Loving life with little ones
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s t n a h t r No 1ST TIME MUM Safeguarding your mental health
April - June 2020
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Loving life with little ones
Discover what’s on for little ones online Just enter your child's age, and away you go...!
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www.toddleabout.co.uk
WELCOME
IN THIS ISSUE
TO THE SPRING EDITION 2020!
This is our first ever purely digital magazine. Like many small businesses, Toddle About has been turned upside down by the lockdown. We had our spring magazine ready to go – we were literally 48 hours from going to print – when, overnight, 90% of our content went out of date as everything got cancelled. Lots of our advertisers lost their incomes instantly, and our distribution network for the magazine disappeared. It wasn’t pretty. But it’s not all doom and gloom!
After all, we might all be stuck at home, but that means it’s more important than ever to stay connected and communicating with others. That’s where live streaming sessions really come in. I’ll admit it – I was sceptical about how well a group class would be able to translate to the screen… but it’s amazing how well it works. And now the whole family can join in! We’ve been working hard here to make it easy for you to find the online sessions that are running for little ones – now, when you search our website, we will default to show you the online activities on offer, and you can filter by age, activity and more to easily find what you want.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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Easter Recipe
5
Father's Day Competition 6 Family Life at Home
9
Fab & Funky Products
10
Mum's Mental Health
12
Getting Out of the House 16
Thanks to them, there’s still LOADS going on… and that’s what this digital magazine is all about – helping to spread the word about what they are doing so you can find out about all this wonderful stuff!
Tim
4
Help Your Child Love Food 15
So many of the businesses we work with have shown incredible resilience and resourcefulness as they have switched to offering their services online.
Check it out! Head to www.toddleabout.co.uk to start discovering what’s on. We hope it helps :) Call us on 01604 532054 or email: info@toddleabout.co.uk
Easter Craft
Why Learn Languages?
19
Reader Review
20
Fun Learning with Books 21 We are in this together
22
Win a 5* Family Holiday
23
Birthday Shout Out
24-25
Preparing for Reception
27
RUGBYTOTS (BANBURY & TOWCESTER) YOUR 1ST TERM OF CLASSES
www.rugbytots.co.uk vince@rugbytots.co.uk New customers only. One code per child. Banbury & Towcester classes only. Email to book. Quote ‘Toddle About’. Expires: 30/06/20
MEET THE TEAM
Tim & Ruth -
Alec -
Eloise -
Lorraine -
Becky -
Editors-in-Chief
Chief Techie
Graphic Designer & Editor
Advertising & Customer Support
Office & Customer Support
9,000 copies of Toddle About are distributed every quarter around Northampton, Daventry, Towcester & Brackley surrounding areas. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information in Toddle About is accurate and correct, we cannot guarantee that this is so and Toddle About Limited cannot and does not accept any liability for loss, damage or problems arising from any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in content, nor from actions taken by readers based on information or opinions presented in advertisements or throughout the magazine. Images and information supplied by 3rd parties have been accepted in good faith and all liability for any legal transgression including breach of copyright remains with the supplying parties.
Toddle About, Unit 3, Yorks Farm Business Centre, Watling Street, Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 8EU. Call us on 01604 532054. April-June 2020 Toddle About Northamptonshire 3
Make an EASTER BUNNY BONNET! Try out this egg-citing activity with your little ones! You will need: • Easter bonnet • Felt sheets • Ribbon • Pom-poms • Pipe cleaners
1. Cut out four felt bunny ear shapes in the same colour as your Easter bonnet. 2. Cut out two smaller white felt inner ear shapes. Glue these to two of the larger ears. 3. Twist two pipe cleaners together at one end. Bend them into the ear shape then glue them to the back of an ear (with white inner), then glue an ear shape (without white inner) to the back of this to cover the pipe cleaner. Repeat for the second ear.
Glue it onto the bonnet along with two pink circles for cheeks, ribbon for the whiskers, a pom-pom for the nose, two white pom-poms as eyes, then add two black felt circles for the pupils.
4. Take the ears and push the end of the pipe cleaners through the top of the bonnet. Secure them by twisting the pipe cleaner ends together inside the hat. Trim the ends and cover with a square of felt. 6. Finally, tie a bow around the bonnet and add 5. To create teeth, draw a black line down more pom-poms! the centre of a small piece of white felt.
The Works is the UK’s leading family friendly retailer of value gifts, arts, crafts, toys, books and stationery. All craft supplies for this activity are available at www.theworks.co.uk. Images c/o @littlebuttondiaries
A good night’s sleep makes for a happy family I offer support and guidance to parents. Sharing 25 years of experience, I can help with:
Are you running your sessions online? Family Sleep Consultant
♥ Improving healthy sleep habits
♥ Dummy dependency
♥ Routine establishment
♥ Early waking
♥ Gentle sleep solution
♥ Feeding
♥ No “cry it out”
♥ Overnight care
♥ Settling
Accredited Sleep Coach and Maternity Nurse
♥ Reflux
Toddle About can help you promote them! The Toddle About website now allows parents to search for the new 'virtual' classes and events that are springing up everywhere. List your online sessions for FREE.
wwww.toddlebout.co.uk
Please call Diane 07807 006 167 www.familysleepconsultant.co.uk Email infofamilysleep@gmail.com Family sleep consultant
4 April-June 2020 Toddle About
infofamilysleep
Rice Krispie Easter Eggs These Rice Krispie treats are so yummy and marshmallow-y that they are usually gobbled up within a day.
Ingredients per colour for 6 eggs: • 3 cups of Rice Krispie cereal • Food Colouring • 3 tbsp of salted butter (we used pink, purple, • 3 cups of mini marshmallows yellow, green and blue) Instructions for a single batch of eggs You will need to make five batches of Rice Krispie treat mixture - one for each of the five Easter Egg colours: 1. Melt the butter in a medium pan. 2. Add 3 cups of mini marshmallows and stir until the they are completely melted on a low to medium heat. (If the heat is too high this the eggs will turn out hard). 3. Take the pan off the heat. Add food colouring and mix. 4. Add the Rice Krispie cereal and mix until it is completely covered with the marshmallow mixture.
5. Allow the Rice Krispie mixture to cool slightly for 4-5 minutes. You need the mixture to still be pliable but not burning hot to the touch. 6. Cover your hands in a small bit of butter, grab a handful of the mixture and then use your hands to lightly form the Easter Eggs. 7. Allow Rice Krispie Bites to cool. Repeat for the other four colours. Eat and enjoy!
Recipe provided by Two Sisters Crafting - two sisters that love to craft and bake. For crafts, do-it-yourself home projects, party planning and baking, check out www.twosisterscrafting.com
At Claydon Manor
BUCKINGHAM
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“FABULOUS FRIENDLY FAMILY FESTIVAL” JO BAVARDE
DEDICATED CHILDRENS PROGRAMME ACTIVITIES FOR THE FAMILY TO DO TOGETHER 10 VENUES FULL OF DISCOVERY & PLAY SAFE & INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT
OVER 70 HOURS OF LIVE MUSIC PLUS
ARTS & CRAFTS DANCE & CEILIDH SPORTS TOYS & GAMES FOOD SHOWS WORKSHOPS THEATRE STREET FOOD REAL ALE & CIDER & MORE...
£144 4 DAY TICKET £70 5-17 YEARS S FROM £35 DAY TICKET FROM £25 S AR 5-17 YE
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LISTEN DANCE LEARN PLAY April-June 2020 Toddle About Northamptonshire 5
n WAiFamily Day Pass and an FAT H E R ’ S DAY C O M P E T I T I O N
Under 3’s Annual Pass for WOBURN SAFARI PARK Woburn Safari Park offers an escape to the African Savannah – in the heart of Bedfordshire - to see endangered and exotic animals including lions, tigers, bears, giraffes and more. And they’re giving you the chance to win a Family Day Pass (2 x adults & 2 x children, worth £80.96). PLUS a Toddler Annual Pass (worth £99.99), giving you and your under 3 year-old 12 months of unlimited safari adventures!
There are events running every weekend throughout the summer from the May half term, giving visitors the chance to meet favourite characters including Peppa Pig, Hey Duggee, Paddington and Peter Rabbit in special meet and greet sessions, narration performances and quiz trails. Plus there will be a special celebration in May, complete with performers, activities and the chance for visitors to win some fantastic prizes on the day!
And there could be no better time to visit than in 2020 – as the Park is turning 50 years old in May and is celebrating with an extra special anniversary year.
ENTER ONLINE AT TODDLE.FUN/WOBURNSAFARI
Competition ends midnight Sunday 14th June 2020.
The perfect family day out Discover 900 years of history at Delapré Abbey in Northampton.
Under 18s go free! delapreabbey.org
6 April-June 2020 Toddle About
Photo: Delapré Abbey School of Magic. Profound Photography UK
T&C’s apply - all online at www.toddle.fun/woburnsafari
For more info or to buy tickets visit: www.woburnsafari.co.uk
NEW ONLINE KIDS’ CLASSES
Kidslingo
NEW online Kids’ language classes South Northants see huge spike in demand. It took just 48 hours for Kidslingo’s Fran Fleming to react to the news of the Coronavirus epidemic and devise a way to continue her language classes for young children – and the outcome has been astonishing. Fran is the franchisee of multi-award winning Kidslingo that inspires young children to love languages. She teaches French to children from birth to the age of 11 through interactive learning – via songs, games, Makaton, active story-telling and let’s pretend, helping them to build their confidence and communication skills. “Overnight we changed the model from face-to-face classes to doing everything online via the interactive web platform Zoom,” says Francesca. “The impact the Coronavirus is having on children and young families is unprecedented. But I knew that keeping the classes open would be one of the ways in which to offer some stability and normality in this very confusing time.
Where we can, we have tried to keep children in their friendship groups so they can continue to virtually see their best friends, which we know is really, really important.” The interactive and fun live video classes have been rolled out nationwide and are available via computer, phone or tablet for existing and new customers. Educational packs and music are also emailed out weekly. The first online classes have had incredible feedback from parents! Fran is offering online French classes to children living in Northampton, Towcester, Daventry and Brackley. There is something for every age group! Monday Monday Monday Tuesday Wednesday
9.30am 1pm 2pm 11am 1pm
6m - 4 years 3 - 7 years 8 - 11 years 0 - 4 years 1 - 4y years
For more information and to book a slot visit Fran’s webpage: www.kidslingo.co.uk/area/ french-classes-towcester-daventry-brackley Follow her on Facebook: kidslingofranfleming Or email fran.fleming@kidslingo.co.uk
Essentia solutionS AT HOME THERAPY Written by Leanne Astalos COVID-19 has made us all have to re-think the way we work and go about our daily lives. The health and wellbeing of my clients is my highest priority and for that reason I wanted to explain what measures I am taking to keep my clients safe. I am encouraging my existing clients to consider trying therapy online whilst we wait for the dust to pass. This is a service that I have been running for two years with just as much success as with those clients who see me in person. The client has the benefit of being in the comfort of their own home and we remove the need for travel. I use a video call platform that is GDPR compliant, it is very easy to use, you will just need a smart phone, a tablet, laptop or a desktop for it to work. Online therapy can work for children and adults, and whilst it can feel a little unusual at first, I find people do quickly adapt to it.
Calm children Finding the right support for your child can be a challenge but Essentia Solutions offer playful, fun therapy for children. They will learn about how their brains work, learn about their own feelings and discover how they can manage them better. Parents will learn how they can best support their child with different techniques they can practice at home. Claim a FREE initial consultation by emailing leanne@essentiahypnotherapy.co.uk For more information visit www.essentiahypnotherapy.co.uk April-June 2020 Toddle About Northamptonshire 7
Baby Sensory AT HOME CLASSES
Written by Sarah Walker - Baby Sensory Northampton If you would like to spend some quality time bonding and having fun with your baby then join Baby Sensory @Home classes. Due to the current Covid -19 situation Baby Sensory is not running it normal classes but is instead going to be offering some wonderful online sessions for parents to enjoy with their babies at Home. There will be lots of fun ideas to do at home as well as Puppet shows, singing, music, bubbles, parachutes and balloons, yes even balloons that you wont need to have at home, all the fun will be delivered through your screen. You may be asked to gather a few household items for the sessions but these wont be a necessity.
The sessions will go live to book from Friday 3rd April, These will be bookable in blocks of 4 weeks @ £20 for 30-40 minutes and they will be different every week. babysensorynorthampton babysensorynorthampton For further info visit: www.babysensory.com/Northampton
The sessions are to be delivered via a platform called Zoom which is really user friendly and allows you to connect with other parents and babies.
BABY & CHILDREN’S MARKET
Northampton
The next Baby & Children’s Market in Northampton has had to be postponed because of the current Covid-19 virus outbreak. We will be back at Northampton High School as soon as we can be! Mums & Dads will be selling excellent quality nearly new & new baby & children’s clothes, toys, maternity & equipment from birth to 8 years! Plus a small selection of unique businesses in the baby & children’s industry showcasing & selling their products & services all under one roof! If you need to clean out those cupboards then why not have a stall yourself! 8 April-June 2020 Toddle About
To stay up to date with when the next Northanpton market will be. Follow us on facebook at babyandchildrensmarketnorthamptonshire or visit www.babyandchildrensmarket.com
YOU’LL NEVER BE STUCK
for something to do AT HOME AGAIN... By Tim Freed, Founder of Toddle About
Here at Toddle About, we want to do as much as we can to help families through this tough time. And that’s not just families with little ones – but families with children of ALL ages. That’s why we’ve created Family Life at Home Overnight, families have been thrown into home schooling their children, and many of them are struggling. Teaching at home can be hard at the best of times - believe me, I know! We’ve been home educating our children for the last 7 years, and it’s not always a walk in the park. Fortunately, one upside of the COVID-19 crisis is that there has been an explosion of resources that we can tap into as parents to help us. Want to start learning martial arts in your living room? Take a virtual tour of the Natural History Museum? Get help with a maths problem? Ask Steve Backshall a question about animals? It’s ALL possible… and much more besides. In fact, it’s overwhelming. That’s where Family Life at Home comes in – it’s a central hub that brings together all the different resources that are available, and makes it easy to find what you need to educate and also entertain your children at home.
Try it now at www.familylifeathome.co.uk
It’s Really Easy to Use Pick your child’s age, then filter the options available by various criteria, such as the kind of resource you’re looking for, education topic or type of activity. You can even select today’s date to see all the live stream sessions that are running today. We hope you find it useful!
Try it now at www.familylifeathome.co.uk Toddle About Northamptonshire If you know someone who offers online resources for families, tell them April-June they can2020 add them to our site for free!9
T F I Y G K N U F & FAB
THE LATEST AND FUNKIEST PRODUCTS FOR YOUR LITTLE ONES
MARY KAY 3D MIRACLE SET, FROM £20 Younger looks in just 4 weeks. 4 simple steps to stunning looking skin this Spring. Daily cleansing and 24/7 moisturising plus brighter firmer looking eyes & less wrinkles. Perfect skincare for busy mums. 3D foundation, flawless oil-absorbing formula for oily skin and moisturising formula for dry skin. Blends evenly with medium-to-full coverage. www.marykay.co.uk/rubaiswd
RHS GET GROWING, £14.99 A beautifully illustrated guide to growing plants indoors and out. For parents and children who enjoy engaging with the outdoors and want to do more activities together, the book explains how plants work, the building blocks of gardening and how to grow everything from cacti to cucumbers. www.amazon.co.uk
READER PRODUCT REVIEW Subscribe to the magazine and become a VIP Club member and you can review products too! (plus you get to keep the product). Sign-up at www.toddle.fun/vip
10 April-June 2020 Toddle About
MY LITTLE COCO: MY LITTLE EVERYTHING BALM, £5.99 The magical multi-tasking miracle worker that you can’t live without. Soothes dry skin. Tames frizz, flyaways and split ends. For little knees after a day of adventure. Dab onto cheekbones for a natural highlight. Super gentle with lots of natural ingredients, and completely fragrance free. www.boots.co.uk
MINI UV PORTABLE STERILISER, £19.99 The Munchkin Mini UV Portable Steriliser kills 99.99%* of bacteria and viruses in just 59 seconds! Perfect for disinfecting small, everyday items such as dummies and bottle teats at home or on the go. Compact, portable, fast working, and super simple to use. Pop it in your bag or fastening onto bag straps or buggies www.amazon.co.uk
THE MAGICAL UNDERWATER ACTIVITY BOOK, £9.99 It is entirely correct that the word “magical” should be part of the title of this elegant and captivating book. Mia Underwood has combined her creativity with science to offer children a stunning insight into the world’s oceans. It contains a huge amount of content with a wide range of activities, including prompts for writing stories, colouring, craft templates, games and stickers all designed to stimulate a child’s imagination and creativity. A perfect resource for a rainy day, the book also educates about plastics in our oceans in an age appropriate and thoughtful way. Written by Helen Ballantyne. Buy from www.amazon.co.uk (Review has been edited).
Nappy Subscription Service BY KIT & KIN Kit & Kin offer a unique nappy subscription service for parents, ordered direct from their website – straight to the door. The reliable service is a great way to ensure nappies and wipes are always ready and waiting at home. Approved by dermatologists, Kit & Kin’s hypoallergenic and biodegradable eco nappies offer premium performance! Featuring adorable animal designs for the cutest bums, the part natural high-tech absorbent core uses significantly fewer chemicals than standard nappies, helping to protect your baby’s soft delicate. The best bit is that for every 10 subscriptions they get, they buy an acre of rainforest! Don’t forget Kit & Kin’s 99% water and 100% biodegradable Baby Wipes.
Win 1 month’s worth of
nappies and wipes from Kit and Kin, worth up to ÂŁxx HOW TO ENTER
Enter at www.toddle.fun/kitandkin. Competition ends midnight Sun 10 May 2020.
Order online here kitandkin.com
Hydrotherm Massage Gift Voucher ÂŁ25 (RRP ÂŁ40)
 Â? Â?Â?Â?  Â?€ ‚ ƒ Â?„…†Â? …€†ÂÂ?‡ ˆ ‰ Š ‰ ‚ ‹ ˆ ÂŒ ŒŒŽ Ž‰  April-June 2020 Toddle About Northamptonshire 11
First Time Mum
How to Safeguard Your Mental Health One in five new mums experience mental health problems, commonly with low mood and anxiety. Becoming a mum for the first time is a big transition and can present significant challenges to your emotional wellbeing. You may find it difficult to adjust to your new identity, to the new social elements of motherhood, or experience challenges in your relationships. Your body is recovering, and you are psychologically and neurologically adjusting to becoming a parent and responding to your baby’s needs. Add in a heavy dose of sleep deprivation and it’s no wonder that it can be a vulnerable time.
ANXIETY Anxiety in early motherhood can manifest in different ways: frequent upsetting thoughts that your baby will be injured; overwhelming urges to clean or perform other ritualistic behaviours; a physical, gut-wrenching, heart-pounding feeling of dread that something is wrong, or that something terrible is about to happen, when actually, things are OK. These often come together with physical symptoms, including sweating, shaking and dizziness.
DEP RES S I O N Depression in new mums could mean struggling to muster the motivation to get out of bed, to get washed, dressed, or to go anywhere outside your home. It can, however, be invisible to others; a happy, ‘normal’ version of you on the surface with the darkness hidden inside. You may feel numb, a lack of joy in your new baby, and little interest in doing the things your normally enjoy. You may struggle to sleep, even when you have the opportunity.
If any of this is familiar, and persists beyond the first couple of weeks, then it’s important to seek support. Talk to your Health Visitor or your GP. If you find it difficult to explain how you feel, take your partner or a friend with you for support.
Here are 3 key steps you can take to help safeguard your mental health as a new mum: 1. Don’t believe everything you think: thoughts are not facts! Our minds are complex and incredible, and can just as easily imagine a terrible accident as they can a pink elephant dancing on the moon playing a violin. Thank your mind for ensuring you are doing a good job of keeping your baby safe, then move on. 2. Make sure your expectations are realistic We are bombarded by images of beautiful babies and serene mothers, and well-intentioned comments like ‘cherish every moment’. These can undermine the struggles that new mums face, and leave you feeling as though you aren’t doing a good enough job. It’s time to recognise these unrealistic pressures and remember all the things you are doing well. 3. Get practical help It’s helpful to remember that, evolutionarilyspeaking, humans are designed to raise children in large family units, so if you feel like you are struggling without much help, this is totally normal. It’s not you, it’s society! Consider having a checklist of things that regularly need doing (e.g. put a load of washing on) so when people ask if they can do anything to help, you can say yes!
Dr Carla Runchman is a mum of two, clinical psychologist and author of ‘Mama Notes’, a notebook for the first 12 weeks of motherhood to help mums focus on their emotional wellbeing. www.mamadiary.co.uk Disclaimer: This article does not constitute medical advice. If you are struggling with any aspect of your mental health, talk to your Health Visitor or GP. 12 April-June 2020 Toddle About
Self Isolating? TOP TIPS ON HOW TO KEEP LITTLE ONES ENTERTAINED Written by Angela Spencerat Babyopathy
Get out in nature! I know not everyone will have a back garden but wherever possible we should be out in nature. One of the reasons we will struggle with isolation is the wellbeing of our mental health. Science has proven that being out in nature for just 20 minutes a day can have a big positive impact on our mental health wellbeing. Getting children outdoors is great on many levels – whether it’s climbing, making dens or a fort, generally getting dirty and soaking up the fresh air will bring smiles to any child’s face! Use the time in the garden to play games, get physical and wear out some of that boundless energy. Why not take the opportunity to plant some fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers? These are all great learning opportunities for maths skills, counting, shapes, size, volume etc – it’s amazing what you can learn when it comes to various pots, soil, seeds and water. Plus in a few weeks and months you’ll have food to start on my next favourite subject. Cooking!
Even from a very young age, children love to get their hands into a bowl of something and mix it! As long as you follow the usual hygiene rules (they really shouldn’t be anything new just because of a virus) and get baking! Weights, measures, and of course endless vocabulary is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to learning experiences from cooking. Try using a fruit or vegetable they’ve never seen before to learn something new, tell them how its grown and where it comes from and all of a sudden you’re in to the realms of geography too! Screen time can even be used positively - take some virtual tours of different countries, it’s wildlife, it’s people, it’s language - learn how to say ‘hello’ in as many languages as you can! This world has a wealth of wonders and knowledge to share and we are lucky that we have the technology to do it from our sofas! Most of all though, teach your children some very important things that have started to disappear over the years; compassion, manners, respect and general care of the world and people around them. Don’t forget, in these trying times that children learn from watching what WE do, so if we are being selfish, arrogant, ignorant, defiant and all of the other negativity we are seeing, that’s how they will grow up! For further info visit: www.babyopathy.com
OPEN STAGE
PERFORMING ARTS COMPANY At times like these it’s important that we all have some fun to look forward to! Open Stage is a busy performing arts company based in Northampton. Our usual timetable includes many Saturday and weekday classes and workshops in ballet, tap, modern theatre and lyrical dance plus drama, singing, acrobatics, cheerleading, street dance and Street Pop! All of our staff are highly qualified within their fields and classes for our youngest participants are led by practitioners who are experienced and certified in early years work as well the arts. We also have many community classes for all ages, literally for babies to pensioners! This includes our Open Stage Choir and adult dance classes right through to our popular Multi-Sensory Hoo-Ha courses for newborns to new crawlers (which have now been running for more than ten years) and Great Big Storybook for confident walkers to pre-school age. Because we are a performing arts company we are able to bring something extra to
13 April-June 2020 Toddle About
these early years classes which are created using theatre techniques such as lighting and sound to create a unique experience for participants. The current Covid-19 situation means that our regular class schedule has been suspended, but we know how much people enjoy and value our sessions. That’s why we want to make sure we can still offer them something to keep them going while the nation is on lockdown. The details are still being worked out, so the best thing to do is to keep an eye on our website www.open-stage.co.uk for updates on what is available. Open Stage has been part of Northampton’s community for 20 years this year, so we want to make sure 2020 is no different! April-June 2020 Toddle About Northamptonshire 13
Pregnancy Yoga CLASSES ONLINE Written by Lisa Valentine
Our Pregnancy yoga classes are designed specifically for the rapidly changing body and mind of the expectant mother. They are gentle, allowing the body to stretch and strengthen safely, helping with many pregnancy related ailments. We also incorporate restorative poses to soothe the nervous system, guided hypno-birthing scripts and affirmations. The classes help prepare you for birthing and motherhood and provide quality time to for you to connect with your unborn baby. The course will also introduce restorative yoga, which also allows your mind a rest from the stresses and anxieties you may be feeling during pregnancy and in preparation for birth. It is important to strike a balance by also practicing gentler, more restful poses that teach mum-to-be how to soften and surrender when she needs to relax.
• Your pregnancy course will be delivered via Zoom. • Classes will run on a Tuesday and Thursday at 6.15pm. You will have access to both sessions for the price of 1 course. • With many other classes sadly having to cancel, we will continue to run online for as long as we need to. • There will be spaces!!! Many of my classes are fully booked weeks before. However being online means I can accommodate a few more than normal. • Finally you will be supporting a small business one that will be eternally grateful. We all need to be supporting the business we want to see in the future When the guidelines change we will be straight back into our lovely studio. In the meantime, hopefully this gives you some reassurance that whilst attending an online class might not be what you were expecting, classes really will be as close to the original formats as possible and will continue to provide you with support and community.
5/6 WEEK COURSE £45/54 (ACCESS TO 2 CLASS’S A WEEK) For further info visit: www.lisavalentineyoga.co.uk
RugbyTots Challenges BANBURY, TOWCESTER & NORTHAMPTON
Wondering how to keep your children active over the current isolation period? Want to make their daily routine and weekends more fun? Rugbytots is the world’s favourite rugby play programme for boys and girls aged 2 – 7 years old. Our classes run in venues across the region, but currently these are all on hold. So, to keep everyone going over the current isolation period, we have gone interactive – our Facebook page has daily challenges and activities to keep your little ones (and not so little ones) busy and practicing their rugby skills both inside and out.
You can find out more at rugbytotsBTandN 14 April-June 2020 Toddle About
When we return to our normal routines, we will be offering taster sessions at all of our venues, where space permits. To find your local class, please visit our website, www.rugbytots.co.uk and type your postcode into the class finder. To arrange a FREE taster session, book direct by email to vince@rugbytots.co.uk or by calling 0345 3130286.
Establishing a healthy relationship with food is important from a young age, but encouraging our children to eat healthily can feel like a constant battle for many parents.
Ways to Help Your Child
Love Food Charlotte Stirling-Reed, a specialist in child nutrition (also the nutritionist on Joe Wicks new book out May 2020) is working to help families create healthier and happier mealtimes and ensure that our children pick up the right ideas about what to eat and how to eat.
1
Not eating together
5
Giving up too early
2
Setting a bad example
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Giving all your attention to the fussy eater
3
Setting too many mealtime rules
7
Forcing or coaxing your child into eating
4
Making separate meals
8
Using distractions such as televisions, toys or phones
The biggest bad habit we are all guilty of. Simple, but often challenging - aiming to sit and eat together whenever possible is the first step to healthy, happy mealtimes! Children learn the skills of eating, social skills and even what foods they enjoy by first copying others. If your own diet consists of chips and fried chicken, your children will soon pick up on that and want the same themselves. So even if it means changing some of your eating habits, it’s important that your child has an opportunity to see you eating and enjoying a healthy diet. Making mealtimes too pressured and setting mealtimes rules, such as clearing your plate, eating all your vegetables first, or sitting at the table until everyone has finished, can end up making mealtimes less enjoyable for kids. It is not uncommon for parents to make sperate meals for everyone in the family, or even for parents to create multiple meals for a single child at dinnertime, only to have each and every one rejected. Try and have one option that everyone eats. It’s good for you and your children to eat the same meals - seeing you eat similar foods will encourage them to eat a wider variety themselves.
Research has shown time and time again that babies and children learn to like what is familiar to them. If you offer your child broccoli and they reject it and you never offer it again, they won’t EVER learn to like it! In most instances, any attention given to food refusal simply encourages it, so don’t give all your attention to the fussy eater! Instead, give your attention to the people around the table, whether it be dad, brother or sister, who are eating well and enjoying their food.
Avoid trying to force or coax your child into eating, even if you’re worried they’re not consuming enough food. It can establish a negative relationship with food, and can also be dangerous. Young children are actually excellent at knowing when they are hungry and when they are full. If we override these signals, they are likely to have less understanding of their appetite as they grow older. According to the research undertaken by Stokke, over two thirds of parents try to use distractions to get their children to eat something unconsciously. However, this simply teaches your children that food is bad or unimportant.
“Be careful you are not teaching your children bad habits at mealtimes,” says child nutritionist Charlotte Stirling Reed, who advises thousands or parents at Stokke weaning and child nutrition workshops nationwide, www.stokke.com April-June 2020 Toddle About Northamptonshire 15
Exploring in the
Great Outdoors!
It’s springtime, the sun is shining and you’re just about to leave the house when your toddler shouts, “I need a wee!” even though you’ve just tried everything imaginable to get them to go to the toilet before squeezing them into their waterproof overalls. As parents, we have good intentions to get our children outside in the fresh air to go on adventures, but sometimes leaving the house can be the tricky part. And once you’ve packed the entire contents of your kitchen and eventually left the house, your little one can still have wardrobe disasters!
enjoyment on their faces, like they’re secretly thinking, “Take that, you unorganised Mumma!” Either way, arriving at your destination is a huge win, even if your child is only interested in picking up the pebbles off the floor and seeing what they taste like, or being pushed on the same swing for more than half an hour.
But it’s always worth it. Being outside has so many benefits, not only for our children but for us too. Getting some fresh air and light exercise in a green, open space can be a great stress-reliever. It certainly beats staying inside and saying “Don’t do that!” for the hundredth time!
Activity Idea: Scavenger Hunts
Getting out of the house gives us a chance to breathe, and you’ll instantly see the joy on your child’s face. It’s a great place to let their imagination run wild! Didn’t you know that the stick you can see poking out of the ground is actually a magic wand that belongs to fairies? And the big tree in the park is home to a huge dragon! Little ones see things we don’t, and it’s inspiring to hear their stories. Letting them explore the outside is so beneficial, it not only allows them to use their senses by touching, smelling and feeling lots of textures, but also allows them to go wild and run free. Some of our best days have been spent outside, but not without a mishap or two. My daughter particularly likes getting extra muddy and dirty on the days when I’ve forgotten everything – especially wet wipes! And where should a toddler with dirty hands wish to clean them? My pink coat, of course. You can almost see the
When I was a child, my friend’s mum would often organise scavenger hunts, and we all loved the challenge. I’ve introduced them to my daughter too, and they’re a big hit – with the added benefit that they’re fun AND educational. You can search for and collect anything you want! A smooth pebble, a green leaf, a blossom, a feather, a brown twig, a yellow flower… it’s all treasure. My daughter and I have taken items home before and popped them in water, then frozen them. On a warm day in the garden, we then got them back out of the freezer and watched the ice melt. On one occasion, I gave my daughter a toy hammer and watched her smash away the ice. She found it fascinating and loved rediscovering her treasures. Being in the great outdoors is lots of fun for both parents and little ones, so get those wellies on and get outside!
Jenny Wykes is a blogger and mum of two and shares her toddler friendly adventures no matter how cold or how muddy. For more details on her parenting journey please visit www.theoutdoorsmum.com 16 April-June 2020 Toddle About
Working from home with kids - Coping with the pressure Written by Jonathan Ratcliffe from Offices.co.uk
Working from home is tough. Home schooling is very tough. So, if you must combine the two for a long period of time, how are you going to cope? You are going to have to plan well, get organised and work to a strict timetable if you want to get everything done. Equally, you’ll need to have a proper split between work, school, fun and rest. “The first thing you need to do is lower your expectations of what you are going to achieve, both with work and schooling. If you try to do too much the experience is going to be highly stressful”, Ratcliffe adds. • Simplify your day into a set routine • Don’t try and achieve too much • Pause and try and appreciate moments with your kids
HERE ARE 10 TIPS ON HOW TO SURVIVE:
Start Early At The Same Time Each Day: Routine is important for good sleep and mental health, for both you and your kids. School starts at a set time, so make sure you are ready and stick to the timetable.
Get Dressed Properly Like Teacher And Student: Getting showered and dressed is important to divide sleep and school. Create Spaces For Different Actvities: You might set up a teaching room (kitchen), quiet room (spare bedroom) and a play area (living room) Structure Your Day Like A School Day: Teaching time, activity time, play time and lunch time – just like their normal school routine Make A Plan With Your Kids: At the start of the day ask them what they want to do (within reason) so they feel involved Turn Off Your Phone: How are your kids meant to feel involved if you are checking emails? Set Aside Breaks For Tv, Ipad And Exercise: Use these times to schedule work emails or calls Take Exercise: Depending on where you live, if you have a garden or not – try and get some fresh air, this also allows you some headspace Finish At A Set Time, Bedtime At A Set Time: By getting a routine drilled in early on, you can try and get the kids to sleep at a sensible time, thereby giving yourself some space to work if you need to Don’t Be Tempted To Hit The Wine: If you can, evening time will be the only real time you can realistically work. If you drink your concentration will be poor, sleep poor and you’ll wake in a grumpy mood. Try and keep drinking to a minimum.
MINI FIRST AID
First Aid Course At Home Mini First Aid, the multi-award-winning brand delivering truly engaging first aid courses to parents and families, is thrilled to unveil the launch of its twohour online course. With the current global Coronavirus crisis, Kate Ball, mum of six and Founder of Mini First Aid wanted to offer parents an easy option to complete the two-hour first aid course from the safety of their own home. The invaluable course has been developed by Mini First Aid in partnership with an E-learning platform, who are First Aid Industry Body recommended. The course has been developed so it is interactive, it also confirms understanding and tests learning – making it truly engaging. Once complete parents feel confident in the knowledge they’ve just learned. Like the award-winning practical classes, the online course covers CPR, Choking, Bumps, Burns, Breaks, Bleeding, Febrile Seizures & Meningitis Awareness. The course takes two hours but can be paused or returned back to, which will be perfect if parents are distracted or called away by their little one.
Speaking about the launch of the new online course, Founder of Mini First Aid Kate Ball said: “During this unsettling period, we wanted to offer parents a practical solution so they can learn essential first aid, but in the safety of their own home. Although we would recommend a parent attending a practical course at a later date, it’s quickly become apparent that parents are unfortunately unable to attend our classes at the moment, so we wanted to offer them an option so they can feel assured.” She continued: “Calls to 111 are currently subject to delays in answering and with potentially more families now staying at home, knowing what to do in an emergency is more important than ever.” The course is £20. To sign up to the course, click here www.minifirstaid.co.uk April-June 2020 Toddle About Northamptonshire 17
WHY SHOULD WE LEARN LANGUAGES?
Learning a language will enhance your life! It’s a bold statement, but one which should be made to all children. It’s a well-accepted fact that learning a new language has huge benefits – even at just two or three years old. Indeed, language lessons are now appearing as part of normal provision in nurseries and Early Years settings. But why should we learn languages? By Northampton High School BETTER FUTURE PROSPECTS
BETTER OVERALL EDUCATION
In many countries it is quite normal for most citizens to use two or three languages. In fact, 52.7% of Europeans are fluent in at least two languages. These multi lingual residents are well placed to move between countries, taking full advantage of a greater amount of job and living opportunities. Knowing additional languages will open up employment opportunities for our children in the future; 94% of employers think that foreign language skills are important in today’s world. If your son or daughter wishes to be an entrepreneur and business owner, as a linguist they would already be in a perfect position to drive their ideas forward to a larger client base. Learning a new language in little steps early on could lead to big financial advances years later.
Learning a language can positively impact your child’s education as a whole. Research has shown that language learners achieve significantly higher maths and verbal SAT scores - their grammar skills improve, as well as their analytic and interpretive capabilities. As the famous writer Goethe once penned, “Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own”. The impact on overall learning will continue to be seen in a child’s problem-solving skills, memory, selfdiscipline and self-esteem. Because progress in languages can clearly be observed, children can quickly take pride in their new abilities. Universities also value the learning of languages; many fields such as science, law and journalism expect a reading knowledge of foreign languages in order for scholars to conduct research.
CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING Socially, learning other languages is a wonderful way for your child to encounter people from other cultures and understand different customs and lifestyles. There are a huge number of experiences waiting for children to explore as they grow and learn in a new language. As a family you can stray from the typical tourist path on holiday and meet local people to enjoy seeing and doing things others cannot, developing your language at the same time.
Above all else, studying a new language, reading other people’s stories and connecting with people in their own language can be a source of great pleasure and surprise. Learning languages will help children to expand their personal horizons. Federico Fellini, one of the most influential filmmakers of all time, summarised this perfectly when he said “A different language is a different vision of life”.
At Northampton High School pupils start their foreign language learning with French in the Nursery. Mandarin and Spanish clubs are also provided in Junior School. In Year 7 the language provision expands to include German, Spanish and Latin. Senior school experiences include a pupil exchange to Amberg, Germany, practising Italian phrases in Rome and being a school ambassador in Budapest, to name a few. April-June 2020 Toddle About Northamptonshire 19
VIP CLUB READER REVIEW: Hape Cupcakes, worth £19.50 Written by Charlotte Dawes
What a sweet treat! When my son opened this on his 3rd birthday, he was immediately enamoured by the vibrant colours and creative potential that these cupcakes provide. There was no tuition required to show him how to connect the pieces and he instantly set to work creating his favourite sweet treat – chocolate and strawberry cake! Since then, he has played with them every day and we have had endless fun re-enacting “Happy Birthday” using the candle piece atop a different cake combination each time. These cupcakes have given my son the chance to be creative with flavour combinations, all the while using his growing vocabulary to describe to me what he has made. Each piece of the toy has been beautifully shaped to fit together, snug enough so that the cakes do not fall apart and yet not too tightly that a toddler’s little hands cannot
easily manoeuvre the parts – so it helps to develop fine motor skills, without causing any frustration from being too difficult to enjoy. The only weakness would be the candle piece, which is not stable enough to stay in place whenever my son carried the cupcakes around the room. I would pitch this toy for children aged 2 and upwards, in terms of the motor skills required to play with it. However, my 9 month old daughter has also enjoyed the feel of each cake piece in her mouth, especially the flexible silicone icing topping. Overall, it’s a brilliant toy, sensibly priced, and one that will bring enjoyment for both younger and older children, and even the adults! I would highly recommend it as a way to encourage role play, creativity and increasing any toddler’s vocabulary. Purchase from: www.amazon.co.uk
Charlotte was given this Hape Cupcakes as a freebie for writing the review. Subscribe to Toddle About and go VIP and you can do the same! Subscribe at www.toddle.fun/vip
Five tips on play indoors CLAIRE RUSSELL, EARLY YEARS SPECIALIST & FOUNDER OF PLAYHOORAY Create a theme for your activities - playing around a theme can be really effective for young children and can bring all your activities together. Themes such as foods, shapes, colours and space not only help children to get excited, but can also you to think outside of the box. Take inspiration from anywhere - it’s amazing what can inspire small minds, from walking past a muddy puddle to spotting a ladybird in the kitchen, use everyday items or situations to inspire your play and go with what they are interested in. Extended activities - if you are investing your time (and energy!) to set up an activity, then use it wisely, like pretend role play. Once they are set up, they are often those that children return to over period of time. For example, a shop, where children can develop lots of different lines of play, will often be played with over a couple of weeks so set it up and leave it out. If it’s not being played with, just tweak it slightly - change it from a food shop to a pet shop with soft toys! 20 April-June 2020 Toddle About
Always have in the back of your mind ‘Okay, after this what’s next?’. Have a little plan of activities you can do something quick, simple, easy to grab and set up. And as always if you’re stuck, grab a book! It can save you and your little ones getting stressed when there is little to do. Think novelty - kids love novelty, something new can be super exciting, so let them play somewhere they’ve never played before. Under the dining table, behind the sofa, in the hallway, in the sink, in an empty bath, in your bed, anywhere! Let them take their usual toys and all of a sudden they will think it’s amazing! And the same goes for their toys. Bring outdoor toys inside, take indoor toys out. Add plastic toys to bath time. Move toys from downstairs upstairs, and visa versa. Trust me, it can add a lease of life to old or ignored toys! Visit www.playhooray.co.uk for printable playPROMTS
FUN & LEARNING WITH Everyone is looking for a little help right now, especially when it comes to keeping the kids entertained and educated while they’re stuck at home, and HarperCollins Children’s Books has some great ideas and resources for parents to use, all completely free. Head to www.harpercollinschildrensbooks.co.uk/ fun-and-learning and you’ll find a range of fun activity sheets from drawing and colouring to spot the difference and other puzzles, all based on their brilliant children’s books, including many favourite characters like Bing and Mog, as well as awardwinning authors and illustrators like Rob Biddulph and Nick Butterworth. Have a browse – you’re sure to find something to help keep your little ones occupied… There are so many amazing authors and illustrators sharing their stories and their skills online with children at home too. Here are just a couple to add to your home-schooling timetable if you haven’t already seen them. • Rob Biddulph (the official illustrator of World Book Day, no less!) is hosting a live draw-along every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am where he shows you how to draw one of his picture book characters. You can find it on Instagram or twitter with the hashtag #DrawWithRob and all the videos are hosted on his website too so you can go back and give them all a try www.robbiddulph.com • Award-winning picture book creator Oliver Jeffers is hosting a storytime every weekday at 6pm where he reads one of his picture books and talks a little about making it too, with the hashtag #stayathomestorytime. You can find it on Instagram Live or visit his website to see all the stories shared so far www.oliverjeffers.com/books#/abookaday
If you’re looking for more inspiration why not try a new picture book to share and discuss? You can read together and then ask children to retell the story or draw a character for themselves. • Mini Rabbit Must Help by John Bond is a gorgeously illustrated story about a determined little rabbit on a mission to post an important letter, full of warmth and humour perfect for spring-time with its bunny hero and beautiful pictures. Mini Rabbit is sure to become a new favourite. • Tad is a lovely story about the littlest tadpole in the pond, growing up and finding her legs… it’s just perfect for thinking about life cycles and is written and illustrated by Benji Davies, the creator of The Storm Whale and Grandad’s Island. • Or if you’re after something quirkier try The Rescue of Bunny Wunny by Emma Chichester Clark, the creator of the Blue Kangaroo series. This wickedly funny cautionary tale was described by The Sunday Times as ‘a funny, spiky and original story’ and follows a very high-spirited little girl and her long-suffering toy rabbit.
Head to www.harpercollinschildrensbooks.co.uk/fun-and-learning April-June 2020 Toddle About Northamptonshire 21
WE ARE IN THIS
together Written by Jo Wilson, Founder of Swim Works
Does it feel like your world has turned upside down? You are probably feeling a range of emotions ..… me too! Some days you may feel sad, scared, overwhelmed and other days happy to have some precious time at home with your family, to be able to put your world on hold, to reset and take stock. One thing is for sure we are all on a rollacosta of change and these are unprecendented times. If only we a crystal ball and we knew what the end date would be to this uncertaintly, but sadly we don’t. There is no rule book, but one thing we do have is … we are all in this together. As I am writing this, the sun is shining and the world feels still. A wave of sadness then washes over me, and the urge to call out to Toddle About parents. I know you all will be going through so much during the Coronavirus crisis. You too will have your own family, work and life battles to be fought, I am thinking of you all. I feel there are no winners, we are really in this together, we just have each other. Can you imagine life post this virus without your local clubs and/or class? Whether it be, swimming, baby massage, yoga, music, dance, signing, sensory play to name but a few. Local businesses provide so much fun, early learning, play and community spirit. Your local club and classes would have put their life and sole into running their business and will be missing the fun times, the connection and your children’s smiles.
So, parents! I am calling upon you, to let you know... you can do so much to support your local club and class at these challenging times. • Check in: They would love to hear from you and a little “thinking of you” will go a long way. • Write a nice review on their Facebook page. We might not have much in the world right now, but small things matter, and one thing is for sure, kind words are free! • Keep paying if you can. We are all facing extreme financial pressure and your local class may be asking for support like not stopping direct debits, or freezing payments rather than refunding. It is a sad fact for many clubs and classes that without your financial help during this pandemic, they may not have the funds to re-open when it’s over. The world will be a sadder place with less of our favourite local clubs and classes running. If one thing is for sure, early years parents are a strong community when they come together. What do we have, if we don’t have hope? I am writing this in a place of reflection. I too, am facing the toughest time of my life. I have just had to close my two pools - Swim Works is not only my dream business, it is my world! When investing everything into a business with premises and staff, the higher you rise, the stronger you have to be. So, I would also like to reach out to other business owners: Our businesses need us, so it is important to start with ourselves. We are our businesses biggest asset. We must look after ourselves! Use this time to rest, pause and reflect. To write new programmes, to plan and to prepare. To keep in touch with your class parents and children. Our changing word needs us to all be strong - we will get through this. Something good is around the corner for us all... Stay safe, stay positive, and my best wishes are with us all. For further info visit: www.swimworks.co.uk
22 April-June 2020 Toddle About
Win a Family Break at COMPETITION
Darwin Escapes
Win a 5* family self-catering holiday for up to 6 people with Darwin Escapes! You can have a family staycation to remember if you win this prize to holiday with Darwin Escapes. Choose to escape to the seaside or head for an adventure in the country - wherever you venture, their sumptuous self-catering accommodation means you’ll have the perfect UK family holiday. You can choose to spend your holiday in one of Darwin Escapes’ 19 resorts in some of the UK’s favourite holiday destinations such as Devon, Cornwall and North Wales.
HOW TO ENTER Enter via Facebook at www.toddle.club/darwin - simply comment on the post to enter. Competition ends midnight Sun 14 June 2020.
Enter at www.toddle.fun/darwin
THE PRIZE The winner will receive a family break (off-peak, 4 night mid-week stay Monday – Friday) staying in a standard accommodation for 6 people at one of Darwin Escapes’ 19 holiday resorts (subject to availability).
For more information about Darwin Escapes visit www.darwinescapes.co.uk
T&C’s apply - all online at www.toddle.fun/darwin
Cheeky ChimpS INflatables TORUSSELL, BOUNCE BACK THE FUTURE! CLAIRE EARLY YEARSIN SPECIALIST & FOUNDER OF If PLAYHOORAY you haven’t heard of us before, please allow us to introduce ourselves. We are Cheeky Chimps Inflatable Hire and we hire our bouncy castles for events, birthdays, parties, fayres, fetes and any other celebration you care to mention. We operate across Oxfordshire, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire and Warwickshire and would be more than happy to discuss how we can help at your next event. We offer free, friendly advice on bouncy castle hire whether you choose to hire from us or not. We hold Public Liability insurance and all of our castles are PIPA safety checked. As a family run outfit, we like to think we are a responsible business. We have therefore taken the tough decision to stop all hires in the current climate until such time as it is safe to do so again, whenever that may be! We appreciate that many parents (just like us) are now faced with the battle of trying to keep children entertained and that a bouncy castle would be an attractive option.
However, even though we try our very best to keep our bouncy castles clean and disinfected between hires, we could not 100% guarantee they would be Corona virus free. At a time that we are all being asked to socially isolate ourselves to help prevent spreading of the virus, moving bouncy castles around between venues doesn’t seem the right thing to do! However, when all of this blows over, the country is due a well deserved party, and we hope that you will consider us when that time comes. Please visit our Facebook page and give us a like and follow for the latest updates to when we will start operating again. Call Mark on 07771 956818 Email cheekychimpsinflatables@gmail.com www.facebook.com/cheekychimpsinflatables
April-June 2020 Toddle About Northamptonshire 23
HAPPY BIRTHDA!Y TO YOU
Birthday SHOUTOUT
BIRTHDAY COMPETITION WINNER
Happy Birthday to all the lovely littlies below who will be turning a year older this issue! All were entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Gift Card for The Entertainer Toy Shop and we’re thrilled to announce that Layla Yu, turning 1 years old, is our winner. www.thetoyshop.com Want to see your child here in our next issue? If their birthday is from July - Sept, send us their photo at www.toddle.fun/birthday
Winner
Layla Yu, turning 1
years old
Alaina Stratford, turning 1 years old
Alessio Pignoli, turning 4 years old
Amara Gomez , turning 4 years old
Arabella May Wade, turning 4 years old
Archie Langley, turning 1 years old
Aurora, turning 2 years old
Ayla Jeyes, turning 2 years old
Bella Turner, turning 3 years old
Betsy Sedman, turning 4 years old
Chloe Perry, turning 3 years old
Christian Nguyen, turning 1 years old
Daisy-Mai Sarvanah Smooth, turning 1 years old
Diel Wright-Levy, turning 5 years old
Freddie McGill, turning 1 years old
Florence and Fernella, turning 4 years old
Grayson Turner, turning 1 years old
Jackson Hill, turning 1 years old
Levison Norris, turning 3 years old
Lily Finn, turning 4 years old
Lola Manley, turning 2 years old
24 April-June 2020 Toddle About
Jan-Mar 2020 Toddle About Northamptonshire 24
Birthday Shoutout Entries continued...
Lucas Turner, turning 4 years old
Malachi Rae-Willow, turning 5 years old
Max Gallo, turning 1 years old
Max Villiers, turning 5 years old
Noah Clark, turning 3 years old
Olly & Jess, turning 3 years old
Jackson Hill, turning 1 years old
Riley Smith, turning 3 years old
Rory Holman, turning 1 years old
Sofia and Natalia, turning 4 years old
Sophie Cousins, turning 2 years old
Teddy Newcombe, turning 2 years old
Theo James Ridgard, turning 1 years old
Thomas O'Brya, turning 2 years old
Tommie Henson, turning 4 years old
COMPETITION
Birthday SHOUTOUT
WIN A £75 PARTY BUNDLE FROM PARTY PIECES! Enter your name into our BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT competition to win a £75 Party Bundle from Party Pieces to help you celebrate your little one’s big day. HOW TO ENTER: If your child’s birthday falls in July, August or September, simply send us a picture of them with the date of their birthday, and we will pop as many entries as possible in the next magazine to wish them a happy birthday! We will put every birthday boy or girl’s name in a hat and one child will win a £75 party bundle courtesy of Party Pieces. Submit your photo by Sunday 7th June.
www.toddle.fun/partypieces
Create the bundle you want, to give your little one a magical party. Choose your party theme and pick the items you’d like from Party Pieces selection of the very best party accessories; from plates and napkins to balloons and party bag gifts. For all your birthday party needs visit www.partypieces.co.uk
T&C’s apply - all online at www.toddleabout.co.uk/birthday/. The winners will be decided by Toddle About. We will print as many entries as possible in our next issue.
2 January - March 2019 Toddle About
THE PRIZE: We will be giving away a party bundle from Party Pieces worth £75.
Carole Middleton, Founder, Party Pieces The
icon tells you which advertisers haveAbout a voucher in the centre pages April-June 2020 Toddle Northamptonshire 25
26 April-June 2020 Toddle About
PREPARING FOR RECEPTION :
A Foundation for the Future
If your little one is starting school later this year, then you’ll know how exciting – and daunting – this change can be. By Nicola Kenny, Foundation Stage Phase Leader, Akeley Wood Junior School and Nursery If you’re feeling anxious, it’s helpful to remember that most children settle quickly and easily into their new surroundings. Throughout their lives our children will go through many phases of transition and with a little help, preparation and encouragement, they are able to cope and indeed flourish during these times. Here are a few things you can do to help in the weeks and months ahead: FIRSTLY, DON’T WORRY
Children commence school with a wide range of experiences and abilities. Some have already been in a nursery environment, others to playgroups, and some have had very little experience outside of the home environment. Teachers are there to help everyone progress at their own level. SHARE EXPERIENCES
Your child doesn’t need to be able to read, write or count before they start school. However, it is helpful if you have shared experiences of reading stories together to build a love of books and engaged them with activities to become familiar with mark making, such as painting, and handling large crayons and chalks. BUILD THEIR CURIOSITY
Many activities such as singing, playing games, talking about nature and having fun with numbers will begin to build your child’s enthusiasm for learning and a curiosity to want to investigate the world for themselves.
LITTLE JOBS FOR LITTLE HANDS
Help your child build the skills to become an independent thinker and learner. Little things like putting on their own shoes and coat, hanging up their bag, washing their hands or helping you to tidy away can prepare them for listening and following instructions, and encourage them to become independent. The school will provide you with information about starting Reception and some will also share a childfriendly version. It is important to discuss these with your child, looking at the pictures and talking about the positive things they are looking forward to seeing and doing upon arrival at school. If possible, visit the school with your child before they start. The school will have open days and other informal events, as well as a specific day for the children to experience their transition with their new class. Sharing your child’s interests and strengths with the teachers will enable them to provide opportunities to enthuse individual children. The most important thing is to promote a relaxed and positive attitude to their new beginning. It is often us as parents that worry, but children are naturally sociable, quick to make friends and love starting school. They are ready for the next stage in their learning and will blossom as they grow during their first year at school. The progress that follows is amazing and you will look back and wonder why you ever worried in the first place.
The Reception Team at Akeley Wood Junior School specialise in every child’s successful transition into school life. Reception is packed full of exploration and discovery. For more information about the School and Nursery, the idyllic location and leading Forest School provision, please contact Admissions on 01908 555803 or admissions@akeleywoodschool.co.uk April-June 2020 Toddle About Northamptonshire 27
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MR TUMBLE WOODEN STACKING TRAIN
HEY DUGEE WOODEN PUZZLE CLOCK
Introduces fine motor skills, colour and shape recognition, matching and sorting skills, worth over £12.99
CHILDS FARM FIG RANGE Their much-loved organic fig range now also boasts an indulgent body wash and the bubbliest bubble bath, worth £4
Teaching children how to tell the time. The clock come with 12 pieces to allow children to count, sort and place, worth £12
MR TUMBLE WOODEN SHAPE SORTER Place the right shapes throughout the sorting bus. Encourages co-ordination and confidence, worth £19.99
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