All posts by Katherine

When to bed-share with your baby?

Cosleeping, ,

A very helpful article by Helen Ball on bedsharing and breastfeeding, from Breastfeeding Today .

She examines how babies sleep – which is very differently to an adult, and how the western view of babies and sleep has been shaped by babies sleeping alone. Then moves on to the relationship between bed-sharing and breastfeeding. Helen Ball looks at the research on risk of bedsharing and highlights how the risks relate to individual circumstance and sums up with guidelines on how to bed-share safely.

The issue’s theme is sharing sleep, and another contributor Dr James McKenna is always worth a read.

What to look for in a home ed home?

Home education

We are current searching for a new house, which has set me thinking – what makes a great home ed house?

Location? We want to be on a bus route that takes us to the places we want to go – friends and libraries and group, with a good local grocery shop. We also don’t want to walk as far as we do now to some wilder green space, and a handy playground would be a bonus.

On the outside we want a big enough garden for a trampoline, some space to run and do a bit of gardening too, with access fromt he outside for all the muddy bikes and things. An easy to use access from inside the house too, to encourage us all to get out there and enjoy the outdoors more.

We have been finding that many houses have only one medium sized or smallish reception room, but three bedrooms. As a family that work and play together I would much rather prefer that we spend time together downstairs than hiding upstairs in bedrooms! Bedrooms should be for sleeping, and having a little quiet or private time rather than playing or making. So more downstairs space than upstairs!

As for the living space – we want wall space for shelves and display – all those posters, maps and artwork that we produce. A place to watch TV or play with playmobil, lego or other toys. And space for two or three people to play on the computer/laptop at the same time. Would much prefer hard flooring – more fun for playing on, things stand up better and so much easier to keep clean, especially with paint. play dough etc.

Plus of course, table space for baking, making, playing, eating, chatting. We have seen a house with a lovely kitchen/diner. A big breakfast bar, as big as a table so that we can cook and make together, plus space for dining room table and chairs too.

Babywearing – what to wear in wet and cold?

Babywearing, ,

With babywearing comes a whole other world of questions – like what to wear when the weather gets cold and wet?
Over the last 7 years I have tried a few options.

First of all babywearing beats a pushchair when it is raining. I’ve never been able to push my pushchair and carry an umbrella. But have found that with baby in a sling, even on the back I can just put up my umbrella, make sure the umbrella is over baby (if baby doesn’t want to feel the rain on her face) with the spokes touching her back and off we go. Particularly good are those large, clear dome umbrellas, but we’ve managed fine with a children’s Dora the Explorer one!

Front carry with an ordinary coat

For a little baby on the front I found that just wearing a biggish coat, done up over the front worked great. But as time went on, and we moved over to more and more back carries I needed a new approach.

At first I just tried both of us wearing our coats and then putting the sling over the top. This works great with my mei-tai, but it does lead to the problem of both of us overheating when we go indoors – especially into hot, stuffy shopping centres. On the flip side now I have very active, walking child each having our costs on means that she already has the right clothes on to get down and play outside.

Finally I decided I needed a proper babywearing coat. But which to choose?

I don’t spend or think a lot about clothes and style, but I am very picky. I like anything I buy to ‘be me’. Preferably a bit quirky and in the right colours – bright, strong, clear colours – red, green or purple, but usually end up with the inevitable fall back – black!

A look at the babywearer.com mostly turned up anorak type coats. Not what I was after at all. Then I found three options:

The Äiska Babywearing Poncho. Which I loved the look of, but couldn’t help feeling that it would completely drown little old me.

The MamaPoncho – beautiful, neat but not really a coat.

Very, very pregnant in the MamaJacket

And finally the MamaJacket. This is the one I bought and have worn for several years. It is neat (sizes are rather small), looks good as an ordinary coat, and a maternity one. The only down side is that is isn’t as warm as many other coats. But in UK with its limited deep winter – and lotsof autumn and spring chilly days it is usually fine. Now available in a gorgeous red colour which I would love to have had.

Then this morning I followed a link and found this coat – the MaM Babywearing tunic.  Quirky and at Naturally Happy Slings it is even available in red fleece. Like the MamaJacket it can be worn as an ordinary coat, during pregnancy, or babywearing front or back. Interestingly it comes in three different fabrics – stretchy polar fleece, wool/viscose or a weatherproofed fleece. As I seem to spend alot of time outside standing around in playgrounds the weatherproof version is very tempting, although sadly not available in the red.

Now the question is “Is it too late to buy a babywearing coat?” as DD2 is coming to the end of regularly being in the sling. But then again – it can be worn as an ordinary coat!

One little extra for baby. When in a sling trousers ride up – so leg warmers such as Babylegs or Huggalugs are a great idea. Though we have usually just gone with long trousers on a baby who isn’t walking yet, or high boots on a child that is.

World Book Day 2011

Children's books, Featured

Nearly time for World Book Day. Most of the world celebrates this UNESCO desingated day on 23rd April, St George’s Day. But in the UK and Ireland it takes place in March (this year on the 3rd).

A main aim of World Book Day in the UK and Ireland is to encourage children to explore the pleasures of books and reading by providing them with the opportunity to have a book of their own.

Children receive a World Book Day £1 Book Token (or equivalent €1.50 Book Token in Ireland), which can be exchanged for one of the six specially published World Book Day books or can be used as a £1 book token. These are obtained through schools, home education charities or direct from World Book Day Helpline on 01634 729810.

World Book Day, unlike BookStart is an independent charity, financed by contributions from publishers, National Book Tokens Ltd and others.

The website also has a nice selection of book character related games which we enjoy throughout the year.

History music videos

Featured, History, Websites, , , , ,

History music videos are very popular in our house.

History Teachers create entertaining, enlightening, well-crafted history music videos.

Full chronological list.

The French Revolution to Lady GaGa! From the History for Music Lovers, historyteachers’s YouTube Channel

 

BAFTA award winning Horrible Histories does them too.

Born to Rule – by the Georgian kings is a particular favourite. (Despite the implied inaccuracy that George III was George II’s son, actually grandson).

 

BookStart – a waste of Government money?

Books and Magazines, Children's books, Featured, Learning

In recent weeks the Government announced that it would cut its grant to BookTrust for England, then did a u-turn under public pressure.

Although loved by parents as the outcry over cuts shows BookStart, surely a much smaller scheme focused on less active reading families would be better value for money, rather than blanketing the country in baby books. Shouldn’t tax payers be paying for targeted services for those that need them, rather than doing things what most parents will do on their own anyway.
BookTrust should go back to being an independent charity – funded by donations and small grants, rather than the Government guango it has become.
I searched out every pack for my girls, usually by going and getting it from the local library as in our area health visitor checks have vanished and the girls don’t do nursery. They are a mostly a nice add on – providing the odd book – most of which are good, although one was truly appalling.
But like most people I don’t need tax payers to be buying the odd book for my children.
The public library service is far more important in my view. At a time when local libraries are determining which hours to close to deal with budget cuts I’d rather money went to the public library service. It provides so much more than a book every year or two, a couple of nice bags, a pretty cardboard box and a few booklets. It provides thousands of fantastic books in the preschool age group, baby rhyme times, and story telling sessions etc.
I do believe there should be a scheme encouraging Parents and Babies into public libraries, and health visitors should be encouraged to promote books but I don’t think Government funded books are the best way to do this.
And there are even more vital services that just don’t exist in my area – like health visitor checks. My youngest has only had one health visitor check – the newborn one. They are so stretched in our area that her one year check was by post, received the week before her second birthday (and this was before Coalition cut backs). When vital frontline services are so stretched, can it really be right to be spending tax payers money on providing a handful of books to every child.

The other side – a Mum supports the BookStart programme.

EOS – Christmas issue

Featured, Headline, Home education, Magazines and blogs, ,

The latest issue of the home education magazine EOS is now out.

The latest big question is “how will they do their GCSEs?”

There is an article looking at an alternative vision for schools, unschooling and Shakespeare. Plus make a gingerbread house, story books to read together at Christmas and making Christmas memories.

Possibly my favourite article this issue is Paula Cleary’s joyful piece on the importance and joy of music.

Okido

Children's magazines, Featured, Headline, Magazines and blogs,

DD2 has just received her first issue of Okido, the arts and science magazine for kids.

She is 3 and has enjoyed reading through it together. Her 7 year old sister is jealous and keeps walking off with it.
The illustrations are beautiful and very varied. The writing has them both engaged. Each themed issue, our first is biodiversity, includes stories, facts, puzzles, comic strips, things to make, games and puzzles. It is quirky and very different to mainstream mags.
Thoroughly recommend it.

Booktrust schemes and websites for children.

Children's books,

The Booktrust is a charity dedicated to encouraging people of all ages and cultures to enjoy books. The website features book reviews, interviews, blogs, competitions as well as details of a wide range of projects and campaigns.

The projects inclde schemes providing free books to children. We have enjoyed the books and packs from Bookstart, and so I’m posting about this and the other schemes and websites run for children.

Bookstart is the name of the programme run by Booktrust for preschoolers, which provides book gift packs. Available from health visitors (Bookstart and Bookstart+), preschool settings (Treasure Chest) or from public libraries. The website includes guidance on reading with your child, games, an events map and downloadable activity sheets.

Bookstart pack for babies – for babies aged 0-12 months
Bookstart+ – for toddlers aged 18-30 months
My Bookstart Treasure Chest – for children aged 36-48 months
There are also two packs in Welsh, one for deaf children and one for blind/partially sighted.

Booktime is the scheme for children starting school. The website includes Booky’s World with booklists, videos and games, aswell as resources for families, teachers and librarians.

Contact to request books for those not accessing mainstream education e.g.: those who are home educated, looked after children, traveller families etc is booktime@booktrust.org.uk  (Please note: reception aged children in England only).

BookedUp is the secondary age/school scheme , which aims to encourage reading for pleasure and independent choice through providing year 7 pupils (children aged 11/first year secondary) with a free book from a list of specially selected titles. The website includes book information, message boards, polls, games and resources.

Home educators can ring customer services on 0845 606 4262 to register as a coordinator for the Booked Up programme and order your child’s free book.

The LetterboxC lub focuses on improving the educational outlook for looked-after children aged 7-13 by providing them with a parcel of books, maths activities and educational materials once every month for six months.  

Other Booktrust websites and projects aimed at children:

Booktrust Children’s Books – Website of information and resources about children’s and teenage books. With book reviews, booklists, author interviews, competitions and illustrator’s galleries. Featuring picture books and teenage books.

Bookmark for information, books or advice relating to disability and children’s books.

Children’s Book Week – Resources for Children’s Book Week; an annual celebration of reading for pleasure for children of primary school age.

Children’s Laureate – Reosurces and information about the Children’s Laureate.

Everybody Writes – Everybody Writes is a resource that offers classroom teachers and education professionals innovative ideas and practical resources to get primary pupils and secondary students excited about writing.

Scientist hypothesises that using tools to make slings made us human.

Babywearing, Parenting, ,

Archaeologist and anthropologist Timothy Taylor claims that tools use came before Homo species, that Australopithecines used stone tools to create baby slings to carry their young.

Bipedalism requires baby to have a small brain at birth because of the mother’s small pelvis, but it makes it harder for baby to cling to mother.

“Upright female hominins walking the savannah had a real problem: their babies couldn’t cling to them the way a chimp baby could cling to its mother. Carrying an infant would have been the highest drain on energy for a hominin female – higher than lactation. So what did they do? I believe they figured out how to carry their newborns using a loop of animal tissue. Evidence of the slings hasn’t survived, but in the same way that we infer lungs and organs from the bones of fossils that survive, it is from the stone tools that we can infer the bits that don’t last: things made from sinew, wood, leather and grasses.”

So now the helpless babies can be carried, allowing Homo species to gve birth more prematurely and the baby to continue to develop extra-uterine. Duncan Caldwell also hypothesizes that the sling enabled humans to give birth to more immature babies and develop bigger brains post-natally and that the sling environment also led to loss of hair to combat parasites

http://gizmodo.com/5619821/artificial-ape-man-how-technology-created-humans

http://web.me.com/duncancaldwell/Site/Baby_Sling_Adaptations.html

http://newhumanist.org.uk/2330/slings-arrows