Families Solent East January February 2022 by Families Magazine

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IN THIS ISSUE

Education New Year, New You Early Years Parenting

Issue 97 January/February 2022

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ENVIRONMENT

Bag sustainable fashion on a budget By Jay Sullivan Fast fashion, clothing made cheaply and designed to be disposable, is the second biggest cause of environmental pollution in the world. With such devastating effects on people and the planet, it’s no wonder that more and more of us are trying to make ethical choices with our wardrobes. Ecofashion can feel expensive and overwhelming at first but it doesn’t have to be. Here are nine ways to forget fast fashion and shop sustainably instead. Get thrifty Charity shops are an easy way to find second-hand clothes on the high street at a low price while helping a good cause too. If you don’t have the time to trawl them for the best bargains, then online resellers like Depop or Vinted are great ways to search for what you need. Buy less but make it your own Shopping less frequently and only buying what you need has an important role in sustainable buying. Craft sites like Etsy and Folksy offer ways to customise your clothes so you can breathe new life into last year’s look. Think sequins, patches and embroidery. Rent it and return it Renting is a great way to enjoy the party dress you’ll likely only wear once. Instead of buying a flashy new garment for every birthday bash, simply rent the designer or high-end outfit of your dreams and then return it when the party is over. Be pretty in Piñatex (or hemp… or bamboo…) Not all fabrics are environmentally equal. Cotton production uses 250 billion tons of water annually. Alternatives like bamboo, linen and hemp have a much smaller environmental impact and are far more sustainable over the long term. Animal leather production requires significant land use and causes large CO2 emissions. Piñatex (pineapple leather) offers a natural alternative without contributing to animal agriculture. Support a small business

names in fast fashion and look to smaller businesses first. These items are often handmade and smaller product runs mean you’ll likely end up with something few other people have. Where to look for eco-friendly fashion When starting off an environmentally-conscious wardrobe, it is often easiest to begin with the basics. T-shirts and underwear are purse-friendly ways to make a positive change. Don’t forget: the most sustainable wardrobe is the one you already have! Sew some love Not everyone is nifty with a needle but small repairs such as sewing up holes or putting buttons back on can ensure your clothes have years more wear left in them before it’s time to recycle. There are lots of YouTube tutorials to help you get your head around the basics. Swap it like it’s hot! Clothing swaps are a great way to get new clothes while clearing your cupboard of the ones you no longer wear. You can get a group of friends over and trade between you or you can ask your local school, university or work to hold an event. Call time on cotton toiletries Make-up wipes and cotton wool pads are an easy area to make an ethical change. Reusable face cloths or pads which can be washed are a great alternative to disposables. If you menstruate, re-usable cups or washable period pants or pads can help reduce the amount of cotton that ends up in landfills. This article was written by and reproduced with the permission of the Natural History Museum. www.nhm.ac.uk

If there’s something you do need to buy new, try to avoid the big

Eco-friendly fashion recommendations

What to look for in your next purchase?

Honest Basics: Eco-conscious wardrobe staples; Yes Friends: Creators of the £7.99 sustainable t-shirt; Plant Faced Clothing: Streetwear with a vegan twist; Lucy and Yak: Instagram-adored makers of dungarees. Inclusive sizing; Asket: Permanent collection of classic clothing for men and women that has been made to last a lifetime; Everlane: Ethical clothing with transparent price breakdowns; Nu-In: This season’s fashion, transparently made from recycled, organic materials where possible; Thought: Sustainable style in fabrics like bamboo and organic cotton.

Sustainable fashion avoids depleting natural resources but it is about progress not perfection. Small changes in how you shop can make a big difference. Look for:

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Eco-friendly fibres and dyes in the fabric; A fair wage paid to garment makers; No animals were harmed in the making; Good enough quality it will last years; Packed and shipped to avoid environmental impact; Brand transparency about how the clothes are made.

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CONTENTS

Welcome Happy New Year everyone! Let’s hope 2022 is an easier year for everybody.

If you’ve made a resolution to prioritise your health this year, then plan to change ‘just one thing.’ Find inspiration in our New Year, New You feature.

Editor Paul Constantine editor@familiessolenteast.co.uk 07592 370426

Is the environment on your mind? Find out how to bag sustainable fashion on a budget and how to support children suffering from ecoanxiety.

Sales Claire Clarricoates 07812 218331 Book now to be included in our March/April issue.

In this issue 2.

Environment

Education

Early Years

10. Clubs & Classes 12. New Year, New You 14. Parenting 15. Work

In our Education section, find out how more girls can be encouraged into science, how young children learn to write and how to prepare your child for SATs. Finally, with our children’s mental health always at the top of our priority list, we have Happiness is…Mental Health Activity Packs for kids to give away to new subscribers. So don’t forget to apply! And, if you haven’t signed up to receive our digital magazine and enjoy additional, interactive content, there’s still time. Sign up at familiesmag.co.uk/go to receive every issue free to your inbox.

Competition winners from our September/October issue

Sally Garbutt, Joanne Banks, Petra Dias, Frankie Salter, Nichola Woad, Cindy Baldwin, Alina Ali, Cherelle St Hilaire, Gemma Lovegrove and Farrah Orr who received a Tales of Me book and to Hina Wajahat, Claire Goodfellow and Fran Dobbins who received an Art Lab Pouring Studio. And, for the recipients of plasticine gifts or Equazen family packs, visit https://bit.ly/PlasticineEquazen Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Print Ltd. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine but Families Print Ltd, its distributors, franchisees and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequences thereof.

ENJOY MORE

Get in touch to book your personal family tour and to find out more about joining The Portsmouth Junior Grammar School. 023 9236 0036

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EDUCATION

Learning to write By Catherine Lynch Children need to develop lots of skills before they can write. The three main skills that build writing foundations are the physical ability to make marks on paper, knowing that print conveys meaning and knowing what to write. In preparation for writing, children need to develop both their gross and fine motor skills. Gross motor skills develop first; walking, jumping, throwing and reaching. Fine motor skills, like picking up small objects, follow. Children need to be given lots of opportunities to move their bodies and build up the muscles needed to sit in a chair, hold a pen and write. Next, children need to know what they are going to write. Adults can support children in this stage by providing practical opportunities. Writing shopping lists together is a great way to get children writing for a purpose. And so what are the basics of getting marks on paper? Children’s first marks on paper start with squiggles and scribbles. With practise, their marks become more controlled and they may start to ascribe meaning to them, for example, scribbling lines on paper and saying they are a list of their friends. As children’s awareness of letters increases they will start to use letter shapes in their writing. Familiar letters might start appearing among their squiggles and shapes. In the next stage of learning to write, children use their phonetic knowledge to identify which letters to write.

in words, for example ‘c’ for cat and ‘a’ for apple. As their phonic knowledge improves they will start to hear and write more sounds in words. It is common for children to reverse letters, miss out sounds and muddle up letters for the first few years that they are writing. By the end of Year 1, children should have been taught most of the letter sounds in the English language, complete with alternative spellings and sound groupings. For example, the many ways to write the /ai/ sound in sail, crayon, lake, weigh, grey, reindeer, break and acorn. Initially children won’t typically use the correct spelling of the sound; however, the more they read the better they will get at recognising when a spelling looks right. Catherine Lynch is a former UK primary school teacher, now writing for PlanBee (www.planbee.com) about issues affecting teachers, schools and pupils. PlanBee has lots of completely free resources for teaching and learning for home and school.

Phonics explain the relationship between sounds and letters. Typically children start by hearing and writing the initial sounds

Fun activities to develop writing skills

The importance of reading

Create obstacle courses that require a wide range of movements. Create challenges with a variety of ball sizes to get children developing their motor skills. Encourage activities like picking up small objects, building with blocks, threading beads and using pens and cutlery to develop fine motor skills. Provide lots of mark-making opportunities eg finger painting, drawing with chalk on the ground, using crayons, pencils and pens. Help children get the correct pencil grip by using the ‘pinch and grip’ method. Praise all their efforts; writing skills take time to build. Make use of free resources available as downloads for home practice. There are many ideas for play activities, tips to get parents and children started, word tracing sheets, handwriting guides, letter formation worksheets and posters. Good resources include www.planbee.com, www.jellyandbean.co.uk, www.teachhandwriting.co.uk and www.teachingideas.co.uk

Reading and writing go hand in hand. Alongside the need to develop motor skills to form words on paper, children are building an understanding of what all these letters and words are actually for. Understanding that writing has a purpose and that this purpose is to convey meaning, is one of the fundamental stages of learning to write. Exposing children to a variety of texts is incredibly important in their path to becoming a writer.

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Words are everywhere and children can have fun looking for them: Spotting the letters in street signs, number plates, shop posters when out and about. Recognising the words for objects around the house like door, fridge, table, chair etc. Use Post-it notes to label them. Start to point out the words as well as the pictures in their favourite bedtime stories and sound them out. By reading everything and everywhere, you’ll show children that print has meaning. The more they read, the richer their vocabulary will be, helping them become imaginative as well as physically-skilled writers. Familiesonline.co.uk

EDUCATION

Is your child ready for SATs? By Jemma Zoe Smith There can hardly be a single child in the country who hasn’t seen their schooling disrupted during the pandemic. In acknowledgement of this disruption, SATs have been cancelled for the last two years but in 2022 they’ll be going ahead as normal. If you’re a parent of a child who will be sitting SATs in May 2022 or 2023, you might be concerned about what this means for your child’s exam performance - a worry which is doubled for those parents whose children are also sitting the 11+. The good news is that if you’re addressing these concerns now, you’re doing so in good time. There’s plenty of opportunity for your child to make up any gaps in their learning before the exams roll around. The first thing to do as a parent is not to worry too much. While your child’s schooling has been disrupted, so has that of all their peers. It’s likely that results will be poorer across the board, which is reassuring if you’re considering a selective school for your child’s secondary education. What’s more, any teacher looking at your child’s exam results in the future will consider the extraordinary situation in which their studies were taking place. Above all, even if the situation is causing you stress, it’s important not to transmit that to your child, whose performance won’t be improved by exam nerves. If you are stressed and are struggling to contain your feelings, make sure you focus on getting appropriate support. You can’t help your child unless you feel calm.

The next step is to find out to what extent your concerns are justified. Speak to your child’s teacher and find out to what extent they’ve fallen behind relative to the performance their teacher would expect at this stage, had circumstances been more normal. For example, it might be that your child spent all of lockdown glued to a book and so needs support in maths, but not in English. Make sure you’re focusing your efforts where they’re needed. Once you know where the gaps in your child’s understanding are, you can address them with targeted learning and revision. At this age, the best approach is little and often. That could be a quick spelling test when your child gets home from school, grammar questions on the way there or a couple of maths problems when they’re waiting for dinner. Keep it fun and your child will be back on track in no time. Jemma Zoe Smith is Director of The Education Hotel. Find out more at www.educationhotel.co.uk

SATs and 11+ resources

Calming exam nerves

Thankfully, there are lots of great resources out there to help you and your child on the journey towards the SATs and 11+. A vast amount of resources for both - some free, some paid for, all reviewed by other parents - can be found on the TES website at www.tes.com. You can search for precisely the area that your child needs to practise.

Keeping your child calm about the approaching exams is vital for their success. Crucial to this is keeping your own worries to yourself, so you don’t transfer them to your child. Ideally, your child should approach the week of the exams like any normal school week - keen to do their best but not too worried if they don’t.

The government has a website of SATs past papers and other practice materials. You can use these to give your child more experience of test conditions. If you plan to do this, it would be wise to speak to your child’s teacher in case they sit the same practice tests at school.

But what if it’s too late for that and your child is already struggling with exam anxiety? If your child is already nervous, don’t be tempted to try to alleviate this by promising them a reward if they do well. This is likely to make things worse, not better.

If you’re also looking at the 11+, find out which exam board is used by the school your child is applying to, so you can get the right past papers to practise with. Finally, if you’re not already aware of BBC Bitesize (www. bbc.co.uk/bitesize), you should be! There’s lots of learning options including fun games, to help your child learn.

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Instead, give them all the tools they need to succeed and feel comfortable. Support them with lots of rest and by making sure they eat well. Past paper practice under exam conditions can help, so that the situation of sitting an exam feels familiar. But above all, emphasise to your child that a failed exam isn’t the end of the world and assure them that all you care about is that they try their hardest.

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EDUCATION

Getting girls into science By Gabrielle Nash For many years, girls have shied away from subjects like science and maths. As a result, the numbers of women in STEM careers (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) are small. International Day of Women and Girls in Science takes place on 11 February with the aim of celebrating and motivating women and girls to study and take up careers in science and related fields. Getting more girls into those fields is crucial to improving diversity. Recent efforts to address the balance of men and women in STEM is working. Yet while the female STEM workforce has for the first time reached over one million women, most of the workforce is male and the balance still needs addressing. So what can be done?

Another factor that is stopping both boys and girls from choosing certain subjects, like computing and physics, is the idea that it is harder to achieve top grades in them. But many employers are not looking for the highest grades; instead they want logical and thoughtful people who can problem solve.

First, we must look at what is stopping young women and girls from choosing these subjects. Sadly, this is believed to be largely the result of gender stereotypes introduced at a young age.

If you are the parent of a young girl, you might think it is too early to engage her on this issue but even at a young age, girls can be motivated to pursue science-based subjects through appropriate role models.

Children are often encouraged towards traditional play based on their gender, which develops their brains and skills in a certain way. Look at introducing a variety of play experiences from the outset: from dolls to Lego, there should be plenty of variety and no boundaries.

Introduce your girls to some of the world’s incredible female scientists through books. It’s one of the easiest ways to inspire more girls to take a career in science. There are some wonderfully engaging options.

As children get older, they are faced with the stereotype and belief that boys and girls are suited to different subjects. Research has clearly shown that there is no difference in ability between boys and girls in different subjects, so we need to tackle the stereotypes children are exposed to from an early age.

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly Based on the best-selling adult novel, this picture book features four brilliant mathematicians who contributed to some of NASA’s greatest successes in space. Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden had to persist during a time when being both black and female were limitations. With their genius minds, they ultimately helped change the world. There’s also an edition for ages 8 to 12.

Marie Curie (Little People, Big Dreams) by Isabel Sanchez Vegara Part of the Little People, Big Dreams series, this book is about scientist Marie Curie, who became the first woman to win the Nobel Prize for Physics. Despite being unable to go to college because she was a woman, she became a groundbreaking scientist whose discoveries dramatically helped the fight against cancer. With a simple language and structure, these books are great for children ages 5+.

Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty

I am Jane Goodall by Brad Meltzer

Inspired by real-life mathematician Ada Lovelace and scientist Marie Curie, this best-selling picture book champions STEM, girl power and women scientists in a celebration of curiosity, the power of perseverance, and the importance of asking ‘Why?’

Part of the Ordinary People Change the World series, this book is all about the chimpanzee scientist, Dr Jane Goodall.

Even when her fact-finding missions and elaborate scientific experiments don’t go as planned, Ada learns the value of thinking her way through problems and continuing to stay curious. This is a funny, engaging picture book for young readers.

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By introducing these role models to our girls, we can spread the word about female achievement and hopefully encourage passion for STEM subjects amongst them.

Her love for animals started when she was given a toy chimpanzee as a child. She changed the world with her patient observations about chimpanzees, improving the future for many female scientists who came after her. Jane is depicted as a child, making the book playful and accessible to readers ages 5 to 8.

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EDUCATION

Print book or e-books What’s best for our children? By Lulu Skantze Electronic devices enable us to access, at the touch of a finger, millions of e-books at a lower cost and with easier storage than printed books. Most children’s books and magazines are now available in digital format too. This makes sense as many children use electronic devices at an early age. But while it is important to embrace all technologies and see stories available in all formats, printed materials have an essential role in developing young readers.

and be in the reading space - a wonderful habit to develop.

Deep reading

Shared reading

‘Deep reading’ is an important process which is activated when reading from paper and particularly applies when reading highquality, long texts. Screens affect our reading processes and the more we read short texts on screen, the more our reading shifts towards skimming. Consequently, our tolerance for reading long literary texts diminishes and we lose the benefits of using the cognitive processes that deep reading involves. In addition, reading from devices involves juggling multiple distractions, such as interactive touchscreens, hyperlinks and alerts, which move our attention away from what’s being read. This adversely affects our comprehension and reading speed.

Printed books make shared reading easier than e-books. Shared reading is incredibly important when it comes to encouraging a child to read. A book allows for more discovery and children can interact with it for longer in a more engaging way, as well as being able to colour in, draw, underline words and so on. Reading for pleasure

Mindful reading

Studies have found that reading for pleasure plays a huge role in a child’s confidence, personal development and academic achievement. Reading books engages children in a magical world of stories, adventures and fantasy. It is so important that reading for pleasure now forms part of the National Curriculum.

Printed books help children develop the habit of reading through mindfulness. They slow us down and enable us to engage with a book with no sounds, distractions or screen glare. Reading printed books teaches us to connect with the present moment

Lulu Skantze is co-founder of Storytime, a high-quality monthly magazine that helps to improve children’s literacy with no adverts or plastic toys, just great stories. Visit www.storytimemagazine.com

Shared reading tips

Reading for pleasure

Sit together with your child so that your they can see the pages you’re reading. As you read to your child, get them involved from the start. Can they guess what the story might be about from the title? Follow each word of the story with your finger, so your child can associate the sounds they’re hearing with the letters they see. Encourage your child to read out loud with you when reading rhymes and repetitive stories. Ask your child to listen and repeat unfamiliar or hard-topronounce words. This will help their pronunciation. Talk about what the word might mean to help build their vocabulary. When you find a complex idea or sentence, stop and ask your child whether they understand. Point to the illustrations, ask your child who the characters are and what happens next. This helps build anticipation and encourages participation. When reading aloud, put lots of expression into your reading, so your child can copy what you’re doing. When you’ve finished, ask questions about the characters and what happened to them.

Reading is fun, entertaining and relaxing; it also improves writing, spelling and vocabulary and increases general knowledge and understanding of other people and cultures. Here’s how to help your child to fall in love with reading:

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Make reading part of your child’s routine and life. Have old and new books around at home and treasure them. Pick books that are at the appropriate level for your child. Put aside quality time to read together every day, even if only for ten minutes. Listen attentively when your child reads to you. Dig deep into the stories with them. Value books, magazines and stories. Discuss with your child what they like about their favourite titles. Take books everywhere! Your child can then read anywhere. Join your local library. Visit with your child so they can choose and borrow books and discover new authors for free. Exchange books with friends. Treat your child to a magazine subscription or book vouchers for special occasions. Families Solent East 7

EARLY YEARS

Changes in the childcare sector By Karen Beresford Ofsted data shows that childcare providers have been closing at a concerning rate, with almost four times more providers closing between September 2020 and March 2021 than between March and August 2020. Since the start of 2021, a third of local authorities in England have reported a rise in the number of providers in their area permanently closing. Despite the closures, most local authorities in England have not yet seen an increase in childcare shortages. Over two thirds reported having enough childcare available to meet demand from parents working full time, compared to just over half in 2020 (Coram March 2021). However, this situation is most likely to be due to a drop in demand during the pandemic when more parents worked from home. As parents return to the workplace, demand is increasing again, making it harder to find childcare and for many to remain in their jobs. A significant factor in the decline of childcare places has been a five per cent drop in those provided by registered childminders (Ofsted data). Coram found that childminders abandoning the sector is especially significant in rural areas and childminder availability is more scarce for parents who work atypical hours and need more flexibility. Significantly fewer than two thirds of parents working earlier morning or evening shifts reported that available childcare met their needs.

5.30pm on weekdays and that is if they have a relatively short and reliable commute. Unfortunately, there are many jobs that fall outside those hours. Of particular concern is the shortage of childcare places for older children. School age childcare is used by twice as many children as pre-school childcare and is essential for many working parents. With childminders closing, after-school vacancies are harder to find. One mother just about managed to work from home but now she is being called back to the workplace she can’t find anyone to drop off and pick up her children. When it comes to holiday childcare, if it’s available, convenience and cost are definite factors. Parents report that many activities for children in the holidays run 9am to 3pm and cost around £200 per child. This is difficult to fund and doesn’t cover the beginning and end of the day.

A quick scroll through Mumsnet shows many posts from parents struggling to access childcare: ‘It was so difficult to find a place in our area ... had to go to one nursery twice a week and to a different one for the third day’ reports one mother. ‘The nursery I wanted had an eighteen month waiting list,’ said another.

For families with different aged children, some pre-school and others of school age, trying to find provision for before and after school, as well as full day care, is a particular challenge. Parents cannot always find a nursery that is within reachable distance of work, home and their older children’s school.

Parents are increasingly booking childcare in the early stages of pregnancy. In one example, a mother who was fourteen weeks pregnant registered her baby for a February 2023 start. In the north west, one mother booked a place for August 2023 when twenty weeks pregnant. It was one of the last spaces and the nursery is now fully booked for this time.

Access to childcare is important, both to support paid work and help shape young children’s development. As places become harder to find, parents who are considering looking for a childcare place may be wise to start the search sooner, rather than later to be assured of finding a space.

To exacerbate difficulties, where there is childcare, it is often not suitable. For example, a provision that runs 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday means a parent can realistically work only 8.30am to

Karen Beresford is a childcare expert at Your Employee Wellbeing. More info at www.youremployeewellbeing.co.uk

Other options

Can government do more?

Nanny shares work well for thousands of families. Offering flexible, home-based childcare, they can be a cost-effective alternative to nursery care. Parents become employers so check out the responsibilities at www.childcare.co.uk/ information/nanny-shares Two fifths of grandparents have provided regular childcare for their grandchildren, according to a YouGov poll for Age UK. Grandparents who regularly look after their grandchildren can claim National Insurance credits to top up their state pension. More at www.informationnow.org.uk/article/grandparentissues

Research by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) found that between 2008 and 2016 the cost of a 1 year old’s nursery provision grew four times faster than wages in England. In London, it was more than seven times faster.

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Working parents say the government’s inadequate childcare policies leave them financially crippled and held back in their careers. A wide-ranging study shows that overwhelmingly parents believe that ministers are not doing enough to support childcare costs and availability and that childcare in the UK is too expensive. Familiesonline.co.uk

EDUCATION NEWS

Children’s Mental Health Week 2022

More fun in our digital mag!

From 7 to 13 February, families across the UK are encouraged to take part in Children’s Mental Health Week with the theme Growing Together. Growing Together is about growing emotionally and finding ways to help each other do the same. Challenges and setbacks can help us to grow and adapt and trying new things can help us to move beyond our comfort zone into a new realm of possibility and potential.

FRE

TAKE

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Education Activities Health Family fo od Jan/Feb 202

IT’S FREE!

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Run by the children’s mental health charity Place2Be, children (and adults) are being asked to consider how they’ve grown, what they need to help them grow and how they can help others to grow too.  Around five children in every classroom have a mental health problem and many more struggle with challenges from bullying to bereavement. Help raise funds to enable Place2Be to reach more people by organising a Dress to Express fundraiser. More information at www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk

Daisy Nursery opens soon A Hampshire-based, award-winning small group of early years nurseries will open a new setting in Rake near Petersfield in January 2022. Launched in 2009, Daisy Nursery has since opened nurseries across the county, achieving four Outstanding Ofsted ratings across all areas in all settings, making them the best possible start for your child. Their nurseries are located in historic buildings restored to a unique vision: innovative but homely environments that are perfect for young children to explore. Set in a former Edwardian home with extensive grounds, the brand-new Aster Daisy has been transformed to provide Baby, Toddler and Pre-School suites, a library, bespoke soft play, sensory space, forest-school chalet, play-trails and more. Daisy Nursery provide early years care to children from 3 months to 5 years; 51 weeks a year, Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6pm. Aster Daisy opens on 4 January. To pre-book a visit or to find out more call 01730 858480 or visit mydaisynursery.com Familiesonline.co.uk

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CLUBS & CLASSES

The lowdown on kids and sport By Andrew Campbell Sport is a fabulous way to keep kids active and exercising, which, in turn, has a range of health and developmental benefits. On the physical side, these include: maintenance of a healthy weight; building stronger heart, bones and muscles; improving posture and balance; encouraging growth and development; improving sleep. Exercise is great for mental health too with benefits including: providing an opportunity to socialise and build relationships with peers; increasing concentration, vital to academic performance; improving self-esteem and confidence; lowering stress; learning leadership skills;

learning the value of discipline and a positive attitude. But when should children start participating in sport, how much should they do and what should they do? When should they start? Sport can be fun for kids of all ages. However, sporting activities must be developmentally appropriate for your child. For pre-schoolers, sports should be less about competition and more about being active and having fun. It’s not until about age 6 or 7 that most kids have the physical skills, the attentionspan and the ability to grasp the rules needed to play organised sports. Generally, children under 8 are not ready for competition, being unable to handle the stresses of winning, losing and having their performance measured and scored. Enrolling your child in a sport or activity beyond their developmental ability can lead to frustration and early drop-out. Age-appropriate exercise Ages 1 to 2 (toddlers) The NHS advises toddlers should do a variety of physical activities for at least three hours every day, these can include:

Happy, Confident New Year from Perform Perform, the UK’s biggest centrally run drama school, is getting 2022 off to a flying start with a new term of classes focusing on building confidence and social skills. Many children have struggled to reconnect the pandemic and re-establish their old friendships and confidence. Child psychologist and author, Linda Blair, says that classes like these: “can help children recover from social isolation as they encourage communication and effective social interactions. Drama helps a child’s ability to understand and interpret things like eye contact and can help in countless other ways both socially and cognitively.” Fortunately, Perform classes are packed with confidenceboosting drama-based games and activities, allowing every child to shine. Children ages 4 to 7 will trek off on a jungle adventure this term while ages 7 to 12 enjoy a thrilling adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. What’s more, Perform’s jungle theme becomes a West End musical during February half-term, featuring a professional adult cast, stunning costumes and fabulous music. Visit junglerumble.show To book a no-obligation FREE trial in Chichester, Petersfield, Southsea or Waterlooville visit www.perform.org.uk/try, email enquiries@perform.org.uk or call 020 7255 9120. Use code SOL70222 for a £40 discount when you book by 7 February.

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More about Perform’s weekly classes Confidence building drama classes for 4-7s and 7-12s. A unique mix of fun drama games, dance and singing specially designed to boost confidence, communication, concentration and co-ordination. Venues: Chichester: St Michaels Church Hall, Summersdale Road, PO19 6PN Petersfield: Salvation Army Hall, Swan Street, GU32 3AD Waterlooville: Merchistoun Hall, 106 Portsmouth Road, PO8 9LJ **New Class** Southsea: St Simons Church Hall, Waverley Road, PO5 2PW Visit www.perform.org.uk/try to book a FREE class, email enquiries@perform.org.uk or call 020 7255 9120. Don’t forget the code SOL70222 for a £40 saving!

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CLUBS & CLASSES playing in water, climbing on a frame, playing ball games, riding a bike, playing chasing games, skipping, hopping, running and jumping. Ages 3 to 4 (pre-schoolers) At this age, the NHS recommends three hours of daily physical activities which should include at least one hour of moderateto-vigorous intensity physical activity. As well as the activities appropriate for toddlers, others may include: dancing, swimming, playground activities, climbing, active play (eg hide and seed), scooting, outdoor activities, throwing and catching. Organised activity groups that involve ball games can also be a great, more structured option. Ages 6 to 9 As children get older, their vision, attention span and transitional skills, such as throwing a ball for distance, improve. They’re also better able to follow directions. Consider entry-level, organised activities such as running, football, cricket, gymnastics, swimming, tennis and non-contact martial arts. Ages 10 to 12 By this age, children have mature vision and the ability to understand and recall sports strategies. Children of this age are typically ready to take on complex skill sports, such as football, cricket, basketball, hockey and volleyball. Is your child ready? Just because your child has reached a certain age doesn’t mean playing an organised sport is appropriate for them. As well as considering whether a sport is age-appropriate for your child, take into account how much they will enjoy the activity based on their maturity and abilities. Your child may show a natural preference for one activity over another, which shouldn’t be ignored. Remember children change as they grow and it’s normal for them to show a keen interest in one activity one year, only to switch to another by the next. Keep monitoring their level of interest and stay involved with their progress.

New Stagecoach classes starting in Portsmouth There is brand new Stagecoach Performing Arts School coming to Portsmouth in January. Classes in singing, dancing and acting for 4-18 year olds will be held at Portsmouth High School and will be headed up by Valerie Weyland who has been an established Stagecoach Principal for 15 years. “There is no experience necessary when coming to enjoy our classes, Stagecoach is about so much more than performing arts. We want every child to improve their personal confidence. Our students posture, social skills, diction, co-ordination, expression and articulation are all at the heart of what we provide’ explains Valerie. To book a two week trial and to find out more contact Valerie, email: portsmouth@stagecoach.co.uk or call 07498 997 606. www.stagecoach.co.uk/portsmouth

Be positive and encouraging by emphasising effort and enjoyment over winning and never try to persuade your child to continue with a sport they clearly don’t enjoy, whatever age they are.

Alternatives to competitive team sports

NEW SCHOOL

If your child enjoys playing a team sport like football, you may be tempted to sign them up to play competitively at a local club. Whilst this is right for some children, it doesn’t necessarily suit those that don’t enjoy playing under pressure. For children who simply want to play for the love of the game, after school clubs and/or neighbourhood teams may offer a better fit. For those children that don’t enjoy team sports at all, solo sports such as tennis, karate and swimming are great alternatives.

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Portsmouth

With over 30 years’ experience in the performing arts, we have helped more than 1 million children in 9 countries achieve their potential. Singing, dancing and acting classes for 4 - 18 year-olds.

Age:

4 - 18

Time: 08 Jan 2022 09:30 - 12:30 Venue: Portsmouth High, PO5 3EQ 07498 997 606

www.stagecoach.co.uk/portsmouth

Stagecoach Performing Arts is the trading name of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited. Stagecoach Theatre Arts schools are operated under franchise and are independently owned by their Principals. Stagecoach and Creative Courage For Life are registered trademarks of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited.

Families Solent East 11

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

Just one healthy thing in 2022! By Claire Winter

At this time of the year, we are bombarded with unrealistic health advice. Give up carbs, do a HIIT workout every day, walk fifteen thousand steps. Glamorous women and men in lycra stare at us from our social feeds, making us feel like failures before we even start a new health regime. So how about setting yourself an easy target of changing just one thing this New Year? Photo by Bruce Mars from Unsplash

Take Vitamin D

Get a fitness buddy Accountability works. If you want to start a new fitness regime, find a friend to do it with you, says Paula Kerr from Fitter Stronger. ‘This might mean always training with a friend and not letting them down or keeping an exercise or nutrition record and sharing it with a friend or fitness professional.’ www.fitterstronger.org

Vitamin D is highly recommended for anyone living in the UK because we don’t get enough sunshine. Public Health England recommends every adult takes a ten mg supplement in autumn and winter - all year round if you have darker skin. It boosts the immune system, helps prevent depression and strengthens bones. Find at all good health food stores/online.

Take time to meditate Just ten minutes meditation a day can make a huge difference. Research shows that meditation has a positive effect on a range of stress-related illnesses, including heart disease, cholesterol and high blood pressure. It can also help people suffering from insomnia, anxiety and depression. Check out www.insighttimer.com for hundreds of free meditations.

Get quality sleep

Have a cold shower Many people shared their outdoor swimming adventures last year. Intrigued? Start small with the Wim Hof method. Begin with a simple breathing technique and cold showers every morning and progress to cold water swimming. Doing this every day for five months has really improved my mood and quality of sleep! www.wimhofmethod.com Photo by Ella Olsson from Pexels

Personal trainer, Alex Cornwell, says: ‘It’s best to accept that as a parent it may not be possible to sleep uninterrupted for eight to nine hours a night. Instead, make sure you’re getting to bed early, not scrolling through Instagram or watching Netflix. This keeps you up longer and late-night screen time is proven to reduce the quality of your sleep’. www.revolution-pts.com

Practise gratitude ‘Gratitude is the first step to embracing our body, shifting our relationship with it and seeing it as one of our best buddies. It makes a huge difference in our fitness training and the food we choose to nourish our body’ says the Body Whisperer, Vanessa Conway. Keeping a daily gratitude diary can make also make you feel more optimistic about life. www.feelmovebewithvanessa.com

Photo by Gabrielle Henderson on Unsplash

Try forest bathing

Go veggie For one day a week, try and skip meat. www.meatfreemondays.com is a good website to follow. Can you make a family favourite with a meat substitute or try a new vegetarian recipe? 12 Families Solent East

Get out in nature and de-stress in your local forest or woodland. In Japan, it’s called Shirrin Yoku, it’s proven to help you boost your mood, health and wellbeing and it’s free. Find your local forest here www.forestryengland.uk

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NEW YEAR, NEW YOU

Health & fitness products for parents By Claire Winter

Getting fit when you are a busy parent can be a challenge. Here are some great products to get your health and fitness mojo back in 2022.

Twelve South ActionSleeve 2, £34.99 Wear this fabric armband on the upper arm and workout with Apple Watch, monitoring your stats and progress. Ideal for sports where protective sports gear and full wrist mobility is needed, protecting your Apple Watch from nicks and dings while keeping its digital crown fully accessible. Amazon.

The Zeno Running Pushchair, from £819.95 Take your little one along when you exercise! The ZENO is a 4-in-1 multisport stroller which can be used for push or pull running, while the AVI is a lightweight sport stroller, ideal for running. Its innovative ‘hands free’ technology is designed for a natural running experience and can even be attached to a bike. www.cybex-online.com/en-gb/puma

Groov-e SportBuds, £39.99 True Wireless Earphones are the perfect fitness training partner, designed with a snug ear hook fit and sweat-resistance. They feature True Wireless Stereo (TWS) technology for the perfect sound, handsfree microphone, voice assistance and a multi-device charging case. www.groov-e.co.uk/sport-buds

Beachbody Cordless Jump Rope, £29.95 Focus on speed and fitness with this weighted, cordless skipping rope. Super practical and clever, it is designed so you can jump around the house or garden with no tripping, no whipping and no smashing of photo frames! www.teambeachbody.com

The Leg Master®, £89.95 Use your own body weight to improve pelvic floor health through classic strength training. The Leg Master delivers a full body workout and improves posture. Pelvic floor health is essential not only for women who have had babies - but for everyone (men included!) www.legmaster.co.uk

Claude Leggings, Pocket Sport, £55 Claude leggings are designed with maximum comfort in mind. The highwaisted fit flatters, while the fabric is breathable, squat proof and quick drying. It has a hidden key/card pocket in the waistband. These leggings will see you from your workout to chasing the kids around, to putting your feet up at the end of the day. www.pocket-sport.com

Eco-friendly Yoga Mats, from £40 Female-owned, independent yoga brand Wuufly, create inspiring, colourful and sustainable yoga mats. Each non-slip mat goes on an ethical journey from start to finish beginning with production from earth and animal-friendly materials, wrapped in completely recyclable acidfree tissue paper, through to delivery by CO2 neutral means. www.wuufly.com/shop Familiesonline.co.uk

Breathe Deep, Seek Peace Flower Essence, £12 This wonderful blend of flower essences offers natural support when life feels particularly taxing or stressful. The carefully-blended plant ingredients can be taken as a few drops under the tongue, added to bath water or mixed with face cream. Awarded ‘best better sleep’ product, this is especially beneficial when taken in the evenings. www.saskiasfloweressences.com Families Solent East 13

PARENTING

Helping kids with ecoanxiety By Angela Terry Growing up in a time of climate crisis is not easy. Images of deforestation, melting glaciers and out-of-control wildfires seem everywhere. The scale and severity of the situation is difficult for adults to comprehend. Naturally, children can find it overwhelming. Eco-anxiety is increasingly prevalent amongst our kids. Research by Bath University shows that sixty percent of children and young people describe themselves as ‘very or extremely worried’ about climate change. As a mum and environmental scientist, I am well aware of the difficulties of talking to children about this subject. The temptation is to tell them not to worry. But actually this will add to their genuine concern that this issue is being ignored by the ‘grown-ups.’ Focus instead on positive solutions. Here are my tips: Remind children that together we can change the world Taking everyday actions can empower kids. Like eating less meat or snuggling under a blanket instead of turning up the thermostat. But remind them that it’s practically impossible to live a completely sustainable life. The world needs lots of people doing sustainability imperfectly, rather than a few doing it perfectly. Point them to less frightening online resources Exposure to gloomy predictions online can affect children’s moods. Make sure they are looking at websites that talk about climate change in an unthreatening way without a barrage of scary statistics. NASA’s Climate Kids website has been designed specifically for children and has a wide range of resources,

including videos and games. Make green spending decisions jointly Discuss with your children which products your family buys. There are sustainable alternatives for everything, from food and fashion to cars and bank accounts. If the green alternative is more expensive, ask your children if they would be happy to go without something to pay for it. This allows them to understand the power of purchasing. Help children join or start a group with friends Joining climate-focused community and action groups can be of huge benefit to children with feelings of anxiety, helplessness and despair. The sense of shared belonging and concern can be very comforting. Working towards tangible solutions with others gives kids a greater sense of control. Angela Terry is an environmental scientist and mum of three. She’s the founder of One Home (www.onehome.org.uk), the UK’s first consumer climate action hub which provides independent, practical advice on the changes you can make to help fight global warming and adapt to climate change.

Discussing climate change

Practical things to do

As a parent your first instinct is to protect your kids but it’s not helpful to tell them not to concern themselves with climate change. Worrying about this huge problem is entirely normal. Here are some suggestions for handling those tricky conversations:

One of the best ways to help children feel better about the climate emergency is to empower them to do something about it. It can be as simple as encouraging them to walk to school instead of being driven. Here are some activity ideas for the whole family:

Listen to your child’s worries and acknowledge them. Don’t dismiss them out-of-hand. Empathise. Show you’re concerned too. But don’t focus on doomsday scenarios. There is no cliff edge. Point out they’re not alone. Talk about all the people who are also worried and striving to effect change. Check out Instagram accounts which offer a solutions-based outlook like @thegreenhub @ ouronehome @lowimpactmovement Empower without making them feel overly responsible. Tell them we all have a role to play in addressing this issue – but it’s not all on them. Point out positive climate news stories whenever you come across them. Teach anxiety regulation techniques, like breathing and mindfulness.

Rewild your garden. Set up a bug hotel. Start growing vegetables. Replace some of your lawn with wildflowers. Make low-carbon meals based around local fruit and vegetables from a farmer’s market, if possible (or even produce you’ve grown yourselves!) Take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch (www.rspb.org.uk), the Great British Spring Clean (www.keepbritaintidy.org) or Earth Day (www.earthday.org). Fundraise for a green charity by organising a low-carbon bake sale or doing a sponsored walk. Craft homemade birthday and Christmas presents for loved ones. Shut curtains and blinds from dusk until dawn to keep the heat in (and energy bills low). Write to your MP and explain why you are concerned about climate change.

14 Families Solent East

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WORK

Taking a chance with your career By Mandy Garner Ann-Marie Murphy works as a secondary school teacher in the Midlands but after her maternity leave she switched to part-time hours to manage childcare and her job. If the pandemic hadn’t happened, Ann-Marie would have returned to work full time when her daughter started school. As it was, a year later, ‘when she started in Year 1, I was still only working two days a week in school because the pandemic meant it wasn’t guaranteed she’d actually be there and there was also the possibility of needing to home school too,’ explains Ann-Marie. Like many other working mothers, Ann-Marie’s mental health was affected by the pandemic, with her anxiety levels increasing. As a parent, she worried about having to send her daughter to school during Covid, and, as a teacher, she worried about her own exposure to the virus. In a Working Mums (www.workingmums.co.uk) survey of one thousand three hundred working mums, thirty percent of those surveyed mentioned that worries about children’s wellbeing was one factor which contributed to the worsening of their mental health during the pandemic. ‘I work in a school of nearly two thousand children. Very few of them were willing to wear masks and social distancing didn’t exist’ reports Ann-Marie. ‘So all of that really added to a general sense of anxiety.’ Seventy percent of the survey respondents said that the anxiety about lockdowns and Covid generally affected their mental wellbeing and over sixty percent said that home-schooling and

childcare also had an impact. In the same Working Mums survey, only nineteen percent of those surveyed reported that their employer had supported them with their mental health and Ann-Marie did not feel that she was given the support she needed. The pandemic made Ann-Marie reconsider her career. ‘I think teaching is an important job’ says Ann-Marie. ‘But, during the pandemic, schools and teachers have not been treated well. It has made me feel like we’re not really valued and schools have been seen as a way to keep children occupied so that parents can work.’ Sadly, the Working Mums survey shows that Ann-Marie is not alone. Twenty four percent of working mothers state that they are less likely to seek a promotion than they were before Covid. Mandy Garner works for www.workingmums.co.uk, a website which offers employers and job seekers the chance to find home-based, part time and flexible full time jobs.

Happiness is…..a happy child! Receive a FREE Mental Health Activity Pack from Storytime for your child*

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Recognising Emotions ............................. 2 Feelings Are Like Rainbows ................... 4 Resilience Tool Box .................................. 5 Fun with Framing! ..................................... 6 Gratefulness Diary .................................... 7 The Pancake of Mistakes ........................ 8 Get Active with Emotions! ....................... 9 Talking About Feelings ........................... 10 30 Things You Can Do to Feel Good! ... 11 Awesome You! ....................... ................... 13 Your Jar of Happiness ............................. 14 How to Use This Pack... for Grown-Ups! ....................... ................... 15

On page 17-20, there is a special section about how you can help your kids build resilience and get comfortable with their emotions!

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14 pages of fun activities

But it’s not all bad news! Re-evaluating your career can be really beneficial. Before Covid, Ann-Marie was running different side businesses, the most successful one being an online gifts and cards shop. During the pandemic she decided to start an additional business with her partner, as they were both working from home. The focus of the new business is on digital safeguarding for schools, which includes looking at how images and personal data are used online and managing consent. The pandemic has opened a new door for Ann-Marie, which might have stayed closed under different circumstances. Being exposed to circumstances where she didn’t feel safe at work and in which she felt schools and teachers were being undermined, she wanted to look at creating and building on an opportunity which gives her more freedom over how she works. “I want to do something worthwhile which is helping but where I’ve got more control over my own safety and my timetable. The flexibility seems more important now than ever’ says AnnMarie.

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Read first and then share with your child…. *while stocks last. T&C’s apply.

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Families Solent East 15

Your Family Health Check List

Keeping up with the routine (and non-routine) health checks and appointments for your kids can be time-consuming! Use our handy checklist to help you out. Eye test

Children should have an eye test at the age of 3 years and again just before they start school. An optometrist will then usually recommend a yearly eye test after this.

Dental check Six monthly check-ups are recommended for children from age 1 and children should visit the dentist as soon as their first milk teeth appear.

Orthodontist Has your child’s adult teeth nearly all come through? Ask your dentist whether your child will need a referral to an orthodontist.

Vaccinations If you have a baby or toddler, make sure they have had all their necessary immunisations. Children over 12 can now attend a walk-in centre to receive their Covid vaccine if they haven’t had it at school. Flu vaccinations are available for children ages 2 to 5 and for all school-age children from Reception to year 11.

Other services you may need Podiatrist Does your child complain of pain in their heels? Kids undergoing growth spurts are especially susceptible to plantar fascilitis pain starting at age 8 until around age 13 for girls and age 15 for boys. A podiatrist will advise on footwear to help the problem.

Allergy clinic If your GP provides a referral, your child can get tested at a specialist NHS allergy clinic. You can also get your child tested at a private clinic and pay for their allergy tests. It’s not recommended that you use an at-home allergy testing kit if you suspect your child has an allergy.

Tips: Do you have a family first aid kit? You can make up your own or buy one.

16 Families Solent East

Boots Children’s First Aid Kit £13.99

Little Life Excursion Kit £29.99

Everything you need to deal with cuts, grazes, bumps, bruises and bleeding. Comes with handy First Aid guide.

Perfect for family excursions with all the essentials you need.

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