Jacks50

Try happymess - my daughter loved it! http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?6,998121

there's a playgroup at the salvation army on norwood high street - a fews walk from tulse hill station. I think its for up to 3 year olds - def think by the time they get to 2.5ish they've grown out of it, but I may be wrong! Think it starts at 10 Hope that helps

I second Carly - she'll come round and sort it out!

Thanks so much everyone! we had a lovely day at Godstone farm. Wasn't very busy which was great. Apparently we now have to get a pet rabbit! next week we might do the wetlands centre and somerset house. Thanks again

Yes, I drive, they are 9, 5 and just about 3. Not an easy age group to please!!

I'm sure I've seen loads of threads on this but can't find any now I need them! Just wondered if anyone had any ideas for a good day out for the kids within an hour or so of here? Thanks!

Thanks so much everyone! I really appreciate your suggestions. Saffron the info on play schemes was really interesting. Quite hard to pin point what they are but its a really good way of thinking about the way they play. I was thinking about a dolls house, and she loves pretend play so I guess we'll be going down that route. Sbot - love the lawnmower!! very sweet. I asked my daughter what she'd like and she said cake! I guess that's a start! thank again everyone!

I'm looking for inspiration! my daughter turns 3 in a fews weeks and I'm lacking inspiration. Just wondered if anyone had any suggestions of toys that have been a big hit with this age group? Thanks so much for much for any ideas!!

My daughter will be 3 in a month and she's still in a cot. I've thought about moving her to a bed but she's still napping at lunchtime and I really don't want that to end! She's a monster from 4pm onwards without it. My two boys were out of the cot by this age but I'm not ready to loose the lunchtime nap. Also, I potty trained her a few weeks ago (well. loo trained, she won't go on the potty!) and she's also gone try at night - she just yells at me that she needs a wee and I go running. I have a feeling if she was in a bed she'd still yell at me - she yells at me for most things!

look at http://www.edtots.co.uk - a directory of groups in the area.

does anyone know the actually address of the centre? Thanks

I heard a tip recently that if they have a regression then try to get them to clean up the mess when they've had an accident. maybe not the poo but if they've had a wee accident they have to put their pants in the washing basket, etc I suppose the idea is that if they have an accident then they have a small chore to do afterwards which isn't so much fun. I'm not sure if that's a good idea or not but might be worth a try?!

Buzz zone at Beckenham Spa gets our vote - especially on school days when it doesn't have the big kids!

I just wanted to say thank you so much for all your advice. The love bombing sounds really interesting and I'm going to order the book. No idea how we'd fit it in with my other two children though! We are trying to fit in the 1:1 time, and he does really enjoys it and we must do it more often. I have just had a lovely evening with him without one argument and I felt like I had my boy back. hope it lasts!! Thank you again!

Hi Canela, Just wanted to say thanks so much for this. I've had a long think about it all and he's defiantly over tired. He's suddenly decided that staying up late is cool and just won't go to sleep! So that's not helping. And you are right, he spends so long being good - school isn't overly strict but hes terrified of getting into trouble. He also doesn't eat very well at school (school lunches only and he's really fussy) so he's tired and hungry too at the end of the day. We recently talked about house files and came up with a list together - he enjoyed doing it and being part of it, so I'm not sure if its an issue. He does need more one on one time though, its just very hard to fit in with two other little ones. We'll have to work harder at it! Thanks so much once again

I'm having a nightmare with my oldest son (I've got 2 other children) he's 8, nearly 9 and he's having some kind of a meltdown just about everyday. I call it the red mist. Its like something comes over him and he turns into a complete nightmare. Screaming, shouting, this evening he threw a couple of pictures off the wall onto the floor and started banging on my daughters bedroom door (who is asleep and not well!) When he gets in his mood he can be really horrible to the other two children, and he says awful things to me - this evening he just told me I was an ugly person, the meanest in the world and he hates me. It always starts because he's done something wrong and got into trouble. I've tried everything from trying to be kind and talk to him and try and reason with him, to being really tough on him, but nothing gets through. I've taken away privileges, we have a reward chart (house points) which he's really likes the idea of because they have them at school, and it helps a bit, but when he's got the mist he doesn't care. He doesn't do it nearly as often when my husband is around, but he's not around very often! Its making my so unhappy and I feel desperate that I don't know how to make it better. I'm obviously really worried about him and I hate him being so unhappy. On a positive note he's extremely well behaved at school, and with other people. They can't believe it when I tell them how he behaves with me. I'm really sorry for the long post, just feeling really desperate and could do with some advice and wondered if anyone else had experienced anything like this? Thanks so much

We go to Chatsworth playgroup on a Wed in West Dulwich/west norwood. great big hall with loads of ride-ons and other toys, plus a separate room for painting, playdough, puzzles etc. Much easier to be at a playgroup with a toddler and a baby as your toddler is contained and entertained, and there's always another pair of hands if you need help! http://www.chatsworthbaptist.org.uk/weekdaychildrensactivities.htm

Its warm enough for my 5 year old who always goes blue if its not bath like!

Can I ask what set you are getting? there's quite a few to choose from and I've never seen them before! Thanks!

And I had a brazilian blowdry last week with carly and I love it! much better than the one I had at a salon.

My 8 year old is still really fussy. almost scared of new food. at school they have to have cooked lunches and he hardly eats anything - a bit of bread and cheese on some days. I really thought he would have grown out of it by now and I'm beginning to think he's not going too. The only thing that has improved is the way he deals with it - instead of having a tantrum about the new food he just says "no thank you"!!. My middle child isn't much better. I'd love some advice if anyone has been through the same through the same thing with an slightly older child!

Thanks Jenny! My middle son had a terrible bottle habit - he'd still have one now aged 5 if he could (and does occasionally!) so I'm trying to avoid the same thing with child no 3. So she has a terrible dummy habit instead! You'd think I'd know how to parent 3rd time round!!!

I know this isn't answering the question but I don't give my 2.5 year old a bottle at bedtime - she does have one in the morning though - am I being a terrible mum?!!

Wonderful!! Thank you so much everyone - I really appreciate it.

I wondered if I could get some advice on nursery/pre schools. My first two children went to a day nursery before starting school as I worked but I got made redundant and I'm now a stay at home mum. My third child is 2.5 and I'm wondering what options there are for nursery or pre school? I'm sure she'd benefit from a few hours a day a couple of days a week, especially as she's a September baby so she's going to be at home for a long time!! Any suggestions that don't cost a small fortune would be gratefully appreciated!