Is it morning yet?

Even on those mornings when they could potentially lay in, there's often a mishap. Take this morning - "Mum, it's 7.10 and the clock's up."

It's 6.10 and frankly the clock needs throwing out. Fat lot of good it's ever done. The idea behind it is that when the sun comes up (i.e the smiley face turns from blue to yellow) the children are able to see it's time to wake too. Unfortunately, even on the days the clock hasn't been tampered with, they've always been wide-eyed way before the sunshine ever put in its appearance.

Such a shame I'm not.

AUTUMN PASTIMES

As the evenings draw in and the half term draws closer, LIFE AS IT IS gets inspired. Here are ten great things to do with the children throughout Autumn...

1) Totally Thames, London

The river comes to life with a month of free events, including open days, art, family fun, talks, walks and plenty of boats. 1-30 Sept

thamesfestival.org

39/52 The GraceFaith year long art project...

Choosing a favourite piece of art, each week of the year

Inspiring, allowing, providing our children the joy of reading

Educating our primary school children cannot be done by talking alone. It cannot be done by reading and writing alone. Teaching our children to be the best they can possibly be, is ultimately done by inspiring, allowing, providing. 

Schools testing kills joy of reading says War Horse author

War Horse author and former Children’s Laureate calls for schools to make time for stories by reinstating Storytime in primary schools

WarHorse author and former Children’s Laureate Michael Morpurgo will today criticisetesting in schools for killing the joy of reading, creating fear and anxiety,and bringing about a sense of worthlessness in children.

The former Children’s Laureate and President of BookTrust, speaking at the inaugural BookTrust Lecture this evening, will state that we are all as a society responsible “both for the successes and failures of our literacy and our society.” Morpurgo says that it is not just the fault of successive governments, “who corral schools and pressure teachers into teaching literacy fearfully, who insist that measurable outcomes and results are the be all and end all of the education process.”

38/52 The GraceFaith year long art project

Choosing a favourite piece of art, each week of the year...



Fia sketches the telly

REST EASY - guide to a good night’s sleep

REST EASY - guide to a good night’s sleep

As September heralds in the autumn, in a sense the changing season brings forth a fresh start – a new year if you like. It’s the beginning of the academic calendar, and as such a return to routine. So how as a family can you help yourself with that routine? A good night’s sleep for all is essential. But often, that is easier said than done.

Feeling wistful - the end of an era (off to school)

So the summer holidays came and went, six weeks off school to relax and enjoy. Weeks that were so good this year. The weather saw to that. And the girls. They've grown up so much. This motherhood malarkey that I once thought sucked, has slowly morphed into pretty wonderful. I always used to dream about them reaching 7&4. Now they've arrived at 8&5, I actually want to press pause. Imagine that.

37/52 The GraceFaith year long art project

Choosing a favourite piece of art, each week of the year...

KEEPING YOUR FAMILY SAFE ON THE ROAD

Recent surveys reveal that over 71% of parents in the UK are not aware that legally a child needs to be in a car seat/booster until they are 12 years old, and that SUVs are the choice of car for modern mums looking to keep their family safe…

36/52 The GraceFaith year long art project

Choosing a favourite piece of art, each week of the year...

35/52 The GraceFaith year long art project

Choosing a favourite piece of art, each week of the year...


Esme was born on her great grandmother's 90th birthday, and this year they turned 8 and 98. The cake was decorated by the GraceFaith girls, and is the art project that we have most enjoyed this week in August 2016.

34/52 The GraceFaith year long art project

Choosing a favourite piece of art, each week of the year...

Princess Peppa's Carriage - A toy review

We stop to watch her if we catch her on TV. We've seen her on stage (cue the Bong Bing Boo song), and we would give anything to head back to her theme park once again... so just what is it about the pink phenomenon that is Peppa Pig? 

33/52 The GraceFaith year long art project

Choosing a favourite piece of art, each week of the year...

BONDING WITH YOUR BABY

BONDING WITH YOUR BABY

Sometimes in life, things just don’t go as planned. But when your firstborn suddenly ends up in special care… well no one plans for that. Here, writer Emma Oliver remembers bonding with her baby and speaks to a baby wellness and childcare expert...

32/52 The GraceFaith year long art project

Choosing a favourite piece of art, each week of the year...

Fia designs (has designs) on a mobile



Esme designs (has designs) on a pair of shoes

The Olympics (then and now)

On the day that Rio held its 2016 opening ceremony, we are excited. In our house we love the Olympics. We love the chance to enjoy the world's greatest sporting extravaganza, and to settle back together in awe of the 10,500 athletes from 206 teams competing in sixteen days of world class sport.

FRAMED - This time four years ago

SISTERS

Vincent’s Starry Night and Other Stories - A book review

With featured artists including European greats like Michelangelo and Rembrandt, as well as global art visionaries such as Katsushika Hokusai and Frida Kahlo...

DETAILS:

Vincent’s Starry Night and Other Stories

Author: Michael Bird

Illustrated by: Kate Evans

For: children aged 9+

Published: August 2016 by Laurence King

Available from: All good bookshops 

Priced: £19.95

ISBN: 978-1-78067-614-2