VALFR59

No worry, we had the same experience with our son when he started this september at the nursery.Although he was bigger, 2yrs and half and was previously with a childminder.... We also had free settling time spread over 2 weeks... 1st week of proper start: perfect, he was running directly to the team and toys etc...just a quick "bye mummy". and from the 2nd week to the 2nd month around : crying routine the morning at the nusery as soon as he saw we were leaving the room to go to work...he took us 15 min at least of " a last hug mummy please, don't leave me alone here" also pretending than bigger kids were hurting him, team were leaving him alone, not playing etc..I spoke with his key person several times to have informations , to report his talks, and she's been comprehensive,reasurring , and they try to install a routine with him for the arrival.She said after 5 min of crying he stopped and most of the days, he even didn't ask for us for the rest of day , but after few weeks of difficult settling, I started to doubt about their sincerity or interest on my son settling! Even if it's a nursery with crazy waiting list because very recommanded, I started to doubt about their caring etc. So stressfull for parents (especially for me :) as my husband, found it normal to have a big settling period). After 2 months, a lot of discussions with my son,the help/patience of the team everything stopped from one day to another! And now, even if on Thurdays evening, he is very happy to be in WE (I am not working on Fridays), no more crisis at all. He is very smily when he arrives there, happy to say hello to all the nurses, and tell us he has fun at the nursery , he likes it. So no worry, it's not easy, make us sad sometimes, but I am sure with a bit of time your child will be settle too but I undersdand 100% your conerned! I've supposed sometimes it's a way for them to make us guilty to go back to work, and it's a change for them to have to share attention, when you are comfy with mummy and daddy, probably more dedicated and caring than all others nanny/childminder/nurses! :) good luck

We've finally bought the IKEA one (with the top) one year ago when my son turned 2, and we are really happy with it. I were hesitated with one, brand"kiddicare", white colour and lovely design as I didn't want something red/blue , to stay neutral in my kitchen decor... :) IKEA is far less expensive (I think we had for 70/80? for the whole kitchen, 2 elements ) instead of nearly 200? for the other brand. We've bought a microweave at Sainsbury ans I removed the door to fix the microweave inside the microweave cupboard of the IKEA kitcken . Like that it's wooden and interactive like the plastic kitchens ( often the funniest for kids). Also, the good point with IKEA children kitchen, is that you have the" ceramic plate" the child can switch on/off with some lights appeared!

You can go in those 2 shops where french teachers are used to buy books/methods to teach french language as a foreign language, and also where french or bilingual families are used to go to buy french books/CD/DVD for their kids to keep and practise their children french speaking or to folow the french school programm from home. www.europeanbookshop.com : close to Picadilly circus, my favourite so far because of the choice. I've saw they have a lot of methods to teach french for kids. www.frenchbookshop.com: shop in South Kens Everything depend if there is someone at home who is a native french speaker or if you are an english family, wishing to introduce basic french/french sounds to their children.(where even if you have a good level in French, the best is to find a native french speaker to introduce the language, with for example, la jolie ronde playgroup or Cadet Rousselle maternelle in Herne hill). Wix school in Clapham offers bilingual classes (a part of the shcool is managed by "le lyc?e fran?ais" for french children expats with french programm and french speaking, but the other is a state school of Lambeth and also offer the bilingual class ) Hope it could help! for DVD, depend the age of your children. I've bought on Amazon.com french DVD for toddlers for my son as Oui-Oui, Chugginton, Disney french DVD

don't know when is you party, but I've done a pirate party , 2 years ago , for my son's 2yrs old birthday party I've found all the decoration and candles in www.partypieces.co.uk and www.partydelights.co.uk I might remember that they are doing express delivery... Hope you'll find what you are looking for :)

Best restaurants/pubs: FAR BETTER : Crooked Well, Gyspy&Angels (Tapas restaurant) in Camberwell Dulwich: The Rosendale is my favourite but it's West Dulwich, then Palmerston and Franklins Bishop :ok for burger The actress: really nice pizza but you drink the wine in a glass supposed to receive water...shame! To avoid: The Mag (but it seems to close down soon), The Plough, The Dog (Greyhound in the village) (same owner) but the Dog nice for a drink after a walk in the park. Breakfast/ continental breakfast: Au ciel in the village for a cake/ Le chandelier/ Franklins. Indian: Indian Tandoori or Dulwich Dining Club (Gipsy hill but they deliver in all Dulwich areas) Really good finest french/Modern european food restaurant without going too far : "Upstairs" restaurant in Brixton (first floor flat, not adapted with kids, romantic dinner or with friends only) "The 409 "in Clapham (in front of clapham north station):

For my son's 3yrs birthday party,in Nov,I booked a session of Diddi dance in my house. Anne-Marie did a FANTASTIC job and the kids (they wer 13 toddlers) really enjoyed it. It's a lot of fun, with noisy, so, fun accessories, balloons, bubbles, and the entertainer were full of energy and good with children. Last year, for his 2yrs old party, we had "Bea's baby bop music lesson" also in my house, it was great too and well adapted for babies and toddlers of around 1 or 2 yrs old. When they are older, I find it a bit not enough active. But it's my favourite so far music lesson for babies/young toddlers of the area. Bea is brilliant and kids love her guitare! Good luck and have fun!

Thanks a lot for your informations!! I've called Dulwich stabled but they start only at 6yrs...probably they don't have shetland pony, pony breed to start at the youngest age . I'll explore the others suggestions you've nicely gave to me on that thread. If I find something great, I'll let know! Val

Hi, I would take informations about the possibility to do horse-riding (pony indeed) for my 3yrs old . Daddy bring him to Ruggerbeez class (but had to stop it for this term)...and I would love to offer him to possibility to discover my passion , especially as he is an animals/pets lover like me, and always ask to see the horses my parents have close to their house, asking to climb on them and give them carrots... Do you know if I can find somewhere not too far from Dulwich? Do I have to go in Kent? You can Pm me if you want. Thanks in advance for your help!

Wherever it was in ED/WD or willage, but able to walk to access or to do short driving to get there. Food/restaurant: - a "Paul" bakery with a restaurant/ Thea room - a proper JAPANESE (fresh and yummy) - A marrocan restaurant - a local McDo - a M&S (as waitrose deliver in all Dulwich now) - a real/ good quality tapas bar - a good Mexican restaurant - a new wine bar with cheese and charcuterie board at any time in the day if the green&wine will close as I've read on this forum Shops: - Baby/kids GAP, eventually an adult one - Office shoes - Hobbs/french connection/vero moda/oasis store - A body shop or Occitane en Provence - a Tikka Maxx with home department - Another shoes shop more fashion for adults and kids - Boots - H&M for kids and adults - A house of fraser or John lewis. Nice B&B and/or boutique hotel.

My son goes to Ruggerbeez since he was 2 and a half (he is 3 now) and it's a great rugby class (but no worry it's not a proper rugby that you can watch on TV, just coordination excercices, team spirit teaching etc) It's great, and the coach are really good with kids. It's every saturday from 10.00am at Belair park (1er session is a free trial )

I can't judge as an expert about the french welcoming to English expats in France. I think depend in which area of France they've choosen to live. Some french areas are famous for not being the warmest to accept new people, whoever those new people are english or french from another area... According to me, Paris is horrible for tourists welcoming...I am always surprised by the behaviour of waiters, sellers in shops etc... they are really lucky that it's an amazing city in term of beauty, culture, food etc!... I am ashamed for their behaviour and the reputation they give to France (but France is not only Paris, hopefully!) I really love living in the UK, and I am already sad to think that we'll leave it in 2 years , at the end of my husband expat contract. But even if I've met really good friends (90% are english or not french) here since 2 years we arrived, the welcoming of english people is not that easy! believe me! hopefully I never gave up as I was really motivated to be integrated with my 100% french family ! I didn't pretend to change english way to do things/ behaviours. I've observed carefully the english culture , way to speak, to express your opinion (less direct than in France for example), etc, and I adapted my way to be to yours staying myself in the same time. As I am the foreigner, it's me who have to make compromises and if it has been too difficult to do it, so I would have had to get back to France, but never to pretend english are wrong, they should change and being like french :) I think that our two cultures are really differents even if our countries are so close together in distance...and here it's the mistake for both english and french, to think that it will be the same than in their country just with another language, not necessary important to speak well....it's much more! and that's the reason why it's such a rich experience to live in a foreign country :) But it's important to try your best to speak the language of the country where you live in, even if you do mistakes (as I do :) )...and I am often suprise (and annoyed) to see such a lot of people (english or french) not making any effort to speak the language of the country they moved in...for french, staying in the french london areas,between french only, and for english living in France pretending as english speaking is the international language, so everybody has to speak english and they don't have to learn a foreing language...

Steveo, just in case you would follow your Calais dreams :) If you work for 12 months in a bar in Calais (and you are declared), you can have probably more in France than in the UK (don't know the rules of unemployment helps here but according to the comparison I can do in term of children education/school system, health system and tenant's/owners rights, France is really more social than the UK.. here it's perhaps sometimes not enough and there too much....that's a part, why your country will for sure get out of the crisis before France as you are stronger to make national sacrifices... In that Calais 's bar experience, if after 12 months you are fired (for economical reason), or dismissed with a special agreement with your boss (called " rupture conventionnelle de contrat"), then you'll receive "Assedics", which is an income support during up to 24 months , and it will represent 80?% of your salary without decreasing over those 24months....and probably as a barmaid, not famous to be a well pay job (especially in the cold riviera of C?te d'Opale :) ), you would receive a help to pay a flat, free health system (where we don't hesitate to give medicines to get better faster, to do big exams as Xray, blood test etc much easily than here) and the private school for your child would cost only 1000/3000 ? per year maximum (depend on your salary, if you can't afford it, government gives schools helps and you don't have to refund them, same as for universities fees)...

Decathlon at Surrey Quays shopping centre. Cheaper and good quality. probably possible to order online

Another vote for Decathlon bikes and sports/kids items in general Really good value for money and you can go to the shop to have a try of the bikes... kids love it! You can go to the shop in Surrey Quays Shopping centre (15/20 min from Dulwich) or you can order online

Crockeed well definitely my favourite pub in the area! but I didn't know that they were children friendly are we used to go there the evening. Will try it on sunday then! I also like The Rosendale in WD (discovered it recently) and it's really good, various dishes (banoffee pie is to die for!). They have an outside space for kids (play house and few toys, perfect the weather is good) The Dulwich wood house is good and nice venue/atmosphere (in spring/summer nice garden&terraced)but you need to drive to go there probably.

Hi, I am looking for somebody able to create various /animals/ sword/ crown shapes etc with balloons for a short entertainment at my son's 3 yrs old birthday party in November? I've found several companies or professionnal but their services are always offered with a face painting activity. For some reasons, I don't want face painting at home this time. I would just like fun balloons made on demand by the kids, and if possible in link with the theme of the party ( "we are all knight and princess") .....and with an affordable price! If you have any recommendations, I would really appreciate! Thanks Val

Thanks DaveR for respecting my nosensical thinking :) I will sleep less stupid thanks to your light! I didn't try anything...just to say I understood Medusa opinion, but as you "cleverly" point with your PS explanation of the english expression "precautionary principle", I am not english native speaker so perhaps my words and english knowledge/grammar weren't the best ones to express properly my opinion... But I deserve credit of speaking the language of the country where I will live, just for few years. As a food industry engineer, I know a bit about "principes de pr?cautions" and the rules of implementation/publication but...in french speaking of course. I will stop here the discussion as throughtout a few numbers of the answer, I can clearly observe that not to have a " well political way to think" is not accepted and tend to be turned a into personnal judgment. Good continuation on the discussion!

Sorry Otta to bring you sadness...I didn't mean. But it's the freedom to each of us to have our own opinion on any subject of society ...and it's so great not to have a unique though which mean we are still in a democratic system, whatever is the side of thinking on the subject!Personnally I WOULD BE SAD IF EVERYBODY WOULD THINK THE SAME AS MY OPINIONS :) ....and for sure you would be much more than me. We also couldn't give rise to argument and Forum/debates would not exist anymore I didn't say that I am against men childminder or nanny but just explained why I wouldn't choose this option for my children.But I am completely fine and agree with the "men 's right" to do that kind of jobs, as equal of women of course! To answer your question, In my post, I said that I would consider/accept to have a man worker at my son's nursery or as teacher when he will be older. But If I had the choice between two profile, same level of qualification and recomandation, I would prefer to go for the women nanny/childminder first. I find all the post really interesting and Right in the reflexion...I understand and respect absolutely all of them. However, I still prefer to keep my precautionary principle for my children, time they are so vulnerable as babies/toddlers.

Medusa, I support your opinion. And I am sure even if it's not "publicly conventional or politically correct to express this No" , some others parents might have that reluctance to have a man as a childminder or nanny. I know it's not fair to put All the men working around children in the same "clich?" of potential pedophile , because to be honest , HERE is the principle parents fear about having a man ,alone, in charge of their children. I would never have any doubt on the efficiency and motivation of a man to be great, fun , caring and educationnal with children and I am completely sure that a big part of them could be much better than some women doing the same job! However I can't remove from my memory if we look at back into the news, over the last 10 years, the too numerous horrible stories of children abused, where men have been recognized guilty of the crime...and quite often, it has been men who were working around children ...and Sorry if I shock some of you (it's NOT my intention at all), but I can't pretend it's not a reality of our society that men are more often involved in children crime than women... and I don't want to put my child volountary in a risky situation to pretend to be in accordance of the well public though. Sorry to be direct I can't be hypocritical on that subject. I agree with some of you who think that you can't be sure to not expose your child away of any danger.I have in mind that When it's your destiny , accident can happenned also to people who are more cautious than the average of population, BUT never mind, I prefer to be careful anyway! But perhaps it's because I am french and in France we had so terrible children abuses crime stories over the last 10 years with teachers , husband of childminders/sports and children club coach/ priest/ children camps entertainers. As a daughter of a dad Police officer and a mum Judge for family/children, I've been rised a bit too much in the behaviour to be careful of the human nature... It is also true, according to them and their experience, that the major part of children sexual abuses are committed by members of the close family or friends of the family rather than by strangers! I reckon that I've heard less sad stories in the UK since we arrived two years ago (even if we have this terrible one with that poor April at the moment)... so perhaps you have less crazy guys here... I tend to feel, a bit naively, more in safety here than in France. If it's a man working at a nursery or in a school, it would be COMPLETELY FINE for me as he works among a team and I believe that everybody has an eye en each other whoever the team is masculin/feminin or both...for a nanny at home or chilminder, I would prefer not taking any risk by precautionnary principle. Finally, I think that your friend should folow his dream, and if it's to work with children, it's honourable and brave to him, and he should not care about what people thing about it. Furthemore, as we could see on that thread, hopefully for him, a lot of parents would agree to employ a man as a childminder or nanny, and I totally respect their opinion. I just couldn't do it for my family, but it's just about my opinion on the subject. So I sincerely wish him the best in his new career.

Hi, Depend where are you living and where you need to go for your work but we've moved recently in WD from ED and when I was looking for a nursery close to our future new house, Dulwich Day nursery ("Asquish" nursery) on park hall road had a quite short waiting list. (2-3 months notice for the 3-5 years old kids) the staff seemed great and they've folowed us with serious to know if we wanted to have a space for November. I prefered to wait for my first choice nursery, where I've applied long time ago, and where my son is now , but my husband was enthousiastic with that nursery. Baby room and middlle room (1-2 year old) gave me better feeling than the 3-5 years room (but it was fine). You have WD station nearby and West norwood. We had a brillant childminder previously, who lives close to bellenden road. Angela will have availabilities soon due to my son departure and the departure of the 2 others toddlers she had in charge due to Pre-school entrance/moving. I could not enough recommend her! I know she plans to do a break , up to december to re start a new group of kids in January, but she might be open-minded to have children before.If you need her details, you can PM me Hope you will find soon a good solution! good luck Val?rie

Hi Monkey We have 2 couple of friends who are in the same situation than yours (French and English parents). The best rule seems definitely: one parent = one language , and pretend "you don't understand " when the answer is in English (off course helps her if she doesn't know how to say her opinion in French). My sister is married with a German and they live in M?nchen. She also use this rule (she speaks only french with my 4 years old nephew, and after difficult time at around 2,5/3 years old, it's much better and easier now). It's hard I know !! as like you, her connection to France is reduced to famlily now as she lives there for 15 years. But it's really important for french grand-parents to be able to communicate with their sweet grand-children (my parents are very worry about it and they are afraid to miss things with my nephew). When it's difficult, keeps in mind that your daughter will thank you a lot when she will be a bilingual student/young lady, without really had to work hard for it! (lucky are they those children :) ! You can watch small Tv programm in French on you tube (charlotte aux fraises, Mon petit Poney , oui-oui, disney princess, or old cartoons we watched on our time like "Au pays de Candy", "les cit?s d'Or"etc!). You can go on gulli.fr wich is a famous kids channel on french TV (or Tiji.fr). For my work, I am used to go at "The European book shop" (www.europeanbookshop.com) close to Picadilly, 5 Warwick Street Soho, London W1B 5LU. I've saw that they have a lot a children french books and educationnal books. There is quite a lot of French au pair in the aera, you could ask to a nice one to babysitt your daughter when you need a babysitter. I've heard There is also "la Jolie ronde "(a french toddler group) in Dulwich. We have the opposite "problem" at home...too much French speaking ! as My husband and I are both french. That's why we avoided french schools/nurserys/nannies and " french areas" in London to live :) (as we are in London just for few years). If you fancy You can come home to borrow us for few weeks some french stories books (my son is currently a Tchoupi addict...and we have dozen... so he will not be upset to lend one of his others stories books like "le petit chaperon rouge, la belle au bois dormant etc!" . We also have few Oui-Oui in french DVD but don't know if it's girly :) Don't hesitate if it could help! I am at home usually on fridays or on WE. Bon courage! ?? va aller avec le fran?ais ! Val?rie

Thanks for sharing! It seems a to be a great idea plan and perhaps more adapted than the classic music lessons (very good indeed) , exported at home when the child grows up!

I have in mind just french name..but perhaps some can work easily with english pronounciation :) - Celeste - Augustine - Pauline - Faustine - Clara - Hortense - Berenice - Lia - Ninon - Luane - Capucine good luck!

I am 100% with you Louisa!! As the cost of properties/ tenancy tend to be more and more equal as more central/posh area of London. I would love Dulwich growth by having the same variety of shops/restaurants/services :) in addition of nice parks/schools/atmosphere Dulwich generously has of course! and sure by just few new things, it would not affect the tranquility of the area wherever it's in ED/WD or the Village. We definitly need other types of restaurants, shops and ....why not a M&S or Waitrose, even a small one! Waga is fine, a good and fresh Japanese restaurant would be excellent as well and a Marrocan style restaurant great too (with tajine/couscous, pastilla etc) And as we dream, I would ask as well for a "Paul" bakery/patisserie! andI woud love to eat locally great french patisserie and bread (also their range of sandwich and salad are healthy and delicious). Of course, not close to Lucas but in the village, for example, as the design of Paul bakery is perfected fitted with class ancient style like caf? rouge. It's not to create new building but just to replace some old shops, or to replace one/two so many indian restaurants by other types of restaurants...to satisfy locally, all the food taste of Dulwich population :)

Hi there, My little boy, 3 years old in November will start at Nellys Lancaster Avenue in 2 weeks, 4 days per week.(Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs). We are so happy to have a space there after so many months of waiting! Currently he is with a childminder but we just Moved from ED to WD, so his friends will go in others local Pre-shool/Nurserys If you have a child around the same age than him,happy to meet new friends, it would be nice to have a meet up around a playtime for kids/mummy's coffee in a near future. I am totally in confidence with Nellys to organise the best integration for new children but just thought It might be nice to know other parents at Nellys Lancaster Av to exchange experiences, tips, etc. I am at home with Auguste only on Fridays & WE. We are a french family but my son speaks/understand fluently english..and I try to do my best too :) if you are interested in a unformal and friendly meet up , you can send me a PM. Sincerely Val?rie Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 10/09/2012 14:38 by frenchyChti2B.