mima08

Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > In Italy/France/Spain adults drink around kids, > and the children learn to be responsible with > alcohol. I therefore propose that beer in the > playground is compulsory for all Dads. (Mums can > choose aperol spritz if modelling themselves after > the Italians). Pants, I was really hoping to have a pint in the playground - do I need ot have aperol spritz instead?

Yes, thanks for joining! Will post more when back from holidays :)

Hiya, if you couldn't follow the facebook link, tthe name of the group is "happy work play" - I'll try to figure out how to post a link once back on laptop...

Downloaded - first impressions are very nice, will put it to test over the coming days. Needs more content, obviously will take a little time/ some community building :)

Hiya, thanks for your comments - there has been quite a bit of interest on Facebook and I'd love to keep exploring what is possible. Thinking lateral is definitely what I want to do - it would help to make something like this sustainable. There are a few interesting models in other industries that I am familiar with, so it might be workable... I've created a FB group to allow people to get a conversation going - if you fancy joining, here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1593888504196263/ If you don't do FB, drop me a PM!

Hello all lovely parents. For years I have been thinking wouldn?t it be great if there was a place for self-employed mums & dads to work from that offered the community spirit of an happy office, the flexibility of working from home, had great coffee and snacks AND provided flexible childcare? The idea is/was tried by a couple of places such as the Treehouse in Brixton (now closed) and the Third Door in Putney. Basically, these are coworking spaces that offer childcare on site. What I don?t understand is: why do we not have something like this in ED? There are enough children (nursery places are a nightmare to get). There are enough freelancers / entrepreneurs / flexible workers (just check out Caf? Nero). And I keep hearing the same story from many parents: we?d love to get more freelance (and other) work but can?t because we cannot afford to commit to childcare costs and there are not enough places anyway. So, today I had a nice chat with a lovely lady and we would like to put our minds to finding a solution along the lines of flexible childcare mixed with a flexible coworking offering. By posting here I was hoping for two things: gage interest ? would this type of offer appeal to you? And find more people who are interested in hearing more about the idea and potentially want to get involved in some form or other. If either of these things are true for you, I?d love to hear your thoughts!

Hiya, as an ex-thumb sucker, I really, really wish my parents had put a stop to it. It caused lots of alignment problems, I had to have years of treatment and I am still not happy with my teeth.I did stop naturally at the age of 7...

Hiya, looks like a few people would be interested in the idea - I'm trying to arrange a coffee sometime, so PM if interested!

Hiya, I think the treehouse has closed down - have been trying to contact them, but no luck. I'd love to open something like it here, and have a few ideas that might be worth investigating, but would want to do it with someone... anyone interested to have a chat?

Hiya, I cannot wait to do both (after remortgaging the house). I was told by another dad that his son was a bit disappointed as there was no (or not much?) Lego to play with at Legoland as it's more about the rides & displays? I am sure someone can tell me if that's correct, but it means I'll have to manage expectations...

Hiya - to get to the Discover Story Centre we used overground to Canada Water, then Jubilee line - took about 30/45 min.

Hiya, LJ had staff turnover in the past but since we've there it's not been too bad. I never felt that there wasn't sufficient continuity. They have a nice mix of staff age groups, backgrounds and so on, and I always feel they are very involved with all the children. As I said, we love it, sounds like you have the dilemma of two great choices :)

Hiya, my son has been at Little Jungle since he was 2.5 and we love, love, love it. They are incredibly caring and he has flourished so much there. They use mainly a child-led approach to early childcare, which is just wonderful to let the children explore their world, and develop their social self. As a result, the kids have an amazing thirst for learning - all through play. There are weekly fun language session, yoga and various outings. You probably can tell, I'm a fan and we'll be really sad to leave Little Jungle when my son goes to School in Sept.

Oh no, someone said something reasonable - hope it doesn't stop the flow of the thread...

I am so sorry to hear about your experience: bringing up children is so confusing and tough as it is, so having your trust broken and you and your son being treated badly by people who are supposed to be professionals is awful. I can only imagine how heartwrenching is must be. We've been lucky with great childminder and nursery, but I do know that there is a large portion of luck involved. But please don't beat yourself up: your son has the most important thing: a loving and caring mummy. I know from my nephew's experience how important that is: he struggled in nursery & school, labeled as a trouble maker (back in the 80's he didn't fit in because of his skin colour and his mum being single - we lived in a small place) - but my sister's support and love meant he turned out a hugely popular boy who just finished med school. I really hope your little man keeps improving, and, as others suggested, get some support for yourself, too - wishing you all the best!

With me & DHL being ill most weekend, we seem to have missed all the Easter fun and I'm now looking for something not too strenuous for me but fun for my highly energetic 4 year old, ideally in the area... Any tips?

hiya, many thanks for the thoughts, and Fuschia - thanks for that link, I had forgotten about this - will definitely give it a try. I do have a nagging suspicion that he worries about not being "first" in all the activities: he is ridiculously competitive but there are other swimmers who are more advanced. It's in absolutely now way a competitive environment but my son always wants to "win" (not something we encourage at all - in fact, we've always praised effort above results, try to rolemodel that it's not about winning etc.) I don't really want to give up the swimming as he loves the water so much - had a word with the swimming teacher not to push him, and she is really supportive... any other thoughts are appreciated!

Hiya, My four year old boy has been going to swimming classes since he was three months old and always enjoyed it hugely. However, recently, he's been reluctant to go to the class, and it got so bad that he would start crying in class and be really upset. Of course, I don't want to force him but am wondering what has caused this sudden aversion and what I can do, as I would like him to learn to swim properly. He is not scared of the water, as he loves it when we go swimming on the weekend, he very confident, with no problem of putting his head under water etc. He has been with the same wonderful teacher all this time, loves his class buddies and we tried doing a deal where he only had to do the activities he felt comfortable with - still he cries. So this is the second week we're not going last week he wasn't feeling well, this week he rather takes himself to bed (!) than go. I am conflicted about not wanting to force him to do something that is supposed to be fun but he doesn't enjoy on the one hand but I also don't want him to think he never has to push himself out of his comfort zone - e.g. he won't be able to do this in school... What have others done in this situation? Thoughts, advice, please

Hiya, in case you're still looking: my son's former childminder was fantastic and she lives on Oswyth Road - 3min from the Villa, about 7min from Bellenden Rd. Her name is Christine Bertin, give her a call on 07538956891, pm me for more details

Hiya - still ok to meet this evening at 8pm in the EDT? M

Hiya, Mon 30th is good for me, too. Meet at the EDT? Could get there for 8pm, - any good for others? M

Hiya, sorry - I am away next week but could do the week after? All the rest sounds good :)

Hi helena_s I know there is sewing cafe Brixton/Clapham way (http://shop.sewoverit.co.uk/pages/contact-us) and I'd be interesting in meeting up, too - am not very experienced at sewing, though. Best, m

There has been a break in on Nutbrook Street a few days ago: community wardens were handing out leaflets on how to make properties more secure etc.

buggie Wrote: > Actually, what was Lister walk-in centre is now available for appt's if your GP hasn't got > capacity to see you as an emergency case that day, so, if DMC were better organised, the poster above > whose baby had pus coming out of the ear should've been ref'd there for an appt. My baby had croup a few months back & my surgery didn't have any available appts so offered me an appt at the Lister & was amazed that they could (and did) > see me within the hour. > > If DMC engaged with using this properly (& if patients were ok with visiting a different surgery for an acute problem) it cold resolve alot of the angst their patients experienced. I am really curious about this, because a few weeks ago, my son had very high fever and was behaving in ways to really worry me. When I phoned the DMC they didn't have any appointment (to be fair it was in the afternoon when I phoned) and when I asked about the Lister, they told me there was no such arrangement as the one described above, the only option I had to go to A&E or the walk-in center in New Cross. Ended up going to Seldoc a few of hours later....