Families First Spring/Summer 16 by Families First

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The paper that families read Issue - SPRING/SUMMER â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;16 www.familiesfirst-uk.com

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Spring is here find the fashion for the season Page 8

Awards

Belfast, Mid Ulster, South Down Revealed

Cook Kids, Family traditions

Family Matters

Teenagers: Friend or foe?

Transition to second level education

Eat, Live, Glow, Ways to be healthier

Page 6

PLUS Lots more inside... CHECK IT OUT IN THIS FREE PAPER

2017 AWARDS now open for nominations send us who you think should win to jennie@familiesfirstni.com

Private Day Care Nursery & After School Club ... Day Nursery & After School Club ...

“Care & play the

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WINNER WINNER Families First Nursery Assistant of the year 2015

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Families First Day Nursery of the Year 2016

NI’s

Highest Rated

Day Nursery 2013, 2014, 2015 & 2016

WINNER NI4Kids Families First... vate DayChildcare CareofNursery & After School Club the Year Award 2013

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2014, 2015 & 2016

Day Nursery of the Year 2015

Banbridge Investors in Business Awards People Award (Best Customer Service)

y Nursery & After School Club ... www.bella-bambinos.co.uk

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t: (028) 9269 3228 | e: info@bella-bambinos.co.uk • 9 Lower Quilly Road | Dromore | Co. Down | BT25 1NL

SUMMER 2016

Hi there everyone,

Spring Fashion

Hello! – Is it a grand stretch in the evenings!

page 8

Well after what’s seemed like months of darkness we are finally starting to see those fantastic bright evenings. I’ve been using it to try and get my garden in order, too bad the rain has had different ideas! Also planning on getting the kids and everyone involved in a good spring clean, sure isn’t it the best time of year for it! Well we have a fantastic edition here for you all. We have put together a fantastic feature on Spring Breaks to help you all decide where to go for a much needed break. We have also just celebrated our Belfast and Armagh Awards shows and they were fantastic nights! Everybody seemed to have a wonderful in the La Mon Hotel and in the Armagh City Hotel and I want to say a big well done to all our finalists and in particular our fantastic winners. So enjoy all our usual health, cooking and beauty features and don’t forget to keep in touch with us through our facebook page and through our website. If you have any messages for us send an email to niall@familiesfirstni.com, we always love hearing from you!

Education Features page 13 Families First Awards page 18

rains Know your2G6 page

Have a great Spring, The Editor Find us on Facebook too! www.facebook.com/FamiliesFirstNI and www.familiesfirst-uk.com

CRAFTING

WITH KIDS

Disclaimer: While every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication and website. Babyface Marketing Ltd accepts no responsibility for any error or misrepresentation. All liability, loss, disappointment, negligence or other damage caused by the reliance on the information contained in the publications or web site, or in any company, individual or firm mentioned , or in the event of any company, individual or firm ceasing to trade, is hereby excluded.

page 38

(Competition) Say Cheese with Dermot Murphy Photography Dermot Murphy Photography is celebrating the opening of a brand new studio in the plush BT9 area of South Belfast. To celebrate Dermot has teamed up with families first to give away a fantastic prize of a full family photo shoot work £350! Dermot Murphy is one of the UK and Ireland’s leading family and baby photographers. He is a multi award winner and can boast being named Northern Ireland Photographer of the Year among his many achievements. With his friendly staff and central location Dermot is eager to help and make your family right at ease. Dermot’s years of experience and expertise means that he can make your dream photos a reality. From artsy to practical, from maternity to new born, if you’re looking for top family photography then look no further than Dermot Murphy Photography. In today’s age of camera phones and social media we seem to photograph everything yet capture nothing. With his beautiful crafted frames and books to store your photos Dermot will help you make moments that will stand the test of time. So if you’re looking to capture the best for your family create some memories with Dermot Murphy Photography.

t. 028 9002 0306 e. studio@dermotmurphy.com www.familiesfirst.ie

For your Chance to win this professional family photo shoot just email with YOUR NAME, ADDRESS and PHONE NUMBER to studio@dermotmurphy.com and tell us why YOUR family should win this fantastic prize. Or fill out this coupon: Name: Address:

Telephone Number:

And Post it to: Dermot Murphy Photography 15 Wellington Park Belfast Country Antrim BT9 6DJ.

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Familes First NI Up your vitamin B5 which can be helpful for stress relief and energy. Try tranquil women support (£22.97, naturalhealthpractice.com)

And Relax…..

Ditch the coffee fix Caffeine is a stimulant, which increases adrenaline levels, the hormone you want to reduce if you’re stressed.

Nearly half of UK adults feel stressed every day, here are some tips for feeling Zen…

Maintain Blood Sugar Levels A healthy snack every 2-3 hours that contains protein will stop you craving sweet foods. LOL! Laughing is one of the best remedies for relieving stress. Time to pop on that Friends boxset. It’s all about afternoon tea… Your little ones will feel so grown up with their own little Afternoon Tea at family favourite, Dobbies.. For just £4.95 they can feast on mini sandwiches, fun cake pops and fresh fruit tarts, washed down with baby tea. Should keep them quiet for five minutes or so.

How many hours of sleep should we be getting?…… Age

Total Sleep Needed

Teen Talk... Want to decipher your kids text messages – there’s an app for that! The SpeakEmoji is rhe world’s first voice-to-emoji app, converting your phrases to little iconic pictures in a matter of seconds. It’s available on iPhone and Android, and free. Get ready to earn some serious coolparent points.

Get Scrubbing… Kill two birds with one stone by working your body and indulging your inner domestic goddess. Spring cleaning is great cardio! Sweeping, washing the floor and cleaning the windows burns over 130 calories in 30 mins and a deep bathroom clean will burn 258 calories an hour. Feather dusters at the ready, ladies!

Additional Notes

1-4 Weeks

15-16 Hours

Newborns are developing their internal biological clocks

1-4 Months

14-15 Hours

Regular sleeping patterns begin and longer night sleeping

4-12 Months

14-15 Hours

Important to establish regular sleeping patterns at this time

1-3 Years

12-14 Hours

Naps remain important to sleep health

3-6 Years

10-12 Hours

Naps will become shorter

7-12 Years

10-11 Hours

Bedtime gets later

12-18 Years

8-10 Hours

Teens may need more sleep

Adults

7-8 Hours

Times will greatly vary

Pregnant

More sleep and naps may be needed

Be a dancing queen Dance classes burn more calories per hour than running, cycling or swimming, according to new research from the University of Brighton. Researchers think it could be down to the sociability and the energising effect of dance – when we’re having a good time, work harder without realising it.

HOT READS... Joanne Harris returns with a cracking psychological thriller. Set in a boys’ grammar school, where a teacher is being taunted by a former pupil, Different Class is tightly plotted and utterly engrossing.

Food intolerances aren’t necessarily on the increase

Theres a type of strawberry in Japan that is completely white, inside and out with red seeds.

We may hear more about food intolerances than we used to, but there are no reliable figures to prove the numbers are increasing. Gluten and dairy are the new food baddies, and many people are turning to free-from eating without any diagnosis of allergy or intolerance. This has led to a backlash, with gluten/dairy free eating dismissed as a trendy diet choice – infuriating if you have distressing symptoms after eating certain foods. However, Allergy UK says more people are contacting it about food intolerance. David Sanders, Professor of Gastroenterology at Sheffield University and author of Gluten Attack, thinks a new gluten sensitivity is emerging: ‘Of 1,000 healthy volunteers who tested negative for coeliac disease, 13% claimed to experience symptoms when they ate foods containing gluten.’

Boost your willpower by knowing how far you would have to walk to burn off your favourite snack.... Inspired by his grandparents, Chris Cleave has written an epic love story set during the Second Worlds War. The spirited heroine and vivid writing mean Everyone Brave is Forgiven is a special book.

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Lionel Shriver, Tracy Chevalier and Emma Donoghue are among the fantastic writers who have contributed to Reader, I Married Him, which celebrates the 200th anniversary of Charlotte Brontes birth. One story imagines Jane Eyre’s life after the novel ends, while in another, servant Grace Pool gives her side of the story.

Eat Smart.. Sadly, no amount of crunches or sit ups will give you the toned tummy of a Victoria’s Secret model if your living on a diet of cupcakes and cocktails. In order to unveil the abs you’ve been working hard on, it’s essential to eat the right type of food, such as avocados, green leafy veg and bananas, to reduce any water retention and help you feel less bloated

SUMMER 2016

Accord Counselling Caring for marriages and relationships Helping couples cope with difficulties, giving hope and giving love a chance to be reborn – this is the work of ACCORD Catholic Marriage Care Service. We have 9 centres throughout N.Ireland, with services offered to clients based on client need rather than ability to pay, regardless of faith denomination or none. According to the latest figures, there are more than 2,444 divorces in NI each year. In 2012, the average length of a marriage ending in divorce was just under 18 years. But why do some marriages get into difficulty?

ACCORD research would

show that the rocky road to unhappiness in a marriage is marked by behaviour where people are criticised, insulted, not listened to and sometimes there is violence and abuse. All unhappy couples engage in some of these behaviours and men and women engage in them equally. People tend to blame each other for their problems. One of the areas where counselling can help is to enable people to accept responsibility for what they are doing in their marriage. When people stop blaming each other for their problems and start working together to solve their problems, it gives the relationship great hope. Men and women take opposite and complementary sides of the street on the way to unhappiness in marriage. For women the main source of distress is that their partner does not listen while for men the distress comes from being criticised by their partner. This process can quickly escalate when the warmth, affection and intimacy in a relationship wanes and one person’s need to talk things out is seen by the other person as yet another opportunity to criticise. Gradually, a negative cycle takes shape where criticism is met with criticism, insult with insult and, in some instances, force with force. Both partners end up in a stalemate of distress and unhappiness, having lost faith and hope in their ability to resolve difficulties as a couple.

In some marriages a time comes when the man and woman decide to ‘end or mend’ the relationship and it is often at this point that individuals and couples come to ACCORD for counselling. If a couple can come to marriage counselling willing to be honest and prepared to change they have a very real chance of resolving their difficulties and developing a fulfilling and lasting relationship. Case study: Ann and John’s story* One couple who recently came to ACCORD for counselling, John and Ann phoned our Derry Centre after Christmas. Their relationship had been rocky before Christmas and over the Christmas holidays it worsened considerably. Ann and John have been married for 9 years and they have 3 children. When Ann and John came to ACCORD they were unable to communicate properly, they were no longer relating to one another in any meaningful or loving way. Every conversation seemed to end in a row. Their marriage was in crisis and it was affecting their children. John felt that Ann was constantly criticising him and Ann felt that John just didn’t care anymore. He seemed to be spending an increasing amount of time at work. John said he just couldn’t put up with the constant nagging at home. John and Ann attended counselling for an hour each week for 8 weeks. The ACCORD counsellor provided them with a safe, accepting space where they could talk

Marriage preparation ACCORD Centres are inundated with calls from couples wanting to enrol on their Marriage Preparation Courses. ACCORD is also the main provider of Marriage Preparation courses in Ireland and we are devoting an increasing amount of time and energy to meeting the needs of couples preparing for marriage. There is a growing awareness amongst couples of the need to invest time in their relationships. When couples come to us on a Marriage Preparation Course we receive excellent feedback from them about the course. Couples appreciate the fact that there are trained volunteers on these courses with whom they can share their hopes and expectations in a down to earth way. We also provide Inter Church courses for couples of mixed faith getting married in the Catholic church.

about their emotions – disappointment, loneliness, anger, sadness – and where through listening, and being listened to, they could begin to experience each other in a different light. This mindful listening and honest speaking made it easier for John and Anne to see themselves and each other in a clearer light and to realise that each has strengths as well as weaknesses. Through counselling hope was restored, healing began and their love began to grow again. This is what Ann and John said after counselling: “When we came to ACCORD we were facing disaster, but now we are filled with hope – we are confident that together we can face and sort out our problems – our love for each other never disappeared – it just needed to be rekindled.” *Names have been changed to protect privacy. Quality counselling Our research shows that counselling helps people in unhappy relationships because a significant number of clients become less anxious and more at ease. The fact that counselling works equally well for men and women is extremely encouraging and is probably a reflection of the quality of counselling offered by ACCORD through the creation of a safe space where each hears, and is heard by, the other and where the counsellor deals with both people in a respectful and compassionate way.

ACCORD, Catholic Marriage Care Service, N.I. Regional Office Contact details Tel: 02890 233002 Email: info@accordni.com Web: www.accord-ni.co.uk www.familiesfirst.ie

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If you would like further information on ACCORD ’s services or you would like to come and work with us please contact the:

ACCORD NIRO St Mary’s Church Chapel Lane Belfast BT1 1HH

T: 02890 233002 E: info@accordni.com W: www.accord-ni.co.uk

Familes First NI

15 Tiny Ways To Be A Little Bit Healthier

out of the lift one floor 9Get early (or just take the stairs)!

While we know that you’re obviously going to stick to your resolution to brave the wind and rain every morning for a jog, cut out all carbs and dairy for the rest of the year, and never drink again, these tiny little health tips may be slightly more realistic. Despite this, they’re just as beneficial because after all, one of the keys to good health is persistence and balance, and you’re much less likely fall off the wagon if your goals are more achievable. Grouped together, they make a huge difference, but making an effort to achieve each one will seem like no extra hassle at all. So here they are – our 15 super easy suggestions for a healthier year (number 15 is definitely our favourite!).

Eat, Live, Glow... 1

Drink a glass of water

Hydrating yourself first thing will help to make you feel wide awake, and get you into the habit of drinking water throughout the day. Put a glass or bottle of water by your bed before you sleep so that you don’t have to walk to the tap to get it come 6:30am.

Try meatfree Monday

We’re not going to lecture you into becoming a vegan (we love steak too much, personally), but having one day a week going veggie will force you to eat more vegetables and show that pulses, nuts and veggies can provide balance without the helping hand of a big hunk of meat!

Go to bed half an hour earlier

Or even an hour! If you get a good night’s sleep, you’re less likely to depend on sugary snacks for energy. If you need a helping hand to doze off, make your own pillow spray! Get a travel spray bottle from your local supermarket and fill it with 100ml water and 8-10 drops of lavender oil – it’s so soothing.

Try a Netflix work out

Next time you’re having a Netflix marathon, break up the episodes with a little burst of exercise, such as 20 sit-ups or squats. You can even turn it into a game, doing a set every time something happens in your favourite show

from the night before, chances are it’s a huge amount better for you

If you’re a total coffee addict, giving it up entirely seems impossible. Instead, just switch one cup for a peppermint or green tea, or even a matcha latte. Once this starts to feel normal, you could even try to push for another cup!

5Go frozen

Don’t worry, we’re not talking Elsa, here. Buy frozen vegetables to minimise food waste. The lack of guilt about throwing away yet another bag of carrots will make your more likely to keep buying them, and add them to everything. One of the best things about frozen veg is that it’s generally ready to go. Throw some spinach into your dishes for an iron boost, and broccoli, broad beans and mushrooms can be added to basically anything. It’s also good to make your favourite nourishing dinners in big batches and freezing individual portions, so you’ve got a super nutritious ready meal should you not fancy cooking one evening.

Buy a lunchbox you like

If you buy a super nifty lunchbox (or multiple for meal prep), you’re more likely to fill it which means less trips to the shop, and more healthy, homecooked meals!! Try to take a packed lunch at least two days a week – even if it’s leftovers

Switch just one Do your laundry!! 10 coffee for a 13 herbal tea

Swap half the carbs on your plate for veggies

Don’t give up carbs – it’s just not sustainable. Instead, make this small change which will benefit you in the long term, making your dinner lighter, your vitamin intake abundant and your digestive system so much happier

water when 8Order eating out

Not only will this help your purse, ordering water instead of a diet Coke will help to ease your digestion. After all, you’re already treating yourself to a meal out.

Keep 11 a stash in your desk

If you’re snacking on healthy nuts and seeds at 11am, you’re less likely to over-eat or make poor choices at lunchtime. Preparation is key, so stock up on healthy snacks and resist the doughnuts some guy has brought in because it’s his birthday. We do, however, encourage that you do indulge in one every now and then if you fancy it, for pure sanity’s sake.

14Lean back

Posture is so important and no longer emphasised anywhere near enough. If you tend to find yourself slouching over your desk, write ‘Sit up!!’ onto a post-it note and stick it to your computer screen. Roll back your shoulders, put your back against the back of your chair and instantly feel the benefits.

Touch your toes 12 every morning… or try to

Doing this tiny thing every morning takes just ten seconds and will increase your flexibility!

Get out of the lift one floor early (or just take the stairs)!

So this may require a bit of movement, but it’s minimal, really. We don’t expect you to skip the lift entirely, but if you’re on the first floor and are fully able, there’s no reason not to just dash up the stairs in the morning.

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If you’re washing your towels or bedsheets less than once a week, they’ll be full of harmful bacteria – don’t do it to yourself!! Wash them every weekend.

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time for 15Make yourself

This may not seem like a health resolution, but mental health is too often overlooked and is just as important as physical health. Every week, schedule in some time to do something that makes you feel genuinely happy. Maybe it’s reading, maybe it’s Keeping Up With The Kardashians (nobody need know) – whatever it is, do it. Your mind will thank you.

SUMMER 2016 1. Stressed Out In the same way your hair might fall out or turn grey due to stress, fingernails can also react to stressors. They will change colour to a pale white pigment and even fall off during times of extreme hardship. This is part of your body providing signs to you that a lifestyle change is needed and the longer you ignore them, the more serious they become. 2. Kidney Disease

What Do Your Fingernails Say About Your Health? Personal trainers, medical check-ups and even fortune-tellers are some of the avenues people go down to assess their health, however, the answers may be closer to hand. To learn vital insights into the state of your body, just look at your fingernails. These hardened skin cells are formed by keratin – the same substance that creates hair and soft skin, which leaves fingernails just as susceptible to changes in health as these more traditional barometers of the body.

Kidneys have long been linked to skin complexion and health, but as fingernails are made from the same stuff as skin, we are becoming more aware that they affect changes on our fingertips as well. Kidney disease will cause a symptom known as Beau’s Lines to appear on the fingernails which are horizontal lines that cut across the nail.

Why Parents Should Download The Sugar Smart App NOW The ingredients of the food we eat are there for us to read, but we often overlook or misunderstand the sheer quantity sugars in our store cupboard staples. This is the problem that the new government app, Sugar Smart, aims to fix, by making people aware of how much sugar they’re actually consuming. The app works through a quick scan of the barcode on food packaging, which reveals the sugar content in thousands of our favourite food and drink products. Public Health England devised the app via the Change4Life campaign to tackle tooth decay, type two diabetes, and obesity. It works by measuring the amount of sugar in your food in the unit of sugar cubes, making it much easier to visualise than if it were in grams. For instance, a 360g jar of Branston Pickle contains almost 22 sugar cubes, while the breakfast staple HP Sauce contains 24 cubes in a 425g bottle. It’s good news for Marmite lovers, though, as a 400g jar contains just half a sugar cube. Yoghurt and bread have also been clarified to contain a huge amount of sugar, with low-fat options being especially bad According to PHE’s Dr Alison Tedstone, too much sugar ‘can lead to painful tooth decay, weight gain and obesity’, a particular problem

for children as it makes them more susceptible to being bullied and having low selfesteem, as well as increasing their risk of growing into obese adults. It’s for this reason that the government are now prompting parents to download the app and become more conscienscious when it comes to what foods they feed their kids. So, how much sugar is too much? PHE recommends that 4 to 6 year olds consume no more than 19g (5 sugar cubes), 7 to 10 year olds 24g (6 sugar cubes), while children of 11 years and older should consume a maximum of 30g (7 sugar cubes) a day. To put this in perspective, a can a coke contains 9 sugar cubes alone, so it’s not the sort of thing you should be including in your child’s lunchbox. According to these guidelines, though, children in the UK are eating treble their recommended allowance. For those of you who do check labels, be warned. Sugar can be disguised under a variety

of words including: molasses, agave syrup, high fructose corn syrup, sucrose and many more less recognisable labels. Added sugar is not a necessary part of a healthy diet, and we get a sufficient amount of natural sugar from fruits, vegetables and carbohydrates. The spokesperson for the National Obesity Forum, Tam Fry, is skeptical about the new app and claims it’s pretty easy to check the sugar content by consulting the nutrition content on the packaging. Others have labelled it a ‘gimmick’ and unlikely to have an effect on obesity rates. Perhaps a more effective way to reduce sugarintake would be, as the PHE suggested, to introduce a tax on sugary food. But if it gets the population talking about the harmful effects of a diet rich in sugar, it can only be a positive step. If you want to check it out, you can download the Sugar Smart app for free on iTunes or Google Play.

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The more prevalent the lines, then the worse the state of kidneys. 3. Iron Deficiency Another condition traditionally diagnosed via skin complexion, but symptoms may show up on the fingernails even sooner. Iron-deficiency could be due to kidney damage or poor diet, but almost always results in vertical ridges on fingernails that stretch from the cuticle to the end of the nail. 4. Psoriasis This painful skin condition can be as easily diagnosed by looking at the fingernails as by inspecting the scalp or body. Noticeable white spots and streaks will pepper the nails and be distinctive from the usual gloss and transparency of healthy nails.

HOW TO GO SUGAR-FREE With more and more people opting to go completely sugar-free, we thought it would be a good idea to give you some tips on how to approach this step towards a healthier diet. It may sound relatively easy to achieve, but more foods contain refined sugar than you would think. In order to break it down, celebrity trainer Lee Mullins of WORKSHOP Gymnasium has shared his suggestions on how to cut sugar from your diet, one step at a time. He explains: “Sugar is addictive, and once you have some, it’s very hard not to keep on scoffing. As a nation, we are consuming more of it than ever. If you want to become lean and healthy, eliminating sugar from your diet is one of the most effective ways to get there.” This is because, “Sugar causes our body to crave more sugar in two ways – through our hormones and through the brain. When we eat sugar, the hormone leptin (which tells your body to stop eating) is not elevated – which means you’ll crave more.” But how do you actually go about cutting it out? Lee suggests following these five rules:

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5. Addicted to Tobacco Just a social smoker? Well, your fingernails don’t lie and a 10-a-day habit will show by discolouring the nails and cuticles. The nicotine will stain the fingertips a gross yellow colour that is impossible to get rid of – apart from stopping smoking, of course, and letting the tissue regenerate over time. 6. Arthritis This painful inflammation of the joints can certainly be felt, but symptoms can be seen too. Your fingernails will reflect the onset of arthritis by developing small cysts near or on the cuticle. These are benign and any cosmetic issues can be addressed by a hand doctor, but more importantly they are a warning sign that you have arthritis and you should take the hint to get medical advice.

ELIMINATE ALL PROCESSED FOODS Opt for fresh, whole and seasonal foods – you can’t go wrong with these. READ FOOD LABELS CORRECTLY Apart from looking for the obvious sugars, be careful of any ingredient containing the letters “-ose”, such as ribose, dextrose or xylose, which are also all sugars. BEWARE OF NATURAL SUGARS Even if it is in a natural form, remember that it is still sugar and will impact your blood sugar levels in the same way. If you’re only giving up refined sugar, fine, but if all sugar, steer clear of these, too. AVOID FRUIT JUICE Fruit juice is void of any of the fruit’s fibre, which is essential to lowering the impact of the juice on your blood sugar levels. Opt for organic fruit in its natural form, instead. EXERCISE It sounds like a given, but exercising will help you to crave less sugar and inversely, give you more energy.

Familes First NI Bag, £25, Debenhams

for Mum...

Girls...

Aliceband F&F £4

Shoes Primark Crochet Top George at Asda £14

Bikini Floozie by Frost French, Debenhams Top £26.50, Pants £20

Daisy sandals – Monsoon, £14

Broderie sun dress Next £16

Cropped Skinny Trousers George at Asda £14

Lyla Trouser Monsoon £22

Dress, George @ Asda Sunflower flip flops, Debenhams

Ice Cream swimsuit BHS £9

Elephant Skirt BHS £14

Woven espadrilles, Debenhams

Zest for Spring!!!!

Coral Mac Next £28

We’ve sussed out the Spring fashion trends and have brought you our favourites. There’s something for all the family!!

for Dad...

Boys.. Yellow slogan t-shirt Next £4.50

Embroidered Shorts Monsoon £14

Star Shorts River Island Boys

Hat, £22, Debenhams

Burn Out Aztec T-shirt £4

Mens Shirts Primark

Photographic shirt F&F £6 www.familiesfirst.ie

Mens Shirts Primark

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Mens Shorts Primark

SUMMER 2016

Beauty

What is the difference between BB and CC creams. Which letter is right for you?

If you’ve set foot in Debenhams, Boots or been anywhere near a cosmetics counter lately, chances are you’ve been bombarded by a bewildering array of flesh coloured fluids. The alphabet formulations--like BB cream, CC cream, and soon DD creams--have joined tinted moisturisers and standard foundation on the shelves as potential skin-perfecting options. But what do they all (supposedly) do? What’s the difference between them? And most importantly: Which should you use?

TINTED MOISTURISER: The name is pretty self explanatory: The product gives you a bit of colour with a moisturising benefit--the colour is usually pretty sheer. My sense is that they may be headed for extinction, or at least hibernation. While tinted moisturisers are still on the market and probably still have many fans, I haven’t seen a new launch for one in quite a while--alphabet creams are all the rage now.

CC CREAMS: The difference between BB and CC creams is subtle--CC generally stands for “colour correcting” and the products are meant to address issues like redness or sallowness (usually with light-diffusing particles), whereas BB creams are like lighter foundation with a few skin care benefits thrown in. CC cream is a colour corrector and will be lighter on the skin [than a BB cream]. They have more of a whipped, light, fluffy feel and finish--kind of the new and improved BB. While BB and CC creams are marketed for separate issues, and are theoretically different, we’ve tried many BBs and a few CC creams--and honestly, they’re almost the same. Where it gets most confusing here is that BB/CC benefits and coverage vary greatly among different brands. For example, Clinique’s CC cream is definitely more opaque than some BB creams we’ve tried from other brands. You have to be diligent in reading ingredients and most importantly, trying them out (like we did) to figure out what you want and need.

BB CREAMS: BB creams are an Asian import that have become super popular in the last two years. BB creams provide coverage with added skin care benefits like SPF and anti-oxidants--the list goes on depending on what brand you choose. They’re lighter than foundation but heavier than tinted moisturisers. While the additives in BB creams can have the same efficacy as they would in stand-alone serums, be careful about counting on BB creams for adequate sun protection. Our only concern is that since BB cream is generally tinted, women use less on their face, Meaning you won’t slather it on the way you do--or should-with a more traditional sunscreen, resulting in inadequate protection.

Dunmurry Dental Practice Now it’s not just Hollywood actors and actresses that have A-list smiles. Increasingly, many of us are turning to cosmetic dental procedures like teeth whitening in pursuit of the perfect smile. Dunmurry Dental Practice offers the latest dental cosmetic techniques to help you achieve your perfect smile including Cosmetic orthodontics, Teeth Polishing, Veneers, Cosmetic contouring and of course professional tooth whitening. We are a multi award winning Dental Practice with a caring professional team including six dentists and two hygienists. We are open 12 years now, based in a modern building with plentiful car parking on site and accessible downstairs surgeries. We provide a kids club, hygienist services, an in-house smoking cessation clinic and evening appointment slots. We aim to provide ‘high quality, pain free and plain speaking dental care to all patients’ and are offering free initial consultations about private treatments. To enquire further ring us on 02890 613322. www.familiesfirst.ie

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5 Phone calls. Is mum there? (Be warned, your older kids will do this)

I’m really sick You probably haven’t eaten a vegetable in six months darling.

‘The oven here doesn’t heat up’ It does. The problem is that I’m no there to switch it on and put food in it for you!

‘I’ve got tons of washing’ Put it in a washing machine, add detergent, and press the big button that says ’on’. Yes, really.

‘I’m on my friends phone’ Why??? What’s happened to yours?

‘Here’s my bank details’ How much this time........?

Familes First NI TRIED TESTED LOVED

Natural Nutritious Dinners from the Freezer? We couldn’t believe it either, but mum-of-two Jayne Hynes has cracked it with her new KiddYum range. The child-sized meals are made with natural ingredients, have no added sugar or salt, and include well-loved recipes like cheesy pasta and cottage pie. Our taste testers couldn’t get enough. Pick yours up at Sainsburys, £2.20

3 of the best Keep-warm coats

TOTALLY ROARSOME! You even get an inbuilt pal in the pocket with this one! Dinosaur coat, £27 Next RAINY DAY CHIC 5% of the sales of this mac go to Farms for City Children. Charity.Mac, £24.95 Joules RED RIDING HOOD This padded number has a fur trim to keep chilly faces toasty! Coat, from £50 Debenhams

The milk carton den... And, the milk carton igloo How clever is this? Instead of tossing milk cartons straight in the recycling, save them up and make this incredible den. You can make it in the garden too to save room in the house, as the milk bottles aren’t going to come to any harm in the rain.

CHEATS CORNER

Blowing up balloons can leave you feeling a little, well, deflated, so try this trick: using a funnel, fill a plastic bottle around a third full with white vinegar, then pour a spoonful of baking soda into your balloon. Loop the opening of the balloon over the top of the bottle, let the baking soda fall, and it should inflate before your very eyes – no huffing and puffing involved!!!

3 Steps to .......... LUNCHBOXES THAT ACTUALLY GET EATEN

1 2 Cool Kids 3

Add some variety

Food professionals would tell us that the key to empty lunchboxes is to offer new treats each day from wraps, rolls, carrots and cucumber sticks, even mini pots of pasta.

Make it balanced

Include a little of each of these: carbs, protein calcium (from yogurts and cheese), plus fruit and veg, to give them energy for the whole day.

Dress it up

Invest in a colourful lunchbox and bright tubs to keep everything in order inside. The nicer it looks, the more likely they are to tuck in.

Family Traditions for the family to keep Children grow up so quickly and before you know it they’re leaving home, so what better way to capture all the wonderful memories of their childhood than by starting some special family traditions. Many scientific studies have shown that choosing to focus your kids’ lives on experiences and memory creation rather than material things has a profound impact on their happiness. And who could turn down the possibility of a happier home? We decided to create a bucket list of traditions to start with our families this year - those little moments that are unique to your kids and they’ll always associate with home. Why don’t you give a new one a go for each month?

2The Birthday Hat

Pick a hat that becomes the ‘official’ birthday hat for your family, and then regardless of age, gender (or personal preference), someone always has to wear the hat on their special day. Whether you’re at home, out at a restaurant or with friends, the hat must be worn. You’ll find your kids never feel the same about birthdays without the hat!

Secret Family 1The Handshake

3The New Year Interview

It’s amazing how quickly our kids grow up, from one year to the next they change so much - from what they like, how they look and what their dreams and goals are.

This may sound a bit cheesy, but the kids will love it! Come up with a special handshake that only your family knows and do it on special occasions or if someone has done something particularly special.

A New Year interview is a quick and easy way to capture their changing personalities each year. All you need to do is pick some questions for the year ahead, such as ‘What are you most looking forward to’ or ‘What do you want to achieve this year’ and document that answers each year.

We aren’t suggesting anything as complicated as Lindsay Lohan’s scene in The Parent Trap, but even something simple can become bonding and will last long into their adult years.

The joy comes in reading back through the old interviews. You could even film them doing it - they might find it embarrassing to watch back in a couple of years but as they get older, they’ll love the personal trip down memory lane.

There’s a lovely story about a girl whose family used to press each other’s hands three times to signal ‘I love you’, and the day her dad was walking her down the aisle, he gave her this handshake at the altar. No one else in the room even knew it was happening, but she said it was one of the most moving moments of her life. www.familiesfirst.ie

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SUMMER 2016

The Back-to-School Photoshoot

Whilst back-to-school photographs are nothing new, taking one in the same place every year will make it seem that more special - and you can gather all the pictures into a timeline of their school years. If you’re worried about moving house, try and find a blank canvas, such as a brick wall or a white wall to keep the pictures consistent - it’s much more fun to compare how much they’ve changed! For a real sentimental touch, get a large t-shirt printed with the year they will be leaving senior school and take pictures of them growing into it.

Family Time 6The Capsule Do you remember doing time capsules at school? Why not mark big events by putting together a family trove of memories for you to discover at a later date. What may seem normal or boring now will be hilarious when you dig it up in a few years time and take a trip down memory lane.

7The Special Plate

Family 4The Newsletter

The joy of the special plate is that there doesn’t have to be any special reason to bring it out. Have one designated ‘special plate’ in your kitchen and bring it out on an otherwise normal day to cheer someone up or celebrate a small achievement.

Whilst most people think they are more in touch with friends and family than ever before - with the help of technology the written letter or Christmas card is slowly dying out. Bringing back a family newsletter, something you can post or email with your extended friends and family, will ensure that you make the time to reach out to the people important in your life. It will also teach your children to invest in longer communications and storytelling. We love the idea of this template which features updates on each of the children, includes travel plans, funny quotes from the children (of which there are always many) and your favourite moments from the year as a family. It also gives you something to look back on to remember the year.

It’s amazing how much a tiny gesture such as getting to use the special plate can put a smile on someone’s face.

Kids’ Height 11The Wall

8The Family Charity Walk

Getting outside in the fresh air is something that all parents are always trying to encourage their little ones to do so why not combine it with doing something good for charity? Not only do you get to teach your children the value of charity but you can also learn about nature and get a good dose of quality family time!

A oldie but a goodie! Marking their height on a wall as your children grow (and out grow you) is a simple slice of nostalgia that is easy to replicate in your own home.

Kids’ Choice 9The Dinner

In A 13Message Bottle

Instead of the traditional way of drawing marks on a wall, we love the idea of this ruler which you can move around. Perfect if you move house or if you don’t want to damage your walls, this method allows you to keep the memories with you, wherever you end up.

Mark special occasions - such as the last day of school - with a Kids’ Choice meal. One that one day, the kids have complete control over what they are having for dinner. They will look forward to the treat and you can deflect their daily dinner demands with the promise of that Kids Choice Day is coming up.

This is a perfect idea for those days during the school holiday when the kids are getting a little bored.

12The Family Film Night

Pick a charity that is close to your families hearts and make sure to join in with their organized events - they are easily available on website listings.

All you need is an empty wine bottle or something similar, and some paper to write a note. Make them guess who they are addressing their letter to and where they would like it to go you never know where it might wash up!

The Annual Family Photo

Take a picture of your family, all together in the same place and pose every year. You could chose a special place in your house, somewhere you go on holiday, or an occasion where you’ll always be together as a family. The pictures of this brother and sister 10 years apart are so adorable, we can’t wait to recreate something similar at home!

Although our home might not be as impressively decorated as this one, a monthly family film night is definitely a tradition we can get behind. Get everyone together with lots of blankets, snacks and hot chocolate and spend some time away from phones and laptops to watch the same thing at the same time. Get the family to rate and review each film after you have watched it and at the end of the year you can pick your family’s favourite film and watch it again.

When five-year-old twins Lucie and Ellie Readings threw their bottles into the sea from their home in Dovercourt, Essex last August they thought that was the end of the fun. It was only when a Spanish woman turned up on their doorstep at the end of the year that they knew anyone had received their message. The recipient, who lived in the Canary Islands, found the bottle on a beach in Tenerife. But, not speaking any English, she wanted to visit the girls instead of attempting to write a response.

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The benefits of reading for fun R

eading forms a central part of the English curriculum in schools, and the benefits to children of being introduced to a range of different texts in an academic setting are varied and many. Spelling, grammar, creative writing ability and comprehension skills are all improved when schools introduce children to challenging literature.

beneficial to a child’s progress in maths. Independent reading away from the classroom can also promote a self-sufficient approach to learning which can help with the development of problem solving skills needed to be successful in maths. Another contributing factor is that children who read independently become well versed in being regularly introduced to new information and concepts which challenge what they have learnt before.

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Familes First NI

Multi-award winning school using ICT to address the learning needs of the 21st Century through: • Collaboration • Knowledge Construction • Real-world problem solving • Innovation • Skilled Communication

Only primary school in Northern Ireland to be a Microsoft Showcase school and be recognised as a Digital School of Distinction. Three members of staff recognised as Microsoft Innovative Expert Educators

Bullying

“Millennium Integrated Primary School will continue to develop and deepen its understanding of the use of ICT and continue to adopt the bewildering array of software and hardware applications.”

Bullying continues to be a major problem in our schools; studies show that it can have a long lasting effect on your child’s mental and physical health as well as your child’s ability to perform to their best ability in school. While bullying is by no means a new phenomenon and many parents may have long lasting memories of it themselves, the way we deal with bullying has changed little over the years. As parents the instinct can be to brush it off as normal play or to tell your child to simply ignore it. Studies show that in many cases this can make the situation much worse. It’s important that both the parents of the victim and the parents of the bullies deal with the situation properly. In

many cases strict punishment of the bully can make the situation worse. It is important that the bully becomes aware of the effects of their actions on other people and that a sense of empathy for others is installed in them. Dealing with this wrongly may result in a sense of resentment that can be negative for all involved. It is very important for parents to be on the lookout for the signs and symptoms of bullying and for it to be raised with the school authorities as soon as possible. If your child is a teenager than some of the signs may seem normal so it is extra important to deal with it before it manifests itself in other ways. You should be noting changes in your child’s behaviour. Has

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your child stopped eating or taking part in extra circular activities? If your child is being bullied over physical traits it can have a lasting effect on their body image and result in them without from these situations. Your child may also be anxious about attending school resulting in days missed or a withdrawal from school events. It is important to speak to your child about any warning signs and getting to the bottom of this in a calm non judgemental way. It is particularly important to note that bullying is as relevant among girls as it is among boys. Is your child becoming obsessed with their physical appearance? While it is very common for teenage girls to notice and worry about their

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appearance, bullying can lead to the onset of eating disorders or self harm, both of which have been on the rise. If you discover that your child is the victim of bullying it is very important to report it to the school authorities immediately. How schools deal with bullying has improved greatly over the past few decades and schools have plenty of tactics to help. Also speaking to your child and encouraging them to speaking to a professional whether inside or outside of the school is very worthwhile. What many parents forget is that bullying doesn’t end when the teasing stops and a process of rebuilding self esteem can be a long one.

SUMMER 2016

Transition to Second Level I

remember many moons ago making the change from Primary to Secondary School, a very nervous experience. I know that the greatest stress in this regard belongs to the long suffering parents, trying to decide where to send their children with so many questions and ideas, league tables, entrance exams and all the rest. Well we have decided to help you by doing a guide to this transition to help ease the pressure and the worries you will be feeling over the next few months.

When I think back to my own personal experience of transition I think of mostly of my worries of be alone or losing friendships. I’m sure this is quite common, your children have been with the same group in school since they were 4 years of age and suddenly that security is being taking away. In fact we spend more time in a with our primary school group than we will ever spend in another group again. My advice is to speak to your children about this, especially if their new school is outside of your immediate community or if they are moving away from most of their peers. By explaining that they will still see their old friends and that all the other children are in the same situation it can help them feel less alone and make them excited at the prospect of making all new friends. Anyway as we all remember in our teenage years we form new identities, join different cliques and change in so many ways and this can begin with the new friends made in Second Level. Now for the parents I’m sure a millions thoughts are running through your heads, if your children is going to a grammar school there made be a great sense of pride but now worries about costs, travel and of course how you can contribute the most to help your children

achieve the best results they can. There is also the new extra circular activities raging from sports, to drama to music and everything in between. While parents always want to encourage as much as possible time can always be a problem. Id suggest prioritising your child’s passions and not to overwhelm things but to make sure they are active in the hobbies, no one wants a bored teenager on their hands. Its also worth keeping in mind that children who play sports tend to do better in their school work, I know I learned a lot more on the football than just how to kick a ball! One of the biggest shocks that second level pupils find is the amount of homework they have to do. It is important for them to realise that in secondary school teachers regard threat them with a great level of maturity and expect them to do the required work and study without someone holding their hand, its paramount that your child gets used to a regular study routine from the get go, I know GCSE’s and A Levels may seem a million years away but its always worth remembering that old habits are the hardest to shake. Encourage them to be independent learners by reading outside of their required curriculum. If your child has an academic passion than nurture it. As a child I always had a great love of history, I would read every history book I could get my hands on. Teaching your children to love reading and encouraging them to seek knowledge will greatly benefit them in Secondary School and beyond.

finances! Making the transition to Second Level is not cheap. As they enter their teen years your child is likely to become more influenced by their peers and suddenly the old reliable primark school bag and coat isn’t good enough. Just remember that you don’t have to break the bank to find good deals. I would suggest online shopping where fantastic deals can be found. Also consider shops like sports direct or decathlon for your child’s sports equipment. The same goods that can cost £100 in Victoria Square can be found for £50 at the decathlon store at the Hollywood Exchange. Thinking about childcare is also going to be an issue, especially if you have other children still in primary education. Worrying about new arrangements or having to possible send them to another after school club or service can seem daunting. I would suggest speaking directly

to your childcare provider, just remember they are the experts and have dealt with this problems a million times before! As your child will know have the greater degree of independence it can be more difficult to ensure that they continue to enjoy a balanced diet. Where its going to the corner shop before and after school or going to fast food establishments on their lunch breaks or days off, monitoring the diet of your child is about to get a lot harder. My tips of maintaining a good diet for your child is to prepare if possible a homemade lunch. Though this may seem like a time consuming adventure the truth is that lunches can easily be made in bulk at weekends and then easily enjoyed over the course of the week. You will save a surprising amount of money and it might encourage

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the working parents to make a lunch for themselves as well. Do you have fond memories of Sunday afternoon dinners, enjoying a roast with all the family? More and more families these days are eating on the go and this can be a nightmare for your child’s health. By ensuring that you cook at home most of your child’s meals it means that you will have overall control over what they eat and can ensure a balanced diet. Another top tip for meals is to take advantage of family deals in local butchers and small shops. Many places over family boxes including a week’s supply of meals and this can save your family a lot of money in the long term. So that’s the tips we think can help parents and children make this important transition. Here is the families first team we are lucky to have a parent who’s eldest child is making the transition to secondary at the moment, I’m sure readers we can all get through it together! And If anyway has any tips or ideas to help we will be starting a conversation on our facebook page. We particularly want to hear from you if you have been through this experience with a number of your children.

Familes First NI

Teaching Manners .......................... We all want our kids to be wellmannered. But how do you get a four year old on the path to good behaviour? Follow this sound advice on teaching your child manners.

As children prepared to attend pre-or junior school, it’s time to work with them on how to interact with others. Being polite includes greeting people with grace, correctly making requests, showing appreciation, exhibiting

compassion and giving, and demonstrating sportsmanship. Parents can effectively teach their children politeness with the following tips. What can a parent do?

Demonstrate respectful behaviour Showing respectful behaviour doesn’t mean instilling fear into your child. Start with listening. It can be hard to wait patiently for a preschooler to have her say, but it’s worth it. Get down on her level, look her in the eye, and let her know you’re interested in what she’s telling you. It’s the best way to teach her to listen to you just as carefully.

Model politeness Children like to mimic or imitate those adults around them that they love. Since most children love to please their parents, they will naturally do the same thing

they do. It is important that parents should be careful what kind of examples they display before their children. Teach your child by example. When you go to a grocery store with them, hold the door open for someone. When the person says “Thank you”, answer “You’re welcome”. Explain to your child that you were being helpful to the person because you respect them.

Say it nicely Life would be much easier if our kids always happily complied with our requests, but that’s not human nature. Try to remember that when your preschooler won’t do your bidding, she isn’t trying to be disrespectful – she just has a different opinion. Teach her that she’ll fare better if she can learn to stop expressing herself disrespectfully (“You’ll never take me to the park, you bad mummy!”) and instead learns to put a positive spin on her requests (“Can we please to the park after the grocery store?”)

Talk it over later Sometimes the best way to handle disrespectful behaviour is to discuss it with your preschooler later, when you’ve both had a chance to cool off. You can validate her feelings and make your point by saying, “Honey, I could tell you were very upset. What do you think caused that? What ideas do you have to solve the problem? What would be www.familiesfirst.ie

a more respectful way to tell me how you’re feeling?” If a child knows you’re curious about her thinking, - she’ll often come to the same conclusion you would.

Praise good behaviour Reinforce your preschooler’s impromptu displays of politeness as much

as possible. But be specific. The praise should describe the behaviour in detail. Instead of saying, ‘good girl’, say “Thank you for saying please when you asked for a treat”. Be explicit, and your child will quickly learn that her efforts are worthwhile and appreciated.

What manners to teach children: Greetings. You can practice greetings with kids as young as four. “Teach the basics of a proper greeting with these five steps: eye contact, a smile, a firm shake, and ‘Hi, my name is_______”. A proper introductions will provide your child with a boost of confidence when meeting their pre-school teacher. The ability to greet another person has a tremendous impact not only in self confidence, but of course on how one is perceived. Thank-you notes. Write thank you notes with your children. At age four, they may only sign their name and draw a picture, but they can still dictate the text of the note to you. By six or seven, they should be writing the entire note themselves after each birthday party or gift giving holiday. Dining etiquette. Model good dining room behaviour at family dinners. You can’t expect excellent behaviour at a restaurant if you’re not practicing at home. Teach your children to remain in their seats until they’ve asked to be excused, practice using utensils properly and gently correct transgressions such as talking with a full mouth. Expert Opinion. Psychologist Dr. David J Carey “The best and most assured way to teach young children manners is to model them. Be sure you say please and thank you to the child and to everyone else in the house. Good manners begin early in life. Children from the age of three years onward can learn how to use manners. Remember that children, like adults, learn by making mistakes. There is no point in being harsh with a child who forgets from time to time to be polite. Gently reminders are what is necessary. A good rule for parents is to remember never to expect your child to exhibit behaviours you do not exhibit. Children learn by watching what we do, not only by what we say”.

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SUMMER 2016

How well do you know your teenager?

IT’S HARD TO KEEP UP As they mould their identities, the world of a teenager changes almost daily and it is a task to keep up with their motivations, dreams and concerns. What they loved yesterday they hate today and vice versa. They follow fashion, trends, celebrities, music, and the ‘cool’ kids in their peer group. Parents are not invited into that world often because “we would not understand” and in most cases that is right, we don’t. “Turn that awful music down”. “Where do you think you are going looking like that?” “You are hanging with the wrong people”, How can you possibly thank that?” , are the kinds of things that so easily slip off the tongue when we don’t agree with their choices, but such utterance only serve to drive a wedge in the relationship between teen and parent and sabotage their sense of belonging.

What are the things you know and don’t know about your teen? Read on to see how much- or how little- you know about your sons or daughters. I you happen to be a parent who can claim to know everything about your tween or teen, you would certainly be in a minority and by the way, congratulations! The vast majority of us live in a ‘my world/your world’ situation accentuated by slamming doors, grunts, rolling eyes. ‘You are so embarrassing’, and little in between, which merely keeps us guessing jumping to conclusions – often wrong ones!

Over the years I have kept abreast of much of the advice doled out to parents who want to get to know their child better. You’ll find quizzes all over the Internet on the subject, which suggest if you can answer “know” to the following kinds of questions you are doing a great job, with any “don’t know answers providing the clues to where you are not up to date and could focus harder.

The questions below address how much you know about your child. Make sure you can truly answer each question. Often people assume they know the answer, but when pressed, they really do not.

FAMILYMATTERS THE QUESTIONS. • Who are your child’s three best friends? • Who is your child’s greatest hero? • What embarrasses them the most? • What is their favourite music? • What is their favourite colour? • What person outside the family has the most influenced your child’s life? • What is their favourite subject at school and least favourite? • Of what personal achievement is your child proudest? • What is your child’s biggest complaint about the family? • What really makes your child angry? • If you could buy your child anything in the world what would they choose? • What sites and social networks keep them at the computer? • What does your child want to be when they grow up? • What has been the biggest disappointment in your child’s life this year? • What gift does your child cherish most? • What non-school book has your child most recently read? • What is your child’s favourite food?

10 WAYS TO GET TO KNOW YOU’RE TEEN. A useful guideline, but bearing in mind the fickle nature of teens, in my opinion, knowing the answers, to even half of the questions at any one time is pretty good going, so don’t feel you need to rush out and fill the blanks in Spanish Inquisition style. Getting to know your teen involves being creative, being subtle, asking/valuing their opinions, ditching the judgement and, wherever possible, entertaining their world. Here are 10 ideas, that I have tried with my teenagers. 1. Discuss the meaning of the words, of songs they love, and choose to play them yourself sometimes (the kids will be surprised) 2. Flick through the magazines they like to read and find out what is ‘cool’. 3. If you are worried they may be doing something unhealthy, make up a story about some other kid you heard about doing that kind of thing and ask your teenager for his/her opinion. 4. Engage them in activities like the online Luscher Colour Test: http//www.kahorne. co.uk/cgi-bin/schr.pl. It’s fun and not only will you get a sense of their colour preferences, it also evaluates personality – which your child will agree with or not but it opens discussion of a more personal nature. 5. Around the dinner table, play value game, where everyone chooses three words by which they would like to

• What is your child’s most prized possession? • What is your child’s most cherished memory?

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be remembered. This might help: http??www.stevepavlina.com/articles/ list-of-values.htm 6. Ask them what five things you would take to a desert island (things they love but don’t need). 7. Ask their best friend for advice on buying a surprise gift. This will get back to them. 8. Ask them for their advice on things (to help you) so turning the tables on them – my favourite. 9. Know and be aware of the times for their favourite TV programme and organise a TV dinner of his/her favourite food around it and watch it too. 10. Open your home to their friends and throw in a few pizzas! Keep it fun, low key, and stay tuned – you will pick up a lot.

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Belfast Awards Families First Awards took place on the 5th February in the La Mon Hotel Belfast. It was a fantastic night and it was lovely to see so many people there. Congratulations to everyone for being nominated!

Winners on the night were –

Best Bread Hovis

Best Community Playgroup – Ballymoney Playgroup

Best Family Day Out – Rosepark Farm

Amazing Act of Kindness – Antoinette Boden

Best Family Car Business – Roy Wilson Cars

Highly Commended – YMCA Daycare

Best Teacher – Margaret Neilly

Best Family Entertainment – Lisburn & Castlereagh City

Highly Commended – Building Blocks

Highly Commended in North Down – Little Kingdom Kids

Highly Commended – Snow Drops Daycare

Highly Commended – Little Friends www.familiesfirst.ie

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Best Family Hotel – Jacksons Hotel

Best Childminder – Gemma ODriscoll

Mum of the year – Gabrielle Riddiough & Naomi Boardman

Dad of the year – Jonny Murphy

SUMMER 2016

Lisburn Area – Rockmount Nursery

Belfast inner – Careers ‘n’ kids

Banbridge Area – Bella Bambinos

Grandparents of the year – Thomas & Patricia Murphy

Best Soft Play - Funky Monkeys

Belfast West – Adventures Daycare

Best School – Bunscoil Mhic Reachtain

Best Nursery – North Down – Trinity Nursery School

Child Superhero – Ben Strain

Craigavon Area – Scribblers Daycare

Highly Commended – Footprints Daycare

Carrickfergus Area – Willowbank Daycare

Belfast North – Bulrush Day Care

Highly Commended – Start Smart

Belfast Outer – Kids Korner

Best Activity Provider – Belfast Voice and Dance

Highly Commended –Little Piggies

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Armagh Awards - Congratulations to everyone for being nominated!

Winners on the night were –

Enniskillen – BurrendaleHighly Commended – Toddle In

Dungannon Area – Busy Kids

Best Family Restaurant – The Caledonian

Family Cars NI

Best Soft Play – Inflatable World

Best Activity Provider – Mellon Fun Farm & Johnny Rockos

Best Outdoor recreation for Families – Slieve Gullion Fairy Walk

Childminder of the Year – Clare Moley & Fidelma Cassidy

Mum of the year – Charlieen Crawford & Gillian Casey

Highly Commended – Montessori Nursery School

Highly Commended – Mulberry Bush

Highly Commended – Kiddiwinkles Daycare

Magherafelt & Cookstown Kiddiwinkles

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SUMMER 2016

Coleraine Area – Apple Tree

Amazing Act of Kindness – Lindsay McDowell & Sandra Forde

Downpatrick & Craigavon Area – Trinity Park

Child Superhero – Jamie McKEE

Highly Commended – Buddies

Playgroup Armagh – Button Moon

Playgroup - St Peters Playgroup

Best Afterschools – Sineads After School

Fun 4U club

Best School Gt Belfast Area – Millenium Integrated School

Best School North – Roe Valley Integrated

Best Teacher – Sue Bishop

Highly Commended Kidz Lodge

Omagh – Juniors Daycare

Outstanding Head Teacher – Mary Roulston

Dad of the Year – David Watson www.familiesfirst.ie

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We can often assume that children ‘just pick language up’ and don’t appreciate just how much they have to be able to do in order to begin to talk! Young children have to listen and concentrate on the strings of sounds entering their ears, and somehow work out that when these sounds are arranged in particular ways, they mean different things- and they can be used to share information with others! They then have to try to remember and store these ‘words’, work out how they might produce that chain of sounds themselves…and then actually talk!

2016 is proving to be an exciting year for Kiddiwinkles Care & Learning Centre. Castledawson and Cookstown centres won a prestigious award for centre of excellence in childcare in the maghearafelt and surrounding area. Our Dungannon centres received the highly commended award for childcare in the Dungannon area as they came second in their category. Our Castledawson centre is open a year in March 2016 and to win this award in their first year is an amazing achievement that reflects the hard work, respect and care the dedicated staff give to the children and their families. It was a fantastic event held in the Armagh City Hotel. Our Mission statement at Kiddiwinkles is “to provide for all the quality of service we expect for ourselves and our families.” Kiddiwinkles is a unique setting and we offer a practical child-centred approach where children are respected as individuals and encouraged to learn and develop at their own pace. We follow the Reggio Emilia approach and it is important to understand that this is not a system or a method, it is a long term educational project, and constantly evolving as educators reflect on their practical experience of young children’s learning processes. Our framework is based on 4 guiding principles. Every child is unique, positive relationships, enabling environments and children develop and learn in different ways and rates. The needs of the individual child are paramount in all our childcare facilities. We are passionate about helping children reach their full potential, respecting their individual needs and valuing families. Our environments are natural and stimulating with open-ended materials where children can engage in real tasks through sensory driven play. We have a huge emphasis on outdoor play as children learn from, experience and make connections with the natural world around them. The benefits of this are children become strong, healthy and confident lifelong learners where they develop emotionally, socially, physically and cognitively. At Kiddiwinkles children will feel a sense of belonging with a voice where they can take ownership of their experiences through decision making, problem solving, exploring, and investigating.

Young children have to apply this to SO many new words every day and it is little wonder they make mis-hear things or make mistakes when they are trying to talk- this is an exhausting task and we should never for one minute think they are ‘just being lazy!’ There are things that you, as a parent or family friend, can do to support your little ones in their massive task of learning a language, with which they can begin to express their thoughts and feelings and engage with others to form friendships.

Contacts Tel : 028 8675 7122

Email : info@kiddiwinkles.co.uk Kiddiwinkles Locations : • Cookstown • Dungannon (Killyman Road) • Dungannon (Ballysaggart) • Castledawson

: Try to give your child at least 15 minutes each day, when you give them your full undivided attention- no mobile phones or TV to distract either of you- let them choose the activity you do together and what you talk about!

: Listen carefully throughout the day to what your child says -

Repeat what they say and just add one more key word! This way they will begin to build up their vocabulary as they are more likely to remember things that are associated with what they are already talking about. e.g. If your child says, ‘ Daddy ball’ you could say, ‘Yes, Daddy KICKED ball’ or if your child says, ‘tractor’ you could say, Yes a BIG tractor’ or ‘ DRIVING tractor.’

: If your child is talking in short sentences but using immature grammar, simply repeat what they said, using and emphasising the ADULT grammar e.g. The child says, ‘Lady walk a street,’ you repeat,’ Yes, the lady IS WALKING down the street.’

: If you child pronounces words incorrectly, again, simply REPEAT what they have said emphasizing the correct sounds, without asking them to say it again! e.g ‘A tup a tea’, you say,’ Yes, a CUP of tea.’ If you would like further information, please contact your local NHS Speech and Language Therapy Department, or contact us at hello@smalltalkni.co.uk. Please visit our website www.smalltalkni.co.uk to find out more about the services we offer. www.familiesfirst.ie

First Steps Children’s Centre 1 Munie Road, Killen, Castlederg, BT81 7JU Telephone: Email:

028 816 79041 firststepskillen@hotmail.co.uk

First Steps provide quality childcare for children aged 12 weeks to 12 years. We have qualified staff who regularly updates training to keep in line with Social Services requirements. We open from 7.30am – 6pm and only close for 10 days public holidays in each year. The following facilities are available: Day Care operates from 7.30am – 6.00pm Mon – Fri • Baby Room for children aged 12 weeks to 2 years (or the appropriate stage of development) • Toddler Room for children aged 2 years. Programme for 2 Year Olds operates from 1pm – 3pm , Tues. Wed. & Thurs. • Programme for 2 Year Olds - for children aged 2 years 2 months up to 3 years. Pre-School Playgroup operates from 9.00am – 11.30am, Mon – Fri. • Pre-School Playgroup for children aged 3 and over in their pre-school year. Out of Schools Playclub operates from 2.00pm – 6.00pm, Mon – Fri (Term Time). All day during school holidays. • Out of Schools Playclub for children aged 4 to 11 years Parent & Toddler Group operating Tue & Fri. between 9.00am and 12.00 noon • Parent & Toddler Group for parents with babies and young children to meet and make friends. The group meets in our committee room.

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SUMMER 2016

At Trinity Park, Dollingstown we aim to provide a warm, safe and welcoming environment. Each individual child is encouraged to experience success ~ not failure ~ in all that they do. Website: www.trinityparknursery.com

Tel. 028 38 328 966

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Breakfast club – open from 7 30am. Children taken to their school or nursery. Pick-ups – from Nurseries around Coalisland, Dungannon and Stewartstown After Schools Club – Pick-ups from all schools in this area.

3 Annaghmore Rd., Coalisland BT71 4QZ 02887 238564 www.busykidsdaycare.co.uk

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FAMILY CARS NI – FAMILIES FIRST NORTHERN IRELAND CAR DELEARSHIP OF THE YEAR

Rockmount Day Nursery and Out of Schools Club Finalists in the 2016 Day Nursery Awards

Rockmount Day Nursery is situated in a beautiful rural setting on the outskirts of Ballynahinch. The Nursery is registered for 90 Children and is purpose built with extensive gardens and play areas. Our aim is to provide a friendly, comfortable and safe environment which the Children will find stimulating and challenging, and where enjoyment and fun are linked with discovery and learning. 67 Dromore Road, Ballynahinch, Co Down BT24 8HS Telephone 02897560010 email postmaster@rockmount.plus.com

Willowbank Daycare Nursery OPEN

MONDAY- FRIDAY 7.30-6PM

Drop of and pickups at local schools Afterschools club Just of the main A8 with Park &Ride nearby. Beautiful rural setting, large outdoor play area.

Contact :028 2826 8228

www.willowbankdaycare.co.uk

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SUMMER 2016

my shopping basket

We have seen it on the TV, we have read about it in our daily newspapers, but when it comes right down to it which Supermarket is the cheapest.

ALL IRELAND CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE accredited childcare provider further endorsed by being awarded Centre of Excellence Winners 2016 (Antrim Area) by Families First at a Gala Awards Ceremony held at La Mon Hotel in February 2016

WWW.SLEEPYHOLLOWGROUP.COM DAY NURSERY

ü My NurseryPal real time reporting software keeping you informed at all times of your child whilst in nursery via APP. ü CCTV ü Pick Up /Drop off to and from home ü Newly introduced from March – redcued fee pay as you use for Afterschools (no retainer) with free pick up and drop off to school AND trained PLAYWORKERS in this group.

WRAPAROUND IN SCHOOLS

ü Offering fully registered childcare facilities in 15 leading primary schools in NI ü Playwork approach which is recognized as preferred qualification in Minimum Childcare Standards ü Fun and action packed summer schemes. ü Now taking bookings for Sept 2016 ; summer schemes for July/August; and Easter

ALSO OFFERING WRAP AROUND CHILDCARE IN MANY LEADING SCHOOLS SEE WEBSITE! THIS AD !!

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PRODUCT Kingsmill Medium White

£0.75

£1.00

Carrots

£0.29 1kg

£0.60 1 kg

£0.50 1kg

Parsnips

£0.29 500g

£0.85 500g

£0.50 500g

Maris Piper Potatoes

£1.89 2.5kg

£2.00 2.5kg

Onions

£0.85 (4)

£0.12.4 (approx 210g)

£0.70 1kg

Chicken Fillet

£5.95 1kg

£4.00 (490g)

£4.00 (650g)

Mince

£4.00 any 2 for £3.00 20% fat (750g) £3.50 10% fat (750g) £7.00 12% fat (750g)

Smoked Back Bacon

£1.20 (312g)

£2.00 (10 per pack)

£1.50 (250g)

Chicken Kiev

£2.50 (4 pack)

£1.97 (4 pack)

£2.65 (4pack)

Fish Fingers

£2.00 (12 pack)

£2.00 (12pack)

£2.00 (12 pack)

Ribena no Added Sugar

£2.00 (850ml)

£2.49 (850ml)

£2.00 (850ml)

Robinsons Double Concentrate

£2.00 (1.75l)

£3.75 (1.75L)

Radox Bubble Bath

£1.00 (100ml)

£0.85 (100ml)

£1.00 (100ml)

Radox Shower Gel

£0.90 (100ml)

£1.00 (100ml)

Dove Hair Therapy

£2.69 (250ml)

£1.00 (250ml)

£2.50 (250ml)

Colgate Total Advanced

£3.35 (150ml)

£3.00 (125ml)

Tayto

£1.75 (12x25g)

£3.25 (12x25g)

£1.85 (12x25g)

McVitie Digestive

£1.00 (500g)

£1.09 any 2 for £2.00

£1.15 (500g)

Maryland Cookies

£1.00 (230g)

£1.19 (230g)

£1.00 (230g)

Jacobs Cream Crackers

£0.97 (300g)

£1.00 (300g)

Dromona Medium Cheddar

£1.00 (200g)

£3.00 (359g)

£3.00 (350g)

Golden Cow Easispread

£1.50 (500g)

£1.99 (500g)

£1.50 (500g)

Semi Skimmed Milk

£0.75 (2 pints)

£0.75 (2 Pints)

Muller Corner Yoghurt

£0.68 any 8 for £4.00

£0.68 any 6 for £3.00

£0.55

Actimel Kids Drink – Strawberry

£2.00 (6x100g)

£2.25 any 2 for £4.00

£1.50 (6x100g)

Jacobs Baked Cheddars Cheese Biscuits

£1.09 (150g)

£1.29 (150ml)

£1.00 (150ml)

Ariel 3 in 1 Pods

£6.00 (38 washes) 52% off

£7.00 (38 washes)

Domestos Bleach

£1.10 any 2 for £2.00

£1.10 (750ml)

Thirst Pockets Kitchen Towels

£4.00 (6)

£3.00 (6) 33% off

£3.00 (6) 33%off

Andrex Classic White

£1.94 (4 rolls)

£2.00 (4 rolls)

£1.95 (4 rolls)

Fairy Original Liquid

£1.50 (780ml) 25%off

£1.50 any 2 for £2.00 (150ml)

£2.00 (780ml)

Mixed Seedless Grapes

£2.00 (500g)

£3.00 (750g)

£1.50 (500g)

Strawberries

£2.00 (400g)

£1.50 (400g)

Dairylea Cheese Spread

£1.50 (180g)

£1.00 (180g)

Bananas

£0.80 (5)

£0.77 (5)

Pink Lady Apples

£0.55 (170g)

£2.00 (4)

Brocoli

£0.49 (335g)

£0.50 (335g)

£0.38 (335g)

Total

£65.29

£70.24

£67.10

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26 GEEK CADGET A hand crank or electric grain mill. Like a good quality coffee grinder, these may have cone-shaped grinding burrs, others are stone grinders. Kenwood and Kitchen Aid both have attachments you can buy, and a Thermomix will do the job nicely too. Use them to crack whole grains for cooking with, or to make small batches of flour.

Familes First NI GUID TO GRAINS AND PSEUDO GRAINS Some of the grains listed in this feature aren’t real grains but are pseudo grains or seeds. Seeds function differently to grains, they contain embryonic plants that just need to be released to grow, whereas grains have all the components to make a plant but haven’t begun yet, and this makes them richer in carbs whereas seeds contain a higher percentage of protein.

For culinary purposes, both can be used in similar ways except when making bread., as seeds contain no gluten. CONTAINING GLUTEN Barley: This is the high fibre grain if that’s what you’re looking for, with a tough hull which, if intact (rather than ‘pearled’ and polished off along with some of the bran layer), takes about an hour to cook through. Barley flour makes a closely textured bread with a hint of sweetness. Freekeh: This is wheat, harvested green and then roasted and rubbed to hull it. Rye: Has a high fibre content

Grains

GRAINS are the staple diet of two thirds of the world’s population, from rice and wheat to teff and barley. There’s no arguing with the fact that whole grains are good for you, containing fibre. B vitamins, folic acid, essential fatty acids, proteins and antioxidants as well as micro-nutrients. Because much of the nutrients are in the bran and germ of the seed they should be eaten without milling it off first, or as whole grains. Most whole grains can be made into salads, stirred into soups or stews, used to bulk up burgers (or instead of meat) or added whole to baking so they aren’t hard to use. Buy them in smaller quantities at first so that yu can use them up before the fats contained I them taste less fresh.

COOKING GRAINS Grains absorb different amounts of liquid as they cook, teff for example needs about three times the volume of water to grain, so the best way to cook them is in plenty of boiling water. Check on them as they cook and when they have

reached the texture you like, drain them well. Millet benefits from being tasted first-dry fry it until the seeds start to smell nutty and toasted and a few grains pop like popcorn. Try these recipes at olive magazine. com: freekeh and artichoke salad with golden onions, sultanas and herb labneh, mushroom-and quinoa-stuffed courgettes, and spelt risotto with wild mushrooms. GLUTEN FREE Amaranth: Not actually a grain, but with a similar nutrition profile and use, this is a type

rather than one individual strain, there are a bout 60 varieties in all. The tiny grains can be cooked in water, popped like corn or ground, and have a slightly peppery flavour. Add to breads and baked goods and you’ll be upping the protein content. Buckwheat: Technically not a grain (and actually related to rhubarb) but used in much the same way, as a flour to make

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and low glycemic index and makes heavier, coarser and more nutritious bread than wheat. Triticale: A hybrid of wheat and rye. Wheat: This grain comes in many forms, whole wheat berries, ground into flour and cooked, dried and cracked as bulgar. Hard wheat is high in protein with strong gluten, soft wheat the opposite, in the UK soft whet dominates. Emmer, also known as faro, spelt, khorosan (kamut) and einkorn are varieties of wheat, as is durum, which is used to make pasta and couscous.

pancakes and soba noodles as well as bread. Also know as kasha this is a useful grain if you are avoiding gluten. Corn: Or maize is seen as both a grain when dried and a vegetable when fresh. America relies on it for popcorn, corn bread and grits while in Mexico they use it to make tortillas. Corn is everywhere-used as a starch and as a sweetener in the form of corn syrup. Millet: Lots of varieties of this tiny grain are known under the umbrella title of millet. A staple in India and Africa, this is made into bread, a type of porridge, or beer. Oats: Rolled oats are steamed, flattened whole oat grains, while steelcut oats are chopped and have a more robust texture. Oats can be fried or baked as a crispy coating for fish, used as a topping on crumbles and breads or cooked to a creamy consistency. Quinoa: Cooked whole or flaked, quinoa is available in several different coloured varieties including the most

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commonly eaten red, white and black, none of which are technically grains. This is a tough plant, able to grow without much water and each plant produces lots of grain. Quinoa is a complete protein. Rice: White rice has the germ and bran removed, while brown rice is left intact. Red and black rice is true rice but wild rice is a grass. Teff: One of the toughest food plants on earth, teff can grow when it is very dry or very wet and is a staple in Africa where it is made into spongy pancakelike bread called injera. The grain is tiny and is never refined, it’s easily cooked and can be added to baking. SPROUTED GRAINS These are said to be more easily digested, higher in protein and more nutrient-dense. Grains are sprouted under controlled circumstances and then slowly dried and processed. Once the original grain sprouts it becomes a raw food. BUY BRITISH Locally grown quinoa is becoming more easily available, you can buy it from hodmedods.co.uk or britishquinoa.co.uk, the latter also sells smoked quinoa.

SUMMER 2016

Fruity f lowerpots

Ingredients • 6 flat bottomed ice cream cones. I used Askey’s • 12g butter or margarine • 45g miniature marshmallows • 45g Rice Krispies • 6 tsp Nutella or any chocolate spread • 5 Oreo biscuits (filling removed) • A small mixture of fruit suitable for cutting into shapes. I used strawberries and kiwi fruit You will also need • A small flower cutter (metal works better than plastic cutters) and 6 lollipop sticks.

• Makes: 6 • Prep time: 30 mins • Total time: 30 mins • Skill level: Easy peasy • Costs: Cheap as chips

Taking the idea from ice cream cone cupcakes, we filled cones with a delicious sweet mix and made some cute flowers with my grandaughter.

Open up the box of flat bottomed ice cream cones and ask your little one to line them up on the worktop ready for action. Next they can help to weigh out the butter and marshmallows into a large microwave-safe bowl. It is probably best for you to take over at this point and microwave the mixture in 15 second intervals, making sure to stir in between. Once the butter and marshmallows have melted, your child can tip the Rice Krispies into the bowl and stir quickly until the Rice Krispies are evenly coated in the marshmallow mixture. If you find that the mixture becomes difficult to stir, pop it back into the microwave for a few seconds to loosen it. Now you can assist your child as they use a teaspoon to spoon the sticky mixture into the cones. Make sure that they pack it down with the back of their spoon. You will be surprised how much can be squeezed in!

Follow the step-by-step recipe for how to make these no-bake treats with your children

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You may find that there is still some marshallowy Rice Krispie mixture left over. After your child has painstakingly scraped away all the Oreo white filling from the chocolate biscuits they can put them into a plastic bag. Pass them a rolling pin and let them go wild. Leave the bag of biscuit crumbs to one side while the Nutella is spooned onto the top of the cones. This is to help the ‘soil’ to stick to the rice Krispies. You could hold each cone steady while your child has the job of spreading the yummy Nutella onto each cone. Now is the time to sprinkle over the Oreo crumbs; this is the ‘soil’. The little cones suddenly look just like muddy

flower pots! Now to add the finishing touches in the form of fruity flowers. You can either use cutters to shape your chosen fruit into flowers or you can keep things simple and slice with a knife. Just be sure you don’t overload the sticks with fruit, otherwise the finished article will become top heavy and topple over! Next push the fruit onto one end of each lollipop stick and push the other end of the lollipop stick down into the middle of the cones. There you have it! A few pretty planted pots which need zero upkeep; in fact all you have to do is eat them – hooray!

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KIDS COOKING

Ingredients • 250g (9oz) strong white plain flour, sifted • ½tsp salt • ½tsp easy blend dried yeast • 1tbsp olive oil

Funny face pizza • Serves: 4 • Prep time: 30 mins (not including rising time - add on 1hr 30 mins) • Cooking time: 8 mins (may need an extra 2 mins) • Total time: 38 mins • Skill level: Bit of effort • Costs: Cheap as chips

• 125ml (4½ fl oz) handhot water • 90ml (3¼ fl oz) readymade tomato pizza topping • 55g (2oz) mozzarella, grated

Method Combine flour, salt and yeast in a large bowl then make a well in the centre and add the oil and enough water to make into soft and pliable (but not sticky) dough. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for approx 5 mins or until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a lightly oiled, clean bowl, cover with a tea towel and leave in a warm place for approx 1 hr or until doubled in size. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 2-3 mins. Divide the dough into four equal amounts and then roll each into a round measuring approx 12cm (4in) in diameter and place on a lightly greased baking tray. Leave to stand for a further 30 mins or until the dough has risen.

• 55g (2oz) Cheddar cheese, grated • Cherry tomato slices • Salami slices, halved • Pepper strips • Ham strips • Can sweetcorn

Roll up sandwiches Moo-sli bars • Makes: 14 • Prep time: 15 mins + decorating time • Cooking time: 25-30 mins Get the kids to bake with these easy-to-make and fun Moo-sli bars with oats, sultanas and chocolate chips. Ingredients • 275g (10oz) rolled porridge oats • 25g (1oz) white chocolate chips • 25g (1oz) plain chocolate chips • 50g (2oz) sultanas • 50g (2oz) dried coconut • 225g (8oz) butter • 175g (7oz) demerara sugar • 75g (3oz) golden syrup Method In a large bowl, mix together the oats, chocolate chips, sultanas and coconut. In a small saucepan, place the butter, sugar and syrup, and melt together gently Pour the melted syrupy mixture into oats and stir together until all ingredients are well coated. Spoon into a non-stick or greased and lined tin (30 x 20 x 2andfrac12;cm tin) and flatten out the mixture until smoothed into all the corners of the tray. Place in a hot preheated oven at 160C (325F / gas mark 3) for about 25-30 mins until the mixture is golden brown Allow to cool and then cut into bars while still warm . Decorate as Moos. Using white fondant icing, take small balls of icing, roll and then flatten to make an eye ball. Take a smaller ball of black fondant icing to make the inner eye and Moo ears. Place these onto the bars and store in an airtight container.

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the oven to 3Preheat 200°C/400°F/gas mark 6. Spread the tomato sauce over 4 the bases then mix together 5 the cheeses and sprinkle equally over the bases. Use the remaining ingredients to top the pizzas, for example using the tomato slices as eyes, halved salami slices or pepper strips as mouths, ham strips as hair, sweet corn kernels as teeth or eyeballs etc until you have a family of fun pizza faces. Cook in the preheated oven for 8-10 mins or until the crust is golden brown and the topping is bubbling. Use a palette knife to lift the base from the baking tray and check the dough in the centre is properly cooked. Serve immediately with salad or vegetables.

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• Serves: 1 • Cooking time: 20 mins • Total time: 20 mins • Skill level: Easy peasy • Costs: Cheap as chips

Young children can be fickle creatures. Offer them a sandwich sliced into squares and be prepared for upturned noses. Use the same bread and filling but roll it up and you’ll encounter eager smiles and full tummies. Your child will love to put these cute roll up sandwiches in their school lunch box and tell all their friends that they made their own lunch!’ Ingredients • 2 slices of bread per person • Margarine or butter for spreading A selection of fillings such as: • Cream cheese and pickle • Grated cheese and ham • Grated carrot and hummus • Peanut butter and strawberry/ raspberry jam (omit peanut butter if taking into school) • Nutella • Mashed banana Method First of all, carefully slice the crusts from the bread. The leftover crusts can be put into a food processor to make breadcrumbs, or you could toast them and use for ‘croutons’ in soup. Now it’s time for your child to get involved. Pass your helper a rolling pin and ask them to roll each slice of bread as thin as possible. Keep a watchful eye so that they don’t get too carried away and make gaping holes! Once the slices of bread are suitably flat and thin, your little helper can use a table knife to spread on the filling, starting with the margarine or butter. If you choose to use grated cheese or carrot in your roll ups then it’s best for you to do the grating, but children will love the job of sprinkling it over the bread. Mashed banana is a great filling as your little helper can use the back of a fork to mash the banana. There will be a great level of satisfaction to have mastered every step by themselves! Whatever filling you decide to use, now is the time to roll up the bread. Make sure that the shortest edge is closest to you and firmly roll the bread up into a spiral. If you have time, wrap the rolled sandwich in a piece of cling film, store in the fridge for a little while and then slice into three or four pieces - or eat straight away!

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Familes First NI

family meals

Chef Stephen Jeffers, has run some of the best kitchens & restaurants in Northern Ireland. He has been a personal chef to the rich and famous and has cooked at the top level for over 25 years. He now works as a teacher, food. Stylist & consultant chef .you can find his food blog on www.chefstephenjeffers.com or follow him on twitter: @chef_jeffers

for £35

7 simple recipies which will help you feed your family for 1 week for only £35

Monday

i Ingredients

Ham, chicken & leek pie ◆ Soak ham overnight in cold water,then rinse well. ◆ Place ham into a pot of cold water with carrots,onion,celery cook for 3 hours over a medium heat .cool then chop . ◆ Drain stock off and retrieve 300 ml,now add butter to a separate pot add diced chicken and cook until sealed well.

Chickpea, lentil & sweet potato Dahl ◆ In a small pot add a little oil,now add mustard seeds until they pop. ◆ Now add ginger,chilli and shallot cook until soft. ◆ Now add spices ,lentils & green chilli . ◆ Add lentils,chickpeas & sweet potatoes .

◆ Now add water & tomatoes bring to a gentle boil and simmer for 35 minutes until cooked. ◆ Season well and add chopped coriander.

Tuesday

i Ingredients sliced) 1 large onion( to (diced) 2 sweet pota ils(washed) 80g red lent s(cooked) 200g chickpea ustard seeds 1/2 tsp of M 1 green chilli er (grated) 1 tbsp of ging rlic 1 clove of ga r seeds 1 tsp coriande eds 1 tsp cumin se opped) 4 tomatoes(ch 400 ml water pped) Coriander (cho

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◆ Add mustard powder & flour cook 1 minute,slowly add stock stirring at all time. ◆ Now finish with milk,add chopped ham & parsley season well. ◆ Place into pie dish and top with pastry ,then brush with egg wash and bake 190c for 20-25 minutes.

200g (uncooke d hamgammon-ham hock) 4 chicken knuc kles (boned & diced) 1 sml onion(di ced) 1 stick of ce lery(diced) 1 carrot(diced ) 1 tsp dried m ustard powder 1 tbsp of plai n flour 30g butter 300ml ham st ock 100ml milk Parsley(chopp ed) 1 egg (whisked ) 1 sml block of puff pastry

Red onion, cheddar cheese & apple quiche Wednesday i Ingredients

2 red onions(sliced) 2 apples (peeled & diced) 100g cheddar (grated) 4 eggs (beaten lightly) 100 ml cream Nutmeg Thyme Salt & pepper Pastry... 200g Plain flour Pinch of mustard powder 100 g of Butter 10g of Grated cheddar 1 egg ◆ Place a small pot on heat and add knob of butter ,place in red onions and cook slowly for 20 minutes. ◆ Add egg,cream,nutmeg and thyme to a mixing bowl and beat gently. ◆ Add apples,onion & cheddar ◆ Place into baked tart case and bake in oven at 160c 30 minutes until set... www.facebook.com/FamiliesFirstNI

Pastry ◆ Set oven @180c,Now place flour,mustard & butter into a mixing bowl and work to breadcrumb stage. ◆ Add cheddar and egg mix until you form a ball of pasty,chill In fridge for 30 minutes. ◆ Grease the inside of a quiche tin and flour well. ◆ Place pastry on floured bench and roll out quiet thinnly,fill with baking beans and bake for 20 minutes. ◆ Now take out beans and finish pastry in oven for another 10 minutes.

SUMMER 2016

Thursday

Fish cakes - tartar sauce & frites Cakes ◆ Mix mashed potato togheter with curry,parsley and fish season well. ◆ Now roll into 50g balls chill for half hour,now flour,eggs wash & breadcrumb. ◆ Turn a deep fat fryer onto 170c and fry for 5-7 minutes until golden brown and season.

i Ingredients

Tartar Sauce ◆ In a bowl add mustard,zest & parsley and mix well. ◆ Now add mayo,capers and gherkins season well and serve Cakes with crispy frites & lemon wedges ....

Cakes.... 100g mixed fish(diced) Two rooster potatoes(peeled-diced &cooked) Parsley 1 tsp curry powder 1 egg (beaten) Plain flour Breadcrumbs Tartar sauce..... 100ml mayonnaise 1 tbsp capers 1 boiled egg (chopped finelly) 1 tbsp gherkins (chopped) 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard 1/2 lemon(zest) Parsley

Asian braised beef..... ◆ Toss beef in plain flour,add oil to a large pot add beef,ginger,garlic & lemon grass. ◆ Cook until well sealed ,add soya honey and stock bring to high heat. ◆ Now add zest Friday & place in oven in a braising 300g beef piec dish covered for es(marinate in garlic,star 1 1/2 hour 140c anise & ◆ Add coriander cinnamon stic k) ,greens and 1 tbsp of Gin ger (grated) cook another 10 3 cloves of Gar minutes 5. Serve lic (grated) the basmati 1 stick of Le rice,lime wedges mon grass & green salad 1 Lim

i Ingredients

e (zest & juic e) 40ml Soya 30mlHoney 300 ml Beef stock Coriander Greens

Macaroni - spicy tomato meatballs & basil ◆ In a pot add a little oil and bring to a medium heat, now add onion, garlic & thyme. ◆ Now add puree,tomatoes,water pinch of sugar & salt cook for 15 minutes. ◆ now in bowl add spices to mince and roll into balls with

breadcrumbs . ◆ Place macaroni,sauce & meatballs and bake in oven 170c 25 minutes until bake is cooked. ◆ Sprinkle with dried Parmesan & thyme before serving.

1 large bag of dried macaroni( cook in plenty of boiling water 6 minutes) 150g beef mince 1 onion (diced) 2cloves of garlic Thyme 1 red chilli(diced) 1 tbsp of breadcrumbs 1 tsp of chill powder 1 tbsp tomato puree 1 tin of chopped plum tomatoes 100 ml water Basil Pinch of sugar Salt & pepper Saturday

Lemon & thyme roast chicken nday

◆ In a baking tray add chop vegetables, thyme lemon and stock . ◆ Season chicken legs well,now add chicken legs onto tray roast legs on tray 180c for 45 minutes. ◆ when cooked serve chicken with juices _DSC0048.tiffrom tray,new boiled potatoes and garlicky Buttered green. beans......

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i Ingredients 4 large chicken legs(marinated in lemon zest-garlicthyme) 1 onion(chopped) 1 stick celery(chopped) 1 carrot(chopped) 200ml chicken stock Thyme 1/2 lemon

Familes First NI

School Holiday Ideas W

ell it’s that time of year again. The Days are getting longer and hopefully warmer! Summer time is almost among us and there is no better time to take a short break with the family. With the exams and term coming to an end the kids are looking forward to some well deserved time off. Lucky sods! For all those on a budget Spring and Early Summer are a great time to head away with prices generally much lower than during the summer peak. It will also ensure a quieter atmosphere at attractions and less time wasting on queuing. Take advantage of the school holidays and enjoy the best of what Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have to offer. Radisson Blu Letterkenny / Donegal Editorial The Radisson Blu Letterkenny is the luxurious way to enjoy the wild beauty of County Donegal. Located conveniently in the centre of cosy Letterkenny town with easy motorway connections to Northern Ireland. The hotel is only 30 minutes from the City of Derry with regular bus connections to the town. Pamper yourself in the luxurious leisure centre or tuck in to the finest foods in the restaurant. Radisson Blu Letterkenny is the ideal base for your family break. Donegal is full of wonderful attractions but no trip to Donegal can be complete without taking in the breath taking scenery of the Wild Atlantic Way. From Irelands most Northerly point in Malin Head to the beautiful cliffs of Sliabh Liag Donegal is a county that will leave you with a lifetime of memories. It truly is the perfect location for an active yet relaxing family break.

WILD ATLANTIC WAY LOGOT Y P E

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radissonblu.ie/hotel-letterkenny White on black

Kildare- Beauty on Dublin’s Doorstep Kildare prides itself on being “The Best of Ireland in One County”, and with so much to offer to easy to see what they mean. Located just a stone’s throw from Dublin, County Kildare is the perfect base for your family to enjoy the Islands biggest city and also take in the best of our beautiful Irish countryside. Kildare is of course famous for its Horse Racing and the world renowned Curragh racecourse but there’s a lot more to Kildare than just horses. The K-Club golf course is world famous and was home to the Ryder Cup in 2006 (pictured).

EASTER OFFER KIDS CLUB INCLUDED

2BB1D FROM €280 PER ROOM

The Westgrove Hotel and Conference Centre is the perfect base for your stay in County Kildare. For more information check out www.westgrovehotel.com.

3BB2D FROM €430 PER ROOM

The Connacht Hotel, Dublin Road, Renmore, Galway H91 K5DD, Ireland 091 381200 | reservations@theconnacht.ie /TheConnacht

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@ConnachtHotel

SUMMER 2016

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Families First Outstanding People Nominations

We need your nominations! As your by know well aware well aware the 2016 Families First Awards in Mid Ulster and in Belfast where a great success. We strive to recognise the very best in all aspects of family life and reward hard work. Some of the greatest unsung heroes can be ordinary people living extra ordinary lives. In recognition of these amazing people we give our outstanding people awards. We award people who go above and beyond for their families and their communities and who inspire those around them every day. These outstanding people are all unique and have their own special stories but all hold one thing in common, they are all exceptional. m of the Year Armagh

In order to recommend someone as a nominee for the outstanding people categories at our awards we ask that you send us the details of the person you’re nominating and their back story of why they are exceptional. Receiving your emails and letters for these nominee is always an exciting time in our office. We spend days and weeks reading over the stories. They can be real tear jerkers but they always leave us with a smile on your face! And we just love informing people of their nomination.

Childminder of the year Armagh

local family Sandra bought them an extremely generous amount of gifts for the children, baby essentials and bedding as well as other household essentials. Sandra also spent two nights before Christmas (alongside her 9 year old daughter) delivering hampers and gifts to families in need. This was her second Christmas helping local families

or unwell. He helped her change nappies, makes bottles and stood in with much needed babysitting when she deserved to let her hair down. Miss Watson’s daughter was born with optic nerve damage in her right eye giving her reduced vision. They went through countless hospital appointments for this and there were two occasions when the

Amazing act of kindness Armagh

The amazing act of kindness award is particularly special! In the modern world it’s very easy to get tied down by doom and gloom so to read your amazing stories of wonderful people who help out those around them always makes our day. Whether it’s someone who does exceptional volunteer work or simply someone who acted in a small way that made a huge impact on someone else.

Introducing some of our unsung heroes!

Jamie McKee – Outstanding Child Super Hero at the Armagh Awards.

Co. Down’s Jamie McKee was awarded the title of Child Superhero of the Year. The Dundrum teenager was awarded the title because of the strength and courage he has shown since suffering from an acquired brain injury in 2005. Back then Jamie spent a week on a life support machine and then was in hospital for a further three month in recovery. After his recovery Jamie has thought himself how to talk, feed himself and do the other day to day task’s we all take for granted. It was his happy positive attitude and his fighting spirit that got him this title. Jamie’s mother Teresa is one proud Mum, “Jamie’s determination has got him to where he is today and his positivity helps us all cope with the changes that can affect him”.

and her youngest is named Katelyn. Katelyn has been ill since she was born. Katelyn is blind and deaf and has been diagnosed with several illnesses. The most serve of which is cerebral palsy. Katelyn has no tone in her body and only recently had a pipe fitted into her tummy to be fed on liquids as prior it was a feeding tube through her nose. Katelyn was never supposed to make it from birth, she is a miracle. Katelyn is now due to turn 7 years old. The doctors and nurses are amazed by her. They have said it is fully down to the attention and care Lindsey gives to her at home. Lindsey does not use the hospice as Katelyn prefers to be at home. Her other daughters are now 12 and 16 and help out as much as they can but Lindsey does the majority of the work. She has given her life to Katelyn full time and she wouldn’t change a thing.

Sandra Forde

Sandra is a volunteer for the local charity “Portadown Cares”; she contacted the charity and asked to help out local families in need. When they gave her the details of a

and the chairman of the charity has described her as “an amazing lady who helps bring friends and family to help them out and they couldn’t survive without the great work of people like Sandra who really care for their communities”.

Dad of the Year Armagh – David Watson

David was nominated by his daughter who described him as a rock throughout her life. When she was 18 she fell pregnant with her first daughter and David was with her every step of the way. He took her to every appointment and was there when she felt tired

Grandparents of the year Belfast

Amazing Act of Kindness Lindsey McDowell

Lindsey McDowell is an exceptional Mother. She has three daughters www.familiesfirst.ie

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little girl had to be put to sleep to facilitate an MRI scan. This stressful time was made easier by David’s loyalty. David’s granddaughter was later diagnosed with Aspersers Syndrome and he stood by his daughter and granddaughter throughout the whole process. His daughter describes him as the kindest, most caring and incredible man in Northern Ireland and that she is blessed to have someone as special as her Dad.

Dad of the Year – Belfast Johnny Murphy

Jonny was nominated by his Mother in Law. Jonny married her

SUMMER 2016 Dad of the year Belfast

Child Superhero Belfast

daughter Louise, less than three months after the wedding there future was shattered and Louise was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Due to the illness they thought they would never have kids, miraculously Louise gave birth to a baby boy named Harry in September 2014. Sadly Louise passed away in August 2015. Since her death Jonny was been an amazing Dad to young Harry, he has taking on the role of both Mother and Father and has put his son before everything else.

Mum of the Year Armagh Charlieen Crawford

Charlieen is the Mother of three boys and a new baby girl. Whilst she is a mother of three boys she lost her son Logan tragically two years ago in an accident in Ballycastle. He was only 7 years old and was fun loving and very lovable. She managed to stay strong for the sake of her other children. On Logans birthday last year she discovered was pregnant and just before Christmas gave birth to a beautiful baby girl she named Grace. She always does her best for her children and was named head of the parents association in her boy’s school.

through a tough time having three miscarriages. Being the strong person that Gillian is there was always a silver lining. 5 years ago we were gifted with our twin boys Rory and Oliver. Rory was diagnosed with Down’s syndrome at birth and with mild heart problems. Gillian as a mother has been amazing. Nothing stands in her way in getting the best for both Oliver and Rory. Rory needs a lot of assistance and Gillian has been there to help him in every way, from his heart surgery last year to starting primary school. Gillian has also let me develop my career as a nurse. Recently she has been diagnosed with arthritis and even though she is in pain most of the time you never see her complain. With regards to Gillian being the perfect person for the

Gillian is not just my wife but my best friend and has been for many years. 10 years ago this year I married my best friend and I have never looked back. It hasn’t all been plain sailing and though it started off wonderful we went

Mum of the Year – Belfast Naomi Boardman

Naomi suffers from fibromyalgia but fights through the pain every day for her 2 year old son. Her son has suffered from multiple illnesses since birth; he suffers from multiple allergies, bad asthma and eczema. As life throws more at her she gets stronger and stronger and deserves to be rewarded.

Gabrielle Riddiough

Gabrielle suffered from bullying in her previous job and as a result was forced to resign. She has suffered from Post Traumatic Stress and as

a single Mother has found it hard to get by ever since. She has made sure her children were not affected and made sure they had everything they need, even if it meant she went without.

Child Superhero Award Belfast Ben Strain

Ben Strain is a young man who was born with heart issues and Down’s syndrome. He has been back and forth to hospitals facing surgery ever since. He has went through long periods of staying in hospital ever since but has never got anything but a smile on his face. He is an absolutely fantastic young man.

Mum of the Year Belfast

Below is our advertisement for the Families First Paper.

These grandparents are simply the best. My little girl was born prematurely and has been poorly since birth. She is entirely tube fed and has allergies to all food. These grandparents have given their all to look after Aryana so that my husband and I can have some sort of family life with her. They have learnt to administer her medications/tube feed her and work her apnea monitor. They are amazing grandparents.

Grandparents ofJosh theknow. If you need any further information, please let myself of Many thanks Joanne Marks.

Best teacher Belfast

Gillian Casey Gillian’s husband nominated her with this amazing letter.

Childminder of the year Belfast

Year Thomas and Patricia Murphy

This nomination was sent in to us by the granddaughter of Thomas and Patricia Murphy.

award she also does so much for her local community. She sits on the committee for the Little Acorns Playgroup and helps with fundraisers to keep the playschool open. She is the number one carer for Rory. She promotes Down syndrome in a positive light and is pushing for Rory to be able to go to a mainstream school and works on every aspect of his school work with him.

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Vote Now!

Familes First NI YOUR CLOTHES SHOULD BRING A FEELING OF JOY Gather every item of clothing in your house and pile them in one spot. Do it swiftly and mechanically, then ask, “is this really everything?”

The Final thing to do is to sort clothing into colours from light to dark within their groups. When you get all of your items together in one place, most people are shocked at how much they have, and how much they might have of one particular item. You might also decide to put dressier items you only wear rarely separately if you have the space, or store your coats somewhere else – these can take up a lot of room in your everyday wardrobe. And don’t have hidden items in drawers – out of sight means out of mind!

OF ALL THE HANGERS I’VE TESTED, I’VE FOUND THE NARROW, RUBBER COVERED, SLIGHTLY CURVED ONES TO BE THE BEST FOR DRESSES, BLOUSES AND TOPS. THEY NEED TO HOLD THE GARMENT AND STOP IT SLIPPING OFF BUT BE LIGHT ENOUGH NOT TO SPOIL THE SHAPE.

Time for those chores The BIG wardrobe MAKEOVER Get dressed with less stress! The experts give their change-your-life tidy-up tips so you can have a wardrobe you love. Wardrobes are emotional spaces, because they’re filled with memories. They are personal to you and also reflect your changing shape and age, and the fashions you grew up with. You need to be feeling quite strong to make changes. It’s going to take time. Set aside a weekend and prepare yourself for a military operation. Send the kids to your parents or friends. Switch off your mobile phone. Don’t organise anything else, not even a movie in the evening it’s TIRING! Take everything out of your wardrobe and put in on garment rails – they’re cheap and make the process much easier even though it can be a messy, overwhelming process. Make what the experts call “Happy families” of clothes – skirts/trousers/dresses and so on. Colour co-ordinate as

if in a boutique or shop. For every item, ask yourself: When did I last wear it; does it fit; is it in fashion; can it be altered/should it be altered; is the colour right; does it suit me, is it favourite? Then try your clothes on! It can be a great help to have a “wardrobe buddy”, a friend who knows you well but who can be honest with you about what really works for you. Don’t give in to unrealistic expectations i.e. hoping that you will once again be slim enough to wear something. Don’t let guilt about wasted money persuade you to keep the wrong clothes. Don’t wait for fashion items to come back in. Make three piles: The good the bad (items that need something doing –dry-cleaned, mended, altered and so on), and the ugly, which you’re going to cull. Appraise the “out” piles – is there something you can sell or give away? Remember – you have a moral obligation not to just offload your outcast clothing.

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Deciding on what to keep and what to discard is about whether or not something sparks joy. Touch it, holding it firmly in both hands as if communing with it. When something sparks joy, you should feel a little thrill. When you hold something that doesn’t bring you joy, your body feels heavier. Remember: you’re not choosing what to discard but rather what to keep. Start with clothes you wear closest to your heart. The closer your clothing is to your heart, the easier it is to choose. Bottoms j(skirts) are easier than socks, tops (blouses and shirts), easier than bottoms.

THE GOLDEN RULE; WHAT COMES IN MUST GET WORN. IF YOU’RE NEVER GOING TO WEAR IT, GET RID OF IT! Try touching, hugging and gazing closely at any items about which you’re not certain. As a last resort, try them on. Fellings of fascination, excitement or attraction aren’t the only indications of joy. A simply design that puts you at ease or a high degree of functionality that makes life simpler also indicate joy. You may be reluctant to get rid of expensive items. If something doesn’t spark joy when your hold it, yet you can’t bring yourself to discard it, try it on, look in the mirror and ask ‘Do I want to wear this out somewhere?” Sort bottoms by category such as jeans, skirts and so on. If you

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have a lot of one thing, try them on and think objectively about how often you wear them. If you’ve not worn something for years, you’ll almost certainly never wear it again. When storing, fold trousers that are made of cotton (jeans), but hang more formal ones (suit trousers). Save space by hanging two skirts from the same hanger. Clothes made of thicker materials, such as jackets, suits and coats, should be stored on hangers, as should items that are hard to fold or that wrinkle easily. When hanging clothes, arrange them so they rise to the right. Keep the same category of clothes together: coast with coats, suits with suits, jackets with jackets. If a dresser has several drawers, keep the lightest things at the top and the heaviest at the bottom – plus tops inupper drawers, bottoms in lower drawers light materials in upper drawers, and thick heavy materials in lower drawers. You’ll have and 2uplifting 2 set of drawers, and that, combined with the principle of hanging clothes so that they rise to the right, will create an ideal storage space that sparks joy. Graduate the colours so that you can see at a glance where everything is. Dark colours should be in the back of the drawer and light colours in the front. Arrange them with the image of a wave of joy surging towards you. GETTING SORTED. More tips from Families First. Sort Clothes into categories (trousers/jackets/skirts.) Divide everything into day work, day home, evening and dress down – it speeds things up – colour coordinates to make them easier to find. Never store clothes in plastic, bags or dry cleaners’ plastic covers. Over time it encourages condensation and the clothes can discolour and rot.

SUMMER 2016

BOOKREVIEWS The Scarlet Files Cat Burglar – A Mission gone wild By Tamsin Cooke

Mr Baboomski and the Wonder Goat By Richard Joyce Tom is less than pleased when his Dad moves him away from his home and all his friends. But when he meets Mr Baboomski, a washed-up circus owner, and Zoltan, his amazing wonder goat, all that is about to change, in this side-splitting, rip-roaring adventure! • Hilarious and heart-warming tale about friendship and fitting in • Full of unforgettable characters, and silly sayings • Illustrated in black and white throughout

Scarlet is a cat burglar. Working with the best in the business – her dad – they make a formidable team. That is until a job goes wrong. Scar makes the mistake of sampling the goods, and when she tries on a stolen Aztec bracelet, she’s astonished to find herself shape-shifting into wild creatures from Aztec mythology. Someone wants the bracelet back very badly. Enough to kidnap Scar’s dad and go after Scar next. Joining forces with resident computer hacker and all round genius Ethan, she is plunged into a thrilling adventure to rescue her dad and outwit her enemies. • Packed with peril and pace, this is an exciting contemporary thriller. • Scarlet is a strong female character for this age group to connect with • A cliff hanger at the end of every chapter means this book is impossible to put down!

Pip and Posy – The New Friend By Axel Scheffler

Pip and Posy are having a lovely day at the seaside, collecting shells and digging in the sand. While Posy’s enjoying a nap. Pip makes friends with Zac – a cool boy who has lots of fun toys and beach gear. He’s even good at handstands. When Posy wakes up, she’s frustrated to learn that Pip is more interested in playing with Zac than her…but soon they realise that while two’s company, three’s a party.

A Great Big Cuddle By Michael Rosen Suitable for very young children, the poems focus on popular themes including children, toys, animals and made up creatures and there is a universal appeal running throughout which makes this a book that will be returned to and enjoyed time and time again.

Apocalypse Miaow Miaow By James Proimos III & James Proimos Jnr The end is nigh. Apocalypse has dawned. Everyone has gone…except for our heros: Brownie, Apollo and their ragtag group of strays. Having raided a supermarket and defeated some very mean mutts, our heroes find themselves out of food. So when they hear a rumour of a Twonkies factory, and all the Twonkies they could ever eat, they think they’ve won the Twonkie jackpot. The only catch is the cat guarding the factory – and this ‘cat’ is MUCH bigger than any feline they’ve ever met. Can our heros defeat their foe and claim the Twonkies for themselves? More irreverent, dog-filled apocalyptic adventures. With laughs in every page, this brilliant graphic novel will charm everyone from the most reluctant reader to the coolest cats (humans and animals alike)!

365 Science Activities By Minna Lacey Simon Thorn and The Wolf’s Den By Aimee Carter Twelve-year old Simon Thorn’s life has never been easy, but being bullied at school and living in a cramped Manhattan apartment with his Uncle Darrell is nothing compared to his biggest secret: he can talk to animals. Imaginative and vivid with themes of bravery, loyalty, and finding one’s true self, this exciting, five-book adventure series is the perfect series to sink your teeth into.

Oxford Visual Dictionary of Animals

A very fun way to inspire learning (and to help with school work, too!) the book provides a hands-on way of learning that will educate, excite and entertain in equal measure. A valuable and extremely fun book for any child interested in science.

The stunning illustrations and over 1,500 animal words are included within the book so children aged 9+ can learn all about mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, sea creatures, insects and mini beasts. Information about animal habitats and behaviour such as migration and hibernation, as well as life cycles and camouflage, are also included. The book even contains an Animal Detectvie Quiz at the back to test the animal-loving reader’s knowledge.

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What’s On Destination Space – Join the Crew! W5

www.sharevillage.org

Address: W5, At Odyssey, 2 Queen’s Quay Town: Belfast Area: Belfast Postcode: BT3 9QQ Telephone: 02890467700 Email: info@w5online.co.uk Web Address: www.w5online.co.uk Start Date: Thursday 28th January 2016 10:00 End Date: Thursday 25th August 2016 17:00 Duration: Entrance Fee: Free with admission to W5! Admission prices: http://www.w5online.co.uk/w5-information/ admission-prices/ Disabled Access: Yes Destination Space – Join the Crew! Dates: Every Tuesday from 12 January – 23 August 2016 and every Thursday from 14 January – 25 August 2016 Show Times: Check show times upon arrival For further information please visit www.w5online. co.uk.

Start Date: Saturday 21st May 2016 11:00 End Date: Saturday 21st May 2016 17:00 Duration: Entrance Fee: Disabled Access: Yes Prepare to enter the enchanted wonderland of Portadown People’s Park and meet some very special visitors who will transport you to a magical, fairy-tale world!

National Drawing Day F.E. McWilliam Gallery

Address: 200 Newry Street Town: Banbridge Area: Down Postcode: BT32 3NB Telephone: (028) 406 23322 Email: info@femcwilliam.com Web Address: www.femcwilliam.com Start Date: Saturday 21st May 2016 12:00 End Date: Saturday 21st May 2016 15:00 Duration: Day Entrance Fee: FREE Disabled Access: Yes A drop in event for National Drawing Day facilitated by artist Millie Moore. Adults, children and families are invited to participate in this fun workshop inspired by the F E McWilliam sculpture collection. No experience necessary just the ability to have fun. Saturday 21st May 12.00pm - 3.00pm Admission: FREE

An Encounter with Dinosaurs - The Augmented Reality Experience W5

Address: 2 Queen’s Quay Town: Belfast Area: Belfast Postcode: BT3 9QQ Telephone: 02890467700 Email: info@w5online.co.uk Web Address: www.w5online.co.uk Start Date: Saturday 30th April 2016 10:00 End Date: Wednesday 31st August 2016 17:00 Duration: Entrance Fee: Free with admission to W5! Admission prices: http://www.w5online.co.uk/w5-information/ admission-prices/ Disabled Access: Yes

Family fun this Spring at THE ALLEY

Drama Bugs Workshops Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Address: 24 Main Street Town: Limavady Area: Londonderry Postcode: BT49 0FJ Telephone: 02877760650 Email: tourism@rvacc.co.uk Web Address: www.roevalleyarts.com Start Date: Friday 13th May 2016 16:30 End Date: Friday 24th June 2016 18:15 Duration: Entrance Fee: £26 Disabled Access: Yes Help your little ones aged 3-6 years come out of their shell in this fantastic, fun six week course which combines drama, performance, speech and fun! No class on 27 May

High School Musical Wiggle Giggle Children of Lir Puckoon The Curious Adventures of Pinocchio BOX OFFICE: +44 (0) 28 71 38 4444 BOOK ONLINE: www.alley-theatre.com

thealleytheatre

THE ALLEY ARTS & CONFERENCE CENTRE Railway Street, Strabane, Co.Tyrone BT82 8EF Email: alleytheatre@derrystrabane.com

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Enchanted Park Trail Portadown People’s Park

Address: 51 Park Road, Portadown Town: Portadown Area: Armagh Postcode: BT61 1DS Telephone: 028 3831 2597 Email: info@portadownpeoplespark.co.uk Web Address: www.portadownpeoplespark.co.uk

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High Tea at Sea Safari Trip Strangford Village Pier

Address: Town: Strangford Area: Down Postcode: BT30 7NE Telephone: 028 437 23933 Email: fun@strangford-seasafari.com Web Address: www.strangford-seasafari.com Start Date: Saturday 21st May 2016 12:30 End Date: Saturday 21st May 2016 14:00 Duration: Trip duration approx 1.5hrs (may vary slightly with tides) Entrance Fee: £29.00 per child, £35.00 per adult Disabled Access: Yes Enjoy afternoon tea with a difference! See the sights of Strangford Lough before stopping off in a beautiful spot to enjoy a nice cup of tea and some homemade scones! Suitable for age 8 years +. Trips leave from Strangford pier. Trip duration approx 1.5hrs (may vary slightly with tides) Everyone will be given a nice warm waterproof coat to wear as well as a life jacket - you may want to bring a hat on a chilly day! Flat soled shoes only please. Don’t forget your binoculars and cameras!

Full Blue Moon Rising Strangford Sea Safari Strangford Village Pier

Address: Town: Strangford Area: Down Postcode: BT30 7NE Telephone: 028 437 23933 Email: fun@strangford-seasafari.com Web Address: www.strangford-seasafari.com Start Date: Saturday 21st May 2016 19:00 End Date: Saturday 21st May 2016 22:00 Duration: 50 minutes approximately. Times may vary by 5mins either side of this depending on tides. Entrance Fee: £22 per child (16yrs & u) £25 per adult Disabled Access: Yes Enjoy the tranquillity of Strangford Lough with a full moon rising over the water to set off the beautiful scenery of the area. Visit the SeaGen, Angus Rocks Lighthouse, Seal colonies at Cloughey Rocks Nature Reserve and much more. Suitable for age 3 years plus. Trip times to confirmed

SUMMER 2016

What’s On Strangford Sea Safari Voyages Strangford Village Pier

Address: Town: Strangford Area: Down Postcode: BT30 7LS Telephone: 028 437 23933 Email: fun@strangford-seasafari.com Web Address: www.strangford-seasafari.com Start Date: Sunday 22nd May 2016 09:00 End Date: Sunday 22nd May 2016 17:00 Duration: 45 minutes for ‘Narrows’ & 50 minutes for ‘Whirlpool Special’ approximately Entrance Fee: ‘Narrows’ £20 per adult or £17 per child Family Ticket £69 (2 & 2) ‘Narrows’ £20 per adult or £17 per child Family Ticket £69 (2 & 2) ‘Whirlpool Special’ £25 per adult or £22 per child Family Ticket £87 (2 & 2) Disabled Access: Yes Everyone loves the sightseeing tour of Strangford Lough with its abundance of nature and wildlife. See the SeaGen, Angus Rocks Lighthouse, surface whirlpools and some of the many seals at Cloughy Rocks Nature Reserve. You might see a pod of porpoise or even a basking

Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival 2016 Ballycastle

Address: Town: Ballycastle Area: Antrim Postcode: BT54 6BT Telephone: (0)28 2076 2024 Email: ballycastlevic@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk Web Address: www.visitcasusewaycoastandglens.com Start Date: Friday 27th May 2016 09:00 End Date: Sunday 5th June 2016 17:00 Duration: Entrance Fee: Disabled Access: Yes Join us to celebrate this great event and to enjoy the stunning scenery, diverse attractions and local culture of Ballycastle Town and Rathlin Island in the Causeway Coast and Glens.

Portrush Raft Race Weekend 2016 Portrush Harbour

Address: The Harbour Town: Portrush Area: Antrim Postcode: BT56 8DF Telephone: Email: portrushraftrace@gmail.com Web Address: www.portrushraftrace.co.uk Start Date: Saturday 28th May 2016 09:00 End Date: Sunday 29th May 2016 21:00 Duration: 2 days Entrance Fee: Free Disabled Access: Yes PORTRUSH RAFT RACE WEEKEND 2016 SPONSORED BY RAMORE RESTAURANTS Committee delighted to announce Ramore Restaurants as new sponsor for 35th Portrush Raft Race Weekend. Entries are now open to teams and application forms can be obtained from portrushraftrace@ gmail.com Entries stay open until 2pm on race day. Full entry guidelines are available atwww. portrushraftrace.co.uk

Midsummer Concert Mussenden Temple

Easter at the MAC

Address: Mussenden Road Town: Downhill Area: Londonderry Postcode: BT51 4RP Telephone: 028 7084 8728 Email: Web Address: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ downhilldemesne Start Date: Friday 17th June 2016 20:00 End Date: Saturday 18th June 2016 22:00 Duration: 20:00-22:00 each day Entrance Fee: £21 Disabled Access: Yes Enjoy an evening of music with Craig Ogden on guitar in the unique surroundings of Mussenden Temple. Complimentary buffet supper is included. Concert organised by the North Coast Association.

26-29 March

Spring has sprung at the MAC, Belfast’s family friendly arts venue. We’ve lots planned to keep your little ones amused this Easter weekend, much of it free. Here’s your handy weekend planner

Extra Springy Storytime

Sat 26 Mar

FREE, but booking essential

Easter Sunday Easter Monday

Easter Tuesday

throughout the day

MAC Family Room open all day from 10am - 7pm, FREE Petting Zoo

Spring Sprung Animals

Free, Drop - in

Crafty Workshop £7 per child

Petting Zoo

Spring Sprung Animals

Free, Drop - in

A Father’s Day Warrior Training and Assault Course Navan Centre & Fort

Address: 81 Killylea Road Town: Armagh Area: Armagh Postcode: BT60 4LD Telephone: 028 3752 9644 Email: navan@armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk Web Address: www.navan.com Start Date: Sunday 19th June 2016 11:00 End Date: Sunday 19th June 2016 17:30 Duration: Entrance Fee: Normal Admission Charges Apply Disabled Access: Yes We all think of our dads as superheroes, why not celebrate your superhero dad in the ancient way! This Father’s Day we will train your dad in the skills needed to be an ancient superhero, then we can test him!

Family Fun at Cockle Row Cottages Cockle Row Cottages

Address: Groomsport Harbour Town: Groomsport Area: Down Postcode: BT19 6JR Telephone: 028 9127 6969 Email: bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk Web Address: www.visitardsandnorthdown.com Start Date: Saturday 2nd July 2016 16:00 End Date: Sunday 24th July 2016 14:00 Duration: Days: Every Saturday and Sunday until end date Entrance Fee: Free Disabled Access: Yes Free entertainment every weekend in July, 2pm 4pm

Summer bands in Ward Park Ward Park

Address: Hamilton Road Town: Bangor Area: Down Postcode: BT20 4LG Telephone: 028 9127 0069 Email: bangorvic@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk Web Address: Start Date: Sunday 3rd July 2016 15:00 End Date: Sunday 28th August 2016 17:00 Duration: Days: Every Sunday until end date Entrance Fee: Free Disabled Access: Yes Join us for the summer season of free live music every Sunday of July & August in Ward Park, with a fantastic line up of eclectic music that everyone is sure to enjoy. Every Sunday 3pm - 5pm

www.familiesfirst.ie

The Big MAC Easter Egg Hunt FREE, drop in

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Crafty Workshop £7 per child

How does your Garden Grow? Planting Workshop £7 per child

How does your Garden Grow? Planting Workshop 7 per child

Voted best Theatre Venue by Netmums

For more information visit themaclive.com

Familes First NI

How to make felt mice in a tin

Crafting with kids: The expectations vs the painful reality

These cute felt buddies are simple to do and make a great first sewing project, helping kids to get used to a needle and thread!

When it comes to kids and crafts, you can’t always be sure of the outcome, and while you don’t set out to make a Blue Peter masterpiece, sometimes things go worse than anticipated. Here are the classic craft fails you’ll only know if you’ve tried to get creative with your little ones...

NT WHAT YOU WA

T WHAT YOU GE

You think: This little project will keep them busy for a while. The reality: After an initial enthusiastic 10 minutes, the craft items have all been demolished and your little one is running around creating havoc with various supplies. You think: This will be fun for all the family! The reality: The baby eats all the pink glitter, your middle child has a tantrum because they don’t want to share, while the oldest one skulks off after 5 minutes to play on the PS4 instead. You think: Craft kits are great because they contain everything you need for a project. The reality: Your little one glues all the googly eyes together in a big pile and then has a meltdown when they’re unable to make the ‘monster puppet’ properly because they have no eyes left – sigh! You think: This craft project will be educational. The reality: The only thing that either of you learn is that you are never, ever, EVER using glitter again. You think: Nothing beats a homemade gift! The reality: Because nothing says I love you like a bauble with a squiggle of white paint on it. You think: This kit looks great for their age. The reality: You need to be a member of Mensa to work out the instructions and your child somehow glues their fingers together with the ‘safefor-children’ glue… You think: That craft idea on that blog looks really easy. The reality: There are tears - from both you and small child - when your version looks nothing – and we mean - nothing like the original blog post. You think: I can’t wait to share this wonderful piece of crafting on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter. The reality: After trying several filters, various angles and a myriad of props, you realise that NOTHING is going to make this project clickworthy - #craftfail it is then.

Children love making crafts that are also fun toys for them to play with at the end. These little characters are small enough to fit in pockets, to be taken anywhere your child goes. Choose bright and colourful felts to give a fun feel and finish, pick the bedding in a contrasting colour to make the whole thing look as childfriendly as possible. If you’re making these with little ones who haven’t sewn before then you could use a fabric glue like Copydex to secure the arms, legs and ears in place before sewing, if you think pins are going to be too fiddly.

CRAFTING

WITH KIDS

You will need ❏ Scissors ❏ Felt ❏ Cotton ❏ Needle ❏ Pins ❏ Cotton wool ❏ An empty tin

www.familiesfirst.ie

Step 1

Draw a mouse template and cut out. You will need 2 x body, 2 x arm, 2 x leg in one colour and, in a contrasting colour, 2 x ears. The teddy will also need to be cut out – 2 x body, 2 x ears, all in the same colour.

Step 2

Sew the face on the mouse, then sew a stitch in the base of each ear, so that they curl inwards. Position the ears, legs, and arms in between the two body pieces and pin in place. Sew all the way around, leaving a space at the side. Push a small bit of cotton wool inside. Then sew up the space.

Step 3

Repeat for the teddy bear. Thread 3-4 strands of cotton into a needle and sew onto the back to make the mouse’s tail. Cut up rectangles of felt for the sheet and blanket. Roll a small piece of felt a few times and stitch closed for the pillow. Arrange everything in the tin and tuck your little duo up in bed!

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SUMMER 2016

Cardboard box village They do say kids like the boxes more than the presents when they’re young, and with this fun cardboard box craft we can see why.

Using just a few bits and bobs you probably already have lying around, you and your little ones can have hours of fun creating a mini kingdom of cottages. The colours are up to you, and once you’re finished the kids are sure to love deciding which of their soft toys or dolls lives in which house.

How to make an owl chair cover This super- sweet chair cover is a fun and simple sewing craft that your kids will love for years to come.

Maybe you could even trying creating a replica of your house, your child’s school or their favourite fairytale cottage from your storytimes. Whatever you decide to make, we’re sure it’ll be beautiful Age group: We think this crafty project is perfect for little hands from between seven and nine, but if you have younger ones they could help too. There’s something ‘authentic’ about slightly messier versions anyway, no?

You will need

You will need ❏ Small open boxes, in different sizes ❏ Brown, stripe and spotty wrapping papers ❏ Ruler ❏ Pencil ❏ Scissors ❏ Sticky tape ❏ White, red, green and blue plain card ❏ Glue ❏ Ric rac and ribbon ❏ Craft tape ❏ White paper ❏ Coloured pens ❏ Buttons ❏ Bows

Pop it over the back of their favourite chair for a more comfortable feel and playful finish. But be warned - if you have more than one tot - they’ll all want one! If you’ve got lots of scraps of fabric in your craft bag then this is the perfect way to use them all up. We love using clashing prints and colours for a bold look but you could ask your child to choose their favourite fabrics, or make it in tones to match their bedrooms.

Step 1

Cover the sides, bottom and top flaps of an open box with wrapping paper using glue.

Step 2

Stand the box upright, with the top flaps open. With a ruler and pencil, draw triangles on two opposite flaps and cut around. Then lay the other two flaps onto the triangles and stick with tape, creating a base to lay a roof upon.

❏ Fabric ❏ Scissors ❏ Pins ❏ Thread ❏ Sewing machine ❏ Wadding, ❏ Double sided bonding (Vilene)

Step 3

Step 1

Start by cutting out an owl shape that is 10cm wider than your chair all the way round including the ears. You will need two owl shapes in fabric, two in wadding and two in lining fabric.

Step 2

Cut out the eye and beak shapes and secure onto the front owl shape fabric with double sided bonding.

Step 3

Cut out four wing shapes and lay each pair together - right sides facing each other. Pin and sew around the outside edge leaving a gap at the top. Pad out with wadding.

Step 4

To prepare the owl cover lay a fabric owl shape -right side down then add the wadding and then the lining fabric. To ensure they stay in place pin and sew around the side and top edges. Repeat for the back piece.

Step 5

Measure, cut and fold a piece of coloured card for the roof, and stick in place. Trim with ric rac, craft tape or ribbon.

Position the wings in place over the front of one owl shape (right side facing up) so the outer edges are lined up.

Step 4

Step 6

For the windows, cut out squares of white paper and draw coloured panes with pens. Cut out a rectangular piece of card for a door. Stick to the house.

Place the back panel over the top and pin together. Carefully sew through all six layers all the way around the top and side edges catching the wings at the same time.

Step 5

Step 7

Finally decorate the house with buttons and ribbon bows before standing back to admire your handy work. www.familiesfirst.ie

It doesn’t have to be an owl, although we think this little chap is adorable. You could make a cat by forgoing the wings and beak, and adding some whiskers and a round pink nose instead. Or what about a puppy? Simply add rounded ears and a sticking-out tongue for a classic cartoon puppy look. This really is easier than it looks, we promise! See below for how to make it in just a few simple steps.

Turn through the right way and hand stitch the bottom edge closed. Place over the chair back and you’re done. Comfy kids seat. www.facebook.com/FamiliesFirstNI

Lisburn & Castlereagh City Events 2016 March - August

MARCH St. Patrick’s Day Meeting Thursday 17th Gates open 12 noon Down Royal Racecourse Lisburn www.downroyal.com

APRIL Dubshed Saturday 2nd - Sunday 3rd 12 noon - 6.00pm Balmoral Park, Lisburn www.dubshed.com Circuit of Ireland Thursday 7th, 7.00pm Market Square, Lisburn www.circuitofireland.net

MAY Mirror May Day Meeting Monday 2nd Gates open 1.00pm Down Royal Racecourse Lisburn www.downroyal.com Balmoral Show Wednesday 11th Friday 13th Wednesday & Thursday 9.30am - 8.30pm, Friday 9.30am - 8.00pm Balmoral Park, Lisburn www.balmoralshow.co.uk

Mayor’s Parade Saturday 14th Starts at 1.00pm Lisburn City Centre www.islandartscentre.com

JULY

Barclay Communications Gentleman’s Race Evening Friday 27th Gates open 4.00pm Down Royal Racecourse Lisburn www.downroyal.com All Ireland Italian Motor Event Saturday 28th 10.00am - 4.00pm Lagan Valley Island, Lisburn www.niimc.net

JUNE Lisburn Half Marathon, 10K and Fun Run 3K Wednesday 15th From 6.40pm Lisburn City Centre www.lisburnhalfmarathon.com Summer Festival of Racing Friday 17th - Saturday 18th Friday: Gates open 4.00pm Saturday: Gates open 1.00pm Down Royal Racecourse Lisburn www.downroyal.com

Magners Race Evening Friday 22nd Gates open 4.00pm Down Royal Racecourse Lisburn www.downroyal.com

AUGUST Sunflowerfest Friday 5th - Sunday 7th 12.30pm - Midnight Tubby’s Farm, Hillsborough www.sunflowerfest.co.uk City of Lisburn Pipe Band Championships Saturday 6th 12.30pm - 6.30pm Moira Demesne www.visitlisburncastlereagh.com International Metzeler Ulster Grand Prix Bike Week Monday 8th - Saturday 13th Dundrod www.ulstergrandprix.net

For more information please contact Lisburn Visitor Information Centre on Tel: 028 9266 0038 or Hillsborough Visitor Information Centre on Tel: 028 9268 9717.

www.visitlisburncastlereagh.com

/enjoylisburn

@visitlisburn

All dates are correct at time of going to press and are subject to change.

Hilden Beer Festival August Bank Holiday Weekend (TBC) Friday: 4.00pm - Midnight Saturday: 2.00pm - Midnight Sunday: 2.00pm - 11.00pm Hilden, Lisburn www.hildenbrewery.com Musgrave NI Race Day Friday 26th Gates open 3.00pm Down Royal Racecourse Lisburn www.downroyal.com Northern Ireland Speed Weekend Saturday 27th - Sunday 28th 12 noon - 5.00pm Balmoral Park, Lisburn www.speedweekendni.com Hillsborough International Oyster Festival Tuesday 30th August Sunday 4th September Hillsborough Village www.hillsboroughoysterfestival.com