One feature of my blog since it started back in June 2017 (over two years ago?! well done me…) has been my posts describing how my Daughter has adapted going from Nursery to Primary School. It hasn’t been a conscious decision to specifically document this transition. But it feels right to once again write a few words as she prepares to start Year two.

I’ve enjoyed revisiting my older posts on this covering Graduation at Nursery, my first thoughts of Reception and the preparation of going into Year one. I still can’t believe she’s been in full time education for two whole years! In old money she’s about to go into her final year of Infants. That’s crazy talk! So, what’s happened, and what can I expect in the coming year.

General School Life

She is smashing it! We had another fantastic school report and her teacher has told us on a few occasions how proud she is of her learning achievements. She’s been acing her spelling tests, has advanced in her reading groups and performed brilliantly in the end of year phonics screening. We even had a surprise letter sent to us from the Head Teacher commenting iBear on her progress.

During the course of the year she’s asked to try some of the after school clubs. Whilst dance and arts and crafts have only been short term she seems to have really taken a liking to gymnastics and wants to continue with it this coming year.

Year two will be a big test for her, and us, as she will be sitting her SATS which I’m already a little nervous about. Not so much on the academic side, I know she’ll try her best, but the stresses it will undoubtedly bring. I’ve been fortunate enough to get quite a bit involved in school life and I’ve seen how regimented the SATS process is. The school seem to handle it all well though. Fingers crossed it goes well.

I’ve had the opportunity to go on a few school trips during the year. And I’ve loved them. The class is full of really nice kids and it’s lovely striking up a bit of a relationship with them. I now know them all by name and it’s lovely having them say hello to me as I do the school run.

Bookworms United

I loves a good book I do and I’ve always hoped iBear would follow suit. We’ve always read to her at bedtime and her reading skills have improved massively over the last year. She reads out loud with such confidence and always seeks guidance on words she doesn’t quite understand. Recently we’ve started introducing chapter books and she seems to be enjoying them. Her current favourite shop is Waterstones and she’s chosen a few books to get as treats. She’s even started to read to herself on occasion which is so lovely to see.

It’s not all about the fiction books either. She is really enjoying non-fiction too. She’d got a childrens encyclopaedia and a dinosaur reference book and her thirst for knowledge shows no sign of slowing down. We recently went to see the Mary Rose Museum as part of our summer holiday and she bought a reference book about shipwrecks. She’d read it cover to cover by the time we came home!

A somewhat Jeckyl and Hyde personality at times

One thing that has changed big style this past year is iBears personality. In my early posts I’ve mentioned how shy she could be. Well, not any more. She has become so confident, NEVER shuts up and can be such a livewire at times. She is a genuine pleasure to be around and sometimes I’m amazed at the level she can hold a conversation. If we’re at a soft play area her first choice is still for me to go in with her. (That’s right readers, I’m still managing to retain Daddys girl status) but if for whatever reason I’m not partaking it doesn’t take her long to find someone to play with.

I’ve seen it happen in person. She’ll approach another child and just strike up a conversation. Sometimes it takes a while for the other child to come around but more often than not they do and off they go. I love the fact she doesn’t seem to worry about any knockbacks, although it’s hard to watch sometimes. In the end she either has a new friend, or carries on by herself.

In school she’s developed a couple of close friendships and there’s been talk of a few play dates outside of school. I still worry about how she interacts with the rest of her class but I think that’s more my issue than iBears. She seems happy enough. There has been the odd occasion she’s been a little upset due to “people not playing with her” but nothing that’s escalated into something significant.

It’s not all been a bed of roses though

With all this new found confidence there’s also been a bit of an attitude creep in. Especially in the latter part of the school year. I guess it comes with the territory of a growing child but there’s been a number of times iBear has challenged our decisions and tried our patience. Her new favourite phrase is “it’s not fair” and in a number of ways it’s like she’s regressed into the Threenager years. If things don’t go her way she can be quick to strop and quick to cry. She also seems to at times seek out the confrontation; like she’s knows it’s going to end in a bit of an argument but can’t resit pushing buttons, especially her Mams.

I should say I’ve always been quick to point out to others that my Daughter has her Mams looks and her Dads personality. Which is a win for her on both counts I may add. I feel I now need to clarify that it’s obviously only the good parts of her personality she’s inherited from me. I was never quick tempered or whingy in the slightest….. No, you can’t check with my mother!

The Daddy Daughter relationship

I love the relationship I have with my Daughter. We have our ‘Daddy Thursdays’ thanks to my continuing flexible working arrangement and we always try to make the most of the after school time we have. One thing I have found interesting is despite a year of big change for iBear she still wants to play the same games she always has done with me. Jelly Nursery shows no sign of stopping and neither does our silly pre shower ritual. I’ll be gutted when they do.

OneDadsView

It feels like a lot has changed and progressed this last year and it’s hard to imagine how much things will continue to change. It does seem to hold true that the school years fly past. I hope by documenting my thoughts on each year I’ll have a fantastic set of memories to look back on.