King's Lynn Corn Exchange

Foods that contain these are fairly easy to find though, but it’s important to offer these regularly in baby’s diet once they are established on solid foods and having three meals a day. Generally, this means offering “protein and iron rich” foods (see below) around three times a day for vegetarian and vegan children.

Foods that typically include these nutrients in varied amounts include:

• Fortified dairy alternatives - these usually/ should include iodine, B vitamins (including B12), calcium and vitamin D.

• Beans, lentils, pulses

• Ground nuts and ground seeds

• Tofu, Quorn, soya beans

• Olive oil and seed oils

If your baby is vegan, you might need to think about choosing more fortified foods and/ or having a supplement containing some of these nutrients, especially iodine, omega-3 and vitamin B12.

For more information about these foods, nutrients baby needs and everything you need to know about weaning your baby check out Charlotte’s Online Weaning

NHS to use test that prevents babies going deaf

A rapid test that can help preserve the hearing of newborn babies is set to be used by NHS hospitals.

Using a cheek swab, the test can identify in less than half an hour whether a critically ill baby admitted to intensive care has a gene change that could result in permanent hearing loss if they are treated with a common emergency antibiotic, Gentamicin.

While Gentamicin is used to safely treat approximately 100,000 babies a year, one in 500 babies carry the gene change that can lead to permanent hearing loss when given the antibiotic.

The new test means that babies found to have the genetic variant can be given an alternative antibiotic and could save the hearing of 200 babies in England every year.

The test will be trialled in a range of hospitals before it gets final approval.

More info: bit.ly/NHSBabyTest

New life is put into the planet with every sale

The Joolz stroller is putting the planet first with its continued efforts to make a positive impact on the environment, empowering the next generation of parents and creating a better world for their children. Through its extensive work in key areas of sustainability, the brand has succeeded in:

• Planting more than 380,000 trees in its Birth Forest initiative.

• Offering a unique 10-year transferrable warranty.

• Recycling 2.5 million plastic bottles in 2022 alone.

Proudly partnering with Tree Nation, Joolz’ Birth Forest initiative ensures with every sale of a pushchair, even more new life is put into the planet to flourish. Throughout every step of the Joolz journey, from the product creation to ongoing environmental work, giving back to the planet is at the very heart of the brand. www.joolz.com/uk/en/about-joolz.html

The Fertility Show, 20th - 21st May 2023

The Fertility Show LIVE will be opening its doors once again at London's Olympia Exhibition Centre from the 20th - 21st May.

The Show continues to remain the UK's biggest event about fertility, showcasing the knowledge of clinicians and supporting attendees who are seeking guidance on their fertility journey, and is run in association with Fertility Network UK, the UK's leading charity relating to fertility.

More paid leave for parents of premature babies

Parents could take up to an extra twelve weeks of paid leave if their child is born prematurely, as part of a new law.

Both parents would qualify for one week's extra help - in addition to existing maternity and paternity leave and pay entitlements - for every seven days their baby was in neonatal care.

The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Bill is in its final stages of becoming law.

A baby is considered to be premature if it is born before the 37th week of pregnancy and one in seven UK newborns needs to be placed in a specialist hospital unit. It is possible for a baby to survive when born at about 24 weeks of pregnancy - but the earlier it is, the more complications there could be.

More info: bit.ly/PrematurePay

It features over 70 exhibitors including UK & overseas clinics, advice groups, charities, dieticians, nutritional & lifestyle advisors, holistic therapists and more.

Visitors have the opportunity to attend over 35 live seminars presented by leading experts in a range of topics, including testing and diagnosis, choosing the right fertility clinic, new technology, egg & sperm donation and more. The seminars are delivered by clinicians, nutritionists, counsellors, experts and Fertility Network UK Tickets are £14 for one day admission or £20 for admission on both days. Seminars and workshops cost £4. Digital only tickets can be purchased for just £10. www.fertilityshow.co.uk

What’s On

Things to do, places to go and fun to be had for kids of all ages in Cambridgeshire

The Tiger Who Came to Tea

WHERE: Kings Lynn Corn Exchange

WHEN: 26th - 27th May

Direct from the West End, the Olivier Award nominated smash hit show returns on tour. Join the tea-guzzling tiger in this delightful family show; packed with oodles of magic, sing along songs and clumsy chaos. Prices from £14. www.kingslynncornexchange. co.uk 01553 764864

Wildlife Trust Bat Safari Punting

WHERE: Scudamores, Cambridge

Church Farm

WHERE: Stow Bardolph

WHEN: May and June 10.00 - 17.00 www.churchfarmstowbardolph. co.uk 01366 382162

Make friends with a wide variety of tame animals and experience all their young at close quarters throughout the season as well as enjoying their adventure playground.

Cambridge Aqua Park

WHERE: Stretham, Ely

WHEN: May and June www.cambridgeaquapark.com

For a fun family experience visit Cambridge Aqua Park, an inflatable obstacle course. Prices include the use of a lifejacket and wetsuit for free.

Forest School for Home Schoolers

WHERE: Nene Wetlands

WHEN: 11th May 1.30- 3.00pm

These sessions give primary aged home-schooled children the chance to learn about nature and explore the great outdoors. £6 per child www.wildlifebcn.org

WHEN: From 12th May

Spot bats as they emerge from hibernation with Wildlife Trust Bat Experts with use of specialist electronic bat detectors. Prices from £64 for a family of 3 www.scudamores.com 01223 359750

Wildlife WatchLife in the Pond

WHERE: Trumpington Meadows

27th May, 14.00 - 16.00

Grab a net to discover all the wonderful creatures who live in and around the water, create a pond-themed craft to take home, and get a free activity pack!

£7.50 per child www.wildlifebcn.org

01487 710420

Comedy Club for Kids

WHERE: Cambridge Junction 21st May 11:30 and 2:30

It’s a comedy club, right, but for kids. Also any adults who enjoy a swear-free hour with the circuit’s best stand-ups and sketch acts. Non-patronising. Pure awesome.

Prices from £8.50 www.junction.co.uk 01223 511 511

Science on Sundays

WHERE: Cambridge Botanic Gardens

WHEN: 21st May 2:30pm

National Mills Weekend

WHEN: 13th -14th May www.spab.org.uk/mills/nationalmills-weekend

Many wind and water mills across the region are open with events and activities also taking place, refreshments often served.

Bushcraft Holiday Club

WHERE: Wandlebury Country Park

WHEN: 30th, 31st May and 1st June, 8.30-4pm

Demon Dentist

WHERE: Cambridge Arts Theatre

WHEN: 31st May - 4th June

Join Alfie and Gabz on this fabulous adventure, as they investigate the strange events happening in their hometown. Children are leaving their teeth for the tooth fairy and waking up to find odd things under their pillows! Alfie and Gabz are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery - but no-one could have dreamed what they’ll discover when they come face to face with the demon dentist herself, in this hilarious and thrilling story. £20-£25 www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

Cambridge Midsummer Fair

WHERE: Midsummer Common, Cambridge

WHEN: 21st June

Held since 1211, Cambridge Midsummer Fair is one of the country’s oldest travelling funfairs. Enjoy a traditional fun fair and the very best white-knuckle rides. There’s also candyfloss, hot dogs, toffee apples and more.

Strawberry FairLove the Planet

WHERE: Midsummer Common, Cambridge

WHEN: 3rd June

LEAF Open Farm

Sunday

WHEN: 11th June

It is common knowledge that plants generate oxygen via photosynthesis. Have you ever challenged this knowledge? And, if so, how much oxygen do they generate?

Ages 12+ www.botanic.cam.ac.uk

Pop Divas Live!

WHERE: Kings Lynn Corn Exchange

The Holiday Bushcraft Club is designed for children aged 5-12 years. It is run by qualified and experienced teachers/instructors who will inspire children and share their knowledge and skills of surviving in the wild.

£40 per child www.wildthymeandembers. co.uk

WHEN: 31st May 6pm Pop Divas Live! is the UK’s number one pop concert experience featuring tributes to all your favourite female pop stars on the same stage for the first time ever! Take a break from your mobiles and iPads and enjoy all the best acts from the social media generation live and on stage - the way it should be!

£17 www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk 01553 764864

Fireman Sam

WHERE: Kings Lynn Corn Exchange

WHEN: 1st June at 3.30 pm

When all of his friends go away, Norman Price decides to find adventure in Pontypandy and become the star of a visiting circus. But with a tiger on the loose and faulty lights, the adventure soon turns to danger. Can Fireman Sam come to the rescue and save the circus?

Prices from £17. www.kingslynncornexchange. co.uk 01553 764864

Celebrate the vibrant and creative city of Cambridge at this one-day music and arts event. Enjoy an eclectic range of music and performances from well over 100 groups, both local and from further afield. FREE www.strawberry-fair.org.uk

Find out more about where food comes from, talk to the farmers and get up close and personal with the countryside. Check ‘farmsunday’ website to find out more. FREE www.farmsunday.org

The Smeds and the Smoos

WHERE: Cambridge Arts Theatre

WHEN: 20th - 24th June

A joyful tale of star-crossed aliens. Soar into space with this exciting adaptation of the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.

PYO Fruits

WHERE: Farms in Cambridgeshire

WHEN: June www.pyo.co.uk

Pidley Park Farm, Huntingdon and Lidgate Farm, Isleham are just two of the farms open in the region during the PYO season. Check each venue for opening times and types of fruit available.

Roses

WHERE: Chippenham Park Gardens, Newmarket

WHEN: 1st June, 10.00 - 16.00 www.chippenhamparkgardens.info

Summer will be in full swing at Chippenham Park and there will be a beautiful display of roses, and other spectacular flowers, in bloom. Delicious home-made food and refreshments in the licensed Potting Shed Cafe.

On a far-off planet, Smeds and Smoos can’t be friends. So when a young Smed and Smoo fall in love and zoom off into space together, how will their families get them back? £16 www.cambridgeartstheatre.com

Perform in the Park

WHERE: Coram’s Fields, Bloomsbury

WHEN: 22nd July - 28th August

A magical festival of children’s theatre in the heart of London. Four fantastic musicals for children aged 2-14 plus evening events for teens. Set in a pop-up tent in Coram’s Fields WC1N 1DN, families can also enjoy the park with widelawns and wonderful play areas. Bring a picnic or enjoy the charming all-day café.

Tickets start at £14.50.

Visit performinthepark.uk for more information and to book

If booking any days out, please mention Families Cambridgeshire Magazine

How handwriting affects self-esteem

It is known that children who have good handwriting do better in school and enjoy it more. And the opposite is also true: those who struggle with handwriting are often at a disadvantage in the high-paced classroom setting. According to the Dyspraxia Foundation, children with poor handwriting are usually aware of their difficulty and their untidy handwriting can make them feel uncomfortable and isolated. Commonly, children feel depressed and frustrated as a direct result of poor writing skills. Handwriting activates a specific part of the brain which helps establish and build the neural patterns needed for learning and memory. Studies show that children who spend time working on handwriting produce clearer and more coherent communication, along with better thought and organisation skills. As the majority of our examinations are still handwritten, handwriting forms an integral part of our education system. Students who are unable to write legibly and articulately find themselves at a severe disadvantage. Once these skills are taught there is an enormous difference in confidence and selfesteem.

With at least ten to fifteen percent of children in the classroom suffering from poor self-confidence, teachers need to watch out for early problems with their pupils’ handwriting. Simply having their writing labelled as messy or lazy by adults can contribute to a child’s low self-esteem and anxiety. This may lead children to believe that they are unintelligent and incapable of writing correctly and discourage them, continuing the downward spiral. Unfortunately, the problem of anxiety-related handwriting problems cannot simply be overcome by using a computer. As a child grows older, there will always be everyday circumstances in which handwriting is needed. Furthermore, handwriting helps the flow of ideas and thoughts in a way which keyboarding doesn’t so it is fundamental that children are taught to write legibly.

By Catherine Lobleand Lisa Wander

Although handwriting is an integral requirement of the National Curriculum, many schools are unable to dedicate the time it needs due to the huge demands of core subjects. In addition, there are many different styles and programmes being used with too many confusing elements. With the correct time and teaching, children’s handwriting can be mastered, thereby raising their confidence and self-esteem and embedding it into adulthood.

Motor Skills To Support Handwriting

Essential for handwriting, motor development is divided into gross and fine motor skills. Gross skills involve large muscle movements such as crawling, walking, running and swimming. Fine motor skills require smaller muscles: grasping, object manipulation and drawing.

Well-developed gross and fine motor skills are essential to a child’s readiness to write. Early years activities prepare them for the dexterity and co-ordination they will need in the classroom and it’s never too soon to start the journey.

Practising gross motor skills is the first step towards two-handed tasks such as holding down paper with one hand while writing with the other. Fun activities teach small bodies! Examples include monkey bars, hopscotch, throwing and catching balls, dancing, running and swimming. Fine motor skills are necessary for handwriting so the child can control the pencil in forming letters and use the correct pressure on the pen and the paper. This is where hand and finger activities come in. Consider these: threading beads, cutting paper, construction play, baking, finger painting and playdough.

Catherine and Lisa are co-founders of Emparenting (www.emparenting.co.uk), supporting children, parents and families with insights, skills and tools to nurture the development and wellbeing of the next generation.

Please listen to me!

By Tanith Carey

When we have non-stop days, it’s easy to lapse into ‘one-way-street parenting.’ That’s where as the more powerful grown-up, you tell your child how to behave. But parenting becomes so much easier when it’s a two-way transaction and you make a conscious effort to listen to what your child has to say as well.

As they grow, children are in a constant process of learning to recognise and describe their needs and emotions. However, with their developing vocabulary they can’t always clearly articulate their big feelings so they don’t always feel heard. Children who don’t feel heard often act out how they feel. There could be angry tantrums, strops, defiance or attention-seeking behaviour to force you to pay attention. Sadly, this behaviour has the opposite effect.

The good news is that just one simple shift can transform your relationship with your child. Next time your child explodes, understand they are struggling with giant feelings. Rather than thinking about how to discipline them, observe their behaviour with curiosity, followed by empathy.

For example, we grown-ups tend to hear repeated requests for the things kids want as whingeing or nagging. Rather than ignoring them, show them you heard them the first time by looking at them, getting down on their level if they are still little, repeating what they have just said and giving them a response that works in that moment, even if it’s an explanation for why you are saying ‘no’.

Of course, you can’t be expected to drop everything, every time or give kids whatever they want.

Keep some phrases in your back pocket like: ‘I know it’s hard to wait. I’ll be there soon,’ or ‘I heard you calling me. Give me five minutes while you finish your Lego house.’ Even if it’s not the answer they want to hear, they will ease off once they know the message has got through. Just make sure you stick to your word.

This kind of listening is not about giving in or letting them have their own way. It’s about remembering that children are on a steep learning curve towards naming and managing feelings that continues well into their teenage years.

Top Tips

NAME EMOTIONS: Experience shows that the more words you use to name your child’s emotions, the more accurate they will be when describing them.

BE INTERESTED IN WHAT THEY LOVE: Be curious about what your child has to say, even if you’ve heard the same dinosaur fact one hundred times. If you say: ‘Tell me more,’ your child will open up to you at other times too. If you feel yourself getting bored, go on an adventure to find new facts to fascinate them.

CALM YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM: When you feel angry or irritated when dealing with your child, whatever you are doing, take a few deep breaths to slow yourself back to empathy mode so you can listen to what they are trying to say.

LIMIT YOUR PHONE USE: Put away your phone during the special oneon-one times with your child, whether it’s bath times, mealtimes or story time. When they don’t have to compete to be heard they can relax into being with you.

Tanith Carey is co-author, with Dr Angharad Rudkin, of What’s My Child Thinking: Practical Child Psychology for Modern Parents. The book includes many topics including the best ways to communicate with children. Published by DK books and available from www.bookshop.org

For older children (ages 8 -11)

LISTEN MORE THAN YOU TALK: Once children can be clear about what’s bothering them, often responding with just a nod, an ‘I see’ or ‘That sounds tough’ is enough. Resist the temptation to offer judgement or criticism, even if you think it sounds constructive. It’s often what you don’t say rather than what you do which makes you the best sounding board.

SET ASIDE TIME: Spend regular unhurried time just doing the things they like to do. These ‘emotional deposits’ remind tweens that you like as well as love them and they will be more likely to listen to you at other times.

VALIDATE FEELINGS: Simply try to accept and understand how they feel, even if that feels uncomfortable for you. For example, your tween contains their behaviour all day at school. So when they come from school and moan, remember that most of the time you don’t need to do anything except listen. You could ask: ‘Do you need to vent, or do you want suggestions? Either is fine.’

What is the CPA approach in maths?

CPA (concrete, pictorial, abstract) is a maths teaching approach that has grown in popularity in recent years. It involves using tangible objects for children to add, subtract, multiply or divide. They then progress to using pictorial representations of the objects and ultimately, abstract symbols.

This way of learning is one of the foundations of Singaporean maths, now being adopted in the UK and also in Numberblocks.

CONCRETE

The tangible, ‘handling’ stage uses physical objects to solve problems. For example:

There are 4 buttons in the pot. Stanley has 2 buttons in his hand. How many buttons are there altogether?

In this problem, the children might first count out actual buttons before moving on to nonrelated objects such as counters to represent the buttons.

Of course, almost anything can be used to help a child master this stage from pencils to plastic pots, to counting beans and coins. You don’t need to spend money on concrete resources to support learning at home.

PICTORIAL

The next step is for learners to move on to making their own representations.

Returning to the example in the paragraph above, the buttons could be drawn as four circles on one part of the paper and two more

By Jemma Z Smith

on another part, representing the pot and the hand. Children can then count each small circle and get the same answer as they would have done with the buttons.

Building or drawing a model makes it easier for children to grasp concepts they find more difficult. This is particularly true when working with fractions. It enables learners to see how much of a ‘whole one’ has been shaded in and they can visualise the problem more clearly.

ABSTRACT

This is where children use abstract symbols to solve maths problems.

Brooke has 10 sweets and Millie has 12 sweets. How many sweets do they have altogether? Children at the abstract stage would be able to solve the problem by writing it out as 10 + 12 = 22.

Before moving onto this stage, children need a secure understanding of mathematical vocabulary; for example ‘altogether’, ‘add’ and ‘plus’ all mean that the numbers are increasing.

Although CPA has three distinct stages, it is always useful to revisit the previous stages to ensure that learners have a full grasp of each concept.

THIS IS SO DIFFERENT FROM WHEN I LEARNT MATHS: WHAT’S THE POINT?

Education methods have changed a lot since we were at school. For many adults today, classroom teaching involved having methods