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EE FR
ISSUE 21 • SPRING 2015
WIN! A family break in Devon or Cornwall
IN THIS ISSUE: Kids’ Fashion Away with the Kids Cool Kids’ Rooms Inspiring Young Minds Positive about Autism and much more . . .
My Family is proud to support annakennedyonline.com
www.myfamilymagazine.co.uk
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contents 4-8
Kids’ Fashion Special Occasions Fabulous Footwear Spring 2015
9-10
Get Crafty Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator Story
11
Handmade Meet the Makers
12-15
Cool Kids’ Rooms Creating an imaginative room for a child
16-17
Play & Learn Time to Play Outdoors
18-20
Inspiring Young Minds Early Building Blocks for Reading Success
21-31
Away with the Kids Try Something NEW while on Holiday in Britain Make the most of Britain's great outdoors COMPETITION – Win a family break in Devon or Cornwall courtesy of Richardson Hotels Happy Holidays with Sue Atkins Holiday Must Haves COMPETITION – Win a Funky Little Bugs change bag COMPETITION – Win a Snuggle Sac
32-34
Making a Splash The Benefits of Swimming From swimming to aquajogging: the dos and don’ts of water-based exercise for pregnancy and beyond
35-36
Preparing for Baby The benefits of Real Nappies
37-38
Happy Retirement 2015 is a GREAT year to retire
DISCLAIMER The information contained in My Family magazine is not meant to replace that of a midwife, healthcare professional or GP. My Family would always recommend that you seek medical information from a qualified health professional.
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A note from the editor 39-40
Special Needs Family Support for Disabled Travellers
41-48
Positive about Autism Autism’s GOT TALENT! returns to the stage! Baston House School case study Performing & Creative Arts at Baston House School BBC One’s The People’s Strictly for Comic Relief confirms contestants AKO Takes the Campaign for Autism Awareness and Understanding to the House of Commons Celebrating 40 Years of Specialist Provision for Complex Needs in Hesley Group
Welcome to the Spring issue of My Family! Springtime is a great time for exploring everything that the UK has to offer, so for those of you planning a holiday or weekend away, check out the fantastic accommodation on offer in the Away with the Kids section – there’s even a chance to win a family break worth £600 in Devon or Cornwall courtesy of Richardson Hotels! International parenting expert, Sue Atkins offers advice for a happy holiday and if you are planning to travel with children, we have lined up a selection of great products that should make traveling with kids a little easier and a lot more fun. In this issue the Kids’ Fashion section, is bursting with stunning special occasion wear, fresh new looks for Spring and fabulous footwear, which is sure to have your mini fashionista jumping with joy.
My Family magazine 3rd Floor • St Georges House • 6 St Georges Way Leicester LE1 1SH Telephone: 0116 2014424 For advertising enquiries email karen@myfamilymagazine.co.uk For subscriptions and distribution information email info@myfamilymagazine.co.uk
www.myfamilymagazine.co.uk
Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/pages/My-Familymagazine/178172092255392
On a more serious note – being able to read well is the keystone to a good start in life. Children need to ‘learn to read’ and then they ‘read to learn’. Save the Children have recently launched the Read on. Get on Campaign with the goal of ensuring all 11 year olds will leave primary school being able to read well by 2025. The campaign brings together a coalition of head teachers, teachers, schools, parents, politicians, celebrities and the wider community to help children become better readers. You can find out more about ways to support your child’s reading in our Inspiring Young Minds section where founder of Reading Chest, Liz Walker provides information on Early Building Blocks for Reading Success. With all this and many more informative articles, inspiring features and fun competitions – enjoy the read!
Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com @MyFamilyMag Best wishes Karen x Karen Reddell – Editor
Feature images used under license from Shutterstock.com and depositphotos.com. Other images have been supplied by independent sources. COMPETITION RULES Full details of competition rules are available on our website www.myfamilymagazine.co.uk. Entering a competition through the print magazine or via this website will be seen as acceptance of these rules.
The Team Hazel Alemany Designer design@myfamilymagazine.co.uk Jake Pullin Sales and Admin info@myfamilymagazine.co.uk
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Communion dress with tulle skirt, beaded waistband and an attached cape www.justdresses.co.uk
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For a Special Occasion . . . Deep Purple Rose Petal Dress with rosebud covered top www.angels-face.co.uk
Sparkly Purple Prom Dress from Just Dresses Limited with matching accessories
www.justdresses.co.uk
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KIDS’ FASHION
First Holy Communion and Children’s Occasion Wear from Little Jems At Little Jems boutique you will find a collection of tasteful children’s occasion wear for those very special moments in life. Little Jems was established by mother and daughter team Rita and Clare, who were inspired by their difficulties finding Holy Communion wear in the North West of England.
Rita says “We were looking for First Communion dresses, veils, shoes etc. for my granddaughters, Jessica and Emily, who inspired the company name. We found bridal shops with the odd dress but there was nowhere that gave a choice of styles – so we resorted to the internet. We found plenty of websites in the USA and quite a few in the UK but they were mostly in the South of England and there didn't seem to be anywhere in the North West which offered a one-stop shop for First Communion wear. We decided to rectify that and began our fledgling business”. Today, Little Jems offer their customers an outstanding collection of First Communion wear for the new season from Sarah-Louise, Linzi-Jay, Poinsettia, Sweetie Pie, Emmerling and Sweet Darlings, as well as stylish children’s occasion wear (including garments for premature babies) for christenings, weddings and other special events. And, because children like all good things, come in all shapes and sizes – Little Jems offers a dress fitting service to help you make the right choice (by appointment only).
Visit www.littlejemsmanchester.co.uk or call in at 1 Scott Court, Scott Road, Droylsden, Manchester M43 7UW (Opening hours 10am4pm Tuesday to Saturday – closed Sunday and Monday). To book an appointment for a dress fitting, email sales@littlejemsmanchester.co.uk or telephone 0161 370 9323.
Hold Them Up: Funky Braces, Belts & Bow Ties for Kids concerned about fiddly buckles when they need the toilet; Hold Them Up’s bottle opener belts have an uncomplicated clasp that helps them maintain their independence and save any wee embarrassments caused by tricky buckles.
Kids love dressing up and once past the baby stage, it’s not long before they want to dress themselves and have input about what looks good. Most children have a very clear understanding of what they like, and are not as reserved as grownups when it comes to having fun with fashion.
Hold Them Up also stock a great range of bow ties in a vibrant array of colours for mini trend setters aged 3-12 years. Perfect for adding a splash of colour to an outfit for a special occasion, wedding outfit, for a formal event or just for the fun of it!
If your child is wild about fashion it is worth checking out online retailer Hold Them Up for a fantastic range of funky braces and colourful stretch belts, designed to fit babies, toddlers, young children and teens. Even if your child isn’t losing their trousers, the brightly coloured belts and braces make a very stylish statement. Because Hold Them Up belts and braces are available in a range of adjustable sizes, they are extremely comfortable for even the most active of children. Available in an array of colourful and exciting designs for girls and boys, they are sure to please little fashionistas everywhere. Older children’s belts are available with a traditional pin buckle, but for little ones
To place your order visit
www.holdthemup.co.uk myfamily
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Fabulous Footwear
Skribbies Customisable High Tops – can be drawn on over and over again! Each shoe box comes with everything you need www.scribbies.com
Playtoes bumblebee pram shoes, age 3+ months www.playtoes.co.uk
Victoria Infants Ballerina in pink satin covered with net roses www.thesparkleclub.co.uk
Inch Blue Tractor Turquoise soft leather baby and toddler shoes www.inch-blue.com
Maria Red Patent Leather baby shoe www.vevian.co.uk
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KIDS’ FASHION
For Little Girls Who Love Sparkle If you are looking for beautiful girl's special occasion shoes, bags and accessories for young ladies who want to stand out in the crowd, pay a visit to The Sparkle Club. With an extensive range of sparkling ballerinas, wedges and heeled shoes with bags and accessories to match, at affordable prices – you won’t be disappointed! Designed with beautiful princesses in mind (from UK baby size 0 to older girls size 3), The Sparkle Club offer the latest trends and fabulous colours, all with beautiful sparkle – in fact the more glitter and sparkle the better!
Part of Newmans Footwear Ltd – established in 1936, The Sparkle Club use many years of experience in the footwear and bag industry to ensure quality and fitting are high on the agenda.
All of The Sparkle Club’s fabulous girls sparkly party shoes and bags, baby sequin princess shoes and girls red sparkly shoes are created exclusively by their award winning team of designers and can't be found on the High Street. For further information visit:
www.thesparkleclub.co.uk
The Sparkle Club is the online store for little girls and budding princesses – the place that dreams are made of! With a stunning collection of girls party shoes, bags, accessories bridesmaid shoes and bridesmaid bags, plus dress-up and gifts, you will find fabulous styles for every occasion. New lines are added each season to ensure that you find the latest trends and colours, with designs created exclusively for The Sparkle Club that are not available on the highstreet.
SAVE 10% OFF with discount code FAMILY at checkout.
www.thesparkleclub.co.uk
Hug & Hatch: a footwear brand that parents can rely on, from pram to playground
A range of fun baby shoes to stimulate baby’s senses.
Hug & Hatch is a British toddler and kids footwear brand, which launched a year ago, promising to put passion and quality at the heart of its designs.
Babies love playing with their feet! Play, pull, crinkle, rattle, touch!
Playtoes are clever baby shoes that stimulate baby’s vision and encourage baby to reach, grab and kick, working those muscles! With every kick, tug or wiggle, the Playtoes rattle, squeak and crinkle to keep your baby entertained. Available from
www.playtoes.co.uk
The two women behind the brand each have over 15 years’ experience as shoe designers and when they had children of their own, were unimpressed with the usual bows, flowers and pinks for girls and dull colour palettes for boys. So the pair took the plunge and launched Hug & Hatch! Hug & Hatch is all about the details. And details – the Hug & Hatch way – come in the form of cool tassels, contrast colour stitching, brightly coloured elastic on ankle boots and colourful soles, ensuring that kids love to wear their designs, but importantly they are good for their feet too. For more information, visit
www.hugandhatch.com myfamily
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Spring Fashion Frugi Captain Blue Gallop Party Dress www.welovefrugi.com
Super cool punk kids top in vibrant yellow www.babymoos.com
Cool AB/CD rock band inspired lightweight kids hoodie www.babymoos.com
Rockabilly skull and crossbones baby and toddler dress www.babymoos.com
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GET CRAFTY
Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator Story By Sue Hall Sue Hall joined Stampin’ Up! as a demonstrator in 2011. At the time of joining Sue was recovering from two serious car accidents which had prevented her from being able to work full time. Sue says: “I discovered Stampin’ Up in 2010 after receiving an invitation from my best friend Gill who was hosting a Stampin’ Up! party. I quickly discovered crafting was something I could do with my injuries and in that sense it was a real morale booster. This played a big part in my decision to become a demonstrator in 2011. “Once I became a demonstrator I started running small scale crafting classes, largely at the request of friends. Initially I was apprehensive; I had been medically retired for so long I had lost self-confidence but I had nothing to lose so I gave it a go. The classes really grew from there and I now have attendees that range in age from 20 to 86. A great thing about the classes is that I get to meet people from all walks of life, including professionals, full time mums and even members of the WI. I now run three monthly classes from beginner to experienced level.
“As well as meeting a diverse range of people, another advantage of being a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator is the flexibility it offers. Due to my injuries I wondered whether I would be able to manage with the workload, but it didn’t matter because even with running the business you’re not forced into doing too much. You can make the business as big or small as you want, so what you get out of it depends on how much you want to put in. The support from the demonstrator community is also fantastic – if you’re looking for inspiration or ideas for your next crafting class you can always go to your fellow demonstrators for advice. I have recruited six demonstrators to my team and we have regular team meetings to review their businesses’ progress. Having the opportunity to inspire and offer guidance to others has really enriched my personal demonstrator experience. “My role as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator is always evolving. Initially it was an extension of my interest in crafting, but as the business has grown it has become a mixture of a job and hobby. I’m trying to reach a happy medium where I have spare time to enjoy crafting for leisure as well as running the business side of things. Moving forward, I would really like to offer virtual workshops and video tutorials in
order to complement my face to face interactions like parties and classes. I find I set myself little targets on a regular basis, rather than just one big one. I really think without Stampin’ Up! I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I have grown as a person alongside the business, thanks to the support of my husband, two children and best friend Gill. Essentially it has given me a focus and helped to take my mind off my injuries and I actually found that I am feeling a lot better about myself. As a business model, Stampin’ Up! helps you to discover your personal qualities. I have something to give to people and I get so much back from it. To see the expression on my class attendees’ faces when they’re making their cards and seeing the end product of their efforts is something I really take pride in.
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GET CRAFTY
5 reasons to become a Stampin’ Up! UK Demonstrator in 2015 This year why not get started as a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator! Here are 5 reasons to get crafting, sharing and earning in 2015 1. Socialising There’s nothing like having friends round for a cuppa … and a craft! As a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator you’ll always be interacting with people and making new friends. From running workshops and crafty coffee mornings to hosting creative classes, there’s nothing quite like the social buzz of being a demonstrator.
2. Being your own boss As a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator you’ll be in charge of your time, your workload and your approach. You’ll be able to set your own goals based on what you want to achieve. Plus, there are lots of fun incentives along the way including product treats and even trips abroad. 3. It’s trendy! Crafting is having a huge renaissance in the UK at the moment. Crafty programmes on TV and a growth in the popularity of all things handmade makes it the perfect time to get involved! 4. Flexibility Do you have a family? A part or full time job? Are you a carer or a busy mum? Being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator is a perfect flexible home-based business that’ll let you stretch your creative, entrepreneurial side. You choose the hours to make sure that it fits around your lifestyle – not the other way around.
best kind of course!). And after the Christmas splurge, who couldn’t use a bit of extra cash? So why not make it your aim in 2015 to socialise, be your own boss, get trendy, get flexible and earn some additional income, all in one go! To find out more about becoming a demonstrator follow this link :
www.stampingup.co.uk You can also follow Stampin’ Up! on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest: www.facebook.com/stampinupuk
5. Gain a few pounds It’s not your usual goal, but by becoming a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator you could find yourself picking up a few extra pounds (the
@stampinupuk www.pinterest.com/stampinupuk
Blooming Marvellous: New Spring Range Spring is the time of year where new bulbs begin to shoot and beautiful flowers come into bloom. It’s a magical time of year that can be celebrated with floral crafts, which is why our brand new spring range is so appropriate! Children will bloom with creativity when they see the fantastic floral crafts we have to offer. From Flower Foam Glasses (AF330) which can be decorated using foam markers, gems and stickers to Daffodil Mosaic Coaster Kits (AF202), perfect for putting a ‘spring’ in your step come teatime! Our colorful array of floral crafts are certain to tempt your green-fingered children, yet our Flower Garden Desk Tidy Kits (AF190)
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mean there’s no need to water, just add pens and pencils! Each kit contains wooden pieces that slot together. Little ones can explore the beginning of spring through floralthemed crafts such as our Stained Glass Daffodil Decorations (AF203). These lovely stained glass effect daffodils kits contain everything you need, including card shapes in 3 designs, coloured cellophane and hanging ribbon. Our seasonal inspired spring range also includes brand new Spring Flower Foam Stickers (AF298), great for ‘budding’
young crafters! Add these sprightly stickers to cards or collages for an eye-catching bouquet effect! If that wasn’t enough to encourage your little ones to get crafting, our adorable Mini Wooden Flowers (AF204) are sure to do the trick – they’re ‘blooming’ lovely to personalise. Our new spring floral range makes it even easier to incorporate beautiful blooms into craft time, so what are you waiting for? Get crafting before Spring is sprung!
Visit www.bakerross.co.uk
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HANDMADE
Meet the Makers Whether you are treating yourself, kitting out the kids, buying a gift for a loved one or buying for your home, handmade products are cool, stylish, trendy and often one-of-a kind. It is so much more fun shopping for unusual, quirky items that can’t be found on the highstreet and in the age of mass produced goods, buying handmade, especially locally can greatly reduce your carbon footprint – so you will be helping the environment too. If you are buying a gift, few are more appreciated than those that have been made by hand – the recipient will be delighted that you chose something created especially for them! Also, because handmade gifts are rarely mass-produced, it solves the problem of giving an identical gift as someone else. Let’s not forget the warm fuzzy feeling of knowing that you are helping to support a skill or trade in a very direct way. Usually you’ll be in direct contact with the person who is making the item for you – which is really cool! With so many great reasons to buy handmade goods, we’d like to introduce you to three talented makers of handmade products – The Shetland Teddy Bear Company, Fairytale Children’s Furniture and Bibbles Bandana Bibs.
Bibbles Bandana Bibs With years of experience in the textile trade and retailing, it seemed quite surprising to have uncovered this wonderful product quite naturally as a busy grandmother. Modern mums are looking for more, something that looks good and does the job, better. So, with that in mind I created several bibs initially for my granddaughter, she was a big dribbler! And before I knew it went into production retailing on eBay initially and thereafter I formally created the Bibble and more recently BibblePlus, our new range of bandana and long length bibs for older children and adults. Bibbles are hand-made in Nottingham, using a unique combination of cotton and fleece, the outer cotton layer absorbs wetness whilst the fleece under-layer acts as a barrier, preventing clothing from becoming wet. The 'tunnel' fleece disperses the wetness, creates airflow and allows moisture to evaporate so the bib dries out quickly.
www.bandana-bibs.co.uk
The Perfect Teddy Bear Companion
Zandra Johnson
The Shetland Teddy Bear Company® is a small, award winning family business, making an adorable collection of traditional jointed heirloom teddy bears in the remote Shetland Islands.
Founder of Fairytale Children’s Furniture
The charming little family of Teddy Bears are handmade from 100% Organic Shetland Wool, which is grown, spun, woven and knitted on the island. Each cuddly bear wears either a chunky hand knitted scarf, lace scarf or shawl. They are made entirely by hand and each bear comes with a certificate, hand signed by the artist. Uradale Bears are the new addition to the clan and are available in 6 Heritage colours made from natural plant dyes. Each bear’s heritage is fully traceable back to the actual field on which the wool was grown, Uradale Croft, in the Shetland Islands. To find the perfect teddy bear or a fabulous keepsake gift, visit:
www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ShetlandTeddyBearCo or follow www.facebook.com/shetlandteddybears on Facebook
Once upon a time there was a little girl who loved stories, “let’s pretend” games and all the colours of nature. When she grew up she loved to make chairs especially for children. Children like her, who loved stories, “let’s pretend” games and, most of all, to have their own special chairs. Chairs they could make friends with, play with and imagine stories. For every chair she wrote a story book and hid it in with the chair. Stories to inspire imagination and just perfect for bedtime stories. Now everything she does and everything she makes is done “For children, with love”. Come and join the fun on Twitter and Facebook @fairytalechairs. Find more ideas with us on Google+, Pinterest and YouTube. Fairytale Children’s Furniture, inspiring imaginative play, all made for children with love. Visit www.fairytalechildrensfurniture.co.uk for 25% discount on all products, chairs, toys and books, use discount code MFM25 at the checkout. Offer valid until 31/12/15 (while stocks last).
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COOL KIDS’ ROOMS
Creating an imaginative room for your child Designing and decorating a kid’s room can be fun and exciting for you and your child. Kids love to be involved in choosing all the great things that are going into their space. Don’t be timid – you can have real fun with bold designs and themes, even in small spaces, but there are a few things to bear in mind along the way.
Colour www.nubie.co.uk
Research shows that colour has the ability to inspire, excite, sooth and even agitate, some colours are thought to have an effect on creativity and even on a child’s reading speed and comprehension. If your child has a very clear view of a colour that makes them feel rested, happy or even inspired that’s great, but if not, the best approach may be to use accents of colour throughout the room.
Wall to Wall Fun Give your child’s room a fresh feel with funky wallpaper with fun designs, colours and patterns. Plain walls can be transformed using wall art, stickers and posters, to personalise you child’s space with their favourite theme.
Furnishing Depending on the function of the room – bedroom, playroom, a space to chill with friends or all of the aforementioned – you need decide on the amount of space to allocate to each of the uses and measure up before you ordering furniture.
www.wingreen.co.uk
Lighting www.nubie.co.uk
Creative and well position lighting fixtures make a child’s room a healthy and inspiring place to grow, learn and play. Fun, playful lighting helps to make a kid’s room an interesting, comfortable space and it helps prevent them developing a fear of the dark.
www.beckyandlolo.co.uk
Get Creative Upcycle and use items that your child already has to add a personal touch – not all toys and personal items need to be stored away, let your child choose a few of their favourite items to display. Make use of items you may already have like bunting, throws and cushions to add familiarity to the space.
Storage Also think about storage – most kids have loads of stuff and there are some great storage solutions that stylishly combine function, for example – a bed and desks that transform to save space. Consider using the back of doors and under bed storage as these are often a wasted spaces.
Bring it all together Finally, if you are struggling to put everything together, it is a good idea to create a mood board filled with the furniture designs, colours, textures, styles and accessories that you and your child love, so that you can see everything come together bit by bit before you begin.
www.nubie.co.uk www.wingreen.co.uk
Window dressing Pay special attention to how windows are dressed so that you can make the most of natural light, especially in winter. Plantation shutters look great in a playroom, bedroom or nursery – if your little one is up at sunrise and you would like them to sleep a little longer try a blackout blind. Most importantly make sure blinds for all the rooms in your house are child safe.
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COOL KIDS’ ROOMS
THE SHETLAND TEDDY BEAR COMPANY
Bed Tidies – the smart storage solution for kids It can be difficult to find a storage solution for child’s room that keeps kids clutter at bay and looks good too.
TM
But look no further – the creators of the award winning Snuggle Sac sleeping bag have come up with a handy and stylish way to keep a child’s room neat. Bed Tidies tie onto the legs of any bed (including a bunk bed) and have four large appliqued pockets that are roomy enough for teddies, books and small toys. Not only do they manage to keep essentials close at hand, they also create a lovely hidden storage space under the bed!
Traditional jointed bears handmade using 100% Shetland organic wool.
SAVE 10% by using discount code MYFAM10 at checkout
They can also be teamed up with a Snuggle Sac to create a welcoming and cosy space for tots to teens. Bed Tidies are priced at £27.00 and available in 3 fun designs – Blue and White Spots, Navy stars and the popular Pirate design. My Family readers can SAVE 10% OFF by using code MF10 at the checkout when you order from
www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ShetlandTeddyBearCo
www.snugglesac.com
Looking for something different? Something for twins? Something they can play with, read in and treasure as their own special chair?
SAVE 25% OFF all products – use discount code MFM25 at the checkout Valid until 31/12/15
Every chair comes with its own illustrated story book, perfect for encouraging little ones to read. Child’s wooden rocking chair with illustrated story book: £149 Talk to us about child-safe blinds and shutters for your child’s nursery, bedroom and playroom. We offer an extensive range of blinds including Verticals, Venetians, Romans, Pleated, VELUX and Woven Wood Blinds Specialists in shaped Conservatory Roof Blinds and Wooden Plantation Shutters Also a wide range of Awnings – Manual, Motorised, Automatic and
Awnings with Lights
Call for a Free Quotation: 0116 277 6749 or 0771 833 7048
www.fairytalechildrensfurniture.co.uk
www.countesthorpe-blinds.co.uk myfamily 13
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COOL KIDS’ ROOMS
A Fun Addition to a Child’s Room
Introducing Olli Ella
Happy Hopperz, are the multi award winning and brightly coloured inflatable animals, which take bouncing to a whole new level! Not only do they provide hours of entertainment, they are great exercise and help strengthen core muscles and coordination skills!
Established in 2010, iconic nursery brand Olli Ella was founded by sisters Chloe and Olivia Brookman who set out to create an aspirational yet livable collection of nursery and home décor, rugs, textiles, and storage solutions. Olli Ella has made a name for itself by creating a collection that is playful, iconic, beautifully crafted and above all, pieces that are designed to look great not only in the nursery but in any room in the home. The collection launched with three iconic gliding nursing chairs, made in England. Their modern and stylish design immediately caused a stir among parents and designmavens alike. Within months the brand had garnered a devoted following which included celebrity mums and royalty.
Perfect for indoors as well as outside, a Happy Hopper promises to brighten every nursery or bedroom. The perfect mode of transport for going from room to room or a comfortable seat for reading, a Happy Hopper is sure to make a bedroom a better place to be.
The recently launched Playful Puppies are set to be a favourite for 2015. The two new characters are available in pink and blue, and are certainly a great alternative for every little one hoping for a real puppy! Priced £21.99 available from
www.happyhopperz.co.uk
The soft grey design of baroo’s Counting Sheep bedding bale is the perfect solution for those who want a more neutral theme for their nursery. The 5 Piece bedding bale features the beautiful Counting Sheep design quilt and bumper set, plus fitted sheet, soft and snuggly fleece blanket and embroidered cushion. Their new collection also consists of 5 fun duvet and pillowcase sets to capture the imaginations of children and parents alike. The beautiful soft colour palettes of the Tweet Dreams and Sweet Pea collections create the prettiest environment for any little princess whilst the cool and contemporary design of the Urban Fox collection will be a sure hit with mischievous boys. The fun and funky Rocks 'n' Spots and Ellefunk collections are designed to appeal to both boys and girls and will instantly brighten up the plainest of rooms. baroo believe that parenthood is an adventure like no other, which is why they have tried to make things that little bit easier for new parents by offering beautiful co-ordinating accessories to compliment each range such as crib and cot bump pods and coverlets, and essentials such as hooded towels, nursing pillows, muslins and burp cloths. Everything you need to create a stylish and practical nursery.
In the year following Olli Ella introduced its debut collection of organic baby bedding, made in England in a 200 year old-familyrun mill. Modern, playful designs feature on bedding sets for babies and children as well as complimentary bumpers, swaddles, blankets, towels and sleeping bags. Since this time the collection has expanded to include a range of complimentary décor pieces, such as wall art, felt garlands, handwoven storage baskets, contemporary wooden side tables, soft wool rugs and hand made floor cushions. Everything you need to create a modern space for your child without compromising on your own style!
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Everything you need for a gender neutral nursery
You can view the new collections on their newly launched website
www.baroo.co.uk
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PLAY & LEARN
Time to Play Outdoors Many of us have great childhood memories of playing outdoors – climbing trees, building dens, inventing new games – these are all things that contribute to a happy, healthy upbringing.
Play should be at the heart of children’s everyday life but it seems that parental concerns about safety, less natural space to play, increased distractions from electronic devices and a number of other side effects of the modern age; there has been a decline in the number of children playing outside, with fewer than 1 in 10 children regularly playing in wild spaces, versus about half a generation ago. Only half of seven year olds are getting the hour of exercise that they need every day according to research by the UCL Institute of Child Health. Time playing outside during the week and at weekends has halved in one generation and children are more inclined to stay indoors and watch television, play computer games and even do their homework, than go outside to play - According to the JCB Kids Fresh Air Campaign 2013 . With increased concern about the mental and physical health of youngsters today, it’s more important than ever to encourage kids to play outdoors. Letting children go out to play is one of the best things that parents can do for their children's health – outdoor play uses more calories than clubs and tuition, and children
Introducing Cheeky Charly for Scooter Crazy Kids Scootaheadz is delighted to announce the arrival of a new character to their clan of scooter buddies. Due to popular demand, the team has created Cheeky Charly, a fabulous Brown Pony to join their collection of cartoon-like animal heads that attach to the T-bars of scooters. Following the incredible success of his sisters Lovely Lola and Pippa the Pony, and Dinosaur cousins Timmy the T-Rex and Danny the Dino, the team wanted to introduce another colour to the range that would appeal to boys and girls alike. Cheeky Charly is a brown pony with silver stars on his cheeks and is set to be very popular! The scooter craze is certainly here to stay and it’s no wonder children love personalising their rides with an animal buddy. Scootaheadz are not only a lot of fun, they are some of the most practical scooter accessories about. They are 100% waterproof, durable, solid and easy to clean so they’ll survive all sorts of weather, the rough and tumble of the school playground and last for years and years. Priced £14.99 from www.scootaheadz.com, Amazon, and www.notonthehighstreet.com.
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who play outside score higher on concentration and self-discipline, do better in reading, writing, maths, science and social studies, and are better at working in teams. The arrival of springtime provides the perfect opportunity to give your kids a nudge over the threshold and out into the wonderful world beyond. There are so many play opportunities to explore outdoors – even on rainy days!
Shoes that Stimulate Baby’s Senses Playtoes are unique pram shoes that have been designed with high contrast colours, patterns and interactive character themed add-ons. These stimulate baby’s vision and encourages baby to reach, grab and kick, working those muscles! With every kick, tug or wiggle, the Playtoes rattle, squeak and crinkle to keep your baby entertained. Starting at around 4 months old babies love to play with their feet and this continues until they become more mobile and begin to crawl. Playtoes beautiful stitched design feature, bright colours, interesting sounds and shiny surfaces are sure to grab your baby’s attention and encourage learning during this important stage of development. Priced at £22.00 from
www.playtoes.co.uk
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Gotrovo for indoor & outdoor fun Have you ever sat in a friend's house and noticed how many of the same children's toys you own? Well, if you're craving something original which offers great healthy fun, we've got just the thing! Gotrovo, the Treasure Hunt game is a unique, five-star rated game, offering fun (and a dash of learning!) for all ages and all seasons. Perfect for parties, play dates, magical one-to-one moments or sibling togetherness, it's the stuff memories are made of. Using one of two gorgeous treasure maps, children make their way along a trail of picture, word, riddle or role-play clues, collecting golden coins along the way, until they find the golden treasure bar. Who knows what little treat might be hidden beneath! With Easter looming, just think of the fun to be had with your Easter egg hunts! And the fantastic Gotrovo Mini which includes 100 reusable clue cards, winners stickers and full instructions is perfect for Easter Hunts and limitless treasure hunting fun all year round. So bring that extra joy to your little ones, and something new to your household, from www.gotrovo.uk.
www.facebook.com/gotrovo
They found the treasure – can you? Watch your little ones delight in hours of treasurehunting magic with 5 star rated treasure hunt game, Gotrovo! Perfect for play-dates, parties, or special one-to-one time, it’s the stuff memories are made of. You could even lay a trail to the Easter Eggs! Recommended Age: 3+ • £19.95 including free P&P
www.gotrovo.uk
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Early Building Blocks for Reading Success by Liz Walker, founder of Reading Chest The ‘Read On. Get On’ Campaign was launched last September by Save the Children with the aim of ensuring all 11 year olds will leave primary school being able to read well by 2025. At the moment, only 75% of 11 year olds are able to read well. ‘Read On. Get On’ is gathering momentum, with a coalition of head teachers, teachers, parents, politicians, celebrities and the wider community coming together to help children become better readers. One of the four key campaign areas is to support children before they start school to help them develop good early language skills. Children start acquiring language and communication skills from the moment they are born. The early language skills children develop in the pre-school years are the platform they need when they go on to learn to read later. Research carried out by Newcastle University as part of the ‘Read On. Get on’ Campaign demonstrates how important the early years of a child’s life are. Although it is possible to catch up, it is still the case that if children start school and are behind with their early language skills, they are more likely to be behind with their reading at the age of 11.*
How we can help: Just because your child is not yet learning to read, it does not mean that it is too early to start laying the foundations for this important step. Reading aloud to your child is the single most important activity for building the knowledge required for learning to read. The benefits are endless. Reading aloud to your child helps develop a rich vocabulary which ultimately helps with their own reading, listening and comprehension skills resulting in later school success.
Becoming familiar with books and understanding how books work is an important stage of learning to read and should start as early as possible. Research shows that children from homes containing many books are more likely to develop a high interest in books themselves. Pre-school children who are read to frequently will gradually learn how books work – i.e. that a book has a front and back and that you read from left to right. As children get older, it is also good to point other things out, such as – that words are made up of letters and there are spaces between the words. As children start to learn letters and sounds, they can have fun pointing out letters that they recognise. Children may also start to recognise high frequency words such as ‘and’ and ‘the’. Reading aloud to your children should be a happy and enjoyable time. It can sometimes be tempting to race through a bedtime story as quick as possible so that you can put the light out and begin the ‘child free’ part of your evening. If possible, start the whole process earlier so that there is time for children to interrupt and ask questions about the story – or at least have time at the end of the book to discuss the story properly. Making reading sessions more interactive will stimulate your child's comprehension. Try wordless books. Children (and parents) can become obsessed with the amount of words on a page, or pages in a book as everyone strives for the next step in their reading journey. Wordless books are very beneficial to children’s language development and reading and should not be dismissed. Research has shown that when parents read wordless books, they tend to use richer language, more complex sentences and longer phrases than those who read a printed story. Wordless books allow children to tell stories themselves from different perspectives,
Although it is quite hard to imagine, some children start school not knowing which way up a book goes, or how to turn the pages.
*Read on Get on report, published by Save the Children 2014.
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encouraging them to use their own words. They often promote discussion more than books with words, which leads to better comprehension. Wordless books are brilliant for pre-readers, who can actually read and understand a book all by themselves. Beginner readers, who find reading books with words hard work and frustratingly stilted are able to read wordless books fluently (using their own words). They also learn that clues to a story can be found in the pictures, which is a useful reading strategy to help them when reading text. Reading, writing and oral language abilities actually all develop together, beginning from the moment of birth and evolve gradually over time. Introducing books and reading to your children from the earliest age will give them the best possible start. Don’t stress about trying to teach your children to be able to read themselves by the time they start school, but try to give them the grounding of a familiarity and love of books, which will put them in a good place for later reading and school success. For more information and to sign the Read on Get on petition visit www.readongeton.org.uk. For reading advice and access to a wide range of reading books visit www.readingchest.co.uk.
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Children learn to read with their ears by Zandra Johnson, founder of Fairytale Children’s Furniture
No, not a new use for the organ of hearing, but if you sit with a small child looking at books, magazines or junk mail; in fact anything with words and preferably pictures, you will both be looking at and probably pointing to pictures and saying what the picture is.
At home we played a game where we left messages for each other. The words she knew and one new word were written on large pieces of paper and laid on the floor as a message. “Where is teddy?” A treasure hunt with word clues to find teddy developed into words being placed in simple sentences as clues.
“Reading” should be fun and a special time of closeness. It can be a relaxing end to the day before bedtime, a distraction on a long train or air journey or a way to distract and comfort. If you point to the words as you read simple picture books the child will begin to remember both the verbal story and the shape of the words and recognise them in other books.
It was all part of learning to read and it started with hearing the words first. Reading is such a joy and a wonderful world of imagination and knowledge awaits. If it is pleasurable from the start even reading difficulties will be overcome.
I used to make shopping lists for my small daughter. Her shopping list had simple words on it like Bread, Milk, Butter, Jam, Apples, and beside each word I drew a picture of the item
Babies Play & Learn with Babycademy Fast becoming the nations favorite newborn toy, Babycademy’s Music Time kit, is the parenting toolkit which has truly revolutionized the play and learning experiences for baby in their first year. The clever tool kit, which has been created with the support of a leading child psychologist and is suitable from birth, is an inspirational resource providing parents with everything they need to encourage teaching through quality playtime. The unique development toy is helping parents countrywide to trust their instincts and find the confidence to provide great play. Babycademy not only gives parents the tools to initiate stimulating, educational activities, but the product also encourages families to take time out from the pressures of everyday life to engage with their baby. The invaluable Music Time kit, the first in the Babycademy series, comes with ten preprepared lesson plans, as well an interactive CD of original music, an enchanting story book, a wooden rattle, Wilson the Whistling Tree Frog hand puppet and a silky scarf for sensory play Available from Amazon and
www.babycademy.co.uk for £49.99
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Could your child benefit from extra tuition? The number of children receiving private tuition continues to grow year on year. The benefits of tuition are vast, and can include increased confidence, a greater love of learning and improved academic attainment.
The research showed that “Explore Learning members’ improvement in maths was 30% higher than that of the comparison group after controlling for gender, age, year group and special educational needs.” The study also found that “Building confidence, overcoming shyness to put up their hand to ask for help, being more independent and less reluctant to try without assistance were all elements that parents recognised in their children and directly attributed to Explore Learning.” Parents that use the service echo the benefits of extra tuition such as Explore Learning:
The tuition company Explore Learning recently commissioned the University of Reading to conduct an efficacy study in order to provide independent proof of the benefits of Explore Learning Tuition.
"My two sons have contrasting abilities and both have benefited from attending Explore. It has given them confidence in core subjects and highlighted areas they need help in. They have both improved considerably over the year. Explore employ helpful and approachable tutors who make learning fun. They remember every child individually and give them great encouragement." K. Waterhouse, Parent
Explore Learning has centres across the UK – try us for free to find out how your family can benefit! To book your free trial, visit
www.explorelearning.co.uk or call 01483 44710.
Maths & English tuition For 5 to 14 year olds of all abilities Mapped to the National Curriculum An environment that children enjoy Open 7 days a week
Book your free trial today! Explore Learning has over 90 centres nationwide. Visit www.explorelearning.co.uk/FindCentre or call 01483 447410 to find your nearest centre.
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Try Something NEW while on
Holiday in Britain Why not try a break with a difference and pick up some new skills while on holiday in Britain? From circus training to chocolate making, Latin American dancing to zookeeper, you can turn your hand to something extraordinary!
Master bread-baking or chocolate-making, four-course lavish meals or one-pot wonders at the cookery courses run by Betty’s famous Yorkshire tea rooms in the north of England. Courses such as Baking with Chocolate, Effortless Entertaining, or the Chocolate Box – where you can learn the delicate art of hand tempering, creating indulgent fillings, hand dipping and different finishes.
Add an extra dimension to your holiday by exploring a rich variety of learning experiences. Whether you’re athletic or cerebral, adventurous or creative, there’s ample opportunity to embrace something new or deepen existing knowledge, all with a unique British twist.
Food and Drink
Nature Known for its green and pleasant land, rugged landscapes and beautiful parks, Britain is the perfect place to discover more about gardening. Situated in the south-west county of Cornwall – a haven of spectacular beaches, diminutive villages, dramatic coastlines and mouthwatering cream teas – is the Eden Project. This unique attraction contains the world’s largest greenhouse and its horticulturalists and scientists offer half-day or full-day courses teaching a wide variety of horticultural topics from garden sculpture, foraging and beekeeping to hands-on practical experience.
Performing Arts
While wine and cheese are often happy culinary partners, the School of Artisan Food in Nottinghamshire has launched a course on the more unusual collaboration of beer and cheese. Participants learn about British artisan cheeses paired with traditional ales from the Welbeck Abbey Brewery. And if you feel like working up your appetite first, the cooking school is situated in the heart of Sherwood Forest, famed for its association with Robin Hood and a great place to explore nature walks.
Thrill-seekers may be interested in turning their hand to studying circus skills. Bristol is home to Circomedia, where you can learn to juggle, walk the tight-wire or fly through the air on a trapeze. The school is just a leap away from some of the city’s main attractions too, including the world-famous, iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and SS Great Britain, which he also designed. London’s Circus Space is another good choice for those wanting to try something different; the school runs Experience Days that will unlock your inner trapeze-artist.
Experience life on a working farm, with a luxury stay at Wheatacre Hall Barns – situated on the Burroughs family farm on the NorfolkSuffolk border. See where your daily pint comes from – with milking demonstrations upon request, and younger visitors will love finding out about all the farm’s new arrivals, with a close and personal view of the farm animals.
Brought your dancing shoes? Whether its ballroom or Latin American, jazz to Bollywood, the world-famous Pineapple Dance Studios (www.pineapple.uk.com) in London offers a class to meet every taste and, as all of the classes are open, you can just drop in and take a class, whatever your experience.
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Animal lovers, meanwhile, can experience the ins and outs of zookeeping for the day at one of Britain’s excellent zoos. Edinburgh Zoo – home to two giant pandas, the first to live in Britain for 20 years – offers the chance to help with daily animal feeds and watch animal training.
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A Child Friendly Holiday
in Cornwall A warm welcome awaits you at Fox Valley Cottages, located in the beautiful countryside of south east Cornwall. The sweet little cluster of 11 self-catering cottages and apartments offers the perfect base for families to explore this wonderful part of the world. The properties on the complex cater for 2 – 6 guests and are comfortably furnished and well equipped. Out in the garden there is a terrace furnished with sun loungers, plenty of garden furniture and a barbeque for those evenings when you fancy cooking alfresco. If you fancy a splash about with the kids, pop on down to the pool room to take a swim or simply enjoy relaxing in the Sauna and Spa. In the Games room you will find a Pool Table, Table Tennis and Table Football plus an area to keep younger children entertained.
Take A Family-Friendly
Farm Break If you are looking to break away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, a visit to Wheatacre Hall Barns could be just what you are looking for.
Nestling in the charming south Norfolk countryside, amongst rolling farmland and hidden waterways – the attractive cluster of eight barns on the Burroughs family working dairy and arable farm, provides the perfect spot to relax, unwind and enjoy the tranquillity of country life. Kids can let off steam at the outdoor play area where they are free to run around, kick a ball or play cricket – there is a trampoline and a Jungle Jim with swings and a slide. Little ones will love Fox Valley’s furry residents, Dec the guinea pig and Tufty & Chestnut the rabbits, plus a number of chicken and ducks, who are looking forward to meeting them too!
Wheatacre Hall Barns have been tastefully restored with stylish and comfortable interiors to create
luxury, well equipped self-catering accommodation, for couples and families alike. Each barn boasts its own private garden and furnished patio area with barbecue, where guests can relax and enjoy dining alfresco. There is a play barn to keep under 5’s amused and for more energetic members of the family there is a games room, fitness barn and plenty of grassy areas for football and other outdoor games. Children are sure to love visiting the animals on the farm and the abundance of wildlife and birdlife will delight the nature lovers of the family. The Wheatacre site has extensive river frontage for fishing and there are network of walks varying in length amid the picturesque landscape.
For further information visit www.foxvalleycottages.co.uk email foxvalleycottages@btconnect.com or telephone: 01726 870115
To find out more or to check availability visit www.wheatacrehallbarns.co.uk or telephone 01502 677208
Things to see and do . . .
Things to see and do . . .
You are never far away from the water in South East Cornwall, there are boat trips to suit everybody, from a ferry ride cross the Looe River to cruises up the River Tamar and many of the coastal villages offer fishing trips.
Norfolk and Suffolk food produce has a great reputation which is sure to tickle the taste buds! Those who fancy eating out will enjoy visiting the quality, local pubs or restaurants that these two fabulous counties have to offer. Cornwall’s Gardens are known around the world for the diverse collections of plants. The Eden Project may be the most well known, but places like Heligan, Trevarno, Trebah and Mt Edgcumbe should not be missed, especially in the spring when rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas burst into flower.
The fine medieval city of Norwich has a magnificent cathedral, castle with museum, cinemas, theatre, independent shops and a covered market, perfect for combining a spot of retail therapy with a little sightseeing. Just 45 minutes by car – this award winning BeWILDerwood with magical Treehouses, zip wires, jungle bridges, Crocklebogs, Twiggles and Boggles, boat trips and marsh walks, offers a brilliantly exciting day out.
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An eco-friendly break at
Eco Friendly Camping on
Blackthorn Gate Mersea Island Set in 230 acres of open farmland on the border of North Yorkshire and the Tees Valley, Blackthorn Gate Luxury Lodges are the perfect destination for couples and families who are looking actively reduce their impact on the environment, without compromising on their holiday enjoyment. The eco-friendly pine lodges offer excellent self-catering accommodation with fully fitted kitchen, a comfortable living room with a dining area, master bedroom with en-suite shower room, second bedroom, separate bathroom and a sauna. Two storey lodges ‘Skylark’ and ‘Lapwing’ sleep five people, and have a large wet room shower area suitable for wheelchair users – single storey ‘Curlew’ and ‘Chaffinch’ sleep up to four people.
Situated just off the Essex coastline, around 10 miles from Colchester, you will find the unique and largely undiscovered holiday haven, Mersea Island. loos, a laundry and shower block with solar powered water heating and a family sized shower room that provides plenty of space for parents to attend to little ones at shower time. Recognised for the work done to protect the environment in and around the campsite with the David Bellamy Gold Conservation Award, Fen Farm is a popular destination for those wanting an eco-retreat.
You don’t have to travel far to enjoy the rugged beauty of the area – there are five wildlife ponds and all lodges have fabulous views of Roseberry Topping. Enjoy exclusive fishing access to the farm’s three fully stocked ponds or take a wander around the farm looking out for wildlife, then relax in your private sauna, play pool or table tennis in the games room or just unwind on your veranda with a drink and a bite to eat. For more information visit www.blackthorngate.co.uk
One of Britain’s best-kept secrets, this tiny island is just 5 miles by 2 miles and has 12 miles of coastline. Located in a peaceful, rural setting, in the southeast of the island you will find Fen Farm Caravan and Camping Site. This small yet wellappointed campsite offers its guests a warm and friendly welcome. Owned by The Lord family since 1918, the site caters for tents, trailer tents, touring caravans and motor homes of any size and boasts award winning
For more information visit www.fenfarm.co.uk or telephone 01206 383275
Things to see and do . . .
Things to see and do . . .
Delve into the rich history of the area’s stately homes and gardens or explore 500 square miles of stunning heather moorland, woodland, dales and coastline the North Yorkshire Moors National Park has to offer.
Fen Farm Camping and Caravan Site is within walking distance of a wonderful south facing beach. In West Mersea you will find shops, cafes, a museum and restaurants, many of which sell the famous Mersea Native oysters. Take to the water for a spot of sailing, Experience the thrill of a full size steam locomotive, or the power of a diesel engine on a nostalgic journey through spectacular countryside on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. You can even fit in some retail therapy – shopping in York or The Metro Centre is less than an hour away.
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A great place to escape the distractions of everyday life, the sites proximity to the Essex marshes provides a unique and tranquil atmosphere. At Fen Farm kids can enjoy themselves without having to switch anything on or boot up! There are play areas with swings, seesaws and climbing frames, plus plenty of wide-open space to explore.
windsurfing, kite surfing, fishing or try crabbing – you haven't been to Mersea properly until you have been crabbing in the creek!! For nature lovers – Cudmore Grove Country Park is very close by and the renowned Fingringhoe Wick nature reserve is just 6 miles away. Abberton Reservoir with its abundance of water birds is also well worth the 10 minute drive and guests at Fen Farm can enjoy discount entry to nearby Colchester Zoo.
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7 activities to make the most of Britain's great outdoors Picnic on the beaches, stargaze the night skies, munch on pub lunches in picturesque villages – as we head towards finer weather it’s time to explore the varied activities brought to you by the British countryside!
National Trust-managed Portstewart Strand, in Northern Ireland’s County Londonderry, is one of the destination’s most picturesque beaches. Two miles of golden sand are backed by an ancient dune system that is a haven for wildlife and flowers, where clearly marked nature trails invite you to explore. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/portstewartstrand for further information.
Nuzzle up to nature at a wildlife reserve
Reach for the stars Navigate the night skies in Scotland’s Dark Sky Park. Part of the 75,000-hectare Galloway Forest Park, in south-west Scotland, Galloway Forest Dark Sky Park was the first in Britain to be accredited by the International Dark Sky Association. The visitor centre runs regular events such as Stargazing for Beginners in summer – for more information visit www.forestry.gov.uk/darkskygalloway
Relax on a Blue Flag beach
Pack up a picnic When the sun’s shining, it’s a great time to gather a few friends and family together and head out for a picnic. It’s a tradition that is loved by Brits throughout the UK – we even have our own National Picnic Week in June! The organisers of this annual celebration of outdoor eating chose its top 15 UK picnic spot for last year, which incorporated stunning coastal locations such as Barafundle Beach in Pembrokeshire, west Wales, city spots, including London’s Somerset House, and heritage sights, such as Rievaulx Abbey in Yorkshire, northern England. For information visit www.nationalpicnicweek.co.uk
Wolves and wildcats, polar bears and red pandas, you’ll meet Scottish wildlife and the endangered animals of the mountains and tundra from across the world at the Highlands Wildlife Park, close to Aviemore in northern Scotland. Hop in a Land Rover to experience indigenous wildlife and rare species, or embark on a photography tour with a guide and enjoy ‘behind the scenes’ treatment, where you can photograph the tigers and the polar bear while they eat their early morning breakfast. Whatever tour you take, you’ll enjoy the magnificent wild scenery of the surrounding countryside. Visit www.highlandwildlifepark.org for further information.
Take to the water From gentle canal cruises to swimming in rivers and over to leisure sports on lakes, Britain’s waters offer recreational opportunities for all. But to get the adrenaline pumping head to Wales, the birthplace of coasteering – to make the most of Wales’s spectacular coastline, take part in a unique mixture of shore-scrambling, rock-hopping, cave-exploring, swell-riding and cliff-jumping. Book through an accredited operator, such as Anglesey Adventures: www.angleseyadventures.com.
Visit a glorious garden A nation of garden lovers, Britain is home to some of the most famous green spaces in the world. The Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall, are bursting with history and offer visitors 200 acres to explore, including a lush sub-tropical jungle, Victorian productive gardens, romantic pleasure grounds and a pioneering wildlife project. Find out more at www.heligan.com
Visit a quintessential British village The British countryside is peppered with picturepostcard pretty villages and you’d be hard pressed to visit the destination without happening upon one, each with their own unique charm. Tintern, in the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (straddling the border between England and Wales), is just one example; take in the spectacular ruins of Tintern Abbey – the best preserved medieval abbey in Wales – explore the dramatic natural landscapes that surround the village, enjoy wine-tasting at its Parva Wine Vineyard or feast on a traditional Sunday lunch at one of the village inns. For more information visit www.tinternvillage.co.uk
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Make some fantastic family memories in glorious Devon or stunning Cornwall courtesy of Richardson Hotels
Accessible Family Holidays Calvert Trust Exmoor is the South West’s premier accessible outdoor activity destination, welcoming over 4,000 guests a year with the philosophy of “At Calvert Trust Exmoor it’s what you CAN do that counts”. The centre enables people of all ages and any level of ability to experience exciting and enjoyable outdoor activity adventures, together with their families & friends.
WIN a family stay at either The Grosvenor Hotel in Torquay, Devon or The Falmouth Hotel in Cornwall both recent recipients of the Child Friendly Matters Award, both with indoor and outdoor play areas and pools and with plenty of games and activities to keep the young ones entertained. Our winning family of two adults and two children will enjoy two nights’ comfortable accommodation with full Westcountry breakfast each morning and a three-course dinner each evening. Both hotels are members of the Richardson Hotels’ collection of five superb seafront properties, situated on or close to the Devon and Cornwall coasts, with fine and casual dining options and close to many attractions and beaches.
The only 5 star activity accommodation in the country, the centre is accredited by the National Accessible Scheme, and is VisitEngland’s ‘Access for All’ gold award winner for 2014. Holidays include a structured programme of exciting activities tailored to the needs of each guest; activities on offer include climbing, archery, horse riding, wheelchair abseiling, carriage driving, sailing, accessible cycling and many others.
fully accessible accommodation offers H-track hoists, mobile hoists, shower chairs, electric beds, trembler pads, and other loan equipment to make your stay more comfortable regardless of your disability.
Facilities on site included a hydrotherapy swimming pool, Jacuzzi, children’s play area, games room, bar and sensory room. The
To find out more take a look at their website – www.calverttrust.org.uk/exmoor or call the centre on 01598 763221.
For a chance to win this great prize*, just email your name, address and contact number to win@myfamilymagazine.co.uk before midnight on 31st March 2015.
READER OFFER: And all readers can save 20%** off the Kids Go Free rate for two nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast at the characterful 47-bedroom 3-star Grosvenor Hotel or the 71-bedroom 3-star grand dame, Falmouth Hotel during the February or May half term holidays. The Grosvenor is the perfect family holiday base from which to explore the English Riviera with plenty of family activities and local attractions, plus 22 miles of coastline with gloriously sandy beaches. Meanwhile the Falmouth Hotel is perfect for visiting the area’s many attractions, including the National Maritime Museum, Gweek Seal Sanctuary and the Eden Project. For more details or to book, call 0800 005 2244, quoting reference:MF01 or e-mail: reservations@richardsonhotels.co.uk using the same reference. For full details of the Grosvenor Hotel and the Falmouth Hotel visit: www.richardsonhotels.co.uk *
Calvert Trust Exmoor enables people of any ability to experience challenging and enjoyable activity adventures with family and friends. At our fully accessible residential centre all activities are specifically designed and equipped to cater for everyone. Stay with us for a few days, a week, or just for the day; come and discover it's what you CAN do that Counts!
Prize for two adults and two children, aged 15 or under, valid until July 31, 2015, subject to availability BUT MUST BE BOOKED BY 1ST MAY 2015
** Offer – based on a minimum 2-night stay and a maximum of 2 adults and 2 children (under 15 yrs) sharing a family room – valid during 2015 February and May half term holidays, subject to availability of allocated rooms and new bookings only.
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www.calvert-trust.org.uk/exmoor 01598 763221
exmoor@calvert-trust.org.uk
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Happy Holidays with Sue Atkins, international parenting expert We all love the annual holiday – whether it be an Easter break or you’re patiently waiting for a summer vacation – if a toddler’s in tow you will want to be fully prepared to ensure things run smoothly! First things first . . . getting there! You’re looking forward to being away for a couple of weeks free from the usual routine but you’re really anxious about keeping your young kids occupied on the flight. Here are some practical tips for travelling with toddlers and preschoolers that will help you to relax and ensure you all arrive with your sense of humour!
Bathroom Make sure that your toddler has used the toilet before boarding – they are spacious and much cleaner! It’s also a good idea to carry a supply of baby wipes, but put them in a place where you can easily reach them throughout the flight.
Seat choice Only choose bulkhead seats if your baby needs a baby bed as the armrests can’t be moved. Normal seats are far better if your toddler wants to lie down as the armrests can be moved up which is far more comfortable.
Ear pressure If your baby is breastfeeding or on a bottle, feed them during take-off and landing as it is the best thing for their sensitive ears. They will be more relaxed and far less distressed and you will feel more at ease too. If your child is older, cotton wool or earplugs can be worn during take-off and landing. Or play a yawning game with them to see how many times they can yawn on takeoff or landing as this helps pop their ears so the pressure doesn’t cause them discomfort.
Food Carry a supply of biscuits, water, juice and healthy snacks for your toddler. Raisins are great for keeping little hands and minds occupied for quite awhile and also carry milk packets (the UHT small packets) yourself.
Health If your child has a cold it’s a good idea to see a doctor before the flight to check if your child is fit to fly. Toddlers flying with a cold can experience terrible pain during take-off and landing and it’s also dangerous to their eardrums too!
Clothes Always carry a change of clothes for your child and it is a good idea to carry a change of top/ t-shirt for yourself too. You never know when you will need it . . .
Books It’s always a great idea to carry reading books (new ones as well as old favourites), colouring books and crayons, as well as an ipod with their favourite songs and stories to listen to. If you can carry a portable DVD player they are usually a big hit with toddlers too to provide choice from books and toys!
Sue is author of the ultimate parenting support CD’s available to buy here: www.sueatkinsparentingcoach.com/audio _cd/the-positive-parent-daily-workout
Games to play Besides packing a few great new travel toys that your toddler hasn’t seen before, you’ll want to have some airplane activities that won’t break, get lost or cost the earth Pack a goody bag filled with things like play dough, a few blocks, some small board books, a little car or your toddler’s favourite teddy. You could wrap each item in wrapping paper a few times too and play pass the parcel with them, to add to the fun and excitement. Put some fun pictures onto your digital camera of the people and places you are going to visit or pictures of a recent trip you’ve been on, like to the zoo, for your child to look at. During the flight, you can relive the fun and tell stories about where/who you’re visiting. When the flight attendant delivers drinks, ask for a cup, a couple ice cubes, and a straw. There are endless games you can make up with this combination as ice is fascinating to toddlers. Make sure that the ice doesn’t end up in their mouth though as it is a choking hazard. And don’t forget the old favourite “I spy”!
It’s all about relaxing! Imagine the journey going really well a couple of nights before you fall asleep, so your unconscious gets ready for the journey positively. It’s also about being flexible when unexpected things happen that you have no control over. Toddlers will pick up on your vibes so lighten up, chill out and have a brilliant holiday!
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Funky Little Bugs have Bags of Style! As any parent knows, a trip out and about with the kids takes planning and usually involves getting an awful lot of kit from a-to-b. But, don’t despair – Funky Little Bugs offer an eye catching collection of Nappy Bags, Toddler Bags, Jeans Bags, Tote Bags and baby accessories, to carry your essentials in style.
For school, as an overnight bag or just because they look great, Funky Little Bugs Toddler Bags are an essential everyday piece of kit! They are super stylish and so much fun that every kid will want a trendy toddler bag of their very own!
Mum’s all over the world love the unique, quirky range of bags and accessories featuring the popular Marvel Comic series, Disney, Mr Men and many more original designs, handmade by Steph Morrell, right here in the UK. Funky little Bugs Change Bags which include matching changing mat, dribble cloth and wipes pouch, are cleverly designed to contain all your baby essentials on the go. They’re ideal for parents who want a stylish alternative to the usual change bags available on the high street.
New lines are regularly added but if you can’t find what you’re looking for, Steph welcomes orders for commissioned items – working with her customers to create a bag that will suit the users own style and need.
To find the perfect bag for you or your little one visit
www.funkylittlebugs.com
WIN! + WIN! + WIN! Funky Little Bugs have teamed up with My Family Magazine to offer you the chance to win a funky Change Bag of your choice worth £34. To enter simply email your name and contact number to flbcomp@hotmail.com (competition closes at midnight on Friday 1st May 2015).
Look No Further than Hippychick for Travel Essentials! Hippychick has a great choice of multi award winning travel essentials in their range. Many of them have been designed by parents who have seen a way to make travelling with children easier. They include, to name just a few: Hippychick Dream Tubes: the amazing inflatable bed guard that fits any standard size single or cot bed. The safety solution that’s small & compact, lightweight and operational in minutes. Totseat: simply the best travel fabric highchair on the market, it fits every chair! Hippychick Hipseat: the child carrier that’s indispensable for active parents – no fiddly straps or attachments – AND it supports your back! Hippychick Packasuits: foldaway waterproof suits that come with their very own little compact bag. Hippychick has loads of other fantastic ideas to make travelling with children that little bit easier. Check out the website for the full range or request a catalogue.
01278 434440 | www.hippychick.com
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A good night’s sleep home and away with Snuggle Sac Snuggle Sac can be machine washed and is easily tumble dried, which makes it ideal for the potty training years, as it can be back on the bed in no time at all.
Snuggle Sac is the versatile, awardwinning fleecy sleeping bag, that is the perfect modern replacement to traditional bedding and equally useful for taking on holidays, sleep overs or long car journeys. At home and away, Snuggle Sac’s 100% cotton lining ensures that the kids are cosy and happily tucked up for a good night’s sleep, every night of the year. Snuggle Sac has a space within the head area to fit a standard pillow for added comfort and conveniently packs into its very own travel bag – making it the ideal travel companion. Endorsed by The Children’s Sleep Charity, Snuggle Sac is suitable for small children through to teenagers (up to 6ft tall) and is a great for active sleepers, as it solves the bedding on the floor problem.
Snuggle Sac’s imaginative designs (including Harry Potter, Pirates, Fairies, Ponies and many more) have become a global sensation that has achieved a celebrity fans base that includes J.K Rowling (who wrote the Squashy, Purple Sleeping bags into The Prisoner of Azkaban), Gordon Ramsay, Jeremy Clarkson and Jonathan Ross to name a few.
WIN! + WIN! + WIN!
My Family readers can SAVE 10% OFF by using code MF10 at the checkout when you order from
www.snugglesac.com
If you would like to be in with the chance of winning a Snuggle Sac of your very own, simply email your name and daytime contact number to enquiries@snugglesac.com (Competition closes at midnight on Friday 1st May 2015).
An independent nursery store in West Sussex. Our online presence concentrates on those great products that make travel and days out with little ones so much easier.
Keep your Medication Safe! Nomad Travel Cases and Medical Coolers are an essential piece of kit when travelling with medication, ensuring that your medication is kept at optimum temperature (2 – 8 degrees) at all times. Powered or non powered coolers available.
www.fiesta-tots.co.uk
Please check out our website www.coolicebox.com for further details, or telephone 01598740685 myfamily 29
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AWAY WITH THE KIDS water bouncing balls to water blasters they have it all, with loads of exciting toys to choose from. For fun and safety in the sun we highly recommend Jakabel this summer!
Sun, Fun and Safety from Jakabel Whether you are planning a holiday abroad or are just going to the seaside for the weekend, you will need to give your kids some protection from the sun this summer. Jakabel specialises in UV50+ Sun protective swimwear which blocks out 97.5% of the harmful UVA/UVB rays of the sun – available in children’s sizes 0-13 years plus an adult range of swimwear as well. Jakabel even takes care of babies with an exclusive Baby UV romper and gorgeous swim nappy designs to keep those little accidents from creeping out! The colourful designs in Jakabel’s ranges mean kids love to wear them! “We don’t make black wetsuits,” says managing director Jo Shephard, “as kids prefer a bit more pizazz when they are out and about.”
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If you are heading for the pool, Jakabel’s exclusive Swimsafe floatsuit is the only ‘learn to swim’ aid which does not tip over in the water, so kids can swim freely and easily and parents can relax while watching over them. “I can’t believe how quickly their confidence grew over a two-week holiday,” said Liz from Windsor after her two boys had a fantastic time in Portugal wearing Jakabel floatsuits! For swimming games/toys or accessories, look no further as there is fun for all the family too! From
To find out more, visit
www.jakabel.com Telephone: 0208 7152385 Mobile: 07957 541406 or email: info@jakabel.com.
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Tips for travelling with a baby or toddler by Alexandra Wyver-Northam, founder of Fiesta Tots l This may seem very WW2, but we use old plastic luggage labels (or even cheaper, address labels) attached to the back (where they can’t fiddle) of our children, or stuck onto the back of their top (under their coat). On the tags or labels we write their name and our mobile no. in case they are lost.
Holidays are about getting away and relaxing – although it doesn’t feel like this too often when you have little ones. So, here are a few tips to slightly, just slightly, enable you to retain your composure as you’re travelling from A to B and keep the little ones safe. l Know exactly where your passports / travel documents are during travel. Keep them in the same safe place – a chewed passport is not fun, neither is a child wandering off as you search for the documents.
l When you get to your destination, do a quick assessment of where your little monkey might get up to mischief and what you might have to child-proof. A travel stair gate can be really useful. The BabyDan pressure fit GateToGo (£37.99) folds up and will fit in even a small suitcase. l If your little one is mobile, it’s hard to keep them in a buggy for too long and you’ll probably want them to let off steam before a flight, car or train journey. So, invest in a set of reins, especially if in a crowded environment. Simple versions by Clippasafe and Red Kite (from £6.99), can also include useful highchair anchor straps. Goldbug & Pipsy Koala have cuddly toy versions like Kenny the Kangaroo (£19.99), that double up as a travel companion, while Skip Hop do reins with a back pack (£19.99) that can hold their little treasures.
Mountain Buggy duet – the world’s most compact, all-terrain side-by-side just got even better! Holding true to Mountain Buggy’s DNA of adaptability, manoeuvrability, simplicity and durability, duet has proven itself to be a firm favourite for families of one or two children. The new enhancements take an already popular award-winning model, into an exciting new direction. Added to the slim chassis is the new one hand fast fold,
providing a fluid and seamless transition from the upright to the compact! Block colour on the sunhood and new reversible plush seat liners offer a more stylish aesthetic. There is greater front wheel width for stability and the curvature and depth of the wheel rim has been developed for a more durable performance. The ideal additional accessory for families who want convenience and longevity, joey – the clip-on tote bag, effortlessly transforms duet to a single buggy with loads of storage and a renewed weight capacity of 18kg.
The innovative carrycot plus accessory easily transforms like no other seen in the market. Offering three versatile parent facing modes that a parent would ever need: lie flat, incline for reflux babies and parent facing seat. With over 20 years of pioneering all terrain adventure, Mountain Buggy are committed to staying ahead of the game.
www.mountainbuggy.com myfamily 31
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The Benefits of Swimming... Swimming is one of the most accessible forms of physical activity there is, providing a wide variety of health benefits that the whole family can enjoy.
life. Sadly, drowning is the third most common cause of death in children, so learning to swim is an essential life skill. The ASA Learn to Swim Pathway is nationally recognised as the benchmark for swimming lesson provision and takes children from nonswimmers, though to confident and competent swimmers. It has also been adapted for use in primary schools as part of the national curriculum. All primary schools in England can now receive support in delivering swimming lessons through the School Swimming Charter at www.swimiming.org/schoolcharter
energy levels, and when combined with a good diet, can boost the immune system. It also lowers blood pressure and provides a great way for them to socialise with like-minded people.
Swimming also provides access to a whole range of other aquatics activities including Water Polo, Diving, Synchronised Swimming, Sailing, Surfing and many more.
When swimming 90% of the body’s weight is supported by the water and reduces the amount of stress on joints, relieving arthritis.
... for everyone
... for babies
There’s no reason why anyone should miss out on all the fun of making a splash and keeping active with swimming as it is accessible to people of all ages and abilities. Swimming helps to build confidence, concentration, motor skills, and is perfect for those recovering from long term illness or injury.
Swimming helps babies to develop coordination and balance, ensures muscles develop properly and strengthens the heart and lungs. The ASA, England’s national governing body for swimming, recommends that babies start learning to swim from as young as six months, but there is nothing stopping you getting them used to water even earlier than that through regular games in the bath. Many leisure centres provide swimming lessons which are specially designed to get babies comfortable being in and around water, through in-pool games and special adult and child sessions.
... for parents Swimming lowers body fat; just 30 minutes burns a minimum of 200 calories and lowers cholesterol by up to twice as much as land based exercise. It also improves mood through release of endorphins, helping to reduce stress, anxiety and depression. There are so many things you can do to make time in the pool varied and fun. The ASA’s Swimfit programme provides gym style workouts in the pool with strokes, techniques and drills to keep your swimming programme diverse and challenging. A new Swimfit Gym programme brings land based exercise into the pool environment, with planned exercises that complement your regular Swimfit sessions.
... for kids Children can benefit from swimming in a number of ways too. It improves strength and flexibility, builds stamina and posture, but perhaps most importantly, the ability to swim could one day save a child or young person’s
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Don’t forget it’s also the perfect opportunity to spend some quality family time together!
... for grandparents Grandparents can benefit from taking to the pool too! 30 minutes of swimming at least once a week promotes longevity, increases
Many pools provide specialised access for those with disabilities and there are also disability swimming clubs across England which allows those with physical impairments or special needs to socialise and exercise, with lessons from specialist teachers and coaches. Also people living with dementia and their carers can enjoy all the benefits of swimming too, with Dementia Friendly swimming projects aimed at enhancing their swimming experience.
Find your local pool If you are interested in getting into the pool more regularly, either for swimming lessons, leisure and family sessions or to get involved in any of the activities mentioned in this article, you can visit www.swimming.org/PoolFinder and discover what your local pools have to offer.
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Beautiful Turkish Hammam towels for bathtime, beachtime and pooltime. 20% off Hippychick Hammam Towels when quoting MYFAM
Swimtots swim nappies TotsBots Swimtots are the super cool reusable swim nappies that are sure to be an essential for trendy bums this summer! Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no doubt that Swimtots are the creation of TotsBots, as these water nappies have the same signature style as the rest of the multi award winning collection and come in two fabulous and original prints: Beach Bums for the boys and Knickerbocker for the girls! The swim range not only gives tots some serious poolside style, they have been expertly designed and manufactured in the UK to keep the little ones comfortable and protected. Swimtots not only look fantastic, they have been expertly designed to ensure the ultimate comfort and practicality so tots can make a splash in more ways than one! Each swim nappy has a comfortable and stretchy fit, with elasticated legs and waist for a snug, leakproof fit. The nappy also includes a soft microfibre interior to make sure there are no mishaps in and around the pool! Available from
www.totsbots.com Price ÂŁ9.99
Jakabel is number 1 for safety in the sun! We have a range of sun protection swimwear with UVP50+ as well as wetsuits, floatsuits and pool toys for kids aged 0-13yrs in cool, fashionable designs! Call 020 8715 2385 info@jakabel.com www.jakabel.com myfamily 33
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From swimming to aquajogging: the dos and don’ts of water-based exercise for pregnancy and beyond by Joanna Helcké PhD
Swimming Why do it? The joy of swimming becomes ever more apparent as your pregnancy progresses. Not surprisingly, carrying round the added weight of your baby, as well as the postural changes caused by your growing bump, mean that many land-based forms of exercise can feel increasingly hard work as you near the end of your pregnancy. Swimming will give you a wonderful feeling of lightness and it is, of course, non-impact which means that you are doing your joints and your pelvic floor a big favour! What to watch out for l If you start to suffer from Pelvic Girdle Pain during pregnancy, then it is important that you do NOT do breaststroke as the wide movement performed with the legs will aggravate the problem. l If you are someone who holds tension in the neck and it is getting worse during pregnancy, then I would encourage you to avoid breaststroke as this stroke can place extra pressure in the neck region. l Once you are into your 2nd trimester, backstroke should be avoided as this could make you feel dizzy.
Aquanatal Why do it? AquaNatal is one of the safest, most effective and relaxing pregnancy exercises – just be sure that it is taught by a specialist in pre and postnatal fitness. It will enable you to do both cardio and resistance work without placing pressure on your joints, stressing your pelvic floor, or aggravating back pain. Some sources even suggest that it may help you have a shorter, more active birth and reduce the chances of having an assisted delivery.
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What to watch out for l As your bump grows, vigorous sideways movements in the water are not a good idea, as the water will place pressure on your bump. l Make sure that the water you are exercising in is deep enough i.e. around bra line height. This will reduce impact and keep your joints and bump well supported. l If you develop pelvic girdle pain in pregnancy (also known as Symphasis Pubis Diastasis) then sideways movements in the water are contraindicated, as are exercises which involve taking the legs wide e.g. jumping jacks. l Do not confuse a standard AquaAerobics/ AquaFit class with AquaNatal: the latter should be taught by a specialist in pregnancy fitness.
Aquajogging Why do it? One of the big media debates is about jogging and running both during and after pregnancy. This is a controversial subject as those of you for whom running is a way of life, will be absolutely itching to pull on your trainers and
get going again post-pregnancy. But there’s a BIG problem with impact exercise during the postnatal period, and it is this: you could not only damage your pelvic floor but also your ligaments causing instability within the joints. Impact exercise should only be reintroduced 6 months postpartum. A really excellent alternative to running on land, is deep water aquajogging with a floatation belt around your waist. It mimics the same movement pattern as running but there is no impact on your joints or pelvic floor – perfect for the postnatal body. What to watch out for l Make sure that you stay really upright when you are aquajogging. One of the most common mistakes people make when aquajogging is to tip forwards. If you do so, you completely lose the benefit of this form of exercise and you will simply end up swimming with a floatation belt round your waist – far too easy! l If you are someone who holds tension in the neck then it is even more important to stay upright whilst aquajogging. Keep your chin tucked in rather than poking it forwards. l Focus on working the deep and pelvic floor as you aquajog. Keeping fit and active during pregnancy and beyond, is immensely helpful, giving you more energy, helping you recover more quickly and building both your physical and mental strength ready for motherhood. Dr Joanna Helcké is an expert in pregnancy and postnatal exercise and winner of the UK’s most prestigious fitness award: the 2014 FitPro Award for Excellence in Fitness. She is the creator of the UK’s first online pregnancy and postnatal fitness programme. For weekly mum-to-be and new mum health and fitness advice, and recipes, sign up to Joanna’s newsletter at www.joannahelcke.com
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The benefits of using ‘Real Nappies’ Whether in the early weeks of pregnancy or as a new parent it will probably have crossed your mind just how many nappy changes your baby will need between the day your baby arrives and the time they are potty trained. For every year your baby is in nappies, he or she will need nearly 2,000 nappy changes. With potty training averaging at two and a half years, that is nearly 5,000 nappies per child! Research by The Real Nappy Information Service shows that 3 billion disposable nappies are thrown away in the UK every year – equating to over 355,000 tonnes of disposable nappy waste every year, with 90% of this going to landfill and an annual disposal cost to local authorities (and tax payers) of £32 million. Reports have shown that a 40% carbon saving can be made through using reusable nappies compared to using disposables – and yes that includes the washing! It is not just our local community that benefits, but our wider environment as well. Disposable nappies can also take 500 years to decompose.
With Real Nappy Week (20th-26th April 2015) just around the corner we caught up with Emma King, founder of Funky Monkey Pants, to find out more about the benefits of opting for real nappies. How will I benefit from using real nappies? Firstly, cloth nappies are more comfy. Ask yourself ‘would you prefer to wear paper pants or fabric ones all day?’ They are also cheaper – a full time birth to potty set of cloth nappies
costs £120-£250 and these can be used again when a second or even third child comes along. Disposables can cost around £1200 per child, over the same period.
What types of real nappies are there for my baby? There are 5 main types of cloth nappies available in a fantastic choice of cute styles, fabrics and colours. All in ones – these go on in 1 piece like a disposable nappy it consists of the waterproof outer and absorbent material inside. All in two nappies have a shell with an absorbent insert – if the nappy is wet, a clean insert can just be popped in making this an economical system. Pocket nappies have a waterproof outer with a stay dry fabric that goes next to baby’s skin – there is a pocket where the absorbent insert is placed. Fitted nappies are shaped like a disposable nappy and are a good choice for heavy wetter’s and overnight – the whole nappy is absorbent and needs a wrap on the top. Flat nappies are very economical and hard wearing. Traditional terry square and prefolds – a rectangle piece of fabric made from layers of fabric, with more in the middle these are pad folded and placed in a wrap.
fibres against their baby’s sensitive skin. Another option is Microfiber – a man-made fabric which is super absorbent and quick drying.
Can I use cloth nappies in childcare? Most nurseries and child-minders will use them but a pocket nappy or all in one might be a better choice, some will ask you for individual bags for the dirty nappies.
How easy are real nappies to use? If you can change a nappy and use a washing machine you will be fine. Used nappies are put in a dry bucket or wet bag, then every 2-3 days put them in the washing machine run a rinse cycle and then wash at 40-60 degrees, dry them on the line, clothes airer or tumble dryer – following care labels.
Where can I buy real nappies? A full range of cloth nappies and accessories are available from Funky Monkey Pants – for further information and advice visit:
www.funkymonkeypants.com or if you live in Cornwall drop in and see us at 5c Water Ma Trout Industrial Estate Helston, TR13 0LW.
What are reusable nappies made from? Many cloth nappies are made from natural fabrics such as bamboo, hemp or cotton, as more and more parents are opting for natural
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Holo for Pregnancy Relaxation in pregnancy is a difficult one, especially by the third trimester, when your bump is really getting in the way, causing pains in your pelvis and stopping you lie in a comfortable sleep position. Well, that was until the holo arrived! Unable to find a comfortable position to lie down in because of her growing bump and losing sleep with the discomfort, Emma Benson took a lilo and cut a hole in it. The result was the holo and since its launch Emma, from Ilkley, West Yorkshire, has received messages from expectant mothers and their partners from all across the globe, thanking her for giving them some much needed pain relief. The holo has actually made it possible to be comfortable right up until birth. Tried and tested by thousands of pregnant mums, worldwide, it is proven to be an absolute godsend for the relief of SPD pains, catching up on sleep, turning the baby into optimal position for birth and can even be used for yoga sessions, pregnancy massage and for getting your back brown on holiday!
Used by physios, osteopaths, midwives and pregnancy yoga teachers worldwide, the holo has certainly made its mark. “What a fab invention” said Amanda Wardle, Supervisor of Midwives, Airedale Hospital, West Yorkshire. “Wishing you all the very best with this wonderful product”. So why not treat yourself to a comfortable pregnancy. You are most definitely worth it. Suitable for use on land and water – the holo is available in blue, pink and mint. RRP £39.99 including delivery to UK. Delivery also available worldwide -prices available on the website. For more information visit www.holo-lilo.com, facebook – the lilo with a hole and twitter @hololilo.
www.holo-lilo.com
Our funky handmade Nappy Bags are cleverly designed to contain all your baby essentials on the go – includes matching changing bag, mat, dribble cloth and wipes pouch. Checkout our unique range of bespoke Nappy Bags, Toddler Bags, Baby Accessories, Jeans Bags and Tote Bags in cool designs including Marvel Comic, Mr Men, Polka Dots & many more. Each design is handmade to order in small limited runs and if you can’t find what you’re looking for we can customise a bag for you.
www.facebook.com/funkylittlebugs
Introducing Daddy Proof Babywear Wauwaa.com is thrilled to announce the launch of Daddy Proof, a gorgeously unique organic babywear brand. Daddy Proof babywear is made from 100% organic cotton so it’s soft and gentle on skin, perfect for babies! Cleverly designed with colour coordinated poppers and a cute little bunny logo to represent the front and back, never again will parents have to see inside out or back-to-front outfits! As well as babygrows there are bodysuits, trousers, cardigans and hats to complete the collection, helping parents to dress their little ones quickly and with minimal fuss! There are even trousers with little flip out feet that can be rolled up when it’s warm and down when it’s chilly! Available in blue, pink and white Daddy Proof makes a gorgeous gift for new parents. Available from:
www.wauwaa.com PRICE FROM £17.60
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HAPPY RETIREMENT
2015 is a GREAT year to retire You’ve done the hard bit, now you’ve finished work and can look forward to your retirement. But if you are finding it a little too quiet, here are few things to try as you turn the page on a new chapter of your life . . . Satisfy Your Appetite 2015 is Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink, making it the ideal time to explore the many tempting places to eat, drink and be merry in Scotland. From fine dining at Michelin starred restaurants to a memorable lobster ‘n’ chips by the sea, and let’s not forget Scotland’s most famous tipple – whisky – which you can sample at a distillery or hip and happening bar.
Make Money For the first time in its 1,000 year history, Britain’s oldest manufacturing organisation, The Royal Mint (the world’s leading export mint), will open its doors to the general public to get behind the scenes and find out how the coins we use every day are made. There’s already a fascinating onsite museum, and the visitor experience will bring The Mint to life – there will even be the chance to strike your very own coin!
Take to the Skies What better way to take in 360° views of some of the natural wonders of south-west England than from a hot-air balloon? Take off from Salisbury, Wiltshire and sip Champagne as you drift over some of the region’s most spectacular scenery. Visit www.ballooning.co.uk.
Active Early Retirement village in South West France offers you a choice of detached two bedroom houses or apartments with garden in a central village location and social facilities. Spend your early retirement years playing, exploring, cycling, walking, visiting Châteaux, vineyards and markets where your body will enjoy the warmth of everyday sunshine along with fine wines and foods. France also has a world renowned National Health service. Airport is only 35 minutes away and a 1hr 20min flight back to the UK. For all further details contact Tel: 00 33 (0) 553836230 or email: info@activeretirementfrance.com or visit
www.activeretirementfrance.com
A reflection of modern family life from birth to early teens
Go to a Festival Britain is a nation of food lovers and festival lovers. What happens when these two passions meet? Some of the most fun, tasty and interesting weekends of the year. There are numerous foodies’ festivals taking place over the summer in locations across Britain – to find out more visit www.foodiesfestival.com.
Informative articles, discounts and so much more . . .
Sign up to receive our newsletter today! check out the latest issue FREE online at
www.myfamilymagazine.co.uk To find even more enjoyable ways to spend your days throughout 2015 go to www.visitbritain.com.
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Expected Retirement Income Hits a Six-Year High Expected retirement incomes have hit a six-year high with people planning to retire this year– the Class of 2015 – expecting to be nearly eight per cent better off than those who stopped working in 2014, according to new research from Prudential.
Active Early Retirement France Ready to retire? We offer you warm sunshine and balmy evenings, great climate, fantastic social outdoor life in the long summer months with great foods, wines, night markets and restaurants? All this and yet only a 1h 20min flight from the UK!
Millions more offered free pension statement A free government service to help millions of people better understand their State Pension is being expanded from the 7th February 2015.
A selection of detached easy to maintain two bedroomed houses or apartments with garden, in a purpose built active retirement village in South West France. This is just a short 19 mile journey from Bergerac airport and a 1hr and 20 min flight from the UK.
As the changes to pensions and saving regulations start to take effect and confidence in the economy continues to grow, the insurer’s research has found that those planning to retire in 2015 have an average expected annual retirement income of £17,000 per year – on average more than £1,200 higher than last year’s retirees.
The local village has most social amenities, walking, tennis, French markets, fantastic vineyards surrounded by magnificent old Bastide towns and villages. Great for family to visit too!
Anyone over the age of 55 is now able to request a personalised State Pension statement, giving them an estimate of what they are likely to receive based on their current National Insurance (NI) record – until now the scheme was only open to people over the age of 60.
France’s renowned medical health service is the best in the world and brilliant climate – sunbathing in March! Yet still the crispy frosty days of winter. In the summer, long days of warm dry sunshine and sitting out and eating and drinking to the late hours.
This further roll out of the service – which has already issued more than 76,000 statements since its launch in September last year – comes ahead of ground-breaking new pension freedoms which come into effect from April.
Bordeaux, renowned for its beautiful Architecture, Europe’s longest shopping street, or skiing in the French Pyrenees is but a 2.5 hour drive. The south of France and Paris can be accessed by road or French railway systems. So what are you waiting for? For all further details contact
info@activeretirementfrance.com Telephone: 01598740685 or 0033 553836230 The figures paint a picture of significant regional variation in retirement expectations for the ‘Class of 2015’, although there is an increase in expected retirement incomes in all but two of the regions Prudential reports on. The North East of England saw expected incomes increase by more than a quarter (27 per cent), with large increases also seen in the South West of England (19 per cent), the West Midlands (18 per cent) and London (17 per cent). Meanwhile, those planning to retire in Scotland in 2015 expect an income that is seven per cent lower on average than those who retired last year.
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Extending the service will equip people with vital information as they consider their options under the new rules. The new State Pension comes into effect in April 2016. You can get a State Pension statement online at www.gov.uk/state-pension-statement Further information is available from Pension Wise is a free government service offering guidance to people over 55 about how they can make the most of the new pension freedoms – for more information visit www.gov.uk/pensionwise Information provided by Department for Work and Pensions – 7 February 2015.
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SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILY
Support for Disabled Travellers Tourism for All UK (TfA) provides information to disabled people on accessible accommodation and other tourism services in the UK & selected overseas destinations. Every year they respond to thousands of people who may need help and support to enable them to take a break they may not have previously believed possible.
TfA is a national registered charity, and its information service is backed by a website, www.tourismforall.org.uk, and supported by a helpline, 0845 124 9971. The aim is to provide lively, inspirational and comprehensive information that encourages people to try new things, see new places, and live life to the full! As well as accommodation, travel, and attractions, TfA provides information about activity holidays for disabled people,
equipment hire, places where care is available, escorts & carer services, and sources of finance towards the cost of a holiday for people on low income. They are also working on a project called Open Britain which will provide a list of accessible places to stay around Britain. Testimonial:
"TFA Is so important for disabled people, it is a vastly undervalued resource by central government yet continues to break down barriers to accessible travel, one of the main disabling factors in many people’s lives. TFA is doing a superb job and I and many others appreciate the leadership and support on issues that are vital to disabled people." TFA Member Tourism for All UK 7A Pixel Mill • 44 Appleby Road Kendal • Cumbria LA9 6ES E-mail: info@tourismforall.org.uk Telephone: 0845 124 9971
Travel anywhere with your medication! The Cool Ice Box Company specialises in Medical Travel Cases and Medical Coolers which hold temperature between 2-8 degrees, length of time from 5 to 48 hours with no power, depending on the model you chose. From our Small Nomad Travel Case (which is ideal for carrying insulin pens) to our Nomad
This year we have added the Nomad Large Travel Case and the Nomad Extra Large Travel Case which is proving very popular with our customers. We also supply micro multi powered units which work of battery, mains or car charger for independent travellers and professionals that need to carry supply medication. We aim to have a product to suit your requirements and purse.
Medium Travel Case (suitable for Eye drops, Humira and Insulin) to our Nomad Rigid Travel Case (for longer periods of cooling) to the popular 8L Medical Cooler (suitable for carrying bigger quantities of medication, it has an internal probe and external temperature display, as has the 18L and the larger 28L Nomad Medical Cooler) or trolley coolers for carrying volumes of medication, vaccines and samples at stable temperatures.
We also provide letters to clients travelling with our coolers to assist them through customers. Please advise if you require such a letter when ordering.
Please look at our comprehensive website www.coolicebox.com for further information or email us at info@coolicebox.com requesting a call back at a time to suit you and we will happily talk you through our products.
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Sleep and Your Special Needs Child Antonia Chitty and Victoria Dawson Sleep is vital for childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s well-being. Without enough sleep their health, mood, behaviour and learning ability may all be impaired. Research shows that children with additional needs are more likely to have sleep disorders than typically developing children, and that without intervention these problems will persist. Victoria Dawson is a successful sleep practitioner and founder of the Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sleep Charity. Here, together with health writer Antonia Chitty, she shares her own experiences, those of other sleep experts and those of parents.
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Bibble Plus+ Bandana Bibs are the functional and stylish solution for older children, teenagers and adults who have difficulties with drooling and dribbling. Bibble Plus+ are available in 3 sizes and come in a range of colours and designs to suit every taste and enhance any outfit.
While most parents of babies expect sleep problems to resolve within months, parents of children with special needs can find them lasting into adolescence and beyond. This is a pressing issue for parents, as disturbed sleep can cause depression, relationship problems and a weakening of the immune system. The majority of parents receive little or no help with sleep problems, and few families have access to sleep practitioners. This book addresses sleep problems using a highly successful behavioural and cognitive approach to sleep management, and is the first book to explain these approaches in detail. The practical advice contained is invaluable for parents who want to feel more in control and more confident about tackling sleep issues in a way that is appropriate for their child. Available from
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Receive 10% off your 1st order. Enter code: FAMILY10 at the checkout to receive your discount
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GOT TALENT! Autism’s returns to the stage! Saturday, 9th May 2015 sees the welcome return of Autism’s Got Talent to the stage at the Mermaid Theatre, London. The star studded show which is co-produced by autism charity Anna Kennedy Online and Pineapple Performing Arts School promises spectacular performances by extremely talented adults and children with autism.
Autism’s Got Talent brings together a diverse group of performers consisting of singers, actors, musicians and dance troupes, to fly the flag for autism and show what people with autism and Aspergers syndrome are capable of. Now in its 4th year, Autism’s Got Talent is growing in popularity each year, and 2015 has firmly cemented its status as a leading charity and autism event. Supported in the past by celebrities including Carrie and David Grant, Debbie Moore OBE, Dr Pam Spurr, Steve Hewlett and Jason Leech , Autism’s Got Talent shows how pivotal and prominent autism really is. While discussing the success and ideas behind this amazing event, the charity’s founder Anna Kennedy OBE says; “Autism, like many issues is often shrouded
with negativity and negative press. Autism’s Got Talent provides a platform and great opportunity to distinguish this, and replace it with hope, fun, laughter and positivity. All the acts involved in the past 3 years were extremely talented, and the event provided an environment that they were able to express themselves, make new friends and meet people from around the UK. Not only does Autism’s Got Talent provide a springboard, it also boosts confidence and social skills, and new friendships for both adults and children”.
“Performers will be traveling from all over the UK and overseas to take part, proving how established, important and successful this event has become”. “There always a buzz on the night and the response via Social Media is always fantastic. Good luck
messages from around the world, including celebrities, families and organisations always pour in, with celebrations extending to Social Media for those who cannot make it to the event. It really brings people together, and everyone shares in the celebrations and congratulations. I really am looking forward to making 2015 bigger and better!” Anna Kennedy continues. Check out the highlights of Autism’s Got Talent 2014 on Youtube: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=chlXhMCmKAE#t=537
this unique, eye-opening show for yourself! Everyone is welcome – we really do want this to be a mixed audience of those on the spectrum and those that aren’t. Tickets (£15 for adults and £10 for children) are available from lisa.robins@thevines.org.uk, by calling 01895 619734 or via Paypal@annakennedyonline.com – quoting AGT2015. Performers showcasing at this year’s Autisms Got Talent will be announced in early February. Watch this space . . .
This really is a show not to be missed – come along and enjoy
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POSITIVE ABOUT AUTISM BASTON HOUSE SCHOOL CASE STUDY
Marie’s son has achieved more than she ever thought possible under the dedicated support of Baston House School Marie and Michael Pace live in Croydon with their son, Tristan, who is 16.
Every child an individual “When you have met one child with autism, you have met one child with autism”; as the mother of a son with Asperger’s Syndrome, Marie knows only too well that every child on the autistic spectrum is completely different to another and that the only approach is to treat them as the individuals they are. At Baston House School she has found the setting she can trust to recognise Tristan’s own special traits and needs and to address them appropriately.
could have a sudden meltdown in a shop or in the street,” she says. “The staff at Baston House have gone to a lot of effort to help him to overcome some of his fears, taking him out and about to shops and cafes in the town, for example, and finding ways to help him cope if he becomes distressed. Perhaps one of the best outcomes of this approach is that people who are not aware of Tristan’s condition can meet him without realising that he is autistic.”
Genuine dedication
Tristan was diagnosed when he was six but it was only two years ago that Marie finally succeeded in her fight to win a place at Baston House.
Every parent wants the best for their children but when a child has a condition such as Asperger’s it can be almost impossible to know where to start without professional support.
“It was quite clear from very early on that Tristan would not have survived in mainstream education,” she says. “When we did manage to find a special school for him it failed him, and other pupils, badly and we had to take him out. It was almost a year before we got the funding to send him to Baston but it has proved to be well worth the wait.”
Marie is very impressed not only with the professionalism of the Baston House staff but with their genuine dedication to the children: “I really believe that they care deeply about what they are doing; they take pleasure in Tristan’s achievements, big or small, and he is absolutely
thriving. Having watched his struggles in other schools over the years, I have no doubt that it is Baston House which has kept Tristan engaged in education and enabled him to have at least some independence and a better quality of life.”
New points of reference It is impossible for Marie and Michael to know what the future might hold for Tristan but Marie is reassured that at present he is safe, supported and gaining in confidence and has better chances in life than he could otherwise have expected. “When your child is born it is tempting to map out their life in terms of exams, career and marriage but when you get a diagnosis like this you lose all points of reference. Now, anything which Tristan achieves between the ability to tie his own laces to going to university is a milestone which makes me happy, and I will always be grateful that Baston House has helped him to reach those milestones.”
Expect the unexpected Having spent so long out of education, Tristan’s confidence was very low and his fear of failure meant that he was unwilling to attempt something he felt he might not be able to achieve. However, within weeks of starting at Baston House he had gone from struggling with simple children’s books to reading complicated adult literature, something Marie finds almost incomprehensible. “I think that because his teachers knew he was capable of doing more he was able to believe it himself and so was willing to allow himself to try,” says Marie. “Their faith in him seemed to give him faith in himself and he has succeeded spectacularly.” Tristan has also taken and passed exams which Marie and Michael had never remotely expected would ever happen.
Overcoming fears Apart from Tristan’s academic achievements, Marie has noticed a great improvement in his social skills. “One thing which can generally be said about autistic children is that they often have difficulty in coping with certain social situations and there were times when Tristan
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To learn more about Baston House visit
www.bastonhouseschool.org.uk
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Performing & Creative Arts at Baston House School When Fiona Treadaway started at Baston House School two years ago, there was little evidence of the presence of the Arts in and around the school – so she took on the role of championing the Arts in ways that could benefit the pupils. Using over twenty five years’ experience as a professional dancer and her work with children and young people in the performing arts, she has introduced Baston House pupils to performing productions that she has written especially for them. Fiona tailors her lessons to the individual learner so that all pupils can benefit and engage in the Arts. She has watched her pupils, all of whom are on the autistic spectrum blossom and grow in confidence through engaging in performing and creative rrts. Initially dance was introduced to the school with an early morning ‘wake and shake’ and by choreographing routines for shows, in which she encouraged staff to support learners by joining in. Since joining the school, Fiona has choreographed, written, directed and produced six productions including, 50 Years of Doctor Who, The Time Machine and A Baston House Carol and is currently working on the next script. She believes that, with each passing production, the pupils are learning to work better as a team and that drama can allow pupils to take on characters that sometimes enables them to step outside the challenges they are dealing with in real life – a skill she is encouraging learners to try out in everyday situations to help them cope with difficult situations. All learners help build and paint the props and on production days, the whole school – pupils and staff – act as a strong team whether on stage, behind the scenes, ushering the guests to their seats or preparing and serving a buffet afterwards. It's always a busy but rewarding day when everyone works together.
In 2014 Fiona took pupils’ artwork and photography to Autism’s Got Talent to promote the great work the learners do at Baston House School, and she is planning a bigger and better exhibition of artwork for this year’s show on Saturday, 9th May 2015 at the Mermaid Theatre. She also plans to take some pupils to exhibit work at Artists for Autism UK in Wakefield, Yorkshire where hopefully a few learners will also use their acting skills to perform a short speech about their work.
Once a week Fiona runs a Tank Club where learners build toy tanks from kits and learn different techniques for painting them. The learners have been building a set and developing rules for a game with them that is very cross curricular – it involves art, DT, history and maths skills. The team of pupils involved are planning to display the game at Salute, a war gaming show held at Excel in May which will be visited by over 7,000 people from all around the world.
Of her time at Baston House School Fiona says, “I have performed and taught all of my life and having encountered some young people in my private work who were obviously on the spectrum – whether they realised it or not, whether they had been identified as such – I wanted to involve myself more in that area and move away from the mainstream. “I could see from the difficulties that such children can have interacting with society as a whole that they needed help and I have found I could facilitate that. On that basis, having decided that I had more to offer those young people who need to relate to the world in a way that most take for granted, I set out to use my particular skill set, of dance, drama, art, Reiki, relaxation and therapy techniques, complemented by my other areas of interest (I cook, I have travelled extensively and am bilingual speaking Mandarin), to see if I could help those young learners for whom our big world can seem such a challenge. “Whilst the work can be hard, long and stressful, it is exciting, challenging and is amongst the most worthwhile things I have ever achieved” ‘’Baston House School provides an amazing safe and caring learning environment where our learners are nurtured and encouraged to flourish. I am very fortunate to be working with such a great team and some wonderful children and young people’’. ‘’At Baston House School, the learners will always make you smile!’’
Thanks to Fiona’s vision and leadership, Baston House School is now a registered Arts Awards and Arts Mark School, with great plans and ambition for the future of arts at the school and the future of its learners.
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BBC One’s The People’s Strictly for Comic Relief confirms contestants Six inspirational but everyday heroes and heroines have been confirmed to take part in BBC One’s The People’s Strictly for Comic Relief and fulfil every Strictly fan’s dream. The four-part series, which will air on BBC One in the lead-up to Comic Relief 2015, follows the journey of these six extraordinary individuals including our special friend Anna Kennedy OBE, as they embark on this oncein-a-lifetime opportunity. They’ll take part in their own televised Strictly experience and will perform for the nation in the famous Strictly Come Dancing ballroom. The public nominated deserving Strictly super-fans in their thousands. Each of the lucky six contestants was selected for their tireless and selfless work which has helped change so many lives for the better. The contestants are: l Philip Barnett from Cornwall, who founded a children’s theatre charity in 1994 and has since raised over £2 million and staged over 70 shows. l Trishna Bharadia from Buckinghamshire, who is living with MS and works hard to raise awareness around the condition.
l Anna Kennedy OBE from Middlesex, who set up the largest school for autism in the UK after her own autistic sons were turned away from mainstream education. l Cassidy Little, originally from Canada but now lives in Peterborough. Cassidy was serving in Afghanistan as a medic for the Royal Marines when he was severely injured, losing the lower half of his leg in an explosion. His positivity has helped several of his colleagues through their time in rehab. l Heather Parsons from Hampshire, who set up her own charity to support intensive care patients and their families, following her own near-death experience in intensive care. l Michael Pattie from Dumfries, who has raised over £300,000 for meningitis charities, after losing his son to the disease. Charlotte Moore, Controller, BBC One, says: "BBC One is the TV home of ballroom dancing so where better to see deserving, real-life heroes and heroines experience the sparkling joy of Strictly and all for such a great cause in Comic Relief."
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Each contestant will be paired with a professional dancer from the Strictly Come Dancing family. They will then spend five weeks being immersed in the Strictly experience, as they prepare to become the new stars of the ballroom. The series will consist of four pre-recorded programmes, and the first two heart-warming episodes will introduce the contestants as they get the surprise of their lives and discover that they are about to embark on an incredible Strictly journey. The third episode will continue to follow their training and preparation as they get ready for their ballroom debut in front of the nation. Episode four will see all six contestants compete on the famous Strictly Come Dancing ballroom, as they vie for the judges’ scores and viewers’ votes. The judges’ scores will be for guidance only, and the public will have the deciding vote. Voting lines will open once all couples have danced and the winner of the public vote will then be crowned The People’s Strictly champion as part of the live Comic Relief show on BBC One on Friday 13 March 2015.
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POSITIVE ABOUT AUTISM
Anna Kennedy Online Takes the Campaign for Autism Awareness and Understanding to the House of Commons Anna Kennedy OBE (UK Autism Ambassador), Austin Hughes (Senior Behavioural Support and Training Officer), Sean Kennedy (Legal Adviser) and parent Jen Leavesley took to the podium in the renowned ‘Churchill Room’ to speak about autism and the three Ds – Diagnosis, Discrimination and Disability. Kennedy Online, whose two sons Patrick and Angelo are both on the spectrum, has been campaigning for faster diagnosis, a greater understanding of the disability and better education in both schools and within the medical profession. Having these in place will allow recognition of early signs of autism and prevent long and unnecessary delays.
The average time for autism diagnosis is five years, a sad fact but unnervingly true. This length of time can lead to various complications linked to discrimination, delayed development and delayed exposure to the correct resources and support. Anna Kennedy OBE, Founder of leading autistic charity Anna
Along with Anna’s husband Sean Kennedy and dedicated team, Anna Kennedy Online has made dramatic and positive changes for families and individuals affected by autism. However, this presentation proved that there is still a long way to go. Those in attendance included current Miss England and junior doctor Carina Tyrell, ex London Olympian Rachel Christie, Debbie Moore OBE, Sir John Randall, Waterloo Road actor Richard Mylan and his son and the West Ham United Foundations
Community Team, who are great supporters of the charity and it’s work. As the presentation took place in the Houses of Parliament, it was only fitting that politics was on the agenda. Austin Hughes, rounded off his talk on current diagnosis issues by referencing the ‘Big Society’ which all parties have their version of. In his mind the very notion of ‘The Big Society’ already exists. He pointed out the many support groups and charities from around the country gathered there in the room already working together as a community. A room full of people wanting to learn, understand and fully support Anna, the charity, each other and Autism as whole, surely the true meaning of Big Society! – “What is missing from this principle, that politicians have preached to us about, is
THEIR own role in actually listening to and being guided by us to make a difference. What is the point in having a ‘Big Society’ if you refuse to listen to it?” Legal Adviser, Sean Kennedy highlighted the shocking statistics of discrimination facing around 700,000 people in the UK with autism – explaining that the main thing that would help tackle discrimination is a VALUE SHIFT promoted as a 10 point plan; with the aim of people in all walks of life wanting to promote equality of opportunity for people with autism and indeed all disabilities. The overall outcome of the presentation was people came away educated and aware of the plight those affected by autism faced. Anna asked the question “Who would be responsible for Patrick and Angelo once she had gone?”, and Jen Leavesley openly, and touchingly, discussed the misleading minefield she had battled across to gain a diagnosis for both her daughters. These and other points made it clear that the work the AKO team were doing was essential and imperative to improving the quality of care across all areas. When you are diabetic, you go to a diabetes centre, and when you are asthmatic, you go to an asthma centre. Where do you go when you are autistic? For further information about the charity’s services and latest news visit: www.annakennedyonline.com
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Celebrating 40 Years of Specialist Provision for Children, Young People and Adults with Complex Needs in Hesley Group Hesley Group, established in 1975, was originally an educational provider for children and young people with emotional and behavioural disorders (“EBD”). In the mid- to later- 1990’s this changed to specialist provision for children and young people with autism and learning disabilities. Steve Lloyd, an ex-teacher and the founder of Hesley – and the current chairman – identified a lack at that time of expert provision to meet this need, of which he heard much from parents. Particularly in response to demand from families at the end of the 1990’s, Hesley also developed specialist services for adults with autism, learning disabilities and associated complex needs, including behaviours which challenged. Chris McSharry, the Hesley CEO for the past 10 years, is determined that responsiveness to families continues. In planning for the future, he looks for the organisation to remain aligned with the highly complex needs of the children, young people and adults they support; and to continue to properly understand the impact these needs have on them and also their families and carers.
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In the past 15 months Hesley has developed two, small independent specialist colleges, in response to legislative change and the introduction of Education, Health and Care Plans, which allows for young people with a need to learn over more extended time periods, to access specialist education until 25 years of age. This development at Hesley has encompassed provision for a small number of young people with a particular emotional component to their needs, associated also with a somewhat different profile of intellectual and other abilities.
“There is no greater responsibility than looking after somebody else’s child” There are a number of key features across Hesley services, which have persisted over time. These include the long-standing attention to parental views, a focus on values and staff development and on the provision of high quality physical environments in which to create positive therapeutic settings. Chris McSharry identifies two particular “core competencies” in providing positive, progressive and sustainable services: high quality behaviour support, with
the values and resource to underpin its consistent provision throughout the organisation; and a commitment to ensure that every child, young person and adult who lives in a Hesley service has a properly planned and regularly reviewed individual pathway to support their progress. Geoff Turner, the Head of Wilsic Hall School in the Hesley Group identifies, among other features, staff training and seeing every young person as an individual as vital. He notes Hesley invest heavily in developing and maintaining a highly skilled and knowledgeable workforce, which can perform to a consistently high level and respond to the unique needs of each young person who lives and learns at Wilsic. He believes strongly in the seemingly simple key foundations of good sleep, diet and exercise, in producing the core positive outcomes of health and happiness he wants for every young person entrusted to his care and that of his team. His philosophy, that “There is no greater responsibility than looking after somebody else’s child”, resonates with that of Steve Lloyd in founding Hesley with his now sadly deceased colleague and friend, Sam Wrigley; with that of Chris McSharry and that also of Jeff Cox, the Head of Hesley’s Fullerton House School. Jeff, as do his colleagues, identifies Hesley’s long term investment in services, in order to enhance each person’s quality of life; and the ongoing attention to the voice of young people and parents (with additional independent advocacy resource recently confirmed) as fundamental to Hesley provision to date and for the long-term future.
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Hesley Enhancing Lives Programme. 40 years in the making. We’re celebrating our 40th year. And we’ve learnt a lot along the way. Today, much of our experience and in house expertise is channelled to deliver our innovative Hesley Enhancing Lives Programme (HELP). Combining the latest techniques and practices, HELP focuses on how our actions and reactions can positively shape the emotional well being of all those who use our services. Through taking a proactive and empathic approach the need for higher risk interventions is reduced. All staff receive HELP training from the point of induction and regularly thereafter, to make sure it works in practice as well as theory.
Enquiries freephone 0800 055 6789 www.hesleygroup.co.uk Established in 1975, the Hesley Group provides specialist support through its schools, colleges and adult residential services with a highly experienced and expert multidisciplinary educational, care and therapeutic staff resource, in high quality purpose built settings. We’re focused on positive outcomes and progress towards sustainable independence.
Who to talk to, where to go, lots of helpful advice all in one place www.autismlinks.co.uk We’ve spoken to lots of families and carers over the past year to ±nd out what they would like to see from an Autism information website. In response, we’ve launched a new website and it’s already receiving positive comments. We hope you like it too and ±nd it helpful. Help us grow – Suggest a link. We’d love to receive, and share with others, any useful links you come across so please use the website to let us know about them. Thanks for all the input so far, it is always appreciated.
www.autismlinks.co.uk
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Baston House School • Bromley Specialist independent day facility for children diagnosed with autism aged between 5 & 16 years l A centre of excellence in education and development. l Local Authority referrals welcome l Admissions now being taken for Primary and Secondary School The following open morning is planned for parents and carers wishing to find out more about Baston House School Thursday 5th March 2015 (Starting at 10am) For admissions and information about upcoming events call 020 8462 1010 or visit www.bastonhouseschool.org.uk Baston House School Baston Road • Hayes • Bromley • Kent BR2 7AB
Hillingdon Manor The largest school for children with autism, in the UK & Europe Specialist independent day education for children aged between 3 and 19. The following open mornings are planned for parents and carers wishing to find out more about Hillingdon Manor school:
Yiewsley Grange (Lower School) Wednesday 25th March 2015 • Wednesday 29th April 2015 (all starting at 10.30am)
Tel: 01895 420315 for further information
The Manor (Upper School) Thursday 12th February 2015 • Thursday 19th March 2015 (all starting at 11am)
Tel: 01895 813679 for further information Local Authority referrals accepted. • Access to the National Curriculum. For more information about admissions, open days and events, visit www.hillingdonmanorschool.org.uk or contact the Head Teacher, Akinyi Dulo on 01895 813679