17th January weekly chat

**Mouse** · 17-01-2022, 09:56 PM

It's a bit late in the day, but welcome to the new week!

I had a busy day. I had a new starter, a baby sibling of one of my current children. Due to various circumstances we hadn't had time for any settling in visits. In fact, I hadn't actually met him before! Mum brought him along and stayed for half an hour, but he was settled the minute he came in and we had a great day. It's just tiring getting used to a chasing after a crawling baby again!

What's everyone got planned for the week? We're off to the library tomorrow, but haven't got much else planned apart from that. While baby and I are getting used to each other we'll have lots of free play to see what he likes.

**Pixie dust** · 18-01-2022, 06:41 PM

Oh wow Mouse sounds like your little one settled well. I sometimes think it easier when they haven't had the time to get used to mum coming in with them and hanging around. My new one that started last week only had one short visit with mum and it seemed to work well, mum did give me a comprehensive run down off likes/dislikes etc alongside the dreaded sleep routine which I mentioned last week. You are right though babies are tiring ! My little ones are now walking and are a bit more independent which is nice.

I don't really have much planned, it's been pretty cold and frosty here the last few days so we have left some water out tonight to see if it will freeze as the older ones were fascinated by the salt that the school had put down to stop everyone slipping and sliding across the playground.

Keep warm everyone and have fun!

**loocyloo** · 19-01-2022, 08:16 AM

Good morning all!

totally agree ... babies are exhausting! mine just never seem to stay still! They have all settled really well! in fact, i think i prefer settling in sessions, since covid, in that parents don't come in at all ! ( apart from a visit to see me! ) I've had one who took a while to settle, and takes a few days after each holiday, however, i don't think that would have been any easier, and may have been worse, if they had ever had mum here! I know school USED to encourage parents to come in and help children take coats off/put them on, but they don't any more, and say the class is much more calm and settled! ( i may have mentioned to them several times over the past 10 years, that, that is how we used to do it at our old school, and it really worked well! ... they agree now !!!

)

It has been freezing here, but today is a 'touch' warmer, so we're going to head to the woods! not sure how long we'll last, but my 4 yr old has been asking to go since before Christmas! ( only comes one day a week, and we just couldn't fit it in before Christmas, and then its been too cold, plus new babies! ) I've a friend coming over tomorrow, and then a trip to the zoo on friday. I think that i need to 'corral' my babies a bit by being out and about! if only for my sanity !!!

have fun everyone xxxx

**Mouse** · 19-01-2022, 08:04 PM

I had my new starter again today. He's the happiest little chap, but he does keep me on my toes! It is taking a bit of getting used to though. I had such a good routine going with the 2 & 3 year olds, but that's gone to pot this week! I've had to pack away a lot of the usual resources as they're too small for the baby and our learning activities are non-existent as I'm constantly seeing to the baby or chasing after him. The other children are more than happy with all the free play, but I just don't feel as if we're achieving much. Hopefully we'll all get into a better routine soon.

**loocyloo** · 19-01-2022, 08:20 PM

Exactly Mouse!

Routine? What Routine!

On another topic .. I bought one of those LED scribble board things you recommended... my 'non mark making ' 4 yr old spent 20 mins drawing and then so did DH

think I'm going to have to buy another!

**Mouse** · 19-01-2022, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by loocyloo

On another topic .. I bought one of those LED scribble board things you recommended... my 'non mark making ' 4 yr old spent 20 mins drawing and then so did DH

think I'm going to have to buy another!

They're so good, aren't they? We've had a magnetic one stuck to our fridge for years. It's so handy for shopping lists, notes for family etc. The children's ones aren't as good quality, so i doubt they'll last that long, but they're great for now.