Families Cheshire Issue 8 Nov/Dec 2010

Edition 08 • November/December 2010

FREE

The local magazine for families with children 0-12 years www.familiescheshire.co.uk

®

In this issue >Christmas is coming – gifts galore, great offers and magical workshops >Living with Dementia – new help for carers >Independent school entrance exams – what’s involved?

Covering: Poynton, Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Knutsford, Prestbury, Macclesfield, Congleton, Holmes Chapel, Sandbach, Northwich, Crewe, Nantwich and surrounding areas

Locally speaking Getting active with Tumble Tots

Welcome No matter how commercial Christmas has become, it’s difficult not to get caught up in the magic of twinkly lights, jingling bells, Santa and Rudolph.

Our Gift Guide predicts the top 10 toys likely to be in demand this year, showcases more traditional toys that could be treasured forever, and offers a few ideas for presents with a personal touch.

Our Family Health section features some great reads too – practical ways to help children relax, an interesting look into the use of acupuncture for children, and we learn more about DemenShare, a fantastic new support website for carers or sufferers of Dementia.

We’ve also got three great competitions for you and, as usual, our website www.familiescheshire.co.uk has a full listing of what entertainment’s on locally – so make sure you log on now.

Have a wonderful, warm and snugly festive season!

Caryl Hall

Jayne Keep

In this issue 02: Welcome 03: Locally speaking 06: Education

Next issue: January/February 2011.

Circulation: 17,500 copies of Families Cheshire are available through nurseries, schools, libraries, selected shops and other points throughout Cheshire. If you would like free copies for your organisation, please let us know.

Contact details: Families Cheshire, PO Box 581, Macclesfield, SK10 9FN Tel: 01625 801 801 www.familiescheshire.co.uk Editorial: editor@familiescheshire.co.uk Advertising/artwork: advertising@familiescheshire.co.uk Events, diary dates, out & about: events@familiescheshire.co.uk Cover photograph by: teneight, Fence House, 84 Buxton Road, Macclesfield SK10 1JS. Tel: 01625 500488 www.teneightstudios.co.uk

08: Parents’ place 10: Gift guide 14: Family health

Design: Through Creative, The Old School, Byron Street, Macclesfield SK11 7QA. Tel: 01625 500 939 www.throughcreative.com Print: Paramount Print Group, Bramhall Technology Park, Pepper Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport, SK7 5BW Tel: 0161 456 6866 www.paramount-print.co.uk

Olympic gold medallist Sally Gunnell and TV star Peppa Pig paid a special visit to a group of Tumble Tots in Knutsford as part of National Children’s Activity Week in October.

Monies were raised during the week for Tommy’s, the charity that gives babies the best chance of being born healthy.

Sally, who is an ambassador for Tumble Tots, said: “Children are never too young to get active. Right from the word go, activity should be a way of life and the inspiration must come from us, the parents.”

Jane McDowell, who is celebrating her 15th year of running Tumble Tots classes in Knutsford, Hale, Bowdon and West Didsbury, said "Peppa Pig is a favourite with our members. They simply love the antics she gets up to, particularly jumping in muddy puddles.

Our fun and exciting classes play an important part in encouraging physical activity from an early age."

For more information ring Jane on 07812 144450.

Dancing by Starlight

Mirror, mirror on the wall......

Are you looking for a dance school that ensures quality tuition along with good fun? Starlight Theatre School based in Bramhall could be what you are looking for. The school teaches Ballet, Tap and Modern to children of all ages.

Anna McBride, the principal, has over 10 years’ professional teaching experience, holds a Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) teaching qualification and is an Associate Member of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) – so parents are assured of good quality tuition and children are given the chance to take recognised qualifications.

Exams are available in ballet (with the RAD) tap and modern (with the ISTD) allowing students to work towards a performance before an external examiner.

This enables them to become more confident and focussed. Exams may be taken by all pupils at the discretion of the principal. The School currently has a 100% pass rate of which they are very proud.

For more information about Starlight Theatre School please contact Anna McBride on 0161 747 4074 or visit www.starlightschool.co.uk.

Cheshire West and Chester Council is running a competition during this year’s Snow White pantomime at the Winsford Lifestyle Centre to find the best dressed Little Princes and Princesses.

Running from Tuesday 14th – Friday 31st December 2010, two winners will be chosen from each performance to be crowned the best dressed little prince and princess!

Each winner will receive a goody bag with a chance to meet Snow White and the cast after the show, and have their photo displayed on the winners best dressed board!

Families Cheshire is part of the Families group, established in 1990 and headed by Families South West. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under license.

We take every care preparing the magazine, but the publishers and distributors can’t be held responsible for the claims of advertisers, the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequences.

2 Families Cheshire | www.familiescheshire.co.uk

WIN WIN WIN RAD Ballet, I.S.T.D. Tap and Modern Theatre classes in Bramhall for children of all ages from 2½ years Call Anna on 0161 747 4074 www.starlightschool.co.uk

For your chance to win a family ticket to see this magical pantomime at the Winsford Lifestyle Centre just go to the competition section on www.familiescheshire.co.uk Closing date for entries is Tuesday 30 November.

Inclusion in our locally speaking section is always FREE get in touch: editor@familiescheshire.co.uk

Locally speaking

Toddler Talk now on Redshift Radio A fantastic new online show is now being presented by Sharon Burrows of Hullabaloo Kids (Baby Signing, Toddler Dance and Professional Facepainting) on Redshift Radio, the Online Community Radio Station for Cheshire and beyond.

Toddler Talk is aimed at mums and dads with pre-schoolers, and is broadcast live every Wednesday 10am till 12pm and then repeated every Sunday 8am till 10am.

The show offers advice and hosts discussions on a wide variety of subjects from breastfeeding and potty training to health, wellbeing and nutrition, and is guaranteed to help you with the daily joys and challenges of being a parent.

Sharon will be joined by a whole host of professionals over the course of the live broadcasts including Surestart and Family Information Service, Hypnobirthing, Independent midwives, Breastfeeding Support, Swimming tutors, Speech Therapists and Stay At Home Dads.

If you’re interested in promoting your company or having any input into the show email sharon@hullabalookids.net or call her on 07973 479471.

Redshift Radio is based in Crewe, and offers a programme schedule carefully developed to appeal to a wide audience. Listen today on www.redshiftradio.co.uk.

Rhythm Time supports Join Jo Jingles in Cheshire to ‘Show our Spots and The Children’s Trust Let’s Raise Lots’

Rhythm Time’s recent Pyjama Party fund-raising event in support of The Children’s Trust was an enormous success – and while the total raised is still to be finalised, it looks set to at least match last year’s success of a whopping £1,572. All classes throughout Cheshire supported the event, which was sponsored by “Humphrey’s Corner”, and each child participating in the fun took home an activity book and a certificate as a memento of the occasion.

The Children’s Trust is a national charity working with children who have multiple disabilities and complex health needs. The combination of services offered by The Children’s Trust is unique and every year they help hundreds of children and young people and their families from across the UK. Frances Donkin of Rhythm Time says “It was a privilege to be involved in such an event, with everyone coming to their Rhythm Time class dressed in PJ’s and slippers, and bringing along their favourite teddy to join in the fun. Even the staff had climbed out of bed and arrived at the classes in PJ’s .... and we managed to get some parents to join in the PJ fashion too!!”.

Jo Jingles, the leading provider of pre-school music and movement classes, is a huge supporter of the BBC’s Children in Need – and has raised nearly £400,000 over the last six years.

This year’s campaign consists of ‘Sponsored Singalongs’ in all their music classes during 15th-19th November.

Class members and friends can be sponsored to perform a selection of songs in their classes, and favourite song tracks are available as downloads from their Jo’s Shop area (www.jojingles.com/shop.asp) – each track will be priced at 99p and at least 50p per purchase will be donated to the BBC Appeal.

Join in with the fun and help make this year’s fundraising activities their best yet.

For more information, call Alison on 01477 535124 www.jojingles.com/eastcheshire or Eve on 01928 739966 www.jojingles.com/midcheshire2nwales.

Jo Jingles is Here!

Music

Singing &

Movement

For Babies & Pre-school Children 3 months to 5 years Special Offers available!

For details on classes in: Bramhall, Edgeley, Wilmslow Hazel Grove, Marple, Great Moor, Cheadle, Glossop, Stalybridge & Mossley Call Laura on 0161 431 0674

Alsager, Congleton, Holmes Chapel Middlewich, Sandbach, Macclesfield & surrounding areas Call Alison on 01477 535124

Mid Cheshire, Chester, Mold & Wrexham areas Call Eve on 01928 739966

www.jojingles.com

www.familiescheshire.co.uk | Families Cheshire 3

Locally speaking Barnado’s launch Vintage store

Wilmslow’s only vintage store was recently launched by Coronation Street star Samia Smith. The new Barnardo’s-run venture is located above its existing charity shop on Grove Street, and specialises in quality items from the 1930’s to 1980’s.

The rails are already home to an impressive array of vintage dresses, gifts, accessories, shoes, homewares and more.

Barnardo’s branch manager, Nikki Bryan, a keen vintage collector, says: “We hope that the unique items we have on display will really hit the mark with true vintage followers. We’ve also created a relaxed shopping experience that will appeal to Wilmslow’s discerning shoppers.”

The shop is urgently appealing to Wilmslow residents to give up a few hours or more of their time each week to help run the new store, as well to donate quality vintage items.

And it’s all in a worthy cause... sales from the shop go towards Barnardo’s work in the North West with vulnerable and disadvantaged children and young people who face a range of issues, including poverty, neglect, being in care, child sexual exploitation and homelessness.

For more information call into the shop or contact Nikki Bryan on 01625 540 024.

NCT Nearly New Sales

East Cheshire: Saturday 6 November 2010 11am - 12.30 pm Wilmslow United Reformed Church, Chapel Lane, Wilmslow, SK9 1PR. Entrance Fee £1.

Good quality, nearly new clothes, toys, books and nursery equipment. Please do not bring pushchairs or shopping bags.

Northwich & District: Sunday 21 November 2010 2 - 3.30 p.m. (1.45pm admission for NCT members on production of a valid membership card) Winnington Park Recreation Club, Park Road, Northwich, CW8 4EB (near Weaver Vale Garden Centre).

Entrance Fee £1 per adult.

Quality used Autumn/Winter children's (0-11 years), baby clothes, toys, books, CDs, DVDs, cots, prams/pushchairs and nursery equipment.

South Cheshire: Saturday 4 December 2010 10am - 12 noon (9.30am admission for NCT members on production of a valid membership card).

New Life Church, West Road, Congleton CW12 4EU. Good value toys and stocking fillers, books, equipment, and much more! Please note: there will be no clothing at this sale.

1st place for Bexton Pre-school Nursery

Magical Christmas Fairy & Elf workshops

A fantastic team effort from children, parents and local Knutsford businesses resulted in Bexton Pre-school Nursery winning 1st place for their “Tunes & Blooms” entry at the RHS Show Tatton Park 2010.

The colourful display was designed by Claire Smith (in consultation with the children), with Fryers Nursery of Knutsford donating the compost, seed trays and seeds. The full scale grand piano was made and donated

by Talia Truscott’s grandfather, and then painted and planted up by the children with the help of Lorna Truscott. Rachel Vale co-ordinated the music sung by the children who were accompanied by 4 year old Beatrice Kani on the piano.

If you’re struggling to get everything done in time for Christmas then here’s a company that will help make your wish for a little more time come true!

Yorkshire’s favourite children’s entertainment company will be running a weekend workshop for children in Cheshire in the run up to Christmas – allowing you a few child free hours at the weekend to grab any last minute presents or to attack your wrapping! Children are invited to join a team of Christmas Fairies and Elves (all on the voluntary OFSTED register) from Make a Wish Entertainment as they prepare for Christmas at this creative workshop from 10am - 3pm on Saturday 11th December at The Ryleys School, Alderley Edge. They’ll meet some of Santa’s real helpers, get a chance to create some extra special treats for the very important Santa and Rudolf and enjoy some festive food, drinks and snacks.

Make a Wish Entertainment also run magical Christmas parties hosted by your choice of Christmas character including Santa himself. For more information and to book a place on their workshop please call 01924 281365 or visit their website www.makeawishentertainment.co.uk.

For full details of great upcoming local events and shows, just click on the What’s On section on www.familiescheshire.co.uk.

Download a pdf to print out and keep handy, or simply scroll through the listing online.

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4 Families Cheshire | www.familiescheshire.co.uk

Locally speaking Looking forward to summer family fun With the Nantwich Family Fun Day 2010 event in July attracting over 15,000 people from the local community and surrounding areas, the Family Fun Day Association is now gearing up for next year’s event on Saturday 9 July 2011 – which will be its seventh anniversary.

They are now welcoming applications for trade stalls, caterers and exhibitors. If you’d like to play a part in organising the next Family Fun Day, contact Simone Cafferty on 07769742090 or vscafferty@yahoo.co.uk for more information.

Mother’s Instinct everything you could want for baby, toddler and mother under one roof Families Cheshire is proud to be sponsoring Mother’s Instinct – a unique shopping experience to be held at The Waterside Hotel in Didsbury (M20 5WZ) on Sunday 28 November from 12 noon – 5pm.

Entry is free and open to everyone – there will be retail stalls from the area’s leading businesses with fantastic offers, competitions and promotional discounts on the day, plenty of entertainment for the kids and a centre piece catwalk activity centre showcasing several live demonstrations.

And of course we’ll be there too – come along and say hello!

Professional party entertainment Look no further than Creative Kids Parties to take the stress out of the party day with games (modern and traditional), face painting, balloon modelling, mini disco’s and more. Their CRB checked, friendly staff are carefully trained to entertain children up to age 12, and parties are rounded off with the children receiving prizes, balloons and sweets as they leave.

They also run parties for many other occasions such as weddings, christenings,

village fêtes and office parties. They’ve worked in the business to business sector, entertained in supermarket chains, at footballers and celebrities parties, as well as for Stockport Council, and recently did face painting and balloon modelling at the X factor auditions in Manchester.

To find out more about what they have to offer, call Sam on 0161 439 9767 or email sam.stott@creativekidsparties.co.uk.

Then sit back, relax and let them do all the work!

www.familiescheshire.co.uk | Families Cheshire 5

Education Helping your child pass independent school entrance exams By Alison Warburton, 121 Home Tutors In the UK there are around 2200 independent schools. If you want your child to be educated in an independent school then you need to consider the tests your child will have to take to get a place. These tests usually happen after Christmas (state grammar schools test in the autumn) with each independent school setting its own tests. It’s a good idea to understand the selection process, what the tests involve and use past papers for practice if the school offer them.

Tests usually involve these elements: English – often a comprehension test and an essay question assessing written fluency, spelling and punctuation skills.

Maths – testing the skills and topics covered in the upper years of primary or prep school.

Verbal reasoning – logic and problem solving puzzles testing the ability to rapidly understand and think constructively.

Non-verbal reasoning – logic problems based on shapes, sequences or patterns.

In addition there is often an assessment day when your child visits the school for a day and is monitored to see how they cope.

You may be asked for a portfolio of work from your child’s primary school and they may have an interview.

What can I do to help my child?

Once you know the structure of the tests, develop a preparation strategy. You can’t rely on your child’s current school to do this, especially if your child is at a state primary.

Address problem areas – you know your child and their strengths and weaknesses.

Work out where potential problems might come up in the tests and find ways to address them. The Bond Assessment Papers are a great resource for English, Maths, Verbal and Non-Verbal Reasoning.

They also have a great range of ‘how to’ and comprehension books.

Work on vocabulary – it will help with more than English tests; good wordpower helps your child make sense of verbal reasoning questions quickly. This ensures they accurately understand the problem and save time during tests. Encourage reading and using a dictionary to find words they don’t know.

Get the basics right – spelling and punctuation matter even if there isn’t an English test. If your child is a borderline case the school may consider the quality of their writing. Revise punctuation with your child and list problem words to learn.

Mental arithmetic skills are vital, adding up the cost of the shopping is a good way to get their brain working!

Grow thinking skills - build your child’s confidence and develop their logical thinking skills (while keeping them occupied) by doing puzzles, word games and logic problems such as crosswords or Suduko.

The final thing you can consider is finding a specialised tutor to work one on one with your child to ensure they have the best possible chance of getting into independent school. Look for a tutoring company who have tutors experienced in coaching children for independent school entrance examinations.

If you’d like more information on tutors and helping your child with entrance tests then go to www.121hometutors.co.uk.

Our enterprising Recycle at children school

Pic: Bonneville Primary School, Clapham

A new business has been launched to enable primary school children to set up and run a healthy tuck shop in their own school. Fruit to Suit, the healthier tuck shop company, has come up with the imaginative concept of a one-day Business and Enterprise Programme designed to train a young Tuck Shop Team to set up and run a healthier tuck shop. The training is divided into a series of workshops and fun activities: the Tuck Shop Challenge where the children set up their own company that will run the healthy tuck shop in their school, and Tuck Shop Manager Training, a half-day session for the children who will actually run the shop.

The children are then taken through all the practicalities of running a tuck shop, from advertising to ordering stock, gaining invaluable business and enterprise skills. The benefits of a healthier tuck shop are innumerable – encouraging children to eat more fruit and vegetables and giving them the opportunity to try a wider variety of food, while being proactive in the prevention of excess weight and obesity. A fantastic, innovative idea.

To find out more about how this can be run in your school email info@fruittosuit.co.uk. www.fruittosuit.co.uk.

ABBEY GATE COLLEGE Where our Children come first

Looking to the future in more ways than one We provide:

Key dates for entry September 2011

• • • • • • • •

Year 6 Taster Days:

Excellence in Pastoral Care Wide range of extra-curricular activities Outstanding Music Department Strong academic results New Sixth Form Centre New facilities in Art, Science, Design and Technology First rate Junior & Infant Department at Aldford Idyllic village locations & stunning grounds

Tuesday 9th November 2010 and Thursday 18th November 2010

Sixth Form Information Evening: Thursday 18th November 2010 7pm to 8.30pm

11+ and 13+ Entrance Examination: Monday 24th January 2011

Reception Assessments: Tuesday 25th January 2011 and Wednesday 26th January 2011

For further details please contact Admissions 01244 332077 or email su.boyd@abbeygatecollege.co.uk for a prospectus.

6 Families Cheshire | www.familiescheshire.co.uk

Saighton Grange, Chester CH3 6EN www.abbeygatecollege.co.uk

A new recycling scheme aims to raise £5m for schools through collecting old mobile phones and empty printer cartridges. 750 schools have already signed up to Support Your School, a “cash for trash” scheme where schools receive £1 for every empty ink cartridge and £3 for unwanted mobile phones.

Not only is this a great way to introduce pupils to the issues involved with recycling but it also raises much needed additional income for the schools involved. Launched by Britain’s best known vocal coaches, Carrie and David Grant from Fame Academy, the fundraising scheme will raise millions for schools as well as reducing by 10% the number of inkjet cartridges going to landfill. Support Your School is free to participate in and encourages schoolteachers, pupils, parents and the community to get involved in recycling and reducing individual schools’ carbon footprint.

According to recent figures from DEFRA, more than 35 million cartridges are disposed of in the UK each year and over 70% of these go straight into landfill where they take over 1000 years to decompose. “Support Your School is a great new scheme to teach children about the importance of recycling and how to achieve a more sustainable approach to the use of ink cartridges and mobiles,” say Carrie and David. Go to www.supportyourschool.co.uk.

New books for dyslexic children My Dog Nick and Will The Wizard are the first two in a series of innovative books specially designed for dyslexic children, published

by Dancing Kites Creative Learning (www.dancingkites.co.uk). The books feature a carefully selected combination of illustrated poetry, puzzles and activities, combining words, illustrations and rhymes in a fun way to encourage and inspire dyslexic children to read and write. The illustrations give clear visual clues to the related words, so that children remember what they’ve read, while the activities reinforce learning.

Dancing Kites is the brainchild of mum Corinna Shepherd. As Corinna says, ‘I realised that while many books exist relating to the problem of dyslexia, very few have been written that are doing anything to address the actual problem, particularly for young children.’ Another book in the series will be coming soon. As the books are based on spelling ages rather than reading, dyslexia and other learning difficulties may be detected earlier.

Education A break through in teaching and learning?

The quality of teaching is the number one priority for parents when it comes to their child’s education but they have to put their trust in the experts. And while many teachers too seek to achieve the best for their pupils, tried and trusted methods can sometimes be favoured over new approaches, which can be risky.

However, new initiatives can also be rich and rewarding – as teachers at The King’s School in Macclesfield have demonstrated.

Three years ago a brand new approach to creative writing was introduced, based upon the exciting philosophy initiated by the educational consultant Pie Corbett, and the subsequent results at Key Stages 1 and 2 have been incredible. “At Key Stage 1, this result is most remarkable because our infants are not selected for entry by ability”, explained Caroline Hulme McKibbon, Principal of King’s Juniors, “the results completely buck the national trend.” Nationally, level 2B is the expected norm for a 7 year old and just 12% of children attain level 3. In stark contrast, 62% of youngsters at King’s attained a level 3.

The Infant creative writing scheme is based upon the idea that story telling is the key to good story writing. Firstly, the children

are fully immersed in the imaginative/creative world so that they can tell a story orally before they are expected to write one.

Creative writing activities build over a 3 week period and start with either sharing quality picture books with the children or with retelling the story orally in a set pattern. The children are exposed to the same story each day for a short time and throughout the week they gradually become able to fill in parts of the story for themselves. Then a multisensory approach is used to make the story more memorable. The teacher and the class create a pictorial map (of the story) and gradually add actions to promote kinaesthetic learning. By the end of the week most children are able to retell the whole story, with actions whilst using the visual clues from the map.

Next the children are immersed in Drama sessions and cross-curricular activities that bring the story to life, sometimes building shoebox theatres to help them act the stories out. Once the story is embedded, the children are asked to write it and every child feels a huge sense of achievement because they can confidently record a whole story.

The children reach the invention stage when key characters, events and themes from the known story are changed in order to create their own unique story. All children have a clear and embedded story pattern in their head which enables them to feel confident about writing something new.

This system enables the children to build up a bank of stories in their memory which they change and adapt to create new ones.

The system also embeds a whole range of vocabulary, grammar and punctuation which gets progressively harder as they work their way through the school.

STOCKPORT FOUNDED IN 1487

GRAMMAR SCHOOL

An independent school for girls and boys from 3 to 18 years Bursaries available at 11+ and 16+

Lighting the spark in every child OPEN EVENTS Nursery and Junior School Saturday 20th November 2010 9.30-11.30am Saturday 7th May 2011 9.30-11.30am Senior School Saturday 20th November 2010 9.30-11.30am Entrance Exam Tuesday 18th January 2011

Extensive school bus routes including NEW Altrincham route from Sept 2011

Sixth Form Evening Monday 8th November 2010 7.00-9.00pm

Regular school day visits available throughout the year

Call 0161 456 9000 to arrange a visit or request a prospectus

www.stockportgrammar.co.uk

Advertise in Families Cheshire Call Jayne on: 01625 801801 or email advertising@familiescheshire.co.uk

www.familiescheshire.co.uk | Families Cheshire 7

Parents’ place Mums in business

Eleanor Lestrange, Peach Photography

Parent2parent

ice

Fami

ormation S In f er v

ly

Tell us a bit about yourself. I’m a very fortunate 38 year old mum of two (Leo 3 & May 1) with a rapidly growing business.

I have a whirlwind of a life and I love it.

What is your business? Peach Photography. We offer a high quality super slick alternative photography service to the nursery sector. We are all about setting a new standard in Nursery photography. There is no need to accept poor quality photography just because you are buying it from nursery or school.

How did you get started? In 2008 I restructured my photography business to fit in with my growing family. Based on the top floor of our home we worked day and night to launch ourselves into the nursery sector. Having enjoyed 2 years of rapid growth we have moved into a stunning new studio and have a fabulous team of 6 of whom I am very proud.

0800 408 2013

Do you need information, advice or guidance for your family but don’t know who to ask?

Then call Cheshire East’s Family Information Service on 0800 408 2013.

Cheshire’s Family Information Service can help you or your family if you: Are looking for childcare Want to know more about your childcare options Would like advice on how to access Tax Credits, Childcare Vouchers or Nursery Education Grant Need support for children with additional needs and/or a disability Want information about parenting support Want to know more about Need help or advice with a family matter ……..and much more guidance service for families with children and young people 0 - 19 years of age.

0800 408 2013

8 Families Cheshire | www.familiescheshire.co.uk

Laura Middlebrook lives in Hartford with her husband and two children, Hannah 6 and Rachel 4.

Favourite shop: John Lewis Favourite park: Tatton Park Favourite day out: Normally centred around animals – Chester Zoo, Wheelock Hall Farm and Reaseheath College.

Favourite child friendly restaurant: Pizza Express and the Olive Press Proudest eco friendly moment: When we went to Green Wood Theme Park, where you generate all the energy for the rides.

Best planet saving tip: Save packaging for craft projects.

No parent should be without: Baby wipes, snacks, a camera and a sense of humour!

Parenting pet hates: when child friendly means poor quality.

Most embarrassing moment: Sitting in small quiet café with my friend and our

What does the future hold for the business? Growth and lots of it. We currently cover Cheshire and South Manchester. Our aim is to offer our superb service to the surrounding counties and beyond because everyone deserves Peach.

What is the best bit about what you do? Receiving phone calls and emails from parents who have been simply bowled over by their gallery of pictures. I always say "when children are having fun it really shines through!"

Any bad bits? VAT returns.

How do you fit work around family life? I have a secret switch in my head which I flick at 8.30 in the morning and I never work or answer my phone between 5.30 and 8.00 in the evening. This is sacred family time.

What advice would you give to other mums looking to work for themselves? Suspend the fear, even for a little while. Put your doubts in a small box and put them away in a cupboard. We all have doubts but learning how to put them aside will allow you to move forward.

For more information go to www.peachphotography.co.uk or call 01477 500585.

new babies. She decided to start singing very loudly ‘Who’s my beautiful baby’. It was a mixture of embarrassment and hilarity.

Favourite family holiday spot: Our favourite holiday as a family was a villa in Majorca – beach and pool, perfect.

Best children's book: For toddlers – Apple Tree Farm.

For older readers – Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.

Best children's DVD: For toddlers – Bertha.

For 3+years – Horton hears a Who! Most played with toys: Train sets, toy farm animals and buildings, bikes and books.

Biggest waste of money: We’ve been lucky and I don’t feel that we ‘fell’ for anything we didn’t need.

Most successful recipe/food: A roast dinner, a home-made pie and anything the children have been involved with making.

Why you like living where you do: I enjoy living in Hartford because I enjoy being part of village life, the rural location and it’s convenient for further travel.

Anything else to share: Don’t try and use anyone else’s parenting style, your way is the best for you and your children.

Enjoy your time with the children rather than worrying about completing housework – you will never get this day back.

Parents’ place Put the phone down while you talk to your kids!

By David Shaw

One of the worst aspects of modern life is that as parents, we do not always put down our phones, Blackberries and iPads when we talk to our children. This teaches them something. First, that we care more about our phones than we do about them and second, that it is OK to be on a screen all the time.

At least, that's what Richard Watson, author of a new book, Future Minds claims. “All this technology means that we are getting better at thinking faster. We can make very quick decisions and we are getting increasingly adept at finding relevant information to support those decisions. This and other aspects of the digital age are all good.”

However, his main argument is that we need more time to develop deep thinking. We need downtime for our natural creativity to emerge and we need to switch the phones off, to re-build family life.

Take time to think and reflect “The bad stuff,” he says, “is that I think we

Families turns 20!

Today Families Cheshire is part of a thriving group of franchised magazines across the UK, but twenty years ago it was a much smaller operation. The first issue in October 1990 was a cut and paste affair in black and white—meaning scissors and glue, not copy and paste!!

are losing the bigger picture; the ability to concentrate; to focus, to reflect and to do what I call deep thinking, which I think is the heart of scientific and artistic creativity.”

One aspect of this, he says, is that we have moved in the space of a generation away from it being commonplace for a child to leave the house, play in the park, climb a few trees and fall into the local pond and not return until dusk. Instead, most parents now do not let their children out of sight.

Whether that is caused by fear of stranger danger, or concern about traffic levels, the result is that children are being kept indoors, where the parents think it is safer.

Another, and no less damaging aspect of the Facebook generation, says Richard, is that the consequences of making a mistake can be far-reaching. When everyone is connected and every child carries a camera in their hand, a stupid playground mistake might be uploaded to YouTube that evening, and by the next morning every classmate has seen it and commented on it and ridiculed the poor victim.

They are all connected all of the time The thing, says Richard, “that marks out the sub-20 generation from everyone

else is that they are connected. All their friends are connected and that network circulates information which competes with the information they hear from parents and teachers.”

“My absolute critical point”, he adds, “is the fact that we have created this stuff which is fabulous on one level, but it has the potential to destroy the things which we value the most – and that is human relationships and our sense of self.”

Advice from the author • When you come home, switch off your mobile and spend time with your family.

• If you are collecting your child from school, switch the phone off.

• When you go on holiday, don't take the office with you.

• Remove screens from children on car journeys and let them stare out the window instead.

• Limit screen time for children.

• If you have something to say, make time to say it face to face, not by text or email.

• Remove TV sets, games, consoles and computers from childrens' bedrooms • Serendipity is good.

The very first edition, Families® South West, had a mere 4,000 print run, and colour wasn’t to be seen until Oct 2000. How things have changed. Even when the experts said that “it would never work in publishing,” Families started franchising the magazine in 1995. There are now 30 editions of Families in the UK and well over 500,000 copies are printed across the group.

But throughout it all, Families has remained true to the original thinking, a hands-on

magazine for busy mums with useful information, centred around the local community.

Going on-line and interactive When the World Wide Web beckoned in the late 1990s, we were there. Families has had a web presence since 1997; our own site was launched in 2000 and last December saw a massive re-launch of the website.

It’s a powerful resource that currently reaches into nearly all areas of the UK. Local editors look after their own local section

The Terrible Twos A Parents GuideGuide

By Shanta Everington

I read this book as a parent with a child who has just turned two. After hearing lots about 'the terrible twos' stage from others, I thought a head start on what might happen to my little angel might help!!

As a busy working mum, I found the book itself a very quick and easy to read guide to understanding my child's emotions and behaviours at this time. I thought the case studies, interesting facts and quotes from different mums on each page a nice touch.

It covers everything from potty training tips to ways in which children play. Definitely worth a read!

Need-2-Know Books www.need2knowbooks.co.uk Reviewed by Sarah Foote filled with local articles, listings, discussion forums and free small ads. Register as a user and find at the bottom of your chosen articles a list of relevant companies local to you. No more searching, the info comes to you. This is simply unique. It’s almost like having a really knowledgeable friend at virtually every school/nursery gate in the country.

Go to www.familiescheshire.co.uk today for Forums, local Directories, listings, What’s On and loads of great competitions.

www.familiescheshire.co.uk | Families Cheshire 9

Gift guide Wrapping up the year

by Holly Wadsworth‐Hill

The nights are drawing in, there’s a magical feel to the chill in the air and there’s more than one kind of wrapping‐up on everyone’s mind. It can only mean one thing... Christmas is on its way! Whether that fills you with joyful ho, ho, ho’s or Scrooge‐like groans, here’s a guide from Hamleys, the world’s most famous toy store, to help you make this year’s gift choices a little easier...

It’s the thought that counts...

Recent economic difficulties have triggered a new dawn of consumerism, and many of us are now concentrating on quality purchases that will stand the test of time.

Nostalgia has unveiled tradition as the new vogue and whilst the latest crazes and popular characters certainly have their place, children are arguably more demanding and harder to please than ever before. There’s a reason why some of the old favourites are resurfacing and proving their worth to a new generation of inquisitive minds. Children like to be entertained but they thrive on interaction; they will happily watch but they learn quicker from doing; they benefit from competition but they enjoy team work.

Classic toys are all this and much more – and they really do have timeless appeal.

With that in mind this year, why not settle on something they will love this Christmas but will treasure for many more to come...

Baby’s first Christmas

T is for trouble and toddlers!

For him

New additions to the family may be oblivious to the seasonal chaos but you’ll remember their first Christmas forever and will be keen to make it extra special. Nothing says ‘I love you’ quite like a keepsake or something they can cherish as they grow.

Busy little hands are into all things naughty as well as nice, so classic toys should be at the top of the list. The educational benefits and development of imagination and play skills from these toys are extensive but cleverly masked behind the colour, fun and excitement that toddlers crave.

Boys of all ages need to be kept busy and love toys and games that they can really get stuck into. If he can burn off some energy, create mess and make some noise, he’ll be in his element!

My First Dolly £19 My First Dolly will be loved by all. She is so squeezably soft that little arms will adore snuggling up to her. Dressed beautifully, she has wild hair that little hands will love to touch and tug!

Alphabet Blocks £17 Painted with bright colours, clear letters and imaginative illustrations, these wooden blocks can help little children when learning letters, colours and much more besides.

10 Families Cheshire | www.familiescheshire.co.uk

Teaching Clock £14 Hamleys’ colourful Fun to Learn Teaching Clock (made from FSC wood) helps teach time, number and letter recognition, as well as developing motor and problem solving skills through play.

Wooden London Bus £32.50 The wheels on the bus go round and round!

The top of this traditional big red bus (made from FSC wood) opens to reveal 24 little wooden passengers and one cheerful driver.

Great for developing hand to eye co‐ordination.

Jet Plane Set £55 The Playmobil Jet Plane Set is great for developing thinking processes and encouraging creative play. This exciting Playmobil play set is a hit with boys and girls alike.

Wooden Garage £65 This brightly coloured garage has three levels, multi‐storey graphics and realistic features throughout. There are loads of games and adventures to be had with this traditional role‐play Garage.

Gift guide For her

Top 10 Toys for Christmas 2010!

Sugar and spice and all things nice, most of the time anyway! Creativity is a girl’s best friend; indulge her imagination with everything from dressing up costumes, role play sets and arts and crafts.

Hamleys know a thing or two about toys, so if you want guaranteed smiles or favourite aunt/uncle status, you can’t go wrong tracking down something from this year’s most‐wanted list. Be warned though, these toys are set to fly from the shelves quicker than Santa’s sleigh, so don’t miss out!

Checklist Assuming you’ve got the obvious like the turkey and tree under control, here’s a checklist to cover the trimmings!

Kung Zhu Hamsters

Dolly Tea Set £10 Time for tea anyone? This enchanting Hamleys tea set comes in a cute carry case, so it's perfect for taking to friends’ houses and keeps everything safe and tidy when little ones aren't busy entertaining.

Toy Story 3 Buzz Lightyear Action Figure

Beyblade Metal Fusion Super Vortex Battle Set

Dr Who Sonic Screwdriver VTech Storio Animated Phonics Book

Barbie Video Girl Ben 10 Ultimate Alien Disc Ultimatrix

My Little Ballerina Doll £12 My Little Ballerina Doll is so pretty, soft and cuddly, she’s perfect for hugs! From the Sweet Peas collection, this doll is great for encouraging imagination and nurturing role‐play skills.

Monopoly Revolutions Board Game

It’s all about quality time...

Sellotape – Yes, you probably did already buy some but no, it won’t be where you left it and it’s not likely to be enough.

Batteries of all shapes and sizes – No one wants a room full of redundant, lifeless toys on Christmas morning.

Carrot, mince pie and a tipple for Santa and his merry team of reindeer – They’ll need it after months of preparation and expense.

Breakfast – Toast doesn’t cut it on Christmas morning; stock up on their favourites and don’t forget some strong coffee beans for the bleary eyed adults.

Pen and paper to hand – Father Christmas may be the hero of the hour but don’t forget to note down family and friends who’ve also treated the little ones in preparation for the writing of...

Thank-you notes – Try making your own from discarded wrapping paper – a great way to wind them down after all that excitement!

Post-party clean up ammunition – Your house will probably be broken within 10 minutes of children waking up on Christmas morning. Put it back together again for guests with a hefty supply of recycling bags etc.

‘Tis the season to spend with your loved ones; keep things merry with fun and games for the whole family.

VTech Kidizoom Video Camera

Armouron Action Set

WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN To celebrate 250 years of The Finest Toys in the World, Hamleys have teamed up with Families Magazine to give you the chance to win £250 of Hamleys vouchers.

Hamleys Games Chest £60 Enjoy a gaming adventure with this classic wooden gaming chest. Open the sliding drawers to reveal a smorgasbord of fun with 10 of the world's greatest games!

Includes chess, mancala, backgammon, solitaire, tic‐tac‐toe and lots more to keep both the very young and the most experienced young‐at‐heart entertained!

To enter simply go to the competitions section at www.familiescheshire.co.uk. Closing date for the competition is Wednesday 8th December – full Terms and Conditions can be found online.

Vouchers can be used online at www.hamleys.com or in any one of their UK stores.

100% cotton, embroidered playhouses & matching accesssories

For a 10% DISCOUNT* quote ref

KWPROM03 *on selected lines

www.familiescheshire.co.uk | Families Cheshire 11

Gift guide A tasty Christmas treat Memories are made at Tiny-Prints

Want an extra delicious treat this Christmas, or need a gift for a special teacher or someone who has everything? Cakes and cookies are the way to go! Introducing the Alice Rose fabulous new Christmas cupcake range The 12 Days of Christmas! This box of 12 delicious cupcakes costs just £30. Their miniature Christmas cakes come in a range of designs like this jolly Santa, and are beautifully presented in a gift box and bag - all yours for just £8.50. They’ve also got Christmas cookies, which make perfect stocking fillers or presents for school friends.

For more Christmas treats, visit www.alice-rose.co.uk, contact cakes@alice-rose.co.uk or call 07841 632736.

Snug as a bug in a rug

After outgrowing their previous premises at Stapeley Water Gardens, Tiny-Prints have relocated to Macclesfield and are now based at The Keepsake Shop, Thornton Square. So, if you’re looking for that special Christmas gift that you won’t find on the High Street, why not pop in to see them at The Keepsake Shop, conveniently located out of town with ample free parking.

Create your very own unique Christmas gift from a child’s hand or foot print with their exclusive range of 3-D casts, prints on crystal, clay imprints and fingerprint jewellery. They have products to suit all budgets with prices starting at just £35 for a framed clay imprint! They also stock a unique range of handcrafted personalised gifts including money boxes, canvases, clocks, door plaques and keepsakes.

For more information visit their websites at either www.tiny-prints.co.uk or www.thekeepsakeshop.co.uk, or call them on 01625 421697.

Unique-Kids is just the place to look for a fab and funky fleece to keep the kids warm over the winter. We tried out some of the products on our Families Cheshire kids and could not believe just how soft the fleece is and how well it wears and washes. Included in the range are hoodies, ponchos and hats, as well as beach dresses for the slightly warmer months. There are many colourful design options and you can also add a name to personalise an item if you like.

If you’d like to see some samples before you buy so you can feel for yourself just how super soft and cosy these items are, there are some available for you to see at Little Big Heads in Wilmslow, Fruitcake Cafe in Alderley Edge and Caffe Latte in Handforth.

For more information www.unique-kidscheshire.co.uk or call Sue Polley on 01625 522160.

A Peach of an offer!

The gift of a good book...

Peach Photography are offering a Special Christmas Voucher this year which includes a 1 hour family portrait session (at their Somerford studio) and two 9x6” mounted prints of your choice. What a perfect solution to the inevitable “what do we get for Grandma this year?” question.

It’s offered at a special price of £39.99 with the only stipulation being that you use it in the first 6 months of 2011. Give them a call today on 01477 500585. www.peachphotography.co.uk

Slightly Invisible

By Lauren Child Published by Orchard Books RRP £10.99 Hardback ISBN 978-1-40830-790-8 Charlie and his friend Marv are in search of strange and tricky creatures which they would like to do without Lola bothering and interrupting them at every opportunity. Luckily, Lola knows exactly how to catch strange and tricky creatures and enlists a bit of help from her invisible friend, Soren Lorensen, along

12 Families Cheshire | www.familiescheshire.co.uk

Christmas present parties with the Playful Potter If you’re looking for affordable and original ideas for Christmas presents, then how about hosting a Baby Hand and Footprint party for a group of mums? With a wide selection of items, including ceramic Christmas baubles, plates and mugs to choose from, you can turn your child’s hand or footprint into a unique keepsake that will be treasured forever. Older children could paint a special teapot for Grandma.

Messages can be added for you, and the completed glazed and fired pieces are returned to you within 10 days. You’ll love the results! And it’s a perfect activity for children and adults of all ages and abilities.

It’s not only a fun way to spend a couple of hours but the party hostess also gets a significant discount off her order. For more information and to check availability please contact Cathy on 07908 113098, or email cathyplayfulpotter@hotmail.co.uk. Or visit the website www.playfulpotter.co.uk. with a few glasses of her favourite pink milk.

This is Lauren Child at her best. An amusing story teamed together with her fantastic quirky pictures of Charlie and his little sister on one of their frequent adventures. My children loved being just able to see the invisible Soren Lorensen and it really got their imaginations going – they are now requesting a whole host of things for their invisible friends.

The much-anticipated return of the hugely loved brother and sister team will bring a great number of smiles to a multitude of children this Christmas.

Reviewed by Emilie Amos

Gift guide Treacle Pie – there’s nothing sweeter

Inspiring gifts ideas with a difference

Have a look at www.treaclepie.co.uk – a new online, family-run business offering contemporary designs & something special for little ones – from newborns to 3 year olds.

You’ll find beautiful Christmas themed sleep suits, bibs, pyjama’s and scarves, as well as rattles, booties, cuddly toys, blankets and more. There’s a variety of brands to suit all tastes – look out for Stardust, Olive & Moss, United Odd Socks, Lipfish, Green Eyed Monster and Brights and Stripes.

Make friends with Michael Monkey, Collette the Cow, Otto the Owl, Maximillian the Christmas Moose and bring back memories with some old favourites like Bambi, The Moomins, Batman, Wonder Woman, Spiderman and the traditional Christmas favourite, Raymond Briggs’ The Snowman.

Call 07794 213319 or email info@treaclepie.co.uk for more information.

Virgin Experience Days offers you more than 600 ideas to ignite passions, explore new hobbies, or take time out with indulgent treats. And NEW this year is their gift card, available to load with any value from £10 to £500, which can be redeemed online, taking advantage of all the current two for one deals and special offers.

For the child who has everything or the hard-to-buy-for teen, there’s a growing choice of junior experiences including Cowboy Adventures, Fairy School, Spy Days, Soccer Schools, Teenage Cookery course, Stadium Tours and a full throttle choice of track days including Lamborghini, Porsche, Ferrari, Rally and Quad Bike experiences.

For adults there’s the new Stand Up Comedian experience; plenty of opportunities to explore your hidden talents or to get your adrenaline pumping, as well as more mellow moments and experiences for animal lovers.

Creating a world of make believe Beautifully designed, individually appliquéd and embroidered Kiddiewinkles play houses create a world of make believe. Rose Cottage play house is 100% cotton and is adorned with the most delicate design detail; butterflies, roses, flowerpots and a little picket fence. Turn it around and it becomes a village ‘Tea Shop’, ready to serve cupcakes and afternoon teas! Matching accessories also available. Explore more at www.kiddiewinkles.co.uk, and email info@kiddiewinkles.co.uk or call 01625 449030 to place an order.

All Families Cheshire readers are offered a 10% discount on selected items. Please quote KWPROM03 when placing your order.

Exclusive Families Cheshire Offer Families Cheshire readers are eligible for a 20% discount on all purchases. Visit www.virginexperiencedays.co.uk/ families or call 0844 504 0844 for more information. This offer is valid until 31 December 2010.

WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN WIN For your chance to win a Virgin Experience Days Gift Card worth £200, just go to the competition section on www.familiescheshire.co.uk. Closing date for entries is Tuesday 30 November.

...nothing sweeter

Adorable Branded fashion, accessories and gifts newborn for babies, newborn to 3 years!

Gorgeous Christmas gifts for your special little ones available online now!

www.treaclepie.co.uk

www.familiescheshire.co.uk | Families Cheshire 13

Family health Introducing relaxation to children Children are being brought up in a world of noise and busyness. Busy parents, school pressures, additional after school activities, computer games and fast moving TV can all add to their stress levels. School tests, falling out with friends, arguments between parents, feeling overwhelmed by homework and being bullied or teased can add to the stress as they learn how to deal with the outside world.

These stresses can cause a range of physical disorders such as sleeping problems, irritability; stomach aches, bed wetting, headaches and muscular pains as well as mental and emotional problems such as depression, anxiety, nervousness, anger and temper tantrums.

Relaxation is vital for children's health and well being. Just a few minutes a day can help young children feel calm and focussed and ready to face their day.

Relaxation can help children sleep as it decreases muscle tension, slows the rate of breathing and reduces blood pressure. It can also help children's concentration and listening skills as they feel quiet and able to listen and assimilate information, so giving them better problem-solving abilities.

Creativity and imagination is also improved as children are encouraged to take their minds away from their current situations and take themselves on imaginary journeys in their minds. Children develop self-esteem and a feeling of self worth as they start to see their strengths and qualities in the quiet.

Here are the most common types of relaxation techniques.

Breathing Exercises: Children can lie on their back and put their hands on their stomachs. As they breathe in, their tummy will rise and as they breathe out, it will fall.

Children concentrate on breathing in and out slowly as they focus on the rise and fall of their tummy. This can help children let go and feel calm and quiet.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Children can lie on their backs on in a comfortable chair. Starting at the feet, they squeeze and relax each limb. As they move up through the body slowly, they will feel calm and relaxed.

Visualisation: Children close their eyes and imagine they are floating on a cloud or

Yogababy! – Yoga is for Everyone!

small group classes improve your special child’s motor coordination, strength, concentration and understanding.

Children with pain or spasms find yoga helps them relax and enjoy their bodies.

Children with little movement find new sensations and independence. Yoga brings a new sense of physical and emotional well being and can be practised at home to benefit the whole family.

Kids’ yoga classes will help your kids

Everyone wants to be happy and strong and, to really have success and fun in this world, you need to be healthy.

The ancient science of yoga is proven to bring benefits to the mind, body and spirit of anyone who practices regularly. And yoga is for everyone regardless of their age or ability.

In Baby Yoga classes Mums and babies get bendy together. Renew your energy and tone your abdominal muscles, soothe your baby’s crying, colic and poor sleep, enhance your baby’s development, strengthen the bond between you and feel more relaxed together. All this from just one class!

Special yoga is for the really special people! Regular one to one therapy or

lying on a boat and floating down the river.

They might imagine that they are lying in warm sunshine and feeling the warmth in their body or imagine that they are sinking gently into soft sand.

Affirmations: Children can repeat the words "I am calm and quiet, I am calm and quiet' and slowly as they repeat, they feel more calm and quiet and relaxed.

Marneta Viegas is founder of Relax Kids and has written 2 books of children's visualisations and produced a range of children's relaxation CDs for concentration, anger management, anxiety and worry, self-esteem and bedtime. For more information visit www.relaxkids.com.

get healthy and stay that way. Yoga will make them stretchy and strong, helping them with other sports like football or dance.

They’ll love showing you the weird and wonderful new things they can do with their bodies and you’ll love seeing their balance, posture and concentration improve!

Yoga is for you! Check out www.yogababycheshire.co.uk or call Jo on 01606 852757 for information and class details.

Acupuncture - an alternative approach to children's health Traditional acupuncture, with its roots in Chinese medicine, has been used to restore, nourish and maintain good health by billions of people for thousands of years. Treatment involves insertion of ultra fine, single-use, sterile and disposable needles into a system of acupuncture points just under the skin. Many people are gaining confidence in acupuncture as the leading alternative medicine of choice, yet are often unaware of the many uses it has for children and also in pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal care.

Some parents may think acupuncture is not suitable for treating their children despite the enormous benefits it can achieve. However, paediatric acupuncture is growing in popularity within the western hemisphere as it is a gentle, safe and effective treatment for babies, children and teenagers for a wide range of conditions. When treating babies and young children, the needles used are even finer than those used on adults; they are not retained but inserted and removed immediately. In some cases it is not appropriate to use needles therefore other treatment methods can be used.

Some of these techniques can even be taught to parents to use on children safely at home in between treatments.

14 Families Cheshire | www.familiescheshire.co.uk

Common complaints affecting babies such as colic, teething pains and night terrors, can be quickly and easily addressed by acupuncture. As children grow, it is natural and healthy for them to learn to fight illness. The challenges of common childhood complaints can contribute towards developing a healthy immune system. However for some children symptoms such as a cough, earache or constipation can become recurrent, persistent and worse. A weakened child can then become prone to further illness, resulting in a cycle of chronic health problems. Acupuncture can be particularly effective in this type of situation. Teenage years are a classic time for imbalances to arise due to the rapid changes a body undergoes. This major transition is viewed as an opportunity from the perspective of acupuncture to finally address new and long standing imbalances that can surface at this time such as acne, migraines, anxiety and period pains, thereby supporting a young person through adolescence into healthy adulthood.

For more information on how acupuncture may be able to help your child visit www.acupuncturesouthmanchester.net or call Balwant Kaur, an acupuncturist practising in south Manchester and Cheshire on 0161 865 4167.

Family health DemenShare.com – a new social media website to help people living with dementia

Are you part of the ‘sandwich’ generation - busy looking after a young family as well as elderly parents? If sadly, your elderly parents, relatives or friends are living with dementia then DemenShare.com can provide the help you need…

DemenShare.com is a new peer support website, to save you valuable time searching the internet for the help you need quickly. It aims to give greater support to those people living with or caring for someone with dementia.

Through the website, you can talk to other people of all ages about their experiences, find links to lots of useful websites and organisations, both local and national, and benefit from being part of a thriving online community across central and east Cheshire which has your best interests at heart, whether you are a carer or a sufferer.

Dementia is a progressive condition, which means that the symptoms will gradually get worse. Symptoms include loss of memory, mood changes and communication problems.

In the UK there are about 750,000 people with dementia and the figure is growing, with 1 in 4 beds in the UK currently occupied by people with dementia. Although it affects mainly older people it can affect younger people too and there are more than 16,000 people under the age of 65 who have the condition.

Many people are unaware of the range of help available to ensure that support is at hand.

One of the key outcomes of implementing the National Dementia Strategy has been the £1 million refurbishment of Lincoln House in Crewe. It reopened in August and offers a range of respite and re-ablement services tailored to the needs of older people.

There is also a range of local activities which older people can participate in and enjoy including ‘Tai Chi for health’, ‘Sit and be Fit’ sessions to improve mobility, and ‘Be Steady, Be Safe’ exercise classes to help improve balance, strength and confidence.

Assistive technology can also make life easier, from ‘one touch’ radios, clocks and mobile phones, to bed and movement sensors

First Aid for Families First Aid for Families is a local initiative to deliver life saving skills in the home. The idea is to equip parents and responsible children with the knowledge of how to prevent an accident and how to treat an injury before help arrives. It’s ideal for ante natal and post natal mums and families who want to be more prepared to prevent or cope with an incident or accident.

Focussed on the needs of new born babies and children, the programme last three hours and includes lots of practical exercises and simple techniques that can save lives.

At an affordable cost of just £95 for a group of 4 (including an up to date handbook), experienced trainer Will Doherty can deliver the 3 hour training on site in your home in a fun and relaxed way. For a brochure, more information or if you have a question please call Will on 01625 531849.

to detect when people leave their beds. There may also be financial help available in the form of a carer’s allowance - sometimes just knowing what the possibilities are helps you to ask the right questions and make progress faster.

Experts are not yet sure what causes dementia, so it is difficult to know what to do to prevent dementia itself. However the evidence seems to indicate that a healthy diet and lifestyle may help protect against the onset of dementia. At present, most forms of dementia cannot be cured, but research continues apace to develop new drugs, vaccines and treatments which can temporarily alleviate some of the symptoms.

The project is a partnership between Cheshire East Council, Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT, Age Concern Cheshire and Opportunity Links and is funded by Local Government Improvement and Development.

For further details about all the activities and help mentioned here please visit www.DemenShare.com.

Hopefully you won’t need their help, but if you do there are a growing number of ‘friends’ online to help make your journey through dementia as straightforward as possible. Brew up, sit down, log in…

Thanks to the Alzheimer's Society for help with drafting this feature.

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Don’t forget DemenShare.com for information and advice about dementia in central and east Cheshire

Brew up, sit down, log in and talk to others to get the answers you need

Central and Eastern Cheshire

www.familiescheshire.co.uk | Families Cheshire 15

Family health Launch of vital support for parents of children with eating disorders National charity Care for the Family has launched the first UK telephone befriending service for parents of children with an eating disorder.

The new service is the first to offer parents one-to-one, ongoing support from trained ‘befrienders’ who have themselves been through the experience of watching their own child struggle with an eating disorder.

Care for the Family, whose aim is to strengthen family life and help those facing family difficulties, set up the service because it is frequently contacted by parents of children who have an eating disorder and are seriously ill. Studies suggest that eating disorders in children are at an all time high with as many as a quarter of adolescent girls in the UK currently affected. Half of nine to ten year olds say they want to be thinner and anorexia has been reported in children as young as seven.

Katharine Hill, Director of Policy, Research and Development at Care for the Family says: “People can develop an eating disorder at any stage of life, but those most at risk are children and teenagers. Having a child with an eating disorder affects the whole family and can place a huge strain on relationships between parents and with siblings. We want parents to know they are not alone.”

“We know that telephone befriending services can help parents to feel supported because we already run other national befriending networks that draw

alongside families with particular needs,” continues Katharine. “We’re confident that our latest initiative, especially for parents of children with eating disorders, will benefit parents right across the UK.” As part of a new working partnership, all befrienders will be trained and supported by Anorexia & Bulimia Care (ABC), a national charity with more than 20 years’ experience in this area.

The expertise of the trained, volunteer befriender will be matched as closely as possible with the situation of the parent needing support. Each befriender will offer practical encouragement and insights drawn from real life, giving parents reassurance and emotional support to help them cope. The relationship will be informal and non-judgmental and the parent will be able to speak to the same person for as long as they need it.

The new service will complement national helplines that currently provide members of the public with information and advice about eating disorders. “In our experience, people value general helplines but tend to use them on an ad hoc basis,” says Jane Smith, Director of ABC. “The parent befriending network will be a unique and much needed additional service that provides personal, ongoing support.”

To arrange to speak to a befriender call (029) 2081 0800 or email eatingdisorders@cff.org.uk. For further information on eating disorders visit www.careforthefamily.org.uk/supportnet

16 Families Cheshire | www.familiescheshire.co.uk

Get a taste for life Nursery children are being invited to discover healthy food with the launch of Taste for Life, a pre-school education programme from Organix just launched in nurseries across the UK. It’s a fun and interactive way of introducing fruit and vegetables to children, helping them to explore and enjoy good food from a young age and develop healthier eating habits for life. Based on a concept by Lucy Thomas, founder of the Mange Tout programme, Taste for Life is designed to encourage children to have fun discovering food and exploring the

Tumble Tots – your local Change4Life Partner The NHS estimates that 9 out of 10 of our kids today could grow up with dangerous amounts of fat in their bodies. Being overweight can cause life-threatening diseases – and it’s so easily avoidable with a healthy lifestyle that starts in childhood.

Change4Life is a nationwide movement which aims to help families eat well, move more and live longer. One of the key elements of Change4Life is ’60 Active Minutes’ – making sure your child does something active for at least 60 minutes each day. With younger children they have started ‘Baby Moves’ and for pre-school and older children they have ‘Play for Life’.

Tumble Tots is a structured play programme designed to develop your child’s physical skills of agility, balance, climbing and coordination, through the use of exclusive, brightly coloured foam and wooden equipment.

Each weekly session combines fun play and lots of exciting challenges in a safe and caring environment. Their friendly qualified, CRB checked staff are specially trained to

origin, shape, colour, texture and smell of fruit and vegetables. Register your nursery at www.tasteforlifenursery.com and they will send you all the resources you need to get your little ones exploring more fruit and vegetables, from recipes and stickers to reward charts and seasonal activity plans.

get the best out of your child. Action songs and rhymes encourage language and listening skills as well social interaction with other children, and the equipment and songs change every two weeks, so there is always something new.

Gymbabes – 6 months to walking.

Matching all the ideas in ‘Baby Moves’, this relaxed environment helps to gently encourage your little one to move more, from sitting up to rolling over, crawling along to walking tall!

Tumble Tots – Walking/2 years; 2/3 years; 3 years/school age.

Each of the 3 different aged classes is structured so that children gain more confidence and learn essential life skills for when they start school.

Gymbobs – school age/7 years.

The fun doesn’t need to stop because school has started, your child can continue to Play4Life.

See the advert below for your nearest centre and go along for a trial class. There are over 50,000 children countrywide attending Gymbabes, Tumble Tots and Gymbobs sessions each week and they’ve been going for over 30 years, so they must be doing something right!