Family Natters

Annie has a clicky hip.  My sister-in-law was the one to pick up on it, then the paediatrician confirmed it with a simple systematic test in which Annie lay on her back with all bottom clothes off and had her hips maneovered.

The doctor asked if there was a family history of clicky hips and referred her for an x-ray to check for congenital dislocation.  Basically, Annie had again to have her bottom half-undressed while I held her legs in two different positions.

It’s always best to have clicks checked out as early as possible because if there is dislocation treatment is easier then, perhaps by a splint.  If a child is walking, sometimes the hip has to be put in plaster.  Generally look, the outlook is excellent.

This Mothers Day card craft and activity idea is suitable for FS1/ FS2, and younger children can colour in the tea pot, help stick it on to the card and make a scribble for their name.

Children can sing the action rhyme I’m a little teapot and talk about what their mums do for them all year round, and so what they can do for them on Mothering Sunday, such as help make breakfast.

Annie wasn’t born with a strawberry (hemangioma) birthmark, but about 4 days afterwards a small pink patch formed under her chin.  I thought at first her babygrow was irritating her chin, but it just got bigger, redder and raised.  The doctor thought it would disappear  except for some silvery after-marks, by around her first birthday but as you can see it is still present now and she’s over 2.  It is very slowly fading though, from the centre outwards, and she’s young enough not to be hurt that some people, especially children stare and comment on it.

Please tell me your experiences with strawberry birthmarks.

If you need ideas for a St Valentine’s Day lesson plan suitable for KS1 and KS2, why not consider telling the children the following history/ story of  St Valentine then ask them to rewrite it as if they were there:

• ask the children what they understand by valentines day or St  Valentine
• explain they need to listen carefully because they are going to recount the story/ history of the day:

1700 years ago Rome was ruled by Emperor Claudius II who enjoyed waging wars and expected men to volunteer to fight. But because many men didn’t want to leave their wives and children,  Claudius decided not to let people get married, which of course wasn’t popular.

One priest who felt strongly about it was called Valentine. He secretly kept performing marriages, even though he knew it was against the law and punishable by death. Unfortunately he was caught and thrown in jail.

One of his few comforts there was the friendship of the daughter of a prison guard. She visited him often and helped him to stay positive. Valentine was so grateful to her that on the day he was to die he left her a farewell note and signed it, “From your Valentine.”

This day was February 14^th, and gradually over the years this date became marked by the sending of notes, letters, cards and gifts to loved ones.

• consider asking the children to rewrite the story as if they were one of the characters.  They could choose to be either Valentine, someone who was getting married when Valentine was arrested, or the jailer’s daughter.

• alternatively ask the children to think of someone they love and why then share with their response partner.  To stop them from being silly you may ask them to think of a family member or someone outside of school.  Have 3 sensible children share with the rest of the class then introduce the activity of making a card for that person.

Please let me know other ideas you have for St Valentine Day lesson plans for KS1 and KS2 children.

The photo shows an idea for a Valentines card Foundation and KS1 children can make.  The cutting and sticking part exercise fine motor skills.  The heart is made out of shiney foil decorated with sequins.  Older children can produce the greetings using a computer and add extra sentences along the lines of “You are my valentine because…”

Let me know your Valentine card ideas.

This week I’ve been stalked by the rugby trophy James won on Saturday and which he carries from room to room in the house, he’s so delighted with it.  When I’m cooking its on the kitchen counter, when we’re eating its on the table and when I woke up this morning the darned thing was between us in the bed!

I suspected he may have won something when he arrived back from the awards ceremony 4 hours later than I’d thought, propped up between the local neighbourhood-watch warden and the pizza delivery boy who’d been talked into delivering James home along with his order.

Of course I was expected not to mind being woken up at 4 a.m. and be deleriously happy and proud, but that didn’t happen.  From long experience I suspected I would be continually woken up throughout the night by a combination of him falling over, not being able to find the bathroom and switching on the lights,  but James  surpassed himself with a new and novel way of waking me up.  

First of all he opened the curtains then stood on me while he opened the window itself. 

“What on earth are you doing?” I blinked, struggling to get his foot out of my mouth.

“Trying to get out of the plane,” he replied, whilst stood in the nude and holding the television of all things.

Honestly!

James can’t be the only one who gets silly when drunk.  Let me know what your man has done?

Tom was telling me the names of Santa’s reindeer.  “Prancer and Dancer, Vixen and Blitzen, Cupid and … Stupid,” he said.

Children in the foundation stage can get increase their knowledge and understanding of plants and growth by making these cress heads.  Old tights can be used to contain the growth medium and seeds, and the head can be placed in to an empty washed out youghurt carton which can hold the water.  Children can learn that the plants need to be watered every day and take photos over different days to compare the length of the hair (links to ICT and numeracy).

KS1 children  (5 to 7 year-olds) can enjoy making this Santa  Christmas tree decoration using different coloured wools and a large blunt needle.  Its a great way for developing fine motor skills, both boys and girls enjoy it and it takes a while to do.  Parents also love having a lasting memento of their children’s efforts that they can take out and dress the tree with every year.  Adults only need to cut out an appropriate shape (in classrooms can use a template to repeat the process) plus help to get started and with the facial features.

If you are interested in finding out about the fight records of Steve Collins and Nigel Benn, meeting them in person, having your photo taken with them or asking them questions, then you should consider buying a ticket for one of their sportsmen’s dinners. 

For about £60 per person you also receive a 3 course meal plus hearing them talk about themselves.  For a further £20 there is then the opportunity to have your photo taken, or you can take your own photos and request autographs.  Usually there is the chance to win or buy boxing relating memrobilla via raffles and auctions.  Just don’t get drunk and regret a maor purchase the day after.