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Summer 2011 Issue 9
£2
d.html y a l o l n n ple o co.uk/dow
m a ilies. s m a f r e e Onlinre: www.fost
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versio l l u f e h
Fostering at 75 300+ children and still fostering
Pushchair Trader How many pushchairs have you owned?
Going to panel
Love and fostering?
The next stage to becoming a foster carer
Top tips on dating as a single foster carer
“Totally absorbing stories and loads of ideas to get you thinking,” Debra Gibbs, www.fosteringsupport.co.uk
Photos, clockwise from top left: www.flickr.com/photos/hawee, c/o The Communication Trust, JaeYong BAE, Elena Olivio NYU Photo Bureau, Lucy Graham, Abi Thorne
Contents Summer 2011 foster families 2
Contents Summer 2011
Edition 9
All this inside our full version: 19
advice . . .
become a foster carer series: panel ask our psychologist: soiling find out if they are being bullied tantrums: find out how you can calm them
personal . . .
reviews ...
paper jamz guitars ... 16 burt’s bees lotions ... 16 read about Autism ... 34
our top tips ...
stress free holiday ... 8 holiday travel tips ... 9 signs of bullying ... 12 how to balance fostering and dating ... 13 top tips for boosting self esteem in kids ... 26 developing communication skills... 28 daytime wetting ... 32 combat fussy eating ... 32 tips for autism ... 34 your letters ... 38
competitions ...
family day out and dating membership ...14 ‘ingenious’ games ...18 horrible histories dvds..37 waybuloo dvds ...37 maxi-cosi noa buggy ...39
24
find out how other carers got on at panel supergran doreen still fostering at 75 dating and foster care: emma’s story dating and foster care: alastair’s story tantrums: your stories foster mum at 19, in a land far from home sharing mum and dad - a birth child’s view
holidays . . .
make it a stress-free holiday for all holiday travel with tots and older kids
relationships . . .
foster carers and dating supporting one another in your role
support . . .
the power of play therapy getting you through an allegation
education . . .
supporting care leavers through university
... 4 ... 10 ... 11 ... 20
... 5 ... 6 ... 14 ... 15 ... 21 ... 24 ... 25
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... 8 ... 9
... 13 ... 19
... 17 ...28
22
... 22
discussion point . . .
cathy glass talks about the contact system ... 23
home . . .
how many pushchairs have you owned?
food and health . . .
tiny new inhaler to help asthmatics find out about daytime wetting aldo zilli combats fussy eating autism: changing your routine eggs: the whipping method chris’s cookery cards
fun stuff . . . over photo: Kei Noguchi
27
kids’ corner crossword
... 30
... 12 ... 31 ... 32 ... 34 ... 35 ... 36
... 37 ... 39
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36
Welcome Summer 2011 foster families 3
Welcome from the editor...
7
Foster Families Online
Dear Reader,
What can you find?
This is the online sample - please download the full magazine for £1 or subcribe to the full printed copy for £2 delivered direct to your door. Take a look at our tips for a stressfree holiday, as well as tips for making travel fun. If there’s toilet trouble in your house check out our advice on soiling and daytime wetting. Find out how other people got on in front of the fostering panel, and don’t miss the story of a 75 year old who is still fostering. Ceressa Bateman, Editor
Visit www.fosterfamilies.co.uk for the latest news and updates from Foster Families Magazine. The website has a shop, a swap shop and a competitions page, plus lots more. You can order the magazine in different currencies depending on where you live, or you can download the magazine to your computer for £1. For more updates you can follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Foster_Families or become a fan on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Foster-FamiliesMagazine/144256428433
It’s time to face the panel Thinking of fostering? Garry Williams explains the 2 t
r
Pa
application process and going to panel
Part 1 of our How to Become a Foster Carer series (issue 8) looked at making the decision up to the initial visit from a social worker. Find out what happens next
N
aturally, many potential foster carers may be worried about what is involved, but the process shouldn’t be daunting. Finding out about fostering couldn’t be easier: Application form To help you through the application process, training sessions are available at regular intervals. At the Together Trust for instance, you join us for three days or six evening sessions where you are fully supported by an experienced team of social workers who facilitate the training. Following the sessions, there are certain statutory checks required to carry on with the process, such as police checks and medicals. With your permission, the agency will also ask for personal references and will contact your referees to ask
more about your background and qualifications. Along with the application form, the agency will help you to compile a portfolio of written material giving examples of relevant experience and skills. The fostering panel Keeping paper work to a minimum, the assessment will then be sent to a fostering panel which actively encourages applicants to attend. The panel will make a recommendation based on the information within the assessment and references received. The recommendation is then sent to the Agency Decision Maker who makes the
decision as to whether you can become an approved foster carer. If unfortunately you are not approved, an appeal can be made to the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM). If approved, you will receive a letter informing you of your success and you will be allocated a supervising social worker who will visit and discuss the next steps.
By Garry Williams, Together Trust. For more information about Together Trust please call 0161 283 4848 or visit www.togethertrust.org.uk.
Download the full version here http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html to read Katie and Kerry’s stories of going to face the fostering panel. Find us on Facebook and
Personal Summer 2011 foster families 4
They don’t call her Supergran for nothing!
Andrew Roberts tells the story of how Don and Doreen took him in... along with 300 others!
I
t was late summer of 1964. Don and Doreen Roberts, had just sat down to watch the news on the television. Don, a self-employed master plasterer, had just come home from a hard day’s work on a building site somewhere in Somerset. Doreen had just given their four young children their tea. As they watched the local news, in their three-bedded council house, they saw a feature on the wonders and joys of fostering here in Somerset, and that there was a shortage of foster parents. Don’s eyes lit up. He turned to Doreen and said: “Hey, we could do that!” That is all it took, five little words to start a life long commitment and devotion to fostering. They spent the night talking about fostering, and the very next morning Doreen rang her local Social Services, and within six months they had their first foster baby and a brand new and very much bigger home too. I was their second foster child. Way back in June of 1965, I was three months old, unwanted, born with an extremely rare eye condition (Bilateral Ocular Myopathy with
Ptosis) and in need of a loving home. In those days only ‘perfect’ babies were offered up for adoption by Local Authorities, and I was destined for an uncertain childhood in a children’s home. Social Workers warned that I might find it difficult to cope with lots of trips back and forward to the hospital. But they took me in, and from the moment they held me in their arms they both promised that I would never leave them, and named me Andrew. That is how I ended up in this fantastic and very happy home, which I stayed in until I was over 24 years old. Like me, most kids were in care because their own mothers were just unmarried-mothers. Such shame and what a scandal! So much so that both sets of my own blood grandparents conspired
“Kids were in care because mums were unmarried”
Doreen with husband Don
Clockwise from top: Doreen at the 2004 Children’s Champion Awards with Barbara Windsor, Simon Cowell, Duncan James, and Ulrika Jonsson; Doreen collecting her Award from Cherie and Tony Blair; and Doreen holding her MBE, with Andrew (middle) and sons Grahame (left) and Paul (far right)
together, and had it totally hushed up. My mother was sent away in disgrace to have her illegitimate baby in a Mother and Baby Unit, and to have the child put up for adoption on the other side of the county. My parents had no input or say in the matter, and my mother’s parents even found it necessary to move home. It was a different era back then, and attitudes differed from today’s world. Over many happy years I saw hundreds of children pass through...
To read the rest of this article please download from http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html
Relationships Summer 2011 foster families 5
The dating game
Andy Hammonds gives his top tips on successful dating as a single foster carer
B
eing a foster carer can be difficult at the best of times and most would agree they struggle to find the time to fit everything into their day, so for single foster carers with little free time dating can seem like a scary, if not impossible, task. Andy Hammonds, spokesperson for MumsDateDads.co.uk, the UK’s favourite dating site for single parents, agrees finding love when you have children can be tricky. He says: “For a responsible parent it’s understandably difficult to take time out to focus on yourself and dating can be full of uncertainties. “Introducing new people into your family can be daunting and parents often feel unsure about whether they should be dating and the effect it could have on their children. “But dating is definitely ok, you just need to remember two simple tips, communication and patience, that will help you to find that special someone whilst ensuring your family’s happiness.”
you want to have a relationship with. ...with your children - Be honest but don’t feel you need to tell your children everything. Tell them you are going out with a friend and try not to share any more until you are sure about where the relationship is going. - Make sure they know they will always be your top priority. - When you introduce the children in your care to someone you are dating, listen to what they have to say. If your children have real concerns or feel uncomfortable with your new partner you need to listen. Talk to your new partner about the problem, see how they interact with your children and really think about the situation.
“Communication and patience are key to dating”
Communicate...
...with your dates - Let dates know from the offset that your foster children are your top priority. If this is a problem for your date they are probably not someone
About MumsDateDads
MumsDateDads is the UKs favourite dating site for parents. Its members are single parents or are happy to date someone with children. MumsDateDads offers free registration, astrological & compatibility matching. Users can send winks and virtual gifts, create and view video profiles, and upload photos via their mobile. There is instant messaging & video chat, plus new member notifications. Sign up for free at www.mumsdatedads.co.uk.
Be patient
- Take your time getting to know a new partner before introducing them to the children you care for. If you allow your children to bond with someone early on, only to break up later it can be very upsetting for the children and they may come to resent you dating anyone at all. Check with your fostering agency what their policy is with telling children you are dating. - When you are ready to introduce a new partner to the children take small steps. At the start try short, casual dates before you begin to include them in family activities.
Foster carers and dating
Annette Webb, Simply Fostering, says: “When it comes to new partners, there is a legal requirement to carry out checks, including the enhanced CRB on every adult who is part of the fostering household. This includes regular visitors, who might not even stay overnight at the house.
“Once an adult Want to know more? stays Jonquil says: “Each carer more should have a copy of their than one own agency’s policies and or two procedures which would nights give them guidance, and and is they should also have a looking to supervising social worker, who stay more would do the same.” often in the future, most agencies will require the individual to be checked. “Foster carers must inform their agency of any overnight stay of an adult or child prior to them staying, as the family dynamics change and there are safe caring issues to be considered regarding sleeping arrangements and routines.” Jonquil Mitchell, Cabrini Children’s Society, adds: “If the relationship develops and the new couple want to live together and continue fostering, they must both be assessed as foster carers. It is not possible to have only one half of an adult couple in the household being the approved carer and the other one not. “The new couple are offered training and the time and space to reflect on their relationship and how they operate as a caring couple.” But be warned: the assessment process is thorough and intrudes into all aspects of the couples’ life. In all cases the welfare of the children is paramount, and the carer has a duty to notify the agency*.
* According to The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011 regulation 27(5)(b)
Download the full version to read Emma and Alastair’s stories of finding love while fostering http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html.
Relationships Summer 2011 foster families 6
W
in
Win a family day out and free membership
A
nimal Fayre is a one-of-akind wildlife event taking place in July and August this year. Visitors will be able to handle a selection of over 50 exotic and stunning creatures, in the centre of London. For more info visit: http://www. animalfayre.org. If you’re tired of being single and want to find that someone special, MumsDateDads. co.uk is the perfect solution
to help you meet and date other single parents. For your chance to win six months free membership to MumsDateDads and a family day out to Animal Fayre worth £250, simply answer this question (hint: read article on p13): What are the two things to remember when dating? a) Communication and patience b) Numbers and figures c) Music and lyrics All entries must be in by July 10th 2011. The first correct entry drawn on that date will win.
Taking it easy
Lorna Miles gives her top ten tips on making it a stress-free holiday for everyone involved
Photo: Jae Yong BAE
A
s the school summer break rapidly approaches many of us are looking forward to our annual holiday; a more relaxed routine, the promise of sunshine or the chance to experience a different culture. But for many foster families, taking a holiday can be far more stressful than being at home. Some children in care find that the loss of a predictable structure routine together with an unfamiliar environment can send them into panic mode. For others their core belief, ‘I am bad’, is so strong that they believe they don’t deserve the good things in life, so they escalate their behaviour to ensure that they, and often everyone else involved, have anything but a good time! If you are planning a holiday this year and are already detecting signs of anxiety in your child or just want to try and avoid the disaster you had last year, here are some tips which may help: Think about the timing of the trip. If the child is unsettled by contact with their biological family,
1
More about Lorna
Lorna Miles is an adoptive parent and has been a foster carer on and off for 25 years. In addition she has worked with children in care in a variety of settings and is also involved in foster carer training. Since the publication of ‘Holding on and Hanging in’ by BAAF in 2010, she has also been running workshops on attachment for other professionals working with children. Find out more at www.lornamiles.co.uk. see if it can be arranged to take place after your trip so that you are not overloading them with stressful situations. Acknowledge that holidays can be stressful for them, ‘I know it will be hard for you to be out of your usual routine...’ Continue to check on their emotions while you’re away. If they find it hard to express this verbalise what you think they might be feeling. Try and involve the child in the planning process
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as much as possible - feeling in control helps create a sense of stability. Get some books about your destination or check out ...
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3
To read the rest of this article please download from http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html
Communication’s what you need Wendy Lee, Communication Trust expert, explains how you can help the young person in your care to develop conversation skills
A
s a foster carer, you play a crucial role in supporting and developing the speech, language and communication skills of the children and young people in your care. With younger children, this is more obvious, but supporting communication skills is important throughout childhood and beyond. Using language at school Children develop their language skills in primary schools, becoming more sophisticated in how they talk to a range of people and how they develop their language to learn and make friends. Teenagers continue to develop their language and communication skills throughout secondary school: learning new Top Tips vocabulary to help do well in class; using talk to help work out problems; and learning how teenagers talk and
ation as a l
his can apply people in
Find out more at www.thecommunicationtrust.org.uk age of five and a half have the best chances of going on to do well in
listen to each other. For some young people knowing how to join in conversations with a group, answering questions in class, or knowing the latest phrases can be challenging. There is also a direct link between having good spoken language and good written language, with one influencing the other in older children. Making friends Communication is a skill like any other and will get better with practice. Young people benefit greatly from support with their communication and there is much you can do as a foster carer to nurture it and to identify if they are struggling. Looked after young people A child’s early environment and experiences are fundamental to their development. Difficulties here can negatively impact their emotional and educational progress as they grow into adults. Neglect can cause a child to have a smaller brain,
which can affect all areas of a child’s development including language and their ability to interact with others. Young people in care are at greater risk of behavioural, social and emotional difficulties (BESD) and are more likely to have experienced insecure attachments. There is a real correlation between these difficulties and having a speech, language and communication need. 60%–90% of children with BESD have communication difficulties and this can impact on their ability to make friends, their self esteem and future job prospects. The government has also identified looked after children as a group who are the greatest risk of social exclusion. Knowing the importance of language development and its impact on all areas of development for these children and young people is key, so that they can be supported to develop these skills and receive help if needed. Read on for our top tips on supporting them.
“A direct link from spoken to written language”
Download the full version for Wendy’s top five tips to support young people’s speech, lanugage and communciation: http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html.
At
Brighter Futures C for Children
we adopt the CHILDTM intervention model Our aim is to create a therapeutic team around the child and by so doing empower and enable those people to understand and continue to meet the needs of the child long after our work has ceased
Our intervention model is based on working in partnership with those who have significant roles to play in the child’s life
ardiff City Manager Dave Jones supports Simply Fostering in their efforts to recruit foster carers nationwide for the benefit of Local Authorities and Independent Fostering Agencies, who are able to choice and better matched placements in the care system.
provide for children
We have a track record of improving the stability of placements and enabling children to grow and achieve
Can we help your child? www.brighterfutures4.co.uk Tel: 01630 639617
•• • ••• •• •• •• ••• ••
For more information, please visit www.simplyfostering.co.uk or contact Annette at info@simplyfostering.co.uk.
• •• •• •• ••• •• ••Missing ••• •• •• •• ••• •• • • • • out on the Check these out - our top benefits? choices this summer Competition winners
We specialise in looking after Foster Carer’s taxation
Visit us at www.fostertax.co.uk, or speak to us on 01207 524 909 to find out how we can help you
Narnia, Voyage of the Dawn Treader DVD: Sarah from Bristol and Chantelle from Selly Oak Gatwick Bear book: Joy from Birmingham Katie and Kimble book set: Chantal from Isle of Wight Mummy Told Me Not to Tell by Cathy Glass: Lou A, Lesley R, Julie R, Katie M, Sarah B, Joy B, Lesley W, Sharon I, Sarah C and Emma H.
Paper Jamz guitars National Insurance Credits: Hayley Six Payne rocking new guitars with explains theawesome benefits available new songs. These paper-thin guitars look to foster carers the part and kids from 8 years+ can learn chords on them, without paying out for a real guitar. At just £24.99 RRP we think these will keep kids happy for hours on end. Choose yours here: converted into a maximum of 22 earnings exemption*, these creditshttp://www.wowwee.com/en/products/toys/ qualifying years. can help maintain your NI record. entertainment/paper-jamz/guitars/guitars-series-2 These qualifying years will also count This then protects your entitlement Burt’s Bees Scientifically Proven 24 towards bereavement benefits. to the basic State Pension and Hour Moisture Body Lotions To apply for NI credits you can Bereavement Benefit. lotion feels - it is lovely and download formwonderful CF411A from However, the credits do not count for This thick, meaning a little bit goes a long way www.hmrc.gov.uk or ring HMRC Maternity Allowance or Employment and you don’t need to re-apply too often. We on 0845 302 1479. You and Support recommend it for keeping your skin will need to send a letter soft and Allowance: you fresh this summer. with the £9.99 completed form, from would need to www.burtsbees.co.uk. Look from the local authority or pay Class 2 NI** out for others in the range fostering agency that you’re to be entitled to too, such asregistered the Radiance these benefits. with to confirm Day Creme (right). You’ll automatically receive the NI you are a registered foster carer. credits if you receive Child Benefit The credits are done on a weekly
We charge a fixed fee, agreed in advance
Are you benefitting from National Insurance Credits?
N
“Protect your pension with NI credit”
Photo: Virginia Aleksiev
ational Insurance Credits appear to be a benefit that a lot of foster carers are not aware of... perhaps because it has no immediate financial impact. This was formerly known as Home Responsibilities Protection scheme (HRPS), which foster carers have been able to apply for since 2003. HRPS was replaced by Credits for Carers on 6 April 2010.
Communication
The power of play Play Therapist, Judith A James, shares how play therapy can bridge worlds and create change
I
t was Wednesday and 10 year old Kevin* was attending his weekly play therapy session. Kevin was driving a car along the road he had just created in the sand tray - an unending journey along a circular road. His sand tray world contained no buildings, no animals or trees and no people. The car travelled alone and without ever seeming to reach its destination. The symbolism was all the more striking when one considered the extensive abuse he had suffered from the time he was a baby, the many moves he had experienced between foster families and birth family all unable to manage his extreme behaviour. Reaching out to him in therapy was
all the more challenging when being physically close caused him acute anxiety. Asking Kevin to explain how he felt or why he behaved the way he did was met with a shrug of the shoulders. Trying to teach Kevin appropriate behaviour was unsuccessful. Integrating him into school was impossible because of his behaviour towards other pupils and his inattentiveness in lessons. Kevin found it impossible to trust anyone or anywhere.
“Play therapists help carers meet children’s needs”
Aims of a play therapist
As his play therapist my first aims were to create a safe environment – physically and emotionally - and to encourage him to explore the use of toys to express himself in whatever way made sense to him. I let him
know I was with him by commenting on what he was doing. Gradually he allowed me to also drive a car along his road – at some distance from him, but mirroring what he was doing. Over many months his play progressed and he gained the confidence to express his anger, finally being able to separate himself from overwhelming feelings of responsibility for what had happened to him.
The power of play therapy
For Kevin the power of play therapy enabled him to connect with his own story, express his innermost thoughts without the need for words and use ‘pretend’ to address the reality of what it was like to be him. Using play in therapy mirrors how children naturally learn through play. Play is linked with creativity...
*Names have been changed to protect identity
To read the rest of this article please download from http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html
Win Two Ingenious games to win for the holidays! Enjoy the holidays with BrainBox Games from The Green Board Game Company
W
e all love the holidays, although keeping children entertained on rainy days and long journeys can be stressful! So rely on BrainBox Games to make the holidays both fun and educational, whatever the weather. From trips to London to a day out at the zoo, BrainBox has games to encourage attention to detail and memory skills. Enjoyable, fast-paced games prompt fact
sharing, helping you relive outings and learn about the world from your own living room. Green Board Games have released their World Pairs game as an app, downloadable from i-tunes for 59p. Matching flags, capitals and country outlines will help keep boredom at bay in the car, at the airport, or in theme park queues. If you prefer to escape technology when on holiday, BrainBox games has a range of 25 Snap and Pairs games. From Times Tables and the Human Body, to Holiday words and Elmer, these can be played anywhere and are a great way to support children as they learn and discover new interests. The Ingenious Travel Game, RRP £15.00, is a portable version of the award-winning family strategy game. Easy to learn, quick to play and with infinite number of
strategies every game will pose a unique challenge. Try playing the online version on the Green Board Games website. To enter our competition to win the Ingenious Travel Game, simply answer this question: Who produces the Ingenious Travel Game? a) Green Board Games b) Blue Number Games c) Yellow Stone Games All entries must be in by August 10th 2011. The first two correct entries drawn on that date will win.
More info at www.brainbox.com.
Send your entry, along with your name and address to competitions@fosterfamilies.co.uk with the subject line ‘Ingenious’ or post to Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB.
Education Summer 2011 foster families 10
University challenge Support for
care leavers To enable you as foster carers to assist your looked after children to achieve their potential, the university can provide: advice about gaining a place at s General university and the benefi ts of higher education on the fi nancial and practical support s Advice available, such as our care leaver’s bursary of £1,000 per year (subject to conditions).
A great place for inspiring minds Quality mark awarded for our commitment to working with care leavers
I
have been a foster carer for 19 years and I can boast that I was probably the first carer within our local authority to have children move onto a university placement. I have a passion for young people achieving their full potential in education as I know there is a stigma attached to their ‘under achievement’. Applying for funding At the time no one knew what they were entitled to as no one had ever had to apply for funding before. We approached the student TTE I M D M loan people and they sent us the R R S
TO
E
V L E A
E
C A
Support for Care Leavers
form to fill out. As a looked after young person they were classed as being self supporting and were therefore entitled to full funding. We did not have to send any of our details for assessment as we were not the parents. Both of my young people received full allowances and full tuition fees. The process did not take long and with the help of their signpost worker we were sorted before the move to university. Choosing universities I attended all of the uni visits and picked halls of residence with the young people I had cared for. It was a very ...
“We went above and beyond their expectations”
CO
s www.gre.ac.uk/careleavers
Foster carer Bev Semper tells how she supported the decision to study
The scheme offers: _ A £1000 bursary per year (subject to approval this will be £1500 from 2012 entry)* _ Flexible entry requirements _ A single point of contact at the University _ Advice on accommodation, student funding and student services _ Funding for year abroad and overseas placements _ Pre-entry welcome day
To read the rest of this article please download from http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html
www.aber.ac.uk/wpsi
Gweithio Gyda Myfyrwyr sy’n Gadael Gofal -Ein hymroddiad ni i’ch dyfodol chi
Er mwyn cael cymorth a chyngor cyn i chi gyrraedd (mewn Dyddiau Agored, dyddiau ymweld, etc.), drwy’r broses ymgeisio, ac wrth i chi gyrraedd, astudio, ac ymlaen i’ch graddio, cysylltwch â DEBRA CROFT yn y Ganolfan Ehangu Cyfranogiad E-bost: dec@aber.ac.uk Ffôn: 01970 622681, neu Tecst: 07968 77 55 23
*conditions apply To find out more information visit
www.kingston.ac.uk/compact or contact us on
compact@kingston.a.uk or telephone
020 8417 3233
workinG with students froM Care - our commitmEnt to your futurE
For help and advice before arrival (at Open Days, visiting days, etc.), through the application process, arrival, progression, and on to graduation, contact DEBRA CROFT in the Centre for Widening Participation E-mail: dec@aber.ac.uk Tel: 01970 622681, or Txt: 07968 77 55 23
Home Summer 2011 foster families 11
How many pushchairs have you owned? Pushchair Trader - where the pushchair-aholics play
F
oster Families is certain we have many pushchair-aholic readers. If you are a lover of pushchairs or just like to keep up-to-date with the latest models then Foster Families has found a brilliant website that we are certain will interest you. The Pushchair Trader website has interesting and informative reviews on pushchairs which include the latest models and old favourites. Gurus of all things The team ‘pushchair’, the Pushchair Trader team have reviewed more than 50 pushchairs in the last nine months. Spending time with manufacturers has also helped them develop good knowledge on lots of products. Parents of small children themselves, they really know what to do to put a pushchair through its paces and love the reaction of the children to each new pushchair they get to ride around in. The reviews they place are parentfriendly, honest and without prejudice and every pushchair’s brakes are put through the flipflop friendly test. Linked in with their Facebook page the engaging audience are always more than happy to have their say on the pushchairs that are reviewed. This means that parents can get a true understanding and feel of a product in a way that just isn’t possible
anywhere else. enables you to keep up-to-date with A fantastic community spirit radiates all the latest models without trailing from the Facebook fan page: mums young children around the shops and dads are on hand and always which they don’t really appreciate! willing to answer questions posed When I was bringing up my kids from other fans. This can range from, pushchairs were very different so ‘What colour pushchair should I buy?’ when I decided to foster I had to to ‘Where should I take the kids?’. get up to speed again. I have five The best thing about Pushchair pushchairs at the moment, some are Trader for our foster carers is that prams and some are buggies.” it features a fantastic sell facility She continues: “It’s quick and easy for your pre-loved to check the latest pushchairs, not to reviews and I “Some have mention the regular really respect other competitions with great owned over 200 people’s opinion. pushchair prizes. Plus I’ve also made pushchairs” Carers who look after some friends in the young children will no process.” doubt have stacked up a phenomenal On occasion the Pushchair Trader amount of pushchairs over the years team arranges group tests so there is and still need a few for different the opportunity to take part in group situations. A few of the Pushchair testing of products. Recently they got Trader loyal Facebook fans have to arrange an exclusive test for the admitted to owning in excess of 200 Maxi-Cosi Noa buggy and samples pushchairs over the course of looking have gone out to people taking their after little ones. children on holiday. So watch out Susan Whittle, from Lancashire, is for an amazing review on that soon. a carer of two children under three There’s a chance for you to win one years old and a fan of Pushchair with Foster Families too on page 47. Trader. She says: “The best thing Contact us and let us know how about Pushchair Trader is that it many pushchairs you have.
This is not the full version - to read all the articles, download the full version here for just £1 or subscribe to the printed version. The printed copy comes out four times a year, and costs £2 per issue or £7 for the whole year. The printed copy has no extra adverts, just lots more advice, support, fun and personal articles. Email subscriptions@fosterfamilies.co.uk or subscribe at www.fosterfamilies.co.uk.
Visit www.pushchairtrader.co.uk/ http://www.facebook.com/PushchairTrader
Food and Health Summer 2011 foster families 12
Say no to fussy eaters! Follow Aldo Zilli’s top ten tips for healthy eating
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aving a child who’s a fussy eater can be a huge source of worry for parents and foster carers as they need to ensure their child is eating all the right nutrients and goodness but want to avoid a power struggle every dinner time. Celebrity chef, Aldo Zilli, is a father of three who has had his own share of dealing with fussy eaters. He launched his organic baby food range, Baby Zilli, to help combat picky eating from a very early age by combining a diverse range of delicious ingredients in each convenient pouch. Each product in the Baby Zilli range has been created from a recipe Aldo used on his own children and so have been tried and tested on the real baby Zillis! Aldo says: “Fussy eating is usually a phase children go through, and frustrating though it is, the key is to stay calm and use some of my practical tips to help turn meal time battles into a fun and enjoyable experience for the family.”
Aldo’s Top 10 Tips for Fussy Eaters:
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First of all, it’s important to only buy the foods that you want your child to be eating. If there’s no junk food in the house - how can they eat it? Giving the food exciting names helps to make children more interested in what they’re eating. Our new flavours Tutti Frutti and Blueberry Blast are designed to make mealtimes fun. It sounds silly but sing songs, or pretend you’re a rocket launching the food into their mouths - do whatever makes the concept of eating more enjoyable to the child you care for. Serve up food in little portions on their plates and add more when each portion is finished. This ...
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Changing your routine Sandra Merritt shares how she got on with Autism: A practical guide to improving your child’s quality of life, by Jonathan and Polly Tommey (Piatkus) £12.99 ISBN: 9780749942380 ok
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y husband and I foster an eight year old boy with autism. He has been with us for seven years, and we got a diagnosis for him at the age of three years eight months. Life is not always easy: we have faced and overcome many challenges with him, yet overall the experience is very rewarding. Challenges Daily life can be challenging at times: we need to be aware of how our actions will affect him. He doesn’t like change, so we have to introduce new things gradually to give him the chance to get used to them. He loves toy dogs and clocks and
has built up quite a collection of them which he likes to share with visitors - we have to stop him dragging everyone up to his room to admire them, including the meter reader! He is generally a happy child with a great sense of humour. Careful what you say! We have to think about how we say things as he can take us literally. For example, when I said that I was going to feed his sister, who is nine, he was quite surprised, until I explained myself. Time out As a couple we must make time for ourselves so he goes for respite fairly regularly so we can have some time off. I found this book to be a very
“The experience is very rewarding”
interesting mix of personal experiences and professional input. A particular point of interest is the different types of autism, which we were unaware of. I was especially interested in the Atypical type, as we care for a girl who is showing signs but has yet to receive a diagnosis. I found the chapter on diet to be quite complicated to follow but I can see that anyone who has been affected by allergies would find this interesting.
Food and Health Summer 2011 foster families 13
Whipping Egg Whites Chris Graham gives her top tips on the whipping method Whipping egg whites
The whipping method involves separating the yolks from the whites, and whipping up the egg whites. This is the basis for meringues, souffles, mousses, fluffy omelettes and fat-less sponge cakes, such as swiss rolls and roulade. I have decided to give you three easy recipes to try: Almond Macaroons, Mini Pavlova Meringues, and Queen of Sheba pudding.
Cracking time
I use the shell of the egg itself, so wipe your eggs over first with a damp paper towel. Have two dishes ready to collect the egg yolks and the egg whites separately, and another dish to crack the egg over. Each egg white should be collected in a small dish first, then if successful, transferred over to the main bowl ready to be whisked. The unsuccessful ones will be added to the egg yolk bowl.
Meet the Chef
Chris Graham is a qualified nurse, teacher of cookery, nutrition, life skills and parenting. She now lectures in food safety and gives time to counselling and mentoring.
Chris’s Top Tip:
Wash everything up in hot soapy water, rinse, then dry with a clean drying up cloth before starting to whip up the egg whites. They will not whip up stiff and fluffy if there is any trace of grease on the equipment. Show your foster child how to break the egg and separate it first, then let them try. You will probably need some extras! All interested family members can try too, and make an ‘I dare you’ game out if it so that there is no sense of failure if things don’t go to plan. Just be sure to wash up the individual bowl when the egg yolk ends up in it. All greasy hands should be washed, as well as the equipment. Take the egg and cradle it in your hand. If it helps, imagine the egg to be Humpty Dumpty and crack it with one sharp, but not too heavy, crack about where Humpty’s belt would be i.e. across the fattest part of the shell (see our video tip at
www.fosterfamilies.co.uk). Use a thin bladed knife to do the job as it gives the cleanest result. If the crack is not quite open enough, try again in the same place, but be careful not to split the yolk. Fresh eggs are best for this exercise as the yolk is less fragile and the whites whip up thicker. Next hold the egg with the fingertips of both hands into the crack. Gently prise the egg shell apart, catching the yolk in the ‘cup’ of the shell and letting the egg white slip into the individual bowl. Cheer if successful and put the yolk in the yolk bowl and the white in the whipping bowl. Who is going to dare to have the next turn?!
Eggs that won’t cooperate
If the yolks are NEW! not needed Have you seen for the recipe our online video (as they will tips? Visit be for queen www.fosterfamilies.co.uk/ of puddings) cookery.html to see mix the yolks Chris show you and whites how it’s done! together with a little milk, some salt and pepper, and it will make a lovely rich and creamy omelette.
All these delicious recipes can be found in our full version. Download it from http://fosterfamilies.co.uk/download.html Almond Macaroons
Mini Pavlova Meringues
Queen of Sheba pudding
Competitions
That’s horrible! 2
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Summer 2011
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Now’s your chance to win Horrible Histories series two on DVD - there are two up for grabs Horrible Histories has returned, Number Corner packed full of strange facts, rotten rulers, gory battles, crazy inventions and weird and wonderful moments from the past. Horrible Histories again covers every era from the Stone Age to World War Two, with new additions including terrible tales from the Incredible Incas and the Awesome USA. From Slimy Stuarts to Groovy Greeks and Awful Egyptians to Gorgeous Georgians, each episode features a mixture of sketches from different ages, plus commentary from the show’s talented host, a talking rat. The DVD runs for 390 mins and is priced at £13.27. Look out for: More comedy songs, plus Victorian Dragon’s Den, Historical Mastermind and Roman Come Dine With Me.
The numbers in the box below go up in 7’s from 7 to 77. Can you work out which number is missing?
14 63 35 28 7 49 77 56 42 21 To enter our competition email your name, address and answer to competitions@fosterfamilies.co.uk with the subject line ‘Horrible Histories’*. All entries must be in by August 10th 2011. The first two correct entries drawn on that date will win.
Way to go, Waybuloo! 2 to win
Get your hands on the new Waybuloo DVD - there are two to win Letter Corner The letters below spell out the names of two Waybuloo characters. Can you work out which ones?
KKOONT ___ ___ AULULA ___ ___
Welcome to the world of Nara; a land of happiness, laughter and friendship that’s home to the Piplings. Join in the magic and adventure in Piplings Love To Care on DVD, priced £7.14. Eight episodes of the CBeebies favourite include: lots of important lessons to be learnt when a windy day causes Nok Tok’s Naracar to be blown faster and faster, Lau Lau finds a pretty star and the Piplings play a game of Narabug Chase. De Li needs everyone’s help to water her entire garden on a very hot day in Nara and Nok Tok is searching for a special sound for his Naracar.
To enter our competition email your name, address and answer to competitions@fosterfamilies.co.uk with the subject line ‘Waybuloo’*. The first two correct entries drawn on August 10th 2011 will win.
*or post to Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB.
Competitions Summer 2011 foster families 15
COMPE
There’s Noa other like it You could win this funky buggy
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TITION
Fold it down in seconds, onehanded
he new Maxi-Cosi Noa buggy is the perfect travelling partner for you and your family, with all you need to help make travelling anywhere easy. It’s sturdy yet lightweight - a great holiday alternative. Your little one can sit happily in the comfortable seat, away from the Small sunshine with the reclining backrest and integral protective canopy. enough to There is also a good-sized basket for all your essentials. get on the Easy to fold: Push it over and pick it up by the retractable handle in one bus or train fluid movement. without Pack it away: Once folded the small, funky, buggy can also stand upright folding it! easy for travelling or putting neatly away at home. Travel stress free with the Maxi-Cosi Noa. The only decision you now have to make is, where you are going? Foster Families has teamed with Maxi-Cosi to give you the chance to win a Noa Buggy. Just enter the competition below. For more information visit RRP £145.00, and suitable from 3 months www.maxi-cosi.com
Across 1. Danny, the ________ of the World, kids book (8) 5. Opposite of teaching (8) 10. Something to be dropped off at your home (8) 11. Animated film, Ice Age 2: The _________ (8)
Down 1. The ____ before the storm (4) 2. Station master in Postman Pat (4) 3. A frog’s home (4) 4. Possesses (4) 6. Your school may have a Summer ____ (4) 7. Give us a clue (4) 8. 2001 Enrique Iglesias single (4) 9. Almost turquoise (4)
Letter challenge...
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For your chance to win, use the questions, left, to fill out the crossword. Rearrange the coloured squares to spell out a word and email it to competitions@ fosterfamilies.co.uk with the subject line ‘Maxi-Cosi’, or post it to: Competitions, Flat 2, 2a Brook Street, Worcester, WR1 1JB. Don’t forget to include your name and address. The first correct entry drawn on August 10th 2011 will win the prize.
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Word puzzles to get you thinking
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Anagram clues
The answers to these clues are anagrams of the words immediately above and below, plus or minus one letter: 1. Enraged 2. Warning 3. Variety 4. Your mum’s mum 5. Consistently remind 6. Pull a thread 7. “Ow, that _ _ _ _ _!” 8. Funds, subsidies 9. Peculiar
G R A C D E I T R
_______ ______ _____ ____ ___ ____ _____ ______ _______ How many words can you make using the letters in the box?
You can only use each letter once, but they can be used in any order. There is at least one nineletter word to be found!
N N D Can you fit the letters below into the grid to make four words reading the same across and down? Four letters have been put in to help you.
DDEEEE EGNNNN OOVS
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