I think I'm quite an idealistic person; I have a vision of how I'd like to parent, what I'd like to pour into our kids, the environment and experiences I'd like them to be surrounded by and enjoy. The more I read, the more this vision is fuelled with fresh ideas. This is good, I… Continue reading Ideals and reality January 2019
Tag: home ed
Edible slime / January 2019
What is it that makes slime so irresistible to most small girls? I guess it's tactile and soothing. We used to make ublek (cornflour and water) for poorly children in hospital; it was part of the whole package of therapeutic play. As a mum, though, I'm not a great fan of it, as it creates… Continue reading Edible slime / January 2019
Around the year in picture books – Europe November/December 2018
We ended our tour of North America in Boston and decided to cross the Atlantic by ship. So, following in the footsteps of the redoubtable Katy (“What Katy did Next” by Susan Coolidge) we donned our sea shoes and stepped aboard an ocean liner. Once docked, we departed from Katy’s itinerary and set off on… Continue reading Around the year in picture books – Europe November/December 2018
Fading autumn days 30 November 2018
I write some of these posts as a diary for me...knowing these years with young children are infinitely precious, and while I welcome in the new and exciting seasons, I will cherish the memories of these years when our family and home are central in thier lives. A social worker once described us as a… Continue reading Fading autumn days 30 November 2018
Moon project September/October 2018
We had a harvest moon back in September. This is the full moon which occurs nearest to the autumn equinox. It rises very close to sunset, low in the sky and appears very bright due to the tilt of the earth (I don’t really understand this, but Lanky Dude explained it to us). Its light… Continue reading Moon project September/October 2018
16 November 2018
November has come with many misty days, interspersed with the occasional one with a “gin clear sky” (I read that description this week and it made me smile!). Following several conversations, I’ve been mulling over both the daily and long term nature of mothering. I think so often the necessity of hard work, perseverance, and trusting… Continue reading 16 November 2018
Chemistry – mass and weight November 2018
I always think the concept of mass versus weight is a difficult one, especially as we generally use the terms interchangeably in our every day language. Mass is the amount of matter in an object, and weight is the force of gravity acting on it. So, Dancing Toes' mass will be the same whether she… Continue reading Chemistry – mass and weight November 2018
All aboard The Matthew October 2018
The week before the holidays, a group of fifty or so from our home ed group set sail for an hour on "The Matthew" a reconstruction of the boat on which John Cabot navigated the Atlantic and found his way to Newfoundland. To do this he had sought sponsorship from the English king, Henry VII,… Continue reading All aboard The Matthew October 2018
Around the world in a year of picture books
Inspired by listening to Jules Verne's "Around the world in eighty days" on audible over the summer holidays, I decided to do a whistle stop tour of the world over this next year, using picture books (they take less time to read than chapter books), an atlas, a globe, puzzles, games and activity sheets. Below… Continue reading Around the world in a year of picture books
Half term October 2018
I love the beginning of any holidays; time stretching blissfully ahead, a blank canvas. I picked the boys up from college today, rather than them catching the bus; I’ve lit the fire, the girls are in their pyjamas and wrapped in duvets, the boys are choosing a film for Friday night pizza and movie and several… Continue reading Half term October 2018
Mothering through the seasons 