How to teach your child to swim

I've mentioned before about the difficulties I've had persuading my 7 year old daughter that swimming is fun.

She has attended weekly swimming classes with her school for the past two terms and spent a number of grumpy hours in the local pool with me, dancing around the baby pool trying to avoid any splashes.

I've cajoled, bribed, threatened and bitten my tongue trying to get her to make progress. We've bought goggles, arm-bands, floats, strap-on-foam-contraptions and God knows what else to see if we can find something that works, but so far the progress has been a frustrating zero.

I blame myself of course. She had been doing ok with arm-bands up until that family holiday when I got tired of waiting for her to move out of her depth and actually kick her legs. So I pushed a little too much, she screamed, clung to me and then refused to go back in.

Stupid Mummy.

Then, last week, I was bemoaning the state of affairs to my brother and he offered to take her along with his family.

'Worth a shot' I thought.

So off they went on Saturday afternoon. And back she came a few hours later, glowing and dancing from foot to foot. 'I can swim Mummy, I can swim!'

Naturally I didn't believe her, but I was just happy to see her excited about swimming instead of fearful. Going from 'I hate swimming' to 'I love swimming' in one session is pretty impressive.

So I promised to take her the next day so that she could show me her 'swimming'.

Off we went the next morning. In she got. Head down, legs up, swimming like she had been doing it all her life. ACTUALLY SWIMMING!

Once my jaw was reattached to it's rightful place I quizzed her on exactly how this had happened.

Turns out her 12 year old cousin spent an hour with her telling her to just do what she felt comfortable with and to keep trying new things.

No armbands! (Just a huge inflatable dragon...)

And there you have it, a lesson to all of us. Quit the pushing mothers!

Happy Feet 2 - Better Than Grazia. FACT.

Monday saw the release of Happy Feet 2 on DVD and 3D DVD.Warner Brothers were kind enough to send us out both versions to watch so that we could let you know what you thought.

Having somehow missed Happy Feet I wasn't quite sure what to expect.  I certainly wasn't ready for the hysterical cries of laughter from the sofa after about 3 seconds of the film being played.

My kids loved this film so much I actually had to tell them to stop laughing so that they could hear it. Really.

Their Dad and I sat at a respectful distance reading the paper (him) and Grazia magazine (me). Thirty minutes and twenty attempts to read one page later they were ditched in favour of this heartwarming and funny movie.

The story goes like this:

The sequel to “Happy Feet,” the Academy Award^®-winninganimated smash hit, “Happy Feet Two” returns audiences to the magnificentlandscape of Antarctica in superb 3D.

Mumble, The Master of Tap, has aproblem because his tiny son, Erik, is choreo-phobic.  Reluctant to dance,Erik runs away and encounters The Mighty Sven—a penguin who can fly! Mumble has no hope of competing with this charismatic new role model.

But things get worse when theworld is shaken by powerful forces.

Erik learns of his father’s “gutsand grit” as Mumble brings together the penguin nations and all manner offabulous creatures—from tiny Krill to giant Elephant Seals—to put things right.

Since it was received yesterday they have watched it, or parts of it,  at every opportunity.

At bedtime 'Can I watch Happy Feet 2 again?'
Before school 'Can we watch Happy Feet 2?'
After Playschool 'Watch Happy Meal Mummy?' (Got a bit confused there..)
On the hottest March day on record 'Can we watch Happy Feet 2 instead of going to the beach? Pleeeeease'
It's getting a bit tiresome Warner Brothers.

They seemed to love both versions equally, though of course the 3D version gives a little something extra.

If you fancy owning a copy yourself you can get one here.

Not in a Krillian years did I think I'd see Brad Pitt as seafood.(Sorry.)

Disclosure: This movie was sent to me free of charge for the pruposes of this review.

The Gallery - Extreme Close Up

As soon as I read Sticky Fingers' Gallery prompt I knew I had to take part.

Since I got myself a proper-ish camera last year I've been experimenting with it as much as possible.

Lot's a of pictures don't work out, but the odd one does, which make it all worth while.

Here's my extreme close up of my little man. What's he's thinking is anyone's guess. Though knowing him it's probably 'I wonder what's for lunch' or 'Can you eat clouds?'

 
For more extreme close ups head on over to The Gallery.

THE $#*! KIDS SAY

Last week my sister Siobhan from Netmums visited the NSPCC call centre to see first hand the type of work they do and the variety of calls they deal with. 


Netmums were hosting a live web chat on Facebook all about it and asked:
"What would you do if you saw or heard something that concerned you about a child? What stops you intervening?"


One of the first comments returned was this:

"What stops me intervening? The fact that I don't know the full story. The fact that it's none of my business. The fact that unless it is seriously dangerous or damaging then just because it isn't the way I choose to parent, it doesn't mean it's my place to judge."

Sadly this response was flooded with 'likes' and many of the other comments throughout the morning showed a confusion as to what and when to report and the implications that were involved if they had 'got it wrong'.

The NSPCC have said:

"We don't want people to feel they have to make decisions about whether a child is at risk. We're here 24/7 and by talking to the public about their worries we can take the responsibility for protecting children off their shoulders - that's why we say 'It might be nothing, but it could be something'"

In 2011, a record number of almost 45,000 people across the UK contacted the NSPCC because they were worried about a child. Around half of these cases were so serious they warranted immediate action. But a new report from the charityʼs helpline service found that 56 per cent of these serious calls were from people who had been concerned about a child for at least a month, and over a quarter had waited at least six months.

These figures come as a new campaign, directed by Amanda Boyle (Skins) is launched. 

The video mimics a well-known online meme but carries a serious message.

What this film is asking you to do is to trust your instincts when you think things aren't quite as they should be. 


Don't wait. Hand it over to the experts. 


It might be nothing, but it could be something.

6 ways to keep young kids entertained whilst you sip wine in the garden.

Is there anything better than an unexpected sunny spell, a new magazine, and a glass of ice cold Sancerre in the garden?*

The only thing that can ruin this Utopian scene is the rallying cry of  'Mum, can I have .... ' uttered every thirty seconds until your glutes are so worn out with the getting up and sitting down that you decide it's just not worth the pain and frustration.

Don't worry, we've all been there. We'll at least I have. But by now I have a few tricks up my sleeve to keep the  little monsters entertained that I thought I'd pass on at this opportune moment.

Garden games:

1. A big pot of water.

Simple but effective. A bucket, a barrel or a saucepan will do. Fill with water, scatter toys and relax.

2. Indoor toys out.

Throw a rug down and choose an indoor toy for them to play with outside. Cars, Lego Duplo, Dolls Houses all work well. Items they haven't looked at in months will take on a whole new level of interest in the sunshine.

3. Build a Fairy Garden.

Grass, leaves, twigs, stones. Give them the idea and then let them run with it.

4. Teddy Bears Picnic.

An oldie but a goodie.

5. Water Pistols.

From mini 50p ones to full on Supersoakers - kids of all ages love them. A few strategically places buckets of water for refills will  keep you in that seat a little longer.

6. Build a Bug Hotel.

It's on our to-do list. All they need is a cardboard box, some crayons, some sticks and stones, an imagination and a bit of foraging.

These are all cheap but effective time stealers. Hope they work for you too. Now if you'd like to return the favour by sharing your own tips and tricks with me I'd be most obliged.

But right now I'm off to find that bottle opener.

(*Does drinking wine in the garden in front of my kids make me a bad mother? Probably. What if it's only occasional? With friends? Damn it, are you judging me now? )


Joining in with:

Listography - Top 5 Beauty Products (sorry lads)

Hello lovely Listographers and welcome to another week of listing lists. I have to apologise if I didn't make my way around to your post last week, but you know, the kids need to be fed and stuff.

Anyway, after my mid-week rant about Expensive Beauty Products I got some lovely comments sharing products that actually DO work, so I thought it might be a good idea to dig a little deeper and share our Top 5 Beauty Products. No advertising budgets affected, no underhanded recommendations - just simple and honest opinions.

Here's mine:

1. Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish.
It's clear that Liz has a large number of fans out there. Her products aren't too expensive but still manage to be beautifully packaged and a joy to use.

2. Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream.
My moisturiser of choice. All their products are just the best I've ever used, but after 12 or so years of devotion I've been shopping around for some cheaper alternatives. Nothing has hit the mark yet.

3. Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation.
Smooth, silky, can't inflict my face on others without it. I've just bought their newest foundation and have to say it's not as good as this one. I will be reverting as soon as the bottle runs out.

4. Benefit Erase Paste Concealer.
I used to use the lighter version until one day I was buying it at a Benefit counter and the girl behind the desk looked at me closely. 'You know, you should really be getting this one.' she said pointing to the little pot. 'It's industrial'. Way to make me feel good lady.
However she was right. Makes under-eye bags disappear. Really.

And finally,

5. Benefit High Beam.
A highlighter that makes you look all shiny and new. Now who doesn't need that?

So there you have it. Can't wait to see what comes out top from all your recommendations.

Linky up below!

Expensive Beauty Products - A mid-week rant.

I had been coveting it for some time. What with all the amazing magazine write ups, the recommendations, the blurb, the promises...

But it was so expensive. Too expensive for my meager budget anyway.

Then, one day, I was in luck! Not only was it reduced, but there were free trial size products of the same range included too. It was too good to pass up.

So I reached my hand into my pocket, deep into my pocket, and spent money that I didn't really have on the promises that they were selling.

And I used those potions for all I was worth. Not a day went passed that I didn't use them. Twice a day. For nine whole weeks.

Visible results in four weeks is what I was promised. Dramatic improvements in one month is what I forked out on.

And what did I get?

National Ferry Fortnight - Kids Go Free!

Next month the Kate Takes 5 clan will be popping across the Irish Sea for a weekend trip to Wales to explore the wonders of Snowdonia National Park and Caernaforn Castle courtesy of Stena Line.

So why am I telling you this?

Because Stena Line are celebrating National Ferry Fortnight, which runs from 17th March 2012 - 31st March 2012, with a Kids Go Free deal. This special promotional offer means that any car bookings made during this two week period, for travel on the Irish or North Sea before the 5^th of Jan 2013, will allow kids to go free.

All you need to do is choose your route!

So if fancy jumping aboard be sure to book now to avail of the special offer.

Next month I'll be showing you some of the places that we visited and sharing advice on any hits and misses of ferry travel that we learned along the way.

In the meantime why not pop across to Stena Line's Facebook page where there is a competition celebrating National Ferry Fortnight with some great prizes on offer.

Anchors aweigh!!

*Please note a “Kid” is classified as a child under the age of 16

Listography - 5 reasons I know I'm a . . . .

Oi! Not that.

This weeks Listography is brought to you courtesy of the rather lovely Fab 40 Foibles who suggested the wonderful topic.

Basically it's yours to do what you wish with. This being Mother's Day I'm going to go with 5 Reasons I know I'm a ...Mother, but you can insert whatever you wish - Slob, Dentist, Man, Egomaniac...the possibilities are endless!

So, my Top 5 Reasons I Know I'm a Mother:

1. I know the theme tunes to Peppa Pig, Raa Raa The Noisy Lion, Kick Buttowski, and many, many more. I also know the names of not just the characters on Wizards of Waverly Place and Zeke and Luther but the actors names too. And in some cases who they are going out with in real life. This is not healthy.

2. My house looks like a travellers halting site.

3. I spend 85% of my day shouting.

4. The bags under my eyes wouldn't be allowed on a Ryanair flight.

5. My mental state swings between deep irritation (children present) to deep anxiety (children not present) to guilt (children sleeping).

Ok I realise that list doesn't sound too good. And of course I left the good stuff out. There is good stuff too. It's just that it wasn't the first thing to spring to mind. Oh dear.

Moving swiftly on...It's your turn now. Simply make your list on your own site, come back here to link up and then take a  look around some of the other entries.

Happy listing!

Ah Begorrah! Tis St. Patrick's Day to be sure, to be sure.

 

Happy St. Patricks Day everyone!

Incidentally - my husband who is NOT Irish will be spending this weekend chasing Leprechauns in the forest. True story.  

Warner Brothers 3D DVD Movie Reviews (plus a couple of beheaded Oscars)

Last month the Kate Takes 5 household reviewed the 3D DVD versions of 'Cats and Dogs' and 'Legend of the Guardians' for Warner Brothers, both of which received a big thumbs up from all of us.

This month we've been watching Yogi Bear and Dolphins Tale in 3D.

Yogi Bear of course needs no introduction - he may be 'smarter than the average bear' but clearly he aint that smart if his antics in this film are anything to go by!

It's a fun story with typical Yogi and Boo-Boo adventures. We watched both the 3D and 2D (normal) versions and I have to say that, unlike 'Legend of the Guardians', I'm not sure this film really benefited from being in 3D. The kids enjoyed both versions but when they asked to put it on again they wanted the 2D version.

The second movie - Dolphins Tale starring Morgan Freeman and Harry Connick Jr was much more impressive.

Based on a true event it tells the story of a dolphin called Winter whose tail gets damaged in a crab trap. A shy and lonely boy helps rescue him and a friendship develops between them as he battles to help Winter swim again. It's a story of trial over adversity, of never giving up and of holding on to hope.

Again we watched both versions of the film - the 2D version with all the kids and then a special Mum and daughter movie night for the 3D version (the thought of Harry Connick Jr. in 3D may have had something to do with that decision..).

Kaya who is 7 absolutely loved the film and I must admit that I got sucked in too - the 3D effects were amazing in some scenes, especially in the aquarium sequences and certainly added to the 'experience'.

Warner Brothers were also good enough to send us a special box of classic films to celebrate the 2012 Oscars.

The fabulous Casablanca, An American in Paris,  Gone with the Wind, and the more recent The Blind Side, along with two beheaded chocolate Oscars who didn't survive the trip.

I wonder whether next year we'll get a one legged Angelina instead?


If you'd like to know a little more about how home 3D works pop over to my previous post '3D TV - What's it all about anyway?'

Blog Idol

The other week I got an innocent enough looking tweet saying that I'd been mentioned in a certain someones blog post. Of course I dashed off to see the offending article and got the most fabulous surprise when I read this post from the very friendly, funny and lovely Rebecca from Here Come the Girls.

She had named me as her Blog Idol and made me a shiny new badge to wear.

See how it sparkles?

At first I was simply aghast that someone had taken the time to do this and had actually picked me (it may have something to do with the mug...), but then I got to thinking that really I should pass on the love.

And so here I am - naming and shaming my very own blog idol.

Listography - Top 5 Cookbooks

Last night we had some friends around for dinner and I cooked this awesome dish from one of my favourite cook books.

Riga's Lamb

This morning having cleared eight empty bottles from the table (four red wine, one white wine, one Champagne, one whiskey, one port) I don't have it in me to write very much for this weeks Listography so instead I'm going to celebrate my Top 5 Cookbooks.

Tried, tested, stained - I love them all.

1. Leon.
A new entry and the one that the above recipe comes from. Gorgeous book, gorgeous food.

2. Jamie's Italy.
My favourite of his books so far. Hard to beat.

3. Avoca Cafe Cookbook
An Irish institution. Especially good for salads and breads.

4. Rachel's Food for Living.
Another Irish entry. Ok she's annoying as hell and I don't know where that accent came from either, but there are loads of great recipes in here.

5. Delia.
Of course. Where would we be without her?

So what are your Top 5 Cookbooks? Linky up below to join in with this week's food porn.

New here? Want to know more about Listography?

NHS? I bloody wish.

In the early hours of Tuesday morning as I lay cradling my whimpering little girl in my arms I cursed myself for not bringing her to the doctor that day.

I knew she was sick, because she'd been hacking away for about a week, coughing and wheezing and generally not herself. I was just praying that she would get better on her own. But she hadn't and now we were both paying the price.

'But why? Why wouldn't you just take her to the doctor?' I hear all you people outside of Ireland ask.

Because sadly in Ireland the NHS or it's equivalent doesn't exist.

So when my 3 year old was sick last month I took him to the doctor I paid €50 (£42) for the privilege. We then traipsed to the chemist to hand over another €30 or so in prescription fees. And when the 5 year old got a chest infection that wouldn't clear up two weeks ago I took him to the doctor, paid €50 (£42) for the privilege, then headed for the obligatory visit to the chemist to empty my purse on the counter. And when he still wasn't better on Monday, and my husband also felt ill they both went to the doctor, paid €75 and then on to the chemist to hand over another €80.

Lego Duplo - 2012 Panel and Review of Creative Sorter.

The wonderful people at Lego Duplo, in their infinite wisdom and intelligence, have asked me to be part of the 2012 blogger panel.

Yes really. I even have a badge to prove it.

What this means is that I'll be bringing you some Lego Duplo reviews over the year and will even be hosting some Lego Duplo competitions so its a win-win for me and you!

First up for review is the Lego Duplo Creative Sorter for ages 2-5:

As you can see you get a bucket filled with bricks, but also 'sorting plates' that help your child to create jungle animals. Like this:

The age range is 2 - 5 years old but all my lot got stuck into it - dragging the rest of their Duplo out too.

The set retails at £17.99 which isn't cheap, but when you consider that it is a toy that will last and last and last (not like so many expensive toys I know that end up in the bin after a few weeks, grrr), plus it's creative and educational then I guess you'd have to say it's money well spent.

And now I have some insider information for you. *Whispers* Did you know that Lego Duplo and Lego are interchangeable?? I certainly didn't. But look! It's true!

OK I'm not sure what that is either...but the point is it works

How on earth did I miss that?

Anyway, to finish up here's a little demo from Marley on how to make an elephant.

(Please ignore the little brother whinging for Super Noodles in the background. Of course I never, ever feed them junk like that. Honest).

Disclaimer: This toy was provided to me by Lego Duplo to review. All views and children are my own. 

Listography - 5 photos that sum up my week

We're back!!

Fresh from our Spring-cleaning marathon that took place last weekend, we're here and ready to take on a brand new topic.
(And when I say 'we' I mean me and Listography, obvs)

This week I want to be nosey. I want to see what you all get up to on a typical week - summed up in pictures.

Like this:

My 6am alarm clock

 

Coffee. To cope with the 6am alarm clock.

Never ending washing up.

Tantrums. 

No, that's not a dead animal in the middle of the road. That's my child. Mid-tantrum because he doesn't want to walk.

And finally....

Well alcohol of course.

So are yours the same? Better? Brighter? Boozier?

Link up below and let us know.

Want to know more about Listography? Click on the tab at the top of the page and read on.