Easing the transition into school with the help of books

Ethan, like many children, was starting preschool for the first time this September.  In the run up to him starting, I wanted to make sure he knew what was going to happen, that it was normal, fun and exciting.  I wanted him to know it was normal to be worried and scared about going, but that it would be an enjoyable experience   It was hard to get the balance right between informing him about what would be happening and going overboard and giving him more concerns!

Harper Collins very kindly sent us some books to review in August.  They couldn't have been on a better subject; starting school!  Now, I know Ethan wasn't starting "proper" school, just preschool, but as he'd never spent time away from me in a "learning" environment (even if it's learning through play) before, I knew that books on this subject would be helpful.  I honestly believe the two books we were sent helped ease his (and my!) concerns and made school something to look forward to!

So, what were we sent?  Well, we were sent a copy of "Come to School Too Blue Kangaroo!" by Emma Chichester Clark and "Foxy" by Emma Dodd.  Seems to me ladies called Emma are good at writing about starting school... sorry, lame!

First up, Come to School Too Blue Kangaroo!  This book was written by Emma Chichester Clark and is part of a series of books featuring Lily and her Blue Kangaroo.  Ethan and I hadn't read any of these, but we have read the Melrose & Croc books she wrote.  We borrowed all of them from the library and Ethan was smitten by them for a long time.  Such sweet books.

This book captured Ethan's attention straight away.  When I read this to him, he goes quiet and doesn't fidget, a sure sign he's looking and listening.  He loved the idea of a toy kangaroo who can think and gets up to all sorts of things.  What a lovely way to capture a child's imagination, it's just what they like to believe (to be honest, I still like to believe that.  Toy Story is real, right?!).

The story is simple. Lily is due to start school and wants Blue Kangaroo to come with her.  She believes Blue Kangaroo is worried about going, but in actuality, he can't wait!  It's lovely, it's a subtle way at hinting that actually, Lily is the one who is worried, just like most children are at the thought of such a big change.  For the reader, or the child being read to, it's wonderful because they can hear what Blue Kangaroo is thinking, which is of course that he is excited and looking forward to trying out all the new experiences school has to offer.  I won't spoil the story, but suffice to say Lily and Blue Kangaroo get on fine and adjust very nicely to school life.  Lovely.

The illustrations are gorgeous.  This book is enchanting and has me in a spell.  I often pick it out to read to Ethan at bedtime, it's just lovely.

Secondly, Foxy by Emma Dodd.  Foxy is a very unique fox with a large magical tail from which he produce anything he wants.  Although he's a magical fox, he often gets his magic a bit wrong with amusing consequences 

This book is a little more "out there" but the sentiment is the same.  Though school is new and scary, it is normal and fun too.  Emily is a little girl trying to sleep on the night before school starts.  Foxy appears at her window and helps her to get everything she needs ready for school.

This story isn't too wordy, so is quite good for the 3-4 age group, especially if you have one with a short attention span (Ethan likes longer books his favourites being The Lorax & The Cat in the Hat so we don't usually have that issue).  It's a little bit wacky, but it's still a sweet story.  I do find it a little confusing to read and often have to add things myself so I can be sure Ethan understands what is going on, but it's still a book we both enjoy and Ethan often chooses it.

The illustrations are very bold, very current.  Lots of eye catching bright colours.

The message is reassuring.  Emily is concerned that no one at her school will likely, but Foxy reassures her that she doesn't need magic to help her with that, everyone will like her.  A sweet message!

If I had to pick between the two, Blue Kangaroo would be my favourite, but they are both lovely books that we continue to read and I'm sure will become very useful next August in the run up to "big school".

***These books were sent to us by Harper Collins but all views are completely my own***

Bold stripes at the school gates

This week has seen me stomping back and forth from Ethan's new pre-school.  You can read all about that here.  I want to be comfortable for all that walking, and also in what I think of as "easy to hug in" clothes..  I know that might seem a strange requirement, but some of my more funky/adventurous looks involve more delicate clothing or massive amounts of jewellery which don't really work well when you want to hug and kiss your three year old - which obviously I want to be able to to unhindered when dropping him off at pre-school!  Sooooo... I've been in comfy outfits.  I don't want to look dowdy or boring though!  This is where this dress comes up trumps.

I adore this dress.  I actually fell in love with it when it was stocked in H&M a few seasons back.  I'm not sure whether it was last year or the year before, but I loved it from afar.  I never tracked it down in my size though, and eventually forgot all about it.  Until I stepped into a branch of Oxfam last week and saw one on the rack IN MY SIZE!! Whoop whoop!! I tried it on and was so happy.  It looked like it had hardly been worn at all, so without hesitation, it came home with me and we've been the best of friends ever since.

It's so comfy and yet so bright.  I feel happy, happy, HAPPY when I'm wearing it.

Dress - H&M via Oxfam

Uggs - Macy's

Bag - Marc Jacobs

Bracelet - H&M

Sunglasses - TKMaxx

Earrings - eBay

Necklace - Stella & Dot

It was so chilly here on Tuesday morning I teamed it with my precious short Uggs (bought on honeymoon in America 4 years ago almost exactly!).  I'm not sure they are the best footwear for this dress, but again, they are comfy and make me happy.  I don't think I'll ever be able to throw these Uggs away.  The fact I bought them on honeymoon, that they travelled through 9 states in America with us and then all the way back home. Nope, I'm never parting with them!

Someone pay for me to go back to America - I want to go back soooooo badly!

Linking up today with Transatlantic Blonde & The Pleated Poppy.

Pre-school style

I'm sorry it's so quiet on my blog at the moment.  "Real Life" is taking over at the moment.  I'm in the middle of a huge, time consuming project for my Mum's 60th birthday (can't reveal anything on here, just in case!).  The other exciting event?  Ethan started preschool this week!

I can't tell you how worried I was about Ethan starting preschool.  I'm not at all worried about him being there, I know he needs it and he'll benefit from it. No... my main concern was that he wouldn't settle, that'd he'd play up, bite, hit, shout and then when I went to pick him up they'd tell me never to darken their doors again! Noooooooooooo! Obviously that didn't happen.

The last few weeks have been hard.  Ethan has been acting up, sleeping badly, shouting, hitting.  It's been very hard work.  I know this was due to preschool looming over us.  When we arrived there for his first afternoon session yesterday, he hid behind me, whimpering about not wanting to go in.  As soon as they opened the doors though, he ran in, went up to his Key Person (who we'd met last week at our home visit - a great idea and something more preschools should do I think!) and asked to use the loo.  I left him doing some painting.

I felt odd leaving him.  Not sad.  No tears.  If anything, I felt numb.  I don't know if that's an effect of citalopram or if it just hasn't sunk in yet.  I'm not sure.  I went off in the car and did the food shop.  What a different experience that was!  I whizzed around Tesco and was home within an hour.  I didn't have to abandon my trolly whilst chasing after a child making a game of knocking pasta sauces and wine off shelves, I didn't have to placate anyone whilst unpacking the shopping, or dash from one room into the next because Show Me Show Me had come on and "I DON'T WANT TO WATCH IT, IT'S TOO SMELLY!" or to rescue someone from an ill-advised table top climb.  I then sat down and had a coffee.  In peace.  And - novelty!! Watched some TV!!!   Now, I'm not going to spend all of my free time like that, though to be honest, buy the time the shopping is done and unpacked, there's not time for much more than coffee and a spot of TV before walking to pick Little Lord Fauntleroy up.

It occurred to me as I walked up to the school gates yesterday... this is it now.  This is my routine for the next God knows how many years.  Me, running up to school gates, panting and slightly sweaty, anxious to be there first because "It's hard when they're new, they need to see your face first, so try to be first in line!".  The school we want Ethan to go to is right next door to his preschool, so at the very least, I'm going to be making this journey many times a week for the next.. Um.... eight years?  If we ever manage to have No.2 it'll be even longer!! That was a strange thought.  By the time I'm finished making that journey on a regular basis I'll be well into my 40s.  I wonder if I'll still be blogging then?  Even More Medicated Follower of Fashion?  HRT and citalopram?!  Haha.....  I'll probably have been told to get off the internet by my child/ren by then for being "uncool" and "embarrassing".

That's enough chatter... you want to see some cute photos I expect!  Now Ethan's at preschool, he isn't going to be wearing quite so many nice outfits.  I'm not going to send him there in Ted Baker or Katvig am I?  Nah, it's a Sunbeams Playgroup t-shirt & sweatshirt teamed with Asda jeans (which, in my opinion, are actually damn good and hard wearing!).

I've got a few pics of Ethan from the weekend though.  We went to the park to celebrate my brother's 26th birthday.  Ethan had a great time running around, riding his bike, riding the train and tree hugging... yes, tree hugging.  Here's a few pics:

Do you like his shorts?  They were a bargain, unworn Jojo Mamanbebe for 50p from a charity shop!!  Whoop!! He's wearing his Boys&Girls star print top which we all love loads.  I can't wait to invest in some more Boys&Girls clothes - their Autumn range is out now, check it out!

If you want to join in with Trendy Toddler Tuesday, the linky is below.  You can link up whatever the age of your child... I'm sharing this linky with Maria from Very Busy Mama - she's the brains behind it!!

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Look forward to seeing all your trendy children!