Unsual Gift Ideas

I'll admit I've always been one to buy my girls things like dolls and babies and it wasn't that I was trying to make them play with "girl toys" that's just what they seemed to gravitate towards.

In reality I'm a firm believer that any type of toy can be suitable for both boys and girls and even adults if that's what they want. From super heroes and Lego to Barbies and all things cute and fluffy. In this day and age there shouldn't be that divide of pink and blue.

As my children have got older their choice in the toys that they choose to pick up and play with has definitely changed. Gone are the pushchairs and princess dressing up and in their place all sorts of weird and wonderful toys.

For example they've spent hours totally engrossed with watching a slinky going down the stairs but then everyone loves a slinky right!!

Thank You Teacher

As the end of another school year approaches, we as parents start thinking about what gifts to buy our children's teachers to thank them for what they have done over the school year. Excuse my rant and I know I probably sound harsh, however quite frankly it is another expense I could do without.

It seems to be a struggle every year to come up with something to buy that doesn't cost the earth because I don't know about the rest of you but I don't want to give the obligitory bookmark or magnet, poor teachers must have millions of these floating around their houses by now.

It has become yet another tradition that we have fallen into and I don't know about what other parents think, but I feel guilty seeing other people giving presents that look loads better than what I'm giving, almost feel like I am back at school myself, competing for first prize!!

There is a flip side to all of this though. This year I have been thinking about it even more though.

I love my eldest daughter's teacher, can't fault her, so helpful, always pushing for the kids to do more, the whole class has improved this year.

Then there is my five year old, although doing well in school, hasn't had the best teacher. Many of the parents have complained to her and about her because there seemed to be a distinct lack of teaching going on, there is a curriculum set for a reason and she hasn't stuck to it one bit, the children have only just finished learning their letters, something which should have been done by Christmas last year. Infact the poor teaching assistant seems to have been doing her job for her!!!

Only last week Freya got sent home with a reading book, which you could quite clearly see that she had read only a couple of weeks ago, simple mistake maybe, it just seemed to be in line with many others.

So I guess I'm thinking do we "have" to buy gifts for all of our kids teachers, especially if we feel that they haven't done what is required of them, as in that sense what would we really be thanking them for?

I'm in two minds what to do about this because I don't want to come across rude or ungrateful but in all honesty myself and my eldest daughter have done more learning with Freya at home than she has done at school this year.

Do any of you feel that your kids teachers haven't done the best for you child this year? Are you looking forward to them getting a new teacher?

xxxx