Archives for January 2012

Guest Blogger Tim Atkinson writes:



In common with most parents, I'm a big CBeebies fan. Of course, I only watch it when the children ask. And I never, ever end up watching on my own when they've gone off and started doing something else. Oh no.



Nor do I suggest it to them. 'Shall we watch CBeebies?' I don't say. I don't know when Justin's House is on or when Show me, Show me is about to start. And I've never, ever won the 'watch too much CBeebies' Friday quiz on the Facebook page. Never been close, even. Ever.



It's not what dads do, after all. Dad's go out kicking balls in the park; dads teach their kids to jump in puddles, climb trees, ride bikes. Dads are out at work all day and come home in time to give the kids a bath and read them a bedtime story.



Well, not this one. But since giving up full-time work three years ago to become a stay-at-home dad I've had my fair share of prejudice to overcome. Mums are usually fine, once the novelty of a man at the mother and toddler group has worn off. And most dads I speak to start by saying things like 'I could never do what you do' but end by telling me they wish they could spend more time with their children.



No. The prejudice, the expectation, the assumption that it's mum at home with the little ones most often comes from official sources. A recent hospital admission was complicated because they could find no employment category suitable for me. 'I'll put you down as household management' said the receptionist, eventually.

Things got so bad I had to write some books (including one for dads) just so I could call myself an author! Because in spite of all our expectations of equality, being a stay-at-home dad still makes me something of a curiosity.



And yet, figures suggest that there has been a huge rise in dads taking on what was traditionally a mum's role. There are ten times as many of us as there were a decade ago and the latest figures suggest that as many as 1.4 million men are now primary carers for their children. That's one in seven families.



Some of us blog about it, too. Although mummy blogging is much bigger, the number of dads sharing their thoughts and feelings online is growing. As one of them, I'm always on the lookout for new blogs and I'm an avid reader of the CBeebie's Grown-Ups blog. Part of the attraction of such sites is discovering new links, so imagine my disappointment on seeing that the CBeebie's blog linked only to mums. No, not exclusively mums - there was a grandma too. Just no dads.



I fired off an email and - to my surpise and the Beeb's credit - they got back in touch acknowledging the problem and asking for a few suggestions, which I was happy to provide.



And I'm now delighted to see that they've implemented the changes and linked to some dad's as well as mum's blogs. So as the CBeebie's Grown-Ups blog starts a week of dedicated to the dads, why not have a look at a few of our blogs too?



Tim Atkinson's award-winning blog can be found at www.bringingupcharlie.co.uk.

Mr Bloom’s Nursery series 2 has begun! Phew!

For the production team (who have worked so brilliantly and so hard), most of 2011 was spent coming up with the storylines, planning for the filming and crafting the finished product you now see! We all hope you and your tiddlers enjoy them! And I mean YOU because we know that the series has a very healthy grown-up fanbase. It’s always fun to read on social media networks about how apparently sane and civilised adults are caught singing Meet the Veggies on the commute to work, or how some can’t pass the fruit and veg aisle without doffing their cap to Joan! And as for Mr Bloom’s popularity amongst the Mums ... well, I won’t go there!

So, for all those grown-ups – well, that is those of us who are really just children trapped in bigger bodies – the following video clips are for you. When the cameras were rolling this year we captured a couple of moments which reveal a lot about the veggies that would normally lay on the cutting room floor. All I can say is ... having made these public, I’m expecting a call from Raymond’s agent!

Enjoy!

My name is Paul Hill and I am a special needs teacher, and Dad to a 33 month old daughter.

I am also a very enthusiastic amateur astronomer!

From the age of eight, I’ve spent my evenings astro-sketching (drawing!) and as a grown-up I continue to be an active member of the Baker Street Irregular Astronomers.

I believe firmly that Astronomy and science should be introduced to all children at an early age and that special needs children particularly must be encouraged to get outside.

I became interested in astronomy because of an enthusiastic teacher, Mrs Hadfield, who used the arrival of Halley’s comet as the basis of our learning that term.

Afterwards my parents took me to the Planetarium, the Royal Observatory, sat in fields looking at meteors with me and took me to my first star party. I was hooked. A meeting with Sir Patrick Moore followed and he advised me to get some good binoculars and get drawing.

My daughter has already been introduced to astronomy and has been joining me at the telescope since her second birthday. She can now pick out many of the planets in the sky and as she grows I watch her horizons expand and her questions about what she sees can be challenging to answer!

At my school (https://www.belvueschool.org) where I work with special needs students, I used the telescope to show Jupiter and the moon. There was utter disbelief of what they were seeing!

I find it rare that children, especially in cities, have spent time looking up and seeing what is in the sky above them.

Expanding the horizons of any child is important; spending time creating a sense of place, of scale, of awe and wonder is vital to learning, development and perhaps most importantly, happiness.

It is easy for children, especially those with special needs, to have a world restricted to the walls that enclose them everyday. Moving from home to school, often in specialist transport on a tight timetable, the opportunities for stopping and staring can be few, especially when mobility and medication are considered. Astronomy can offer a window on science and one that is in easy reach of anyone.

I spend time encouraging people into astronomy but regularly find that people are put off by cost and what appears to be a complex pastime.

Good astronomy should always start simple. You need nothing more than a back garden or park, a warm coat, a torch and maybe a mug of hot chocolate for afterwards (and the promise of a staying up a bit later!).

Exploring the sky requires no knowledge, just a clear night and a sense of wonder. A bit of research will tell you when a meteor shower is due, so you might see a sky full of 'shooting stars'. You might look up when the International Space Station is passing overhead (you can't miss it try @twisst or https://www.heavens-above.com) and explain to children that the moving light is a home in space to people from around the world.

Binoculars will add another dimension to an evening outside. You’ll be able to see many more stars, craters on the Moon, the Andromeda Galaxy and the moons of Jupiter. Where to find them in the sky is something you can research with children, perhaps while you bake star and rocket biscuits together, make a flask of hot space tea and prepare your astronaut note pads ready for your evening star party.

As part of your exploration, draw what you find, search for constellations and if you don't know their names, make your own up. Astronomers have done that for thousands of years!

If you do know some constellations, perhaps you could tell the mythical stories of e.g. Orion the Hunter with his lion-skin shield or Princess Andromeda chained to a rock waiting for Perseus, carrying the head of the Gorgon Medusa, coming to her rescue. It is all there drawn across the sky.

If you want to look further and perhaps look through a telescope, contact your local astronomy group ( https://www.activeastronomy.org), there are many free nights run all over the country by enthusiastic and friendly volunteers.

Encouraging children with special needs to go outside and experience the world around them is one of the primary aims of the school I work at and through astronomy children, even in light polluted cities, can glimpse a universe of infinite wonder and poetic beauty.

Stargazing LIVE returns for a second three-night series on BBC Two set to encourage everyone from the complete beginner to the enthusiastic amateur to make the most of the night sky.

Professor Brian Cox and Dara O Briain will broadcast live from the control room of the Jodrell Bank Observatory, interacting live with the audience and calling on a starry collection of the country’s finest astronomical minds to explore the majestic wonders of the skies above Britain.

In their own unique style, the pair will tackle some of the most intriguing questions in astronomy, such as Why Does the Moon Cause The Tides? How Do We Know Where Black Holes Are When They Are impossible To See? What Will We Actually Say If We Ever Make Contact With An Alien Race?

Closer to home, there will also be hints and tips for getting started in Stargazing and advice on navigating your way around the skies.

For more information, including details of family-friendly Stargazing events taking place around the country, astronomy resources for children of all ages, or to download a Star Guide with advice on what to look for, go to bbc.co.uk/stargazing

In fact there are all manner of bells and whistles on the new series of Mr Blooms Nursery and I really hope you like them:



Sebastian is back and more debonair than ever. Whereas in Series 1 he was largely tasked with introducing the final song and dance, this time around he features throughout the main storylines of many of the episodes. Well, you can’t keep a good Aubergine down can you…?!



Compo had a few improvements too! Compo 2.0 we called him – as Mr Bloom has added a few gadgets over the past few months. A periscope, a model railway in one particularly awesome episode and a wash-spin-n-dry cycle to name but a few!



Finally, and most excitingly of all we’ve a one-off Mr Bloom Special episode as part of the series. It’s a standalone episode which shows Mr Bloom and the Veggies leave the Nursery behind and take to the trusty Compo Car when a group of Tiddlers ask for their help in transforming a derelict plot of land. I won’t say too much more at this stage .... but watch this space – it’s due to transmit at the end of this series (around end of March).



All in all, 2011 was a great year for us. The first series was well received and we were lucky enough to win the Royal Television Society North West Award for Best Children’s Programme. *

Most importantly, we were given the opportunity to make this second series, which has been nothing short of delightful. This time around we’ve really tried to enhance the show without tinkering too much to the existing formula. Thanks to all the team who helped put the series together – such a wonderful bunch of creative (mad) people.



I hope you enjoy the added extras and in the words of Tom and Barbara, 'Laters Taters!'

* Ben is being modest here – not only did the series win that award, but he himself was nominated for a Children’s BAFTA for Best Performer – a fantastic achievement!

 (Ed)

For Mr Bloom's Nursery games, songs clips and more, check out the Mr Bloom's Nursery Website

I've been with the show since it started over four years ago and we all felt that we'd now like to try something a bit different to change parents and children's experience of the show.

We know that our fans love the Piplings, the show's positive outlook and the chance to get down on the living room floor and join in with some yogo - so obviously all of that had to stay.

But we wanted to make the show easier for families to watch together, engaging older siblings as well as making it more fun for parents and careers to enjoy the action too. So we've done two things. Firstly we've reduced the episodes. But more importantly we've built up the innate and gentle humour of the show by adding a narrator.

And what a narrator we've got! We've struck gold again with the brilliant Dave Lamb, who I'm certain many mums and dads will know from Come Dine With Me and older siblings will recognise from CBBC's hit Gory Games. I've previously worked with Dave on Big Barn Farm so I knew he'd be perfect. And Dave has a young daughter himself so knew Waybuloo well before we asked him to join the show. He brings his trademark inimitable and humorous style to the series, acting as a light-hearted guide for children, but also their parents, to the Piplings' adventures in Nara.

So I hope that we've created a series that is funnier, clearer in the stories it tells to our audience and is something the whole family will enjoy together.

CBeebies is changing the 'Bedtime Hour' for the New Year. We understand that this time can be an important part of a family’s evening routine, so we're letting you know what's going to happen and when it's going to happen. 

From Monday 9th January there will be a new line up to the 'Bedtime Hour'.

From 6.00pm will be brand new versions of Waybuloo narrated by Dave Lamb and this will be followed by Driver Dan's Story Train to add programmes that appeal to all ages at bedtime.

The ever popular In The Night Garden and the Bedtime Story will round off the day to prepare Cbeebies viewers for bedtime. 

We make changes gradually to bedtime because we know this can be disruptive to some viewers and always try to provide something for every viewer.