Comments for Familiesrecommend Blog http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com Reviews of family days out and places to go at Familiesrecommend.co.uk Mon, 31 Jan 2011 14:26:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Frugal Families – Reduce your grocery bill with some savvy shopping! by Emma Salt http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/2011/01/15/frugal-families-reduce-your-grocery-bill-with-some-savvy-shopping/comment-page-1/#comment-671 Emma Salt Mon, 31 Jan 2011 14:26:28 +0000 http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/?p=722#comment-671 I totally agree about the lower end products - I tried Sainsbury's basics tomato soup, and now it's the only one my children will eat (if they have a choice) as it's not as rich, and is actually lower in fat! Although I normally make my own rice pudding as it's cheaper and I know what goes in it, when my youngest was ill last week, and all he wanted to eat was cold rice pudding (!!!) I was surprised to see that the Tesco value was much lower in salt and fat, so we bought that, and it tasted fine. They're not all good, but on the whole, definitely worth trying! I totally agree about the lower end products – I tried Sainsbury’s basics tomato soup, and now it’s the only one my children will eat (if they have a choice) as it’s not as rich, and is actually lower in fat! Although I normally make my own rice pudding as it’s cheaper and I know what goes in it, when my youngest was ill last week, and all he wanted to eat was cold rice pudding (!!!) I was surprised to see that the Tesco value was much lower in salt and fat, so we bought that, and it tasted fine. They’re not all good, but on the whole, definitely worth trying!

]]> Comment on Best foot forward into 2011. Welcome back Emma! by Lee http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/2011/01/07/best-foot-forward-into-2011-welcome-back-emma/comment-page-1/#comment-634 Lee Thu, 13 Jan 2011 22:21:25 +0000 http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/?p=715#comment-634 I think this will be the blueprint for a lot of families this year Emma. A total overhaul on the way we all view our money. For instance, a couple of years ago we were not as clever on food shopping as we are now. Our bills were really high and I remember a lot of wastage. Fast forward to now and we approach things completely differently. Money is a motivating factor, but so is common sense. I intend to impart my story on the next blog post. While I dont think it will tell anyone anything they did not already know it might prove that little changes can go a long way. I think this will be the blueprint for a lot of families this year Emma. A total overhaul on the way we all view our money. For instance, a couple of years ago we were not as clever on food shopping as we are now. Our bills were really high and I remember a lot of wastage. Fast forward to now and we approach things completely differently. Money is a motivating factor, but so is common sense. I intend to impart my story on the next blog post. While I dont think it will tell anyone anything they did not already know it might prove that little changes can go a long way.

]]> Comment on A Christmas shopping tale… by Helen Ross http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/2010/11/22/a-christmas-shopping-tale/comment-page-1/#comment-579 Helen Ross Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:06:40 +0000 http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/?p=711#comment-579 They are probably increasing their prices in November so they can bring them back down to their original price in December and make it look as though you are getting a saving. Retailers are never out of pocket, they just have clever ways of making you think you are getting a bargain. They are probably increasing their prices in November so they can bring them back down to their original price in December and make it look as though you are getting a saving. Retailers are never out of pocket, they just have clever ways of making you think you are getting a bargain.

]]> Comment on Unlocking the potential in our school children by Emma Salt http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/2010/09/27/unlocking-the-potential-in-our-school-children/comment-page-1/#comment-327 Emma Salt Tue, 28 Sep 2010 14:17:49 +0000 http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/?p=659#comment-327 There is a theory that I read ages ago when I did my teacher training, that argues that the National Curriculum was the worst thing to happen to education. Now teachers have to be focused on literacy hour, numeracy hour etc with no flexibility, and so children have to follow a syllabus with little flexibility. Pre National Curriculum, primary schools were judged by how well their pupils did at secondary school and in formal exams at 16. I don't know what the answer is, but if I were to win the lottery, I would love to set up a school that teaches by doing, and inspires every child! There is a theory that I read ages ago when I did my teacher training, that argues that the National Curriculum was the worst thing to happen to education. Now teachers have to be focused on literacy hour, numeracy hour etc with no flexibility, and so children have to follow a syllabus with little flexibility. Pre National Curriculum, primary schools were judged by how well their pupils did at secondary school and in formal exams at 16. I don’t know what the answer is, but if I were to win the lottery, I would love to set up a school that teaches by doing, and inspires every child!

]]> Comment on Unlocking the potential in our school children by ElaineForeman http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/2010/09/27/unlocking-the-potential-in-our-school-children/comment-page-1/#comment-325 ElaineForeman Tue, 28 Sep 2010 06:05:04 +0000 http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/?p=659#comment-325 Oh, how I agree with your experiences around boys in primary education, My experiences with school have found that boys , in many ways, are bound to struggle by the expectations put on them by the education system and curriculum. EVery child matters and helping the individual often appears to be forgotten when it is perceived the child will not do well. It may often only be a different approach to learning that is required. Often however ,such as in the case of my son who is in year 2, the motivation and enjoyment of school is lost and the child then becomes a self fulfilling prophecy of 'not achieving'. Until we move away from national testing and standard teaching techniques some boys and girls will struggle to attain their potential. This needs to be pushed up the political agenda. Oh, how I agree with your experiences around boys in primary education, My experiences with school have found that boys , in many ways, are bound to struggle by the expectations put on them by the education system and curriculum. EVery child matters and helping the individual often appears to be forgotten when it is perceived the child will not do well. It may often only be a different approach to learning that is required. Often however ,such as in the case of my son who is in year 2, the motivation and enjoyment of school is lost and the child then becomes a self fulfilling prophecy of ‘not achieving’.

Until we move away from national testing and standard teaching techniques some boys and girls will struggle to attain their potential. This needs to be pushed up the political agenda.

]]> Comment on And the winner is… by Ann Williams-Maughan http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/2010/08/05/and-the-winner-is/comment-page-1/#comment-294 Ann Williams-Maughan Wed, 15 Sep 2010 20:02:29 +0000 http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/?p=528#comment-294 Well done Sarah on getting so far, really looking forward to meeting up at the mumpreneur awards this weekend. Have you entered the WIN awards http://www.womenintothenetwork.co.uk/ Well done Sarah on getting so far, really looking forward to meeting up at the mumpreneur awards this weekend. Have you entered the WIN awards
http://www.womenintothenetwork.co.uk/

]]> Comment on Living with Dyslexia by Emma Salt http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/2010/09/12/living-with-dyslexia/comment-page-1/#comment-286 Emma Salt Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:22:14 +0000 http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/?p=594#comment-286 Very moving and insightful - it's hard as a parent to help a child with dyslexia. Very moving and insightful – it’s hard as a parent to help a child with dyslexia.

]]> Comment on Learning to listen by Libby Hill http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/2010/09/08/learning-to-listen/comment-page-1/#comment-262 Libby Hill Thu, 09 Sep 2010 12:16:15 +0000 http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/?p=589#comment-262 You're so right Emma. Its a general decline. I wrote http://smarttalkers.blogspot.com/2010/09/grumpy-old-woman-sad-observations.html for my own blog and I bet you'd agree! You’re so right Emma. Its a general decline. I wrote http://smarttalkers.blogspot.com/2010/09/grumpy-old-woman-sad-observations.html for my own blog and I bet you’d agree!

]]> Comment on Learning to listen by Emma Salt http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/2010/09/08/learning-to-listen/comment-page-1/#comment-260 Emma Salt Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:15:18 +0000 http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/?p=589#comment-260 Really good article, but don't you think that as parents we also need to set an example and listen to what our children have to say? A friend of mine used to almost dismiss her daughter when she was babbling as a toddler, fobbing her off with 'Yes, absolutely, dear', whereas we've always tried to listen to what our children were saying, and as a result we have eloquent, communicative children who like to have 2 way conversations. We have dinner together most evenings, and usually everyone takes a turn in choosing 3 good things from that day. We listen to and comment on each other's choices, and take it in turns to speak, and to listen. Our eldest son is 14, and although he can have teenage tantrums, he still listens to what we have to say (often ignoring it, but only after he's heard what we have to say), but we listen to what he has to say too. Our youngest is nearly 6, and he struggles to sit still, but he listens. We overcome his wriggling by keeping eye contact and engaging him in two way conversations. I think so many parents, and teachers, expect the children to listen, but don't always listen back. Really good article, but don’t you think that as parents we also need to set an example and listen to what our children have to say? A friend of mine used to almost dismiss her daughter when she was babbling as a toddler, fobbing her off with ‘Yes, absolutely, dear’, whereas we’ve always tried to listen to what our children were saying, and as a result we have eloquent, communicative children who like to have 2 way conversations. We have dinner together most evenings, and usually everyone takes a turn in choosing 3 good things from that day. We listen to and comment on each other’s choices, and take it in turns to speak, and to listen.

Our eldest son is 14, and although he can have teenage tantrums, he still listens to what we have to say (often ignoring it, but only after he’s heard what we have to say), but we listen to what he has to say too. Our youngest is nearly 6, and he struggles to sit still, but he listens. We overcome his wriggling by keeping eye contact and engaging him in two way conversations. I think so many parents, and teachers, expect the children to listen, but don’t always listen back.

]]> Comment on Starting school, big decisions and worries by Emma Salt http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/2010/09/06/starting-school-big-decisions-and-worries/comment-page-1/#comment-258 Emma Salt Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:13:29 +0000 http://www.familiesrecommendblog.com/?p=580#comment-258 It is so hard to choose the right school - and all the way through there will be problems, stumbling blocks and the occasional dragon of a teacher. I think the important thing is to trust your gut instinct as to which school and when. It is a minefield though, and you need to find a school that will give support without labelling, encouragement without him feeling he's getting special treatment or is different (a reason why my eldest has refused to take his lap top in), and where there is good two way communitcation. My ideal solution would be flexi-time at school, backed up with home learning on the other days, but, unfortunately, that's not possible. It is so hard to choose the right school – and all the way through there will be problems, stumbling blocks and the occasional dragon of a teacher. I think the important thing is to trust your gut instinct as to which school and when. It is a minefield though, and you need to find a school that will give support without labelling, encouragement without him feeling he’s getting special treatment or is different (a reason why my eldest has refused to take his lap top in), and where there is good two way communitcation.

My ideal solution would be flexi-time at school, backed up with home learning on the other days, but, unfortunately, that’s not possible.

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