he wanted to stick the 'model's onto a scene so we couldn't use his toys as that would be "a waste". </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nHhjAui9MhM/U6SrP1uqJnI/AAAAAAAAnGU/3wQVDI89YDk/s1600/net.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nHhjAui9MhM/U6SrP1uqJnI/AAAAAAAAnGU/3wQVDI89YDk/s1600/net.jpg" height="640" width="462" /></a></div>
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Fortunately we had quite a lot of cardboard kicking about, so following Goblin's instructions I set to work making an array of WWII vehicles. Over the years of working with my son and cardboard, I have come to realise that less is more. He has a great imagination so I don't need to spend ages painting and decorating and making things look accurate. So I did the minimum to depict the vehicles requested. </div>
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To my surprise Goblin took on the decoration himself. He started by drawing Rondells on the Spitfires and used a double pen hold to scribble camouflage on the tanks. Then he asked me to show him how to draw Swastikas for the Messerschmitts. For a child who doesn't like colouring and feels pressured if you ask him to try and write his name, he sure can draw detail when its something that interests him. I experienced a strange mixture of pride and discomfort when I saw how accurately he'd managed them. Lets just hope he doesn't start drawing them at nursery or we'll have some explaining to do. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CpxN01ohEto/U6SowZm4CAI/AAAAAAAAnFc/ebA4EPxGTd8/s1600/2014-06-19+18.32.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CpxN01ohEto/U6SowZm4CAI/AAAAAAAAnFc/ebA4EPxGTd8/s1600/2014-06-19+18.32.25.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
We even got him to draw soldiers. The one above I'm told is Goblin - he wanted to feature in his own diorama.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y5N1K_8myTE/U6Soxn1F5_I/AAAAAAAAnFs/8vDDL0G_Cxg/s1600/2014-06-19+18.47.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y5N1K_8myTE/U6Soxn1F5_I/AAAAAAAAnFs/8vDDL0G_Cxg/s1600/2014-06-19+18.47.53.jpg" height="354" width="640" /></a></div>
We put all the models together in a big beach and sea scenario with the planes attached to kebab sticks. And Goblin even added some extra detail of planes on fire (on the "baddies" side obviously).<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rAHZX3BeNKY/U6SozMNBD_I/AAAAAAAAnGA/VT7iQmWwxbI/s1600/2014-06-20+08.11.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rAHZX3BeNKY/U6SozMNBD_I/AAAAAAAAnGA/VT7iQmWwxbI/s1600/2014-06-20+08.11.48.jpg" height="482" width="640" /></a></div>
While playing with his diorama he may have reinvented history, in Goblin's version the Allies had a bit of help with their invasion, in the form of birds of prey!<br />
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Further reading:<br />
Goblin's fascination with World War II originally stemmed from visiting Duxford Imperial War Museum. Find out more <a href="http://www.tamingthegoblin.com/2013/05/the-imperial-war-museum-duxford.html">here</a><br />
We have been building on his interest through further visits, reading books and imaginary play, you can find an example <a href="http://www.tamingthegoblin.com/2013/12/the-sunday-parenting-party-winter.html">here</a><br />
Two excellent WWII resources are the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1409523292/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1409523292&linkCode=as2&tag=tamthegob-21">Usborne WWII flap book</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=tamthegob-21&l=as2&o=2&a=1409523292" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1409524140/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1409524140&linkCode=as2&tag=tamthegob-21">Second World War Cards</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=tamthegob-21&l=as2&o=2&a=1409524140" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(T</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">he two Usborne links above are affiliate links which take you to Amazon. If you purchase products I receive a financial benefit)</span><br />
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The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-76507447999374656752014-05-15T12:38:00.000+01:002014-05-15T12:38:04.415+01:00We love skate parks<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Goblin is 4 years old)</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nXhkJBpqL6I/U3SlKFxSyCI/AAAAAAAAjvI/lWOzPRD938I/s1600/2014-03-15+14.14.13.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nXhkJBpqL6I/U3SlKFxSyCI/AAAAAAAAjvI/lWOzPRD938I/s1600/2014-03-15+14.14.13.jpg.jpg" height="436" width="640" /></a></div>
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I wouldn't describe myself as a helicopter mum but at the age of four and a half I am not happy letting Goblin out on his own unless its in our enclosed back garden. Unfortunately since Goblin has discovered a love of scooters, this has meant a lot of effort for me, following him up and down the paths around our estate.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X7PWgMjnN3k/U3SjniUm_KI/AAAAAAAAjuk/GqoPbAv5xtA/s1600/2014-03-07+13.35.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X7PWgMjnN3k/U3SjniUm_KI/AAAAAAAAjuk/GqoPbAv5xtA/s1600/2014-03-07+13.35.24.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
That was until we found the skate parks. I don't know if this is the case in the rest of the UK or whether we are exceptionally lucky but we have not one but four skate parks within a half hour drive of our house.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L7RsXP_8aHU/U3Sjn7TmUSI/AAAAAAAAjug/R2yioDOwb1U/s1600/2014-03-28+14.56.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L7RsXP_8aHU/U3Sjn7TmUSI/AAAAAAAAjug/R2yioDOwb1U/s1600/2014-03-28+14.56.13.jpg" height="640" width="596" /></a></div>
Most teenagers use skate parks at the weekend and in the evenings which means that during the day when the older kids are busy we get the skate park all to ourselves. Goblin loves zooming around the ramps and it gives me a lovely little rest as I can sit in one place and watch him rather than jogging along side him freaking out every time he veers near the road.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--PZRwPFtuNU/U3SjpbiyDpI/AAAAAAAAjuw/JV-0lR3rPzA/s1600/2014-04-26+17.27.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--PZRwPFtuNU/U3SjpbiyDpI/AAAAAAAAjuw/JV-0lR3rPzA/s1600/2014-04-26+17.27.33.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
But of course as much as I love a little sit down, I do also like to join in with Goblin's games, so it wasn't long before I invested in a scooter for myself. Although I have to admit Goblin is much braver than I am when it comes to the big ramps.<br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span>The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-10110127399212313902014-04-30T09:04:00.001+01:002014-04-30T09:04:43.309+01:00Black and white mobile<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Goblin is 4 years old)</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cHB7NpS20g0/U2CrHckuwmI/AAAAAAAAiq4/okRNkOUJBNQ/s1600/2014-04-07+17.35.11.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cHB7NpS20g0/U2CrHckuwmI/AAAAAAAAiq4/okRNkOUJBNQ/s1600/2014-04-07+17.35.11.jpg.jpg" height="640" width="452" /></a></div>
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Recently Goblin has acquired two new cousins. When we went to visit I wanted him to be able to give them something that he had made himself. We decided to make a simple black and white mobile. Really little babies see contrasting colours better so black and white is the easiest option for babies to focus on. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9t8HocSvA3M/U2Clkqr2krI/AAAAAAAAiqI/hbZqsenbdo0/s1600/2014-03-27+13.38.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9t8HocSvA3M/U2Clkqr2krI/AAAAAAAAiqI/hbZqsenbdo0/s1600/2014-03-27+13.38.26.jpg" height="400" width="640" /></a></div>
We used air dry clay to make spheres that we then flattened and I put a hole in. When I say we I really mean, Goblin did one and I did the rest. I wanted him to do them all and I'd even got out his rolling pin and shape cutters thinking he could make a bunch of different shapes. But he wasn't interested, so I did this bit myself.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4VpYD0U8CRQ/U2Clk9wop6I/AAAAAAAAiqQ/WgPB7BOhTfM/s1600/2014-04-03+08.05.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4VpYD0U8CRQ/U2Clk9wop6I/AAAAAAAAiqQ/WgPB7BOhTfM/s1600/2014-04-03+08.05.13.jpg" height="640" width="570" /></a></div>
Once the discs were dry (24 hours later) he painted them white and the following day I gave him a squirt bottle with black paint and he went to town.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jNQ6o61IagA/U2CuOavChYI/AAAAAAAAirE/GYD3KM3V1Y8/s1600/2014-04-07+17.35.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jNQ6o61IagA/U2CuOavChYI/AAAAAAAAirE/GYD3KM3V1Y8/s1600/2014-04-07+17.35.26.jpg" height="640" width="438" /></a></div>
Finally I strung the discs up with fishing line. I attached them to a colander, the reflection on the inside of the colander will provide some added interest for baby, however if you want to make yours look a little more attractive you can use an embroidery rind and cover the wood in a ribbon.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vk9v1Ufueiw/U2CuPbmq2TI/AAAAAAAAirM/5F5uN7KNOvY/s1600/2014-04-07+17.32.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vk9v1Ufueiw/U2CuPbmq2TI/AAAAAAAAirM/5F5uN7KNOvY/s1600/2014-04-07+17.32.47.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-83902020685746875222014-04-22T06:00:00.000+01:002014-04-22T06:00:02.914+01:00Crabbing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> (Goblin is 4 years old)</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0JKnKhPj40I/U0MF0H8Vh2I/AAAAAAAAgmA/ywDirp-2PUw/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0JKnKhPj40I/U0MF0H8Vh2I/AAAAAAAAgmA/ywDirp-2PUw/s1600/PicMonkey+Collage.jpg.jpg" height="372" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hublet took us crabbing. Its something he did as a child, I'd never done it before and I have to say its AWESOME! </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1t0jUvXxgAc/U0MEAa5FryI/AAAAAAAAglg/hl6J43wyCpY/s1600/2014-04-05+15.05.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1t0jUvXxgAc/U0MEAa5FryI/AAAAAAAAglg/hl6J43wyCpY/s1600/2014-04-05+15.05.59.jpg" height="640" width="556" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">Its so simple. All you need is a bit of string, a weight and a hook or mesh bag to attach bacon to. You lower the bacon into the water until its resting on the bottom. Then you wait a minute. It really doesn't take long at all which is perfect for little kids with short attention spans. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jJmSCEjPLXU/U0MEBVX8FfI/AAAAAAAAglc/JbFAM6lwewA/s1600/2014-04-05+15.13.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jJmSCEjPLXU/U0MEBVX8FfI/AAAAAAAAglc/JbFAM6lwewA/s1600/2014-04-05+15.13.10.jpg" height="640" width="386" /></a></div>
When you gently pull the string up there will usually be one or two crabs attached to the bacon. You can shake them off into a bucket with water.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-szCxkTvumUk/U0MEAyjelBI/AAAAAAAAglQ/NNdbv3mB2bQ/s1600/2014-04-05+15.13.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-szCxkTvumUk/U0MEAyjelBI/AAAAAAAAglQ/NNdbv3mB2bQ/s1600/2014-04-05+15.13.02.jpg" height="640" width="468" /></a></div>
The first time Goblin went crabbing he was a bit nervous of the crabs and didn't want to pull the string up or touch the bucket with the crabs. But on the day I came too he was feeling brave and did the whole process himself including shaking the crabs into the bucket.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-50irY6HqaEQ/U0MECUMmLYI/AAAAAAAAglo/pLV-3a4x2DI/s1600/2014-04-05+15.13.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-50irY6HqaEQ/U0MECUMmLYI/AAAAAAAAglo/pLV-3a4x2DI/s1600/2014-04-05+15.13.27.jpg" height="604" width="640" /></a></div>
In 15 minutes we caught 38 crabs. This is the photo we took just before they righted themselves and scuttled back into the water.<br />
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<br />The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-36296435594024256482014-04-15T06:00:00.000+01:002014-04-16T20:02:51.414+01:00Birds, birds and more birds!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Goblin is 4 years old)</span></div>
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Sometimes outings lead to Goblin discovering a new interest - like a visit To Duxford Imperial War Museum which led to his fascination with WWII planes. Other times his interest leads us to seek out good outings to support the subject and build his knowledge.<br />
Anyone who reads the blog regularly will know that Goblin loves the Octonauts. This has sparked an interest in sea creatures. However a recent episode about Pelicans has sent Goblin off on a different tangent - birds!<br />
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We have been looking for opportunities to support his bird interest. The zoo is an obvious place to start. They have a great penguin enclosure and a twice daily bird display. During the week we are sometimes the only people at the bird display, and we were lucky enough to be able to chat with one of the keepers about the barn owls. I think he was quite surprised by how many questions Goblin had.<br />
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We've also taken Goblin to the local nature reserve that has hydes for bird watching. We took a monocular for him and binoculars for us (Monoculars are easier for little kids to use). The more experienced bird watchers in the hides were very understanding of our rather loud and enthusiastic ornithologist. They helped point out interesting birds to look at - including a kestrel.<br />
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Near my parents there is a place called <a href="http://birdworld.co.uk/">Bird World</a>. I mentioned it to Goblin and of course he insisted we went there. It was a good opportunity to catch up with the Grandparents and Goblin could share his enthusiasm with them too.<br />
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Bird World has not one but two different types of penguins. Goblin has recently learned that there are 17 different types and he is interested in where they all live so it was cool that we had African and South American (Humboldt) ones. We even got to see the Humboldt's being fed.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f0kxR6KE44M/Uzr2IJqAdBI/AAAAAAAAfdE/RCbS1cjmGOI/s1600/2014-03-18+15.25.34-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f0kxR6KE44M/Uzr2IJqAdBI/AAAAAAAAfdE/RCbS1cjmGOI/s1600/2014-03-18+15.25.34-3.jpg" height="442" width="640" /></a>As well as outings we have found puzzles, matching games, books and documentaries to support Goblin's recent interest. <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HIUbA3Wxvy0/Uzr2H3PV4zI/AAAAAAAAfc8/amkV9-9Blrs/s1600/2014-03-18+15.15.25-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HIUbA3Wxvy0/Uzr2H3PV4zI/AAAAAAAAfc8/amkV9-9Blrs/s1600/2014-03-18+15.15.25-1.jpg" height="316" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-45401541799108062482014-04-08T06:00:00.000+01:002014-04-08T06:00:09.655+01:00Learning about the body<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Goblin is 4 years old</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">This post contains Amazon affiliate links meaning if you click and buy something I receive some money. I only ever recommend products I use with Goblin. </span></div>
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Goblin has shown sporadic interest in how his body works. I've been collecting various resources to help show him. My favourite is an excellent <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0746070055/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0746070055&linkCode=as2&tag=tamthegob-21">Usborne Flap Book 'See Inside Your Body' </a>. This breaks down the different systems into bite sized chunks and as well as Goblin, I have learnt a lot from this book. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3VtRrxuEW74/Uzr2hw7shoI/AAAAAAAAfdQ/0OddIzyhfLI/s1600/2014-03-27+13.19.27-003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3VtRrxuEW74/Uzr2hw7shoI/AAAAAAAAfdQ/0OddIzyhfLI/s1600/2014-03-27+13.19.27-003.jpg" height="640" width="482" /></a></div>
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Another recent acquisition is a <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0012OELR6/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B0012OELR6&linkCode=as2&tag=tamthegob-21"> Human Body model</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=tamthegob-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B0012OELR6" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. One of my current 'go to' bloggers <a href="http://www.aneverydaystory.com/2014/03/14/kindergarten-homeschool-week/">An Everyday Story</a> has a much larger version for her kids which I covet. But the big version is extremely expensive and I didn't feel I could justify the spend so I settled on a cheap smaller version. Unfortunately it means that Goblin can't really use it on his own because the pieces are too fiddly to handle, but he likes to watch me put it together and tell me what the different organs are. </div>
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I wanted to give him an opportunity to handle some 'organs' himself and put together a body. So I decided to make some organ coloured playdough. Between us we created our own model of the inside of a human complete with heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, stomach and intestines. We ignored scale incase you are concerned!<br />
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Once complete Goblin fetched his toy Octonauts and we sent them on an "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innerspace">InnerSpace</a>" style journey through the digestive system (as well as through the respiratory system). Kwazi got stuck in the stomach and Captain Barnacles had to rescue him before he was melted in bile. Goblin thought it was hilarious when Kwazi reached the colon and we had to use peristalsis to poop him out.<br />
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I taught Goblin a little song to the tune of Frere Jaques, it goes<br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">"Peristalsis, peristalsis, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">pushes food through, pushes food through, </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Pooping </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">out the pieces, pooping out the pieces, </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">in the loo, we did a poo".</span></span></div>
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The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-56324356424055272162014-04-01T20:10:00.000+01:002014-04-01T20:10:12.096+01:00Quick and simple Imaginary play<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LfkfK9wDzHk/UzsHTlgUHOI/AAAAAAAAfeU/ZEj1HxXBCOQ/s1600/title.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LfkfK9wDzHk/UzsHTlgUHOI/AAAAAAAAfeU/ZEj1HxXBCOQ/s1600/title.jpg.jpg" height="364" width="640" /></a></div>
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Goblin decided that he wanted to make stew.</div>
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"I need ingredients" he declared. </div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">This was new. We'd done regular baking before but he hasn't done pretend cooking since he was about 2 years old. I love spotting changes in his play. I never know what it signifies but it intrigues me. </span><br />
<span style="text-align: center;">Our kitchen is a treasure trove of ancient things that have been crystallising or gathering dust for decades, so I went off to find some fun ingredients for him. </span><span style="text-align: center;">When I got back, Goblin has already found some for himself, including the star anis and cinnamon sticks we use with playdough, and some actual playdough. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iwxOCs8P0RI/UzsEuMDn1WI/AAAAAAAAfdw/eRhgCbt56ag/s1600/2014-03-28+11.51.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iwxOCs8P0RI/UzsEuMDn1WI/AAAAAAAAfdw/eRhgCbt56ag/s1600/2014-03-28+11.51.50.jpg" height="640" width="614" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">I offered the addition of </span><span style="text-align: center;">some salt, sugar, bicarbonate of soda, curry sauce, bacon salt, </span><span style="text-align: center;">the contents of a few (nasty) herbal tea bags, used coffee grounds, and an old tub of white pepper with a shaker attached (his favourite).</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-72IhmrbgCMs/UzsEv-TFLKI/AAAAAAAAfd0/Jy4vjQFEmeg/s1600/2014-03-28+11.57.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-72IhmrbgCMs/UzsEv-TFLKI/AAAAAAAAfd0/Jy4vjQFEmeg/s1600/2014-03-28+11.57.05.jpg" height="640" width="446" /></a></div>
Goblin gleefully added all the random packets and jars, stirred enthusiastically and then fetched a jug of water to round it off. I also found some packets of cool aid in the back of the cupboard. When we added these they fizzed excitedly. We were both rather excited by this discovery.<br />
Saying yes to this unexpected bout of imaginary play gave us a great opportunity to connect and have some simple fun. The only down side is that Goblin is so proud of his concoction he won't let me throw it away, and its very smelly!<br />
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<br />The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-20513351951885181122014-03-18T06:00:00.000+00:002014-03-18T06:00:03.416+00:00Counting past ten<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When Goblin was just a bit over 2 years old he learnt to count to 12. We'd been trying to teach him to count to ten and one day he lay on the changing mat and spontaneously counted to 12. "Whoop Whoop" we thought. Fast forward two years and Goblin can now count to .... wait for it .... 13! Yup, in two years he has learnt one more number. That's not entirely true. He knows the other numbers that come after it but always mixes up 14 and jumps to 16 and then just randomly dots around in the teens until we help him out.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aTY_kJ3OPuk/UxTq7ruxLLI/AAAAAAAAdFY/yCTckK5tcCA/s1600/2014-02-26+19.45.12-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aTY_kJ3OPuk/UxTq7ruxLLI/AAAAAAAAdFY/yCTckK5tcCA/s1600/2014-02-26+19.45.12-1.jpg" height="640" width="512" /></a></div>
So I wanted to provide more opportunities for Goblin to practice counting those big numbers. But he won't do anything unless he's interested. I can't just suggest we count pasta - his response would be "Er, no thanks!" So I needed to make up a game that would grab his interest.<br />
His current obsession is Octonauts and the idea of helping them out would definitely capture his imagination. So I made up a sheet to encourage a bit of reading. It named a character and the sea creatures that character was counting. I asked Goblin to help his favourite character Peso to identify what each of the four characters were collecting, help the character collect them on their sticky back plastic "collection tank" and count them, and finally help Peso to write the correct number in the box.<br />
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The game provided opportunities for<br />
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<li>letter identification/reading </li>
<li>number writing practice</li>
<li>fine motor pincer grip (picking up the objects)</li>
<li>sorting</li>
<li>counting beyond 10</li>
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I used simple objects we already had: plastic sharks; sea shells; pompom sea urchins; and manta rays that I found on google images and printed off. Goblin stuck them to the plastic sheets provided and I helped him count them up.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vRgdL4COHvA/UxTrAHmMwXI/AAAAAAAAdGI/g4FGH3Jhlrs/s1600/2014-02-27+07.28.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vRgdL4COHvA/UxTrAHmMwXI/AAAAAAAAdGI/g4FGH3Jhlrs/s1600/2014-02-27+07.28.58.jpg" height="388" width="640" /></a></div>
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When he'd arrived at the right number I wrote it down and he copied the number. We counted three of the four sets of objects and he wrote down two of them. That was pretty good going for us. We stopped because he got distracted when he discovered he could colour the inside of the sea shells with a felt tip pen!</div>
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<br />The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-28589333178016603762014-03-15T19:00:00.000+00:002014-03-15T21:47:30.239+00:00Trying Something New<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hublet and I general find the philosophy of Positive Parenting resonates with us. As a result I have steered clear of many of the Super Nanny methods which tend to be more 'behaviour modification' techniques. I have never tried reward charts because they felt a bit like kiddy training but recently I have had to completely rethink my attitude to reward charts and behaviour modification.<br />
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I'm quite sold on the Positive Parenting idea that consequences should be natural and therefore linked as closely as possible to the specific action. This is easy if the action is throwing your toy on the floor and the consequence is that the toy breaks and gets put in the bin. But its much harder when the action is hitting your parents. <span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">What is the natural consequence to that? </span><br />
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In the real world hitting someone usually has a natural consequence of being arrested or being hit back. Goblin has certainly been experiencing some natural consequences of Mummy and Daddy getting seriously pissed off and screaming at him not to hit because it hurts. But that doesn't seem like a satisfactory consequence and certainly doesn't fit with the idea of being 'respectful' to your child and trying to be calm and loving - concepts I find extremely difficult to muster when I have been headbutted across the bridge of the nose for suggesting we should put our shoes on.<br />
Goblin is quite delightful when he is doing what he wants, but has been struggling with responding to things he doesn't want to do. Any request that doesn't fit with his desires is currently met with either throwing something (often something delicate like the computer mouse or my phone) or kicking, hitting, headbutting, scratching, biting etc often accompanied by growling.<br />
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We have tried to stay calm and explain that hitting hurts, we have tried to be respectful and step out of his way while acknowledging his feelings, we have tried carrying him to his room to keep him away from all the breakable stuff and give him time to calm down, and we have tried screaming loudly in his face that he is being horrible (yeah OK I knew that one wouldn't work but I'm only human). Sometimes these actions work at stopping the violence for that particular moment, but they haven't done anything to break the habit of resorting to violence at the drop of a hat.<br />
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I wanted to find something that would help to change his behaviour. A lot of the positive parenting blogs say that you shouldn't try and control your child's behaviour and that parenting isn't about training your child. But I am fed up of being hit, so I am choosing behaviour modification to allow our relationship to get back on track.<br />
<br />
I asked on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Tamingthegoblin">Taming the Goblin's FB page</a> whether people had had any success with reward charts. There were some positive responses, some saying yes indeed and others saying they'd faired better with pebble jars than reward charts, some also said their child wouldn't fall for manipulation by stickers (I held out hope that mine would). I guess it depends what your child will relate to.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-59ew4I2zjaU/UyGpiVhDcuI/AAAAAAAAdtU/Hl7BXwzftxU/s1600/2014-03-13+12.02.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-59ew4I2zjaU/UyGpiVhDcuI/AAAAAAAAdtU/Hl7BXwzftxU/s1600/2014-03-13+12.02.29.jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
After much discussion between myself and Hublet about whether we were doing the right thing and how the process would actually work and what behaviour we were trying to tackle, I set to work to draw up a chart. It has the days of the week in columns and each day is split into sections. Each section captured a transition period - these are the times that most often cause Goblin's behaviour to deteriorate. As he is octonaut obsessed I printed little octoalerts and used double sided tape on the back. If he makes it through a period without violence towards myself or Hublet he gets an octoalert and if he makes it through a whole day without violence he gets to watch one episode of octonauts on TV.<br />
<br />
We chose screen time as his reward for two reasons, firstly we are trying to reduce his screen time and this way he has to earn the screen time with good behaviour (or at least non violent behaviour). Secondly he loves octonauts so we are hoping that will act as an incentive to behave well.<br />
<br />
So far we have had mixed success, but although he hasn't managed many whole days, and thus hasn't earned much screen time, his outbursts have reduced significantly. He has also looked at the chart and asked "Why did I get that sad face". When I reminded him, "that was on Monday afternoon when you hit Daddy", he has looked genuinely remorseful and said, "Oh yes, Sorry". So the chart is helping him reflect on previous behaviour in a way that he hasn't before.<br />
<br />
As I said earlier I always thought that rewards charts were a bit of a blunt instrument but I have discovered that they can be much more subtle. I realised that not only are they acting on Goblin's behaviour, they are also changing the way Hublet and I are parenting. Because we both want him to succeed and win his octoalerts, we have been more cautious not to goad him into situations that will result in him lashing out. We have stepped back and reminded him of the chart and given him space to make the right decision where we might previously have kept nagging until he exploded. This has been an interesting and unexpected impact of 'the chart'.<br />
Goblin has also insisted that I get a chart to deal with my bad behaviour - my yelling. This only seems fair.<br />
<br />
I'm not saying that the chart is a roaring success, its too early to tell. And I'm not saying we will do this forever, in fact I'm hoping we won't. What I'd like is for this to act as a catalyst to break the habitual behaviour and give him an incentive to find alternative ways to deal with his frustration. Once he has settled on a less violent way of dealing with life's upsets I hope I will be able to drop the chart and we can regain some normality. That's the plan. lets see if it works. Wish us luck!<br />
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*****</div>
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Good reads from last week include</center>
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<a href="http://cuddlesandmuddles.wordpress.com/2014/03/09/finding-me-time-as-a-mum/">Finding Me time as a Mum ~ Cuddles and Muddles</a></center>
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<a href="http://www.whatsupfagans.com/2012/05/when-i-feel-like-im-an-awesome-mom/">Sometimes I feel like an awesome Mom ~ What's up Fagans </a></center>
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<a href="http://intheplayroom.co.uk/2014/03/07/thoughts-child-discipline-win-250-room-grow/">Thoughts on Child Discipline ~ In the Playroom</a></center>
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<a href="http://intheplayroom.co.uk/2014/03/07/thoughts-child-discipline-win-250-room-grow/"> </a></center>
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<i>Welcome to The Sunday Parenting Party, hosted by <a href="http://www.dirtandboogers.com/">Dirt and Boogers</a>, <a href="http://play-activities.com/">Play Activities</a>, <a href="http://www.crayonfreckles.com/">Crayon Freckles</a>, <a href="http://www.tamingthegoblin.com/">Taming the Goblin</a>, <a href="http://www.thegoldengleam.com/">The Golden Gleam</a>, <a href="http://www.pricklymom.com/">Prickly Mom</a>, and <a href="http://taoofpoop.blogspot.com/">The Tao of Poop</a>. The SPP is place for readers to find ideas on nurturing, educating, and caring for children, as well as honest posts about the stresses of being a parent or caregiver. Links to reviews and giveaways are welcome as long as they are relevant to the topic. All parenting philosophies are welcome with one exception: please do not link to posts promoting physical discipline, as this is something we would feel uncomfortable having on our blogs. (P.S. By linking up you agree that your post and photos are Pinterest, Sulia, G+ and FB friendly. We will be showcasing ideas on The Sunday Parenting Party Pinterest board.)</i></div>
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<!-- end LinkyTools script -->The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-59622002650363347482014-03-11T06:00:00.001+00:002014-03-11T06:00:01.636+00:00Art appreciation for preschoolers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Goblin is 4 years old)</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2abRtPohAbQ/UxTtZIoC5HI/AAAAAAAAdHo/595CMBhZXRU/s1600/title.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2abRtPohAbQ/UxTtZIoC5HI/AAAAAAAAdHo/595CMBhZXRU/s1600/title.jpg.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></div>
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Goblin and I took a trip to the <a href="http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/">Royal Academy of Art in London</a> to see an exhibition that had been recommended to us as good for kids. It's called Sensing Space and it will be running until 6 April. The exhibition is, unlike many art exhibitions, entirely interactive. This is perfect for little kids. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jn_yCROQttU/UxTsWWP0N4I/AAAAAAAAdHU/YdsOhVaAAJY/s1600/2014-02-21+15.59.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jn_yCROQttU/UxTsWWP0N4I/AAAAAAAAdHU/YdsOhVaAAJY/s1600/2014-02-21+15.59.41.jpg" height="372" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FidHIsOkz1M/UxTsSBaKTYI/AAAAAAAAdGc/tzJhEB6pzds/s1600/2014-02-21+15.04.20-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FidHIsOkz1M/UxTsSBaKTYI/AAAAAAAAdGc/tzJhEB6pzds/s1600/2014-02-21+15.04.20-1.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
Goblin's favourite room contained four spiral staircases and a giant ramp. He spent a good hour running up the staircases and down the ramps, and then doing it the other way. At first, while I thought it was fun I didn't entirely appreciate the 'art' of it. But as I stood there some adults walks past the tops of the staircases and got to the ramp and said, "Oh its just a disabled ramp" and turned around. That's when the penny dropped. "Sensing Space" is about making what you will of the space the artists have provided. For the adults all they saw was a disabled ramp, but for Goblin is was a source of huge entertainment.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vj27cKtOEuY/UxTsT2DEaWI/AAAAAAAAdGw/xd0151QNq_A/s1600/2014-02-21+15.18.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vj27cKtOEuY/UxTsT2DEaWI/AAAAAAAAdGw/xd0151QNq_A/s1600/2014-02-21+15.18.53.jpg" height="416" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GNvHaCr2J4c/UxTsTSdAAaI/AAAAAAAAdGo/A2NJbpDV4cc/s1600/2014-02-21+15.16.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GNvHaCr2J4c/UxTsTSdAAaI/AAAAAAAAdGo/A2NJbpDV4cc/s1600/2014-02-21+15.16.44.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
In another room a giant arch made of plastic honeycomb stood invitingly. Boxes of long coloured straws were placed around the edges, accompanied by many art students busily weaving their straws, twisting them, tying them and trying to place them into the holes at the highest points of the dome. For a long time Goblin refused to actually give up any of his straw stash. But eventually, after going round the rest of the exhibits twice, he begrudgingly gave up a few straws to poke into the lower holes that he could reach.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RcWUxnnCE_k/UxTsURbgCOI/AAAAAAAAdG8/TrIXkT3jch0/s1600/2014-02-21+15.19.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RcWUxnnCE_k/UxTsURbgCOI/AAAAAAAAdG8/TrIXkT3jch0/s1600/2014-02-21+15.19.41.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ykxrWWj1hSI/UxTsU1H895I/AAAAAAAAdHA/Gu8yUP5d0v8/s1600/2014-02-21+15.20.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ykxrWWj1hSI/UxTsU1H895I/AAAAAAAAdHA/Gu8yUP5d0v8/s1600/2014-02-21+15.20.57.jpg" height="464" width="640" /></a></div>
My favourite exhibit was a beautiful maze made of branches with a stone and mirror room in the centre. The noise when you walked on the stone was disproportionately loud and Goblin loved crunching around on it. I couldn't get any decent shots because the lighting was low and Goblin was running at breakneck speed to hide from me - yes I still haven't learnt not to play hide and seek in a maze with a four year old.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OsvEClLLvyE/UxTsVSkMDzI/AAAAAAAAdHI/gGoktfmqWhw/s1600/2014-02-21+15.50.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OsvEClLLvyE/UxTsVSkMDzI/AAAAAAAAdHI/gGoktfmqWhw/s1600/2014-02-21+15.50.05.jpg" height="470" width="640" /></a></div>
There were several other rooms to investigate as well. The exhibition is quite pricy for adults at £15.50 but kids get in free. We spent a good couple of hours there and would probably have stayed longer if we didn't have plans. Plus you get to sound very posh when you say that you took your child to an art gallery!<br />
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<br />The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-42944650483866771192014-03-08T19:00:00.000+00:002014-03-08T19:00:02.987+00:00The Sunday Parenting Party - Teaching boys to pee standing up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_XJZanQFWY/Uxo0gQDSHRI/AAAAAAAAddY/sBqZhNK_GRE/s1600/title.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_XJZanQFWY/Uxo0gQDSHRI/AAAAAAAAddY/sBqZhNK_GRE/s1600/title.jpg.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Teaching a boy to pee standing up is pretty straightforward, especially as gravity is on their side, but some mums don't feel 'qualified' to help their sons progress from sitting on the potty or toilet to standing at it. I can understand why. It's not something that is generally discussed and just because we gave birth to a boy doesn't mean we automatically know how all their bits work.<br />
<br />
So I thought I'd share what I have learnt from the last two years of my son's standing up wee wees, to help those who may be apprehensive. As I see it there are three main issues with peeing standing up:<br />
<ul>
<li>mess</li>
<li>clothes</li>
<li>foreskin</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">MESS</span><br />
Many mums think that if their son learns to pee standing up it will be a world of mess and they will spend a lot of time cleaning up the floor and toilet seat. In my experience, while this is true to some extent, little boys also struggle with sitting down to pee because their penis doesn't always point down into the pan. Often they will end up peeing out of the loo and all over their trousers if they fail to tuck it down. To reduce mess teach your son to do the following:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>lift the toilet seat</li>
<li>stand as close to the bowl as possible</li>
<li>stand on a stool or tiptoes so his willy is right over the edge of the bowl</li>
<li>look in the same direction while peeing - most of the wee mess in our house comes from Goblin getting distracted and looking around while peeing. Rather than just turning his head he turns his entire body and the wee follows.</li>
</ul>
<br />
Men don't generally use toilet paper. Its not available in urinals so most men will use the 'shake' option. If you really can't cope with this idea you can teach your son to dab with toilet paper after peeing but you are setting them up for a life of having to pee in cubicles where the loo paper is. Alternatively you can teach them how to shake the drips off without splashing all over themselves and the floor.<br />
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<br />
Inevitably from time to time your son will drip on the floor or forget to lift the toilet seat and pee all over it. When this happens don't get mad, just teach them how to clean it up with a tissue and then wash their hands. That way your bathroom won't constantly smell of wee.<br />
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">CLOTHES</span><br />
Some boys underwear has a little Y front or flap to allow the penis to be pulled out so a boy can pee without pulling their clothes down. In my experience this path leads to disaster. Get your boy to pull their trousers and underwear down to pee, preferably so it is below the lip of the bowl, that way the lip of the bowl protects their clothes from drips.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">FORESKIN</span><br />
If your son is uncircumcised (which is most boys in the UK) then the foreskin is probably the biggest issue with peeing standing up. Foreskins can cause pee to go in all sorts of directions. It will often be folded over causing the child to pee back on themselves, or it will be squished in the middle so that the pee goes in two directions, neither of which is into the bowl. You can teach your son to brush their foreskin back slightly before starting to pee. This should separate the skin allowing the wee to go in the right direction.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">WEEING OUTDOORS</span><br />
Peeing outdoors can be an issue. The main way that boys protect their clothes from wee is using the toilet bowl as a shield. When that is not available the chances of wee on clothes rises. I have found two methods that help to avoid this. The first is the knee in the back. Once your son has their trousers down you hold his shoulders from behind, this steadies him and ensures he pees in one direction, then you gently push your knee into his lower back. This moves his hips forward and elevates the ark of the wee so it is less likely to drip on his clothes. But remember the foreskin is a pain and before the wee has built up pressure for the main stream if will flow in a much lower ark. If the foreskin is pointing down the chances are you will get wee wee trousers, so remind your son to brush the foreskin back first.<br />
Option number two is to stick your finger under your sons willy and help to elevate it so he pees in the right direction. I did this when my son was very young.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">WHEN TO START TEACHING?</span><br />
There is no reason not to get your son standing as soon as they have mastered peeing in a big toilet. I wouldn't advise doing it while they are using a potty because you don't get that bowl protection and potties are a smaller target. But the sooner they master standing up the easier outdoor wees become, which is great in the early stages post- potty training when you are out and about and get caught short.<br />
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*****</div>
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<i>Welcome to The Sunday Parenting Party, hosted by <a href="http://play-activities.com/" style="color: #aa934f; text-decoration: none;">Play Activities</a>, <a href="http://www.crayonfreckles.com/" style="color: #aa934f; text-decoration: none;">Crayon Freckles</a>,<a href="http://www.tamingthegoblin.com/" style="color: #aa934f; text-decoration: none;">Taming the Goblin</a>, <a href="http://www.pricklymom.com/" style="color: #aa934f; text-decoration: none;">Prickly Mom</a>, and <a href="http://taoofpoop.blogspot.com/" style="color: #aa934f; text-decoration: none;">The Tao of Poop</a>. The SPP is place for readers to find ideas on nurturing, educating, and caring for children, as well as honest posts about the stresses of being a parent or caregiver. Links to reviews and giveaways are welcome as long as they are relevant to the topic. All parenting philosophies are welcome with one exception: please do not link to posts promoting physical discipline, as this is something we would feel uncomfortable having on our blogs. (P.S. By linking up you agree that your post and photos are Pinterest, Sulia, G+ and FB friendly. We will be showcasing ideas on The Sunday Parenting Party Pinterest board.) </i></div>
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The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-69943989938779700312014-03-04T06:00:00.000+00:002014-03-04T06:00:01.760+00:00Mud glorious mud<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> (Goblin is 4 years old)</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2OPakzSsGc0/UwzAMmN-9VI/AAAAAAAAcJE/Qhzqfs2-uhI/s1600/title.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2OPakzSsGc0/UwzAMmN-9VI/AAAAAAAAcJE/Qhzqfs2-uhI/s1600/title.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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We finally visited <a href="http://www.hollowtrees.co.uk/">Hollow Trees Farm</a>. Its one of these places that all my friends have been to and I keep seeing great photos of it in my face book feed, but for some reason we haven't managed to get our act together to go. But we finally did, and it was not a disappointment.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6E5UEKBEtl8/Uwy-ZMga4rI/AAAAAAAAcHY/dW2FfUprZ3A/s1600/2014-02-20+14.06.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6E5UEKBEtl8/Uwy-ZMga4rI/AAAAAAAAcHY/dW2FfUprZ3A/s1600/2014-02-20+14.06.52.jpg" height="640" width="474" /></a></div>
Apparently there are animals at Hollow Trees farm. We did not get far enough to see them. Instead we made a tiny detour past some tractors (real tractors, Goblin was in heaven!) before heading to the main play area.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u7n6-TqHPi0/Uwy-WyvhCiI/AAAAAAAAcHE/VZqoaOptqVs/s1600/2014-02-20+13.38.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-u7n6-TqHPi0/Uwy-WyvhCiI/AAAAAAAAcHE/VZqoaOptqVs/s1600/2014-02-20+13.38.26.jpg" height="410" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9HYs_PIN1gY/Uwy-Y9j_IPI/AAAAAAAAcHg/EI0LkR0Vk2k/s1600/2014-02-20+13.45.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9HYs_PIN1gY/Uwy-Y9j_IPI/AAAAAAAAcHg/EI0LkR0Vk2k/s1600/2014-02-20+13.45.41.jpg" height="526" width="640" /></a></div>
The play area called Pogals Pit is down a little hill. It had been raining non stop for the last four days and the place was a complete quagmire. It was perfect for a waterproofed four year old.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V8X1l0sakeM/Uwy-bAdELfI/AAAAAAAAcHw/ek-qODT-dts/s1600/2014-02-20+14.08.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V8X1l0sakeM/Uwy-bAdELfI/AAAAAAAAcHw/ek-qODT-dts/s1600/2014-02-20+14.08.15.jpg" height="468" width="640" /></a></div>
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As I stood back and watched my intrepid explorer attempt to climb a muddy hill, and fail, several times, some other children rounded the corner. They had obviously got there before their parents and they threw themselves down the hill with abandon. They weren't quite as prepared for the mud as us and although they had wellies, they only had jeans on. These rapidly turned the same brown as Goblin's entire waterproof suit. Then their parents appeared on the verge of the hill. OOOH! Someone's in trouble!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uJ59uhNlejk/Uwy-bQB6-PI/AAAAAAAAcH0/4sCMXB3vrfE/s1600/2014-02-20+14.10.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uJ59uhNlejk/Uwy-bQB6-PI/AAAAAAAAcH0/4sCMXB3vrfE/s1600/2014-02-20+14.10.03.jpg" height="640" width="472" /></a></div>
Goblin embraced his new dirt skin with open arms. After the first coating he decided to basically lie in the muddy puddles. At least he did this out of choice - I saw another child trip and fall head long into one that was about a foot deep. This was definitely an area that required parental supervision (and parental waterproofs). <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oAz7SI87tts/Uwy-iIXbEsI/AAAAAAAAcI0/VaKDbMgC8bw/s1600/A4+Feb+camera+dump2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oAz7SI87tts/Uwy-iIXbEsI/AAAAAAAAcI0/VaKDbMgC8bw/s1600/A4+Feb+camera+dump2.jpg" height="512" width="640" /></a></div>
Despite having my own waterproofs on, I did draw the line at giving Goblin a carry when he got tired. He was after all covered entirely from head to toe in thick glorious mud.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N8IHqw99GPg/Uwy-enJvylI/AAAAAAAAcIU/O9zVHCZ6gfs/s1600/2014-02-20+14.26.05-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N8IHqw99GPg/Uwy-enJvylI/AAAAAAAAcIU/O9zVHCZ6gfs/s1600/2014-02-20+14.26.05-1.jpg" height="428" width="640" /></a></div>
At the top of the hill was a tap and wash basin, but we rapidly concluded that it was a losing battle to try and get him anywhere near clean, so before I put him back in the car to drive home we both stripped off and put on our 'emergency clothes' that I keep in a bin bag under the car seats for just such occasions.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VFt-NqHwG0o/Uwy-g05SyAI/AAAAAAAAcIo/3NqJZgmOCWQ/s1600/2014-02-20+14.37.29-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VFt-NqHwG0o/Uwy-g05SyAI/AAAAAAAAcIo/3NqJZgmOCWQ/s1600/2014-02-20+14.37.29-2.jpg" height="640" width="552" /></a></div>
Say yes to Mud!<br />
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<br />The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-69960275434648259022014-03-01T19:30:00.000+00:002014-03-02T21:23:43.142+00:00The Sunday Parenting Party - Coping with Chickenpox<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Goblin is 4 years old)</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tJTogb5HOIc/UwymWxlwCyI/AAAAAAAAcEI/5otbeo-Q_Tc/s1600/title.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tJTogb5HOIc/UwymWxlwCyI/AAAAAAAAcEI/5otbeo-Q_Tc/s1600/title.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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A couple of weeks ago I got a call from Goblin's nursery asking if they could give him Calpol because he wasn't feeling too good. He'd had a bit of a cold over the weekend but he'd been OK that morning so I'd sent him (one of those difficult decisions where I might have made a different call if I hadn't had to go to work that day). </div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Feeling guilty I left work early and picked him up. He was tired and had a bad cold but no temperature or other symptoms. However, that night as I got him changed for bed I found the first obvious signs of chickenpox. He had a couple of red spots on his back and a few on his shoulder. Not many, and you could have easily missed them. I knew straight away that it was chickenpox because the spots had the distinctive little blister in the center. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Itchy Spots </span></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VJIV3rbmSTk/UwyvCyZ9zdI/AAAAAAAAcGk/Kb10En2Fg98/s1600/2014-02-25+14.47.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VJIV3rbmSTk/UwyvCyZ9zdI/AAAAAAAAcGk/Kb10En2Fg98/s1600/2014-02-25+14.47.05.jpg" height="640" width="614" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Over the next few days Goblin got more spotty. </span><span style="text-align: center;">The spots come in waves. One minute he had only a few, an hour latter there would be a whole new patch.</span><span style="text-align: center;">We were very lucky, he had quite a mild case with only a few clusters. We didn't get any of the horrors of spots in the mouth or ears. And he wasn't too itchy either. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">But on the advice of friends and the pharmacist we invested in </span></div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;">Piriton liquid - a liquid antihistamine which worked well;</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;">Poxcilin, a foam that you apply to the spots when they get itchy (Goblin liked having this applied); and </span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: center;">E45 itch relief cream. </span></li>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Calamine lotion is the old school remedy, but modern advice is to avoid it because it dries the spots out too quickly thus making them more itchy. A friend of mine suggested Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream which is a great moisturiser for when the spots turn scabby. But I'm afraid at £25 a tiny tube Goblin would have had to be suffering a lot more than he was for me to spend that kind of cash.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">For spots in the mouth a friend recommended ice lollies. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Fatigue</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oB8_sr79PnY/UwymiuEK4BI/AAAAAAAAcEQ/wMCI2_nyfHo/s1600/2014-02-13+10.04.18-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oB8_sr79PnY/UwymiuEK4BI/AAAAAAAAcEQ/wMCI2_nyfHo/s1600/2014-02-13+10.04.18-1.jpg" height="512" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Goblin's main symptom was fatigue.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> He'd get up and walk into the kitchen and that would be enough to make him need to lie down on the floor. </span><span style="text-align: center;">The </span><a href="http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Chickenpox/Pages/Introduction.aspx" style="text-align: center;">NHS Choices</a><span style="text-align: center;"> guide to chickenpox says to keep children off school or nursery for approximately 5 days (until the pots have crusted over). Its been 14 days now and Goblin still isn't well enough to go back. He is still exhausted. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">For the first few days he just lay on the sofa and watched endless episodes of Octonauts. But once he got at least some energy back I started laying out very easy basic activities, ones that didn't tax his brain. We did tissue paper and sticky back plastic sun catchers, potato printing, finger painting. He asked to do sensory play, its something he often turns to when he is feeling under the weather. I think its restful. I made a fresh batch of cloud dough and binned it after as it would have been full of chickenpox infection. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZz3jm5PJTY/UwymjlnXKII/AAAAAAAAcEo/T690UB9YCwQ/s1600/2014-02-13+16.25.29-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZz3jm5PJTY/UwymjlnXKII/AAAAAAAAcEo/T690UB9YCwQ/s1600/2014-02-13+16.25.29-1.jpg" height="474" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Quarantine</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fqzY0-n-oI8/UwymljH5O_I/AAAAAAAAcFM/obRHZZDbH2o/s1600/2014-02-21+09.36.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fqzY0-n-oI8/UwymljH5O_I/AAAAAAAAcFM/obRHZZDbH2o/s1600/2014-02-21+09.36.54.jpg" height="366" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We did a lot of imaginary play because Goblin was under quarantine. I had to explain that we couldn't have playdates because most of his friends hadn't had chickenpox. Simple activities like baking were about all he could cope with</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. We made pox biscuits, and were forced to eat them all ourselves because they had been made by chickenpox boy so couldn't be shared outside the family. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kgtaklm-8jw/UwymjzFWk8I/AAAAAAAAcEs/djgfhWc_YAY/s1600/2014-02-13+18.10.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kgtaklm-8jw/UwymjzFWk8I/AAAAAAAAcEs/djgfhWc_YAY/s1600/2014-02-13+18.10.33.jpg" height="450" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Outdoor play</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cikX_KwyrOM/UwymlQS1uQI/AAAAAAAAcFE/k6e5E0Fhbtg/s1600/2014-02-15+16.14.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cikX_KwyrOM/UwymlQS1uQI/AAAAAAAAcFE/k6e5E0Fhbtg/s1600/2014-02-15+16.14.56.jpg" height="388" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">By day four of quarantine Goblin was wanting to play with friends. I discovered that his older friends on the estate had already had chickepox so I let him play outside with them. He didn't last long because he was still so tired. The fresh air was good for him though and over the next few days we increased the amount of time we spent outside. He was very good about moving away from areas where there were other children when I took him to the country park. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Patience and love</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fDf8O3Bb2nM/Uwymkwu0scI/AAAAAAAAcFA/mbKJydu_yLA/s1600/2014-02-14+11.32.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fDf8O3Bb2nM/Uwymkwu0scI/AAAAAAAAcFA/mbKJydu_yLA/s1600/2014-02-14+11.32.14.jpg" height="640" width="538" /></a></div>
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Goblin still has visible spots but they are crusted over so he could go back to nursery except he is still too tired. And that is exhibiting in some horrendous behaviour. He has overly emotional responses to the tiniest of things. Its hard to remember that he is still ill and that is why he is not acting rationally (or as rationally as a four year old ever does). </div>
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After a particularly bad explosion of hitting and scratching because of something exceedingly minor. the other day he was sent to his room to calm down. Less than five minutes later, when we went to check on him we discovered him fast asleep in his bad. This is a reminder that he is still recovering and needs extra patience and love (although with the raging beasty its quite hard to administer).</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Considering vaccination?</span></span></div>
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There is a vaccination against chickenpox. It's not offered as part of the national childhood immunisation programme in the UK. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation considered it and there is a very thorough explanation of why they didn't add it. You can find the statement<span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a href="http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@ab/documents/digitalasset/dh_133599.pdf" style="text-align: center;">here</a>. We thought about getting Goblin vaccinated privately, but weighed up the costs, benefits and risks (the main risk being unknown duration of efficacy leading to potential exposure in later life when symptoms can be worse) and decided that we'd hold off and vaccinate if he hadn't caught the illness by the time he went to high school. As it happens we won;t have to make the decision now, but if you are considering it I would recommend reading the JCVI statement so you can make an informed choice. </div>
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My favourite reads from last week include<br />
<a href="http://www.whatsupfagans.com/2014/02/kids-are-messy-but-the-dirtier-the-clothes-the-bigger-the-memory/">Kids are dirty, but the messier the clothes the bigger the memories ~ What's up Fagans? </a><br />
<a href="http://lemonlimeadventures.com/peaceful-parenting-peaceful-home/">Peaceful Parenting, Peaceful Home ~ Lemon Lime Adventures</a><br />
<a href="http://dadsthewayilikeit.wordpress.com/2014/02/24/11-thoughts-from-my-11th-month-as-a-parent/">11 thoughts from my 11 months of parenting ~ Dads the way I like it</a></center>
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<i>Welcome to The Sunday Parenting Party, hosted by <a href="http://www.dirtandboogers.com/">Dirt and Boogers</a>, <a href="http://play-activities.com/">Play Activities</a>, <a href="http://www.crayonfreckles.com/">Crayon Freckles</a>, <a href="http://www.tamingthegoblin.com/">Taming the Goblin</a>, <a href="http://www.thegoldengleam.com/">The Golden Gleam</a>, <a href="http://www.pricklymom.com/">Prickly Mom</a>, and <a href="http://taoofpoop.blogspot.com/">The Tao of Poop</a>. The SPP is place for readers to find ideas on nurturing, educating, and caring for children, as well as honest posts about the stresses of being a parent or caregiver. Links to reviews and giveaways are welcome as long as they are relevant to the topic. All parenting philosophies are welcome with one exception: please do not link to posts promoting physical discipline, as this is something we would feel uncomfortable having on our blogs. (P.S. By linking up you agree that your post and photos are Pinterest, Sulia, G+ and FB friendly. We will be showcasing ideas on The Sunday Parenting Party Pinterest board.) </i></div>
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<!-- end LinkyTools script -->The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-68874956851102040052014-02-25T05:00:00.000+00:002014-02-25T05:00:00.751+00:00Easy Peasy Puppet show<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">(Goblin is 4 years old)</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7yGZ4J-CFqc/Uvf5UY_v1jI/AAAAAAAAZTU/GQvg0YwnZX4/s1600/2014-01-25+14.51.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7yGZ4J-CFqc/Uvf5UY_v1jI/AAAAAAAAZTU/GQvg0YwnZX4/s1600/2014-01-25+14.51.41.jpg" height="434" width="640" /></a>
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The other day Goblin came down in the morning and said he wanted to put on a puppet show. </div>
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"Hmm! OK" said I and we set to work creating some puppets. He is currently mildly obsessed with the Octonauts so our puppet theme was easily settled on. </div>
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Fortunately we have an Octonauts sticker book so I was able to use that as a reference to copy the characters. I nearly fell off my chair in surprise when Goblin agreed to colour them. Goblin flat out refuses to do colouring in usually. I have never insisted he 'stays in the lines' when colouring, but its obviously something he has picked up, and because he feels this is too tricky he normally just won't give it a go. He actually only agreed because I explained that we would cut them out afterwards so he didn't need to even attempt to stay in the lines. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lNandyCjzR0/Uvf5GJ2of3I/AAAAAAAAZTI/ra7k6DudSfM/s1600/2014-01-25+15.26.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lNandyCjzR0/Uvf5GJ2of3I/AAAAAAAAZTI/ra7k6DudSfM/s1600/2014-01-25+15.26.41.jpg" height="412" width="640" /></a></div>
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We attached kebab sticks to the back of each character and then hid under a chest to perform our show for Hublet. Below is our re-enactment of the Octonauts and the whale shark - one of Goblin's favourite episodes. </div>
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You can watch clips of the actual Octonauts on the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/octonauts/watch/all">cbeebies website</a>.</div>
<br />The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-35600788510488193282014-02-22T11:05:00.000+00:002014-02-22T11:36:07.184+00:00The Sunday Parenting Party - Surviving being a new parent <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XU465cnKCYQ/UwiEW6btSJI/AAAAAAAAbYk/OX_CMJi1LG0/s1600/title2.jpg.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XU465cnKCYQ/UwiEW6btSJI/AAAAAAAAbYk/OX_CMJi1LG0/s1600/title2.jpg.jpg.jpg" height="324" width="640" /></a></div>
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With one new cousin in the bag this week (a beautiful baby girl) and another on the way soon, Goblin is suddenly getting a lot of babies in his life. So I thought I would take this opportunity to pull together a bunch of useful posts for new parents (or even those doing it for a second or third or ...well if it's more than that you probably know it all already). Hopefully there is something for everyone here.<br />
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Bear in mind when reading these posts that most bloggers aren't experts in child development (although a few are), and most bloggers write from their own personal experience. Every baby is different and every family set up is different, so while I hope these posts are useful, please remember that there is no one right way to do things. I hope you will take what you need and leave the rest.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I wish I knew before ......</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.mamaslikeme.com/2011/08/5-things-i-wish-id-known-before-having.html">Mamas like me ~ 5 things I wish I'd known before kids</a><br />
<a href="http://mumsmakelists.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/big-decisions-mums-must-make.html?showComment=1365362284635#c6392348590028608675">Mums make lists ~ Big decisions parents will have to make</a><br />
<a href="http://seekingshade.com/2013/01/17/top-5-things-i-didnt-expect-being-a-mom/">Seeking Shade ~ 5 things I didn't expect being a Mom</a><br />
<a href="http://carrotsareorange.com/chronicles-of-an-mba-turned-mom-part-i/">Carrots are Orange ~ Stay at home Mom Shock </a><br />
<a href="http://b-inspiredmama.com/2013/06/new-mother-needs/#_pg_pin=580293">B-Inspired Mama ~ What does every new mom need</a><br />
<a href="http://b-inspiredmama.com/2013/03/keep-the-baby/">B-Inspired Mama ~ What does a baby really need</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pinkoatmeal.com/2014/02/top-ten-most-important-baby-items-for.html">Pink Oatmeal ~ Top 10 items for a babies first 6 months</a><br />
<a href="http://carrotsareorange.com/chronicles-of-an-mba-turned-mama-confessions/">Carrots are Orange ~ Mama confessions </a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Don't forget Dad</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://fathersworkandfamily.com/2014/01/06/expert-perspectives-erin-rehel-on-fatherhood-masculinity-and-paternity-leave/">Fathers, Work and Family ~ Fatherhood, Masculinity and Paternity leave</a><br />
<a href="http://fathersworkandfamily.com/2013/11/06/sharing-experiences-paternity-leave-is-essential-and-its-not-a-vacation/">Fathers, Work and Family ~ Paternity leave is essential (it's not a vacation)</a><br />
<a href="http://fathersworkandfamily.com/2013/09/19/sharing-experiences-coming-back-to-work-after-paternity-leave-uk-version/">Fathers, Work and Family ~ Coming back to work after paternity leave</a><br />
<a href="http://www.daddyfiles.com/dads-arent-idiots/">The Daddy Files ~ Its time to stop treating Dads like idiots</a><br />
<a href="http://dadsthewayilikeit.wordpress.com/2013/06/28/read-all-about-it-dad-books-and-preparing-for-our-new-arrival/">Dads the way I like it ~ Parenting books for Dads</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Dealing with depression</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://ghostwritermummy.co.uk/2013/04/13/if-only-id-known/">Ghost writer Mummy ~ Dealing with birth trauma</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mummymusingsandmayhem.com/2012/07/postnatal-depressiona-journey-in.html">Mummy musings and mayhem ~ Post natal depression</a><br />
<a href="http://www.whispermumstheword.com/2012/11/post-natal-depression-what-i-wish-id.html">Mum's the word ~ Post natal depression, what I wish I'd known</a><br />
<a href="http://www.netmums.com/parenting-support/postnatal-depression/partners-supporting-suffering-mums/fathers-who-suffer-from-pnd">Netmums ~ Post Natal Depression in Dads</a><br />
<a href="http://carrotsareorange.com/chronicles-of-an-mba-turned-mama-baby-blues/">Carrots are Orange ~ Baby blues</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Looking after yourself </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://mumsmakelists.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/new-mum-health-tips.html">Mums make lists ~ 30 Easy Health tips for new mums</a><br />
<a href="http://b-inspiredmama.com/2013/03/mom-friends/">B-Inspired Mama ~ Making and nurturing Mom friends</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mummyology.co.uk/2012/09/what-to-do-when-youve-had-no-sleep.html?showComment=1349035297318">Mummyology ~ What to do when you have had no sleep</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Breastfeeding or not breastfeeding </span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.tamingthegoblin.com/2013/02/the-sunday-parenting-party-breast_23.html">Taming the Goblin ~ What they don't tell you about breastfeeding</a><br />
<a href="http://www.powerfulmothering.com/10-tips-i-learnt-about-breastfeeding-from-my-3-babies/">Powerful Mothering ~ 10+ tips on breastfeeding</a><br />
<a href="http://www.whatsupfagans.com/2014/02/breastfeeding-hurts-uncovering-eleven-breastfeeding-myths-breastfeeding-lies/">What's up Fagans? ~ 11 common lies of breastfeeding</a><br />
<a href="http://www.workingmomsagainstguilt.com/2014/02/breastfeeding-and-working/#_a5y_p=1278002">Working moms against guilt - Working and breastfeeding</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mummymusingsandmayhem.com/2013/04/why-arent-you-breastfeeding.html">Mummy Musings and Mayhem ~ Struggling to breast feed</a><br />
<a href="http://mumsmakelists.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/everything-about-breastfeeding.html">Mums make lists ~ Everything you want to know about breastfeeding</a><br />
<a href="http://www.kitchencounterchronicle.com/2012/05/breastfeeding-highs-are-so-high-and.html?showComment=1360619030845">The Kitchen Counter Chronicles ~ The highs and lows of breastfeeding</a><br />
<a href="http://thekennedyadventures.com/10-things-i-wished-id-known-about-breastfeeding/">The Kennedy adventures ~ 10 things I wish I'd known about breastfeeding</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Enjoying and not enjoying the baby stage</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://mamasmiles.com/enjoying-newborn-parenting/">Mama Smiles ~ How to enjoy newborn parenting</a><br />
<a href="http://www.dirtandboogers.com/2013/11/why-i-dont-like-the-baby-stage-the-sunday-parenting-party/">Dirt and Boogers ~ Not enjoying the baby phase</a><br />
<a href="http://b-inspiredmama.com/2013/04/special-mom-and-newborn-moments-sponsored-by-simply-right/?_szp=333181">B-Inspired Mama ~ Enjoying the baby Phase</a><br />
<a href="http://dadsthewayilikeit.wordpress.com/2013/11/11/being-a-dad-celebrating-the-little-things/">Dads the way I like it ~ Being a Dad: Celebrating the little things</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Helping baby sleep</span><br />
<a href="http://b-inspiredmama.com/2013/05/baby-sleep-tips/#_pg_pin=515340"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />B-Inspired Mama ~ 10 tips for better baby sleep</a><br />
<a href="http://www.crayonfreckles.com/2013/01/moms-talk-about-cry-it-out-approach.html">Crayon Freckles ~ Moms discuss the Cry it out technique </a><br />
<a href="http://mynearestanddearest.com/a-journey-in-sleep-training/">My Nearest and Dearest ~ My journey in sleep training</a><br />
<a href="http://thekennedyadventures.com/10-tips-for-getting-a-baby-to-sleep/">The Kennedy Adventures ~ 10 tips to get baby to sleep</a><br />
<a href="http://www.pinkoatmeal.com/2014/02/swaddling-sleeping-sensory-system-sleep.html">Pink Oatmeal ~ Swaddle, Sleeping, Sensory systems, Sleep suits</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Keeping baby healthy</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.creativeworldofvarya.com/baby-care-series-cradle-cap-remedy/">Creative World of Varya ~ Natural cradlecap remedy</a><br />
<a href="http://www.powerfulmothering.com/the-colic-solution-by-a-mom-for-a-mom/">Powerful Mothering ~ The Colic solution</a><br />
<div>
<a href="http://stuckunderababy.com/2012/02/12/you-cant-spoil-a-baby/">Stuck under a baby ~ Can you spoil a baby</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Organising your life post baby</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://munchkins-and-moms.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/stay-at-home-mom-tips-for-staying-sane.html">Munchkins and Moms ~ Staying at home and staying sane</a><br />
<a href="http://www.myjoyfilledlife.com/2014/02/10/postpartum-freezer-meals-free-freezer-inventory-printable-babies-beyond-link-up/">My Joy filled life ~ Postpartum freezer meals and organiser printable</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Advice and competition</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://taoofpoop.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/cant-you-just-stop-parenting-advice.html">The Tao of Poop ~ dealing with unsolicited parenting advice</a><br />
<a href="http://www.positiveparentingconnection.net/7-steps-for-surviving-parenting-advice-overload-this-holiday-season/">Positive Parenting Connection ~ Surviving parenting advice overload</a><br />
<a href="http://www.theblossomingbump.com/?p=822">The Blossoming Bump ~ <span style="background-color: white; color: #4a4a4a; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.17;">The Mom Games: Comparing and Competing </span></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Introducing a sibling</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.dirtandboogers.com/2013/01/preparing-toddlers-for-new-baby-mommys/">Dirt and Boogers ~ Preparing a child for a new baby</a><br />
<a href="http://jbmumofone.com/2013/06/08/preparing-your-child-for-a-new-sibling/">Mum of one ~ Preparing your child for a new sibling</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Helping new parents </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">(you can email these to your friends and family!)</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nateandrachael.com/gifts-for-new-parents/">Nothing if not intentional ~ looking out for new parents</a><br />
<a href="http://thekennedyadventures.com/ten-easy-meals-to-take-to-new-moms/">The Kennedy Adventures ~ 10 easy meals to take to others</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Looking for further reading?</span><br />
<br />
<a href="http://mumsmakelists.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/baby-blog-directory.html">Mums make lists ~ 100+ brilliant bump and baby bloggers</a><br />
<a href="http://www.happyandblessedhome.com/2014/02/coming-soon-baby-ready.html">Happy and Blessed Home ~ Preparing for and adapting to life with baby</a><br />
<br />
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<i>Welcome to The Sunday Parenting Party, hosted by <a href="http://www.dirtandboogers.com/">Dirt and Boogers</a>, <a href="http://play-activities.com/">Play Activities</a>, <a href="http://www.crayonfreckles.com/">Crayon Freckles</a>, <a href="http://www.tamingthegoblin.com/">Taming the Goblin</a>, <a href="http://www.thegoldengleam.com/">The Golden Gleam</a>, <a href="http://www.pricklymom.com/">Prickly Mom</a>, and <a href="http://taoofpoop.blogspot.com/">The Tao of Poop</a>. The SPP is place for readers to find ideas on nurturing, educating, and caring for children, as well as honest posts about the stresses of being a parent or caregiver. Links to reviews and giveaways are welcome as long as they are relevant to the topic. All parenting philosophies are welcome with one exception: please do not link to posts promoting physical discipline, as this is something we would feel uncomfortable having on our blogs. (P.S. By linking up you agree that your post and photos are Pinterest, Sulia, G+ and FB friendly. We will be showcasing ideas on The Sunday Parenting Party Pinterest board.)</i></div>
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<!-- end LinkyTools script -->The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-83176084399460577552014-02-18T05:00:00.000+00:002014-02-23T20:36:16.759+00:00A week at Centre Parcs in pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You may have noticed that I was MIA for a week (Or two). We've been on holiday in Elveden Forest <a href="http://www.centerparcs.co.uk/">Center Parcs</a>. Here are some snaps of what we got up to:</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H7rkzq0Tz0M/UvvnR2E8RwI/AAAAAAAAZbg/EHkk51TybNU/s1600/2014-01-31+11.32.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H7rkzq0Tz0M/UvvnR2E8RwI/AAAAAAAAZbg/EHkk51TybNU/s1600/2014-01-31+11.32.03.jpg" height="580" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fkLeKgBn2t8/UvvnThV43jI/AAAAAAAAZcI/kbnoYNNbUFc/s1600/2014-02-02+11.28.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fkLeKgBn2t8/UvvnThV43jI/AAAAAAAAZcI/kbnoYNNbUFc/s1600/2014-02-02+11.28.35.jpg" height="356" width="640" /></a></div>
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Pottery painting</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sOdhjGSK1BU/UvvnSBv826I/AAAAAAAAZbk/X9CTXTmQajg/s1600/2014-01-31+13.52.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sOdhjGSK1BU/UvvnSBv826I/AAAAAAAAZbk/X9CTXTmQajg/s1600/2014-01-31+13.52.11.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mf30KgCCggc/UvvnSFss4bI/AAAAAAAAZbo/COlqlbzoZnk/s1600/2014-01-31+13.57.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mf30KgCCggc/UvvnSFss4bI/AAAAAAAAZbo/COlqlbzoZnk/s1600/2014-01-31+13.57.25.jpg" height="496" width="640" /></a></div>
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Bowling</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G-sygtfj2p0/UvvnSnSzLhI/AAAAAAAAZb4/LJHfJo0vvYA/s1600/2014-02-01+14.25.51-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G-sygtfj2p0/UvvnSnSzLhI/AAAAAAAAZb4/LJHfJo0vvYA/s1600/2014-02-01+14.25.51-1.jpg" height="640" width="440" /></a></div>
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Pizza making</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qPpqHNai_8k/UvvnSzyuPfI/AAAAAAAAZb8/QpkWjpSfMBQ/s1600/2014-02-01+15.51.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qPpqHNai_8k/UvvnSzyuPfI/AAAAAAAAZb8/QpkWjpSfMBQ/s1600/2014-02-01+15.51.17.jpg" height="640" width="434" /></a></div>
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Crazy Golf</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Tqf4TiQo7s/UvvnVYBCJjI/AAAAAAAAZco/fJC_TIhWsxk/s1600/2014-01-30+10.04.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Tqf4TiQo7s/UvvnVYBCJjI/AAAAAAAAZco/fJC_TIhWsxk/s1600/2014-01-30+10.04.26.jpg" height="492" width="640" /></a></div>
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Cake Decorating</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-09rVw17_k2k/UvvtN--hvkI/AAAAAAAAZdQ/kHo5YHLRFks/s1600/100_0241-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-09rVw17_k2k/UvvtN--hvkI/AAAAAAAAZdQ/kHo5YHLRFks/s1600/100_0241-001.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ykVVb5wcgb8/UvvtOEYuoNI/AAAAAAAAZdU/NNnEPfifjQ8/s1600/100_0270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ykVVb5wcgb8/UvvtOEYuoNI/AAAAAAAAZdU/NNnEPfifjQ8/s1600/100_0270.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Swimming</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qJo56JvR88w/UvvnUfjaUcI/AAAAAAAAZcU/m4Ko1ov3Eo8/s1600/2014-01-28+12.04.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qJo56JvR88w/UvvnUfjaUcI/AAAAAAAAZcU/m4Ko1ov3Eo8/s1600/2014-01-28+12.04.05.jpg" height="640" width="590" /></a></div>
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Horse riding</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DVpZmHK1GiM/UvvnTT9SEiI/AAAAAAAAZcM/98-DUa7uvk4/s1600/2014-02-01+17.02.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DVpZmHK1GiM/UvvnTT9SEiI/AAAAAAAAZcM/98-DUa7uvk4/s1600/2014-02-01+17.02.04.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QlDngDQyhiE/UvvnU6sKOsI/AAAAAAAAZck/J7M0C_aImfo/s1600/2014-01-29+08.18.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QlDngDQyhiE/UvvnU6sKOsI/AAAAAAAAZck/J7M0C_aImfo/s1600/2014-01-29+08.18.04.jpg" height="590" width="640" /></a></div>
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Wildlife watching</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">You can read about our previous visits to Center Parcs </span><a href="http://www.tamingthegoblin.com/2012/09/center-parcs.html" style="text-align: center;">here</a><span style="text-align: center;">.</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"> </span><a _blank="" href="http://www.coombemill.com/blog/category/Country-Kids.aspx%20target=" title="Country Kids from Coombe Mill Farm Holidays Cornwall"><img alt="Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall" border="0" src="http://www.coombemill.com/images/blog/country_Kids/thumbs/th_Country_Kids_badge_transparent.png" title="Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall" /></a> </div>
The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-49498906539084848652014-02-15T19:00:00.000+00:002014-02-15T19:00:00.975+00:00The Sunday Parenting Party - The contrariness of 4 years old. <div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(Goblin is 4 years old)</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RkqK389U_C8/UvvkfoQ-1yI/AAAAAAAAZbU/bLFU1ZQTfxc/s1600/2013-12-15+13.42.33.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RkqK389U_C8/UvvkfoQ-1yI/AAAAAAAAZbU/bLFU1ZQTfxc/s1600/2013-12-15+13.42.33.jpg.jpg" height="640" width="542" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">You look so big, yet you look so little;</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">You have so many facts to tell me, yet so much to learn;</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You love my cuddles, yet you seek independence;</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"></span></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You still get frustrated, yet you are learning how to handle it;</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You make me proud when you remember your manners, yet you make me laugh with your inappropriate honesty;</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You chat to strangers as if you knew them forever, yet you fear some cartoons that you have watched many times;</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">You can be uncontrollable and impulsive, yet you surprise me with your thoughtful acts;</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">You madden me regularly with your strong willed assertions, yet you impress me with your acts of confidence;</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">You have only been with us for four short years, yet it feels like you have been with us forever;</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You are my incredible lovely four year old son. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">*****</span></span></div>
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<i>Welcome to The Sunday Parenting Party, hosted by <a href="http://www.dirtandboogers.com/">Dirt and Boogers</a>, <a href="http://play-activities.com/">Play Activities</a>, <a href="http://www.crayonfreckles.com/">Crayon Freckles</a>, <a href="http://www.tamingthegoblin.com/">Taming the Goblin</a>, <a href="http://www.thegoldengleam.com/">The Golden Gleam</a>, <a href="http://www.pricklymom.com/">Prickly Mom</a>, and <a href="http://taoofpoop.blogspot.com/">The Tao of Poop</a>. The SPP is place for readers to find ideas on nurturing, educating, and caring for children, as well as honest posts about the stresses of being a parent or caregiver. Links to reviews and giveaways are welcome as long as they are relevant to the topic. All parenting philosophies are welcome with one exception: please do not link to posts promoting physical discipline, as this is something we would feel uncomfortable having on our blogs. (P.S. By linking up you agree that your post and photos are Pinterest, Sulia, G+ and FB friendly. We will be showcasing ideas on The Sunday Parenting Party Pinterest board.)</i></center>
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<!-- end LinkyTools script -->The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-37391065360334829072014-02-09T21:52:00.000+00:002014-02-09T21:52:01.391+00:00Diffuser art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"> (Goblin is 4 years old)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">(This post contains an Amazon affiliate link)</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AEDm4bm8CtM/Uvfw9yXCOBI/AAAAAAAAZS0/Ha-q4if484g/s1600/2014-02-09+09.54.29-1.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AEDm4bm8CtM/Uvfw9yXCOBI/AAAAAAAAZS0/Ha-q4if484g/s1600/2014-02-09+09.54.29-1.jpg.jpg" height="640" width="532" /></a></div>
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Recently my mum gave me a bunch of art supplies that had been sitting in her cupboard since my sister and I were kids. Amongst these treasures were our diffusers. I've been meaning to try them with Goblin and today I finally did. </div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">For anyone who hasn't seen these before they are basically just two metal straws that meet at a right angle. You put one end in a bottle of indian ink and you blow hard down the other. The air passes over the top of the tube that is in the ink and it pulls the ink up the tube and sprays it across the area you are pointing at. You can make a diffuser using a straw and a piece of cardboard to create a 90 degree angle, but they are also very cheap to buy. Here is an Amazon link to a </span><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003UN5O3M/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=B003UN5O3M&linkCode=as2&tag=tamthegob-21">Spray Diffuser for Paints and Inks</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-uk.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=tamthegob-21&l=as2&o=2&a=B003UN5O3M" height="1" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RutHnAp4WRc/UvfvZYwD1nI/AAAAAAAAZSk/Oxd-7wuilkg/s1600/2014-02-09+11.39.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RutHnAp4WRc/UvfvZYwD1nI/AAAAAAAAZSk/Oxd-7wuilkg/s1600/2014-02-09+11.39.16.jpg" height="566" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">If you place a solid object, or in our case a cardboard cut out, in front of the area you are spraying you create a void. </span><span style="text-align: center;">As Goblin is obsessed with vehicles, our cardboard cut outs were planes and helicopters. You don't have to have any great artistic skill to create a template because you can just trace a picture. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--yW_MvW856M/UvfvZbPiBSI/AAAAAAAAZSg/f2Fz8JYLYA0/s1600/2014-02-09+11.44.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--yW_MvW856M/UvfvZbPiBSI/AAAAAAAAZSg/f2Fz8JYLYA0/s1600/2014-02-09+11.44.52.jpg" height="440" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">This activity can be done with any child who can blow hard down a straw. But be warned. The spray goes wide and the ink will stain. To avoid this we turned a large cardboard box on its side and pinned the A3 paper to the bottom (which was now the vertical side). The edges of the card board box served as protection keeping the ink contained in the box. We used tiny bits of double sided tape to attach the cardboard template to the paper, then Goblin blew hard and I helped him turn the diffuser so we covered the whole area needed. We waited until the ink was dry to remove the template. </span><span style="text-align: center;">I love our results.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> This activity also works really well using leaves for the void, and more than one colour ink to build layers. </span>The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-37407352817929060312014-01-28T12:00:00.000+00:002014-01-28T12:00:06.952+00:00The beauty of a beach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Goblin is 4 years old)</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7qvO42-c-Vw/UsxtfvNQRHI/AAAAAAAAWEU/tfZoP1vJt5U/s1600/2013-12-26+14.36.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7qvO42-c-Vw/UsxtfvNQRHI/AAAAAAAAWEU/tfZoP1vJt5U/s1600/2013-12-26+14.36.02.jpg" height="354" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hublet has lived his whole life next to the sea in one place or another. So he takes it all in his stride. He doesn't really understand how ridiculously excited I get when I see the sea, or smell the sea or hear the sea. OOOOH THE SEA!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0aUZ-h-fe8U/UsxthOoCnaI/AAAAAAAAWE0/qcXuQfeCKSE/s1600/2013-12-26+15.06.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0aUZ-h-fe8U/UsxthOoCnaI/AAAAAAAAWE0/qcXuQfeCKSE/s1600/2013-12-26+15.06.18.jpg" height="498" width="640" /></a></div>
With Nanny living next to the sea Goblin gets to visit a fair amount, but just seldom enough to keep it as a treat. Its still exciting, and somewhere that needs to be explored like a little snuffly dog, poking into crevices and turning over stones, and carrying random treasures home.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hap39FRqJcM/UsxtiWZ2FHI/AAAAAAAAWFE/yVqijHZc5ks/s1600/2013-12-26+15.20.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hap39FRqJcM/UsxtiWZ2FHI/AAAAAAAAWFE/yVqijHZc5ks/s1600/2013-12-26+15.20.26.jpg" height="520" width="640" /></a></div>
Also like most dogs, Goblin can't keep out of the sea, no matter what the weather. Long may it last. The seaside always brings cheer to my heart and I hope it will have the same effect on my son. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7rHIh-BWMKs/UsxtiZap8tI/AAAAAAAAWFI/enwfzqoZRKc/s1600/2013-12-26+15.21.59-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7rHIh-BWMKs/UsxtiZap8tI/AAAAAAAAWFI/enwfzqoZRKc/s1600/2013-12-26+15.21.59-1.jpg" height="436" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />The Monkohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02015980234917286789noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4437312531314961361.post-72673264400063247532014-01-25T20:59:00.001+00:002014-01-25T20:59:26.185+00:00The Sunday Parenting Party - pocket money for pre-schoolers?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: xx-small;">(Goblin is 4 years old)</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xT3zysaBO4g/UuQk83AkHTI/AAAAAAAAXyQ/JNwbs1b7HqQ/s1600/pocket+money.jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xT3zysaBO4g/UuQk83AkHTI/AAAAAAAAXyQ/JNwbs1b7HqQ/s1600/pocket+money.jpg.jpg" height="390" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Over the past 4 years I've got into a habit that with the wonder of hindsight I can see was bad parenting 101. I buy Goblin toys on nearly every outing. The toys he likes are the little match box cars. They cost about 96p and keep him quiet in the trolley while I'm shopping. With this miracle distraction I can head off all sorts of tantrums. So you can see why for a while I thought this was a </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">solid parenting plan. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;">But of course now Goblin has come to expect a toy every time we go anywhere. And our toy collection is getting ridiculous. Hublet and I both decided it was time to cut back and start saying no. But we didn't want to just make him go cold turkey. It didn't seem fair and we wanted him to have the chance of being able to get a toy once in a while. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">We could have just left it to whether we felt like buying him a toy, but that felt a bit arbitrary. We could have tied it to good behaviour, but I'd like to teach him that good behaviour is about more than just rewards. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">So we decided to introduce pocket money.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">I have no idea how much pocket money to give to a 4 year old. I guess some would probably say none, and others would say lots. When I was young I got 10p to spend on sweets, but 10p these days wouldn't go very far. I want Goblin to be able to buy something more than once a year! </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">So I thought about what Goblin was likely want to buy - small metal vehicles which cost between £1 to £5. I knew I didn't want to give Goblin £5 every week. That wouldn't teach him anything because he would be able to buy a toy a week. And I also knew that I wanted him to be able to see an end in sight so that saving up was a real experience with an achievable reward at the end.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">So we settled on £2 a week. That would mean it would take at least two weeks to earn enough money to buy one thing. As we do lots of trips Goblin would have to make decisions about what he was going spend his money on, foregoing some things to save for others. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">We did discussed whether we should link his pocket money to good </span><span style="color: #222222;">behaviour</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> but decided against it. One lesson at a time. I want this to be about him making choices about what he wants and then having the patience to save for it. Good budgeting skills are an essential element of life.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">We started his pocket money in the first week of 2014. Last weekend after a two week wait and having to make a difficult choice not to buy a toy in the gift ship at the museum earlier in the week, Goblin had enough money to buy a space plane he had seen in the super market. He was so excited about being able to purchase it himself. I think that made the toy more special. He has now decided to save for a tractor that is £15. I explained that it would take 8 weeks to save up for, but so far he is determined to do just that. It will be interesting to see if he can do it. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">Do you give your kids pocket money? How much do you give and have you attached any conditions to it? I'd love to know how others deal with this. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">*****</span></div>
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Some links I enjoyed from last weeks party included</center>
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<a href="http://jennifischer.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/raising-self-reliant-child-value-of.html">Raising a self reliant child: the value of service projects ~ The Good Long Road</a></center>
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<a href="http://play-activities.com/choose-model-slow/">Choose to Model Slow ~ Play Activities</a></center>
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<a href="http://www.stephaniesprenger.com/2014/01/16/someone-hurts-kid-teaching-kids-stand/">When Someone Hurts Your Child: teaching them to stand up for themselves ~ Mommy for real</a></center>
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<a href="http://africatoamerica.org/2014/01/16/what-you-need-to-know-about-adopting-toddlers/">What you need to know about adopting a toddler ~Africa to America </a></center>
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(I am on holiday next week and won't be posting so if you want to link up next weekend please visit one of the co-hosts below)</center>
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<i>Welcome to The Sunday Parenting Party, hosted by <a href="http://www.dirtandboogers.com/">Dirt and Boogers</a>, <a href="http://play-activities.com/">Play Activities</a>, <a href="http://www.crayonfreckles.com/">Crayon Freckles</a>, <a href="http://www.tamingthegoblin.com/">Taming the Goblin</a>, <a href="http://www.thegoldengleam.com/">The Golden Gleam</a>, <a href="http://www.pricklymom.com/">Prickly Mom</a>, and <a href="http://taoofpoop.blogspot.com/">The Tao of Poop</a>. The SPP is place for readers to find ideas on nurturing, educating, and caring for children, as well as honest posts about the stresses of being a parent or caregiver. Links to reviews and giveaways are welcome as long as they are relevant to the topic. All parenting philosophies are welcome with one exception: please do not link to posts promoting physical discipline, as this is something we would feel uncomfortable having on our blogs. (P.S. By linking up you agree that your post and photos are Pinterest, Sulia, G+ and FB friendly. We will be showcasing ideas on The Sunday Parenting Party Pinterest board.)</i></div>
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