Saying goodbye to the year with gratitude: Remembering the greatest gift of all

Christmas is a time for us, a time to simply be, to enjoy and remember. A time for gratitude, and for us, a time to recall receiving the greatest Christmas gift ever.

Family Downs Side Up (I'm behind the camera)

My fingers can never quite manage to meet the keyboard, to tap out those precious memories to share in blog form. So many posts in my head but once in a while it's important to pull the online plug and focus solely on family.

This December, as always, my mind turned to our wonderful medical saviours over and over again. From the time of Natty's birthday on the 6th December until the anniversary of the day we were allowed to bring her home from the neo-natal unit on Christmas Eve, 8 years ago, I slip constantly into an emotional reverie. 

What are your top Christmas books to share with your children?

What are you reading with your children this Christmas?

Oh how I love the lead up to Christmas. 

To be honest it's the most emotional time of the year for me, the busy-ness of trying to finish various writing deadlines, the rushing, wrapping, buying, lists, more lists, lists of lists, the baking, the school appointments and commitments, the community gatherings, the dropping of gifts to friends and neighbours. 

The desperate attempt to tidy the house, clear the way and make the beds before our guests arrive to share that special time with us. It's busy, I feel tired, but I cherish this time. Illness invariably creeps in trying to scupper our festive plans. But we try to keep a clear cool head and carry on.

Mainly we love keeping it simple in our house. It's about baking and eating and walks and films and board games and music. We sing together and craft and act and read a lot.

Each year we buy one or two more Christmas books to read and share together throughout December, and now that Mia, our eldest is nearly 11, we have quite a collection. 

So what are our favourites?
Well, we put it to the test, asked the children, did a tally of requested reading this month and this is what they came up with:

Our top books for sharing with children this Christmas

Christmas wishes from Downs Side Up

The Goleniowski family would like to wish you a very happy Christmas and a healthy and fulfilling 2015.

Christmas wishes from Downs Side Up with love and gratitude

May we take this opportunity to thank you for your support throughout the year. Our internet community has worked together more closely than ever, collaborating to create a powerful team, advocating for better understanding and inclusion. 

Makaton Charity Advent Angels

Makaton is a kind of communication life line for many children. For those with little or delayed speech, it really does ease the frustration they feel. 

But not only that it actually helps the brain to form the connections needed to embed language. The more we sign and sign and say a word, the more likely it is to stick.

Mia uses Makaton to sign to Natty: Flower

When Natty was tiny I wondered if using sign was the right thing to do. I've heard parents say, 'but I want him to learn to speak...' and I wondered if signing and speech was an either/or dilemma. You can read Do We Really Need Makaton on the subject here. 

I know many parents worry, but rest assured Makaton will only enhance your child's communications skills. Natty naturally dropped each sign once she could say the word, and now she uses it when signing across a room or when really very excited. 

The girls were very excited to have been asked to join in with the free online Makaton advent calendar again this year. So, back in November we dragged the tinsel out of the loft and dusted off our angel wings to make this short film:

You can watch the rest of the advent video clips over on the Makaton Charity website here, including those made by schools, families and the inimitable Singing Hands. 

Winter ills: How do you encourage your child to take their medication?

How do you encourage your child to take their medicine?

Winter ills and the problem of getting vulnerable children to take their medication

Winter ills

Each year I hope and pray that we will get through the cold dark months without serious illness, without a visit to hospital, with less worry than the previous year. These grey hairs are sure mounting up!

Advent Countdown to the Nativity

Watch our Nativity Vlog below.

December is suddenly here and we are offically allowed to talk about Christmas! The countdown to the big day has begun with fun advent activities for the children.

Advent countdown to the Nativity

These include reading their favourite Christmas books, opening their advent calendars at home and virtually on the Makaton website (watch out for Mia and Natty who made their little video last month), practising for their school carol concerts and nativity plays, writing cards for friends and teachers, helping to decorate the house and joining in with creating homemade festive crafts.