On the first day of Lockdown, 24th March 2020, Grandma moved in with Ted, as both parents were working full time from home and they also didn't want her to be alone. Ted was eager to learn and loved doing his 'work' as it soon became known. Grandma decided to capture daily photos of Ted during Lockdown as it was something that had never happened before or probably might never happen again (in her lifetime). Storychest is a brilliant idea for everyone That first afternoon Ted and Grandma went to the local park with Ted on his scooter for their 'exercise', and that continued on most days. It was a great time together which they loved and Ted soon discovered a favourite place to sit and have a drink and snack whilst they were out. Ted soaked up knowledge like a sponge. His mummy got lots of information from Twinkl - a learning resource for young children, and printed off games and puzzles to make learning fun. He had soon learnt his Phonics from A to Z, recognised numbers and could count to 20 - not bad for a then two year old! They had lots of fun times, as well as all the learning, dancing to children's songs, learning new songs, craft work, catching and throwing a ball, how to ride his Balance Bike, and learning pen control. Ted soon picked up how to write a T for TED and even started spelling out his road name when he passed it. Ted loves trains and tractors, and planes and diggers, and cars and trucks and anything mechanical. He tries to work out how things work and take them apart, and put them back together. He is interested in animals, dinosaurs, fish and birds; loves going to the nearby zoo and has just got his own membership card. On a sunny day in June Ted painted some lovely pictures outside in the garden. He's become very interested in rainbows, knows their colours and sees them everywhere, including his bedroom. Grandma videoed some of his rainbow painting which he proudly finished off with his T for Ted. During Lockdown Ted and Grandma joined in with some of the important events happening. They followed the story of Captain Tom who raised over £31 million for NHS charities and sent him a card on his 100th birthday and sponsored him. Ted watched the Royal edition of Thomas the tank engine read by Prince Harry and Grandma bought him the special 75th anniversary book of Thomas stories for his birthday. They celebrated VE Day and had a tea party in the garden with cakes and ice cream and watched some of the events on television. They watched the Space Shuttle taking off in America and Ted made lots of space rockets, and a Lego rocket and big tower like the launch pad. They followed the story of the little boy called Tony who was very poorly when he was a baby and couldn't walk. He was inspired by Captain Tom to use his walking aid and they sponsored him too. He raised over £1 million for the Evelina hospital that helped him. Grandma also signed them up to a Challenge with the local Keech Hospice to scoot, trike or bike for 100 days with Ted's cousins Evie and Elizabeth, and friends and family have so far sponsored them for nearly £300. That is due to end in October and they should all get a lovely medal and certificate and the money will be a great help to the Hospice. Grandma joined in with the Great British Home Chorus for fifteen weeks and sent her recordings to Gareth Malone for his EP which will help raise more funds for the NHS. Ted loves her to sing 'You are my sunshine' that she learnt and he certainly is her ray of sunshine. She wasn't well for quite a while during Lockdown so had to have lots of blood tests and visits to the hospital but the thought of Ted kept her going. She is now a lot better thankfully. Since Lockdown has eased the family have been able to go out on some lovely trips. They have been to Essex to the Miniature Railway with fairies and elves, to Sunday dinner by the canal in Berkhamsted, to Whipsnade Zoo on Ted's birthday and to visit some friends in Heacham, Norfolk with the afternoon on the beach. Ted loved them all and had a wonderful time. His parents signed up for their own allotment at the start of Lockdown and Ted has had great fun digging and planting and playing with his trucks and diggers there. He has his own wheelbarrow and helps pick the strawberries, raspberries and blackberries all around the allotment. Ted has achieved so much during this strange time. He can now count to 30, spell out words, he can finish off the sentences in his books when you're reading to him and has a fantastic memory. He knows his address and Grandma's address. He is a whizz at jigsaw puzzles and can finish a 24 piece one in minutes. He has his own special words that he uses - a pippi back for piggy back, a chatterlight lolly for a 'traffic light' lolly of different colours, a paddle in the pool for a paddling pool, and when he is doing his spellings and he comes to J - he says ‘J is for wibble wobble wibble wobble jelly on a plate!' Also, 'No it's not a snail Grandma it's an Amorite fossil'. What a character he is and what a pleasure it has been for Grandma to spend so much time with him. I am sure he will continue learning and become whatever he wants to be. At age 3 the world is his oyster - once a vaccine has been found though!