Families Upon Avon Issue 19 March-April 2011

Issue 19 • March/April 2011 • www.familiesuponavon.co.uk

EASTER SPECIAL

FR EE

upon Avon

Family Activities

Local News

The latest from your region

Mobile Technology Fears

Could your children be at risk?

What’s On

Your guide to local events, clubs and activities The FREE Magazine for Families in Bath & North East Somerset, North Wiltshire & Bradford on Avon

What’s Inside?

2-5

Local News

6-7

Quality time with the kids over Easter

9

Baby Exercise – not just a fad

10

Children’s Health – Wi-Fi & mobile phones

11

Cost of returning to work

12

Book Reviews

13-15 What’s On 16

Mothers Day 1deas Cover image courtesy of Oscar & Roase Photography www.oscar-and-rose.co.uk, 07828 683129

Next Issue: May/June Issue 20 Copy Deadline: 15th April 2011 Distribution 1st Week of May 2011 12,000 copies of Families upon Avon are available through nurseries, schools, libraries, selected shops and other points throughout Bath and North East Somerset, North Wiltshire and Bradford on Avon. If you would like some free copies for your organisation please let us know.

Call 07921 257992 or email editor@familiesuponavon.co.uk Designed by: Mark Mayers: www.markmayers.co.uk Printed by: Bishops Printers: 023 9233 4900 www.bishops-printers.co.uk © Families upon Avon February 2011.

Disclaimer: Any original materials submitted for publication are sent at the owners own risk, whilst every care is taken neither Families upon Avon nor its agents accept liability for loss or damage. We take care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers, nor the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequence.

Families Group: Families upon Avon is part of a group established in 1990 and headed by Families South West (London). All magazines in the Group are independently owned and operated under licence.

Supporting local schools At Families upon Avon we always like to support local schools. I have highlighted below some upcoming events you should know about.

St Mary’s RC Primary, Rowden Hill, Chippenham, SN14 2AN On Friday 1st April - 7-9pm in the School Hall Pamper and Shopping Evening for Mother’s Day (fund Raiser).

Bring your Mum, Sister and girlfriends to a relaxing and sociable evening.

There is a wide variety of stalls for shopping or relaxing, from Reflexology, Indian head massage, Mini Manicures, Mini Facials and products including Colour Me Beautiful Nails, Think Pink, Hang Bags, Chocolates, Cards, Body Shop, Neal’s Yard Organic etc.

On Saturday 7th May 10 - 12pm in St Mary’s School Hall Nearly New Sale Acorns Pre-School, At Kington St Michael Village Hall Saturday 26th March 2011 10:30am – 12:00am Presents The Barefoot Storyteller For Children aged 18mths to 4years. Come and join us with stories, singing and crafts. Entry by Donation (Suggested Donation 50p). For more information contact Lucy on 01249 750576 If you want to let us know what’s happening at your school email me at editor@familiesuponavon.co.uk or call 07921257992.

Focus on fair play For over ten years, Castle Combe Colts Football Club has helped children develop their football skills in a positive atmosphere. The club recently won a prestigious Fair Play Award from Wiltshire FA in recognition of excellent sportsmanship. Children are encouraged to enjoy the game and improve their techniques and fitness. Teams range in age from Under 7 to Under 17, as well as Mini-Kickers for Reception and Year One children. Four free training sessions are offered before you need to sign up.

For more information contact - secretary@cccfc.co.uk or visit the Club’s website at www.cccfc.co.uk

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Local News Bristol Zoo opens new meerkat enclosure A new, state-of-the-art meerkat enclosure has opened at Bristol Zoo Gardens.

Builders have been hard at work over the winter months, constructing the meerkats’ new £100,000 home. At 152 square metres in size, it is over three times bigger than the previous enclosure, with space for around 25 meerkats.

The new enclosure, called Meerkat Lookout, has indoor and outdoor areas for the meerkats and the public, a tunnel and two viewing domes for visitors to get up-close to the animals at eye-level.

John Partridge, Senior Curator of Animals, said: “We wanted the new meerkat enclosure to be the best it possibly could be, with plenty of indoor and outdoor space, shelters and high-tech heating systems. Seeing it all come together now after months of hard work is fantastic.”

The enclosure includes warm rocks to provide localised heating for the meerkats, as well as large sandy areas for them to dig and forage, and off-show sections where they can rest and sleep. Zoo staff have also installed cameras inside their nest boxes so visitors can get exciting, fly-on the wall views inside the meerkats’ home for the first time For more information about Bristol Zoo Gardens visit the website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk or phone 0117 974 7300

Bath Half turns 30!

Sunday 6 March marks the 30th Bath Half Marathon, where runners and spectators alike align the streets of Bath City Centre for this annual event.

The Bath Half Marathon is one of the longest established and most popular city centre road events in the UK. The course itself is fast and flat making it suitable for all abilities – for beginners just looking to complete the course, to more regular runners, looking to beat their personal best.

Bath based Running High has been organising the event for 12 years now, and in that time, they have seen it grow from 3,000 entries to 15,000, selling out in just 12 weeks last year!

The event supports over 50 local and national charities and has already raised an estimated total of £1.3million from this year’s event.

To find out more go to www.bathhalf.co.uk

Mum takes on Smallprint franchise Local Mum of two, Emma Morley, has taken on the Smallprint franchise in Bath and the surounding area.

Smallprint specialises in the production of handcrafted jewellery that captures a child’s fingerprint in polished silver – a perfect and truly unique present. “I first came across Smallprint a few years ago and fell in love with the products. It’s just such an original and fantastic idea. The opportunity to buy the franchise came up just before my maternity leave finished, so I decided to go for it. I love the flexibility of working for myself, and to spend my days doing something that makes a lot of people very happy!” says Emma.

Bookings can be made for private or group sessions. Emma will also be holding regular sessions at Growing Needs in Bradford on Avon, and attending local events.

For more information contact: Emma on 01225 423 052 or emma.morley@smallp.co.uk

NCT Nearly New Sale Saturday 26th March 2011 10:00am – 12 noon at Bath Racecourse

The ever popular NCT Sale returns in March providing a fantastic opportunity to buy good quality second hand clothes and equipment from newborn to 7 years as well as maternity clothes and books. There is a café and outdoor play area to keep the children busy whilst you grab a few bargains!

Funds from the Sale supports both local NCT activities and the NCT’s work as a national charity. NCT help parents have an experience of pregnancy, birth

and early parenthood that enriches their lives and gives them confidence in being a parent. Local activities include: bumps & babies groups, the home birth group and breastfeeding support. There is also support for local students through their training to become NCT course leaders.

Income from the Sales also contributes to local campaigns on issues that matter to expectant and new parents. Last year’s NCTea Party in the Park celebrated the launch of the pilot to enable partners to stay overnight at the Princess Anne Wing after the birth of their babies.

For more information about the Bath & district NCT branch please visit their website: www.nct.org.uk/ in-your-area/bath

Prize winning pupil of Spanish

Congratulations go to Merlin Hetherington, a Year 11 pupil at King Edward’s School in Bath, who came fourth in the Spanish Embassy competition ‘la Ruta Quetzal’.

Ruta Quetzal was set up in 1979

by King Juan Carlos of Spain to promote understanding between young people in all Spanish speaking countries and the rest of the world.

Just 30 students from across the country were invited to the finals in London during December to take part in a series of written and oral Spanish tests Merlin commented: “It was a very rigorous selection process which involved demonstrating not only our ability to speak Spanish but also a thorough understanding of the Spanish culture. I am delighted to have been selected and to have been given the opportunity to improve my Spanish further this Summer.”

Merlin was lucky enough to win a two week intensive Spanish course in Salamanca in 2011 and a pair of panama jack boots.

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Editorial inclusion in the local news pages is always FREE

Vivid stories, world firsts and creature capers from bygone eras have been revealed in a new book celebrating the rich history of Bristol Zoo Gardens.

Published to celebrate the Zoo’s 175th anniversary this year, the colourful, hardback book charts the origins of the zoo and its opening in 1836, through 17 decades and two world wars, the ‘Animal Magic’ years with Johnny Morris, to the present day.

With over 200 pages and 350 photos, ‘An Illustrated History of Bristol Zoo Gardens’ goes on sale this month (March). It includes stories such as the escapee buffalo which ran amok through the city streets in 1838, the opening of the world’s first nocturnal house in 1953, tales of the zoo’s various famous inhabitants, and the births of rare animals such as tigers, panthers, okapi, sloth, lions, rhinos, gorillas, orang-utans and boa constrictors; many of which had never been bred in the UK or Europe before. The in-depth book also includes special

HIDDEN GEM

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Wouldn’t it be lovely to come home and find the food shop all done and put away, admin paid, posted and filed, birthday gifts sourced, ordered and wrapped, plus the party organised? That weekend you planned to de-clutter the house or garage turned into a weekend of relaxing or having fun? That is why Samantha Geddes created Organised Little Things.

Organised Little Things is a holistic lifestyle service developed to provide time saving solutions for busy families like yours. As a working professional and busy Mum of four, Samantha knows only too well that preparation and planning are key to ensuring life runs smoothly. With a passion and skill for organising it made sense for Samantha to use these to provide services for busy parents and anyone who requires an extra hand. With years of experience within varying industries as a trainer, tutor and PA, Samantha is able to take on almost any task at home, office and even help with organising your social life.

Samantha offers a FREE half hour consultation which enables you to discover the benefits of Organised Little Things for yourself.

Services are confidential, competitive and tailored to your specific requirements and budget.

So for whatever you need organising in your life… contact Samantha on 07771 982305 or email: mail@organisedlittlethings.com and make 2011 the year to get organised!

Please mention Families upon Avon when contacting Samantha and receive a 10% discount voucher to put towards your first service!

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• March/April 2011

sections dedicated to Alfred the gorilla, okapis, great apes, babies and the Zoo’s 12-acre botanical gardens, as well as a pull-out map showing the Zoo’s planned layout before it was built.

The book was written and compiled by Zoo historians and enthusiasts, Alan Ashby and Tim Brown, along with Bristol Zoo’s Head of Research, Christoph Schwitzer.

It includes a forward by world-famous television comedian and actor, John Cleese, who went the school at Clifton College, next door to the Zoo, and has been a supporter of Bristol Zoo ever since.

Alan, who is art editor of Antiquexplorer magazine, said producing the book was a unique opportunity to discover the fascinating history of one of the world’s best and oldest Zoological Gardens.

“Working on this book has been a joy,” he said. “Bristol Zoo Gardens is one of the world’s oldest and most important zoos, yet there is very little published material on its history.”

While researching the book, Alan discovered many previouslyunseen photos, illustrations and archive documents, such as the neverbefore-published photo of a rare gerenuk (a species of antelope) with its keeper in 1956.

He added: “Walking around today’s progressive, up-to-date zoo is an activity enjoyed by tens of thousands of visitors every year, myself included. However, now that I have a greater understanding of the zoo’s rich past, I have realised that a tour of the zoo is even more enjoyable.”

‘An Illustrated History of Bristol Zoo Gardens’ is available from the shop at Bristol Zoo, by phoning the Zoo on 0117 974 7300, or online at www.bristolzoo.org.uk/web-shop More books reviewed on p12

Discover Spring at Westonbirt Photo: Rob Cousins

Stories from Bristol Zoo’s history revealed in a new book

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, which is managed by the Forestry Commission, will hold a series of activities and walks this spring to explore the exciting changes taking place as the woodlands bounce back into life.

Autumn may be Westonbirt’s most famous season, but many argue that spring offers the most for visitors. Simon Toomer, Arboretum Director, commented: “Spring is so exciting at Westonbirt because it gives so much throughout such a long season. “Vibrant spring colour lasts several months; starting with camellias in February or March and continuing until the summer months with spectacular shows of magnolias, rhododendrons and wildflowers.”

Westonbirt hopes to excite visitors with reasons to visit across the spring season. A Discover Spring fortnight between 21 April-2 May will include family activities, guided walks, trails and a traditional Silk Wood fair to help open visitors’ eyes to spring at Westonbirt.

Visit www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt for detailed news, events and activity information.

Admission for adults in spring and summer is £8; £7 for concessions and £3 for children. Visitors receive half price entry to Westonbirt every Wednesday during April and May.

If you have some interesting news email: editor@familiesuponavon.co.uk

Who Dares Wins for the NSPCC The NSPCC is calling on daredevils across Wiltshire to do something out of the ordinary in 2011 and take part in a sponsored skydive to help raise funds for the children’s charity.

Jo Winsborough, NSPCC’s community fundraising manager for Wiltshire, said: “Our national helplines – including ChildLine – protect children and young people across the UK, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In the last year we received 5046 calls to the South West, Exeter base. But we rely on on-going public support to help us recruit and train more ChildLine counsellors to answer more cries for help, so that we can be there whenever and wherever children need us.”

“You can help the NSPCC continue its vital work in supporting children, young people and their families by taking part in one of our sponsored parachute jumps.”

Solo or tandem jumps are available year-round and anyone over the age of 16 and in good health can jump from one of 20 different sites across the UK, including Salisbury. No experience is necessary, and your training and jump are FREE if you raise a minimum sponsorship of £395.

For more information on the types of jumps available or to register your interest now, contact the South West NSPCC fundraising team on 01823 346346 or email SouthWestAppeals@nspcc.org.uk

Education News

By Joanna Parry

Forget Protesting – Start Saving

With protests against increased tuition fees still rumbling around us, more and more parents are growing concerned about their children’s future education. As a result of the higher tuition fees, plus exploding living costs, students now face the prospect of finishing university with total debts of well over £30,000. Although the Government insists that students won’t have to begin repayments until they are earning a decent wage packet, it is still a terrifying figure to be faced with. With such huge sums of money looming in front of parents, many are deciding to start saving now. But the figures are jaw-dropping: if you want to provide your child with the money to leave university debt free, you need to save at least £200 per month from your child’s birth until their 18th birthday (assuming inflation of 2.5% pa and net investment returns of 5.5% pa). And if you don’t start at day one the figures are even worse - delaying the start until your child’s 5th birthday means that you would need to save a whopping £377 per month!

Perhaps it’s time to open that Child Trust Fund…

Girls develop faster than boys

We are all aware of this universal truth, but now figures published by the Department for Education show that more than 50% of five-year-old boys are making too little progress. The data is based on teachers’ observations of hundreds of thousands of five-year-olds, and come to the conclusion that more than half of all boys in England are not making good enough progress at school by the time they reach the age of five. The children were tested for 13 skills, covering their physical, intellectual, emotional and social development, with those that achieved at least six points for each skill as well as scoring well in the social and emotional development category said to be reaching ‘a good level of development’. The data showed that 64.9% of girls achieved a good level of development in the tests in 2010, compared with only 46.8% of boys.

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Enjoy quality time with your kids this Easter

Photo: Cris Watk

By Joanna Parry

Whether you’re a working parent looking to spend time with your brood over the Easter weekend, or a fulltime mum desperate to fill a long school holiday, here are a few ideas to try out with your children. With a bit of planning and a few inspired ideas, you can avoid the tantrums and arguments and tear your darlings away from the TV and the Wii and enjoy the Easter break, rather than finding yourself counting down the days until school starts again!

The holidays are a great time to bring back some of the old fashioned games and spend real time with your kids. It can be hard at first, throwing yourself into games and activities, but this is the stuff that childhood memories are made of. It is important to plan your day: write out a holiday timetable of activities such as painting and board games for the morning and playing in the garden and a small amount of TV in the afternoon. If you let them drift from one cartoon to the other they’ll get frustrated very soon!

Activities at home

With a little thought, you can come up with dozens of fun things to do at home, from building castles out of rubbish to dens in the garden, but when you run out of ideas, here are a few more.

• Let your hair down and release your inner-child. Roll around in the garden with your kids, make mud pies, dig for worms and make dens out of sheets and washing lines.

• Invest in some Play-Doh, art supplies and face paints and get creative • Hard boil some eggs and paint with food colouring. When they are dry they are great for egg rolling - if you haven’t got a hill, a slide will do!

• Water painting - paint with a clean paintbrush and a pot of water outside on walls, paving slabs, fences. It’s very effective and the sun removes the evidence!

• Put a cloth on floor as a picnic rug and serve lunch on living room floor.

Or in the garden.

Families upon Avon

Invite their friends over

When you’ve run out of ideas, invite your children’s friends over to play.

You may think double the children means double trouble, but it’s often easier for them to have playmates around to entertain each other. It also means they will get invited back, giving you a much-needed break!

Don’t interfere

If you have more than one child and they are playing nicely together let them get on with it. You don’t have to be involved in everything they are doing!

Plan the day

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• Home camping – hang a tablecloth over furniture, add a torch and a sleeping bag and have some fun!

• Decorate biscuits by mixing icing sugar and water in a bowl to make runny icing and decorate with sprinkles or Smarties.

• Pass the parcel. Why save it for parties? Your kids can do the wrapping too using old newspaper, with prizes as simple as a sticker or packet of raisins.

• Make pasta jewellery • Roll a sheet of newspaper into a ball and play volleyball over a washing line.

• Make salt dough with 3 cups of plain flour, 1 cup salt and 1 cup water.

Model it like playdough and dry out finished models in a cool oven.

Then paint and varnish.

• Treasure hunt - hide toys or sweets around the home and give your kids clues to find them. Kids like setting the hunts too. Alternatively, devise a nature trail where they have to find a series of items such as different coloured leaves.

• Set up a home cinema in your living room: close the curtains, rearrange the furniture, make tickets and prepare snacks before putting on your favourite DVD. • Apple bobbing. Float an apple in a bowl of water and get your kids to try to bite it without using their hands. If you don’t mind mess you can repeat the game with a chocolate or grape in a bowl of flour!

• Hit the park and get active. Borrow the nearest friendly dog and go for a walk, or set up an obstacle course in the garden with buckets, chairs, tables, gardens rakes… anything goes really!

• The holidays are the perfect time to clear out old toys or games and replace them with new finds from the charity shop or swap with friends.

Take the chance to reintroduce some traditional board games and toys into the mix.

• Encourage your kids to dig a vegetable patch of their own in your garden. If you don’t have any outside space, make a mini garden by filling a plant tray with earth and arranging small sprigs of leaves, daisies and grass over the soil. Try small pebbles for paths and foil for a pond.

• March/April 2011

Give them some jobs to do for pocket money

Children like to earn their own money and to get a bit of responsibility – they will often jump at the chance to do a chore that you have been putting off for ages.

Give them a treat

Take them on a trip to a theme park, swimming pool or cinema as a special treat. Make full use of local resources to find out what’s going on in your area - there are always free activities and events going on during school holidays.

Visit your local council’s website and or parenting sites for ideas.

USEFUL LINKS

www.rspb.org.uk/youth/makeanddo/index.asp www.allfreecrafts.com familyfun.go.com www.kidsturncentral.com/links/esitelinks.htm www.A-LittleBird.com For more ideas on things to do over the Easter holidays look on www.familiesuponavon.co.uk

WIN A FAMILY TICKET FAMILIES TO SEE THE ANIMAL COMPETITION MAN IN NEWBURY! Prize includes a free family ticket (2 adults/2 children) to see the Animal Man with Nick Spellman at the Eddie Catz playcentre in Newbury on April 13th from 3-4pm and also enjoy a free play after the show.

In this one hour show children will interact and learn about live animals ranging from birds of prey, invertebrates, reptiles through to a variety of mammals. A sensitive display of many live animals, this show is guaranteed to entertain children and parents alike. Suitable for children 3 to 11 years of age.

One of the very best in indoor play, Eddie Catz is the place to bring your child to play, have a party, take a class or join a workshop or an event! The fun, safe environment has something for every child to do from a giant playframe and disco room to an indoor sports pitch.

There is also a cafĂŠ and lounge area for grown-ups.

See www.eddiecatz.com for more information.

To claim your family ticket please send your name, address and telephone number to info@eddiecatz.com and in the subject write Families Avon Free Animal Man Ticket offer.

Tickets are not refundable for cash and not transferrable.

Family fun on the Water This Easter, why not get the kids outdoors and head to the Bath & Dundas Canal Co. for a unique family day out. Hire a self-drive electric day boat, Canadian canoe or bicycles to explore the beautiful stretch of canal between Bath and Bradford on Avon. You could take a picnic or stop at one of the many family friendly pubs or tearooms along the way. The base offers a large car park, gift shop, historical canal display and a cafe/ restaurant. The perfect place to start and finish your day of exploring out on the canal.

Visit www.bathcanal.com or phone 01225 722292 for more information.

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10% DISCOUNT AND FREE DELIVERY* FSAPMEICLIIAL

E OFFER S

Rocking horses made to last not made for landfill

Mandy Dakin of Mandoux tells us how her quest for a lasting gift inspired her to collaborate with communities in Pakistan and Ecuador to create her beautiful, unique and timeless products.

Because of the economic downturn we want toys to last, and worry that before long they will be discarded or forgotten. As a nation we entered the twenty first century embracing a throwaway culture. Can we continue to accept this addiction and feed the industries need to sell cheap plastic toys? Thankfully, there is a movement towards traditional wooden toys and the reason is down to economics and sustainability. No longer are we able to spend money on gifts that will be next year’s landfill. Parents and grandparents are prepared to spend more on toys that will last and be enjoyed by this generation and the next.

The most iconic and timeless of wooden toys is the rocking horse, a classic, loved by generations of girls and boys who exercise their imaginations whilst rocking away. Christine Nicholls, Chairman of the BTHA (British Toy and Hobby Association). “Toys help children to play, and the power of play in a child should never be underestimated. When combined with a child’s imagination, toys come alive”.

In 2008 Mandy Dakin faced a dilemma, after being asked to be Godmother to her nephew, she wanted to find a lasting gift that was unique and would be enjoyed by Harry, his sisters and his parents and not be shut away and forgotten. Thoughts of Rocking Horses floated through her head and the seed of Mandoux was planted, “I met a family of furniture makers in North Western Frontier Province in Pakistan, where I was living. I was so impressed at the quality of their craftsmanship and use of traditional skills that I asked them to make me a rocking horse and ‘The Little Wooden Horse’ was born”.

Each rocking horse is individually hand carved from sustainable rosewood, a durable hardwood with distinctive honey and chestnut grain, which grows on the riverbanks of Northern Asia. The adjustable and removable tack is made from vegetable-tanned leather, hand-stitched by a master saddler and his sons. Sitting on a traditional Georgian bow, the horse occupies a floor space 85cm x 105cm and adds elegance to any room. It includes a hidden time capsule – a space to keep personal memorabilia and create a very special gift. The horse epitomises quality workmanship. Each one is CE marked, proof that it is robust and can be enjoyed by children and adults alike. It will last for generations, helping to exercise the imagination of our children now and into the future.

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The Little Alpaca Blanket £35 Available in Natural White & Fawn, 112 cm X 84 cm (larger sizes available and name embroidered on request).

The ‘Little Wooden Horse’ and ‘Little Alpaca Blanket’ are available from www.mandoux.co.uk For further information, contact Mandy Dakin on 01225 338028/07853 930233 or email mail@mandoux.co.uk *10% discount and free delivery when you mention Families upon Avon magazine with your order. Free delivery on Rocking Horses restricted to Wiltshire/Somerset only.

The artisans who make these rocking horses live in a town nestled between the Karakouram, Hindu Kush and Himalaya mountains.

Traditional skills have been nurtured over hundreds of years, so they now create beautiful objects, against a backdrop of economic and political difficulty, compounded by the floods of 2010.

Collaborating with Mandy will improve opportunities for the artisans and surrounding community. She respects their skills and pays them fairly.

They reciprocate with loyalty and high quality work. Mandy summarises: “This is an opportunity for us to give back to the communities and help traditional skills survive.”

Mandoux also collaborates with an indigenous family of weavers in Perguche Ecuador, a town with a 500 year history of weaving. Fabian’s family is a success story in Ecuador where over half the population is considered poor. They have turned their home into a business using hand looms to transform alpaca wool into luxurious blankets and with the support of Mandoux will continue to thrive.

Alpaca is a strong, lustrous, soft and lightweight fibre, warmer than wool and hypoallergenic, so no itching. It is guaranteed to keep little ones ‘snuggly buggly’ at all times.

If you have a life changing story that could help or inspire others, why not write to us about it editor@familiesuponavon.co.uk

Baby exercise - not just a fad From an original article by Joanna Parry

In recent years, new mums have found that there has been an explosion of classes for babies, from baby massage to music, signing to singing, gymnastics to yoga.

Many of these classes are valuable both for baby’s development as well as a way of meeting other mums, but recently research has been undertaken that pushes the importance of some of these classes to the fore, with the theory that exercise in infancy is vital in maintaining a child’s lifelong health. This may seem like a fad, but concerned parents are flocking to exercise classes catering for children of all ages, including those too young to even crawl. emotionally bond with your baby, and a soothing and relaxing experience for babies.

You can do baby massage at home or in a class - for tips go to www.makewayforbaby.com/ massages.htm.

Exercise classes

Once a baby reaches 4 months, there are a plethora of baby exercise classes out there, parents keen to give their little one a good start in life are looking to yoga, swimming and developmental play classes for their tots.

The science

According to some paediatric experts, parents who use prams, playpens, car seats and bouncing chairs for hours at a time may be delaying not only their child’s physical development but their mental development too. “The need for even the very young to be physically active is something parents often don’t understand,” says Jane Clark of the University of Maryland, USA. “The earlier infants and toddlers get exposure to daily movement and exercise, the better the likelihood of healthy development in later life.” In fact, regular exercise in the very young encourages the kind of development that may be critical for health in later life, as during infancy the brain is developing pathways and connections to the muscles. Children who do not get enough exercise may miss out on the chance to make the strong kinds of brain-muscle connections that make physical activity easier, more enjoyable and more likely to become a life-long habit avoiding obesity and other weight-related conditions. The lesson learned – keep your baby active and it will set them up for a healthier life.

Early days

Although it may not seem like much, a newborn baby’s daily routine of changing, bathing, crying and growing is enough exercise for them. In fact, a newborn is exercising many of its muscles in the very act of feeding at the breast, and crying is important for the lungs and diaphragm and plays a large part in the development of the baby’s musculature.

One exercise you can do at this stage is baby massage, a great way to physically and

• Start with a baby massage class, where simple massage techniques help stimulate your baby’s senses. Many local health services run free massage classes and there are plenty of private classes around too.

• Baby yoga is a great way to encourage babyparent interaction. Through free-flowing movement, touch and sound, babies learn better coordination, sitting and standing techniques and motor skills. Proponents of yoga say it also helps alleviate problems such as colic and constipation.

• Swimming – babies are born with natural swimming reflexes which, if not developed, they lose at 8-10 months. Swimming not only helps with bonding, but exercise in the water is particularly good because it supports the weight of the baby. Check out your local pool for available classes.

• Baby gym classes have sprung up across the UK in recent years, with sessions from as young as 3 months. What you get depends upon where you go, but many have ball pits, trampolines, basic gymnastics equipment, crawl tunnels and soft play areas to teach babies and toddlers about rhythm, movement, coordination skills and dance through a series of fun tumbling exercises.

to grasp them. A baby gym with hanging toys is great too.

• Finger pull exercise – put your baby on their back and offer your two fingers. When they catch them successfully, lift your hands. Most of the time your baby will leave your hand quickly, but as you play they will hold tighter and hang on for longer.

• Play peek-a-boo or other games that will encourage your baby to imitate you.

• Give your baby supervised tummy-time every day to help with crawling • Any kind of movement that your baby enjoys is good - bouncing on your knee, standing with support or ‘flying’ through the air all helps to strengthen their bodies.

Older babies:

• Sit your baby on the bed with your hands a few inches away. When your baby inclines to one side, help them sit upright again. This will help with balance and develop trunk strength.

• With your baby on their tummy, roll a ball so they have to extend their arms to grasp it and roll it back to you. Alternatively, sit facing each other with your feet touching and roll the ball back and forth, stretching in the process.

• Practise rolling in both directions • Your baby’s attempts to crawl will help them exercise as they work to push themselves forward. Motivate baby to move by clapping your hands and motioning to come towards you.

• If your baby is trying to stand, encourage them to move towards you.

Remember, whatever exercises you do with your baby, they will enjoy it. “These activities are not done to babies, they are done with babies,” says Francoise Barbira Freedman, the founder of Birthlight, a charity which runs infants’ yoga and aquatic classes. “The aim is to help parents bond with their new child, and to instill an enjoyment of exercise from the start of life.”

Exercise at home

Baby exercise classes may be fun, but some can cost upwards of £10 per session and with many of the free, SureStart-organised classes rapidly disappearing, filling your baby’s day with a range of activities can become expensive. The good news is there are plenty of exercises you can do with your baby at home.

3-6 month old babies:

• Lie your baby on a blanket and put toys in front. Encourage your baby to reach and try

Families upon Avon

• March/April 2011 9

The risks to children’s health from Wi-Fi and mobile phones From an original article by Patty Hemingway Inform yourselves. Create a safe zone.

Tell a friend. Go to www.familiesonline. co.uk/radiation to see how.

Have you heard that mobile phones carry health risks, and that children are at an even greater risk than adults?

Dr Devra Davis, environmental and public health specialist, research scientist and grandmother, could not believe this, but what she found out alarmed her so much that she wrote a book, Disconnect: The Truth About Cell Phone radiation, What the Industry Has Done to Hide It, and How to Protect Your family, 2010. She writes that, “Contrary to the firmly held beliefs of many respected authorities, invisible radio frequency radiation can alter living cells and create the same types of damage that we know increase the risk of cancer and neurological disease. Neither the danger nor the safety of cell phones is yet certain. How we manage that uncertainty could avert a global public health catastrophe... children are growing up in a sea of radio frequency radiation that did not exist even five years ago.”

My own concerns about cell phone radiation and other forms of digital pulsed microwave radiation had been aroused a few years ago when I began seeing , an increasing number of children showing symptoms after exposure to mobile phones, mast radiation or wireless radiation.

These included hyperactive behaviour which reverted to normal when the children were away from the irradiated environment, skin rashes and eczemas that did not improve with treatment, night terrors and mood swings, lowered immunity in previously healthy children, and sudden nose-bleeds.

A major concern about mobile phones has always been that radiation can penetrate deep into a child’s skull because it is so much thinner and smaller than an adult’s. Standards for phones are set for a large, thick-skulled, man, although half of the world’s four billion cell phones are used by people under twenty. The SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) printed on the box relates simply to the phone’s capacity to heat tissue, as manufacturers and standard setters initially refused to believe that there could be any other detrimental effect from radio frequency radiation.

This is strange as our bodies run on electrical currents, which are easily disrupted by pulsed frequencies, as has been demonstrated in a study by Dr Magda Havas and colleagues, showing heart arrhythmias triggered by DECT (cordless) phones. (www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EI9fZX4iww).

In the digital age this poses new health risks depending on a person’s susceptibility, the density and intensity of the radiation, and the length of time they are exposed to it. Children are certainly more susceptible because they are still growing, and their neural circuitry will not be fully formed until they reach their early twenties. Until then, they need protection from anything that could interfere with their brain’s development.

In France, this research has led to the decision to ban children in primary school from using mobile phones, and discouraging mobile phone advertising aimed at children. They are also removing wireless communication systems from public places such as libraries, and hospitals, after workers complained of feeling ill at work.

The Bioinitiative Report in 2007 was the work of a group of eminent, international scientists, who examined existing research into the health effects of electromagnetic radiation, and especially its impact on the immune system, behaviour , childhood cancers, breast cancer, and brain tumours. This epic work concluded that the safety standards for exposure need to be revised downwards.

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• March/April 2011

Penetration of cell phone radiation into the human skull

Adult male

10 year old

5 year old

Dr Ronald Herberman, director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute was being cautious when in 2008 he drafted a memo to staff, warning of the dangers of mobile phones, and urging them to limit their use because of the risk of cancer. Top of his list of precautions is that children should use mobiles only for emergencies, in recognition of the fact that their growing brain tissue is likely to be more sensitive to the electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones.

Alasdair Philips from Powerwatch, an independent group that investigates the safety of mobile phones, revealed that safety advice was generally to be found only in the small print. Manuals for the Blackberry (The Torch), for example, warn users to ‘use hands-free operation if available and keep the device at least 25mm from your body (including the abdomen of pregnant women and the lower abdomen of teenagers)’ when it is switched on.

Dr Davis’s advice is, never carry a live mobile phone next to your body, and always use a headset. You can see her video for teenagers on her website, www.environmentalhealthtrust.org , or check out the guidance from a group of concerned parents, who have looked closely at the science, www.wiredchild.org, which includes: • Keeping calls short or sending texts • Replacing wireless equipment with non-wireless • Changing to a low-radiation or analogue baby monitor • Turning all wireless equipment off at night, in the car, and when near pregnant women, or children.

Patty Hemingway (RMANM) is a family homeopath, with a special interest in electromagnetic radiation sickness www.pattyhemingway.com

Useful websites

www.environmentalhealthtrust.org – how to use phones safely www.wiredchild.org – news and science for children and their parents. www.bioinitiative.org – for Bioinitiative Report www.powerwatch.org.uk – the latest research, clearly explained www.es-uk.info – support to people with symptoms of electrosensitivity

Books

Radiation Rescue – 4 steps to safeguard your family from the other inconvenient Truth – the health hazards of wireless technology.

Kerry Crofton, 2009 Disconnect: The Truth about Cell Phone Radiation, What the Industry Has Done to Hide it, and How to Protect Your Family.

Dr Devra Davis, 2010.

Read more at www.familiesonline.co.uk/radiation

The cost of

returning to work Having a job when your children are young just got more expensive Joanna Moorhead explains why

After all, life is hard enough when you’ve got a small child or small children; if the money you’re bringing in is making a big material difference to your family, then it’s worth it. But when it ceases to do that, you might as well reduce the stress in your own life and increase the amount of time you spend with your child or children, and quit work.

The problem in the UK, as compared with many other countries in Europe, is that childcare costs already eat up a huge proportion of a family’s income – 33%, according to recent figures from the OECD, compared with 4% of a family’s income in Belgium, 11% of a family’s income in France, and even compared with 19% of a family’s income in the US. And many campaigners argue that failing to invest in childcare, and so reducing the proportion of a family’s income spent on childcare, is failing the long-term economic future of the country. After all, working mothers are extremely valuable to the economy: they’re paying into their pensions, they’re learning new skills, they’re keeping their confidence up, and even if they only tread water while their children are young, they’re keeping connected with the world of work in a way that will make it much easier to up a gear when their children are at school.

From the government’s point of view, of course, the changes to working tax credit are all part of a cuts package that has to affect everyone in the land. This month’s changes to the childcare element of the credit will save £270m next year, rising to £385m by 2014-15. The policy is one of several deficit reduction measures which will hit families, including an end to the £250 child trust fund for new babies, and the cutting of child benefit from 2013 to families where one parent is a higher-rate taxpayer.

What’s especially unfair is that, if women leave the workplace when their children are tiny, they often find their working choices hugely reduced when they try to return to work three, or five, or even ten years down the line.

And given that we’re being encouraged to anticipate living longer, and working for longer, that makes no sense.

MORE INFORMATION

Daycare Trust: www.daycaretrust.org.uk Working Families: www.workingfamilies.org.uk Childcare tax credits: www.direct.gov.uk We’re all in this together – we’ve all heard that, many times, from our politicians about our country’s financial problems. But from April, if you’re a working parent you could be forgiven for thinking you were maybe taking more than your fair share of the hit.

Why so? Well, that’s when cuts to state-funded help with childcare announced in last year’s comprehensive spending review start to kick in: and what they’ll mean is a cut in income of up to £1,300 a year to some families, according to the think tank Resolution Foundation.

Chancellor George Osborne announced last year that the percentage of childcare costs recoverable through the working tax credit system would be reduced form 80% to 70% this month. But, says the Resolution Foundation, many families are still unaware of the changes – and, says its chief executive Gavin Kelly, those on middle-to-low incomes are the ones likely to find the losses hardest to bear.

“Many parents find support with childcare costs absolutely essential to staying in work, and the big worry is that some will now find that work doesn’t pay,” he says. And he points out that, coming after recent rises in travel costs, the cuts come at a time when families are feeling the pinch very hard indeed.

After all, for working parents childcare cuts don’t just represent a loss of income: they force parents to think about whether working when their children are young is actually worth the effort at all. Given that the government is committed to helping parents to work if they want to, that doesn’t make much sense.

To be totally fair about it, of course, a two-parent family should view the costs of childcare as a proportion of their joint income. But in practice, how it’s seen by most couples is as a proportion of the mother’s wage.

And if the proportion of that income spent on travel, lunches and childcare becomes too high, then many mothers start to think: what’s the point of carrying on working?

Families upon Avon

• March/April 2011 11

Book Reviews Reviewed by Maggie O’Brien Baby’s Here!

Who Does What?

By Duncan Fisher Published by GS Press ISBN 978-1905550-05-0 RRP £8.99 (All the profits from this book go to fund Family Info Ltd) Duncan Fisher suggests challenging tradition, taking a step back and looking at ways to accommodate both parents. Sharing care, something I think every new parent should look at. He is humorous and points out; the unrealistic ideas prospective parents have, the rut that can so easily develop, and the valid point; ‘If we haven’t been hands-on with the little ones, we are rarely in a good place when it comes to dealing with stroppy teenagers’.

So true.

He looks at the laws around paid leave and how both parents can work and it’s all laid out in short burst chapters with excellent summing up.

Families Rating: HHHHHH Cyberbullying

By Vanessa Rodgers Published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers ISBN: 978-1-84905-105-7 RRP £9.99 This is an informative book that once dipped into makes it feel like an essential read.

Described as a valuable resource particularly to people working with children and teens, it soon becomes apparent that it would be useful for all parents. It is packed with practical exercises that explore different hypothetical scenarios; how to deal with all kinds of cyberbullying and how to deal with being the bully. It is punchy and inventive helping young people face this issue without being alarmist.

I found some of the cyberbullying examples mirror recent cases in the press and this makes it very real.

Families Rating: HHHHHH Emotional Healing For The Inner Child (A Survivor’s Guide To The journey Of Life)

By Anne Cummings Published by The Book Guild Ltd ISBN 978-1-84624285-4 RRP £17.99 Is the way you react to your children because of your own childhood and upbringing? Do you feel inhibited by some things, possibly associating it unknowingly, with something that happened to you? Have you got the right work/ life balance?

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Anne Cummings takes us through various stages of our lives likening it to a ferry crossing, looking carefully at the beginning and the various calms and turbulences along the way.

Initially sceptical about reading her book, it intrigued me. I felt like I was being counselled as I read it, even though at times, I felt slightly overwhelmed by some of her references to different psychology studies.

Families Rating: HHHHHH Reviewed by Rosie Elphinstone Maths For Mums And Dads

By Rob Eastaway and Mike Askew Published by Square Peg ISBN 978-0-22408635-6 RRP £10.99 Many adults claim that they are ‘hopeless’ at maths, convincing themselves they are in no position either to understand or help their children with maths homework. This book sets out to challenge that premise and to clarify mathematical principles. It suggests that learning should be fun but that anything worth learning requires effort. Problems are there to be solved – not getting it right first time does not translate into ‘incompetence’. Whether it removes the terror for the maths phobic, I am not sure, but I have greatly enjoyed this book and have found it enlightening, challenging, instructive and fun, and would highly recommend it to any parent wanting to increase their knowledge and confidence in maths.

Families Rating: HHHHHH Stress-Free Parenting in 12 Steps

By Christiane Kutik Published by Floris Books ISBN 978086315-762-2 RRP £7.99 Modern day parenting, with all the pressures of 21st century life, is undoubtedly stressful and I value any book that successfully advises how to avoid the pitfalls that exacerbate the stress levels. This book does so very well, largely because it draws on sound, traditional values with clear roles, rules and respect. Each chapter starts with a familiar challenging scenario; the author then demonstrates how deftly to handle these potentially stressful situations, remembering that the parent should always remain in control. I found this book deeply insightful and the advice, in its simplicity, so helpful and achievable, and I would highly recommend it.

Families Rating: HHHHHH

• March/April 2011

Reviewed by Emilie Amos Split in Two

By Karen Buscemi Published by A & C Black ISBN 978-40812815-1 RRP £5.99 This book, aimed at the teen market, helps the reader to learn how to split their time between their separated/ divorced parents’ two homes. Strategies are given as to how to negotiate with their parents; how to become more organised; how to save money; and how to become an expert packer.

It gives tips on how to reclaim a sense of self, gain more independence and generally feel less confused.

The text has a compassionate tone and includes advice from teenagers who have found what works best for them.

Families Rating: HHHHHH The Second Baby Survival Guide

By Naia Edwards Published by Rodale ISBN 978-1905744-67-1 RRP £10.99 Clear and informative, this guide provides helpful advice for parents considering — or already on their way to — having more than one child. Different temperaments, different routines, and different sleep patterns all come to mind during the first few months following my second child’s birth.

This book suggests many coping mechanisms, which include planning a sibling strategy; understanding rivalry issues; managing sleep with two; and looking after two or more children while sustaining your marriage.

Families Rating: HHHHHH Babynomics: Money Saving Tips for Smart Parents

By Madeline Thomas Published by White Ladder Press ISBN 978-1-90541-065-1 RRP £9.99 If you are shocked by the terrifying fact that it costs up to £200,000 to raise each child until the age of 18, then this book is definitely for you. It illustrates how you can cut the alarming cost of bringing up children so you can give them the quality of life you want. Great moneysaving tips are given, including how to feed a family of four for under £50 a week and how to organise a memorable birthday party for under £30. Invaluable advice is also given on financial topics ranging from statutory maternity pay to making a will.

Families Rating: HHHHHH For more book reviews by parents go to www.familiesonline.co.uk/reviews

What’s On

Please always phone before setting out in case details have changed since our press deadline.

EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS AT BRISTOL Anchor Road, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5DB 0117 909 2000. www.at-bristol.org.uk Feel the Force 25 November - 30 April Explore forces and friction with our new handson activities.

Force Field in the Live Science Zone 14 December - 14 March Explore forces and friction with our new handson activities.

Winter Night Sky Planetarium Show 5-6 March Sit back and discover coloured stars, giant nebulae and how to navigate your way around the Winter night sky.

The Bang and Boom Show!

5-6 March, 12-13 March, 2-3 April, 9-23 April, 30 April - 02 May Expect bangs and blasts in our brand new show about the science of chemistry! Usually 12.30 and 3.30 weekends and holidays (subject to availability)

Little Stars Planetarium Show 5-6 March, 12-16 March, 9-25 April Get star struck in our Planetarium show Little Stars, especially for under 5’s.

Storytelling 07 Mar,ch 14 March, 04 April, 12 April Let yourself get swept up in a story! 11.30 am weekends and holidays Toddler Time - includes storytelling!

11-13 March, 15 March - 20 June, 9-25 April Get to meet other parents and carers in the fun and friendly surroundings of At-Bristol. Half price entry for parents and carers. Under fives go FREE All About Us Launch Weekend 11 March Join us for the launch of our new £1.5 million exhibition ‘All About Us’ Festival of Ideas: Tim Flannery Here on Earth: A New Beginning 12-13 March Brilliant Brain Week!

12-13 March Meet local neuroscientists and find out more about the brain and how it works!

Spring Night Sky Planetarium Show 15 March Embark upon an amazing journey around the Universe Festival of Ideas: Brian Greene 19-20 March The Hidden Reality: Parallel Worlds and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos Build a Bunny!

30 April - 02 May Build yourself an Easter bunny from modelling clay and bring it to life in our Animate it! exhibition.

STOURHEAD Stourhead Estate Office, Stourton, Warminster, Wiltshire BA12 6QD Tel: 01747 841152 www.nationaltrust.org.uk

The Search for the Durotriges 4 March, 1:00pm Join National Trust archaeology expert Martin Papworth for a fascinating talk as he launches his new book.

Families upon Avon

• March/April 2011 13

Photography Made Simple 5 March, 10:00am Adult £85 (including lunch) Creative and DSLR photography made simple.

Have Happy Hens 23 March, 10:30am Adult £5 (including refreshments) All you ever needed to know about hen keeping but never dared ask ....

Guided Walk of Stourhead Estate 7 dates between 25 March 2011 and 30 September No Additional charges. Venture beyond the garden into the woodlands on our FREE guided tour and discover how we manage the wilder side of Stourhead.

In the Garden 26 March 11:00am and 27 March 2011, 11:00am FREE event (normal admission charges apply) Our Assistant Head Gardener Penny will be sharing the work she does and giving you a glimpse behind the scenes.

Pots from the Dragon Kiln 1 April to 25 May, 10:30am to 5:00pm and 19 August to 30 September, 10:30am to 5:00pm. No Additional charges.

Treat yourself to a stunning piece from the exciting collection of hand-thrown pottery by the famous Eeles family.

Glorious Garden Walk 5 dates between 14 April and 18 August FREE event (normal admission charges apply) Join Alan, our Head Gardener, for an afternoon stroll. Discuss and discover more about the history and management of the world-famous landscape garden and the plants in it.

Volunteer Open Day 16 April, 11:00am FREE event (normal admission charges apply) If you have plenty of enthusiasm and a little time we would love to meet you. Staff and volunteers will be on hand to help you discover how you can meet new people, use your skills, learn new ones and have fun.

In the Garden 23 April 11:00am and 24 April, 11:00am FREE event (normal admission charges apply) Penny, our Assistant Head Gardener and her volunteer team will be working on an area of planting in the garden. Find them and discover why and how the areas are being restored and cleared.

Stourhead Tulip Festival 24 April to 8 May 2011, 9:00am to 6:00pm FREE event (normal admission charges apply) Ever wondered what 19,000 tulips would look like? Join us and find out as we celebrate our very first festival sponsored by tulip specialists de Jager who have generously donated 15,000 of the bulbs we have planted.

Tuliptastic Easter Egg Trail 24 April 11:00am and 25 April, 11:00am Child £2.50. Join in the flowery fun with our very special Easter trail, hunting for chocolatey treats with our tulip-themed clues.

Sir Richard Colt Hoare and the 19th Century Time Team 29 April, 1:00pm FREE event (normal admission charges apply)

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Hands on activities for amateur archaeologists of all ages!

In the Garden 30 April, 10:00am FREE event (normal admission charges apply) Sarah, our gardener who helped to organise this year’s Tulip Festival will be around to talk to you about the preparation involved in producing such a display.

LACOCK ABBEY, NEAR CHIPPENHAM The National Trust Tel: 01249 730459 www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock Get ready for Mothering Sunday Saturday 2 April, 11am to 3pm Use fabulous ‘Fantasy Film’ to create a delicate flower model and hunt around the gardens for spring flowers to sketch to make a great card for Mum! A drop in event, please allow about 40 minutes for all activities. Normal admission fees apply. National Trust members and under fives-FREE. Medieval Day Sunday 17April, 11am to 4pm Find out about the origins of Lacock Abbey and meet the medieval nuns, knights, traders and craftspeople, as the Harlech Knight’s Re-enactment Group visit Lacock for the day.

Sorry, no jousting!

Normal admission charges apply. National Trust members and under fives-FREE. Easter Trail Saturday 23 to Monday 25 April, 11am to 4pm Enjoy an egg-tastic trail around the abbey grounds in search of clues to win a chocolate surprise. Last trail issued at 3.30pm.

Sponsored by Cadburys Normal admission charges apply, plus £1 per trail. National Trust members and under-fives – FREE

The 2010 Urban Music Living Legend Tuesday 20 March Courtney Pine CBE OBE, celebrates the release of his sixteenth album. Four-starred by Mojo Magazine, March 2011.

Warsaw Village Band Saturday 2 April Lauded by the New York Times as ‘the sound of globalisation’, they fuse Polish folk music with dance, reggae and punk.

On Saturday 12 March.

John Williams and John Etheridge Saturday 2 April Two of the greatest guitar players in the world.

SOLD OUT/Waiting List Available.

Rachmaninov’s Original Steinway Piano Wednesday 6 April is out of storage and will be played by one of Britain’s leading piano duos.

VICTORIA ART GALLERY Bridge Street, Bath, BA2 4AT Tel: 01225 477232 www.victoriagal.org.uk

Open for the Season Cranmore is a delightful country station, from a bygone era, with so much to offer for a ‘grand day out!’. Youngsters can get up close and personal to a full size steam locomotives!

(Facilities include; restaurant, picnic area and children’s play area). For further details of events, special days and train time-tables visit www.eastsomersetrailway.com

Harris and Mussi: Fifty Fifty Until 3 April Matthew Harris and Cleo Mussi - this recent body of work, based on a trip to Japan, continues their exploration of materials and processes.

Karen Wallis: Views and Observations Until 3 April Influenced by Rembrandt and Edward Hopper.

Visitors to the show are invited to create their own views and observations for an online exhibition.

Behind the Scenes Tours Wednesdays, 16 February, 16 March, all 12.00-12.45 Explore the Gallery’s stores and discover the full scope of our collections. Free, but please book in advance.

Activities for Children £3.75 per child in advance. All children to be accompanied by an adult.

Book on 01225 477244.

Eggstravagant Art Thursday 14 April, 10.30-12.00 and 1.30-3.00. (3 to 7 years). xplore eggy art and create an eggstravagant hat What a Picture!

Friday 15 April, 10.30-12.00 and 1.30-3.00 and 1.30-3.00. (6 to 11 years) Enjoy our special exhibition and create a good ‘view’ using mixed media.

WILTSHIRE MUSIC CENTRE Ashley Raod, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 1DZ 01225 860 100

BRUNEL’S SS GREAT BRITAIN BS1 6TY. 0117 926 0680 www.ssgreatbritain.org

EAST SOMERSET RAILWAY The Cranmore Railway Station, Shepton Mallet BA4 4QP. 0174988 0417

• March/April 2011

To publicise your event in our What’s On pages email editor@familiesuponavon.co.uk Family Fun From 1 March Join professional storyteller Sarah Mooney for adventures of the high seas. Stories are tailored especially for pre-school children aged 3 to 4 year olds, but younger siblings (and older during school holidays) are welcome too.

Mother’s Day Portraits 3 April, 11am to 3pm.

Dress up in costume for Victorian-style photos for mum.

Victorian Surgeon April 22 to 25, 11am to 4pm Seek medical advice for indigestion! Introduce yourself to a leech named Isambard Exhibitions Until December 2011 ‘The Incredible Journey’, a new exhibition Turn back the clocks and listen to the memories of those who rescued the ship from the Falkland Islands and witnessed her return, and view the stunning new animated film.

THEATRE HIPPODROME BRISTOL Box Office 0844 847 2325 Chess Tuesday 1st – Saturday 5th March, Evenings at 7.30 pm Matinees on Wed & Sat 2.30 pm Tickets: £15.50 - £34.50 Halfway to Paradise The Billy Fury Story Monday 7th March, at 7.30 pm Tickets: £18.00 & £20.00 The Naked Truth Tuesday 8th & Wednesday 9th March @ 8.00 pm The hit comedy play starring Maureen Nolan, Claire King, Michelle Heaton and Leanne Jones Tickets: £17.50 £19.50 The Magic of Motown Thursday 10th March at 8.00 pm Tickets: £20.50 £23.00

Thomas & Friends Live! on Stage A Circus Comes to Town Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th March Saturday at 11.00 am/2.00 pm & 5.00 pm Sunday at 11.00 am & 2.00 pm.

Tickets: £17.00 Buddy Monday 14th – Saturday 19th March Evenings at 7.30 pm Matinees on Wed & Sat at 2.30 pm Tickets: £13.50 - £28.50

Drumchasers Tuesday 22nd March at 7.30 pm The new 10-piece percussion and dance spectacular. Tickets: £17.00 Tell Me on a Sunday Starring Claire Sweeney Wednesday 23rd - Saturday 26th March Evenings at 7.30 pm Matinee on Sat at 2.30 pm Tickets: £13.50 - £31.00 Welsh National Opera Wednesday 30th March - Saturday 2nd April. Wednesday & Friday - Die Fledermaus at 7.15 pm. Thursday & Saturday - Il trovatore at 7.15 pm. Tickets: £7.50 - £39.50 Lenny Henry Cradle to Rave: A Musical Journey Sunday 3rd April at 7.30 pm Tickets: £24.50 Thriller Live Monday 4th – Saturday 9th April Mon – Thur @ 7.30 pm Fri @ 5.00 pm & 8.30 pm Sat @ 3.00 pm : 7.30 pm Tickets: £15.00 - £37.50 Hairspray Tuesday 12th - Saturday 30th April Starring Michael Ball & Micky Dolenz Tue - Sat at 7.30 pm Wed, Sat & Sun at 2.30 pm Tickets: £18.50 - £43.50 THE EGG THEATRE AT THE THEATRE ROYAL BATH Sawclose, Bath BA1 1ET Tel:01225 448 844 YPT Acting’s production of Book Labyrinth Thursday 3rd to Sunday 6th March Evenings at 7pm & 8.30pm. Matinees on Saturday & Sunday at 2pm & 3.30pm Age range: 6 years and over Tickets: £7 / £5.50 children & students Sonia Sabri Company presents Kathakbox Wednesday 9th March, 1.30pm & 7.30pm Age range: 7 years and over Tickets: £7/ £5.50 children & students Saturday 12th March Angel Heart Theatre presents Malina’s Dream Saturday 12th March, 11.30am & 3pm Age range: 4 years and over Tickets: £7/ £5.50 children & students Trestle Unmasked presents The Birthday of the Infanta Friday 18th March & Saturday 19th March Friday: 10.30am & 1.30pm, Saturday: 11.30am & 3pm Age range: 9 years and over Tickets: £7/ £5.50 children & students Tell Tale Hearts Theatre presents From Here to There Wednesday 23rd March to Saturday 26th March, Wed – Fri: 10am & 1pm, Saturday: 11.30am & 3pm Age range: 18 months to 5 years Tickets: £7/ £5.50 children & students Pen-Ultimate, Contact and The Albany presents

A Night on the Tiles Wednesday 30th March & Thursday 31st March, Wednesday: 1.30pm & 7.30pm, Thursday: 1.30pm Age range: 12 years and above Tickets: £7/ £5.50 children & students

SPORTS CAMPS

BATH CITY EASTER SOCCER CLUB Book by email with your credit card details soccercoaching@bathcityfootballclub.co.uk Telephone: 01225 335 489 / 07730 538841 BATH CITY FC EASTER SOCCER CLUB 12 -14 April 9.30am - 3.00pm.

12th April & 13th April at Culverhay Sports Training Pitch 14th April at Twerton Park Stadium Price is £20 per day, £12 per half day or £50 for all 3 days. Book early to avoid disappointment - Advance booking essential!

Contact 01225 335489 / 07730 538841 soccercoaching@bathcityfootballclub.co.uk We are ‘Your Time’ registered which means that children entitled to free school meals may be able to join us for free - please contact us for further details.

RALPH ALLEN SCHOOL Claverton Down Road. Bath BA2 7AD. Email bath@wsmcamps.org. To register your place. www.getsported.org & find us on Facebook!

Get Sported: Multi Sports Day Camp Monday 11 - Wednesday 13 April, 9.15am - 4pm.

All children aged 5-12 years - come & enjoy Football, Cricket, Rugby, Basketball, Ultimate Frisbee, Baseball & many more! Learn / improve your sports skills with great coaching.

Develop your character & confidence through activities & team talk discussions, centred around our themed curriculum. Take part in the Get Sported Championship. It’s fun, exciting & action packed! Prices from £18-£54.

Families upon Avon

• March/April 2011 15

Come on Dads - it’s a day for Mum! By the Editor’s other half

Don’t forget Mother’s Day: 3rd April

This year, on April 3rd, Mums across the UK will be enjoying a lie in, a delicious brunch and a day of pampering and relaxation, (at least, that is what they will be expecting).

The widely believed origins of Mother’s Day or the traditional Mothering Sunday is considered to refer to a day when those working in service were given a day to return home and worship in their home or ‘mother’ church and therefore a time also spent with their mother and family.

The internet is a wonderful thing and you can find a wealth of information to help plan the day. These may seem obvious so apologies if you are already a true man of the modern age but some ideas in case you need some help!

• The lie in is not a hard one to organise but if you are not up to speed with the morning routine – now is the time to ask.

• Make the place look tidy so Mum doesn’t feel the need to get working as soon as she wakes up.

• Stock up beforehand and get the kids together to cook up a tasty brunch.

French toast or pancakes are simple and can make a tasty change.

• Breakfast cocktails – maybe – to make the start of the day feel special.

• Flowers in some form, chocolates and a card, home-made or picked by the kids is essential!

• Weather permitting – check out local walks or parks to take in the spring air, sights and sounds but either way pick an afternoon activity where Mum can spend some quality time with you and the kids. Of course, if a relaxing day at home is Mums choice – organise some games, rent a family film or if you have really planned ahead, get the kids to put on a show.

• Of course, you will have planned a family meal at home or pre-booked out and about.

• Put the kids to bed letting Mum polish off the bubbly (in a relaxing bath if preferred).

Whilst this has been written with good intentions, I will no doubt manage only some rather than all of these but however you wrap it up, just remember it is the chance to let Mums know how special and appreciated they are – even if you only manage it once a year!

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Families upon Avon

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As an experienced and established magazine we can support your plans for success through the coming year as well as providing key benefits such as: •Flexible advertising and pricing options to meet your budget.

•Specific and targeted advertising aligned with our themes and features.

•Design services and editorial support.

•Free online presence.

Families upon Avon is only made possible by the support of our local advertisers.

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There has never been a more important time to promote your business than now as customers become increasingly careful about where they spend their money. If you are not advertising regularly, you can bet your competitors are!

To find out how we can help you, please give us a call on 07921 257992 or email editor@familiesuponavon.co.uk

• March/April 2011