THE MAGAZINE FOR MODERN PARENTS
SUMPTUOUS SUMMER RECIPES THROWING THE PERFECT BABY SHOWER TOP PREGNANCY SUPPLEMENTS
The beneFits of
music therapy
ISSUE 20 | SUMMER 2016 | WWW.TODAYSCHILDMAGAZINE.CO.UK
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contents WELCOME TO OUR SUMMER EDITION! You may have noticed that Today’s Child has had an image overhaul. We are all ready for summer and thought we would celebrate with a brand new look. This edition is full of fantastic ideas for the summer holidays. Our summer apps guide (p18) will help you and the family get out and about this summer, while our surviving the holidays article (p20) will give you some ideas of what to do (and what not to do) if you want to make it through to September in one piece! If you’re currently pregnant, you may be interested in our pregnancy supplements piece (p10), or if you know someone else who is, get some excellent ideas from our baby shower guide (p12). Bridget Hargreave’s story about postnatal depression (p16) is likely to resonate with many of our readers, while our article on music therapy may inspire you to think outside the box when it comes to helping your kids cope (p14). In our health and wellbeing section, Fabienne Viner-Luzzato shares exciting picnic ideas for the summer break (p27), while Ana-Kristina Skrapac advises on how to get your children to eat healthily (p28). Our summer recipes will help you make healthy and delicious meals for the whole family (p29). The learn a new skill section focuses on swimming (p22), while our book reviews will give you great inspiration for summer reads (p25). If things get a little out of hand, read Rachel Vecht’s column on staying in control without being controlling (p24). Our editor’s picks (p33) and fashion (p34) pages will help your little ones look and feel great over the summer. And with more financial wisdom from Martin Lewis (p31), competitions (p9), news (p4) product reviews (p32) and events (p5) to read, our summer edition is not to be missed. Enjoy the holidays!
Joy Tibbs editor@todayschildmagazine.co.uk
PUBLISHER Sruly Monk EDITOR Joy Tibbs editor@todayschildmagazine.co.uk CONTRIBUTORS Susan Koppel, Adina Rechnitzer, Dvora Ebert, Debbie Young, Hannah Smith and Jess Clements ADVERTISING Sidney Rechnitzer advertise@todayschildmagazine.co.uk GRAPHIC DESIGNER James English
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up front
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4 NEWS AND EVENTS
5 OUT AND ABOUT Days out for the family 9 COMPETITIONS More chances to win big
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PREGNANCY 10 TOP PREGNANCY SUPPLEMENTS Claire-Marie Lewis evaluates supplements for pregnancy and beyond 12 THROWING THE PERFECT BABY SHOWER How to throw a fun baby shower with great gifts
BABY & TODDLER 14 THE BENEFITS OF MUSIC THERAPY How music can soothe kids and grow confidence 16 DEALING WITH POSTNATAL DEPRESSION Bridget Hargreave describes her postnatal experience
CHILD
18 TOP OUTDOOR APPS FOR SUMMER These fantastic apps will get your children out of doors this summer
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24 IN CONTROL Advice from Rachel Vecht 25 BOOK REVIEWS Top picks from Debbie Young
HEALTH & WELLBEING 27 LET’S PICNIC! Picnic ideas with Fabienne Viner-Luzzato 28 HELP! MY CHILD WON’T EAT! Healthy eating advice from Ana-Kristina Skrapac 29 SUMMER RECIPES Sumptuous treats to fuel your family’s summer activities
HOME & LIFESTYLE
20 SURVIVING THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS Dave Rose describes what not to do this summer
31 WHAT’S IN YOUR WALLET? Work your wallet with Martin Lewis
DEVELOPMENT
32 SHOPPING AND REVIEWS Product reviews, editor’s picks and fashion
22 LEARN A NEW SKILL The basics of swimming
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newS & Events New swim jacket designs at Konfidence
Konfidence has launched a stylish new range of Original Konfidence Swim Jackets that are perfect for little fashionistas planning a trip to the beach or pool. The four new British designs from Konfidence include boys’ and girls’ beach-chicthemed nautical
stripes and a vibrant new Scoot the Clownfish character jacket. Operations
director, James Thomas, says: ‘We love the new 2016 designs. They are fresh, colourful and add an exciting new fashionable dimension to our jacket range.’ The new swim jackets are available at konfidence.co.uk. See p9 for your chance to win one!
Get crafty at Fired Treasures
• Parties • Camps • After school clubs • Baby hand and foot keepsakes • Gifts • Coffee and cakes • Fun for all ages We are a fun and creative art studio, offering pottery painting and make-and-take items such as foam clay, canvas painting, T-shirt design and lots of other fun activities for the whole family.
Fired Treasures is to host several summer camps for children who love crafting. Activities will include pottery making, pottery painting, foam clay and T-shirt design. Company founder Ruth Sacks says: ‘It keeps them busy and creative; it’s lots of fun. We have a group of kids and they are learning and playing at the same time. Working with clay and different materials, it’s a great experience for them.’ Visit firedtreasures.co.uk for further information.
We specialise in baby hand and foot castings and have a range of lovely keepsakes to choose from so you can preserve those precious little hand and footprints forever. We run kids' camps and workshops throughout the longer school holidays, Easter, summer and Christmas to keep the kids busy and creative.
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New Chair-O-Plane ride at Dreamland
Dreamland Margate has introduced a new ride for the summer season, offering visitors the chance to take in the park’s sights from a great height. ‘The Chair-O-Plane will provide more thrills that add to the great British seaside day out,’ says CEO Dreamland Eddie Kemsley. We look forward to seeing guests riding high above the crowds as they take their seats this summer.’ For more details visit dreamland.co.uk.
out anD about Free, southbankcentre.co.uk Under-fives and their carers are invited to join Poetry Library puppets Federico and Firebird for nursery rhymes, poems and rhyming stories, followed by the opportunity to borrow books. 5-11, chickenshed.org.uk Summer Shed will have a fresh theme each week, with workshops involving drama, dance, singing and story-making. Families will be invited to see a performance on the final day.
STEVE ULLATHORNE
ALAN PARKER’S BUGSY MALONE The Lyric Hammersmith June 11 to September 4, Ages 6 and over, £15-£40 lyric.co.uk With electrifying choreography, this world-famous show features all the classic songs from Oscar-winning writer Paul Williams and is directed by Olivier award-winning director Sean Holmes.
MANUEL HARLAN
Theatre & entertainment
SUMMER SHED Chickenshed, July 25 to August 5, £130 (50% discount for siblings), Ages
DRAGON BABIES Foyer Spaces, Southbank Centre, Until July 18, Ages 3-5 (accompanied) £5 (one adult and one child, booking fee may apply), southbankcentre. co.uk Introduce your Dragon B abies to creative musical play through singing, movement and percussion. No musical experience is needed, just a willingness to take off your shoes, sit on the floor and have fun.
Brer Rabbit’s Track and Field Tales from the Shed’s amazing summer show Wed 27 Jul - Fri 5 Aug
BELINDA LAWLEY
TALES FROM THE SHED ON TOUR Dugdale Centre, June 17-25, £6 (free to babies under 6 months), Ages 0-6, chickenshed.org.uk Tales from the Shed are vibrant, interactive shows with plenty of colourful puppets and live songs. Children are encouraged to make noise and to help the story take shape.
THE SCARECROWS’ WEDDING Leicester Square Theatre July 9 to September 4, Adults £19.50, children £14.50, family ticket £55, Ages 3 and over scamptheatre.com The Scarecrows’ Wedding is based on the book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, promising wit, drama and wedding bells!
COMEDY CLUB 4 KIDS Udderbelly at Southbank Centre, Until July 16 Ages 6 and over, £10-£15 booking fee may apply, comedyclub4kids.co.uk
Comedy Club 4 Kids offers stand-up from quality comedians, cabaret stars and sketch acts who perform their usual sets without the rude bits.
Registered charity no. 1012369
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RUG RHYMES The Poetry Library Reading Den, Until July 15 Ages 0-5 (accompanied)
Box Office: 020 8292 9222
www.chickenshed.org.uk
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out and about
MAGIC CARPET STORYTELLING The National Gallery, Sundays, Free, Ages 2-5 (accompanied) nationalgallery.org.uk Fly away on the magic carpet as it comes to land in front of a different painting each day.
under-16s go free (children’s workshops £6) westdean.org.uk Children’s workshops include a moving lobster puppet workshop, handbuilding a clay totem and designing a stained-glass window.
MADE DESIGN AND CRAFT FAIR West Dean College June 3-5, All ages Adults from £8 (adult workshops from £12.50),
GET ARTY AT THE ABBEY Westminster Abbey, June 11 and 18, Free, Ages 5-14 childrensartweek.org.uk Children are invited to Westminster Abbey to help celebrate 1,000 years of artistic inspiration with a range of activities and themes on offer. Book via EducationUK@ westminster-abbey.org. KIDZANIA LONDON Westfield London, From June 25, £10-28, Ages 4 to 14 london.kidzania.com Watch the excitement on your children’s faces as they try out role playing activities in the bank, on stage or as police officers within KidZania City. POOLSIDE CRASH COURSES Poolside Manor, Lyndhurst Gardens, week-long courses commencing July 18 Ages 3 and over, See poolsidemanor.com for prices Holiday crash-courses are the perfect way for children
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to enjoy their time off and release their energy. Poolside is also offering parent and toddler summer courses (Wednesdays and Fridays from July 20 to August 19, with the option of either 5 or 10 sessions).
JANE MOORHOUSE
The great indoors THE NATIONAL GALLERY, LONDON
ROALD DAHL’S JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH Polka Theatre, Until August 14, See website for pricing information, Ages 5-11 polkatheatre.com Join James and his newfound insect friends as they embark on an extraordinary adventure that takes them halfway around the world with excitement, songs and laughter.
THE LION KING Lyceum Theatre Until January 2017 See website for prices Ages 3 and over lyceum-theatre.co.uk This spectacular production explodes with glorious colours, stunning effects and enchanting music to tell the story of Simba’s epic journey to fulfilling his destiny.
THE FANTASTIC WORLD OF DR SEUSS Discover Children’s Story Centre, From July 23, Ages 0-11, Under 2s free, children and adults £5, family of 4 £18 www.discover.org.uk This exhibition is inspired by Dr Seuss’ funny stories. Climb onto the Once-ler Wagon, dress up as Thing 1 and Thing 2, play music with the Boom Band and maybe even come across The Cat in the Hat or Sam I Am! ABOVE AND BEYOND National Maritime Museum, Greenwich Until August 29 Adults £9, children £6 rmg.co.uk Your family can learn how to fly like a bird with ‘Spread Your Wings’, take an ‘Elevator to Space’ and enjoy the view of Earth from above, or go on a ‘Marathon to Mars’.
CHILDREN’S SUMMER CLASSES Royal Academy of Dance July 25-29 and August 1-5 £100 for one week (sibling discounts available) childrenssummerclasses. eventbrite.co.uk Ages 4-7 Themed classes let kids >
out and about slots featuring a selection of picture books plus a poem and/or song.
The great outdoors
SEBASTIAN SCHOFIELD
DINO SNORES Hintze Hall, National History Museum, August 12, £60 (members £54), Ages 7-11, nhm.ac.uk Ever wondered what goes on at the museum when everyone goes home? Find out at this exciting sleepover for kids (accompanied by an adult).
HIGHGATE FAIR IN THE SQUARE Pond Square & South Grove, Highgate, June 11, Free, All ages, fairinthesquare.co.uk The theme for this year’s Fair in the Square is the Queen’s 90th birthday, with a ‘Hunt the Crown’ game, crownmaking, storytelling, Punch & Judy, steel band playing, cupcake decorating, circus skills, Shoot4Goal, fair rides and a Sheep Show.
PAUL KEENE
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, LONDON
use their imaginations to create an original dance with their teachers. The week ends with a lively presentation for parents and guardians.
WATER PLAY AT THE SCIENCE MUSEUM Exhibition Road Daily, Free, Ages 3-6 sciencemuseum.org.uk Inquisitive children can explore construction, water, light and sound in The Garden, learning about floating and sinking, shadows and reflections as they play.
21ST LONDON HONG KONG DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL 2016 London Regatta Centre June 26, Free, All ages dragonboatfestival.co.uk Up to 40 teams will battle it out for four cups, while on dry land a South East Asia inspired food festival will take place with live music, martial arts displays and traditional Chinese lion dancing.
THE ALLIGATOR'S STORYTIME The Alligator's Mouth, Richmond Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Free, Ages 2-6 thealligatorsmouth.co.uk This fun children’s bookshop offers regular storytelling
THE 3FOOT PEOPLE FESTIVAL Hylands Park, Chelmsford June 28-30 Adults and children over 2 £11, under-twos £5.50 All ages, but particularly preschoolers chelmsford.gov.uk/3foot The largest outdoor festival exclusively for preschool children will be packed full of activities and performances including arts and craft sessions, an enormous sandpit, a mini farm and storytelling.
MOTHS AND BUTTERFLIES Bushy Park, July 2 £15 per family (2 adults, with up to 3 children) Ages 4 and over, royalparks. org.uk Kids can identify the species of moths caught in the humane trap and set them free again, and use sweep nets to catch day-flying moths and butterflies in the meadow.
FOODIES FESTIVAL Blackheath, July 8-10 Three-day adult ticket £25 (£18 concession), accompanied under-12s go free, All ages foodiesfestival.com Families can watch the capital's culinary elite cooking, visit Street Food Avenue and the Vintage Tea Room and explore the Children’s Cookery School.
LARMER TREE FESTIVAL Larmer Tree Gardens July 13-17, Weekend tickets from £170, All ages larmertreefestival.co.uk Mr Bloom from CBeebies will delight ‘Little Larmers’ with veggie stories, gardening games and catchy nursery songs. Other children’s events include puppetry, theatre and a disco for under-tens, and a special area for under-fives. CHILLI FIESTA 2015 West Dean Gardens August 5-7, For price information see website, All ages, westdean.org.uk This family-friendly festival offers a vintage steam funfair, face painting, Punch and Judy shows, Rock School workshops, fireworks and The Great Chilli Throwing Contest. THE SIEGE OF 1216 Dover Castle, Kent August 13-14. For prices see website, All ages, englishheritage.org.uk Join the action 800 years on from when Dover Castle came under siege. Explore the gruesome history, meet the menacing characters and hear their gory stories before witnessing the drama of siege warfare.
WellB
competitions
WIN a family pass to Vue Cinema at the O2 Centre!
WIN a £50 Stuck on You voucher! Win a £50 voucher from label company Stuck on You so you can spend less time recovering lost property and more time getting on with the fun things in life. Why go to all the effort of labelling your children’s lunch boxes, uniforms and stationery for them to simply fade or peel off after a few uses? Sold in 15 countries, Stuck On You is known for its high-quality clothing and shoe labels.
win one of four
Konfidence swim jackets! To celebrate its new range of designs, Konfidence is giving away four award-winning swim jackets. The new designs include boys’ and girls’ beach-chic-themed nautical stripes inspired by the company’s Cornish heritage. Each jacket features Konfidence’s removable float system, which allows buoyancy to be reduced gradually as children become more confident in the water. The Swim Jacket’s trademark bright yellow high-visibility back and 100% UV protection make it an essential piece of holiday kit. Winners will be able to pick the size (18 months to 3 years, 4-5 years and 6-7 years) as well as their favourite design.
The O2 Centre is offering one lucky Today’s Child reader a free family pass (two adults and two children) to its 12-screen Vue Cinema in Finchley Road. The pass can be redeemed against any film of the winning family’s choice.
WIN a SwimFin summer hamper!
Competition winner will choose
the colour for all prizes! SwimFin is offering a summer hamper consisting of a SwimFin, swim cap, backpack, water bottle, dive sticks and floating animals. SwimFin caters for all four swimming strokes and now comes in a choice of eight funky colours. Just watch out for those mini sharks!
Competition winner will choose the colour for all prizes! Competition winner will choose the colour for all prizes!
Competi the c
ADWBYCONP 18-02-16E
HOW TO ENTER For a chance to win one of these great prizes, email Competition winner will choos the colour for all prizes! info@todayschildmagazine.co.uk and tell us which competition you would like to enter by June 30. UK entrants only. Must be aged 18 or over. View all our competitions on Facebook (facebook.com/todayschild. co.uk) for an extra chance to win!
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WellBaby16 TodaysChild FP Ad.qxp 01/06/2016 1:52pm Page 1
The Wellbaby range has been formulated by Vitabiotics’ nutritional experts, to support the nutritional requirements of babies and young children. These needs are particularly high in order to support health and rapid physical growth. The UK Department of Health recommends that all infants aged from six months onwards should be given a supplement that contains vitamins A, C and D.1,2 Each Wellbaby formula provides a carefully balanced range of nutrients. Multi-vitamin Drops – with iron, zinc, vitamins A, C and D comes with measuring syringe to safely administer drops onto your baby’s tongue. Infant Liquid – great tasting liquid with 14 vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, C and D, plus Swiss Alpine malt. Vit D Drops – provides the exact level of vitamin D for young children as recommended by the UK Department of Health3, which is needed for normal growth and development of bone in children.
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Great tasting VITAMINS for babies From , Superdrug, Holland & Barrett, supermarkets, chemists, health stores and & wellbaby.com 1. Source: Healthy Start. 2. Unless they are drinking 500ml (or approx. 1 pint) of infant formula a day, as infant formula has vitamins added to it. 3. The UK Department of Health recommends that all infants and youngchildren aged 6 months to 5 years take a daily supplement containing 7-8.5µg of vitamin D. *Nielsen GB ScanTrack Total Coverage Value Sales 52 w/e 25th April 2015.
Which pregnancy
supplement is right for you? Claire-Marie Lewis explores the most effective, convenient and delicious supplements for expecting and new mums e all know we should be taking a prenatal supplement once that second line appears, and there’s plenty of evidence out there to support supplementing once you start trying to conceive. But with so many products available, where do you start? One thing all healthcare providers agree on is that you need folic acid and vitamin D supplements as it isn’t possible to take in enough of these through diet alone during pregnancy. They will also remind you not to take cod liver oil because of its high vitamin A levels. After that, it’s up to you to peruse the shelves at your local chemist or dive headfirst into the internet. There are well-known products such as the Vitabiotics’
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Pregnacare range, which include all the recommended vitamins for mother and baby. They have the benefit of being widely used and are endorsed by parents, baby and parenting magazines, and various forums. Samples are often included in your welcome pack when you register with a midwife in the
UK, which in itself offers peace of mind. But perhaps you want to try something new or have specific needs from your pregnancy supplements, for example you have dietary preferences or intolerances. If so, there is an array of vegan-appropriate vitamins on the market, including Source of Life Garden’s Prenatal Multi vitamin, which contains ginger to help with nausea. NHP Antenatal Support offers a supplement formulated by Dr Marilyn Glenville, which she says offers a blend of ‘only the highest quality and most essential nutrients scientifically known to be important’ during pregnancy. She has a
pregnancy wide following of men and women who are trying to conceive as well as mothers in early pregnancy. There are also some relatively new products on the market, such as BetterYou’s DLUX Daily Vitamin D Oral Spray, which comes in a fruity flavour. Each dosage contains 25mcg of vitamin D3 along with the recommended 400mcg of folic acid, 6mcg of vitamin B12 and 100% of the guideline daily amount of vitamins K, B1 and B6. While this is not a prenatal multivitamin, it provides the basic recommended dose of folic acid in a tummyfriendly way, which may be useful for those suffering from severe pregnancy nausea or sickness. You should always speak to your midwife or doctor if your nausea is stopping you from taking your prenatal vitamins or if you are becoming dehydrated. ProVen Probiotics believes that healthy bacteria are just as important to newborn babies as they are to adults and suggests that ensuring your own digestive system is healthy during pregnancy can influence how
Keep the vitamins coming
well your newborn’s digestive flora will develop after birth. The Swansea Baby Trial used ProVen to test whether children were more or less likely to suffer from allergic conditions after birth. The study showed that babies whose mothers took the supplement and who were subsequently given the probiotic themselves were 44% less likely to develop allergic reactions to common allergens including pollen, cow’s milk, egg and house dust mites. Once the pregnancy hormones kick in, you may find that the thick, glossy hair you were expecting doesn’t arrive and instead you begin to lose some of your hair. Equally, when the post-partum hormones surface, the wonderful pregnancy hair may start to shed. Hair Burst for New Mums is a food supplement that can be taken during or after pregnancy to help keep your hair healthy, long and strong. It has a huge social media following and is often endorsed by celebrity mothers. It even claims to help boost energy levels in tired new mums, and that can’t be a bad thing! Once your baby arrives you won’t want to stop taking care of your body, and one thing you may be considering is breastfeeding. Frieda Pantry Breastfeeding Bars are a nutritious way
Even as your children grow older they may need to take supplements to support growth and development. Bioglan’s SmartKids range is designed to keep children healthy as they whizz from activity to activity. Available in a citrus flavour, its Brain Formula contains Omega-3 fish oil and several B-vitamins to support healthy brain function. SmartKids Fussy Eaters Multivitamin can boost even the fussiest child’s daily nutritional requirements, combining a spectrum of essential vitamins and minerals in blackcurrant and strawberry flavours. Its Happy Tummies range will boost your child’s live culture intake and provide tummies with good bacteria. Finally, the Superfood Shake is packed full of nutritious hidden fruit and veggies, and comes in chocolate flavour.
to boost your milk supply in the early days of breastfeeding, while you are establishing a feeding pattern with your baby and for any low-supply moments that follow. Midwives, lactation consultants and mums are raving about how delicious they are and how well they help to boost energy and milk supply. There are so many products out there for prospective and new mothers to help us look after ourselves and our little ones. It may seem overwhelming to begin with, but once you find the right products you will be on your way to a healthy, happy pregnancy and ‘fourth trimester’.
The benefits of pregnancy supplements A recent study found significant levels of vitamin and mineral deficiency among mothers in East London during early pregnancy. At the start of the study, 72% had low levels of vitamin D, 13% were anaemic and 12% were thiamine-deficient. Women taking the multiple micronutrient supplements during the trial benefited from improved iron, folate, thiamine and vitamin D levels during the third trimester and a reduction in numbers of small-for-gestational-age infants. Lead researcher Dr Louise Brough said: ‘This research highlights the concerning fact that a number of women even in the developed world are lacking in important nutrients during pregnancy. It also demonstrates the benefit of taking a multiple micronutrient supplement such as Pregnacare from early pregnancy.’ Claire-Marie Lewis is a stay-at-home mother of two. She is navigating her way through parenthood one day at a time, from prenatal vitamins to sleep training and everything in between
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pregnancy
Throwing
the perfect baby shower Mocktails and gifts for mum are among the experts’ top baby shower suggestions rganising a baby shower can be stressful as you attempt to coordinate guests, a venue, refreshments, decorations and gifts. To make it easier, we spoke to some top children's brands and asked for their baby shower recommendations. Margaux Pitarch, marketing assistant at Igloo Kids (iglookids. co.uk), which sells designer children’s clothes, shoes, babywear, and toys, believes the venue, refreshments and fun games are key aspects. ‘Try to choose a quiet, private place to enjoy this special event with your closest friends and family,’ she says. ‘That way, everyone will be more relaxed. If you can, decorate the space with pretty flowers, balloons or
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garlands. We love spring flowers and brightly coloured balloons! ‘Spread some treats out on the table, remember to think about the mum and if she has any food restrictions. It might not be a good idea to have champagne when she can’t drink alcohol, for example! Non-alcoholic, fresh fruit cocktails or elderflower presse are a popular choice. ‘Funny games always go down well, for example putting a nappy on a doll, blind-tasting baby food and guessing the meaning of popular baby names.’ When it comes to gifts, Margaux says: ‘We are huge fans of soft cotton babygrows from Petit Bateau, Kissy Kissy and Imps & Elfs. Jellycat bunnies are always popular, and of course an Aden and Anais muslin is a must. ‘Don’t forget something for the mum-to-be! We love anything from Burts Bees. Their products use natural ingredients and can be used by mum and baby.’ Wendy Murray, owner of Little Buttons Boutique (littlebuttonsboutique. co.uk), which sells organic and premium children’s clothing from a range of leading designers, also
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shares her top baby shower tips. ‘A theme is always fun,’ she says. ‘If the mum-tobe knows the baby's sex it could be princesses, superheroes or a good unisex one is rainbows. The theme can run through cupcakes, decorations and thank you goody bags for guests to take home. ‘Mocktails are always a hit and mean the mum-tobe isn't left out if everyone else is tucking into bubbly! ‘A gift list is always handy, or request gift vouchers from a certain store to put towards big expenses such as nursery furniture. Whenever I attend a friend’s baby shower I always like to know that I'm buying the parents something that will benefit them and don’t have to worry about buying
something they already have.’ Helene Tsouloupas, creative buyer at Oliver Bonas (oliverbonas.com), which sells clothing, accessories and homeware, also recommends mocktails and buying for the mum-tobe, among other ideas. She says: ‘Baby showers are a rare moment of peace before the delight and exhaustion of a newborn. Cake, mocktails, good humour and a gaggle of girlfriends are all essential. ‘For gifts, always choose something slightly more special than the ordinary: a well-designed rattle, a babygrow from the softest cotton or a timeless, beautifully illustrated children’s book. ‘And to really impress, get something for the mummy too. She will definitely deserve it.’
pregnancy
THE 9 MOST USEFUL ITEMS FOR FIRST-TIME PARENTS Recent research from online children’s clothing retailer Vertbaudet (vertbaudet.co.uk) revealed the nine most useful items for first-time mums and dads. Practicality topped the list, with 64% choosing a pushchair as the most useful item when they had their first child. But parents didn’t dismiss fashion, with 52% judging baby clothing to be the second most useful item. During the study, parents also reflected on the most thoughtful gifts they had received when they had their firstborns, from handknitted blankets and handmade cradles to a cake made from nappies and a bouquet of flowers made from baby clothes. Personalised gifts were a favourite for many. Memory boxes, books and sets to create a mould of the baby’s hand or footprint are treasurable
items that families can look back at in the years to come. Stacey Priestley, ecommerce manager at Vertbaudet, says: ‘It is great to see that parents like such a mixture of items: from a practical pushchair to keeping their little one stylish in baby clothing. Preparing for your first child can be a daunting task, so we hope this list will help parents prioritise what they need to purchase.’ THE NINE MOST POPULAR GIFTS 1. Pushchair 2. Baby clothing 3. Bouncer 4. Bodysuits 5. Bumper pack of nappies and baby wipes 6. Soft toys 7. Play activity mat 8. Changing table 9. Hampers
THE PRACTICAL DETAILS
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Before setting a date for the shower, talk to the guests you really want to be there as they may be able to warn you of any prior commitments. Most baby showers are female-only affairs, but there’s no reason you can’t invite the dad-to-be and other close male friends and family members.
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When sending out invitations, add details of the theme or gift list if you’ve set one up.
You could ask each guest to bring food or drinks to keep costs down. If you know anyone really creative, ask if they would be willing to make a cake for the big day. Organise some fun games and buy a book so that people can write notes and pieces of advice for the mother and father of the child. If the mum-to-be wants to have the party at home, ask some of the guests to stay behind and clear up so she isn’t lumbered with all the work.
CUSTOMISED LABELS MAKE GREAT BABY SHOWER GIFTS! Stuck on You's Gelati Multi-use Labels are perfect for sticking on clothing, socks, shoes, containers and more. They can be stuck directly onto care tags and containers or sewn into clothing. Measuring 50mm by 20mm, they are washer, dryer, microwave and dishwasher safe. As they are customised, they make a fantastic baby shower gift, ensuring that all the new baby's items are safely labelled. If the parents don't have a name yet, why not buy a Stuck on You voucher so they can order at their own leisure? See p9 for your chance to win a £50 Stuck on You voucher! Visit stuckonyou.co.uk for more information. Find us on facebook - facebook/todayschild.co.uk
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BABY & TODDLER
Music to your child’s ears Could music therapy play a key role in your child’s development? Today’s Child investigates… hen your favourite song comes on the radio it can change your mood in moments. That’s why music therapy is so successful when it comes to working with children. Whether your child is simply lacking in confidence, has a disability or is going through a traumatic time, the right sort of music therapy could make a big difference.
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ASSESSMENT FOR MUSIC THERAPY A music therapist will obtain extensive data on the child including a full medical history, musical ability (the ability to duplicate a melody or identify changes in rhythm) and non-musical ability (social, physical/ motor and emotional functioning). This information is used to determine whether music therapy is appropriate for the child. The therapist will then formulate a treatment plan, which includes specific short-term objectives, long-term goals and an expected timeline.
THREE KEY MUSIC THERAPY TECHNIQUES
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NORDOFF-ROBBINS This form of music therapy was developed by Juilliard School graduate Paul Nordoff and special educator Clive Robbins. Having seen how positively disabled children responded to music, their pilot projects included placements at care units for autistic children and in child psychiatry departments. Now a specialist music charity,
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Nordoff Robbins delivers thousands of music therapy sessions across the globe each year, supporting children with a range of challenges including learning difficulties, mental health problems, brain injury and depression. ‘All of these people have one uniting factor: music dramatically improves their quality of life,’ the charity claims. The Nordoff Robbins London Centre in Kentish Town is the world’s largest dedicated music therapy centre. Visit nordoff-robbins.org.uk for more information.
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ORFF MUSIC THERAPY The Orff approach uses music, dance and spoken word to focus on rhythm and improvisation. It offers a holistic grounding in the many skills and qualities that a child might need to live and work creatively. Orff music therapy provides a range of social, emotional, cognitive, physical,
therapeutic and even spiritual benefits. Carl Orff says: ‘Elemental music is near the earth, natural, physical, within the range of everyone to learn it and to experience it, and suitable for the child...It is music that one makes oneself, in which one takes part not as a listener but as a participant.’ Your children can attend one of Orff UK’s music therapy courses in London or you can hire a practitioner for school or workshop sessions. Visit orff. org.uk for more information.
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GUIDED IMAGERY IN MUSIC (GIM) Developed by music educator and therapist Helen Lindquist Bonny, GIM can be used with children in a one-on-one or group setting, and involves relaxation techniques, sharing of personal feeling states as well as improvisation to discover the self and foster growth. Music is carefully selected for the child based on their musical preferences and the session goals. According to Bonny, a GIM session is designed to provide ‘a secure environment for the client to become immersed in his/her inner world of imagery and feelings’. Visit musicandimagery.org/practitioners. html for more information.
muscle tissue, and feeding issues. Music therapy is typically carried out in intensive care to promote respiratory regularity and oxygen saturation levels and to decrease signs of neonatal distress. Music therapists can help to promote stronger sucking reflexes and to reduce pain perception for the infant as well as promoting parentinfant bonding. PRENATAL MUSIC THERAPY Music therapy can even be used during pregnancy. By 16 weeks, the foetus is able to hear the mother’s speech as well as singing. Using ultrasound, health care professionals are able to observe the movements of the unborn child responding to musical stimuli. By the beginning of the second trimester, the ear structure is fully matured, allowing the foetus to hear not only maternal sounds, but also the vibrations of instruments. Prenatal music therapy can help with: • Stress relief • Maternal-foetal bonding • Prenatal language development MUSIC THERAPY FOR PREMATURE INFANTS Music therapy can be very beneficial in stimulating growth and development in infants born at 37 weeks or less. Premature babies face numerous struggles, such as abnormal breathing patterns, decreased body fat and
MUSIC THERAPY IN CHILD REHABILITATION When used with other rehabilitation methods, music therapy increases the success rate of sensorimotor, cognitive, and communication rehabilitation. Sessions may consist of either active techniques, where the child creates music, or receptive techniques, where the child listens to, analyses, moves and responds to music. Research shows that children undergoing chemotherapy reported lower scores in pain, heart rate, respiratory rate and anxiety levels after simply listening to music during music therapy sessions. Singing training has been found to improve lung, speech clarity, and coordination of speech muscles.
nature of the medium. Passing and sharing instruments, taking part in music and movement games, learning to listen and singing greetings and improvised stories can improve an autistic child’s social interaction. Music therapy has also been shown to increase communication attempts, increase focus and attention, reduce anxiety, and improve body awareness and coordination. Short sessions of listening to percussive music or classical music with a steady rhythm have also been shown to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and temporarily decrease anxiety-related behaviour. Target behaviours such as restlessness, aggression and noisiness can also be affected by the use of music therapy.
Formal and informal musical options for your children • Richmond Music Trust (richmondmusictrust.org.uk) believes that its sessions help children build confidence and encourage physical, emotional, mental and social wellbeing. • Music Therapy London (musictherapylondon.com) uses the restorative and healing qualities of music to bring about positive change in children through interaction, emotional communication and self-expression. • Moo Music (moo-music.co.uk) encourages kids to sing, move, play, learn and have fun. • Music Bugs (musicbugs.co.uk) helps young children develop and explore the world around them through music and song. • Musical Minis (musicalminis.co.uk) offers fun music classes for toddlers, preschool kids and babies.
MUSIC THERAPY FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM Music therapy can be particularly useful when working with children with autism due to the nonverbal, non-threatening Find us on facebook - facebook/todayschild.co.uk
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BABY & TODDLER
Dealing with
postnatal depression Bridget Hargreave describes the crippling effects of postnatal depression (PND)
e learn the facts about pre-eclampsia when we diligently read up on pregnancy. However, that doesn’t prepare you for the headaches, swelling or the feeling that something is inexplicably wrong. I felt the same way about postnatal depression. But just as I was shocked by the arrival of pre-eclampsia as I approached the final month of my pregnancy, I was floored a few weeks later by the realisation that I was depressed. My first son came into the world on a cold January morning, several weeks ahead of schedule. His first day passed in a blur of doctors, midwives, tests, calls to family and ‘firsts’. The pre-eclampsia that we had thought would disappear when he was born worsened. As that first day wore on, I felt increasingly exhausted and bewildered. My husband had to leave in the evening and I cannot describe the wrench. I felt desperate. As night approached, the baby who had spent the day peacefully snoozing in his crib suddenly developed a
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heartrending cry based on hunger and a need to be held. I was under pressure to feed my underweight baby but there was no consensus on how. On one side, paediatricians sternly warned me of the need to feed him regular set amounts. On the other, the community midwives told me to persevere with breastfeeding and the syringe in the colostrum they described as liquid gold. The battle lines were drawn, and I was in noman’s land. Holding him? Well, you’d think I could have done that. The trouble was there was no nascent bond there. I was exhausted. I had been awake for 36 hours and counting, too pumped with adrenaline to rest. I tried periodically to put him down, a pattern that always ended with both of us in tears. At midnight
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I was told officiously to take him up to the top floor – to the special baby unit – for antibiotics; a plan I apparently should have known about. I stood up and reached for the baby but again I was admonished (‘Wheel him in his cot! You can’t carry him around. Health and safety!’). I couldn’t get the brake off the cot in my flimsy flipflops. A healthcare assistant clicked her tongue and did it for me. I moved, and suddenly there was blood all over the floor. Mercifully, she did the antibiotics run for me. That nightmarish week heralded a plummet into depression from which I thought I would never surface. I envied my husband for escaping every night, even though I know how hard it was on him.
I fantasised that maybe I would be discharged before the baby and be allowed to go home, leaving him to be cared for by midwives. That’s how far I had drifted from sanity. Finally home, the world took on an unreal tinge. You know the feeling you get when you’ve been up all night? Everything just feels a bit off, a bit fragile. That’s how I felt, and of course, like any new parent, I was up most of the night. But my connection with the world, with other people and with my new son was tenuous. Three weeks in, I had to admit things were getting worse. There were false dawns. We moved to bottles and formula, and for a while things improved. But that unravelled when the baby developed what we thought was a particularly
bad bout of nappy rash. We were later to find that our son had a haemangioma (a strawberry mark, not uncommon) just next to his bottom, of all places. It doesn’t usually pose a health risk unless it obscures the airways. But being so near the nappy area it was prone to infection and ulceration, and he was in agony every time he weed. When I changed his nappy, he would scream the house down. I was a hollow-eyed zombie, and I was robotically following the hospital-instilled routine of feed, change, feed, so those tortuous nappy changes terrorised me. Worst of all was the inevitability that they would keep on coming, like contractions. I was virtually agoraphobic, and certainly phobic about being out and about with my new baby. Getting to a series of vital doctors’ appointments, let alone telling the doctor I thought I was depressed,
was beyond me. My husband and mum were my crutches. The first time I went to the doctor’s on my own, I was so exhilarated I popped into a shop on the way home and bought a few tops to hide my new lumps and bumps. I phoned my mum, on top of the world, and she was delighted. But I wasn’t OK. It was another false dawn, and there would be several more doctors’ trips before I was properly on the mend. Antidepressants, counselling, and a great deal of support, affection and patience from my husband, family and friends were what got me through. Incredibly, a year later, I was ready to start thinking about doing it all over again. Little did I know that I would face the depression all over again…
Find out more about Bridget’s PND experience in Fine (Not Fine): Perspectives and Experiences of Postnatal Depression (Free Association Books)
REDUCING STRESS DURING PREGNANCY
A dramatic increase in infant anxiety and depression can be linked to high stress levels in pregnancy, according to Angela Spencer, creator of the Babyopathy wellness programme (babyopathy.com). Amanda is calling for higher awareness of the links between prenatal maternal stress and its impact on cognitive development and psychopathology, both during pregnancy and after birth. She says: ‘Many people are unaware that stress levels naturally become amplified in pregnancy, as our bodies are out under increasing pressure thanks to an influx of hormones. When we are stressed, our bodies produce cortisol, “the stress hormone”, which causes the fight or flight response and is part of our human nature. ‘A certain amount of cortisol is needed during pregnancy to pass on the natural instincts that we all have. However, too much stress and too much cortisol raises a risk of health problems in your unborn baby.’
Tips for teaching your child to swim… for every mini shark adventure! Children love to swim and generally as a rule the earlier you get them into the water the better. When teaching your child in the water make sure your eye level is the same as your child's and always maintain a smile – kids pick up on negativity so remember to reinforce the positive and never use negative comments. Lavish your child with praise in the water and you will see their confidence grow immensely. A fun way to teach children to breath properly in the water is to use phrases like “talk to the fish” by blowing bubbles in the water, or “listen to the fish” by turning the head with an ear in the water and breathing in. If your child really doesn’t want to get into the water then don’t force them – play it down and suggest they sit on the side with their feet over the edge so they can kick and splash the water instead. Just sitting will increase their confidence – not every child wants to jump straight in! SwimFin aims to provide and encourage a fun learning experience for children and family members of all ages and abilities without being restrictive. Most importantly ensure your child is safe at all times – whether it be during a lesson, for recreational use at the weekend or on your summer holidays in a pool or down at the beach!
For more information or to buy please visit
www.swimfin.co.uk
RRP
£21.99
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child
Top 10
outdoor activity apps for kids
Ten fantastic apps to get your children outdoors this summer, courtesy of Park Resorts (park-resorts.com) hile technology can undoubtedly enrich our lives, it is often blamed for encouraging kids to stay indoors when they would otherwise be playing outside. But smartphones aren’t always a bad influence on play. In fact, there are many clever apps out there that are designed to be used outdoors. From photo hunts and birdwatching guides to augmented reality games, maps and compasses, these apps help teach kids all about the wonders of nature, and in a way that allows parents to join in. Some of these apps act as virtual companions for nature walks, providing up-to-date information on the insects, birds and plants they meet along the way. Some, like Geocaching, provide a reason in themselves to get out and about, while others use the smartphone as a virtual lens to enrich the environment with new information. All of these apps are entertaining, educational and designed to go hand-in-hand with your kids’ outdoor adventures.
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Meet the Insects: Forest Edition (IOS) Creepy-crawlies are fascinating, and your child can find out all about the lifecycles and habits of these garden friends with this interactive app. It offers plenty of
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information, videos and photos about common beetles, ants, butterflies and moths, as well as a quiz for them to test their knowledge and even an observation journal so they can record their own discoveries. BIRDSNAP (IOS) Are your children crazy about birds? Help them catalogue and learn more about warblers, swallows and finches with this clever app, which uses imagerecognition technology to identify birds from photos with incredible accuracy. The app requires fairly close shots to work well, but that gives them more reason to practise their bird-watching skills quietly!
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STAR WALK 2 (ANDROID, IOS) Get kids your excited about the wonders of the planets with Star Walk 2, an interactive chart of the night sky. Point it towards the heavens to get a virtual view of what’s there, along with a galaxy of information on the constellations, stars
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and other celestial bodies you can see. It’s the perfect late-night activity for camping trips. PLUM’S PHOTO HUNT (IOS) If you are looking for something to help your child see the back garden in a whole new light, Plum’s Photo Hunt is here to help. Guided by a friendly, animated plum (just go with it), this educational app gives kids 36 ‘photo missions’ to complete, such as snapping leaves and flowers, as well as the chance to get ‘photobombed’ by Plum.
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GEOCACHING (IOS, ANDROID, WINDOWS) You’re never too young (or old) for a bit of geocaching. It’s essentially a giant digital treasure hunt, using your phone’s GPS to locate containers placed by other players. The containers could be in parks, under bridges, or at the top of a hill. This is a great activity to join in with your child, and provides the perfect excuse for a good walk.
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TREES PRO HD (IOS, ANDROID) Make a walk in the woods a learning experience with this app, which offers detailed information on trees from all over the world, as well as explaining why trees are so important to the ecosystem. Kids can discover names and facts about the trees in the garden or park and test their knowledge with the in-app quiz.
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OUTDOORS GB (IOS, ANDROID) Probably better suited for older kids, this collection of apps is a great way to encourage any child who has recently taken up running, trekking or cycling. With high-quality Ordnance Survey maps and the option to record routes, view current speed and altitude, and a handy built-in compass, it’s the perfect companion for the great outdoors. Watching kids discover the world around them is one of the greatest joys of parenthood. If you're planning a getaway in the near future, don't let technology get in the way of that. Instead, turn it to your advantage instead with these great apps.
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BIRDS OF BRITAIN (IOS, ANDROID) This birdwatching app doesn’t have the imaging identifier of Birdsnap, but it’s much more UK-centric and provides audio recordings of birdsongs and calls, so even if your children can’t see a bird they can still identify it. Packed with authoritative information, it’s a great way for older birdwatchers to take the hobby up a notch.
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SPYGLASS (IOS) Are you an outdoorsy type who loves taking your children on hikes? Next time, bring along this clever app to teach them all about navigating in the wild. As well as a full-featured compass, the app includes maps, binoculars, waypoint tracker, rangefinder, star finder and more. That way they’ll have no excuse for getting lost.
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These innovations will aid your child’s natural instinct to explore and make sense of the world. Next time you’re away on a camping trip, why not take along a smartphone map of the night sky and teach them all about the stars and planets around the campfire? Or bring a tree identification guide for your next walk in the woods and see how many different species you can spot together.
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child
Surviving the summer holidays Dave Rose shares his top tips to getting through the summer holidays based on some of his less successful experiences ometimes, being a parent is a bit like trying to finish a marathon just as an earthquake starts. Everything is changing all around you, there’s quite a lot of screaming, and you’re doing your level best to ignore it all. There is no better example of this, of course, than supermarket shopping. One minute you’re keeping your little darling entertained with the timehonoured ‘find-the-item-and-put-itin-the-trolley-for-me’ game and the next they’re rolling around on the floor issuing a noise designed to send local dogs slowly insane, all because you wouldn’t put a second box of their favourite cereal, Super Chocolate Taste Explosions, into the trolley. Naturally, you are also trying to ignore the tuts and withering looks from fellow shoppers, who obviously think you are to parenting what Joey Essex is to Countdown. It’s moments like this that cause you to pause and reflect. What did you do wrong? Could you have handled it differently? Quite apart from giving us entertaining stories to talk about at parties, mistakes also have the benefit of being opportunities to learn. And let’s face it, ‘opportunities to learn’ sounds a lot better than ‘giant blunders’. The potential pressure cooker of the
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summer holidays perhaps offers us more ‘opportunities to learn’ than any other time of the year. So how do we survive six long weeks of entertaining the children? Here’s my advice, based entirely on my enormous gaffes of the past. I’ve made these mistakes so you don’t have to! TAKE SNACKS Children will eat more or less non-stop unless what you’re trying to get them to eat is either healthy or nutritious, in which case you may as well try to push jelly through a straw. This is especially the case when they’re bored and, let’s face it, it’s also true for adults. I remember queuing with my children for a ride at a theme park. It was taking a little while and, as we were slowly winding our way up and down roped-off paths surrounded by fake plants, they were getting hungry. I hadn’t thought about this and had nothing to give them. It’ll save a lot of hassle if you have some chocolate buttons to hand or, if you want something heathier, some dried fruit or even mini rice cakes. Anything you can do to distract them as you pass the ‘45 minutes’ wait from this point’ sign will help prevent you going slowly mad. PREPARE DISTRACTIONS In a similar way, it often pays to have
some small diversions tucked away in a bag or coat pocket to pull out when you’re on a train journey or waiting to be served when you eat out. On one memorable occasion, my son asked me for something to do while he was waiting. As you may have already gathered I’m not the most prepared person in the world, so I had nothing to give him. He immediately declared loudly to anyone even vaguely passing that this simply wouldn’t do. In fact, he felt it was so offensive that he told me he would call the police. While I was interested to see how that conversation might have gone, I managed to discourage him from this course of action. Again, some activity books, colouring in, or even a small, noiseless toy car could have saved me a lot of trouble. DON’T OVERLOOK CHEAPER OPTIONS Children have absolutely no sense of the value of money. None at all. One of my children has recently been bothering me daily to buy him a new computer console and seems shocked that I’ve said no. This same child, when presented with a free plastic watch from a Happy Meal, looked at me with such obvious delight it was as if I’d bought him a Mercedes. The temptation in the summer is to stretch yourself by taking the children to all manner of expensive places but,
while they might be nice, there’s no real need. I took my children for a very expensive day in London once, and the best time they had that day was when we discovered a free playground in St James’ Park. They loved exploring a new park, kicking about in the sandpit and climbing on things, all in the glorious shadow of Buckingham Palace and absolutely free. Your children will remember the experience they had rather than how much it cost. PLAN PROPERLY I have had many embarrassing experiences in my life, but near the top of that list was the occasion when my wife and I traipsed through an unfamiliar part of town for 45 minutes with eight nine-year-olds all dressed as princesses with glitter, wands and all the attached paraphernalia. This was because we hadn’t properly planned where we might take them for lunch following the trip to Sing-a-long-a Frozen. It would have been significantly easier if I’d worked out what was open nearby and where we could go instead of assuming it would easy to just find somewhere. We certainly raised some local eyebrows, not least when my tiara fell off. RAINY DAYS I know this will come as a massive shock to you, but it isn’t always sunny during a British summer. The best-laid plans of picnics in the park can suffer at the hands of the rainclouds, so it doesn’t hurt to have back-up plans in place. I have spent many hours staring
out of the living room window as the rain pours down, the children running around the place desperate to burn off some energy, and me scraping a tally chart of days spent cooped inside my home-based prison into the wall with my fingernail. Why not get some craft sets in? Or is there a local library you can visit? Many have special events or bookbased challenges on during the school holidays. It will be fun, educational and won’t involve wishing the roof would start leaking just to give you something to do. PLAY TO THEIR STRENGTHS You know your children better than anyone, so ask yourself what they would like to do… or better still, ask them! I once made the mistake of taking both my children to the cinema: just me and the two of them. Unfortunately, I had forgotten that my son sometimes reacts badly in this environment. The dark frightens him and he’s startled by the loud cinematic noises. We arrived, loaded up on drinks and snacks and were just heading into the screen when he kicked off. Loudly. He refused to even try to go in. This set the other child off because, as I was trying to persuade him in, she was worried she would miss the film. In the end I had to call for backup and a grandparent came and took the poor boy away to do something else. In the meantime, we’d missed the start of the film and I tripped up the steps in the dark, showering the first two rows with popcorn. Then I discovered someone had stolen our pre-booked seats, so I ended up sitting on the stairs
while my daughter found a single seat next to the aisle. This could have been avoided if I’d thought about my child’s needs a bit more effectively and at least worked out a plan if he couldn’t face it. It just goes to show that you will all enjoy yourself a lot more if you play to their strengths. GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL! Six weeks is a long time to spend non-stop with children, but if you put some thought into it, it doesn’t have to be a trial (not all the time at least). I can’t guarantee that your children won’t throw tantrums, draw elaborate pictures of superheroes on the walls or cover your entire bathroom in talcum powder because they want to play a game that involves snow (I did that last one when I was a child. It was the most trouble I’ve ever been in). Children will be children; that’s why they’re challenging. Let’s be honest, though, it’s also why we love them. Dave Rose is programme director at Premier Radio (premierchristianradio. com) and has two young children. Follow him on Twitter @djdaverose
development
Learn a new skill
swimming
An important life skill, and an enjoyable form of exercise and relaxation, it’s important to get your kids swimming as early as possible.
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Let them splash about at the beach, the local pool or in the bath. Invest in buoyancy aids (see box, right) to help them stay afloat. Challenge them to kick their legs and make the biggest possible splash. Get them to move themselves through the water with their arms. Show them how to use their arms and legs together.
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Teach them to hold their breath underwater. Encourage them to practise floating.
Demonstrate simple strokes such as front and back crawl. Task them with retrieving objects from the bottom of the pool. If they are really confident, teach them to dive in safe conditions.
BOOK SOME SWIMMING LESSONS Alternatively, the qualified staff at Poolside Manor can teach your children to swim. The pool has an extended shallow end to build beginner confidence and a large viewing gallery for family members. ‘Our top-quality teachers will teach in the water until a child is confident to swim unaided,’ says spokesperson Ben Thomas. ‘Small class sizes, set by ability not age, allow us to focus on the individual needs of every child. ‘With summer just around the corner, whether you want your child to be safe on holiday or improve their swimming ability, come and see for yourself why Poolside Manor is the leading swimming tuition centre for children.’
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Poolside (poolsidemanor.com) is offering crash courses from July 18, and parent and toddler summer courses from July 29. Registration for autumn term lessons opens from July 11 for a September 3 start.
EXCEPTIONAL BUOYANCY AIDS
Konfidence’s swim jackets are a great way to improve buoyancy and to make the learning process safer. James Thomas, operations director at Konfidence, says: ‘Learning to swim is a key life skill and we want children to feel safe and enjoy the experience so that they have a lifelong love of the water. ‘Our adjustable buoyancy system enables wearers to gain confidence in the water at their own pace. When your child is ready to move to the next level, you can remove each of the floats so that they rely less on the buoyancy aids until – before they know it – they are swimming all by themselves!’ SwimFin is a vertical buoyancy aid for children aged two and over. As well as being useful for new swimmers, SwimFin can help more experienced swimmers perfect all four strokes. It’s perfect for holidays as it is so easy to spot. UK sales and marketing manager, Emma Gibson, says: ‘We’re excited to be giving young children and families the opportunity to learn to swim the fun way. Building water confidence in young children is so important as it is a crucial life skill. Children love to swim, and as a rule the earlier you get them into the water the better.’
Visit swimfin.co.uk and konfidence.co.uk for more information and check out p9 for your chance to win these fantastic buoyancy aids!
development
Incontrol
Rachel Vecht, director at Educating Matters, questions how parents can strike the balance between being in control and being controlling here is a mistaken belief that the two main parenting choices are either authoritarian or permissive. However, there is a middle ground known as ‘positive parenting’, where parenting is carried out with clear limits but in a loving, empathetic way. Controlling parents mainly use fear, punishment, threats, bribery or shouting to get children to co-operate. But are parents who use this approach actually in control? Many parents have told me that being raised this way damaged their self-esteem and confidence, made them feel guilt and shame, and encouraged them to rebel. They were only compliant when the parent was around and were very focused on not getting caught rather than doing the right thing because it felt good. Often these children end up being overly dependent and unable to think for themselves. We absolutely need to be in control so that our children are safe and responsible. In fact, they won't be prepared for adult life without our guidance and support. So how can parents be in charge and enforce their positions gently?
so children know what to expect. Involve your child in creating the rules and at the same time determine the rewards and consequences so you do not make up punishments on the spur of the moment out of anger or desperation.
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Maintain a united front and agree together on the best approach. If you do not, children may become confused or take advantage, playing one parent off against the other.
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ESTABLISH CLEAR RULES, ROUTINES AND BOUNDARIES SO CHILDREN KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT
Be empathetic. What children want most is to be heard, understood and valued. When a child is experiencing a difficult emotion, reflect back to them how they are feeling. This way they will calm down more quickly, know you are truly on their side and learn how to articulate their emotions.
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Relationship and connection is everything. In a trusting, close relationship, children will naturally want to co-operate and please us. Spend short bursts of one-to-one ‘special’ time with them.
Notice and mention the positives rather than criticising when they do something wrong. This results in greater cooperation and increases the chances of your child listening to you.
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Establish clear rules, routines and boundaries
View mistakes as a learning opportunity. Encourage your child to problem-solve and establish what they could do differently next time.
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Model being a leader rather than a dictator. Try to balance your agenda and your children’s by taking into account their temperaments and stages of development. Respect is earned by our actions and how we communicate.
Rachel Vecht is a primary school teacher, mother of four, parent educator and founder of Educating Matters (educatingmatters. co.uk), delivering seminars, workshops and consultations for parents in the workplace, schools and homes.
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Summer holiday reads Debbie Young reviews a selection of excellent books to keep your children entertained over the summer
e’re nearly there now, the summer beckons! Whether you’re planning to holiday at home or abroad, now’s the time to plan your children’s summer reading so you have some great books lined up, ready to pack. Not only are books a cheap and easy way to keep children occupied while they’re off school, summer reading also makes it easier for them to slip back into term-time habits at the start of the new school year. If you think reading is the last thing your kids will want to do this summer, think again. Let them choose their own books, either at the library or at your local high street bookshop. Children find it hard to get excited about books online. The tactile experience of exploring the treasure trove of a shop or library feels much more like a treat to them. Give them free choice, and I mean free choice. Don’t coerce them into reading what you enjoyed reading at their age, or what ties in with their latest school topic or English project. I learned long ago, when I worked at children’s reading charity Readathon (readathon. org), that reading anything is
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much better for them than reading nothing. So although I still have to bite my tongue about my daughter’s choice of books, I’m happy so long as she’s reading anything avidly rather than finding excuses not to read something I’ve picked on her behalf. Despite having shelves stuffed with unread books she’d been given for Christmas and birthdays, she decided during the Easter holidays that she wanted to read for the third time her favourite Tales of the Five Kingdoms series by Vivian French for the third time, followed by Harry Potter. By the end of the fortnight she had devoured seven books. Only a churlish parent could complain about that. Even so, it’s fun when child picks at least some holiday reading to match your planned destination; something I always enjoy doing to match my travels. On the basis that most families will spend some time on a beach over the summer, even if only for a day trip, here are a few enjoyable books with a seaside or maritime theme.
FRIENDSHIP BY THE SEA First of all, Axel Scheffler’s sweet picture book series about best friends Pip and Posy has a new addition: Pip and Posy: The New Friend (Nosy Crow). On a trip to the seaside, the wide-eyed bunny and mouse learn an important lesson about how to play nicely with a third character they meet on the beach. An important social lesson for this age group is delivered gently and memorably via Scheffler’s characteristically bright, witty drawings. (You’ll recognise his style from his Gruffalo illustrations). Toddlers and parents alike will enjoy spotting the details of the classic British seaside holiday in Scheffler’s well-observed illustrations, anticipating or reliving their own outings through its pages.
development
PUGS AHOY! Young readers who loved last winter’s hugely popular Pugs of the Frozen North (Oxford University Press) by Philip Reeve should enjoy the first in debut author Laura James’ new series, Captain Pug: The Dog Who Sailed the Sea (Bloomsbury). Her new canine creation panders to the current craze for pugs. Although real-life pugs leave me cold, and although I’m of the generation that will automatically add the word ‘wash’ to ‘Captain Pug’, as in the vintage children’s television series, even I can see the appeal of pugs when portrayed by the witty pens of Sarah McIntyre for Philip Reeve’s book and Eglantine Ceulamans for Laura James’.
SEABORNE MYSTERY FOR OLDER CHILDREN Older children will be drawn in by Lu Hersey’s award-winning novel Deep Water (Usborne), set in Cornwall. It’s inspired by the myth of selkies: people who morph into seals in the sea (or vice versa, depending on your point of view). The author describes this book as ‘kitchen-sink paranormal’, because, while embracing an eerie transformation akin to that of vampires (only a lot more wholesome, in my view), the story is driven by a domestic drama, affecting a teenage girl of divorced parents who is about to fall in love for the first time. The narrative also does a great job of summoning up a sense of place, history, tradition and present society in a small
Cornish village. Lots of bases are covered for a cracking read, with a cover endorsement from former children’s laureate, Malorie Blackman. It’s also sufficiently pacy and sophisticated enough to appeal to adult readers. I lapped it up, and it made me want to head straight to Cornwall.
As well as welcoming 100 days of summer, Debbie Young celebrates 9,000 plus days of living in the countryside in her new collection of essays, ‘All Part of the Charm' (Hawkesbury Press), written to celebrate her 25th anniversary of moving to the Cotswolds. Visit authordebbieyoung.com to find out more and follow her on Twitter @DebbieYoungBN
FOR STAYCATIONS ON DRY LAND If you’re sticking to a staycation, this new book will help you plan wholesome outings: A Summer of British Wildlife (Bradt Travel Guides). Author James Lowen suggests a day out for every day of the summer in places dotted about the country. Each one is timed to help you spot a seasonal item of flora or fauna. Written by someone whose passion for nature began at the tender age of three, this book’s agenda should appeal to all ages. Interestingly, Lowen suggests that there are 100 days of summer, now there’s a cheering thought. Helpfully, he lists his suggested destinations in ideal date order to maximise your chance of success at finding what you’re looking for. He has also set a hashtag running on Twitter so that you can share your personal 100-day celebration with other families following his book’s agenda (#100dayswild). For children who are less keen on the idea of naturespotting, just tell them it’s a real-life version of Where’s Wally? Let’s just hope the weather obliges, and we don’t spend those 100 days searching for the sun.
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HEALTH & WELLBEING
' letspicnic
Fabienne Viner-Luzzato shares some exciting picnic ideas for the summer holidays
ummer has finally arrived! It’s time to turn off the heating and the tablet and head down to the park, beach or garden to organise one of the most exciting kids’ outings: a picnic! UK weather can be very unpredictable, so check the forecast in advance. Ideally, you will pick a destination that offers some cover or you may end up eating your picnic in the car, which isn’t very inspiring!
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PREPARING THE FOOD To get your children interested in the food you are bringing, try preparing it together. This will make them feel included and excited about what’s in your picnic basket. You might think sandwiches are a picnic essentially, but that isn’t necessarily true. It can be fun to pick a theme and pick foods that fit, as you will see below. FRENCH PICNIC Sweet and savoury pancakes can easily be filled with tasty and healthy options (for example smoked salmon, cheese and fruit) to provide a great alternative to sandwiches. French cheese platters with fresh bread, crackers and grapes are always a winner.
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STICKY SUSHI RICE 1kg sushi rice 1.7 litres water 1/2 cup rice vinegar 3 tbsp sugar 1.5 tsp salt 500g raw or smoked fish in strips and in sashimi 1 avocado finely chopped Cucumber and/or carrot cut julienne-style
JAPANESE PICNIC Children love teriyaki salmon with noodles and vegetables. Sushi (see recipe, right) is becoming more and more popular, so why not add this kids’ favourite to the menu? For dessert, try fruit kebabs and sweet sushi with coconut, fruit and white chocolate. AMERICAN PICNIC Burgers and chips or salt beef sandwiches with pickled cucumbers are excellent for picnics, while marshmallow kebabs dipped in chocolate spread finish it off nicely. ITALIAN Try incorporating mini pizzas and pasta dishes as a tasty main, with strawberry or tiramisu ice cream cupcakes for dessert.
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BRITISH Pack a selection of sandwiches, scones, strawberries and cream, and jelly. Add some Pimms for the adults to create the perfect British picnic! Apart from the food, all you really need to make your picnic a success is a blanket or two, a Thermos flask, a cool box, hand gel, a picnic basket, cutlery and serviettes. Pack a ball and some games if your children get bored quickly and some money for an ice cream if you’re planning to stay a while. Need a recipe or advice? Want to book a cooking lesson or a cooking party? Contact Fabienne at info@ homecookingbyfabienne. co.uk
METHOD 1 Wash the rice, drain, add cold water and as soon as it starts to boil cover and steam with the lid on for 25 minutes, or until all the water has evaporated. Let the rice cool completely. 2 Mix the rice vinegar, sugar and salt in a saucepan. Place the pan on a low heat until the sugar dissolves and leave to cool. 3 Spread the steamed rice into a bowl. Sprinkle the vinegar mixture over it and fold quickly with a spatula. Be careful not to smash the rice. MAKING THE MAKI 1 Cover a bamboo mat with cling film. 2 Lie the seaweed wrap flat on the cling film. 3 Add the sushi rice with wet hands to avoid sticking. 4 Add the fillings, for example vegetables or smoked fish, in a horizontal strip in the centre. 5 Roll the bamboo mat up. 6 Shape the sushi roll with your hands. 7 Cut it into individual rolls.
KEEPING LITTLE PEOPLE * HAPPY IN NW3 All this under one roof and right on your doorstep. *And big ones too!
LIT TLE PEOPLE DINING • BABY & TOTS GYM BORE E FUN STUFF FOR TOTS • RETAIL THERAPY FOR GROWN UPS PLAY AREA IN WATERSTONES • 12 SCREEN VUE CINEMA VIRGIN ACTIVE GYM & CRÈCHE • 500 CAR PARK SPACES At the O2 Centre Finchley Road we take our little guest’s happiness very seriously. And for our Mums and Dads we know it’s the little things too that can make a difference. So with easy car parking, 14 restaurants and cafés, a 12 Screen VUE cinema, a Virgin Active Gym and Spa (with crèche facilities), a flagship Waterstones with a dedicated children’s section, two Amazon lockers and free Wi-Fi the O2 Centre is here to help. To find out more, visit o2centre.co.uk
HEALTH & WELLBEING
e are constantly reminded of the importance of vitamins and minerals, of fibre, and of the endless health benefits of eating fruit and vegetables. The Department of Health’s ‘five a day’ rings in all parents’ ears. So we know they are good, but how do we get children to eat them?
is enough for your child to eat at a normal pace. Mealtimes can feel drawn out when children go through fussy-eater phases but prolonged mealtimes tend to lead to further anxiety rather than more mouthfuls.
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START EARLY Babies are taste naive and gradually develop a taste palate by repeated exposure to varying foods. Start small, with licks and bites of new foods of different textures and soft finger foods.
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BE POSITIVE ROLE MODELS Children learn by copying behaviours. Eating as a family can be fun and enjoyable as well as providing a space to introduce new foods. Have a sharing plate in the middle of the table, mixing familiar foods with new foods in an appetising display.
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MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD SEES YOU EATING! Children are much more likely to eat the foods they see their parents eat. Research shows that a positive predictor for a child’s eating preference is the mother’s eating preferences. This may be because mums are commonly the main caregivers at mealtimes.
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CHILDREN ARE MORE LIKELY TO EAT WHAT THEY SEE AS NORMAL Simply by having fruits and vegetables available and accessible, children will learn that they are part of normal eating.
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Downplay food refusal. It’s easy to feel frustrated when your child spits out food or refuses to try something. By downplaying our responses to children’s food refusal behaviours, we are breaking the cycle. Instead, calmly remove the food and don’t provide alternatives!
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KEEP MEALTIMES POSITIVE Children have short attention spans, and generally 20 to 30 minutes
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Help! My child won’t 8 eat! 7
BUILD ON CURIOSITY Curiosity is the first step in the chain of behaviour change. Give your child a role around meal preparation or shopping. Helping to prepare the meal with simple kitchen tasks can increase curiosity in your child around new foods and where they come from. A simple mealtime routine could be setting the table, which helps to define expectations and set the mood.
Specialist paediatric dietitian Ana-Kristina Skrapac advises on how to get your children eating their five a day
ENSURE YOUR CHILD IS HUNGRY! Avoid letting your child graze on snacks or drinks between meals. This will make them feel full before the meal and will increase fussy-eater habits at mealtimes. Instead, keep to regular mealtimes and set snack times to keep appetites maximised for main meals.
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VARY THE TEXTURE Try serving vegetables raw or steamed to keep them crunchy. Children tend to dislike soft, mushy textures.
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TRY FOOD COMBINING Include fruit with foods at mealtimes or snacks. Grapes and citrus fruits bring a fresh taste to summer salads, or you could try serving chopped fruit with cheese cubes as a healthy afterschool snack. Ana-Kristina has been providing nutrition services for infants, children and adolescents for 15 years. She offers private consultations in her Harley Street clinic, specialising in paediatric gastroenterology and food allergy, feeding difficulties and eating problems. Visit londonnutrition.com for more information and follow her on Twitter @ AnaKristinaLNC
HEALTH & WELLBEING
suMMER RECIPES Healthy and delicious recipes using tasty seasonal ingredients
Quinoa and halloumi burgers with corn salsa Gluten-free grain quinoa is a complete protein, meaning it provides all the amino acids necessary for the repair and maintenance of the body’s cells, tissues and muscles. It’s healthy and delicious! SERVES 4 55g red quinoa 400g canned borlotti beans, drained and rinsed 1 small onion, grated 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped 2 tsp dried thyme 175g halloumi, patted dry and grated 1 egg, lightly beaten Flour for dusting
4 soft seedy buns, split in half 2 tbsp mayonnaise 4 crisp lettuce leaves 2 tomatoes, sliced For corn salsa 3 corn cobs Olive oil 2 chopped, deseeded tomatoes 1 diced small red pepper 3 finely chopped spring onions 1 handful of chopped coriander 1 tablespoon chopped jalapeno chillies (optional) 1 Put the quinoa in a saucepan, cover with water and bring to the boil. Cover with a lid and simmer over a
medium-low heat for 15-18 minutes, then drain well. 2 Put the borlotti beans in a mixing bowl and roughly mash using a potato masher. Add the onion, garlic, thyme, halloumi and egg, then stir until combined. 3 Coat a plate and your hands with flour. Shape the bean mixture into 4 burgers and dust with flour. Chill the burgers on a plate for 20 minutes. 4 For the corn salsa, heat a griddle pan over a high heat. Brush the cobs with olive oil and griddle for 10 minutes, turning frequently. Slice the kernels off the cobs into a bowl and stir in tomatoes, red pepper, spring onions and coriander. Add a good slug of olive oil and stir well until combined.
5 Blend half of the salsa mix to a coarse paste. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the rest of the corn with the remaining ingredients, adding the chillies if desired. Put the salsa to one side. 6 Pour enough oil to generously cover the base of a large frying pan and heat over a medium heat. Add the burgers and fry for 6-8 minutes, turning once, until golden and crisp. 7 Lightly toast the buns. Spread on the mayonnaise and top with the lettuce, burgers, tomatoes and a good spoonful of corn salsa. Courtesy of Vegetarian Food for Healthy Kids by Nicola Graimes (Nourish Books)
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1 Place all the chimicchuri ingredients except the onion into a mini processor and blitz until fine. Add a little more oil if needed until you get a sauce consistency. Season with salt and pepper. 2 Place the lamb rumps and a third of the chimicchuri into a bowl and cover with cling film. Marinate for an hour if time allows.
Chimicchuri roasted lamb If you’re having friends and family over or simply fancy a roast with a twist, try out this delicious Argentina-inspired chimicchuri lamb. SERVES FOUR
Caprese courgette salad If you can’t get your kids to eat a traditional plate of salad, try this delicious alternative. The longer the courgette marinates, the more intense the flavours will be, so don’t be afraid to prepare in advance. SERVES 2-3 2 medium courgettes, spiralised, then noodles trimmed to 12.5cm or less 300g cherry tomatoes, halved 1 tbsp lemon juice 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar 2 tbsp olive oil 1 medium garlic clove, finely chopped Salt and pepper 12 small mozzarella balls, halved 15g fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced 1 Place the courgettes and tomatoes in a large bowl. 2 Make the marinade. Pulse the ingredients in a food processor until the garlic is smooth. 3 Pour the marinade over the courgette noodles and tomatoes, and toss to combine. Place in the fridge to marinate for at least 10 minutes. 4 Add the mozzarella and basil to the courgette noodles, toss to combine and serve. Courtesy of lakeland.co.uk, extracted from Inspiralized by Ali Maffucci. (Ebury Press)
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2 lamb rumps (approx 400g each) 800g new potatoes 1 whole bulb of garlic 60ml oil 1 tsp paprika FOR THE CHIMICCHURI SAUCE 1 clove garlic, crushed 50ml red wine vinegar Small bunch fresh coriander Small bunch flat leaf parsley Handful fresh mint ½ tsp smoked paprika 40ml olive oil 1 tsp sugar ½ red onion, peeled and finely diced
3 Parboil potatoes in a large pan of salted water for 7-8 minutes, drain, then halve lengthways. 4 Seal the lamb on all sides until golden in a hot pan, then transfer to a baking tray lined with Bacofoil. Scatter in the potatoes and drizzle over the oil, coating well, and scatter in the unpeeled garlic cloves. Sprinkle over the paprika, and season with salt and pepper. 5 Pop into a preheated oven at 200oC for 20-25 minutes, then remove the lamb and leave to rest under a sheet of foil for 5-10 minutes. Pop the potatoes back into the oven until golden. Serve the carved lamb with the paprika potatoes, summer greens and the reserved chimicchuri sauce. Courtesy of TV chef Dean Edwards and bacofoil.co.uk
Banana and chocolate ice cream This mouth-watering banana and chocolate ice cream recipe is easy to make and only requires four basic ingredients. SERVES 2 2 frozen bananas 3 teaspoons cocoa powder 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk 2 Medjool dates Toppings of your choice 1 Pit the dates and soak in a small bowl of hot water for five minutes. 2 Pop core ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth. 3 Split into two small bowls and freeze
for about an hour. 4 Top with your favourite yummy treats! You could use date syrup, chopped nuts, granola, banana slices and berries. Courtesy of Nicole Osborne at gingerkitchen.co.uk
HOME & LIFESTYLE
ne of my party tricks is to look at someone’s wallet and save them £100s in minutes. So grab your wallet and let’s get started.
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PULL OUT YOUR DEBIT CARD Do you pay a monthly fee? Work out the annual cost and ask yourself if the ‘extras’ are worthwhile. If not, cancel it. If you were flogged it or told you had to have it, you may be able to reclaim fees (see mse.me/reclaimpackagefees). Does your bank make you happy? If not, it may be worth switching to FirstDirect.com. It’s a fee-free account (as long as you pay in £1,000 a month), pays switchers £100 and has a linked 6% savings account, with 92% of customers rating it ‘great’. Alternatively, Co-operativeBank.co.uk is giving £150, plus up to £5.50 if you qualify for its Everyday Rewards scheme, and 70% of its customers rate it ‘great’. Are you overdrawn? Debit cards can be costlier than credit. For small overdrafts, the FirstDirect.com gives a 0% overdraft up to £250, and the £100 switch bonus will help clear some of it. Alternatively, the Nationwide.co.uk FlexDirect gives a 0% overdraft for the first 12 months. Do you have savings? If so, your bank account may pay the highest interest rate. The top picks are Santander.co.uk’s 123 (3% up to £20,000), LloydsBank.com’s ClubLloyds (4% on £4,000-£5,000) and Tsb.co.uk’s Classic Plus (5% up to £2,000, plus up to £5-a-month cashback on contactless purchases).
What’s
in your wallet? Martin Lewis identifies changes you could make to your wallet to enjoy key savings
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PULL OUT YOUR CREDIT CARDS You could save £100s or even £1,000s a year by getting a 0% balance transfer credit card. This means your repayments clear more of the actual debt rather than just paying the interest. Deals are available up to 40 months
at 0% with a fee, or up to 24 months fee-free. My balance transfers guide at moneysavingexpert.com/bts includes a free eligibility calculator. Every time you use a credit card, the retailer pays the card firm a transaction fee. With a cashback card, this is effectively put back in your pocket. New regulations mean cashback has been cut, yet Amex cards are mostly exempted, so they still pay a good whack. The fee-free AmericanExpress.com Everyday pays 5% cashback (max £100) for the first three months, then tiered up to 1.25% after. The best non-Amex is money.asda.com’s Mastercard (0.5% cashback or 1% in Asda). Only do this if you can repay in full each month or you’ll pay 22.9% (Amex) or 18.9% (Asda) interest.
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SIGN UP FOR A MYWAITROSE CARD FOR FREE DAILY TEA AND COFFEE The waitrose.com loyalty card offers a free takeaway hot drink every day from the self-service machine in most Waitrose stores without you having to buy anything.
Martin Lewis is the founder and editor-in-chief of Money Saving Expert. To receive his weekly Money Tips, go to moneysavingexpert.com/ latesttip
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PULL OUT YOUR PHOTO DRIVING LICENCE Around 2.2 million licences have an out-of-date picture, risking fines of up to £1,000. Check section 4b on your photocard licence and, if necessary, renew it at gov.uk/ renew-drivinglicence or at the post office. Find us on facebook - facebook/todayschild.co.uk
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HOME & LIFESTYLE
Product reviews Diono Dreamliner Travel Bassinet was immediately impressed by two things with the Dreamliner. Firstly, the bassinet arrives in its own carry bag. Few baby product manufacturers think beyond that moment you throw the box into the recycling and suddenly have to find a way to store everything. Secondly, it took me less than ten seconds to erect the bassinet and lay the baby down in it. The basket is deep enough for the baby to be safely
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tucked down inside without taking up acres of space in the room and the mesh sides work really well for babies who like to look around. I also loved the full coverage
hood with the insect net secretly folded into it. This is great in the summer for bringing the baby outside but is also brilliant if you want your little one to rest
GiGG’L nappies
iGG’L is a relatively new contender in the cloth nappy world and has introduced some really forward-thinking ideas that are clearly based on personal experiences with cloth nappying. I hadn’t previously considered using them so I was surprised to find that I enjoyed the experience. The outer nappy comes in several bold and fun designs, which are largely gender-neutral, while the double gusset makes it nigh on impossible for leg leakages to occur. The liner comes wrapped in a microfibre pocket, which provides enough space to add another layer (included with your nappy) for extra
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absorption if you have a heavy wetter, as I do. The liner also has a popper to secure it to the outer nappy, which holds everything in really securely. There is
peacefully indoors away from affectionate pets and enthusiastic older children. The mattress is soft and comfortable. Importantly, I found that I could easily use a baby wipe to tidy up any small messes and the cover goes in the washing machine for any bigger accidents. At £70, the Dreamliner is averagely priced for a travel bassinet, but I feel it offers more security and portability than many others on the market. As it can also be used day-to-day at home I would certainly recommend it. uk.diono.com
also a flushable liner to make disposing of solids quicker and easier. The nappy works from 8 to 35lbs and offers several sizing options. You can even adjust the leg stretch, which I really appreciated because my little boy has chunky thighs and nappies often sit tightly on him. A newborn size is also available. My favourite element is the absorbency, as leaky nappies are a nightmare. However, I have found that they give my baby a bigger behind than a disposable nappy, which can make pulling his trousers up a bit testing. Overall, I have definitely been converted and would recommend GiGG’L nappies to sceptics as they are much easier to use than others I have encountered. gigglbaby.com
Product reviewer Claire-Marie Lewis spends hours trawling the internet for safe, stylish products that her children will love, before explaining to their daddy why these items are absolutely necessary!
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HOME & LIFESTYLE
RUSTY AND FRIENDS ALPHABET & NUMBER STACKING BLOCKS These Rusty and Friends alphabet blocks are suitable for children from 12 months, so even those who aren’t heading to school can learn at home. £12.95 | dotcomgiftshop.com
GIANT KEYBOARD Children can hop, skip and jump around this fantastic jumbo keyboard to create and record cool tunes, keeping the learning going after school and at weekends. £40 | elc.co.uk
SKETCH AND SPARKLE PENCIL SET Children aged three and over can make their scribbles stand out with this sparkly pencil set, offering hints of glitter throughout. £8 | mandco.com
(EDITOR'S PICkS) It’s almost back-to-school season, so we’ve put together a selection of top picks for September so you can be prepared well in advance
ALUMINIUM WATER BOTTLE: HORSES This lightweight drinking bottle features a delightful horse print and pink bottle top. It can be attached to bags and belts for school and other adventures. £8.95 | millygreen.com
ROOFUS DESK & CHAIR This gorgeous desk, playhouse, easel and tiny chair is perfect for homework, play and everything in between. £495 | loaf.com
THE DOODLE PENCIL CASE Children can also use this pencil case as a diary, notepad, timetable and sketchbook. As it all washes out, it’s a great way for kids to express themselves and get creative. £12.50 | eatsleepdoodle.com
Fab back-to-school accessories from stuckonyou.co.uk COOL KIDS BAG TAG (£3.99) These trendy bag tags look great, are easy to use and can be attached to handles or zips.
CLASSIC SHOE DOTS (£9.99) These tough, easy-to-read shoe dots are a must for kids at school or daycare.
STICK ON CLOTHING LABELS: CLASSIC SMALL (£9.99) These handy, long-lasting labels can be stuck directly onto a garment’s care tag, ironed onto clothing or sewn in.
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Baby Lond
Baby London
HOME & LIFESTYLE
BABY SHOES: PINK BUTTERFLIES These adorable baby shoes are handmade in soft leather with non-slip suede soles. The gently elasticated ankles are easy to put on and will stay put without pinching. 0-18 months | £17.95 | annabeljames.co.uk
OCHRE SHORT SLEEVE FESTIVAL SLOGAN T-SHIRT This bright T-shirt for boys will make people smile in the park, on the beach or at a summer festival. Made from 100% cotton it is cool in more than one way. 3mths-6yrs | £4.50-£5.50 | next.co.uk
Get the look!
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BOYS’ SWIM SHORTS AND TEES Team this Surf’s Up T-shirt (from £6; 3-13 years) with these fantastic Minions Slogan Swim Shorts (from £12; 5-13 years) or the Fish Print T-shirt (from £7; 3-13 years) with these funky West Coast Swim Shorts (from £6.40; 3 - 13 years | mandco.com
Help your kids look and feel super cool this summer with these great fashion picks
Get the look!
MINI GIRLS’ WHITE LACE TOP AND SKIRT OUTFIT This fabulous two-piece set includes a floral lace top and skater skirt for girls aged 0-5 (£20). Team it with these cute mini girls’ leopard print sandals. Sizes 3-8 | £14 | riverisland.com
BABY GIRLS’ SPOT SWIMSUIT This spot swimsuit is perfect for summer with its sweet frill detail and 3D flowers. Whether your little girl is splashing around in the pool or the sea, she’ll be as pretty as a picture. 0-18 months | £8 | bhs.co.uk
LITTLE KIDS’ LUNCH BOXES: BEE AND MONKEY These cute bags are fun to carry and will keep your children’s lunch fresh and cool, both over the summer and when they return to school. (Matching backpacks available at £19.98 each.) £13.99 | beckyandlolo.co.uk
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There is only one Original Konfidence® BuoyancyJacket There is only one Original Konfidence® BuoyancyJacket but now you can have it in
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