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subbytna · 21 Jan 2022 at 11:34

Minibiker said:
Not looking forward to the 21st of January, our 5 year old boy has to go for a Circumcision... He's already getting upset and scared, it's tough because it makes me and my wife emotional seeing him like this and we want to do all we can for him.. Only my wife is allowed in there with him when they give him the injection to send him to sleep for the op,

Anybody else had to go through something like this?

Were big worriers as its the first time we've experienced this and he's only little bless him,

Its most evenings I sit here and it runs through my head what he must feel like

Has he a medical issue that means he needs the snip?

Freefaller · 21 Jan 2022 at 11:43

Kreeeee said:
Bit late but yes. My 4 year old is bilingual, and my 3 year old understands everything but doesn't like speaking English.

We have a simple rule that works really well: Speak the native language of the country when outside and the foreign language when in the house/car. Never deviate from this, including any entertainment media such as films, books, and radio/music.

You have to ignore anything the kids say in the wrong language as if the child didn't say anything (but obviously help them and be nurturing when they try and fail), and both partners should make a lot of effort to learn any languages they can't speak at the same time too, otherwise this method doesn't work. Kids are the perfect opportunity for the parents to be bilingual too!

No lessons were needed, they picked it up really well and correct both the wife and I in our non-native languages!

Edit: In case it wasn't clear, in summary the house and the car are foreign language zones only and that goes for all the family and media. No deviation from this rule when the kids are around.

thanks for sharing!

We live in the UK at the moment, so the house is the "foreign" zone, but I do speak to them in French everywhere - and I make no apology for doing it in front of friends / family as I feel immersion is the best thing.

I'd love to live back in France or another country for a bit, but it's just logistics that are tough at the moment.

Really enjoyed your insights really appreciate you taking the time

Minibiker · 21 Jan 2022 at 13:26

subbytna said:
Has he a medical issue that means he needs the snip?

No bud, it was trauma to that area due to his gramps shutting it in the seat belt on the car seat a couple of years back... Hes had the op done this morning and allowed to leave at 13.30, he's being abit more himself now since coming back from the op room... The hospital gave him a little lego set for being brave which was a nice touch from them.... He had xbox and everything on his ward

that's my kind of ward, lego and gaming..

When he came back up he was a bit spaced out and fell over once due to his legs being numb, but all good now just abit tender for him

subbytna · 21 Jan 2022 at 13:37

Minibiker said:
No bud, it was trauma to that area due to his gramps shutting it in the seat belt on the car seat a couple of years back... Hes had the op done this morning and allowed to leave at 13.30, he's being abit more himself now since coming back from the op room... The hospital gave him a little lego set for being brave which was a nice touch from them.... He had xbox and everything on his ward that's my kind of ward, lego and gaming..

When he came back up he was a bit spaced out and fell over once due to his legs being numb, but all good now just abit tender for him

Ah the wee pup

Glad he's feeling better now

Freefaller · 21 Jan 2022 at 13:49

Minibiker said:
No bud, it was trauma to that area due to his gramps shutting it in the seat belt on the car seat a couple of years back... Hes had the op done this morning and allowed to leave at 13.30, he's being abit more himself now since coming back from the op room... The hospital gave him a little lego set for being brave which was a nice touch from them.... He had xbox and everything on his ward that's my kind of ward, lego and gaming..

When he came back up he was a bit spaced out and fell over once due to his legs being numb, but all good now just abit tender for him

Glad it went ok! Hope he bounces back quickly!

Kreeeee · 21 Jan 2022 at 15:53

Freefaller · 21 Jan 2022 at 16:30

Kreeeee said:
No problem, making the home a 100% foreign language zone for all family members and media was really the trick for us.

Yeah it's a really good idea / suggestion. The wife is doing more bilingual stuff now, but need to force the TV / Youtube kids to be in French now somehow....

SixTwoSix · 21 Jan 2022 at 16:36

@Freefaller Missus is Polish and we have a 4 year old, 5 in May. We generally just spoke English when it was the 3 of us, when it's just her with him, it's Polish and just me, English.

We didn't really try and ensure he knew both languages, we let it occur as naturally as possible. What's happened is that he's fluent in both at the moment, if we're having a 3 way conversation, he will flip between English and Polish dependent who he's replying to, quite a sight to behold.

He will go on skype with wifes mum and have conversations in Polish, if I walk in, he'll stop and explain in English what her mum is saying.

As a bonus, i've picked up loads of new Polish in last few years despite knowing very little prior to his birth and now in 15th year with my wife.

Kreeeee · 21 Jan 2022 at 19:18

Freefaller · 21 Jan 2022 at 22:02

I grew up in a multi lingual household and English wasn't my first language, but it's allowed me to learn and now speak a few languages.

I know my kids won't have the same as we're currently in the UK and it's going be a second language anyway.

However as you say it's the regular immersion and familiarising them to the language. They understand everything I say and if I force them they speak in French but to be honest as long as they understand and they become familiar with it will hopefully set them up for the future.

robj20 · 2 Feb 2022 at 14:31

Anyone started a pension for their children? Going to be opening a Vanguard Stocks & Shares junior ISA soon for each of mine, but also thinking about a pension even a tiny amount a month should go a long way to a good final pension for them.

dlockers · 2 Feb 2022 at 14:33

robj20 said:
Anyone started a pension for their children? Going to be opening a Vanguard Stocks & Shares junior ISA soon for each of mine, but also thinking about a pension even a tiny amount a month should go a long way to a good final pension for them.

I am tempted; something daft like £50 a month would hardly be a burden.

FYI: I opened her junior ISA with Fidelity as there are zero fees.

chroniclard · 2 Feb 2022 at 14:44

robj20 said:
Anyone started a pension for their children? Going to be opening a Vanguard Stocks & Shares junior ISA soon for each of mine, but also thinking about a pension even a tiny amount a month should go a long way to a good final pension for them.

Yeah, think we do £100 a month for each, also do £50 for premium bonds. Believe its a Junior SIPP (Self-Invested Personal Pension) bit would have to check.

robj20 · 2 Feb 2022 at 14:50

dLockers said:
I am tempted; something daft like £50 a month would hardly be a burden.

FYI: I opened her junior ISA with Fidelity as there are zero fees.

Just looking at Fidelity now seems ideal for junior savings with the no account fees.

sHo0sH · 2 Feb 2022 at 15:07

Freefaller said:
Yeah it's a really good idea / suggestion. The wife is doing more bilingual stuff now, but need to force the TV / Youtube kids to be in French now somehow....

French VPN on those devices?

OG · 2 Feb 2022 at 15:52

robj20 said:
Anyone started a pension for their children? Going to be opening a Vanguard Stocks & Shares junior ISA soon for each of mine, but also thinking about a pension even a tiny amount a month should go a long way to a good final pension for them.

Opened a Vanguard child ISA when ours was born, £100 a month and then anyone who wants to give him money for birthday/Christmas we will pay in. The account moves into his name when he turns 16 or 18 (can't really remember right now).

robj20 · 2 Feb 2022 at 16:25

OG said:
Opened a Vanguard child ISA when ours was born, £100 a month and then anyone who wants to give him money for birthday/Christmas we will pay in. The account moves into his name when he turns 16 or 18 (can't really remember right now).

How's it performing?
As I already have my pension with them it seems the easiest choice.

dlockers · 2 Feb 2022 at 16:52

robj20 said:
How's it performing?
As I already have my pension with them it seems the easiest choice.

Depends what you invest in. I chose a Vanguard All World fund and the last 12 months gains were wiped out over the last few weeks, resulting in a loss of about 50 quid at the moment. But it is time in the market versus timing the market.

robj20 · 2 Feb 2022 at 17:12

dLockers said:
Depends what you invest in. I chose a Vanguard All World fund and the last 12 months gains were wiped out over the last few weeks, resulting in a loss of about 50 quid at the moment. But it is time in the market versus timing the market.

I'd be looking at the 100% equity seeing as it's mostly going to be 10+ years.

Freefaller · 2 Feb 2022 at 18:27

sHo0sH said:
French VPN on those devices?

Yes that's definitely an option and a good idea

Also we're looking at spending extended holidays with the family in France will also help.

robj20 said:
Anyone started a pension for their children? Going to be opening a Vanguard Stocks & Shares junior ISA soon for each of mine, but also thinking about a pension even a tiny amount a month should go a long way to a good final pension for them.

I've split my contributions to them to a pension and an ISA - maybe not the most effective way, but I'd like them to have a bit of cash available when they turn 18 and still have built up a pension over 18 years which will be better than nothing.

I do need to explore it further - you've got me thinking!