#pre-schooler

The Very Hungry Caterpillar 4-in-1 Games Box Review and Giveaway

When I was at school, one of my favourite books was The Very Hungry Caterpillar. It was one of those books I still remember today. I haven’t yet got a copy for baby girl but when we were sent The Very Hungry Caterpillar 4-in-1 Games Box to review from Paul Lamond Games , I thought it’s the perfect time to get her interested in one of my childhood books.

As soon as the Games box arrived she just…

This morning Leo made some lovely wrapping paper for his cousin Emma using his stamps, unfortunately I was so impressed with the way he wrote his name I photographed that but forgot to photograph the paper before we sent it.

He also made a fox with a toilet roll, he still needs to attach the tail when it is dry though so picture of that to follow this afternoon.

We danced to “Superman”, Leo’s getting super at actions now. 

We played I Spy and I was pretty impressed that Leonardo knew kettle begins with a K.

After that we went for a walk down to the river and to post the parcel. At the river we talked about floating and sinking and threw rocks and sticks into the river. 

On the way back we learned about the rain falling on the umbrella and found the big trees which acted like umbrellas. 

Then he asked why our house was called East Cottage so we learned where North, East, South and West are in relation to our home. We learned a bit about the poles and that led to him asking how penguins mate. I’m not actually sure of that so it is something to research for another day if he asks about the genitals but today he was happy with the explanation that the daddy gives the mummy sperm which goes into the egg which she lays just like a chicken (OK not the most biologically accurate but it beats the “special cuddle” I was told about and I managed zoology at degree level - just!) Then I told him all about the daddy holding the egg on his feet until it hatches. Then he wanted to know why they don’t fly so it was a very quick lesson on why they evolved flippers instead of wings. 

This evening I am hoping to find the David Attenborough which shows penguins breeding and swimming. We’ll also be getting the globe and compass out and learning about the compass points with those soon too. 

He’s currently watching “Getting Strong” his current favourite Wiggles DVD and then this afternoon we’ll be finishing off the fox and then doing a little bit of maths - not decided whether to go with a work-book or marbles yet, we’ll see what Leo decides. 

The classes have all finished for the summer now. 

Leonardo came on fabulously during his drama sessions, he’s made friends, he joins in and he shows me what he’s been acting when we get home. His singing and actions are fabulous now and I am quite sure that is thanks to Jo the drama teacher. I’ll be buying his next term as soon as they’re available on the website. 

He’ll not be going back to mini-movers (he was the oldest by far in the class) but we’ve still not decided whether to move up to bunny-beats ... probably not, the teacher can’t control him so it seems a waste of time and money. I was contemplating having an informal “dancing to the Wiggles” afternoon once a week for any of his friends to come and join in with instead.  

I was also speaking with the home-schoolers about the possibility of messy-play, outdoor play and cooking sessions at our house. I know a lot of the other mums either don’t have the room or don’t like the mess. We’ve got a huge kitchen and garden and would be making the mess anyway. I’ll need to sort out some kind of time-table to work in best with my work and the days we’d be home doing those things anyway. 

Tomorrow we’re meeting with the Highland unschool group again, it is a birthday party at Whin Park tomorrow which will be lovely. We’re meeting at least one of those guys once a week now which is fab as it gives him some consistency in addition to drama. I must admit I was so pleased to hear one of his little unschool friends yell “THERE’S LEO!” and go rushing towards him at a crowded play park when we went to the Bellfield Park open day a couple of weeks ago. I must admit I had a few worries about him making friends - or rather refusing to - a few months ago. 

The reading has fallen by the wayside. I completely blame Dora the Explorer for this (well that and I usually get up a few hours before him to work now so we no longer read in bed.) Since he got a huge box-set of Dora books that is all we ever read. Not quite as good for teaching reading as Biff, Chip and Kipper were. I REALLY hope the Dora infatuation ends soon, I really don’t like those books. I need to find a Spanish friend to read them to him. I’ve managed to squeeze the odd Julia Donaldson in but that’s about it. 

Maths, we’re sort of all over the place, he’s learning numbers up to 100 but can count to 15, always forgets 16 and then carries on to 20. We’ve not done any formal maths work for a while.

I asked Billy what he would like to do this weekend:

1) “Go to the ice cream place”.

2) “Take a shower with mommy”

3) “Bounce all my bouncing balls and throw them up”

4) “Play with my water toys”