nunheadmum

Ivydale School are running a holiday club the first week of the holidays. Maybe contact the school for more info.

As a kid I had an upright piano - I hated practicing because the whole street could hear me. As an adult I really now wish I'd kept playing. Now my daughter is playing and we got a Yamaha digital piano and I absolutely love that I can play it whenever I want and turn it down so no one has to suffer.

I'd ask the schools what else they're doing for World Book Day other than asking kids to dress up. It seems like a lazy option on their part if it isn't backed up by other activities during the day. Maybe some concerted feedback to the schools would help? Our school aren't doing it (hurrah!!) - they're having a literacy week later in the year instead. Hopefully without dressing up - or at least hopefully the costume prices will have come down by then!!

If your boss is decent, I'd definitely suggest having an informal chat first. I imagine your boss would have a reasonable input into what is workable for the company/department. Or they may have experience of other cases that can inform your thinking. And you may find that most people agree the option informally and then formally request what has been already agreed to. Remember - policies are often in place to protect in worst case scenarios (from the company perspective) so things might not be quite as inflexible as the policy implies.

Another recommendation for Nunhead Surgery. Great for being accommodating with the kids. Usually always arrange for the GP to call back if busy and will then fit them in if really needed. Good common sense approach generally. Also Krystal pharmacist really good for non urgent advice.

I totally second Katgod about trying to make sure that your different times are separate as much as you can - multitasking is the road to meltdown, for everyone. You'll also enjoy your time with the kids more. But equally, don't feel that if they're there, you need to be with them 100% of the time. Teach them that sometimes you need to do other things and if you say, give me 5 or 10 mins, you need a clear bit of time but you will return to them after that time. Also, if your husband is doing the after school pick-ups etc, be prepared to let him carry on doing that when you get in. I'm the same situation 3 nights a week and it's really easy to sweep in and try to take over. Work out what he likes doing / what you like doing and try to find a combination that makes the best of it. It might be hard giving up a little bit of control or seeing the kids run to daddy first when they fall over etc. But try not to fret about that. Find your own ways to spend little bits of quality time doing things that Daddy maybe hasn't had time to do. I think having someone working from home does make things a lot easier for the kids and for you. But feeling that you're maybe not the automatic go-to person for the kids can be hard. And accepting that your husband may develop different ways to yours can be hard too. It's not always easy to stop myself stepping in but I don't think the kids are really any worse off for it. And I do feel much more fortunate than families where both parents are working full time and juggling kids - so I try and focus on the good points!

Can you also try telling him to go off for a set time and tell him what you'll do after (eg. Go and play by yourself for 10 mins while I do X and then I'll come and do Y) and then gradually extend the time without him noticing. Also on the basis that if he doesn't give you time, you don't do the next thing with him.

Hi Ole. It sounds like you do tons with your son so don't feel bad. I think our kids can get so used to having so much input from us, they have to learn to get bored and move to using their own imagination. Maybe I'm just a lazy mum but I do try and stay firm, telling my kids that no, I'm not going to provide them with something to do, they have to think of something for themselves. It's not easy at the start and getting involved again can seem like an easier option - and some kids will take to it easier than others - but gradually they do start to learn. It takes a bit of resolve on your part. I think school does help them to learn this skill too. And the kids who can come up with the good ideas of games to play tend to pull the other kids with them. So helping him to learn this skill will be a help to him come school. So don't feel bad if you say no to joining in - you'll help him doing that just as much as playing with him.

I find that reward charts are good for specific problems e.g. eating all your dinner or not getting our of bed. If it's for more general behaviour things then we use a jar of pebbles / beads and then you can give one for any good thing they do or take away if they do something bad. A full jar gets a reward. It depends on whether you think she'll understand at her age. Our nursery used to use the 'sad face' for poor behaviour and we adopted that at home too for a bit - if they do something naughty, they have to sit on the sad face as they've made mummy sad by not behaving well. That worked far better for my youngest than stickers - she really hated thinking she'd upset me.

Bornagain - thanks for your message. I recognise that bedtime feeling!! I think we may have similar girls. The teacher says she engages well with reading in the class and she absolutely adores writing. So I'm sure she'll come around to it on her own terms. Katgod - will try Rye Books and see what they have. Adventure series sounds like my daughters kind of thing. Thanks to all for the suggestions - hope it's helping others too.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm afraid my kids seldom get past the toys on magazines these days. Really annoying. I did buy some old Bunty / Mandy comics that she likes - short stories in a couple of pages. But a little harder to come by on an ongoing way. Some Roahl Dahl are good for reading to her - but too long for her on her own. (She COULD read it - just doesn't get longer books.) The Usborne classic books are nice but the school use them as their reading scheme so we were trying to push her through one after another - which kind of killed the pleasure. I think all the suggestions are helpful and I may try taking her to the library and letting her look at different ones.(Up till recently, she was so NOT into reading, I'd given up on the library as it seemed like too much expectation on her.) I did get the Daisy book out at home and after I read a couple of chapters, she picked it up herself yesterday and read a few more - so small steps. But small steps better than none at all - so some success. Thanks!

We have got a Daisy one, BeccaL - bought it ages ago - but maybe should try introducing it again. Although she also has a 'thing' about books with 'scratchy pages' i.e. normal paperback book pages. Book like school reading schemes with more shiny pages have more kerb appeal. (Fickle!!!) Dulwich library is a good idea. Trying to avoid Tales on Moon Lane as afraid I'll spend a small fortune (again!) SE22Mum - Trying to pin down what she's into is a bit hard. She's quite definite she's not a girly girl but not too sure what she is as isn't a tomboy either - kind of a normal bit of both. Think the mystery element of the Time Chronicles one work well for her. Suspect Harry Potter might be a bit too much - she struggles with long chapters and don't want to put her off it as I'm sure she'll come round to it. But I might try a bit of it as she did want to dress as Hermione at Halloween. I'm quite happy for her not to be reading loads (and so is her class teacher) but want to try and keep her doing some and would rather it's something that's interesting.

My Year 3 daughter is a competent reader but just hasn't got into reading for pleasure (although I suspect she'll love it once she does). Even when we read to her, she doesn't seem to have the interest in longer chapter books - after a few nights she's lost interest. She kind of likes the Rainbow Fairies books but she's sort of spotted the repetition in the story format and has gone off them after a couple. I've just discovered this set from the Oxford Reading Tree which she's really got into - there's another level too which we've just bought. The stories really grab her (mystery and a good historical aspect), one book leads to the next and the layout is great and she can read one in a single sitting, which is great. (And they're on offer at The Book People.) http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/qs_product_tbp?productId=408376&storeId=10001&catalogId=10051&langId=100&searchTerm=time+chronicles Thought I'd post in case it helps anyone else. But also wondered if anyone else has had capable but reluctant readers at this age and found a book that worked for them?

A new twist on the theme - good places for decent petite sizes in styles that aren't just twee. Or full size styles that work for (small) petites - e.g. tunics on most folk can be dresses on me! My wardrobe seems to be 90% M&S, Boden and Next. Online ideally as like most folk, I don't get to do much real shopping.

Crafty cooks. http://www.craftycooks.co.uk/classes/south-london/

My two - now 7 and 5 - have loved the Royal Festival Hall since they were little and still do! Loads of space just to explore. Great cafes for coffee and croissants for mum and dad (buy them outside and bring in), loads of levels and nooks and crannies to explore, often music / entertainment at the weekend, often things going on outside. Cafe at the front does simple kids sandwiches. Poetry library with kids books and seats/beanbags for a quiet 5 mins. If all that doesn't keep them happy there's all the other options folk have mentioned round and about. Many a good Sunday has been passed at the Southbank!!

Mrs N - so glad to hear that it worked so well. Life is so much easier with sleep and a happy baby! Jenc - it was a few years ago we did it but it cost around ?100 a night and we paid for 2 nights but got quite a bit of extra support via the phone included. That may have been down to the individual nanny wanting to help. But we felt it was the best money we spent over all the baby related expenses we'd incurred - it helped with the problem and gave us a lot more confidence in our skills.

I think it's a hard balance for the teachers to achieve between trying to get the kids to be independent and making sure they do what's needed. But I agree that I think they'd err a little more towards making sure the reading books were changed over the independence. Our school tend to be quite good at things like little reward charts or the likes to encourage the kids. Could you maybe try a reward chart or something at home - stickers for every time she remembers? I would keep trying with the teacher / assistants too and if they don't do something about it, take it to the head. I know the teachers are stressed in class and it may be that your daughter is doing well enough that they don't feel the extra home reading is so critical. But that isn't good enough - if she got that attention, what could she achieve.

I used a Night Nanny (www.nightnannies.com) to help with my daughters sleep at 4 months and to try and get her onto the bottle. The nanny we got was brilliant and she really helped improve my confidence and we sorted the sleep in a few days. However my daughter held out on the bottle and the nanny gave up in the end, saying she was just strong willed and would only do it when she was ready. I would say that it's worth calling them to talk to them - I found them quite willing to talk before committing to coming out / payment. They will probably help you to get things back on some kind of track - but it probably will still be a bit of playing with different bottles and pitting your will against your little girl's and won't be a magic solution. But then, your daughter may be more compliant and they'll be able to do more. Worth calling for a chat. They'll make you feel better even if they don't solve your problem 100%.

Thanks - will get Nunheaddad on that one! I know of several folk up and down the street who are affected so it's not just our house. Thankful though that it's only flickering!!

Sorry, can't answer any of the questions but good to hear that others in Nunhead are having issues - our lights were flickering loads last night and have done so regularly over the past few months. Would be interested to know if anyone knows why? (I keep meaning to phone the national grid line but it's not really an emergency as they never go off, just a nuisance.)

Emilypie - afraid they're 5 and 7 although could probably still enjoy running round being told faster but not sure my house would survive! Canela - you tube is always a hit but I tend to be crap at finding good stuff. Any suggestions welcome. Just did a gym session in the front room while the carpet was toy free. Amazing how quick that energy goes and they're saying they're exhausted!

I've got two kids getting hyper for Christmas and potentially awful weather outside. Any good ideas for active indoor activities that burn a bit of energy? Feeling a bit out of ideas, what with having a head full of Christmas planning!!

Thanks all. Teeth now firmly gritted!!

Science went down brilliantly for my 7 year old daughter's. We didn't do traditional games but the kids were expecting them. A bit of a disco was a great end.....couldn't get them out!!