Fatso Batso!
26-08-2017
Once again, with the government’s new dictum that calories in popular foods must be cut, the issue of childhood obesity is back on the menu.
Like so many aspects of our lives, the focus is on the negative. With this ‘battle’ as with so many others, the tactic is to bring in limitations and regulations for what already exists. First fat was the enemy, then sugar, now just calories in general - and the proffered solution is to try and cap the amount of the enemy in our food rather than look at the bigger picture.
The Play's the Thing
08-04-2017
I recently spent a thoroughly enjoyable day, holding a workshop for Riverside Performing Arts' in-house Theatre Company to help develop their upcoming show based on the popular children’s book ‘Elmer’ (you may be familiar with the eponymous patchwork elephant), at Midlands Arts Centre.
Article for Teach Primary and Teach Early Years Magazines
11-03-2017
Just in case you missed it, this is my article from the current editions of those two magazines,
LET’S GET PHYSICAL!
Children are physical creatures. I don’t need to tell you that. From the very beginning, they express themselves with their whole bodies. During the earliest of early years, when they know the cadence of language, but don’t necessarily have the vocabulary to fit the tune, they are already using gestures to help make themselves understood - and they learn those gestures from us.
It’s intriguing to me that whilst we accept the development of a regional accent, there is little thought given to the physical habits a young child might pick up - and this happens in school as well at at home.