Thames Valley Mums Blog

Slowly, Slowly, Slowly,” Said the Sloth Prize Draw

Enter your primary school and local library in the Prize Draw contest to receive an exclusive, signed artist’s proof from Eric Carle 

This autumn, 680,000 copies of Eric Carle’s wonderful story book “Slowly, Slowly, Slowly,” Said the Sloth will be given to reception age children in England, as a gift from independent charity Booktrust and Pearson, the world’s leading education and technology company.  

To celebrate, Booktime are offering primary schools and libraries in England the chance to enter a prize draw to receive an exclusive artist’s proof from the book. Each vibrant, colourful spread from the book is signed by Eric Carle. 

Top five tips for getting ready to go back to school

Sponsored post

One of my favourite US retailers Target (pronounced Tar-JAY) asked if I would pretty please come up with a few back-to-school tips.

A Modern Mother's top five tips for getting ready to go back to school:

1. If your child is feeling apprehensive about their new class (who wouldn't?) arrange a playdate with some classmates during the course of the summer. The summer break is a long one and regular contact with school mates will help to maintain stability and ease back-to-jitters.

2. Be enthusiastic about school. Point out all the fun they will have seeing their friends again and all the cool things they will learn and do. Children will take your cue, so the more positive you are about school, the more excited they will be.

Exams don't have to be stressful

Childline sent us this viral video. With much of the country's youngsters getting ready for extensive testing, the message is a good one: Exams don't have to be stressful. Please pass it on!

This post was written by Susanna, a Thames Valley Mums Blog founding contributor. You can read more at her blog, A Modern Mother.

Go on then, be a dinner lady

I volunteer as a dinner lady at my daughters' school.

I did it out of sheer desperation. I had no idea what was going on at that hallowed institution – my daughter offers very little insight.

Before being a dinner lady, this is how our conversations would go as we made our way home:

Me: “how was school today, sweetie?”

Daughter:  (looking around to see if any of her friends were still on the school premises; she spots one) “Hello Ella!”

The Little Book of Goodness

The School Food Trust have created "The Little Book of Goodness" which is full of advice and helpful tips on what kids should eat at school. Check it out!

SchoolFoodTrust : 'Little Book of Goodness'

There's also a competition to win a year's worth of free school lunches.

This post was written by Susanna, a Thames Valley Mums Blog founding contributor. You can read more at her blog, A Modern Mother.

The standards are slipping

I could feel the murmur making its way down the reception queue this morning, the more keen mums reminding the late comers.

"Don't forget, cake sale day today."

Ah, cake sale day. The day we all dash down to Waitrose and spend at least £6 on essentials like cake mix, butter, icing sugar, smarties, and other decorations. Then we go home and spend half the morning slaving in the kitchen baking fairy cakes. We spend the other half of the morning washing up. The afternoon is filled with the task of decorating the 24 fairy cakes that will sell for 25p each, bringing in a grand total of £6 to the PTA coffers...

I decided this morning I really didn't have time for all that, and went to Tesco and bought 16 donuts (on sale).

As I said, the standards are slipping...

This post was written by Susanna, a Thames Valley Mums founding contributor. You can read more at her blog, A Modern Mother.

Children, school and rise in depression…

I was on the Vanessa Feltz phone-in radio show on Saturday promoting my book - not that I am trying to promote my book and the wonderful Vanessa Feltz over everything else but, it was a highly enjoyable experience as Feltz is as sharp as a whip and very funny - when a listener e-mailed in to describe what a miserable time her son was having at school (it was on the back of another set of comments). She went in to great detail about how he had, since he changed year and got a new teacher, become withdrawn, unhappy and, essentially, had now been diagnosed with depression.

Christmas cheer!

The nativity play is most definitely over, only it wasn’t so much of a play as a sing-along-a-Christmas. There were lots and lots of wise men and kings and shepherds at the inn and my MS played an irascible traveller – smiling his way throughout – and my youngest one a sheep.

He was so loathe to do it, I am amazed he got up on stage but he did. He stood there, wiping snot on his woolen outfit and staring in to space while everyone else sang. Then he tripped going off the stage and fell over and burst in to howls of tears which made everyone else look concerned and horrified bar my MS who thought it was hysterical.

This half term was a huge success

Half term is over, and we had no trips to A&E. I consider this a huge success.

One year I had to deal with a two-year-old who got her finger nail ripped off by having it slammed in the door (her sister swears she didn’t do it) AND a three-year-old who broke her arm climbing out of her cot.

In the UK, kids seem to have time off from school every few weeks. I’m lucky as my children go to state schools. It’s worse at the fee-paying schools. The more you pay for your child’s education here, the more time off they get off school (I guess it comes in handy if you have a chalet in Chamonix and want to get full use of it).

Healthy suggestions for packed lunches

It’s easy to get into a rut when preparing packed lunches.

My five-year-old brought this to my attention this week when she said (with hands on hips):

"PLEASE stop giving me ham sandwiches for lunch!"

Er, OK.

My usual lunch box repertoire includes a ham sandwich, an apple or grapes, and a Frube.

Poor girl.

To remedy this, I went in search of some ideas for healthy alternatives, and here are some of the things I found to put variety (and vitamins!) into your child's lunchbox.

Leave the hubbies at home: How to double your income from charity events

Our PTA financed a fantastic new playground this summer. The new play equipment is extremely popular with the children, but the downside is that we “shot the wad” so to speak. We need money.

Our next major fund raiser is the Winter Ball. It’s “black tie and glamorous frocks” and includes a three course meal at a local golf club, with a band and an auction of promises.

It should be a wonderful event. Tickets sold out the day they went on sale (at £100 a pop). I was one of the lucky ones.

The problem is my husband does not want to go to the ball. And I bet that most of the husbands do not share their wives' enthusiasm for attending this fund raiser.

Class reps: We need you!

I haven't decided if I'm going to the PTA meeting this week. Why?  For every hour spent in a PTA meeting, I end up doing two hours of PTA work. And if I have a glass of wine, it will end up being three hours.

This meeting is the one in which class reps are assigned. So if I get roped in volunteer to be a class rep, it’s not just double the time, but exponentially more time.

I know that if no one else’s hand goes up for one of my children’s classes, the guilt will set in and I'll find my arm defying my brain.

Immediately I'll regret this. My husband's inevitable last words will ring in my ear: "DON'T commit to anything, honey." Oooppps.

I help out primarily for the same reason I do other school volunteer work – to make my children’s education experience the best it can be.