In recent weeks we've started using a reward chart with The Boy, not for behaviour but to help promote independence and getting ready for school. So far the targets we've used have focused on getting dressed, eating meals within thirty minutes and tidying up, which are key things he'll need to do in the classroom and to make his lunchtime easier. If he gets all of the stickers on his chart then he achieves his reward which is something he chooses at the beginning of the week. By and large we've managed to get away with going to somewhere that we would normally go to anyway, bless him he's not cottoned onto this yet!
Last weekend he chose to go to Puxton's Park near Weston-Super-Mare, an all-weather adventure place he and I have been to a few times with Mummy Mishaps but never as a family. It was somewhere I wanted to go to over the Summer holidays anyway, so again was an easy choice. I was quite looking forward to the trip and showing it off to Mr. TBaM, I should have known that would be a sign of it being a bit rubbish really! It was their birthday weekend which meant cheap entry = bonus as it only cost us £12 to get in; it was their birthday weekend which meant cheap entry = downer because everyone else in the locality was there! Let's just say that I'm not a fan of men going topless or women wearing bikinis in anywhere other than the beach, a pool or their garden, and as a result the plethora of excess skin on display really spoilt the trip for me. Various play equipment was broken (cargo nets and ladders on the fort, and the bouncing pillow), the few animals out were fed up and hot with no shade, and combined with the fact that Puxton's seems to have virtually no shade in any form ensured I felt pretty dejected about our family fun time! Of course, The Boy had some fun with the zip wire and the sand play, but I suspect even he was a bit disappointed with the trip.
We left early and headed to our old faithful; Barry Island.
Sunday promised to be an even hotter day than Saturday, and I'd initially planned for a quiet day at home. However, still dejected from the previous day, I decided that we'd head to Southerndown, one of my favourite beaches, via strawberry picking at a PYO fruit farm. On the National Trust list of 50 Things To Do Before You're 11 &¾ is 'eat an apple straight from a tree' and while picking strawberries is not exactly the same thing, I figure it's more about actually eating fruit straight from the plant and realising it doesn't come in plastic packaging from a shelf in the supermarket. Therefore I'm ticking that one off!
Following our adventures in the strawberry field (where The Boy really needs to learn that he shouldn't switch sides during fruit picking as daddy is rubbish!) we headed down to Southerndown, along with half of south Wales. I suspect the other half were at Barry Island! Southerndown is a stunning beach with rockpools and a huge swathe of sand that can (and did) accommodate thousands at low tide, but is completely covered at high tide. Luckily we arrived just on the right side of low tide and spent a really pleasurable few hours in a magnificent location where all that can be heard is families and friends having fun.
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Lovely sunshine fun. We recently made it to the beach as well if not quite so large and sandy and have lots of plans to explore some different ones! I also hope to go strawberry picking with my wee man and am curious as to what he will make of it.
Looks like lots of fun. Saw the signs for puxtons park & wondered if it was any good. Looks like a lovely weekend though,..gorgeous pictures. I agree with the whole half naked thing…very off putting!
I love the reward charts idea as preparation for big school and the reward looks very much worth it. Sorry Puxton didn't work out but looks like the beach came up trumps, always a little refreshing wind to cool you down too. I am quite jealous of the strawberry picking, it is on my list of things to do on Sunday. Thank you for sharing your action packed weekend with Country Kids.
You should see some of the sights we have to put up with – saw 2 girls actually shopping in a supermarket (not in the tourist area either) dressed in thong bikinis! I'm used to the flesh everywhere but it often still surprises me!
Glad the reward chart is working well, I've just started a behaviour chart with Leo this morning.
Feel free to link up with my Summer Dreams post too x
I always love your Barry Island pics – it always makes me think how much The Boy has grown as its where I saw some of his first pics as a toddler in your header. His little hat is so funky, I think I am going to look for one for little Z!
Lovely photos; he looks so busy and involved in each one. Gorgeous.
This looks like so much fun. I really must come here soon xx
Gorgeous photos, we have the same hat but Bud has well and truly flattened it so is now working the weathered look with it. Boys! Glad the behaviour chart is working well in preparing him for September.
Looks fab! I love the beach and living near one is great when the sun is out! Lots of lovely photos.
I love seeing your beach photos, I would love the have a beach closer to us but I'm determined to get to one over the summer. Shame your day trip was ruined…the downside of the sun is the topless men and scantily clad women! I'm adding fruit picking to our summer list now too 🙂 Looks like so much fun in the sun x
so sorry i have completely managed to miss this post! whooops
these photos are just wonderful and just show what gorgeous weather we have had and what fun can be had in the sun. he looks so happy on the beach – love hs blue all in one suit. and what a shame about Puxton park eeeek i would hate to go when it was that crowded and with that much flesh on show (you did make me smeil with your descriptions) lol it would put me off my ice cream ) x
Wow, puxton Down the road from where I lived in the UK and Barry island my home town. Thanks for sharing and giving me a little piece of home x
What beautiful pics and beaches xx