Families Suffolk November - December 2016 Issue 32

The local magazine containing useful information for parents of 0-12 year olds

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SUFFOLK

Christmas at The Bear Garden The Benefits of Music How to keep energy levels up this winter ISSUE 32 • November / December 2016

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Becky, 24

Quantity Surveyor & On-call Firefighter Becky is a Quantity Surveyor and has been an on-call firefighter for Long Melford, since September 2014.

“I became an on-call firefighter as I wanted to give something back to my community.

“When I’m on-call I try not to think about it too much – I just make sure that I’m ready to drop what I’m doing at any point and keep my car keys with me.

“I get such an adrenaline rush when the pager goes off and I like being at one job and then having to go to another one.

“

Going out with the crew for the first time was a really proud moment for me.

“

“For me there are a variety of best parts within this role, in particular saving lives and helping those in need. Not only does the job have a positive impact on the community it also covers a wide range of incidents such as animal rescues, hazardous materials and many more. It is without a doubt a job I truly enjoy, embrace and love being a part of.”

For Further Information www.suffolk.gov.uk/oncall

Call the Service’ s On-Call Liaison Officer: 07776 475069 2

November - December 2016

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Advertorial

Welcome

A note from the Editor

In this issue...

We wish you a Merry Christmas

As we come to the end of another year, the whole team at Families Suffolk Magazine would like to take the opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy and Healthy New Year.

Whatever your plans are for the forthcoming festive season, we hope you get the opportunity to enjoy some quality family time, and if you need any help planning family days out or things to do with the children keep an eye on our website for more information about local events: www.familiesonline.co.uk.

For when you do get a moments peace we hope you can take some time out to enjoy the latest magazine. Within this edition you can read about the benefits of music and encouraging your little one to enjoy music. We also have some great financial advice from Ipswich Building Society to help take the money worries out of Christmas.

We also have information about the dangers of Button Batteries, and advice on how you can keep your family safe.

We hope you enjoy.

Stacey Phillips Next issue: January / February 2017 Circulation: 17,000 copies of Families Suffolk are available through nurseries, schools, libraries, selected retail outlets and various other distribution points throughout Suffolk.

Contact us Editorial content: Stacey@familiessuffolk.co.uk 07951 946736 Sales and Marketing: Lisa@familiessuffolk.co.uk 01473 788546

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With best wishes

If you would like copies for your organisation please get in touch.

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Printed in the uk by the Magazine Printing Company using only paper from FSC / PEFC suppliers www.magprint.co.uk

Events and What’s On: editor@familiessuffolk.co.uk Design & Editing: Designed In house Cover image: Supplied by The Bear Garden Families Suffolk is part of Families Magazines Ltd a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. We take every care preparing the magazine, but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of the advertisers, the accuracy of the contents nor for any correspondences.

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Contents

4 Our Community 6 Family Finance 8 Christmas Feature 12 Baby & Toddler 14 Parents Place

5 Clubs & Classes 7 Public Health 11 Family Health 13 Family Safety 15 Family Fun

SPECIAL OFFER Introduce a friend to our parent and toddler play sessions and get your session for FREE. Check website for times and full offer T&C’s 01473 433676 • admin@pipersvale.co.uk • www.gymnasticsinipswich.co.uk @familiessuffolk

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Our Community

All about Suffolk Babies

By Katie Mackenzie, Suffolk Babies

We may have a new name, but the founders of Suffolk Babies have been working in this area for several years. We have recently come together as a not-for-profit Community Interest Company to give families the best antenatal and postnatal education in Suffolk, delivered in an ethical way.

Who are we?

If you have been on a Daisy Foundation course in the last five years, then you will already know Jo Cresdee. Jo is our CEO and has had the vision for Suffolk Babies for some time, having grown her Daisy Foundation business to being the biggest in the country. Our Director of Operations is Katie Mackenzie, who has taught BabyCalm and ToddlerCalm classes, as well as running a website helping parents find support and classes to do with their baby. Our Director of Antenatal Education, Emily Boyd, is a Practice Development Midwife at Ipswich NHS Trust, and has a passion for improving antenatal education, as well as being a licenced Daisy Foundation teacher herself. We also have a growing team of teachers to teach our classes.

Why set up Suffolk Babies?

There are many different providers of antenatal classes and baby and toddler classes around the county.

We all want to help families in one way or another, but Suffolk Babies was created to bring the best services available together under one umbrella.

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November - December 2016

When you are pregnant, you will probably see the same midwife throughout your pregnancy, but when you come to give birth you may see a whole team of different people. Then after the baby is born you are introduced to your Health Visitor. This frequent changing of who supports you can be difficult at a vulnerable time, and you may find it hard to build a relationship of trust. At Suffolk Babies we are unique in that you can have one antenatal teacher, who is then there to see you right through baby and toddler classes. This continuity is so important for helping you feel supported and cared for.

Many of us have families spread around the country, or parents, friends and siblings who work full time, so it can be a lonely experience having a baby without a support network in place. We want to help you build your ‘tribe’.

We are also here to help you build your confidence as a parent. Our aim is to empower you to have the confidence to trust that you are the expert in your own child.

Our classes are totally inclusive and we welcome everyone from any background. All our classes from pregnancy through to preschool promote this ethos. Our courses are practical, and based on the latest thinking in birthing and child development.

Suffolk Babies was Visit us created to bring We are delighted to have the best services recently opened our own centre available together in Kesgrave, from which our under one umbrella. partners run courses and services Through our classes you can also build lifelong friendships with a group of people, all with children of a similar age, who will travel with you along the way through pregnancy, babyhood and beyond.

complementary to our own. We have a studio and a hangout area, with drinks and biscuits of course! The centre is becoming a real hub for everything you might wish to access: postnatal fitness, baby signing, a sling library, messy play, Pilates, plus our

own antenatal, baby and toddler classes. We have many more things in the pipeline and our offer is expanding every month.

Have a look on our website for more information and to book a place on a course: www.suffolkbabies.co.uk.

What we offer We are the only local provider of Daisy Foundation courses and workshops, and we also run our own baby and toddler classes. Our classes include movement, massage, music, yoga, sensory activities, relaxation and fun, all appropriate to your baby’s age. We offer: • Daisy Birthing – from 14 weeks of pregnancy.

• Daisy Tinies – for babies from 6 weeks to 5 months.

• Daisy Wrigglers – from 4 months to when they start becoming mobile.

• Moving Onwards – for babies that are beginning to move.

• Moving Upwards – for confident walkers to 2½ years.

Clubs & Classes

The Benefits of Music

By Katie Fitzmaurice, Jo Jingles

Encouraging your little one to enjoy music is a great way of strengthening the bond between parent and child, but it also provides some very real benefits to their ongoing physical and mental ability which will aid them in their early development prior to going to school and also beyond. Indulging in more regular song-time at home will also provide your child with clear learning progression as they grow.

Your once ‘babbling’ toddler has grown into a little person, with their own opinions, ideas and conversations The transition from pre-school to infant school is an important time in the early years’ development process. Your once ‘babbling’ toddler has grown into a little person, with their own opinions, ideas and conversations – not to mention a relentless thirst for learning. Increased exposure to music and singing in advance of full-time education can really make a difference to your child’s development, helping them to hit the ground ‘sprinting’ when they start school.

Music is universal, it appeals to all cultures, all ages and all abilities. It’s also an important part of the school curriculum. Listening to music and actively taking part in singing, dancing or playing a musical instrument are all important in stimulating a child’s learning curve and developing a range of physical and emotional skills which will benefit them now and later in life.

Children can express themselves through movement long before they can verbalise Try to ensure that any exposure to music is also accompanied with movement where possible. Many nursery rhymes come complete with a set of ‘actions’ - ‘I’m a little teapot’ or ‘If you’re happy and you know it’. Children can express themselves through movement long before they can verbalise.

They also need to learn to hone their sense of balance and to control their limbs. Movement to music has also been shown to help a child express feelings and moods as they learn to interpret the music that they hear.

And finally, don’t forget about all of the social and emotional benefits associated with music; encouraging this kind of musical activity in advance of starting school can really help with self-expression and confidence in later life.

A few simple tips to get you started: • Sing with your child regularly, it doesn’t matter where or when you do it, just do it as often as you can • Don’t worry if you fluff the words or think your sing out of tune – the reality is, be enthusiastic about it and your child will be too.

• Make music actively – it’s not enough to just put on a CD, if you don’t interact with them, it will wash over their head.

You can help to boost your child’s language skills by focusing on nursery rhymes

• Don’t over complicate things young children respond best to easy uncomplicated songs and nursery rhymes rather than those more suited to a nightclub.

It’s no great coincidence that popular nursery rhymes are quite repetitive – think about ‘Row, row, row your boat’ or ‘Twinkle, twinkle, little, star’ – the repetition is key to this process of creating linguistic building blocks upon which little brains can start to make meaningful associations and melodic experimentations via simple rhythmic patterns. The use of repetition along with actions will help to inspire coordination, balance and speech development.

• Use simple actions – it is great fun and will help your child’s coordination no end.

Even simple songs like ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ help children to learn about the world around them – vital in the transition to a new school environment. Singing songs with numbers in them can also help young children to learn to count; some traditional songs even contain elements of subtraction (such as Five Little Ducks) so you might not realise that your child is being exposed to some of the simplest forms of mathematics through music and song! Exploring concepts such as colours, animals, transport and even telling the time through song, will all help with your child’s motor skills and general coordination as they prepare for school.

Find out more

• Make some home-made instruments to get truly musical – banging yoghurt pots together, or using a cardboard crisp tube with a handful or dried pasta – makes a great shaker. Equally saucepan lids are great self-made cymbals!

For details on Jo Jingles classes in the Ipswich area contact Katie Fitzmaurice on 07732 544548, Email: ipswichjingles@gmail.com www.jojingles.com/ipswich

Special Offer 3 Classes for £10 for babies under 6 months of age

@familiessuffolk

/FamiliesSuffolk

www.familiesonline.co.uk

01473 788546

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Family Finance

Christmas...

The most expensive day of your year?

We all know Christmas happens once a year. But the build up seems to start earlier and earlier - and with Selfridges opening its Christmas shop at its flagship Oxford Street store on 1 August that’s 146 days of snowglobes, sleighbells and singing Santas.

A 2015 study by YouGov found that British households expected to spend £796 on Christmas, with the biggest expense being gifts at £596, followed by food and drink at £159 and finally £41 on assorted extras such as cards.

That’s a lot of money for one day – how do people pay for it?

With children in mind, this year Amazon’s top three toys for Christmas are the Barbie 3 Story Townhouse (£82.99), WowWee CHiP Interactive Robot Dog (£199.99) and Furby Connect Pink Toy (79.99). Adding up to a whopping £363.97 it’s easy to see how quickly the costs mount up.

Aviva reported in December 2015 that two in five (41%) UK adults put money aside to help pay for Christmas costs, with an average of just under £420 per person. However the remaining 58% do not put aside any money to help pay for Christmas, and 52% do not set a budget for their festive spending.

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For those turning to credit cards, the British Bankers’ Association (BBA) published figures in January, finding UK consumers were less reliant on their credit cards to fund Christmas shopping in 2015 than they were a year earlier – 262m credit card purchases with a collective value of £13.7billion were made in December, 3% down on 2014.

Make a Christmas resolution It’s not always easy to save money, so we’ve put together our top savings tips to ease the financial pressure over the festive season. As they say, the old ones are the best:

Plan ahead...

We all know Christmas comes on 25 December – consider what you can do to prepare for 2017. You might find it easier to collect loose change in a jar, have a special savings account or a regular saver.

Be organised...

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Plan a budget, and stick to it. Shopping with a list can help cut down on impulse purchases and ensure you get what you needed in the first place Our selected charity will change each year on

1 July. We’ll email you to help choose the new charity and to tell you how much bonus has been paid to the outgoing organisation.

www.ibs.co.uk

See product terms and information.

Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority andconditions regulatedfor by further the F inancial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Registered on the Authorised by the Prudential Regulatory Authority and regulated by the F inancial Conduct Authority and Prudential F inancialRegulatory Services Register.

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Authority. Registered on the F inancial Register. F irm Registration Number (F RN) 104875

November - December 2016

By planning in advance you’ll have time to research different retailers and find the best deal.

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Shop around...

Find out more about Ipswich Building Society’s savings accounts by visiting www.ibs.co.uk.

Weight Matters

Public Health Why weight matters Research shows children who are a healthy weight tend to be fitter, healthier, more self-confident and better able to learn. They’re also much less likely to have health problems later in life. Children whose parents encourage them to be active and eat well are more likely to stay a healthy weight and grow up healthier. Overweight children are much more likely to become overweight adults and are at risk of developing preventable diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, in the future.

National Child Measurement Programme As part of the National Child Measurement Programme, children have their height and weight measured in Reception and Year 6. You as a Parent / Carer will then receive a letter with the results of your child’s BMI as well as information, tips and suggestions to help you make any changes which could help your child maintain a healthy weight. You will receive more detailed information about the programme before your child is measured and all measurements are done sensitively and in private.

Further Support If you have any concerns about your child’s weight and would like to discuss this with a professional please contact the OneLife Suffolk team, who have recently launched ‘Weight Matters’ – a campaign which aims to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining a healthy weight.

They also run fun, interactive 10 week programmes for children and young people aged 2-18 across the county, to provide them and their families with tips on eating healthily and keeping active. By combining physical activity and games with educational activities, they make reaching and maintaining a healthy weight fun.

For more information about Weight Matters or to sign your child up for OneLife Suffolk’s programmes contact 01473 718193 or visit www.onelifesuffolk.co.uk

The programmes are designed to benefit the whole family, with parents/ carers taking part in their own sessions while children are involved in their own activities, and are tailored to specific age groups.

The sessions happen after school and in the holidays and cover things from snacking and eating out, to food labels and portion sizes, as well as the importance of getting your 5 a day and making healthy choices. The programmes also link into other local groups and clubs to help you make long term lifestyle changes.

Small changes can make a big difference As a parent, there’s lots you can do to help your child maintain a healthy weight including being active and eating well: • Get active

starchy foods such as bread potatoes, rice and pasta (preferably wholemeal) and switch sweetened soft drinks for water.

Children need about 60 minutes of physical activity a day for good health, but it doesn’t need to all be at once. Several short 10 minute bursts of activity throughout the day can be just as good. The Change4Life website www.nhs.uk/change4life has further tips on how to keep your child active.

• Less screen time

• Eat healthy meals Children, just like adults, should aim to eat 5 or more portions of fruit and vegetables every day as they’re a great source of fibre, vitamins and minerals. Discourage your child from having sugary or high fat foods like sweets, cakes, biscuits, sugary cereals and sugar-sweetened drinks. Aim for your child to get most of their calories from healthier foods such as fruit and vegetables,

Alongside advice to encourage children to move more is the need to reduce the amount of time they spend sitting or lying down in the day as this makes them more likely to put on weight. Limit the time they spend doing inactive things such as watching TV, playing computer games and playing on electronic devices.

• Get enough sleep It also helps children to stay trim if they sleep well. It’s been shown that children who don’t have the recommended amount of sleep are more likely to be overweight. Lack of sleep can also affect their mood and behaviour.

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Christmas Feature

This Christmas Buy Local Make an early New Years resolution this year and use Christmas as an opportunity to see what some of Suffolks local independent retailers have to offer, and instead of hitting the internet for your shopping, hit the high street and consider buying local this Christmas.

Plan Head

THE ULTIMATE JOLLY

CHRISTMAS MEAT FEAST • 14 lb Fresh Free Range Turkey or 3 Ribs of Beef • 3 lb Loin of Pork or 3 lb of Beef Brisket y Local deliver • 3 lb Smoked Gammon e also availabl on request • 8 Traditional Pork Sausages All for just...

• 16 Chipolatas • 1 lb Streaky Bacon • 1 lb Sausage Meat *£10 deposit required when ordering

FREE

£100.00

TO ORDER, VISIT THE SHOP: 101 HIGH STREET, HADLEIGH OR CALL: 01473 810119

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November - December 2016

Sometimes the hardest part of Christmas shopping is knowing what to buy. Whilst children may be easy, as lets be honest they have probably been giving you their wish list of toys and games since you returned from your summer holiday, it’s often the extended family that take a little more planning for. In an ideal world we would all love a leisurely afternoon perusing the local shops for inspiration, but in the real world this is easier said than done! So make a plan, have an idea of what you would like to buy and then spend time finding local suppliers. Doing a little local research early on may just help save on time, and not make the whole experience a complete chore, You may be surprised at what you actually find.

Be Original This Christmas think beyond the standard mass produced box sets of smellies, and give a little more thought to your gifts.

Some of the best presents to

give and receive are those that have a real personal touch to them. Something that has been hand made, or personalised will be a great alternative. You can even get the children involved, enjoying a whole range of creative activities, keep an eye on our website for listings of local events and places to go: www.familiesonline.co.uk

Support the local economy It’s not just your gifts that can be bought locally. This year think about visiting your local butcher, farm shop or village store for sourcing your Christmas dinner and party food.

Not only will you be supporting the local economy, you will be supporting local suppliers too.

There is no better time to see what fantastic local shops and produce Suffolk has to offer.

To find out more about local businesses visit: www.familiesonline.co.uk

Christmas Feature

Christmas at The Bear Garden A Magical Place The Bear Garden is a magical place where you can make your own soft toy either for yourself or as a special gift. The independent and friendly shop have wonderful stations around the shop where you can pick a bear or animal of your choice, add a wish heart and stuff your soft toy either by hand or with a teddy stuffing machine. Every bear receives their own birth certificate with your chosen name and the date you created your favourite new toy. In addition to bear making they also have licenced pre-stuffed plush in store such as Paw Patrol, Trolls and Marvel to name a few. The Bear Garden is also a stockist for Apples to Pears award winning ‘Toys in a tin’.

Christmas at The Bear Garden Do you or your little ones have a favourite teddy bear? Make your list and check it twice. The Bear Garden have all your favourite bear outfit designs in store this Christmas from traditional festive costumes to party wear and cosy warm pyjamas with slippers.

With Santa hats, elf aprons and Christmas knits back in stock their pocket money options are a favourite when coming to visit Santa.

If you want to give the gift of a soft and cuddly teddy this Christmas a visit to The Bear Garden is a must. There are lots of plush available including bears, animals and Christmas companions including, elves, husky’s, reindeer, polar bears plus much more.

Santa at The Bear Garden.

Come and help Santa himself make teddy bears in his Teddy Bear Workshop. Each child will get time to speak to Santa and make a full sized Christmas companion. He has some very special new designs this year too! The one and a half hour workshop includes crafts and finishes with a special story time with Santa before saying farewell to feed his reindeer.

The cost is £19.99 per child which must be booked in advance. Dates: Sunday’s 4th, 11th & 18th December. Call 01473 558994 to book.

As our Teddy Bear Workshops tend to book up there is also an opportunity to visit Santa in The Bear Garden for free on Saturdays (please note there is no gift). Children are welcome to bring their teddy bears to meet Santa or bring a letter for him.

No need to book. Dates: Saturdays 3rd, 10th & 17th December.

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Christmas Feature

How to create a family Christmas party to remember

The thought of planning a Christmas party for family and friends can send us into a spin! But there’s no need to get hot under the collar if you follow our tips and advice for the best party ever…

1. Start early

It’s never too early to start planning. Keep lists of ideas and recipes in a note book. Practice cooking any new dishes and order any hard to get items well in advance.

2. Set the date – and tell people

Set the date and let others know; make sure you include start and end times and details the guests need to know. Avoid clashing with other parties. Consider the quiet time between Christmas and New Year.

3. Set a budget

Don’t let costs get out of hand! Shop at a budget supermarket, make food and freeze it and get decorations and napkins from a 99p store.

Ask guests to bring a bottle.

4. Think about who to invite

List the people you’d like to invite and then cut down to what’s manageable.

5. Creating the mood

Make your home nice with flowers, coffee and scents and stock the bathrooms. Make it warm but not too hot and have a festive play list.

6. Making guests feel welcome

As your guests arrive, get one of the kids to take coats to a bedroom, have some drinks ready and some easy canapés. Don’t forget snacks for the kids!

And finally…

If your guests will be drinking, think about how they will get home (they can of course choose designated drivers) and organise local taxis for those who would rather leave their car at home. If you have the space, you may want to offer a bed to a few people overnight.

Think about giving them a party bag with a small bottle of mineral water and a piece of Christmas cake or a biscotti in it. They will thank you in the morning!

Get more fantastic party ideas from Families Online: www.familiesonline.co.uk/party

Birch Farm Christmas Fayre FREE WEBSITE LISTING If you are hosting a Christmas event, organsing a light’s switch on event in your town or know of any Santa Grotto’s - please upload the details to our new website using our free event listings: www.familiesonline.co.uk/local/east-suffolk/ whats-on

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November - December 2016

Birch Farm are once again running their very popular Christmas Fayre on Saturday 3rd Dec 9am – 1pm. For those of you who enjoyed their summer fayre, or for anyone looking for great Christmas gifts without driving into town then you need to put the date in your diary. There will be many stalls containing Christmas gift ideas for all family members from many local businesses plus the play barn will be open as usual for your children to be busy playing whilst you are busy shopping – this could be all of your Christmas gifts sorted in one outing. Santa’s grotto will also be available so let the kids get their ordersin early, only £3.50 per child and includes a lovely gift.

Tickets can be purchased on the day.

For all information please visit www.birchfarm.co.uk

Family Health

How to keep energy levels up for learning during the winter

By Liat Hughes Joshi

It’s that time of year when we all begin feeling a little sluggish and even lively children may lose their get up and go – literally - when hauling them out of bed for school. So how can you maximise winter energy levels, so they make the most of school, learning and life in general?

Consider a ‘wake up gently’ alarm clock

Walk to (and from) school

Swap the shock of sudden, loud alarms and bright lights switching on for an alarm clock that mimics sunrise by gradually increasing lighting levels.

These make waking up less of a thing to dread on dark mornings.

Watch out for ‘end-of-term-itis’ exhaustion

Maximise sleep The NHS recommends 11 hours sleep for a five-year-old, reducing steadily to around 9.5 hours by the age of 11. Work back from when they need to get up to determine optimal bedtimes.

Many children get a build up of tiredness, which can lead to a condition lightheartedly called ‘end-of-term-itis’, involving tears and tantrums aplenty by December.

Fend it off with quieter afternoons and weekends along with sensible bed times.

Get outside at the weekends whatever the weather

Make hearty but healthy breakfasts Swap sugar-loaded cereals for something warming and energyboosting, such as fruity porridge or scrambled eggs.

Put some lively music on!

If time and distance allows, leaving the car behind and walking will help ensure children are fully awake for their first lessons of the day.

If it’s gloomy outside and everyone’s half asleep…liven things up with mood-enhancing tunes. The right music is a brilliant pick-me-up!

Whilst you may all benefit from downtime after a busy week, even an hour of fresh air and activity will do everyone good. Remember there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing – invest in decent waterproofs and wellies for everyone!

Get more information about the importance of sleep from Families Online: www.familiesonline.co.uk/sleep

HORSE RIDING FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES Friendly family run yard offering equestrian learning and fun for all.

Our team of qualified BHS Staff offer a range of classes, EMAIL: HILLFARMEC@HOTMAIL.CO.UK

You can also follow us on @familiessuffolk

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Baby & Toddler

Dad’s in charge

By Judy Yorke

New rules have completely changed the way parents can take time off after having a baby.

Just a few years ago, dads could only take a fortnight off to spend with their newborn. While 2011 saw the introduction of increased paternity leave, it was only available when mums went back to work.

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Join the adventure through story, rhyme and yoga inspired moves!

Contact us!

Email: somer@yogabugs.com Tel: 0845 863 0693

yogabugs.com

But new Shared Parental Leave regulations give eligible parents across the UK flexibility to juggle childcare between them. After a compulsory two weeks off for the mother, parents can share up to 50 weeks of leave in the baby’s first year (or the first year of adoption). The law applies to same sex couples and those bringing up a child together, even if it’s from a previous relationship.

Taking it in turns How you split the leave is up to you. It will depend on who earns more, who feels their career will be least affected by taking time off, and who wants to be at home. Significantly, for the first time, dads can take the year off while mums return to work.

The leave can be taken in blocks (up to three each) so you can alternate time off if one of you has a particularly busy time at work before resuming parental leave. It’s a big advantage if you don’t want to be away from work for too long.

Some dads might want to return to work in the early months when mums are breast feeding. Once babies start on solids, it can be easier for dads to be fully hands-on so they might want to take time off then, either in one go or in several blocks.

Sharing the load One big advantage is that parents can be off at the same time.

Many mums need their partner’s support in those first magical, exhausting, bewildering weeks and can dread their partner going back to work after a fortnight. In these cases, a few more weeks with both of you at home could help enormously.

Having time off together can benefit families with older children while everyone is getting used to a new member of the family. It means one parent can focus on them and make sure they don’t feel left out. This can also be important in the school holidays when day trips with a newborn are tricky.

Can you afford it?

Finances will play an important part in the decision. While you can share up to 50 weeks, only 37 are paid. You will receive £139.58 per week or 90% of your average weekly earnings, whichever is lower.

To find out more visit: www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/shared-parental-leave.

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November - December 2016

Family Safety Safety Advice on:

Button Batteries

Suffolk Trading Standards is raising the awareness of the dangers posed by button batteries, and the steps that can be taken to ensure your loved ones are safe.

Button cell batteries can be found inside electronic devices including toys, musical books, key fobs and remote controls. If swallowed by small children they can get stuck in the throat and cause severe burns within two hours, or even death.

The risk is greatest when the button/coin cells in these devices are being replaced. In most cases, they pass through the body naturally and do not cause any harm.

However, button/coin cell batteries can lodge themselves in the oesophagus (food pipe) when swallowed. This can be very dangerous and, at worst, fatal.

If left untreated, an ingested lithium coin cell, lodged in the oesophagus, can generate an electric current from the contact between the battery and tissue fluids in the oesophagus. This will cause severe damage and urgent medical attention and immediate battery removal is required.

Ensure your child does not have access to devices if the battery compartment is not secure.

If your child does swallow a button cell battery, seek medical advice immediately.

Suffolk Trading Standards recommend installing a catch on a cupboard or drawer where you might keep spare batteries or small items, which may contain button batteries.

Batteries in children’s toys are covered by safety regulations, which require them to be enclosed by a screw. Great care should be taken when buying toys from temporary shops or unknown traders online as they may not follow safety regulations.

Where you can find button batteries • Small remote controls • Car key fobs • Calculators • Thermometers • Hearing aids • Digital scales • Musical cards • Novelty toys • Watches • Flameless candles and nightlights.

What to do when your child has ingested a button / coin cell • In the event of battery ingestion, seek immediate medical attention at a hospital emergency room.

• Do not let your child eat or drink until an X-ray can determine if a battery is present.

• If you still have the battery packaging or the device containing the battery take this with you to help the doctor identify the battery type and chemistry.

Practical tips for parents to limit the risks of battery ingestion by children: • Only buy toys from reputable traders.

• Store all small batteries out of sight and reach of young children.

• When opening a pack which includes multiple button/coin cells, make sure that children cannot access the batteries which remain in the open packs.

• Make certain that the battery compartment of any household product is securely closed and child-resistant, and/or the product is stored out of the reach of young children.

If you are concerned about the safety of a toy that you have purchased, stop using it immediately, and contact Suffolk Trading Standards on 03454 040506.

Birch Farm Nursery Established 1991 – 2016

25 Years

 Full Day Care Nursery & Holiday Club  Varied Sessions from 3hrs to Full day 7:30am - 6:30 pm  Shift patterns may be accommodated (subject to staff ratios & notice of pattern)  Impressive indoor and outdoor facilities  15 hours a week FREE care for 2,3 and 4 yrs (Subject to status)  Extra curricula activities from Jo Jingles/Swimming/Ballet  Ofsted Rated Good For more information contact Mini  01473 652249  birchfarm@uk2.net  www.birchfarm.co.uk Birch Farm Silver Hill Hintlesham Ipswich Suffolk IP8 3NJ

@familiessuffolk

/FamiliesSuffolk

www.familiesonline.co.uk

01473 788546

13

Parent’s Place

We offer you a range of family law services We all need help from time to time.

Our friendly and approachable solicitors are on hand to advise you on a host of family law services: · Family breakdown - helping to achieve financial security for you · Children - support and expert advice on arrangements for children · Mediation - discussing the issues that matter to you

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Call 01473 611211 barkergotelee.co.uk 41 Barrack Sq, Martlesham, Ipswich IP5 3RF Free parking

Mum in Business Interview: Somer Lynn Your name: Somer Lynn Name, location and nature of your business: YogaBugs Ipswich & Colchester covering South Suffolk and North Essex areas - Children’s yoga development programmes How long has the business been running and the reason why you started your business? YogaBugs is the UK’s leading provider of yoga for children and was founded over ten years ago. Earlier this year, I invested to give the children of South Suffolk and North Essex the opportunity to benefit from our classes. Having moved to Ipswich from London when my older son was almost 1 year old, I noticed there weren’t any toddler yoga classes available. As an adult yoga instructor, I researched training programmes to certify in children’s yoga and was inspired by the depth of programmes offered by YogaBugs. I felt that by investing in YogaBugs, I could make a greater impact in the community by not only offering yoga classes for children, but also working closely with primary schools and nurseries through child development programmes.

What do you enjoy about your role and working your business?

It is an amazing feeling to have the full attention of 30 children in a PE session and to bring a ray of positivity to their day whilst introducing kids to exercise at such a young age. By working closely with schools and nurseries, we make a substantial impact to children’s behaviour, listening and concentration, which enhances their overall performance in school.

What was the best piece of advice regarding work you were ever given? Never give up. Starting your own business can be daunting, but there is so much pride in creating a venture that will benefit your family and your community.

What does the future hold for your business? We would love to see PE Premium and Pupil Premium funding fully utilised in all of our local primary schools so that all children in the area can have the opportunity to benefit from our sessions. As we currently offer classes for children from walking to age 7, we will be training in the near future so that we can offer classes for children up to age 12.

How do you fit your work around family life? Having a job with a good balance between work and family life was my main motivation for forming a business with YogaBugs. My husband and I have two young boys Aidan 3 and Hudson who will be 2 in December. Aidan and Hudson joined nursery a few days a week when I started up the business and I try to focus most of my work on those days while they have fun learning and building friendships. My husband works long hours commuting to London and I felt the need to be available for our boys. Running my own business gives me the opportunity to work part time so I can enjoy the early years together with my boys and it will allow flexibility once they are school age.

What advice would you give to any parents considering returning to work and/or starting up their own business?

The transition is unlikely to be easy from the start, but returning to work or building your own business along with a good family life balance will make a positive impression on your family’s future.

To find out more visit: www.localyogabugs.com/ipswich Tel: 0845 863 0693 or Email: somer@yogabugs.com

14

November - December 2016

Family Fun

Keep the family active this winter As we move from autumn into winter, finding ways to keep the whole family active can become challenging. The wet, dull and cold weather might seem like a great excuse to stay in the comforts of your own home, but we have several ways you can keep fit without having to face the elements.

Get into the Christmas spirit The countdown to Christmas becomes very surreal once the school holidays hit, so it’s always worthwhile being prepared and booking some activities to keep you and the children occupied.

Ipswich Borough Council have a range of ideas to choose from such as swimming and a variety of sports activities. With four sports centres and two swimming pools located across Ipswich, you’re always close to an activity or two!

As well as the school holidays to contend with, there is also the small task of buying presents for all the family. This year, why not treat someone you love, the person that has everything or even yourself to an iCard membership? There are no contracts, no joining fees and no hassle. So you can pick how

many months you would like to treat them to and cancel when it suits.

There are a variety of memberships on offer including the All-Inclusive iCard, where you can access a range of their facilities such as the gym, swimming pool, fitness classes and racquet sports, as well as the more tailored memberships like their iSwim, iRacquets and Junior iCards.

There are no contracts, no joining fees and no hassle Or why not treat the whole family? The Family iCard consists of memberships for one or two adults and up to four children.

Taking some time for yourself Although making time for yourself can seem impossible, it doesn’t need to be. Ipswich Borough Council have Ofsted standard crèche facilities at Crown Pools, Gainsborough Sports Centre and Whitton Sports Centre at selected times throughout the week. So you can take the opportunity to join your friends for a fitness class or go for a swim! The crèche can be booked seven days in advance and the price is included in their All-Inclusive monthly iCard membership.

Also once the children return to school in the New Year, Ipswich Borough Council kick off their after school activities for 2017. So whilst your child enjoys football, trampolining or swimming lessons, you can focus on your fitness.

@familiessuffolk

/FamiliesSuffolk

Find out more More information about Ipswich Borough Council’s Christmas holiday activities can be found on their website www.ipswich.gov.uk/ schoolholidays.

Further details about their iCard can be found by visiting www.ipswich.gov. uk/sport or calling 01473 433503 Also keep your eyes peeled for their winter offers by liking their page on Facebook (search for Ipswich Fitness) and following them on Twitter or Instagram (@ IpswichFit).

www.familiesonline.co.uk

01473 788546

15

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