National Storytelling Week…using stories to support wider learning.

I have always been a big fan of books. I love reading and was an early reader (started to read words when I 3, books at 4). Apparently I would read back of cereal packets, flyers, signs…pretty much anything with words on. J has taken after me in this respect. He has always loved books….

Living Arrows 5/52: Why we use symbol communication…

Hi, I’m actually rather impression that it’s the last Monday of January and I’ve managed to complete every Living Arrows post. This year I said I was going to be more organised and so far I’m sticking to it. Go me! Using symbol communication systems Anyway, this weeks photo is J using symbol communication board…

‘Nines Out of Ten’…our visit to Nines All You Can Eat Buffet! (Family review, including taking child with additional needs)

Last night we celebrated my little sisters 30th birthday. It’s always a bit difficult helping J understand birthdays. In December J turned 3 and it was the first year he really knew what was going on. Whenever it’s anyone else’s birthday he gets a bit confused. He asks me if it’s his birthday, is he…

Living Arrows 4/52: Open spaces and open hearts…

This week has been challenging to say the least. J’s behaviour has taken a nose dive and he is getting more anxious and easily frustrated. I wrote about it in a blog post because I just needed to help myself form a plan of action. I’ve come up with a list of strategies to try,…

The Challenges of Challenging Behaviour…how to help your child.

Eurgh, J’s behaviour has been challenging over the last week. I put it down to a combination of things: -Change in routine as J now goes to Nursery (he’s not been around groups of children like this for a little while). -Turning 3 and officially being a ‘threenager’ -Being more communicative now so ‘asserts’ himself….

Living Arrows 3/52: The Obsession…

The Star Wars obsession is growing. J has always had obsessions. It started with doors as a toddler where he could have spend 15 minutes opening and closing the same door. Then it moved to a Disney Cars when he was 2 and everything had to be car related. He had to know who everyone…

Smear for Smear: My Cervical Story…

This is a story that my friends and family know but I’ve never blogged about. I guess the ‘downstairs department’ has always been an off limits section when it comes to general conversation. I may not share details of my ‘downstairs hairstyle’ or want to tell every Tom, Dick and Harry the state of the…

5 Ways My Autistic Child Might Fool You…

Children are great at fooling adults. I’ve seen many parents who smirk when someone compliments their child by saying how well behaved they are when little did they know that 5 minutes earlier they were screaming the shop down as they couldn’t have the £200 toy. Or at preschool when a child wouldn’t be able…

Mummy’s Day Off: My stay in London, Mayfair (& a review of Holiday Inn)

I have just spent the last 2 days in London exploring the rather more pricey side of the capitol. I went with my Mum and sister to see the musical Les Miserables at The Queens Theare on Shaftsbury Avenue (near Piccadilly). It was easier to stay overnight rather then travelling late at night when we…

Living Arrows: 2/52: My boy is growing up…

The past week has so many photos that it’s hard to choose just one so there’s a couple. Over the last week J has started Nursery, made the leap to actually touching a new texture (this has taken over a year!) and decided he doesn’t want bedtime nappies anymore. It feels like he is just…

Why does my child love to line things up? Does this mean my child has Autism?

Over my 14 years as an Early Years Professional the whole ‘my child lines their toys up, should I be worried?’ question was asked quite regularly. Its often thought of to be a sign of Autism and so its seem almost as a ‘symptom’. My response was always along the lines of ‘what are they gaining from lining up?’ as…

The next step on J’s Journey: Starting Nursery…

Being a parent is so emotional…sometimes good emotions, sometimes ones that leave you drained. Today I had every emotion in one. J started Nursery all by himself.  When J was 2 he started at preschool. It was MY preschool. It was the family business which I run with my Mum. I was the Early Years…