Comments for Organising Busy Lives

Comment on Poll: What is the right age for children to have mobile phones? by tattooed_mummy

tattooed_mummy — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 13:17:14 +0000

They are a fact of life now so it’s silly to ignore that. When I was a child and I first was allowed to play outside without supervision, and travel to shops etc on my own, about age 10 I guess maybe a few years younger, I was given money for the call box. Now that callboxes are rarer I think children going out alone are better off with a phone, not as a protection, but as a way of contact if they are going to be late, want a lift, need to change plans etc.

Of course phones are available in all price ranges, there is no need for an expensive iPhone for example. A £10 or £20 phone on pay-as-you-go should suffice.

Some children have a phone as a music device, games consol and camera - the phone option is almost an after thought! Technology is here and there is no reason that a sensible child shoudln’t have one.

Comment on Poll: Should schools stick to traditional nativity plays? by Brenda

Brenda — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 08:57:59 +0000

As a mum and an admin worker in a Nursery for 6m-5 yr olds, I would TOTALLY agree with Karyn. It is VITAL that our schools continue with the Nativity Play, traditional and modern versions both! With all the emphasis on embracing multi-culturalism we would be in danger of losing all that is great about Britain! Christianity, fairness, INclusiveness (i.e. NOT excluding Christianity from our culture, education, public life, etc. just because we are recognising other faiths too.) and tolerance!

Comment on Poll: The homework debate: do you agree with Kirstie Allsopp? by Brid

Brid — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 09:48:32 +0000

Homework helps me to understand how my children are doing in school, if they have any problem areas.
under 45 mins a night is ok

Comment on Poll: The homework debate: do you agree with Kirstie Allsopp? by Jackie B

Jackie B — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 13:29:13 +0000

I think homework is important, although needs the right balance and the right age (mine are in Yr 5 and 6). Yes, it is important that children learn and do well, even from an early age it is possible to tell whether they are struggling or are doing OK. If they struggle, then as a responsible parent you should step in and help and this means doing work at home - not always set by school. The home atmosphere can make the learning process easier and more relaxed rather competing against 29 other kids to get finished first or get the best result. However, homework should only be a matter of 10-20 mins - doing catch up and understanding and learning tasks relating to school work - it should not dominate the evening or weekends. My children both do homework, and, timed right doesn’t cause too much hassle and I can see their strengths and weaknesses and can help accordingly if they need extra help. After all, it’s a tough world out there when they get there and they need to be prepared.

Comment on Surviving the ‘at home’ birthday party by Nikki

Nikki — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 09:27:05 +0000

Thank you so much, the timing couldn’t be better. We are in the same situation with regard to organising my son’s 8th birthday party. Similarly, economics mean that we can’t justify forking out on an organised party entertainer and my son is keen to have friends at home and I was not looking forward to this. So your ideas have been noted and I’m now feeling so much more optimistic.

Last year he had his proper party cancelled due to naughty behaviour and I allowed him a few friends for a birthday tea, - they all made their own pizzas which went down a treat. But this year there will be more than just 3 other friends….

we’ll definitely being doing the Wink Wink Murder game and treasure hunt …. and I like the idea of a quiz at the end.

Thank you!!!!

Comment on Poll: If you lost your luggage, what would you miss the most? by (mostly) yummy mummy

(mostly) yummy mummy — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:23:08 +0000

Are we allowed to tick all of them?!

Comment on Has Jamie’s School Dinners campaign worked? by Sam Mandry

Sam Mandry — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:47:04 +0000

We live on a tight budget - but not tight enough for free school meals. This means with my youngest two starting school in September and My Eldest staying on for sixth form I will be needing to find about £15.00 a week to pay for school meals. I can make better meals for them, tailored to their likes and dislikes far more economically than spending the money on food they won’t eat.

Comment on Surviving the ‘at home’ birthday party by Kelly Farebrother

Kelly Farebrother — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:40:21 +0000

My daughter recently attended a party where they played a great treasure hunt game. Each child has to hunt down the items that will make up their party bag. Give each child their empty party bag and a list of items they have to find - eg., a pad, a pencil, a flower rubber, a bag of malteasers, a lolly, a bookmark - then all you need to do is add a slice of cake and away they go!

Comment on Has Jamie’s School Dinners campaign worked? by Kelly Farebrother

Kelly Farebrother — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 10:31:41 +0000

I don’t think Jamie’s campaign has worked but the reason for this is because I don’t think the school dinners are particularly more healthy. My son started school in September and he was entitled to about 4 weeks of free school dinners, paid for by the government to encourage parents to take up school dinners. My daughter continued to take a packed lunch during this time. My son’s lunch consisted of chips, a pie, pizza, or pasta with a cheese sauce. The choice of vegetables each day consisted of a potato and one other vegetable such as peas or sweetcorn. Dessert was often chocolate cake. My daughter’s packed lunch consisted of a sandwich, one or two pieces of fruit, water or fruit juice and a small biscuit - and this cost less than the usual £1.75 that a school dinner would cost.

I have also noticed that often there is limited availablity of the healthy choice. My children’s school often has themed school dinners and those children who have packed lunch can change for that particular day. A recent themed lunch was a picnic. On the flyer we were told children could choose from fruit salad or a cookie. My daughter was excited about having fruit salad but on the day this wasn’t offered to her and she was given a cookie - along with chips and a bagette!

If the government is serious about introducing healthy food into schools then it needs to be consistent. Schools are continuously telling children they need to be healthy, they must eat properly, they must take exercise but then their school dinner does not offer suitable healthy food options. A little less preaching and a little more action is what is required.

Comment on Surviving the ‘at home’ birthday party by Carrie

Carrie — Thu, 20 May 2010 15:38:40 +0000

What a lovely bunch of ideas! We’ll be having at-home birthday party for my daughter this year due to finances, despite all other friends having parties at soft-plays etc.
Some great flashbacks to parties from my childhood like wink murder, the chocolate game and malteser game!