Cherubs Magazine - Spring 2024

As the blossoming of spring brings forth a renewed wave of inspiration, I find myself eagerly embracing the season’s vibrant energy as if it were my own personal New Year. For me, resolutions take root when the flowers begin to bloom and the days lengthen. I see this time as an opportunity for renewal, both in the natural world and within myself. This time, I have listened to my soul and answered what it’s asked me to do. Because of this, I have found

Amongst the hustle and bustle of the upcoming holidays, I make it a priority to carve out moments of joy and connection, fostering cherished memories with loved ones. Keep it leisurely and free! Picnics in the park or adventurous outings in the countryside; spring offers countless opportunities to embrace the spirit of fun and

Enjoy the journey of growth and rejuvenation, lovelies. May this season be filled with joy, laughter, and countless blessings. Here’s to

Why We Love Living in West London with Kids

By Maria Monteriro

There are so many reasons why we love living in Hammersmith! It’s a phenomenal cultural spot, with renowned theatres, events and music halls. We can enjoy a mix of modern restaurants and shops, alongside more traditional markets and child-friendly parks and playgrounds. The riverside path is known for its historic pubs and trendy restaurants, gorgeous views of the Thames and enjoyable walks all year round. It also has exceptional transport links for

Clip ‘n Climb & Gambado

central London and further west, north and south. Another great reason is that it has so many child-friendly locations all around that are very easy to get to.

From entertainment venues and football stadiums, like Fulham FC and QPR FC, to soft plays and amazing adventures, here are some of our favourite places to go in Hammersmith and beyond:

If you enjoy the new climbing walls at Oxygen, you can easily make it to Clip ‘n Climb, in Chelsea, where you’ll find a bigger version of the Acton one. No climbing experience is necessary; full training is given and equipment provided, and with over 20 individual and multi-climber wall challenges of varying design and difficulty, your agility and your courage will be tested in different ways! In close proximity, you will find Gambado for the smaller ones (kids aged zero to 12 years old). Gambado Chelsea boasts one of the largest play frames in London; a gated-off soft play area for toddlers with sensory play; special dodgems; junior climbing wall; Tiger Pots carousel ride; and weekly toddler activities. They also throw super-fun laser tag parties! It costs more than the standard soft play party, but the experience of being alone in the centre and literally running the place is worth it…

RavensWall

RavensWall, near Ravenscourt Park, is home to a superb indoor climbing centre. For children aged seven and over, it is located right under the arches near Ravenscourt Tube Station, so you might miss it but it’s a great place to enjoy climbing. They even run specific induction bouldering sessions if it’s your first time. Just turn up ready to climb!

The Lyric

The Lyric in Hammersmith is one of the UK’s leading producing theatres and offers a range of family-friendly shows and activities for families. Little Lyric shows are primarily run during the school holidays and have included shows such as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and the famous Christmas show, Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas.

Puttshack, All Star Lanes & Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace

Puttshack White City is a little indoor mini golf based in the Westfield shopping centre and is one of the best things you can do in London, combining new technology and crazy courses. Great fun for all ages! With several paths to choose from and trackball technology, it makes it impossible to cheat. Right next door and also in Westfield, you’ll find All Star Lanes, with its bowling alleys and karaoke rooms. Welcome to bowling, All Star style…Drinks on the lanes for all, champagne at the bar for adults, all-American burgers in the restaurant for the kids and legendary birthday parties. They’ve got it all! All Star Lanes is inspired by the opulence of Miami’s 1950s Art Deco period. A recent joiner in this corner of White City is Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace. Housing a roller skating rink, a live music venue, a diner and a pro skate shop, West London’s new skating mecca is a certified USA skating institution, inspired by an iconic if yet short-lived roller rink that took West Hollywood by storm in the early 80s.

Oxygen Freejumping

Further up in Acton, you will find the popular Oxygen Freejumping, an indoor trampoline park which features interconnected trampolines, a giant airbag, a ninja course, an interactive dodgeball court, and now climbing walls to keep your kids entertained for hours. A great time for children of all ages, and adults can also accompany younger children on the trampolines.

Adrenalin Rush

Based in Chiswick, you will find Adrenalin Rush, an outdoor laser tag facility providing children aged six and above the ability to participate in a superb laser combat. Run around the outdoor game zone, featuring fake buildings, giant tractor tyres, oil drums and abandoned cars for hiding, while using harmless lasers to hit your ‘enemies’.

Queens Ice Rink

If you’re looking into ice skating, then the Queens ring in Bayswater is the place to go. Regardless of your skating style, age, or skill level, this ice rink is the perfect place for you all year round! Located in the heart of Kensington, this ice rink is your go-to destination for a chilly adventure and frosty fun. It also has bowling alleys, arcades and new augmented reality darts oches.

Babylon Park & Go Ape

Further afar and not so much in West London but still worth a mention is Babylon Park. With its unique blend of thrilling rides, this space-themed indoor amusement park in Camden is full of fun rides and cool special effects making it a fantastic day out! Another favourite of ours is Go Ape, in Battersea Park. Expect great green spaces, thrilling zip wires, wobbly bridge crossings and loads more to make this day an epic adventure.

Local Parks

There is also an abundance of playgrounds for younger ones in the Hammersmith area. Some of the larger or better known ones include Brook Green, Ravenscourt Park, Bishops Park and Normand Park. You have smaller but equally good ones, such as Frank Banfield Park, Bayonne Park and Marcus Garvey Park. You are also walking distance from Holland Park and Shepherd’s Bush Green.

Escape Room

Escape Room in Shepherd’s Bush is great for kids over nine years old. Locked in a room with 60 minutes to get out. Do you have what it takes to escape? Find clues, solve logic puzzles, break the codes and find the key to your freedom. Using your powers of observation and problem-solving, you and your team will have to work together to escape!

West London really is a wonderful place to live. With all its activities, excellent schools (primary and secondary; state and independent) and the incredible sense of community, it offers the perfect mix of urban living with neighbourhood charm!

Instagram: @brookgreenmums Website: brookgreenmums.wordpress.com

Facebook: @brookgreenmums X: @mlpmonteiro

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Win Adventurous Days Out For Families

Families can enjoy an exciting and memorymaking day out together at Go Ape this Spring and Summer.

The adventure activity company has 36 adventure parks around the country, from London to Scotland and Wales to the South East, all perfect for a fun day out.

Healthy kids’ drink Radnor Fizz has partnered with Go Ape to run an on-pack promotion: you can win family tickets to enjoy a Treetop Adventure to bring out your inner Tarzan.

Launching in April, there are lots of chances to win the weekly prize of a Go Ape voucher throughout the year.

Whether you are aged four or 84, with a head for heights or not, Go Ape has an adventure for you and your tribe.

Their outdoor activities are all designed to mentally and physically challenge you, and their friendly staff are on hand to help you have an exciting and safe experience.

Their stunning landscapes, from treetop vantage points and historical backdrops to views from famous city skylines for urban Go Ape fans, ensure each activity centre gives you a different experience.

You can go on a Treetop Adventure next to the iconic Alexandra Palace in London or try out the Treetop Challenge (twice the height of most Go Ape locations) at Battersea Park with its spectacular views.

The beautiful Trent Country Park in Cockfosters, Barnet, is home to Go Ape’s most challenging outdoor activity centre in London, with two super difficult high ropes courses.

There are plenty more destinations to choose from across the UK. We’re a fan of Thetford Forest in Suffolk, home of the first ever Go Ape with six adrenaline-packed forest adventures.

Salcey Forest in Nottinghamshire is the newest Go Ape, which only opened in March, and which includes the first ever stand-alone Treetop Adventure Plus Course in its magnificent woodland.

Go Ape’s newest location north of the border is Dalkeith in Edinburgh and features Scotland’s first Go Ape, with adventures for the under-10s plus an epic Challenge Course for older children and adults.

Radnor Fizz is one of the UK’s leading School Compliant drinks brands and has

been a favourite of children for over 25 years. Containing real fruit juice, all natural flavourings and no added sugar, Radnor Fizz also comes in a 100% recyclable bottle made from 30% recycled material.

There are six fabulously fruity flavours to choose from – including Apple, Forest Fruits, Tropical, Orange and Mango, Sour Cherry and Strawberry – and a bottle counts as one of your 5-a-day. Each drink is made using spring water sourced from Radnor’s own boreholes in the rural Welsh hills on their zero to landfill site.

Chris Butler, Marketing Manager for Radnor Hills, said: “Go Ape is an amazing day out for families and a brilliant way to get out into nature, to challenge yourself and have fun.

“We’re all about adding value for families and so we’re delighted to be partnering with Go Ape to help families to fuel lots of fun moments, while keeping them naturally hydrated whilst doing the things they love.”

To enter the competition simply buy a bottle of Radnor Fizz from selected ASDA, Morrisons, Tesco and Sainsbury’s stores.

GB 18+ or with parental consent. Purchase necessary. Retain label to claim prizes. To enter: Purchase any promotional Radnor Fizz and visit www.goape.co.uk/radnor and complete the form between 01/04/2024 - 01/11/2024 & 07/04/2025

- 31/10/2025 to be entered in a weekly prize draw. 150 Go Ape vouchers available per period. Max 1 prize per household per week. For full T&Cs visit, www.goape.co.uk/radnor. Internet access is required.

Embracing The Spring Awakening: A Gentle Unfolding with Nature’s Rhythm

By Tansy Dowman

As an outdoor life coach and Nature connection guide, my days are intimately intertwined with the great outdoors. This constant communion with Nature has offered a profound reminder of a fundamental truth.

I am not merely in Nature; I am Nature and like the natural world I, too, am seasonal and cyclical and cycle through phases of ebbs and flows, experiencing moments of high energy and quiet reflection.

During my outdoor career and personal connection with Nature I have naturally begun to align myself with the energy of Mother Nature and live my life in closer harmony with the changing seasons and the energy that they embody.

For years I fed into the allure of 1 January, treating it like a starting block from which to sprint into the year. Fuelled by the societal chorus of ‘New Year, New You’, I succumbed to the pressure to set ambitious resolutions, believing I needed to charge into the year with a welldefined plan. Nature, however, unveiled a different, more organic path – one that feels inherently natural and authentic to

me now and has ultimately led to more growth in my life.

When I observe Nature in January, it signals a continuation of winter, a season focused on internal work and nurturing, setting the stage for the forthcoming burst of action, growth, and flourishing in Spring. Recognising my own connection to this cyclical rhythm, I now release the compulsion to dive headfirst into action in January. Instead, I continue to nurture myself, embracing rest and self-care to conserve energy for the eagerly awaited burst of energy in Spring. Winter becomes a time of internal reflection, a period to clarify my identity and priorities, laying the groundwork for intentions and actions to emerge in Spring.

In a sense, I am planting seeds of intention in Winter, paving the way for Spring when these intentions have more chance of sprouting roots and blossoming into reality. Just like the snowdrops and daffodils

begin to peek through the soil, this time is also an opportune moment to align with Nature and witness your intentions take shape and begin to flourish.

When you think about Spring, what does it evoke for you? Growth, light, buds, bouncy baby lambs?

Spring carries a youthful, vibrant energyinnocent, exciting, and brimming with new beginnings. It’s an ideal time to synchronise your ideas and intentions, awakening with the changing season. With the clocks springing forward, we are gifted with increased daylight and vitamin D, providing a natural energy and mood boost that generates optimal conditions for growth.

So why not buck the New Year’s Resolution trend and align your energy and intentions with Nature, allowing Mother Nature to carry you forwards with a sense of harmony and flow?

Tips for Awakening with Spring:

Plant Seeds in Winter: Just as Nature prepares for Spring, use Winter for internal work and self-nurturing, laying a robust foundation for intentions to blossom.

Gentle Pace: Resist the urge to sprint into Spring at full speed. Nurturing and tending to your intentions require time; growth is a gradual process.

Time Your Action: Plan for increased activity as the clocks change, embracing more daylight and energy to sustain your intentions.

Climbing the Yearly Summit: Envision the

year as a mountain climb, with Summer representing the summit. Autumn signals preparation to slow down again, releasing elements just as trees shed leaves, embarking on the inward journey once more.

Trust Your Rhythm: Recognise that you are Nature, and like the seasons, your life unfolds in unique cycles. Trust your journey, release the comparison, and honour your individual rhythm.

As we welcome the awakening of Spring, see if you can align yourself with the gentle rhythm of Nature, embracing growth and allowing your intentions to bloom in their own time. In this season of renewal, may you find harmony with the natural world and within yourself.

Spring Back From Burnout

Burnout is an all-too-familiar foe in our fast-paced lives, leaving us feeling overwhelmed, exhausted, emotionally drained, and detached from our work or daily activities. Just as spring brings renewal to nature after the winter, we too can take steps to bounce back from burnout and embrace a fresh start for the new season ahead.

Here are 10 key steps to help you bounce back and regain balance in your life.

1. Recognise the signs: The first step towards burnout recovery is acknowledging the symptoms.

• Are you feeling out of whack?

• Are you withdrawing from your normal daily routine & habits?

• Are you feeling that you’re running on empty more often and a feel a sense of cynicism towards your dayto-day life?

Journalling is a helpful way to keep track of the signs and how you are feeling day to day.

2. Reflect: Reflect on the factors that may have contributed to your burnout. Understanding the root causes allows you to pinpoint them effectively, to help you implement changes and, most importantly, to break the cycle and prevent burnout happening in the future.

3. Prioritise self-care: The meaning of selfcare is different for everyone. Treat ‘your’ self-care as a non-negotiable priority. Nourishing your physical and mental wellbeing is essential to reclaim your energy for recovering from burnout and building resilience.

4. Set clear and healthy boundaries: Try to avoid people pleasing and learn the power of saying ‘no’ when necessary. Remember when you say ‘no’, it creates space for the ‘yes’ in your life so that you can begin to find a balance, ensuring that you have time for both professional responsibilities and personal rejuvenation.

5. Find your spark: Rediscover the aspects of your life that ignites the fire in your belly. Reconnecting with your sense of self and purpose and things you genuinely enjoy can reignite motivation to move forward.

6. Seek support: If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t be afraid to seek support from your GP, friends, family, or colleagues. Sharing your feelings and experiences with others can provide encouragement and can often open support systems that you might not know are already available to you. This can make the journey towards burnout recovery less daunting.

7. Lighten your load: Ask yourself what you can let go of to create more space in your life. Delegate tasks when and if possible and trust others to contribute to shared responsibilities.

8. Be present: Incorporate mindfulness practices such as meditation or breathwork exercises into your daily routine to help manage stress, improve focus, and cultivate a positive mindset all crucial for overcoming burnout.

9. Close the tabs: Take a break from tech throughout your day to recharge and step away from all of your ‘to do lists’.

10. Break it down: Break down tasks into small steps and tackle them one at a time. Recovery takes time. Don’t forget to celebrate the small wins!

James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, says, “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” In other words, don’t focus on the big goal you want to achieve; focus instead on small, daily actions and doing them consistently and well.

By creating your own personal system that aligns with your life, you’re more likely to succeed. Small steps and consistency is key. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or if you

Sanchia Cousin

find yourself procrastinating and not sure where to start, try my Power of Ten method by carving out 10 minutes for one task a day:

• 10 minutes of movemen: 10 minutes in the gym, a swim, a wiggle on your yoga mat, a walk around the block.

• Read 10 pages of a book or magazine.

• Turn off your phone for 10 minutes to give yourself a screen break.

• Call a friend or a family member to chew the fat for 10 minutes.

Remember, recovering from burnout is a gradual process. By implementing these practical 10 steps alongside active and passive rest, sleep, and healthy nutrition to fuel your body for recovery, you can begin to spring back from burnout and embrace a renewed sense of purpose, energy, and joy in both your personal and professional life.

Understanding that burnout is a valid concern is the foundation for positive change. Don’t be afraid to seek professional help. Burnout can feel scary; it can hit you like a truck all of a sudden or it can creep in oh so slowly, like a whisper. Unfortunately, however, it’s becoming all too common, more so now that we are all trying hard to navigate a ‘new normal’ life post-pandemic.’

A fully certified ICF Life Coach, provides personalised 1-2-1 coaching for rebellious, soul seeking individuals with busy minds, guiding them to find renewal & balance in life.

For coaching partnerships enquiries or to book a 15 minute complimentary call, contact Sanchia at sanchiacousin@gmail.com.

The Best Books To Read This Spring

Looking for reading inspiration? Writer Sara Bragg shares her favourite reads.

The List Of Suspicious Things

By Jennie Godfrey Hutchinson Heinemann £12.99

Set in Yorkshire in 1979 when serial killer

The Yorkshire Ripper was at large, best friends Miv and Sharon decide to take the case into their own hands by investigating suspicious events in their area. But when they make a list of all the suspicious people in their neighbourhood, other secrets are revealed. A nostalgic coming-of-age story with real heart.

Anna O

By Matthew Blake HarperCollins £14.99

A unique thriller full of twists and betrayals that will keep you guessing until the end.

Anna O hasn’t opened her eyes for four years. Not since she was found in a deep sleep by the bodies of her best friends, suspected of a chilling double murder. For Doctor Benedict Prince, a forensic psychologist, waking Anna O could be career-defining. But as he begins Anna O’s treatment, he learns that awakening her isn’t the end of the story, it’s just the beginning.

First Lie Wins

By Ashley Elston Headline £9.00

A Reese Witherspoon book club pick, this cat-and-mouse style suspense will have you turning the pages. Evie Porter has everything a girl could want: a loving boyfriend, a beautiful house, a fun group of friends. The only catch is that Evie Porter doesn’t exist. As a con-artist, Evie’s worked hard to keep her real identity clean so she could always go back to it. But when a woman walks into town using Evie’s real identity, her past begins catching up with her. Can she stay one step ahead to save her future?

Still Unwritten

By Caroline Khoury Canelo £8.99

A delicious romantic tale about two people who don’t want to fall in love: Francesca, an aspiring actress who can’t quite catch a break, and Jae-Seung, the front man of one of Korea’s hottest pop bands, JYNKS. Sparks fly as soon as the two see each other, but Jae-Seung is only in town for 48 hours and Fran’s not a one-night stand kind of girl, so what can they do? A journey of exploration and self-discovery that tugs at the heart as much as it warms it.

The Women

By Kristin Hannah Macmillan £13.49

A sweeping story of devastating loss and epic love. ‘Women can be heroes, too’. When 20-year-old nursing student, Frankie, hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. In 1965 the world is changing and when her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurses Corps and follows his path. Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed America. A powerful read about the true value of female friendship, sisterhood, and the damage caused by a system unprepared for the reality of trauma.

Twenty-Seven Minutes

By Ashley Tate Headline £16.00

A gripping story about what happens when grief becomes unbearable. A small town has been struggling to answer one question: on the night of the crash that killed his sister, why did it take Grant Dean twentyseven minutes to call for help? If he’d called sooner, Phoebe might still be alive. As the 10-year anniversary of Phoebe’s death approaches, someone who knows what really happened that night is ready to tell the truth. A compelling debut mystery full of dark secrets and horrifying truths.

Instagram: @sarabraggwriter Website: sarabragg.com

Easter Holidays At The Theatre

For the young’uns!

Zog and the Flying Doctors

UK Tour until August 2024

Cardiff’s New Theatre 29-31 March; Bristol Old Vic 2-14 April

Suitable for ages 3+

Zog and the Flying Doctors, based on the bestselling sequel by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, is flying across the country on a UK tour, running until August 2024. Zog and his Flying Doctor crew, Princess Pearl and Sir Gadabout, tend to a sunburnt mermaid, a unicorn with one too many horns and a lion with the flu. However, Pearl’s uncle, the King, has other ideas about whether princesses should be doctors and locks her up in the castle! With help from some friends and half a pound of cheese, can Pearl prove princesses can be doctors too?

Wendy & Peter Pan

Watermill Theatre, Newbury

23-30 March 2024

Suitable for ages 6+

Three Billy Goats Gruff

Polka Theatre, London

29 March-21 April 2024

Suitable for ages 3-7

Hiccup Theatre, in collaboration with Derby Theatre and Polka Theatre, brings an exciting treat for Easter, featuring beautiful puppetry, fantastic storytelling, a tricksy troll, three Billy Goats Gruff, and amazing live music and original songs. Join our three adventurer billy goats as they dare to cross the bridge to the other side. The troll is determined this is his land and you need to get off it – but the billy goats have a few thoughts on that!

Fun for all the family!

Paddington in Concert

Tour runs from 30 March-13 April 2024 all across the UK

Suitable for ages 7+

When the Darling family’s world is rocked, a window opens into a world of opportunities and adventure that may help Wendy find the answers she seeks. Taking a leap of faith, Wendy and her brothers follow Peter Pan to Neverland, where they discover the extraordinary home of the Lost Boys. Creating a world of wonder through storytelling, puppetry, and physical theatre, The Watermill Youth Ensemble invites you to join them on an unforgettable journey celebrating the enduring power of friendship and the unique parts we play in our own stories.

Audiences across the UK can enjoy watching the award-winning 2014 film Paddington on a giant HD screen, accompanied by The London Concert Orchestra playing Nick Urata’s calypso-infused score live. Based on Michael Bond’s much-loved books, cherished by families since 1958, the charming story follows the misadventures of a young bear from Peru who travels to London in search of a home and is taken in by the Brown family, who finds him lost and alone in Paddington Station. Paddington was a beloved, awardwinning, critically acclaimed box office hit on its release in the UK.

For older ones!

Romeo & Juliet

Polka Theatre, London

2 March-14 April 2024

Suitable for ages 9-12

A remixed tale of star-crossed lovers, enjoy Shakespeare’s most famous story re-told by Beats & Elements, the makers of Pied Piper: A Hip Hop Family Musical. Forced apart by generations of hatred, young eyes meet across a South London dancefloor on a fateful night that will change their lives forever. Shakespeare’s most famous story is re-told through rap, rhythms, and beautiful harmonies.

The Choir of Man

Arts Theatre, London

Currently booking until September 2024

Suitable for ages 6+

The Olivier Award-nominated international stage sensation The Choir Of Man is now in its second singsational year in the West End’s Arts Theatre. Welcome to THE JUNGLE, the best pub in the world. Here, an (extra)ordinary cast of nine guys combine beautiful harmonies and foot-stomping singalongs with first-rate tap dance and poetic meditations on the power of community. Brimming with hits from artists such as Queen, Luther Vandross, Sia, Paul Simon, Adele, Guns & Roses, Avicii and Katy Perry, to name but a few, this is an uplifting celebration of community and friendship with something for everyone.

Bronco Billy - The Musical

Charing Cross Theatre, London

Running until 7 April 2024

Suitable for ages 10+

Bronco Billy – The Musical is a rollicking new musical comedy based on the original Clint Eastwood motion picture. It’s 1979 and life is tough for a group of romantic fast-drawing, trick-riding, discodancing Wild West roustabouts and their travelling show, but things take an unexpected turn when Bronco Billy (leader of this rag-tag troupe) meets Antoinette Lily, a determined Manhattan heiress on the run for her life. So begins a wild, zany ride in this thrillingly upbeat musical about love, reinvention, family and living your dream.

Six

Vaudeville Theatre, London

Currently booking until November 2024

Suitable for ages 10+

Winner of over 35 international awards, including two 2002 Tony Awards, a WhatsOnStage award, and nominated for five Oliviers, SIX is celebrating its sixth year having recently reached over 1,000 performances in the West End.

Think you know the six Wives of Henry VIII? Prepare to lose your head and experience the Tudor Wives’ lives as they turn back the clock and take to the stage to reclaim their crowns and retell their stories of love, loss and the infamous ex they all have in common, backed by their fierce on-stage band, the Ladies in Waiting.

Fun And Tasty With Squashed Pickle

By the Snack Queen herself - Neha Gandesha @squashedpickle

Butterfly Doughnuts

Bread Painting!

This is the best ever rainy/freezing day activity. The best bit is when you make your bread art into toast!!

These are so cute! A cute little Mother’s Day/Spring snacktivity the kids will love making and I’m sure you will love eating! Try these! Melted chocolate works well to stick everything together. Alternatively, you could use icing - just make sure it’s very thick!

Ingredients

• Doughnuts

• Smarties

• Pretzel sticks

• Melted chocolate or thick icing

Method

1. Start by cutting your doughnut in half and turning it so the two outsides join in the middle.

2. Use melted chocolate to stick the two halves together.

3. Now stick your Smarties down on the join. There should be some chocolate there that will secure them. Slide one pretzel stick into each half of the doughnut to make the antennas. That’s it!

4. Let set a little and enjoy!

Ingredients

• Food colouring

• Milk

• White bread

Method

1. Fill up an ice cube tray or several small cups with milk.

2. Add your food colouring to the milk.

3. Mix well.

4. Now paint some bread!

So simple and so much fun!

If you toast this after, it’s extra bright and yummy!

Fish Finger Pie With Waffles

Here’s a delicious, simple and comforting recipe that will ease you into the chaos! It’s super easy and affordable! This pie is such a hit with kids and deliciously simple!

Ingredients

For the pancakes

• 1tbsp Boursin

• 1tbsp flour

• 4 fish fingers (cooked)

• 3 potato waffles

• Cup of cheddar cheese (grated)

• Handful frozen veggies

Method

1. Place your frozen veg into a pie dish and add water to cover, with the Boursin.

2. Place in the microwave for two minutes.

Tortilla Sandwich With Broccoli

This is such a great snack or lunch idea and can make a yummy cheesy and delicious breakfast option. You can switch up the filling but I love doing them with broccoli to sneak a little veg in. You can try egg and ham, mixed veggies or simple egg and cheese.

Ingredients

• 1 egg (whisked)

• A little Cheese (grated)

• 1 tortilla

• 2 broccoli florets (cooked and mashed)

• Oil or butter (for frying)

• Salt and pepper (older kids)

Method

3. Add flour and mix really well.

4. Now add your cooked fish fingers (I air fry mine).

5. Toast your potato waffles, add a layer on top and sprinkle with cheese.

6. Place in a hot oven for around 30 minutes until golden and cheese has melted.

It was so delicious! Enjoy!

1. First cook your broccoli until it’s soft and then mash. Make sure it’s cooked, then add in one egg.

2. Mix it up (and add seasoning, if using) and set aside.

3. Now heat a frying pan with your chosen oil or butter. Pour in the egg mix and spread.

4. Let cook a little, then throw in the tortilla and press down.

5. Now flip! Sprinkle grated cheese or your chosen filling over half the tortilla.

6. Fold over and let toast slightly. Slice with a pizza cutter and serve!

So delicious and so easy!

Eden’s Bloom

Eden’s Bloom is a revolutionary new way to give the very best food to your baby wherever, whenever. This range of Stage 1, 2 and 3 food pouches are complete meals, freeze-dried to lock in all the nutrients and goodness. Simply add water and stir for a simple, nutritious meal anytime, anywhere.

Their mission:

Eden’s Bloom is on a mission to reshape baby-led weaning with a range of delicious, nutritious, convenient meals filled to the brim with wholesome goodness. Premium whole fruits, vegetables, and grains have been sourced from around the world — ensuring sustainability every step of the way. The ingredients are then freeze-dried to lock in their goodness, and then a team of expert chefs create flavoursome recipes using those ingredients, that they know your kids will adore.

We caught up with Founders, Eva and Darren Joseph (AKA Radio 1Xtra presenter, DJ Target) to find out the lowdown on what lead to the creation of Eden’s Bloom!

“Eden’s Bloom is actually our ‘second ‘baby’,” admits co-founder Eva, who also works as a Programme Manager in the London Insurance Market. “As a new mum, starting to wean my six-month-old, I wanted to feed my daughter natural meals without compromising on quality. I’m a healthconscious eater myself, so it’s important to me that she ate as naturally as I do. I didn’t want to resort to shop-bought pouches and jars, so I spent hours in the kitchen batch cooking food in the evenings, which would then be mashed or pureed and frozen for the week ahead.”

The couple knew that something needed to give when Eva lost her eyesight and was told she had a life-threatening brain tumour. After undergoing surgery to remove the tumour, and experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions, Eva was understandably unable to make Eden’s food as she did previously. Determined to find another feeding option, which would offer quality nutrition without compromise, and was also convenient, she realised that – it didn’t exist! “This was the ‘lightbulb moment’ that made

me decide to set my sights on creating a product, for children, that would offer natural convenience feeding, without the nasties. Through my research, and through using protein and powdered nutrition supplements personally, I wondered why this couldn’t work for children too? And with that, Eden’s Bloom was born — providing fellow parents with a hassle-free solution for nutritious baby-led weaning.”

Eva and Darren have spent two years perfecting flavoursome, nutrient-packed products — guided by invaluable feedback from a community of parents. Committed to allergen-free and plant-based options, they’ve created a no-fuss product, made from the finest ingredients, that prioritises gut health, complex flavours, and happy, healthy development. Co-founder Darren is on the same page, wanting peace of mind for parents when it comes to their children’s nutrition, and as a self-confessed foodie himself, he said: “The idea of giving our daughter an off-the-shelf pouch just didn’t sit right with us, they lacked flavour, and the process to preserve the product

and extend its shelf life required the purees to be heated to such high temperatures, that all nutrients were destroyed in the making of the product.

“After our own weaning journey, we knew there was a real need for a convenient yet healthy option that both mums and dads could easily prepare. It’s also super important for me that Eden’s Bloom offers a wide variety of highly nutritious ingredients, whilst also introducing lots of different flavour combinations and textures, to really get their little taste buds tingling!”

“With both of us working full time,” continued Eva, “managing the work-life balance has been challenging and we found ourselves having to choose between spending quality time with our daughter and having to run the household. Naturally, our first choice will always be our daughter, and so what gave us the balance we desired was to prep ahead of time.

“Balance is something we still struggle with at times. Some days are easier than others, however we parent well, prioritise Eden and give each other the space needed to be ‘Eva and Darren’ too. We both know that it’s so important not to forget your own identity through the journey of parenting.“

Speaking about their new brand, Eva continued: “We decided to call it Eden’s Bloom after Eden, which is symbolic of terrestrial paradise and creation. Although we embarked on this journey because of her, the beauty of it is that her name is synonymous with the ethos of our brand; nature, and all that is fruitful and nourishing. The bloom element represents growth and development. Ultimately, we all want children to flourish physically, emotionally and mentally, so this for us created perfect synergy for our brand name.”

mentally,

She concluded: “We have a huge task ahead of us in changing perceptions about the way we feed our children. We want to support and educate parents to know that we do not have to compromise on quality anymore, when looking for a convenient solution to feeding. Looking to the future, we want to be recognised as leaders in infant feeding and wellbeing. A trusted brand; creating insight on how foods can support our children’s development and improve health.”

Eden’s Bloom food is available from edensbloom.com priced from £2.45 per meal.

H e Ed

By Antonia Sanchez-Toomey

Let spring in – welcome a new season with colourful modern vintage pieces that bring happiness into your home!

Bobbin Table Lamp Green

Churchgate Stream Framed Print £40 Dunelm

£14.99 H&M

Porcelain Plate Green Stripe £6.99 H&M

Remi Console Table LilyPad £169

Dunelm

Traditional Stone Vase £70 Dunelm

Rust Mix Pure Cotton Cushion £19.50 M&S

Patchwork Bedspread £165

Oliver Bonas

Bobble Photo Frame Pink £9 M&S

Orella Natural Blend Cushion £18

La Redoute

The Power Of Using Diverse Bedtime Stories

Top tips from award-winning children’s author Olly Pike, Founder and Director of Pop’n’Olly

Fairytales have long held a special place in our cultural consciousness, weaving narratives that transcend generations. Yet, for all their enchantment, traditional fairytales often perpetuate outdated gender norms and heteronormative ideals. In an ever evolving society, there’s a real need to update these timeless tales to reflect the diversity of our modern world, especially when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation.

My love affair with fairytales began at a young age, with Sleeping Beauty capturing my heart. I was particularly drawn to ‘Merryweather,’ the shortest and feistiest fairy in Walt Disney’s adaption of the classic tale. In the comfort of my home, I embraced my authentic self, donning fairy wings and a blue dress, often twirling around as if I were flying. However, expressing myself outside these safe walls wasn’t always met with acceptance.

The “gender police” at school enforced rigid rules about what boys can and cannot be. I faced criticism for embracing my true self: “Fairies are for girls! You can’t play with that; you’re a boy.” To avoid humiliation

and ostracisation, I reluctantly conformed to gendered expectations, burying the real me.

Despite my efforts, I would occasionally slip up, opting for pink over blue, playing netball instead of football, and joining the girls in handstands rather than wrestling with the boys. At times, I questioned if something was inherently wrong with me – a broken boy.

As an adult, I’ve come to realise that I was perfect as I was. Unfortunately, this understanding only blossomed later in life. If only I had encountered stories that affirmed it was OK to be different, that challenged societal norms, and celebrated diversity.

Since those playground days, I’ve dedicated myself to ensuring future generations grow up embracing their differences. I founded Pop’n’Olly, the UK’s leading provider of LGBTQ+ educational resources for primary-aged children. Our videos and books are making a positive impact in schools and homes across the UK and beyond, combatting LGBTQ+ prejudice before it takes root.

My fairytales redefine norms, featuring Princes marrying Princes, Princesses falling in love with Princesses, and transgender and non-binary characters as the heroes. Importantly, the story is never about being LGBTQ+; rather, the characters naturally embody diverse identities, mirroring the reality of our diverse world.

Sharing these adapted, diverse fairytales with young readers is a joy. I blend nostalgia and tradition while tearing up the rulebook, proud to contribute positively to society. As studies show, children aren’t born prejudiced; it’s a learned behaviour. By demonstrating inclusivity, especially through stories, we as adults dismantle learned biases and harmful stereotypes, creating a safe space for children and fostering empathy and understanding.

Through my inclusive stories, I hope children take away one simple message: everyone, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race, or ability, deserves the opportunity to live life happily ever after.

Olly Pike (he/him)

Director and Founder of Pop’n’Olly

Olly Pike is the founder of Pop’n’Olly Ltd. He writes the stories, draws the pictures, animates the videos and even stars in them! Using skills learnt from his theatrical,and children’s television background, Olly creates inclusive content that is fun and informative.

Olly is a regular LGBT+ education panellist and media guest and his work has been highly praised and shared amongst the LGBT+ and inclusive education community. Countless schools, charities, organisations and companies regularly use Olly’s content as part of their LGBT+ inclusive practice.

Having been short-listed for ‘National Diversity’, ‘Rainbow Honours’, ‘Gay Times Honours’ and ‘British LGBT’ awards, Olly has also spoken in Parliament and London City Hall and has showcased his work at events such as ‘The Children’s Media Conference’, ‘Stonewall‘s Education For All Conference’ and ‘The NEU LGBT+ Educators Conference’.

In 2020 Olly made the UK‘s Pride Power List and, in 2021, was awarded an Attitude Pride Award.

To date, Olly has distributed over 30,000 copies of his LGBT+ and equality inclusive books to children, parents and teachers around the world and the Pop’n’Olly YouTube channel continues to receive millions of views.

Look 2

Wide Leg Trousers £39

Cat Eye Sunglasses £27

Chunky U Hoops £118 Mejuri

Midi Denim Skirt £28

Isadora Floral limper £110 Sézane

Blouse £22 H&M

Milo Bag £365

Polished Shoes (Camel) £175

Come and Play, Stay and Learn

At PGHS Nursery, we fully understand the importance of play in developing a well-rounded child. When your daughter joins us at 3, this might be the first formal education setting that she has attended and we work alongside you to provide the best possible start in a caring and nurturing environment. Imaginative and creative play are actively planned for, giving each pupil regular opportunities to develop the fundamental skills of oracy alongside stimulating their physical, social and emotional development. Playing with others helps children to learn to be cooperative, caring and confident.

Alongside our rich provision for childled activities and play, we are also proud to be an ‘academic nursery’, preparing children for school by tapping into their innate curiosity and interest in the world around them. Children work one-to-one with the fabulous nursery staff on a daily basis, developing their understanding of the specific areas of literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and expressive arts and design. These short, focused activities enable every child to progress at their own pace based on their age and stage of learning; a truly personalised experience for every individual.

In addition to this, we have been excited to introduce weekly specialist music lessons with our Head of Music from the main school. Seeing the girls’ confidence in their performances at Christmas and in the Summer Concert are true highlights of the academic year. They are able to stand on a stage and perform to an audience with such poise and self-assuredness, making it easy to forget that some of them are just three years old, and may have only been with us for a very short time.

As a single-sex school, there are no stereotyped roles to fall into, so our girls experience a full, broad and balanced curriculum in an environment that fosters (safe) risk-taking, problem-solving skills and resilience.

When pupils move up from the Nursery to join our Reception Class, they are ready for new challenges and adventures. They have dedicated teachers for Drama, Music and PE, and in Year 1, we also introduce specialist teaching in Art, Design & Technology and Modern Foreign Languages. Class sizes remain small throughout with a maximum of 24 pupils in each class, usually with at least two members of staff.

Mrs Harney, Head of PGHS Nursery, asked the girls what they thought about the Nursery and here is what they had to say:

‘I want to come to it every single day because it’s fun.’

-

Ava

‘My Nursery is fun. I like colouring, painting and going outside in the garden.’

-

Aayah

‘My Nursery is fun because we get to play. I like the Peppa Pigs, I like everything here!’

- River

‘I love my Nursery because of my friends.’

- Ahana

‘I love Nursery because I like it – there’s so many toys. I like the role-play area, it’s my favourite and outside with the big bikes.’

- Aaliyah

‘I feel happy at Nursery because my friends play with me.’

- Genevieve

‘I like Nursery because I’m happy.’

- Nouri

Keble Prep Turns Co-ed

At Keble Preparatory School, we offer a dynamic and well-rounded education. High academic standards are combined with opportunities to thrive in Sport, Music, Drama and other extracurricular activities.

We are now co-educational across all year groups and have a Nursery setting for pupils aged 3+. The purpose and school values remain the same; “Puritas, Veritas, Probitas” “being pure of heart, honest hard work and true to oneself”. It is with these values in mind that we continue to value each pupil, nurture their talents and celebrate their achievements.

Perran Gill, Head said, “This exciting change in our history will help the all-around development of our pupils and equip them for life both at Keble and beyond. I am excited to embark on the next chapter and journey ahead.”

To arrange a visit please contact our Admissions Team on 020 8360 3359 or by email admissions@kebleprep.co.uk

EDUCATION

Win!

Sustainable business Eco-Able has launched a national writing campaign to support children’s literacy, storytelling, creativity and sustainability! Primary schools, preschools, nurseries and homeschoolers are invited to get involved in creating pupil stories around sustainability, in written format, or other formats that are appropriate to the children, including early mark making.

Founder and children’s author, Dani Seatter, says “Having been an early years professional in my previous career, I’m passionate about bringing sustainability and education together in fun ways, enabling the change makers of the future to begin to talk about, understand and come up with new ideas.” Dani has written and self-published two eco storybooks for 3-8 year olds and hopes to inspire children to create their own stories.

“Writing is such a crucial part in a child’s development, in the ability to form letters and words, but also to understand language and how we use it to engender emotion, empathy, compassion, ideas, connection with endless possibility. Really young children love creating their own stories and encouraging them to make meaningful marks in creating these, is a fundamental part of their overall development.”

All stories can be submitted to the Eco-Able team via email: info@eco-able.co.uk. Our favourites will feature on the website. For those featured, the sender will receive a signed copy of Dani’s book ‘Away’ and will be entered into a draw to win a ‘meet the author’ visit later in the year.

Tips To Encourage Early Years Writing

Here, writer, former early years professional and multi-award-winning founder of EcoAble, Dani, gives us her tips on encouraging your little ones to make their mark.

“Early mark making is about the physical development of a child’s muscles to be able to hold implements later on. There are so many fun ways to start mark making before children are ready to form letters.

• Go big! Making marks outdoors with large wheeled items is so much fun. Large sheets of paper, like wallpaper lining paper, are great to make tracks and marks. If paint isn’t an option, water works, especially in the summer when the pavements are dry.

• Large paintbrushes are also brilliant for the very young to start to make marks; just using water on fence panels or

pavements is a great way to make all sorts of marks.

• Smaller items like cars and trains make great tools too, using them with paint, or on play dough to create a range of different marks.

• Dry rice or sand is a great way to introduce a sensory element (a tray keeps this contained), using a range of objects and implements to make marks, as well as hands and fingers, making shapes and patterns which then later lead into letter formation.

• Children love to copy and mirror adult actions; if we’re busy writing lists, cards, stories or drawings, they will love to copy this. When my children were small, they used to bring their own ‘shopping list’, using a range of marks to represent the items before they could form recognisable letters.

One of the main skills in writing is being able to form a ‘pincer grip’. This can be developed pre-writing with tools such as wooden tweezers for sorting and collecting. Hand puppets also develop and strengthen the muscles, as well as encouraging storytelling.”

For more information visit eco-able.co.uk

Miss, why can’t we use our fingers in maths?

By Hari Neocleous @the_maths_nuts

Welcome to Spring Cherubs. In this edition we’re going to be looking at why children are sometimes told not to use their fingers in maths. It’s a slightly controversial and sensitive topic but oh so important. There are feelings of shame associated in using our fingers to calculate and it shouldn’t be this way. I want to explain why it’s OK to use fingers and when it’s time to move on to more efficient methods.

Be kind

If you’re a maths genius or teach beyond the primary years, remember: we’re all different. Not everyone will have a ‘Count-

down’ type ability for mental arithmetic. Comments like ‘maths was easy’, ‘everyone can do maths’ and shaming people for using their fingers is just arrogant. I use my fingers when I’m in a foreign country to work out exchange rates and time zones. Using my fingers helps me.

Maths in early years

My sweetest years as a primary school teacher were in Reception, where we’d learn through discovery and play. We loved number rhymes and stories. Counting up, counting down, counting objects. When we found one more or one less, we counted

objects and fingers. “Show me ‘8’,” I would say. Some would show 5+3 fingers or 4 + 4 using doubles. Others would show 10 and bend 2 fingers down. I’d notice who would count from scratch and who knew their finger patterns automatically. Who could subitise (instantly recognise) the domino and dice spots and who counted the spots 1:1?

We used our fingers to add, subtract, count in twos and make teen numbers. I’d drop beans into a tin from behind a curtain and children would count on their fingers. I’d ask them to close their eyes and show me different numbers. In the younger years

our fingers are this magical maths tool that help us develop a sense of number.

Fast forward to Year 5 and 6

I teach children who struggle with maths. I often see children hide their fingers under the table. They’re embarrassed to show me, and they shouldn’t be.

They’re using their fingers because they need to. I ask them to show me how they’re counting or calculating. I show interest. Notice their strategies. It gives me insight into what they know and don’t know yet. My job is to teach them more efficient ways using maths manipulatives and images, helping them make connections. Rote learning (repetition) and chanting are key tasks, but I also want conceptual understanding and not just memorising facts.

Ideally, I want students to know their number facts and avoid using fingers if they can. This way they can free up ‘brain space’ and concentrate on reasoning and problem solving. The truth is counting in ones slows students down. This is where using fingers gets bad press!

Often children use their fingers because they don’t know number facts by heart. They lack this fluency, where one fact can help them derive another fact. If you know

EDUCATION

6+6=12 (doubles) it will help you with 6+7=13 (near doubles). If I know 7+3=10 then I know 70+30=100. If I understand place value, then I won’t need to use my fingers for 60+9.

Some children use their fingers because it’s their comfort zone. Some have difficulties in the amount of information they can store in their short-term memory, using their fingers as a memory aid, like we’d use a Post-it note.

The human calculator

Some use them because they see the number connection. For example, if you open your palms, you’ll see each finger has three parts. These ‘finger pads’ are great for counting in threes. There’s a great nine times table trick too. And before you add two numbers mentally, you use your fingers to count on from the larger number.

Children with dyscalculia may really struggle with knowing facts by heart. It’s OK if they step count to work out times tables, use a multiplication square or calculator. Why slow them down and cause stress when the purpose of the lesson is something else? Timed tests and leaderboard displays on the wall also add to maths anxiety. We have to be sensitive to the needs of the whole class.

Your role at home

Regular practice is key. If your child is struggling to learn the number facts for their age, speak to their teacher. There are amazing online videos, games, songs and virtual manipulatives you could use at home to help them.

Remember:

• Children should never be shamed for using their fingers in maths.

• We should see fingers as a type of maths manipulative.

• Being fluent with facts reduces the cognitive load, freeing up ‘brain space’ for the main learning.

• We want our mathematicians to feel confident with number facts and mental arithmetic.

• Find what’s best. Is using their fingers the best strategy for your child or can you help them become fluent with number facts?

I’ll wrap this up with a final controversial confession. Did you know I’m anti maths worksheets as homework?! Maths home learning should be creative, fun, online, a maths story, cards, dominoes, board game or learning number facts through games!

Sending maths love.

EatHappyFeelGood

Prawn Noodle Ramen

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil

• 250g sliced mushrooms (I like chestnut)

• 4 cloves garlic, grated

• 4 cups (1L) vegetable stock

• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger

• 1 tablespoon miso paste

• 1 tablespoon soy sauce

• 4 nests noodles of your choice

• 2 large carrots, julienned

• 450g prawns, cleaned and peeled (if using frozen, thaw first)

• Chopped green onions and lime to serve

• 2 cups beansprouts

• Handful spinach (optional)

Chilli flakes or oil, for a spicy kick (optional)

Method

1. In a large pot, cook the mushrooms over a medium heat in the sesame oil for 5 minutes or until they start to soften.

2. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for another minute, stirring continuously to avoid burning.

3. Add the stock, miso paste and soy sauce. Cover and bring to a gentle simmer.

4. Add the noodles and prawns. Cover and boil for 3 minutes.

5. Add the carrots and beansprouts and stir into the hot liquid to wilt them a little. You want them softened while still retaining some crunch.

6. Serve topped with chopped green onions and fresh lime.

Balanced Pasta

We love pasta! But it’s not always the most nutritionally balanced meal and can leave us looking for a snack soon after. Our version has a couple of simple but super nutritious additions that take it to the next level and it is still completely delicious.

The two slightly unusual additions are lentils and tofu – they add protein and fibre, making the overall meal beautifully balanced. No one can taste that they’re there – and they even help make the sauce really creamy!

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 1 onion, chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, chopped

• 4 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 peppers, chopped

• 1 tablespoon tomato puree

• 1 can chopped tomatoes

• ¾ cup red lentils

• 1 carton silken tofu

• Salt and pepper

• 1 vegetable stock cube

• 400g pasta of your choice

• Parmesan to top (optional)

Method

1. Cook the onion and peppers in the olive oil over medium heat till softened and a little caramelised.

2. Add the garlic and tomato puree and cook for another minute.

3. Add the chopped tomatoes, lentils and vegetable stock. Refill the empty can of chopped tomatoes with water and add this too.

4. Bring to a gentle simmer, lower the heat and let it all cook together for about 20 minutes till the lentils have broken up.

5. While that’s happening, cook the pasta in salted water.

6. Transfer the sauce to a blender, add the tofu and 1/3 cup pasta water and blend till smooth. If it’s too thick, add more pasta water. Taste for seasoning and adjust to your taste.

7. Drain the pasta, mix with the sauce, top with parmesan and enjoy!

Hazelnut Chocolate Spread

Who doesn’t love the flavour combination of chocolate and hazelnut in a creamy spread?! It’s delicious! But store-bought versions are high in sugar and oils so we love to make our own for a healthier, but just as yummy alternative.

Ingredients

• 2 cups (250g) whole hazelnuts OR the same weight in roasted chopped hazelnuts

• 1 ½ tablespoon pure vanilla extract

• ¼ cup cocoa powder

• ⅓ cup coconut sugar or brown sugar

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• 2 tablespoon oil; I used a light olive oil but a neutral oil will also work

Method

1. If using hazelnuts that are already roasted, skip the next two steps.

2. If hazelnuts are not already roasted, preheat the oven to 200°C, spread the hazelnuts on a baking tray and bake for 6-8 minutes or just until they begin to brown. Keep an eye on them so they don’t burn.

3. Put them in a clean towel and rub them together to get the skins off. It’s OK if a few bits of skins remain.

4. In a food processor (you need a relatively powerful one, not a handheld), blend the nuts until they’ve turned to nut butter. This could take up to 10 minutes and you will need to scrape down the sides of the bowl every couple of minutes.

5. Now add all other ingredients and blend for another two minutes until it’s beautifully smooth!

6. Store in a jar in the cupboard for up to two weeks, or in the fridge for up to two months.

Website: eathappyfeelgood.co.uk

Ask The Nutritionist

With Christianna Karaolis from Eat Happy Feel Good

Our resident nutritionist, Christianna from the Family Nutrition Clinic, answers readers questions.

AQMy child won’t eat vegetables. What can I do? I am so worried she’s not getting enough nutrients.

This is more common than you think so please don’t be too hard on yourself; vegetables aren’t the most appealing foods for kids and it takes time to learn to love veggies.

It’s great that you are mindful of nutrients, but remember that you can get the same nutrient from more than one food. Fruit is a favourite with kids and contains many of the same nutrients found in vegetables.

Peppers are a great source of vitamin C but so are strawberries, oranges and kiwis. Carrots contain beta carotene but so do cantaloupe melon and papaya. Tomatoes and kale contain antioxidants but so do blueberries. Green beans contain vitamin K, but so does kiwi. Vegetables are a brilliant source of fibre, but so are fruit, nuts, seeds, oats…The most important thing is variety so they get lots of different nutrients.

In an ideal world, we wouldn’t hide veggies but the reality is that sometimes parents have to get inventive and find clever ways to get veggies into their kids’ diet.

Some of my favourite ways are blending steamed cauliflower into macaroni cheese; blending frozen courgette into smoothies; making a veggie-rich pizza or pasta sauce; making a chocolate muffin with grated courgette, or banana muffins with grated carrot; veggie breadsticks; mash…blending veggies with chicken mince and making nuggets…the possibilities are endless and so delicious. There are whole cookbooks on how to incorporate vegetables into familyfriendly meals.

Be patient: continue consistent positive exposure, offering them, and letting your child see you eat, vegetables. Encourage positive interaction with vegetables; helping you chop them, using them in a game, using for crafts like potato printing. Did you love vegetables as a child? Likely no. Have your tastes in food changed? Likely yes.

If you are truly worried about your child getting enough nutrients, you may want to consider a quality supplement, but do make sure you get advice from a health professional.

AQMy little boy always seems to have a cold. I’ve heard vitamin D helps with immunity - should I be giving him a vitamin D supplement?

You are quite right that vitamin D plays a crucial role in immune health. Children are more susceptible to colds and other respiratory infections, so it’s particularly important to support their immune system to help them fight off these infections and reduce their severity.

Research shows that vitamin D deficiency is associated with an increased susceptibility and vitamin D can enhance the body’s defences against bacterial and viral pathogens.

We know that vitamin D is important to help our kids catch less colds and make them less serious when they do catch one. We also know vitamin D is one of the most common deficiencies in the UK – since sunlight is the best source – so a supplement is recommended.

The Department of Health recommends that all children aged one to four years take a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms (400 IU) of vitamin D

throughout the year. Babies under one year should also receive a daily supplement of 8.5 to 10 micrograms, especially if they are breastfed or consuming less than 500ml of infant formula a day, as formula is fortified with vitamin D. Children aged one to 10 years should not have more than 50 micrograms (2,000 IU) a day. Infants under 12 months should not have more than 25 micrograms (1,000 IU) a day.

As important as vitamin D is, it’s not the only nutrient that matters for optimal immune health. There are a number of other important nutrients, including vitamins C, A, E, Bs, Omega 3, sinc and selenium. Don’t get too fixated on these; focus on a nutritious, balanced and varied diet. Minimise intake of processed and high sugar foods; prioritise whole foods such as fruit, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, quality proteins and healthy fats. I always recommend that for the most part, children should eat the same way as adults.

Regular physical activity and quality sleep are also crucial for immune health and resilience against infections. Teaching kids essential hygiene practices such as frequent handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes can reduce the spread of pathogens, as this is a common way for them to catch illnesses from each other.

But we do not want our kids to be too clean! One final recommendation you may not want to hear: let your kids get dirty! Let them play outdoors, get muddy, play with animals – safely and under supervision of course. This low level exposure to germs helps develop strong immune systems, long term. And they have fun in the process.

If you’d like to have a consultation with Christianna, contact her on 07851 680211 or at christianna@eathappyfeelgood.co.uk

HEALTH & WELLBEING

Why Listening To The Seasons Could Transform Your Career

By Nicky Elliott

What does ambition mean to you? Does it imply a hunger to succeed, or to hit big financial goals?

In today’s world, the word ‘ambitious’ does seem to have become synonymous with big things. It even has a negative edge –especially when we’re talking about women. If she’s ambitious, is there potentially an implication that she’s ruthless with it?

But the definition of ambition is simply a strong desire to do or achieve something, and the truth is, ambition can mean different things at different times. Just like anything else, it can move and change as we move through our lives.

If you started out in your twenties with a desire to climb that much-lauded career ladder, but you now have ambitions to work flexibly around your kids, or earn enough to cover the nursery bills, those ambitions are as valid as the desire to turn over seven figures or buy a private island.

The crux of it is ambition can change. Just like you do. Just like you have. Seasons of life have a huge impact on what we have to give energetically.

If I look back at my own journey, I know that as soon as I graduated, I felt an urgency to get a job. To define my existence through what I did for work. After all, like everyone else, I’d grown up being asked what I wanted to ‘be’ when that time came. There’s nothing like the existential nature of that question to make a person conflate their self-worth with what they’ll go on to do for a job.

So that narrative was embedded from early on, and in my twenties, I was

‘ambitious’ in the traditional sense of the word. Climb the ladder, negotiate the pay increases, get better job titles, all the while looking sideways at my peers to check how I measured up. I fell into the career I had then and just kept looking forward, never stopping to think if that job and that industry aligned with my core values, would allow me to create the life I wanted, or if the work truly lit me up. Looking back, what I enjoyed in those early years was the challenges and the fast progress more than the job itself.

For me, things only changed significantly after the life-altering perspective that having my first child brought. The feelings I couldn’t have anticipated kicked in, and my ambition moved for the first time, but somewhat uncomfortably. When you’re conditioned to chase conventional measures of success, it doesn’t necessarily feel OK to admit that the goal posts have moved. When I did confess to a close (but child-free) friend that my priorities had changed now I was a mum, she did little to hide her eye roll. On the other side of the coin, there was the external judgement bearing down on all mothers – you’re a mum now, and if your child isn’t the centre of your universe then you haven’t got your priorities in order.

The noise surrounding working women is loud. Notions of having it all and finding work/life balance are constant topics of debate. Conversations about the cost of childcare, lack of flexibility at work, and how hard it is raising small kids are endless. Is it any wonder we run out of energy?

There is no way to win, and so instead the thing I encourage is to call a truce with all

that noise, and lean in to the season. Listen to yourself. Learn about yourself. It might be the first time you’ll ever step off the hamster wheel and do it.

Recognising the season you’re in and allowing your ambition to fluctuate could be one of the most powerful things you’ll do. Does it mean quitting your job or closing your business? No. It means having self-compassion, allowing yourself to turn the volume down on that external noise, and re-assessing your priorities.

If we do consider life in seasons, then after children, winter comes again. Our bodies have been busy growing humans. We continue to raise and nurture those children and while there is heart-bursting love that makes everything worth it, the countering sleepless nights, tantrums, and illness that we may also have to ride out take their toll.

Gradually though, things improve. Of course there are always challenges, but children get older, more independent, and less of an all-out energy drain. My advice? Just as you do with nature, listen to the seasons of your life. Maybe this will be when the seeds of a new idea start sprouting. Your tank will refill. Your ambition will change.

Can you see the green shoots? Your second spring is coming.

Nicky is the host of podcast Women’s Business, where she speaks to a collection of amazing women about their career journeys, from formative experiences to first jobs, their current role, and future aspirations.

Through her Instagram platform @wilder. ones, Nicky starts conversations on work and careers, work/life balance, and raising the next generation of working people.

My Tips For Protecting Your Family From EMFs

By Lauren Vaknine @laurenvaknine

EMFs (electromagnetic frequencies) are a hard one when it comes to health optimisation, because we can’t see them, so how can we believe what they’re doing to us, or quantify any of the measures we use to reduce them?

Many of you reading this are well into your wellness journeys and understand that the levels of EMFs around us - from WiFi, 4/5G, screens etc. - can be pretty harmful.

I’m also aware that many of you are new to this and the last thing I ever want to do is overwhelm you or bring any fear your way.

This is about empowerment

I dropped the overwhelm AND fear of “what the modern world is doing to us” a while back; when it comes to keeping myself and my family healthy, I realised that:

1. Fear only serves to lower my vibration, making me more susceptible to illness, so I will do what I am physically and mentally able to, and put good energy on the rest.

2. I arm myself with so many tools at home to keep my family healthy that I feel empowered, because I’m taking responsibility for our wellbeing and making myself our primary healthcare provider.

All this just to say, when I speak about EMFs, I hope that we can take in this info with the intention of allowing it to empower us, not put us in deeper fear.

For this reason, I won’t go into what EMFs are and what they do in this article. Instead, you can pop over and have a listen to a podcast recently recorded with R Blank, which is extremely informative. You can find the link on my website.

What I want to do here is empower you with options, so here are the things I personally do - at home and when out - to mitigate the EMFs I’m exposed to:

1. Somavedic. The absolute most powerful tool I have at home is my Somavedic. Designed on the principle of controlled release of energy from precious and semi-precious stones, the Somavedic is a revolutionary device that drastically reduces free radicals in the body caused by EMFs in and around the home, leading to strengthened immunity, reduced cell ageing and improved cognitive function, as well as general improvement in longterm wellness based on how it allows the cells of the body to clean and rejuvenate as they should - something that is impossible with constant high level EMFs when we sleep. You plug it in (the kitchen is a good place), always keep it there always and let it do its thang! It also restructures and brings water back to life, so we leave ours next to the glass jug into which we decant our water. You can use the Somavedic in offices, studios etc. We actually have two at home; the Vedic as our general one (really this is all you need - they’ve updated it to work on 5G as well as 4G) and the Anthracite to help our son with his sensory neurological stuff (that one is outside his room). If you really wanted to go all out, The Amber is the strongest model and recommended for people with children with severe neurological issues, those healing from or susceptible to certain cancers, or for large office spaces. Yes, it’s an investment, but healing from disease requires more of us (trust me!), so if you do nothing else, start with a Somavedic. You can get a 10% discount by using the

code LAUREN10. This is the only discount over 5% on the Internet, so you really won’t find anything this powerful for less anywhere else!

2. Turn off Wifi at night! I cannot stress this enough. One of the most important factors in enabling us to be healthy in the short term, reduce the chance of lifestyle factors triggering diseases to which we’re genetically predisposed, and prevent the proliferation of cancerous cells, is the mitochondria in our cells being able to effectively repair and rejuvenate each night. This is what human bodies are intelligent enough to do when we sleep. However, with the advent of man-made EMFs (very new in the grand scheme of human life on Earth), our bodies are struggling to repair anywhere near the amount they require in order to keep us healthy (our constant screen use that is messing with our circadian rhythms only adds to this). One of the best ways we can help our bodies to do this, is by turning off WiFi at night, so as not to interrupt the repair process. As well as being high in EMFs themselves, so not a great option, smart meters prevent people from turning off WiFi. Speak to your alarm company (which is what we did) to enable a mechanism whereby your alarm can still work at night regardless of WiFi, and do anything else you need to do in order to make turning off WiFi at night possible for you. If not for yourselves, your kids’ health will thank you for it later on.

3. Shungite, Magnetite and Black Tourmaline. Shungite is a powerful stone that naturally reduces the effects of EMFs, and magnetite does the same while protecting the pineal gland. Black tourmaline is a great one to put on every windowsill in the home to help reduce the EMFs coming in from outside. You can generally find these on Etsy - just make sure they’re genuine. Try and find shungite pyramids and shungite and magnetite bracelets. I buy all my pieces of magnetite, shungite and black tourmaline from Nicky at Hummingbird Crystals. She has the most beautiful crystals.

4. EMF-Reducing Products. There are other products you can buy, such as phone pouches, laptop trays and much more, at Shield Your Body; you can use code LV10 for a 10% discount.

5. Nature. Not much can beat the effects nature has on helping the body to repair and reducing our exposure to EMFs. Get out in nature every day; parks, woods, the beach, forests - wherever you can. Turn your phone off while you’re there so you don’t have the EMFs coming from your phone. And it goes without saying to reduce your use of high EMF products as much as you can.

6. Awareness. Just being aware of your usage and exposure to high EMFs will subtly encourage you to reduce your exposure however you can. Awareness is key - in everything to do with your wellbeing!

As always, if you want to take this work one step further, join my RISE Membership to be part of a global community of high vibrational women all there to improve their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

Email: lauren@laurenvaknine.co.uk Website: laurenvaknine.co.uk

Spring Budget 2024

Jeremy Hunt’s Spring Budget 2024 was anticipated by many, but perhaps none more so than those property developers and landlords amongst us who were eager to see what was contained in his red briefcase and what, if any, would be the implications of his proposals.

Is it all doom and gloom?

We have reviewed Hunt’s statements of intentions and have chosen the most

prominent to cover below in order to help navigate the changing property landscape.

Tax breaks for furnished holiday lettings removed

Hunt announced that the current Furnished Holiday Lettings tax regime (FHL regime) will be scrapped from April 2025. The tax currently offers tax advantages to landlords who let out a property as a holiday home. Its abolition will no doubt discourage

potential investment in short-term lets, which could potentially lead to the lack of choice and availability in the short-term rental market. Long- and short-term lets will now be treated the same for tax purposes, and perhaps if you have properties that are on short-term lets, given over mainly to the holiday and tourist market, you may wish to consider changing your property to a long-term let. At Reka we have seen the long-term sector grow as demand outstrips supply - good news for landlords!

Multiple dwellings stamp duty relief scrapped

This announcement is an important one for landlords. This tax relief was designed to support investment in the private rented sector, offering a lower stamp duty as an incentive to invest in the private rental sector. After consultation, the government has decided to abolish this relief for those who are buying more than one house in a single transaction. It will take effect from June 2024. It means that fewer landlords could potentially enter the market; competition for tenants will rise; and choice, value and price could be compromised.

Capital Gains Tax reduced

Capital Gains Tax has also been given an overhaul by Hunt. To clarify, Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is payable to HMRC when you sell a large asset (in this instance a property). There are various rates for this tax, and the good news is that the basic rate of 18% for taxpayers will remain. The higher rate on residential sales will also reduce from 28% to 24%. The logic behind this is that it will encourage more transactions across the market, with more properties coming to market. Whether or not this will happen remains to be seen.

It seems that this Budget has proposed a very different sector for landlords and property developers. Time will tell whether the proposals will pay dividends, but scrapping tax reliefs and advantages on one hand, whilst reducing CGT thresholds on the other, suggests an attempt to free up the market, incentivise investors to sell their properties (if they are already considering doing so), bring more housing stock back to the open market. Let’s see. Whatever happens, and whatever you decide to do because of it, speak to us if you would like to invest in properties, capitalise on your existing one or consider what your future looks like as an investor.

5 Minutes with MC Grammar

He’s taken the Internet by storm and has parent ravers (like me) shaking their booty to old school classic tunes, but to the words of famous children’s books. He’s made grammar cool and kids (even parents) want to learn more. “When I say ‘MC’ you say ‘GRAMMAR’!”

Your bedside reading at the moment is…?

Stolen Focus by Johann Hari.

Favourite podcast when you have five minutes’ peace?

Huberman Lab.

Three things you always have in your glove compartment?

Ice scraper, baby wipes and nappies... glamorous!

If you had to pick…Gruffalo or Stick Man?

Gruffalo all day. That book has changed my life! Big up the poisonous wart!

Ultimate food weakness?

It’s a battle between Nando’s and Pitta Souvlaki.

How does it feel being in a house full of girls?

It’s the best! The girls are proper Daddy’s girls, so I can do no wrong! That being said: I have never seen so much hair in the plughole!

Which album will you have on loop and never be bored with?

Part III by 112.

Favourite holiday memory?

Having halloumi sandwiches on the beach with my mum, brother and yiayia in Cyprus.

When you’re not rapping, you are… Chasing after my kids!

A ‘wow’ moment in your life so far?

First and foremost, marrying my amazing wife and the days my children were born. Then (in no particular order) going on The Ellen Show, signing a record deal, and being chosen to be the first-ever and only World Book Day ambassador. Sorry, that’s loads I know! Wait! There’s one more... EXCLUSIVE! I have just signed a three-book deal! WOWZA!

What gives you instant calmness?

A good book and a hot cuppa coffee.

If you needed to hear a voice of comfort, who would you call? My mum.

The next destination on your list is…?

Spain and then Dubai for my next international tour!

If you could choose one superpower?

To fly!

What language would you love to learn?

Spanish.

How would you describe yourself?

Creative.

The mantra you live by?

Grow through what you go through.

WORK

FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY

28 JUL - 11 AUG

OUR FAMILY MUSICAL - ‘GULLIVER‘S TRAVELS' ENCYCLOPEDIA OF HAPPINESS | SUNSHINE TALES TIGON AND THE LIGER YOGA |

PLAY TALES BIG DAY OUT | OPERA BLURGH