Isabelle started at Play Group in January. She goes for five mornings a week. Danny didn’t go to Play Group at all when he was two as he just wasn’t ready. Rebecca and Caitlyn went for three mornings a week. The difference this time is Sure Start has moved to our area so Isabelle is entitled to five free sessions of Playgroup. I initially, took her every day but thought she would find it too much, so I was going to then choose two to three sessions for her to attend, but she loves it and as it’s free it seems silly to not make the most of it.
She loves the company, as when her brother and two sisters go off to school, the house does become strangely quieter.
She also loves to be kept busy, she is always drawing pictures, sticking and gluing, playing with play dough, painting, counting, doing jig saws, reading books, singing songs and solving puzzles. Her favourite home activity at the moment is making “Glitter Pictures” (that is why if you see us on the afternoon school run we are covered in glitter!).
So she loves all the activities that they do in Play Group. They are in temporary accommodation at the moment while a lovely new Eco-Building is being built, where they will have a purpose bit Foundation Stage Nature Garden etc, but for now they are using the School’s outdoor areas. I know that when “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” was “book of the week” they did lots of Squelching and Squerching in the mud! I love it!
When some parents complained that their children were spending too much time outside, whatever the weather, I’m pleased to say that the Play Group responded positively to this and instead of limiting the time, which would have been unfair to the children who gain so much from these experiences, ordered wet weather clothes for all of the kids to wear during outdoor play in Play Group.
Parents are invited in every Friday to sing nursery Rhymes with their children and I can feel the positive atmosphere in the room, so no wonder Isabelle likes it!
As Play Group is an important stage for Isabelle, when Penwizard offered us a book to review, we chose “Isabelle and Peppa go to Playgroup”.
It was so easy to order on the Penwizard Website. First you choose the Character books that you want to personalise. We chose Peppa Pig as Isabelle loves Peppa and really does bring her Peppa Pig cuddly to Playgroup with her. She is very lucky that her sisters loved Peppa too so they have passed on lots of toys to her and her cousin even gave her a Peppa Pig bag for Playgroup.
Then you enter in your child’s details, their name of course, but you also choose their eye, skin and hair colour (and style) to make the character look like them too.
I’m pleased to say that once we had placed our order, the book arrived really quickly and Isabelle loves it. It is quite funny that I seem to have named two of my children after Peppa Pig characters anyway. So, as well as Isabelle appearing in the book we also have Danny (Dog) and Rebecca (Rabbit). So that Caitlyn does not feel left out we pretend that Candy Cat is Caitlyn Cat in this story!
We reviewed the Softback Version (£14.99), which is lovely, but I think if I was buying it as a special gift for someone then I would go for the Hardback version (£19.99).
It’s great to buy a book like this before your child start’s Playgroup to help prepare them. Isabelle has been off Playgroup for nearly a week as she has been poorly, so I’ve been reading this to prepare her for going back and I’m pleased to say that she walked in happy this morning despite her break.
We wrote a little message for Isabelle, which is printed in the book:
“To Isabelle, Enjoy your time at Playgroup. Love Mummy and Daddy xxx (January 2014)”
Therefore, I feel that this book marks a milestone and will be treasured by Isabelle in future years.
They make great gifts for the special children in your life.
There is also a lovely Peppa Pig “My Mummy” book available for Mother’s Day (£14.99 Hardback).
There are also lots more titles available which we will look at for Isabelle in the future and also special books for Birthday’s and Christmas.
I still treasure my Personalised books from when I was little. I had a “Peter Pan” and a “Merlin” one. I loved how siblings and friend’s names were in my books too. I also got excited when I got a mention in my sisters’ personalised books! I had a tear in my eye reading the “special message” to me recently as one was from my mum and late Dad, and the other from my late Nanny and late Grampy.
Did you have personalised books? What was your favourite?
Arrghh! Her and the rucksack! That's the sweetest picture!
So good that you've found a great place for her to go! Sounds lovely.
That sounds like a great playgroup and it's brilliant she's so happy there. I love that's she gone with her little Peppa Pig friend too – so sweet!!
so cute! it's great when they really love a play isn't it! x
Such a lovely idea, I bet she loves having a personalised book to read 🙂
Cherry only goes two mornings a week as they are so full and that's all the availability they had until Sept but I expect if she could she would go all day, every day, she loves it! x
What a lovely idea! mine have a coupleof personalised books that they love!
Who on earth would complain that their children were spending TOO MUCH time outdoors?? How bizarre!
I know! I've heard it lots when I was teaching too. I love them being outdoors.
Aw, they're so sweet.