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October 7th, 2008
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** Don’t forget the celebration contest open until Wednesday 29 Oct 2008. **
Getting boys to stay interested in reading is a common problem as they get older.
As a mum , I choose books I think they’ll like. But boys books are just different. I look at my husbands bookshelf and don’t see anything I like so I know I’ll be in trouble trying to choose books. Tuning into boy books is hard but needn’t be.
Here’s a great scheme for ages 0-7..
“Book Ahead is an initiative by the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) in England, which aims to get enjoyable books into the hands of young children in Early Years settings to develop enjoyment in reading at an early stage, and also to strengthen the links between those settings and their local public and Schools Library Services.”
“It is based on a booklist commissioned from the School Library Association, written by Julia Eccleshare, with contributions from other library organisations. The booklist is available free and each local authority in England has been funded by DCSF to purchase books from the list to use with Early Years settings such as playgroups and nurseries in their area.
The full version of the booklist is available online, including search and index facilities, the introduction and the appendices. The whole booklist is also available to download as a PDF file.”
See the different age groups and Riveting reads grouped by subject try this link.
I have a new list of favourites to look up at the library in the 3-5 year old list. There are lots of our favourite authors like, Lauren Child, John Burningham, Lynley Dodd, Colin McNaughton & Julia Donaldson already there!
What books do your under 5 boys like to hear/read?
Share them below 
Interested in starting chapter books… read this interesting post.
Popularity: 18% [?]
Technorati Tags: boys, reading, Book Ahead, Early Years, School Library Association, playgroups, nurseries, Riveting reads, Lauren Child, John Burningham, Lynley Dodd, Colin McNaughton, Julia Donaldson
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September 16th, 2008
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Welcome to the 15th edition of Carnival of Parenting Podcasts
Back from the Summer break………
It’s a place to share and find some new parenting podcasts from the podcaster and recommendations from those who listen to podcasts.
..Not sure about Podcasts? Try this ecourse.
Top 10
Send in your favourite podcasts of the fortnight.
- WHFamily: Getting up in the morning As children get back into the school routine, so begins for many parents, the challenge of getting both themselves and their children out of bed, washed, dressed and fed before heading out of the door. Aside from shouts, pleas and bribery,what’s the best way to motivate children to take responsibility for themselves in the morning?
- Mumcentric Show 23 workout that new Mums can do whilst taking their baby out in the buggy. This week we chat with entrepreneur Lisa Donaldson, who has brought Buggy Buddies to Ireland. According to Lisa, the one-hour social workout is far from a stroll in the park!
- Moms Everywhere Show 013: TheBabyPlanners.com How do we know which stroller to pick or what things are important to know when picking out baby stuff? I Well, we have two incredible moms in Los Angeles, California - Melissa Gould and Ellie Miller who started TheBabyPlanners.com.
- Mighty Mommy: Behold The Power Of Choice award-winning author Stacey Kaye talks about the power of choice.
Send in your recommendations to be included in the top 10 favourite podcasts of the week fortnight.
Technorati tags: carnival of parenting podcasts, blog carnival.
What’s playing on Play activities radio
3 Keys to Raising a Highly Motivated Child
Rae Pica and Wendy S. Grolnick, Ph.D.
See right sidebar
Popularity: 49% [?]
Technorati Tags: Carnival of Parenting Podcasts, podcasts
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September 5th, 2008
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Now we’re in September, we’re able to sit back and enjoy the veg garden.
It’s our first veg garden and it’s not gone as well as I had hoped but the boys have loved seeing the garden grow.
- They have watered the garden with the garden hose. The attachment was a lot of fun to turn it and get different strengths of water coming out. The plants always made a good recovery after the high pressure blast the little guy loved to use.
- Each morning they would go and check to see if anything was growing. They counted each new vegetable.
- They learnt that courgette and zucchini are the same thing.
- We all wondered why the cauliflower grew big leaves but a cauliflower the size of plum.
Here’s some pics of the boys picking veggies from the garden.
Connecting the food we have in the shops to what grows in the ground has been a lot of fun. Both boys are good vegetable eaters already but definately ate the courgette the time they picked it.
Not too many courgettes to make bread but enough to love it for dinner.
Lots of interesting discussion about food and growing food this summer.
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Have you listened to the latest from play activities radio?
Perfect listening for back to school : Is Your Child on The Fast Track to Successs? Rae Pica with Denise Pope, Ph.D.
( Top right hand sidebar)
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Following the birth of the newest little one, the family are taking a well deserved break to spend some time together getting to know the newest little brother.
**Play activities blog will be taking a very late summer holiday. Be back soon.**
Other vegetable gardens
Welcome Pumpkin!! (and welcome home Phil)
Highs and Lows of My Vegetable Garden
Let The Children PLANT!
Kid-safe garden spray
Popularity: 23% [?]
Technorati Tags: garden
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August 29th, 2008
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Back in late May/ early June the kid’s planted a garden with Grandma, as mummy can’t bend like that anymore with Baby on board.
Here’s the update……..
Nothing grew as I expected and certainly not as high or as fruitful as I expected. We think it was down to the soil and lack of a good potting soil and fertilizer, soil type- very sandy and windy conditions. But ah well. Here’s what we have so far.
Two types of tomato plant: grape tomatoes and vine tomato
Can you see the hidden tomatoes? Our first ones
The cauliflower is on the mini side but perhaps will become an ornament instead
We thought we’d lost the aubergine ( mini plant of the left) but it’s coming back. Don’t think it will make it but it’s beginning to flower.
The carrots are growing well all along the edge. As our the courgettes. New ones coming up.
Sadly here lies the spinach and lettuce. Some other insect enjoyed them.
Still got a little summer left and we’re watering daily so perhaps some vegs will arrive soon.
Big guy is getting excited as look what’s for dinner tonight……………
Planted, watered and watched by him for the last months. Our first harvest from the garden.
Hope they taste yummy.
Popularity: 26% [?]
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