later in life. Testicular cancer is extremely rare in children; if it were to occur, the symptoms (a painless lump or hardening in either testicle; a feeling of heaviness in the scrotum; a swelling or enlargement of either testicle; or an unusual collection of fl uid in the scrotum) would show up in the late teens or early 20s, and in cases of early diagnosis, treatment has a 98% success rate. I would not want you to be concerned now, and his GP or specialist should suggest he learn to self- examine in adolescence (as all young men should). However, if the pain becomes chronic, go to
your GP and ask for a referral. Parents know their children best, and you will be aware of whether the pain is genuinely serious enough to need investigation. Your son may fi nd the topic awkward, but doctors really do see this condition frequently and will be keen to resolve it.
My seven-year-old son is a wonderful budding musician and enjoys acting out plays at home; but he will not step on a stage in public. I believe stage experience would be a great way to boost his self-esteem, especially as he is so reluctant. Is he simply too young? Or should I get tough? Maggie, West Yorkshire
Sarah Brindley says: You are right: here at Stagecoach we fi rmly believe learning to perform in public is not just for actors and musicians, it is a vital building block in the development of self-confi dence and self-esteem, even helping them to make friends, and later in life to succeed in interviews and presentations. It really is a skill for life. Some children obviously struggle with performing, but others are very confi dent in the home or classroom and only become shy as they leave their comfort zone. You need to validate these feelings. Talk about what’s happening – the sweaty palms and butterfl ies caused by adrenalin, and explain how normal they are. Encouraging them to breathe deeply and calmly before they try will
The Consultant Psychologist Dr Hilary Bruff ell is a consultant social psychologist with a particular interest in adolescence. She works with businesses and schools focussing on communication issues.
certainly help. Do rehearse with them, and help learn lines. Lastly, remind them school performances are
not like going on The X Factor. No one is judging you, mistakes or forgotten lines don’t matter. It is meant to be fun after all, not a trial.
Do you have any handwriting tips? My 10-year-old daughter’s scrawl is absolutely unintelligible and we have been told she will suff er at Common Entrance as a result. She is right handed, very bright, charming, but a bit clumsy and slap-dash. Does penmanship matter or could I demand she complete her exams on a PC? Sally, Edinburgh
Jo Petty says: I assume your daughter is in Year 6 and taking CE in January. An educational psychologist’s report would usually be needed to get the offi cial recommendations for laptop usage for CE. Your daughter would, of course, need to be competent on a keyboard. This appears to be a last- minute thought so I doubt that her typing speed is adequate. However, I strongly recommend that your daughter is assessed by an educational psychologist. The report would show her potential, explain the poor handwriting and point out that given help with handwriting and word processing skills she would do well in senior school. If the school likes your daughter, and are reassured of her potential, they should be encouraged to off er her a place.
The Consultant Urologist Feilim Murphy is a Consultant Paediatric Urologist at The Portland Hospital, London, and St George’s Hospital (London).
How quickly would you move an unhappy child? After a posting abroad ended, we brought our children back to the UK, enrolling both in single sex prep schools in London. My son, 7, has taken to his new class with alacrity; my daughter, 9, is in tears frequently, and has become moody and aggressive, often asking to stay at home due to morning tummy aches. I’m not sure how much is the overall eff ect of moving home, school and country – or if there is a specifi c problem but we can’t go on as we are... Jane, west London
Dr Bruff ell says: Don’t worry, be patient. Some children take longer than others to settle. You don’t say how long she has been at her new school, but I am assuming that she started in September this year and if so this is still very early days. I would normally advise giving it at least a full term. She has already gone through quite of lot of upheaval and needs to have time to settle down a bit. You have to remember that this is a big change for all of you and she is probably picking up on all the general family upheaval. Have an informal chat to the teacher to fi nd out
how she is getting on at school and how she seems to be settling in. Talk to your daughter - think of a little treat for when they get home, like making a cake together, or doing some junk modelling. Spending time with her is reassuring, but also doing things together in a shared task is a great way of letting your children relax and open up to you.
Don’t force the conversation, but allow it to happen and see how she is feeling. I suspect that she is just very unsettled at the moment by all the changes, and will be absolutely fi ne by the end of term.
Our First Eleven panelists invite you to email your questions to: editor@ fi
rstelevenmagazine.co.uk
The Food Campaigner Fi Bird is a past Masterchef fi nalist who campaigns for healthier diets and for cookery teaching in primary schools. Her box of children’s recipes Kids Kitchen (£14.99) is available on Amazon.
www.fi rstelevenmagazine.co.uk Michaelmas 2011 FirstEleven 59
✎
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84