canela

It doesn't really sound like he has lost interest in learning - just that he is not interested in the kind of homework he gets. A lot of homework for young kids is arts based, drawing posters, making cards etc, as it's assumed that this will be a fun and relaxed activity to do over the weekend. But not all kids are naturally drawn to art. My son has the same thing - will rush through any kind of drawing homework but will happily spend a lot longer on writing or something science-based. I know it's hard but i would try and use the summer to chill. Kids do a lot of learning and hard work at school and they need a break.

I would definitely mention it to the teacher. There may be something going on at school that can shed light on it and that you can help her with. It's difficult as kids can pick up on things without anyone realising. My 7 year old boy had a brief phase when he was unhappy with the way he looked and when he talked it came out that he had heard that "boys can't be pretty". We started mentioning how handsome he was and he soon perked up.

Dog Kennel Adventure Playground

I think it depends a lot on the kids and the place you go to. We spent 3 great months in Latin America with 3 year old and he loved it - beach, swimming pools, jungle, tho i suppose we stayed with family, he didn't know them before but obviously got a lot of attention. interesting thread for me as i would like to go back for a year at some point to spend more time with family there. am trying to work out which might be the best and am thinking that it would be the last year of primary? or maybe year 5 so as to get friends to move on to secondary together with? we would stay put in one place and the kids would go to british school.

Buds in the church is also good.

The tiredness and hunger at end of school day can be really difficult to get through! We try and arrive each day with a nice but healthy snack so we can all munch in silence on the 5 min walk home. And really agree with making sure there is a relax session straight after school. Ours often comes back and just watches 30 mins telly. You can tell when he is recovered as he suddenly bounces off the sofa. I know it is really hard to arrange one-on-one time, but I find that if I make sure I do it every day (even when his little sister has gone to bed and I really have a million and one things I could be doing....) it just makes for a much happier boy and a happier house.

obviously all kids different but a couple of things spring to mind... it sounds like he might be getting really tired at school and simply uses up his good behaviour there. it is not uncommon for the quietest at school to be most wild at home. is there anything at school making him unhappy? is he good because he is nervous? is it a very strict school? yes, he might be good there - but it might be an effort for him even so and making him grumpy at home. also sounds like he could benefit from some one-on-one attention not to do with behaviour but just being together. not as a reward. he needs to feel unconditional love if he is starting to feel like the bad boy. a friend of mine whose 9 year old trashed his bedroom was told by the teacher to take her son out os school one day for a special day with her. I try and spend a short time each night alone with each kid - not easy when there is lots to do - even if it is just to watch their favourite cartoon and cuddle them. do you have a lot of rules at home? it sounds like there is something going on about behaviour and being 'good' or 'bad' that he is struggling with. could you talk to him in a quiet moment and reduce the rule list to really the most important, and just relax on other things for a while? as the eldest do you expect him to behave better? does he see his siblings getting away with things and not understand why this might be? yes, other people have had this! remember that he takes it out on you because he can, because he feels safe with you. it might be that there is something going on. it might be that it is just a phase working itself out. it is always horrible when you see kids being deliberately mean to their siblings - but i think it is not uncommon! good luck.

if you search there is a previous thread about this with a recommendation for a pizza place in Dulwich village that I can't remember the name of but it was great.

I don't think there is a magical solution really. the only way to deal with tantrums i've found is to learn to recognise the warning signs and do what works for me to calm everyone down. which in my case is usually giving up on whatever it is that i want/need to do, and finding some kind of treat - whether that's a telly and popcorn session or a game of monster chase, depending on if people need calming down or need to let off steam. and a glass of wine is a must! obviously doesn't work all the time, and I'm just thankful on reading this post that I think the bulk of my tantrum years are now behind rather than ahead of me! I remember how horrible it was when there was a particularly long one in public, and I think I resorted to terrible tactics just to stop them I read somewhere that you should let them express it for a bit and then try and distract as the problem is that they just don't know how to switch emotion. i found that i had to distract in a really loud voice and determined way, kind of speaking over them until they had to listen to me, and then once quiet I could move us all on. don't worry about those tutting. it will happen to them one day...

you poor thing. I found that the nausea was worse when I was tired, so really really try to keep life to the bare minimum for the next few months. I also found that going for a walk in the park helped a lot. to be honest, i found nothing really could stop the nausea but it was definitely worse if I overdid it a bit. just hang in there as these months will pass!

A group of my friends got together and had a belly dancing class at home. Was so much fun! The teacher brings all the music, scarves etc, you don't need much space at all. Helped along by a glass of wine, we had a great time, danced our hearts out and let off a lot of steam! I can get the details for you if you decide to go for it.

Does anyone know of good regular summer clubs or activity programmes in the area?

we just got a second-hand car and in the end went for an estate. really glad we did as the extra room for camping gear is wonderful!

and how much is it, please?

I agree Katgod. I agree is not the most important issue in education at the moment perhaps, but agree that the government is meddling with this aspect so as to be seen to be doing something. until now it has been acceptable to occasionally take some time off in term-time. however, most people chose not to - and i very much doubt that anyone takes older kids out of school unless there is something like a family wedding or funeral overseas. it therefore does not descend into chaos. i remember most of my holidays being taken over the summer as a kid, apart from once when in primary school we went to visit family in Canada. was a once-in-a-lifetime journey and has stayed with me.

someone to sit in the back seat with them and keep them entertained! otherwise plan as much of your driving around naps and nighttime sleeps. even the best 16 month traveller is not going to be happy for more than a couple of hours.

one of the best presents my husband ever got was from my sister in Australia, who sent one of those deliveries of a lovely evening meal to our door. complete with bottle of wine, was wonderful!

I really loved the long wrap around ones, that are just a very very long piece of material, as you can use them in lots of different ways and they adapt completely to your body shape. can use from tiny baby up til a couple of years, depending on weight. can seem a bit intimidating at first but after a couple of days you can tie them one-handed. enjoy your choice. there really are loads of good ones out there!

Hi My daughter is very happy in her pre-school but has been offered a place at Heber nursery. I would like her to continue to Heber for reception but not sure if it is a good idea to move her from where she is happy - and also because it doesn't work for childcare needs, and she'd have to go to a child minder too. But I'm worried that if I turn down a nursery place I'll have trouble with getting in to reception. Does anyone have any experience of this? Also, any feedback on Heber nursery would be good too.

actually I'm not sure whether it depends on who they see most of - or whether it's a mum/dad thing. i'm out at work all day and my husband does the school runs and after-school care. of course, they are overjoyed to see me and it's all hugs and kisses when i arrive. but then they behave really badly when i am there - much worse than when i am not. it might be something about fighting for my attention i think, or just some kind of mum-effect. sometimes i have watched them through the window for a few moments and all is happiness and smiles, and as soon as they hear that key in the lock the little one comes wailing to tell me all the terrible things her brother has done to her that day! the difference is so marked that i always make sure i leave early for work in the morning - even if i have a late start - as my husband says having me around makes the morning routine so much harder. he just has it down pat and i get in the way...

i've PMd you

leave Daddy to babysit for an afternoon and go and get yourself some "me" time....

mmm, sounds familiar. think that realistic standards help - things will get better in a few years. think everyone has their own pet domestic needs. mine is food. i will stay up til midnight a few nights a week cooking healthy stews, soups etc so I know I'll be able to just heat something up quickly and we all get good food. my sis thinks I am crazy... for both cleaning and washing, I tend to save it up til the weekend. just do the absolute bare minimum kitchen cleaning and tidying up during the week, and at some point over the weekend the kids will be chilling out with some telly or (gasp of wonder) actually playing nicely together and I'll be able to get the bulk of it done. or they can help. If not, Sunday night we tend to have a beer, put the music on and get the house ready for the week. I can live with some chaos during the week if I know for Monday morning I'll have that clean house feeling again. I tend to live with a whole long list of things I'd like to get done sometime - clean the loft etc - but short of taking annual leave off work (I work full time) to do house chores, I'm happy just to get the bare basics done each week! I tend to find that if I'm getting crabby, it's time to call it quits for the day and have a glass of wine. this is all meant to be fun, isn't it???

if you go to Borough market make sure you go to Giuseppe's stall selling produce from Cantabria. He does this mix of olive oil, chilli, dried tomatoes and other bits to stir through pasta that is AMAZING!!! hope you have a lovely time. sounds like it is very much needed.

hi if you do a search you will find a thread on this from last year. a group of us had a few meetings as a Spanish parents group, but it has kind of fallen by the wayside as everyone always had weekend plans. everyone enjoyed it though, so I'm sure you will have some takers. we used to go to the Plough for Sunday lunch. keep us posted.