Littlemummy.com

As you know I have bought a new house exactly 9.15 miles from where I live now, which means a change of catchment area for both primary and secondary schools. I’ve done some research on the education in the area;

Firstly, I checked which primary school Erin would attend.
Then I checked the inspectors report for the primary school, I found this fairly easily on the internet.
I then went and actually saw the school (just from the outside), I think you can get a good feel for a school by doing …

I’ve hit on a particularly interesting section in ‘You Want To Do What?: Instant answers to your parenting dilemmas‘ which covers morals.
The question was posed “When do children begin to know what is right and wrong?”. The section goes on to explain that there are three levels of development, preconventional, conventional and postconvential. Children in the preconventional stage, up to aged ten, are concerned with meeting their own needs whilst avoiding punishment. It is clear why this age encompasses the sneaky behaviour of toddlers, hiding behind …

One major thing I’ve done in the last year to simplify my finances is to get a flexible mortgage. This type of mortgage allows you to overpay and take payment breaks. All excess funds go into a savings pot which is offset against the mortgage lowering the interest to be paid, and, in turn reducing the monthly payments. I like the fact that we can build a cushion in the savings which we can use to take a break if something happens and we could do with …

Is ADHD a valid illness, or is it a modern day excuse for doctors and parents of energetic children with no outlet?
I am currently reading/reviewing ‘You Want To Do What?: Instant Answers to Your Parenting Dilemmas‘. I was surprised to find that in the section about ADHD, instead of the sympathetic advice usually offered, there was a completely different viewpoint, one I am still pondering now.
In short the book warns to beware of a diagnosis of ADHD or ADD…
“The term ADD developed after several years of mislabelling for children who …

Paula (a fellow british parent blogger and sponsor of littlemummy.com) sent us a sample barefoot book called ‘Bear About Town‘.
The first thing I noticed about the book was the vibrant colours, the cover is green, orange and pink, and they aren’t sickly shades, they look natural, which fits with the barefoot ethos. The books are designed to present “strong artwork”, “strong stories”, and be “multi-cultural in the best way”. You can see from the other titles at barefoot especially for the older kids that they stick to …

Erin’s achievements this week have included counting to six, drawing on my shoes, saying “sausage” and “bubbles”, drawing on the highchair, completing a jigsaw alone, drawing on the wall, occupying herself in the morning with a book while I wake up, drawing on her toy kitchen. Are you following the pattern? The toddler phase is definitely a series of highs and lows!
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We have been occupied viewing several houses, of which we have made offers on two, no word yet though. Our own flat goes on the market …

My challenge this week was to think positively. My first test was the maths assessment on Tuesday, I tried not to worry, which I’m usually quite bad for and instead tried to focus on the fact that I’d done ample preparation. On the day I stayed relaxed and tried my best to believe that I would pass. When the paper was being marked I started to think negative thoughts, but luckily it was all fine and I passed.
This week there will be another opportunity to put …

Abel Cheng of Parent Wonder tipped me off to this article which covers the stories of four different sets of people that have started their own schools. Two of the families because of poor state education, one a specialist autistic shool, and the other specialising in teaching those with dyslexia.
The story that caught my attention most was the second piece about ‘The Family School at Larkhall’. The school is set in the “heart of London” which is interesting in itself, one expects such schools to be rural if …

I recently wrote my top ten money saving strategies that are ensuring we can live off one wage, whilst I stay at home with my daughter Erin. Also providing me with the option of returning to full time education in the near future.
Now it’s time for seven false economies that have tripped me up along the way.
1. Shop Brand Nappies
You may think (like I did) that nappies are a perfect way to save some cash, after all, the supermarket brand versions can be as much as 40% …

My habit this week, or more accurately the past two weeks has been to get organised. When I looked a little further into what this habit might entail I found that many of the suggestions were tailored around making ‘to-do’ lists. Now, as you well know, I am the master of list making, this skill (obsession?) seems to be rife amongst my fellow parent bloggers…but that’s another post altogether!
So with me already making more lists than is eco-friendly (I know they do recycled paper, what about …