Tuesday 4 June 2013

That's all folks!

2007
Yep, this is the end of Let's...
50 posts and I'm out of ideas.
When I started blogging, back in October last year, it was mainly to fend off the feeling of total redundancy! I'd had 14 years of teaching, 4 years of being a full-time mummy and suddenly I was out of work. I wish I could have thrown myself into the perfect housewife role but I just don't have it in me. Going through old pics of the boys, before school had snatched them away, kept me occupied and happy. It was a nice way to record their lives so far, and if it gave people a few ideas of ways to entertain their little critters, so much the better. (Today's pics are an "On this day in our history!")
I have learned an awful lot. Here's a few thoughts on what I learned about blogging:
  •  Just like parenthood it's easy to worry about! I worried that my posts were not interesting/entertaining enough, I worried that I came across as being smug about my child-rearing techniques when in fact I know there are loads of things I've got wrong, I worried that I wasn't linking up my posts right or following the proper tweeting/retweeting etiquette, I worried that I should have been anonymous and someone might kidnap the kids!...
  • Once you get into the world of blogging there's a strange contradiction. On the one hand I felt a bit dismayed to find that pretty much anything I wrote about had already been written, often much more cleverly, by many other bloggers. It's very hard to be original. On the other hand it was nice to know there are like-minded people all over the world trying to give kids the same kind of experiences I was hoping for.
  • By reading other blogs I realised that it's good to be not too wordy, and to include plenty of pics if you want people to actually bother to read your post.
  • 2008
  • And if you want people to read your posts you need to link up with other bloggers. Not just putting your posts on their lovely linkies but also taking time to read what they have written and writing a meaningful comment (everyone loves a comment!)
I have massive respect for some of the other bloggers out there. Several are linked down the side of this page. Teacher Tom and some of the Australian pre-schools for being absolutely brilliant at giving kids a free-range opportunity to learn about the world and themselves, Coombe Mill for summing up everything that childhood should be about, Eeh Bah Mum and Den State for being utterly hilarious in their candid take on what it's really like to be a parent. I have shed many tears over the heartbreaking blogs from Jennie@Edspire and Emma@crazywithtwins. Wow, if I'm ever tested I hope I have a fraction of their strength and courage. And there are loads of other bloggers who have entertained me and made me look at things differently.
2009

Writing my blog, and reading those of like-minded parents and child carers has made me come to some more conscious decisions about how I think young kids should be raised. I read this great article recently which included a list of the skills children need in order to be ready for school:
http://movingsmartblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/academic-creep.html

A child who understands everyday language is ready for school.
2010
A child who dresses himself is ready for school.
A child with good manners is ready for school.
A child with stamina, coordination, and persistence is ready for school.
A child who understands there are rules she is expected to follow and consequences when she doesn't is ready for school.
It's all educational. It's just not academic. 

All of these skills can be learned through mucking about in the garden, playing games, exploring the natural world. Kids are going to get years and years of formal schooling. They do not need to be learning to read and write before they get to school. It slightly turns my stomach to see people proudly showing off the way they've taught their 3 year old to recognise their letters. WHY??
  
2011
2012
To me the most important thing is to encourage their curiosity. Kids are naturally curious and by joining in with this, even if it's a "what will happen if I throw this mud ball at the wall?" type investigation, you will set them up with a love of learning that is absolutely key when they hit the classroom.
And in an age where the screen is king, giving them a love of the great outdoors is more important than ever. Mine definitely watch too much tv, especially in winter, and Zac would spend a lot of time on his computer if he was allowed, BUT they do still want to play in the garden or go for a walk or a paddle in the river. They are pretty active outdoor kids, and I really hope they'll stay that way.

Hey ho. Our lives are moving on. I've got a job for September, three days a week back in the classroom which I'm really looking forward to. It'll be the beginning of another new chapter. 
I may well blog again in the future. But for now. That's all folks! x




15 comments:

  1. Hi I'm sad to hear that you are not going to blog anymore,I've always loved your posts.
    Good luck with the new job and I wish you and the boys the best for the future lv Jess x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aaah! Thank you Jess. I'm actually feeling a bit bereft now I've finished. Will probably tweak the old posts so I keep in touch! x

      Delete
  2. Hi Daisy, I only found your blog recently - although it's a shame you won't be blogging anymore I'll enjoy exploring your archives for inspiration for my 1 and 3 year olds. My three year old has always been interested in language and letters, weirdly more so that colouring and drawing. Whilst we'll follow her appetite a little, and I'm sure she'll be reading before she starts school just before she turns 5, your comments above are valuable reminder to remember all the other important stuff and not expect our younger one to follow her sister's interests! Thanks for the ideas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aah, thank you Fiona. Oh dear, re-reading this post it does sound like I'm saying don't do anything "academic." Zac learned all his letters at pre-school and loved reading the odd word in his bedtie stories before he started school. If they're interested, definitely go with it. I just don't think those skills are any more important than all the other life skills that kids can learn through play. Enjoy your littlies, they grow up way too fast! x

      Delete
  3. Oh Daisy, I've only discovered your blog and I'm sorry that you won't be around anymore. Your blog is lovely, your children are gorgeous. Perhaps you'll reconsider and come back after a break, I do hope so. In the meanwhile, I will have a good explore through your archives.
    Good luck for your new job and have a fun summer, with your little outdoor loving boys x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    2. Thank you for your lovely comment Nichola. I'm really missing the blogging now I've stopped so I may be back. Hope you have a lovely summer too- sunshine or not. x

      Delete
  4. Awwh...and I've only just stumbled across your blog too! I hope you enjoy your job, but also continue to blog a little :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Catherine- visiting my new school for a planning meeting today- eeek! (Have already started planning new blog tho- think I'm addicted!)

      Delete
  5. But it's impossible to be out of ideas! They are buzzing around all the time, and you don't have to be the first one to write on the subject to be interesting. What is interesting is a personal approach to any subject. Otherwise what's the point of writing, one can say, when there are great classics written on every subject. Hope you change your mind

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Galina, it's true, there are ideas everywhere and I don't suppose any are totally original! I guess I limited myself to stuff we did, and that I had lots of photos of, and now the boys are older it's all a bit different. Have caved and started a new blog which will be a bit different but hopefully worth a read at some point in the future!!

      Delete
  6. SHame to hear you're taking a break but I don't blame you because it shouldn't be a chore. Hope the new job works out well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! Had a planning meeting for my new job on Friday which made it all seem scarily real!

      Delete
  7. I'm a bit late to comment, but I love this post. I'm a primary teacher too (albeit very part time recently - 1 day a week) and I think we carry similar view points. My little boy is 4 and a half and in August will attend school nursery school for the first time. Until now he's been at home with me and his younger sister doing - well everything and nothing! He learns something new everyday, from people we meet, books, tv, conversation and I like to think he's pretty well rounded. I'm appalled when people suggest I have been 'homeschooling' him with letters, numbers etc. In my opinion there will be ample opportunity for him to experience those things with his peers and he will be more than ready being a curious and smart little boy. I am so delighted I've had this time with him to let him learn in his own time at home, hopefully instilling a desire for lifelong learning - although maybe that's a bit lofty! I look forward to you posting again at some point in the future.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Caroline! Having kids definitely made me more humble as a teacher. I used to feel pleased that I'd "taught" kids to use adjectives. I remember when Zac was 2 I said to him "Uh oh, snot!" and he replied, "Thick, Ooozy Snot!" (from listening to We're Going on a Bear Hunt lots of times) I realised in an instant that kids will learn pretty much anything given lots of fun opportunities, they don't really need to be directly taught at all!

      Delete