He spent full days in the bigger kid’s room at childcare on Monday and Tuesday. They said he is doing well and that the big kids wanted to help him. He has been quieter than usual there. His swimming teacher commented that perhaps his clinginess at swimming relates to his change of room at childcare. This could be why he has been clingier at home and at his activities in the past week. From next week he will be fulltime in the bigger kid’s room, so we are hopeful he soon becomes comfortable there.

He has a lingering cough and cold, so that could also be the reason for his clinginess. Hopefully a quiet long weekend ahead will help shake that.

Summary of Jack at 23 months

. Jack can now sing most words of 'twinkle twinkle little star', 'baa baa black sheep' and the alphabet song by himself.

. Jack can confidently climb across the ladder in the air at Gymbaroo (holding onto the side rails for support). He is really enjoying all the climbing activities at Gymbaroo at the moment.

. Jack is showing interest in jumping. So far he only lifts his heels up and down. He also likes walking on his tip toes, and talks about hopping.

. After such a long issue with shoes, Jack is now confidently walking around in his 'inside' shoes (slippers) and his 'outside' proper shoes. You would never know he once had a problem with them. He is also enjoying putting on his alligator and dog shoes on at home, and putting shoes on his teddy bears and getting them to walk in them.

. Jack has learnt to turn his music on and off on the CD player. The main problem is that he wants to do it over and over again. When we firmly tell him to stop, he sometimes gets his different bears to turn it on and off instead.

. Jack loves helping us with chores. He loves helping me with loading and unloading the dishwasher, and helping his Dad with the washing, and watering the garden.

. Jack's cot is now converted into a cot bed. He is able to climb out of it, but is often disoriented when first waking, and gets tangled up in his bed sheets. As such he still cries for us to come and help him. He still very much prefers to sleep attached to his mum, and will not willingly go into the cot bed himself (only gets transferred in once asleep). I have managed to get him to sleep in it for longer periods by kneeling down beside him when he wakes, putting my arms around him, and letting him hold my hair. He can sometimes get himself back to sleep. I can however be left kneeling there for 20 minutes or so before he finally releases the grip on my hair and allows me to move away!

. As above, Jack will fully be in the 'duck' room at his Mon/Tues childcare, and no longer in the youngest room. It is a reminder that he is growing up and certainly not a baby anymore. Although he seems to be outwardly handling it ok, he has been more quiet and clingy while going through the transition.

. Jack is enjoying playing with play dough at home. He has also had the opportunity to start more craft work in the childcare 'duck' room.

. Jack has been trying to bite a bit of late, and bit me hard on the cheek yesterday with a cheeky grin. This is certainly behaviour I will be trying to stamp out very quickly.

Posted by Al at 3:23 PM