Families Cambridgeshire January February 23

Dear Reader, Wise words

The beginning of a new year is a time for celebrating all that’s been good about the previous year and anticipating the pleasures of the year ahead; a holiday, the spring or maybe a new school. During these cold winter days take time to play a board game, light a candle, go on a long winter walk; it’s important to make time for the little things that will create memories for a long time to come.

Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you will look back and realise they were the big things…

DON’T

A FAMILY TICKET TO MILKSHAKE MONKEY’S MUSICAL AT KINGS LYNN CORN EXCHANGE

Join Paddington, Daisy & Ollie, Milo, Noddy, Pip and Posy, Blue’s Clues & You! and of course Milkshake! Monkey for an unforgettable family time at Milkshake Monkey’s Musical!

Learn the amazing songs and dances with your favourite Milkshake! friends and watch as the music, the lights, the costumes and the stage brings Milkshake! to life. With great Milkshake friends, anything is possible.

This brand-new show has plenty of laughter, audience interaction and great fun to get everyone up on their feet! It’s a family show not to be missed! To enter please visit our Facebook page @FamCambsMag and like and share our post. Good luck!

What's in this issue?

4. News & views 6. Nursery listing 7. Baby news 8. What's on 10. Shared reading & language feature 11. Toddler tantrums 12. SATs 13. Staying safe online 14. Clubs & classes

EDITOR: Lisa Exell 01945 861336, editor@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk

ASSISTANT EDITOR: Amanda Dawson, admin@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk

SOCIAL MEDIA: Amanda Dawson, admin@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk

DESIGN: Caroline Thompson-Heap, info@cheekymonkeydesigns.net

Families Cambridgeshire is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families Cambridgeshire are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Cambridgeshire. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but Families Cambridgeshire its distributors, the franchise company, Families Print Ltd, and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

Dance with a professional

Join Target Dance to enjoy a packed day of performing arts classes, with like-minded friends, working with industry professionals who have worked with One Direction, Little Mix, Alicia Keys and on the set of BGT and Strictly Come Dancing. The courses will run for Juniors 6+ from 10:00-3:00pm, Seniors 11+ 10:00-4:00pm and an Intensive Commercial dance workshop for training professionals/16+ from 3:004:30pm. Do not miss out on this amazing opportunity to work with some of the best and highly skilled teachers in the industry! For more details: Web - www.targetdancecompany.com

Instagram - targetdanceco

Email - targetdancecompany@gmail.com

ENJOY NATIONAL STORYTELLING WEEK

National Storytelling Week takes place from 28th January to 5th February and during this period, stories will be told in schools and theatres, pubs, museums, village halls, community centres and in many other places across the UK.

Speech and language therapists believe that storytelling is vital for children’s academic success as it promotes narrative skills and strengthens the ability of children to correctly sequence ideas. To be a good reader and writer a child needs firstly to be a good speaker and listener.

Above all though, storytelling is fun.Whether we are listening to someone else’s story or telling our own, inventing and adapting stories can open doors to exciting new worlds — both real and imaginary. To find a local event, visit www.sfs.org.uk

Wear A Hat Day, an iconic and fun annual event, is one of the UK’s most popular and family-friendly charitable fundraisers and it’s happening again on Friday 31st March!

Running for more than ten years, this event raises millions for vital research into brain tumours – the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40. Wear A Hat Day events help children explore their individuality and creativity, whilst learning to work together and think of others - in a fun way.

Participation fosters friendships, creates better local and school communities, offers unique learning opportunities and provides new ways for children to explore ideas around different life experiences, all while giving hope to brain tumour patients and their loved ones. Join this event, as a family or by persuading your local school to take part. Register now for more information and your FREE fundraising pack. Just use the quick and easy webform at www.wearahatday.org

Find more homes for birds

National Nest Box Week takes place every year between 14th and 21st February, just as the bird nesting season is starting. It’s organised by the British Trust for Ornithology.

This celebratory period aims to turn the spotlight on breeding birds and encourage everyone to put up more nestboxes in their local area.

Many of us are aware of how vital it is to feed our garden birds but it's also just as important that they have a suitable shelter and site for breeding.

Natural nest sites such as holes in trees and buildings are disappearing fast as people carry out home and garden improvements and woods are ‘tidied up.’

Find advice and instructions available about building and placing nest boxes at www.nestboxweek.com

Free online Maths Circles launched

Children ages 10 to 16 who are keen to extend their mathematical horizons can now take part in free weekly interactive maths sessions online called Maths Circles.

Maths Circles is a way for students to learn from some of the best maths educators in the world. The session contains a mix of challenging questions, puzzles and enrichment topics. The highly interactive sessions, with live chat and polling, also provide an opportunity to develop and practice the sort of problem-solving skills that are used to solve Primary Maths Challenge problems.

The initiative is the creation of Parallel, a charitable mathematics project founded and run by best-selling science author and maths educator, Simon Singh. The Maths Circles sessions are completely safe and secure - students do not appear on screen and cannot be heard and only the educators can see chat comments. More info: www.parallel.org.uk

Wear a Hat for a better future!

Get involved in Children’s Mental Health Week

From 6th to 12th February, families across the UK are encouraged to take part in Children’s Mental Health Week organised by charity Place2Be, with the theme Let’s Connect.

Let’s Connect is about making meaningful connections for all, during the week and beyond.

People thrive in communities and this connection is vital for our wellbeing. When we have healthy connections – to family, friends and others – this can support our mental health and our sense of wellbeing. And when our need for rewarding social connections is not met, we can sometimes feel isolated and lonely – which can have a negative impact on our mental health.

Help raise fundsby organising a Dress to Express fundraiser. Find FREE resources for parents and carers and more information at www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk

Write a letter to a loved one – in the future

Join in a campaign for urgent action against climate change by writing a letter to a loved one in the future.

Your Letter to Tomorrow is meant to explain your hopes for future generations if our leaders step up to protect the environment – and your fears about what life could be like if we don’t slow down climate change.Your letter could be to your friend, child or even your future self.

The campaign launched by The Climate Coalition, with members including National Trust, Wildlife Trusts, RSPB, Save The Children and Oxfam, aims to generate thousands of powerful letters to go to our leaders.

You can write your letter using a simple online form or upload an image of a handwritten letter. Once your letter is published, you can share it far and wide and even send it directly to your local MP.

More info: www.letterstotomorrow.com

Take Part in The Big Garden Birdwatch

Get your family involved in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch and help monitor bird life in the UK.

Simply count the birds you see in your garden, from your balcony or in your local park for one hour between 27th and 29th January. Challenge your children to see who can spot the most birds. Take a bike ride to a local park or make a day trip out of it and spot birds in a new place.

You can also watch Big Garden Birdwatch Live! on YouTube and Facebook to discover what birds are being spotted across the UK with live commentary, interviews and chats with special guests and wildlife experts and the chance to ask them questions.

To learn about ways to attract birds to your garden and get your FREE guide, visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch

New online children’s physiotherapist directory launched

Parents wanting to locate a local children’s physiotherapist can now use an online directory launched by Association of Paediatric Chartered Physiotherapists.

The majority of children's physiotherapists work in the NHS. Your GP can advise about local services and make a referral, if appropriate. However, some parents choose to seek advice and treatment from an independent or private physiotherapist either instead of, or to supplement, NHS care.

Many children need support from a physiotherapist at some time during their childhood. This may be sought for advice and treatment relating to posture and movement or for acute injuries.

All qualified physiotherapists are regulated by the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) and children’s physiotherapists have additional expertise in child development and childhood conditions. They are specialist practitioners, with the right skill base and knowledge to deliver the best care for babies, children and young adults.

More info: https://bit.ly/findchildrenphysio

RISE IN NOROVIRUS CASES

A recent Public Health England (PHE) report shows that cases of norovirus, also known as ‘the winter vomiting bug’, have been spreading rapidly with outbreaks mainly amongst children in educational settings.

According to PHE, the number of outbreaks of the virus are at a five-year high. Rates were especially low during the pandemic due to social distancing rules and more attention to hygiene but have been rising since restrictions were eased.

The PHE also notes that handwashing is very important to prevent the spread of the stomach virus as unlike Covid-19, alcohol gels in hand sanitiser do not kill it.

If you get the virus, drink plenty of fluids and don’t return to work or send sick children to school or nursery until at least forty-eight hours after symptoms including diarrhoea and vomiting have stopped.

More info: www.nhs.uk/norovirus

PUT A SPRING IN YOUR CHILD’S STEP WITH PERFORM

Happy spring term! Perform confidencebuilding classes are sure to blow away the winter cobwebs and will help children feel energised and inspired. This term sees 4-7s trapezing and somersaulting into a Circus Adventure whilst 7-12s work on a fun and funky adaptation of Robin Hood, in Outlaw. Imaginations will soar as children work towards a magical performance for family and friends.

Perform is not like other children’s drama schools. Its classes have a special emphasis on child development, using a mix of drama, dance and singing to bring out every child’s potential. Run by experienced actor-teachers, Perform classes focus on developing the 4 Cs: Confidence, Communication, Coordination, and Concentration. With all abilities welcome, children can join at any point in the term and will take part in the performance. The only requirement is to get ready to have the best fun of the week!

Children are welcome to try a FREE class. With over 300 venues, there’s sure to be a class near you – just visit www.perform.org.uk/ try to find your nearest and to book.

Venues: Hills Road Sports Centre, Cambridge: Wednesdays

Newnham Croft Primary School, Newnham: Saturdays St. Andrews Church Hall, Chesterton: Mondays St. John’s Church Hall, Cambridge: Thursdays

Contact: 020 7255 9120 enquiries@perform.org.uk www.perform.org.uk/try

Families Education

Cambridgeshire Nurseries Listings 2023

Helping you find the right place for your little ones - our 2023 guide to some of the nurseries local to Cambridgeshire with the latest Ofsted ratings, correct at the time we went to press.

ACE NURSERY SCHOOL, CAMBRIDGE www.ace-nursery-school.org.uk

01223 357181 (Ofsted Outstanding 2022)

ALL SAINTS INTERCHURCH PRE-SCHOOL, MARCH www.allsaints.cambs.sch.uk

01354 659000 (Ofsted Good 2018)

BLACKBERRY HOUSE DAY NURSERY, WISBECH www.blackberryhousedaynursery.co.uk 01945 428747 (Ofsted Good 2020)

BRIGHT HORIZONS CAMBRIDGE SCIENCE PARK - SCIENCE PARK www.brighthorizons.co.uk

0330 057 4064 (Ofsted Good 2017)

BRIGHT HORIZONS WOLFSON COURT, MADINGLEY ROAD www.brighthorizons.co.uk

0330 057 4727 (Ofsted Outstanding 2018)

BRIGHT HORIZONS ELY - CAMBRIDGESHIRE BUSINESS PARK www.brighthorizons.co.uk

0330 057 3559 (Ofsted Good 2021)

BRIGHT HORIZONS FULBOURN, CAMBRIDGE, CAPITAL PARK, CAMBRIDGE www.brighthorizons.co.uk

0333 920 3166 (Ofsted Outstanding 2020)

BUNNYBROOKES DAY NURSERYADDENBROOKE’S www.brighthorizons.co.uk

0333 363 4489 (Ofsted Good 2020)

BUSY BEES (FORMERLY SCALLYWAGS DAY NURSERY), WESTWICK HALL FARM www.busybeeschildcare.co.uk 01223 232400 (Ofsted Outstanding 2017)

BUTTERFLY DAY NURSERY, CAMBRIDGE www.butterflydaynursery.co.uk 01223 353164 (Ofsted Good 2022)

CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS CHESTERTON www.chestnut-nursery.co.uk/nurseries/ chesterton/ 01223 728390 (Ofsted Good 2019)

CLARENCE HOUSE, CAMBRIDGE www.chdn.co.uk 01223 778383 (Ofsted Good 2022)

EMNETH NURSERY SCHOOL AND CHILDREN’S CENTRE www.emneth-nur.norfolk.sch.uk 01945 582401 (Ofsted Outstanding 2019)

FLUTTERBIES CHILDCARE, BENWICK, MARCH www.flutterbieschildcare.com 01354 677733 (Ofsted Good 2020)

HARVEY ROAD DAY NURSERY, CAMBRIDGE www.harveyroaddaynursery.org.uk 01223 363860 (Ofsted Good 2019)

HISTON EARLY YEARS CENTRE www.histon.cambs.sch.uk 01223 712075 (Ofsted Good 2022)

HOMERTON EARLY YEARS CENTRE, CAMBRIDGE homerton.cambs.sch.uk 01223 508766 (Ofsted Outstanding 2021)

LADYBIRDS DAY NURSERY, WISBECH 01945 466667 (Ofsted Good 2017)

LITTLE TED’S DAY NURSERY, HADDENHAM 01353 741765 (Ofsted Good 2017)

MAGDALENE HOUSE PREP SCHOOL, WISBECH www.wisbechgrammar.com/Prep-School 01945 583631

OAKS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, CAMBRIDGE www.oaksinternationalschool.co.uk 01223 416938 (Ofsted Good 2019)

PATACAKE NURSERY, CAMBRIDGE (SEDLEY COURT) www.pata-cake.co.uk 01223 411636

PERSE PELICAN NURSERY SCHOOL, CAMBRIDGE www.perse.co.uk/pelican 01223 403940

ST. MARYS PRE-SCHOOL, CAMBRIDGE www.stmaryscambridge.co.uk 01223 311666

THE MALTINGS DAY NURSERY,ELY www.themaltingsdaynursery.co.uk 01353 661442 (Ofsted Outstanding 2022)

THE WILLOWS DAY NURSERY, CHATTERIS www.thewillowschatteris.co.uk 01354 461232 (Ofsted Good 2017)

WISBECH DAY NURSERY, WISBECH www.wisbechdaynursery.co.uk 01945 586966 (Ofsted Good 2022)

stmaryscambridge.co.uk/visit

FREE EARLY YEARS PLAY PROGRAMME LAUNCHED

Leading toy company, Fisher Price© has teamed up with a leading support charity, Family Action, to launch the Family Action Play Programme for children ages 0 to 5, to help with their early childhood development.

The programme is available online and free to families and it shares early years expertise, practical tips and simple activities for families looking for quick and easy ideas to build play into the everyday and help their children thrive.

The programme includes five modules that tackle the ‘why’ and ‘how’ of play and its importance in early childhood development and has been developed drawing upon expertise from the Fisher-Price™ Play Lab and from the practice-based experience of Family Action staff.

To access the Family Action Play Programme, visit www.bit.ly/familyactionplayprogramme

‘March of the Mummies’

Thousands of mothers sporting spooky costumes descended on central London at the end of October last year to demonstrate against the cost of childcare, which has forced some to leave the workforce. Similar marches took place in other cities across the UK.

Data indicates that for many women, deciding whether to return to work after having a baby - or even whether to have a child at all - has become a question of cost.

The protest was demanding increased funding for childcare, properly paid maternity and paternity leave and flexible working.

Compared to other countries, the UK’s childcare costs are among the highest. According to data gathered by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the net costs in the UK amount to around twenty nine percent of the average wage, compared to Germany’s one percent and France’s fourteen percent.

More info: www.pregnantthenscrewed.com

Launch of baby equipment rental marketplace

Two schoolfriends have launched a baby equipment rental and exchange marketplace, Hay-De, to cut the cost of becoming a parent. The launch is especially timely, coming during the cost-of-living crisis.

Parents can rent everything they need for their newborn, saving an estimated seventy five percent off the cost of toys, pregnancy aids and nursery essentials.

The service will also help make parenting more sustainable by allowing parents to trade in items they no longer need in exchange for other equipment. Millions of new, perfectly good toys are thrown away every year in the UK as children grow out of them or lose interest.

All items listed on Hay-De undergo a thorough cleaning and inspection before being delivered to customers across the UK. More info:www.hay-de.co.uk

Forest tots

Join Muddy Feet for Forest Tots, a forest school class with woodland activities for preschool children who are able to walk well through rough terrain. Each session starts with a welcome circle and covers a range of activities some of which may be familiar to you as you may have done them as a child. Activities will include stories, playing games, making bird feeders, making wands, mud painting, making woodland creatures, treasure hunts, hill rolling, mud sliding, mini beast hunts, natural art, den/ shelter building, campfires, using real tools such as bow saws, knives and drills and much, much more.

Each session lasts 2 hours and continues in all but extreme weather events. Every Friday morning at Evenley Wood Garden.

Dates of sessions are: Jan 6th, 13th, 20th, 28th & Feb 3rd, 10th 2022

Friday Mornings

10.00 - 12.00, Please bring your own snacks and drinks. One adult per child only please (additional adults will be required to pay the standard Wood Garden entry fee).

What’s On

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

Cambridgeshire

Nick Cope Family Show

WHEN: 14th and 15th January, 11.30 and 14.00

WHERE: The Junction, Cambridge Nick Cope has been writing and recording his beautiful and totally unique songs for children and their families for over 10 years, performing with his guitar and animations to sell-out crowds all over the country. From £12.50 www.junction.co.uk 01223 511511

Big Garden Birdwatch

WHEN: 27th – 29th January

My Stick Family

WHEN: Saturday 7th January, 10.00 - 13.00

WHERE: Cambridge University Botanic Garden

Drop-in to this free workshop and have a go at making a portrait of your family or friends using sticks and other bits and bobs from the craft cupboards.

Ages 3+ Free event www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/

Snowdrops

WHEN: Everyday from 21st January until 1st April, 10.00 – 16.00

WHERE: Chippenham Park Gardens

WHERE: Green space near you Take part in the nation’s biggest bird watch exercise and be wowed by your local wildlife. Simply count the birds you see in your garden, from your balcony or in your local park for one hour. FREE ww2.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/ activities/birdwatch

National Storytelling Week

WHEN: 28th January –5th February

WHERE: Throughout National Storytelling Week stories will be told in schools and theatres, pubs, museums, village halls, community centres and in many other places across the UK. To find a local event visit www.sfs.org.uk

Park-O

WHEN: 7th January and 4th February, 13.00 - 15.00

WHERE: Wandlebury Country Park (Jan) and Coldham Common (Feb) An easy, fun way for juniors and families to try orienteering and enjoy the local park. Three different courses and friendly advice to get you started. www.waoc.org.uk

Messy Church

WHEN: 10th January & 4th February, 15.30 - 17.30

WHERE: Queen Mary Centre, Wisbech

Have fun making crafts, hearing bible stories and doing church in a creative way. All finished off with a home-cooked meal!

FREE - donations welcome www.messywisbech.org.uk

Over 40 acres of spectacular widely renowned snowdrops and aconites. Delicious home-made food and refreshments in the licensed Potting Shed Cafe. Adult £7; Children £3 (Under 5’s Free) (Cash only) www.chippenhamparkgardens. info

Cool Carnivores

WHEN: Saturday 4th February, 10.00 – 13.00

WHERE: Cambridge University Botanic Garden Learn about carnivorous plants, some of the coolest plants on the planet. You’ll be able to use magnifiers to examine these fascinating plants, find out how they work and make your own paper venus fly trap to take home with you.

Ages 3+ Free event www.botanic.cam.ac.uk/

Archery

WHEN: 16th February, 11.00 – 15.00

WHERE: Oak Meadow, Ferry Meadows Pay and Play Archery sessions will run throughout the day. Why not come down and have a go? Suitable for Adults and children over 8 years £12.00 per person. Booking essential. www.nenepark.org.uk 01733 234193

Partyman World of Play

WHEN: January and February

WHERE: Mercers Row, Cambridge Huge indoor play frame with specially designed toddler area as well as baby areas for little guests under three years. With café as well as extra activities during holiday periods. Peak and off-peak prices. Membership available. Hire them for fun parties too!

From £1.95 www.partymanworld.co.uk/ location/cambridge

We Touch, We Play, We Dance

WHEN: 26th February, 11.30 and 14.30

WHERE: The Junction, Cambridge A mesmerising, engaging and fun performance for children under 3, this is a show filled with surprises and joys where you and your child can listen and watch or let loose and join in. From £8.50 www.junction.co.uk 01223 511511

Half Term Explorer Quest

WHEN: 12th – 20th February: 10.00 – 17.00

WHERE: Audley End House & Gardens

Track down the clues and solve the puzzles as you follow the family trail through the gardens and enjoy a brilliant day out in history. From £8.40 www.english-heritage.org.uk/ visit/whats-on

Holiday Bushcraft

WHEN: 13th – 17th February, 8.30 – 16.00

WHERE: Wandlebury Country Park

Designed for children aged 5-12 and run by experienced qualified teachers, the sessions focus on practical bushcraft and survival skills and follow a forest school approach encouraging self-confidence and sense of achievement. £40 per child per day. Booking essential www.wildthymeandembers. co.uk/holiday-bushcraft-club/

Public Open Evenings - Online

WHEN: Wednesdays in January and February

WHERE: Institute of Astronomy, University of Cambridge Each evening consists of a 30 minute public talk about astronomy, followed by (weather dependent!) stargazing on the Cambridge University Astronomy YouTube channel. FREE www.ast.cam.ac.uk/public/ public_observing

Church Farm Rare Breeds Centre

WHERE: Stow Bardolph

WHEN: January & February (Thursday – Sunday, everyday from 10th February), 10.00 – 17.00 Make friends with a wide variety of tame animals and experience all their young at close quarters throughout the season as well as enjoying their adventure playground. Why not make a day of it and visit their Tea Room to enjoy a homemade lunch with a delicious piece of cake. www.churchfarmstowbardolph. co.uk 01366 382162

Little Bugs ClubGreat Fen

WHEN: January/February –Fridays (Term-time): 10.30 – 12.00

WHERE: Countryside Centre, Ramsey Heights

A fantastic introduction to the natural world for pre-school children. Each weekly session is packed with activities, walks and games… be prepared to get mucky. £4 per child. www.wildlifebcn.org 01487 710420

Milkshake Live

WHEN: 15th February

WHERE: King’s Lynn Corn Exchange

Milkshake! Monkey is back and can’t wait to put on a spectacular show for you all, joined by Paddington, Daisy and Ollie, Mili, Noddy, Pip and Posy, Blues and Clues and you! From £17.00 www.kingslynncornexchange. co.uk 01553 764864

Shared reading and language development

By Dr Jamie Lingwood

are my thoughts on the how’s and why’s of shared reading.

Early language development is incredibly important and sitting down to read with your child gives them

Make it a conversation

Shared reading is so much more than simply reading books aloud from start to finish. It’s powerful as an interactive experience, creating a conversation along the way. Evidence suggests that asking children lots of open questions about books can really boost language skills. Exposure to new words builds their vocabulary and the more they hear spoken language, the more easily they can use it themselves. The earlier you start, the better their reading ages will be at school. Research has demonstrated how shared reading protects against a lot of language difficulties and delays. It can even predict how successful children could be as adults in terms of income!

Doing it your own way

Parents, grandparents, carers or sibling will each have their own reading styles; and that’s a good thing. Find the flow that comes most naturally to you, making the experience more interactive as you go along.

Picture books are a good start

Picture books with few or no words are great starting points. A good example is Hug by Jez Alborough, which simply repeats the word ‘hug’ on each page. It’s then down to the adult to create a story around this, starting a conversation with the child. Talking with them about what they see and what they think about the story naturally involves using a mix of words and grammatically structured sentences. The book becomes a prompt for children to express themselves.

Reading the same book over and over...

I hear this a lot from parents: ‘My child wants to read the same book over and over again.’ As an adult, what do you do? Do you read the book for the thirty fifth time this week or encourage them to read something else? A recent study suggests that reading the same book repeatedly can help with a child’s memory, in terms of building familiarity with particular words. The biggest challenge is your stamina - knowing it’s all in a good cause might help here!

When and where?

When it comes to shared reading, little and often is the way forward. You don’t have to sit down and rigidly read with your child for a set hour at a time. Five minutes here and there is just as useful, particularly when it comes to

keeping them motivated. Fit reading around what works for you and the structure of your own lives. You may well choose a time towards the end of the day when you’re settling them down for bed. But for a lot of people, that isn’t successful because, by that point, their child is too tired to engage properly. Remember it doesn’t have to be bedtime. Pick a different point in the day. Or grab five minutes when you’re travelling on the bus together, for example.

And finally…

Do it yourself! When your child sees you reading and clearly enjoying it, they will want to copy you. This will help them develop a habit that will open up a lifelong world of adventures and learning.

Try ‘elaborative reminiscing’

This involves getting the child to think about a time that relates to themselves, prompted by the book. So, if the book’s narrative is about going to the zoo and seeing lots of animals, stop reading and ask, ‘Do you remember when we went to the zoo? Can you remember which animals we saw?’ It gets a conversation going, it relates the story specifically to the child’s own experiences. This exercise has been shown to boost language development, particularly for memory and vocabulary.

Dr Jamie Lingwood is a Lecturer in Psychology at Liverpool Hope University (www.hope.ac.uk/psychology) and belongs to the ChildLab research group, a group of psychologists and educators who are interested in researching how children develop and grow.

The ‘re-casting’ technique

When a child is reading to a parent they will often come across a word they don’t know or struggle to articulate. Let them have an initial go at it, then instead of saying they are incorrect, let them hear the correct grammatical version. This is what we call re-casting. For example, if they said: ‘The dog jump on the sofa’, you can say, ‘Yes, the dog jumped on the sofa, didn’t he?’ It’s a good strategy to adopt in shared book reading.

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TACKLING TODDLER TANTRUMS

By Sarah Ockwell-Smith

The ‘terrible twos’ aren’t called that for nothing! This stage of a child’s life is all about big feelings. Scientifically, it relates to the undeveloped prefrontal brain cortex which means the child is unable to regulate their own emotions. What most of us refer to as a tantrum is an expression of pure frustration.

What is a tantrum?

Despite frequently being referred to as ‘toddler tantrums,’ they can happen at any age, right into adulthood. Tantrums describe the state of an individual who is out of control, full of big emotions and stress hormones and unable to calm themselves down. As adults with fully developed brains we have to learn to manage our emotions, calm ourselves down or rather self soothe.

Toddlers don’t possess these skills; not yet anyway. They are not being naughty or manipulative, they are simply being toddlers. Tantrums are a normal and exceedingly common feature of child development. Research has found that nearly nine in ten children between 18 months and 2 years regularly have tantrums, with most having at least one a day, lasting on average between thirty and sixty seconds (although it is not uncommon for them to occur far more frequently and last for much longer).

‘No’ to the naughty step

Contrary to popular belief, ignoring, shaming or punishing tantrums can make a toddler’s behaviour much worse. These approaches ignore a child’s difficult underlying feelings and don’t resolve the cause or help the toddler regulate their behaviour. Experts have discovered just how much infant brains are affected by the level of parental care they receive. With nurturing attention, the part of their brains responsible for

regulating emotion become better connected as they grow. If toddlers are constantly sat on naughty steps, sent for time outs, punished or ignored when they are perceived to be ‘naughty,’ in the long term they will lack the neurological maturity that develops as a result of empathy and guidance.

Bion’s theory of containment

In the 1960s, an English psychoanalyst named Wilfred Bion introduced his idea of using containment when children are not yet able to manage their feelings alone. The concept describes the way parents or primary caregivers hold space for a children’s big, difficult feelings. When a child expresses anger, frustration or anxiety during a tantrum, an adult reflects calmness, control and regulation, helping the child to become calmer. Importantly, the child feels safe and understood.

Practical steps

You cannot stop tantrums. And they are not a sign of poor parenting. Keep in mind that they are a normal, passing stage of child development, caused by immature brain development. In time your toddler will grow out of them. Until then understanding and a lot of patience is the best way forward.

• Try to identify and reduce triggers to prevent tantrums where you can. This might be when your child is hungry, doesn’t want to share their favourite toy or walk a single step more.

• Keep the toddler (and others) safe during the tantrum. If you can, move to a quieter space with your child. Stay calm and hold your boundary; supporting and nurturing isn’t about giving in.

• Help your toddler to calm down once the tantrum is over. Distraction can be a good technique, pointing them towards something more pleasant to focus on.

• The best way to show care during tantrums is to mirror calmness yourself. Easier said than done in a supermarket aisle admittedly but the rewards will be there in the long term.

Who’s in charge?

Well, as the parent or carer, you are responsible for all the big decisions around bedtime, meal time and the day’s activities. Your developing child may have other ideas, however: Q. My toddler’s favourite words at the moment are ‘me do it.’ If I don’t let her do whatever it is, then she has a huge tantrum. What can we do?

A. Toddlers really struggle with a desire for independence and an innate drive for autonomy. It’s all part of growing up and learning to be confident without you, which is a good thing in the long term. As important as it is, it’s also incredibly frustrating! The answer is to offer your toddler as much control as possible over areas of her life where it’s age appropriate. For instance, allowing her to choose her own clothes in the morning, letting her direct her own play and giving her choices at mealtimes. The more control she is given by you, the less she will feel frustrated and tantrum.

Sarah Ockwell-Smith is the author of Beginnings, a book published by Piatkus, which offers a guide to child psychology and development for parents of children ages 0 to 5.

SATS: getting in the know

In May, Year 2 (KS1) and Year 6 (KS2) pupils will take their SATS exams. Yet, from their very first day at school, children are being trained to be able to perform in preparation for these assessments. So much work goes on behind the scenes in other years to get children ready and when it comes to the year in which they take their SATS, teachers are under pressure for them to do well.

To prepare for the exams, your children will be doing lots of maths, reading and writing at school, intertwined with other subjects so that they are consistently practising those skills. Sometimes this means that other foundation subjects are deemed ‘not as important’ and additional maths and English lessons squeezed in instead.

So how can you ensure your child does well in their SATS?

Your child’s school will more than likely be sending home maths, English and reading homework in preparation. It can be difficult to make your child do homework, especially when they have been worked so hard during the school day; however, it’s an important support in preparation for SATS so anything you can do with your child can really make a difference to how they perform. Providing your child with any opportunity to read, write and do mathematical calculations will be massively appreciated by your child’s teacher!

In addition, you can download and look at past SATS papers from previous years to get an idea of what your child will have to do. There will be some things that have changed since you went to school so ask your child to show you how they do things - they will relish this opportunity! Likewise, you can always speak to your child’s teacher who will happily show you how you can support your child’s learning at home.

As well as these things, ensuring your child eats well and stays hydrated will support their minds and bodies during the school day. Similarly, creating a good bedtime routine will mean your child gets a decent night sleep and has the brain power to be ‘on the ball’ the next day.

By Jessica Joan

SATS and your child’s wellbeing

It’s very common for children to feel worried and even stressed about doing their SATS, especially for Year 5 children going into Year 6.

There is plenty that you can do at home to support your child mentally and emotionally in preparation for their SATS. Explain that it’s totally normal to feel this way before a test and share some of your own experiences. This will help them feel less alone and comfortable in being able to share what’s going on for them.

It’s a great opportunity for you to teach them about emotional intelligence and wellbeing. Start off by labelling the emotion that they are experiencing like anger, worry, anxiety. Then discuss the physical sensations

Are KS1 SATS being scrapped?

they feel which come with that emotion, whether that’s sweaty palms or a racing heart. Now practise a wellbeing technique to promote feelings of calm and self-assurance during these times. Breathing techniques, exercise and meditation are all great ways to support your child’s wellbeing throughout stressful times during their childhood.

Jessica is a primary school teacher from Worcestershire with a ten year teaching career. After experiencing burn out, she set up as a Work/Life Balance Coach for stressed out teachers and launched her Happy Teacher Course. Find out more at www.jessicajoan.co.uk

The government previously announced its plans to scrap KS1 SATS (Year 2) after the introduction of the Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA) which began in September 2021 and is taken by all new primary school pupils.

However, it has since been decided to make Year 2 SATS optional for schools from September 2023 instead.

The RBA is usually done with a teacher in an informal setting during a child’s first six weeks of school. It is an activity-based assessment conducted via a number of practical and interactive tasks. There have been pilots done all over the country and the validity report confirms that this new assessment provides an ‘accurate’ starting point from which to measure the progress a child makes in primary school.

To my knowledge, this change is welcomed amongst primary school teachers across the country as it limits the amount of pressured standardised testing that takes place during a child’s school years. Primary school is a time for children to explore their learning through play and their own curiosities.

When should I give my child a phone?

Lessons in how to keep them safe online

Getting a phone has become a rite of passage for children and teenagers but what is the best age to give them one?

Of course, when you decide to give your child a phone is completely up to you and will be dependent on their maturity and how responsible they can be with it. Typically, children are given a phone at about the time they start secondary school, which in itself isn’t a problem, but the type they pester you for might be. Most children experience considerable peer pressure around getting a smart phone and will convey this to you until you give into the pressure.

As adults the concerns we have about our children using smart phones is ironically not about the actual ability to make phone calls but as phones being the gateway to children being exposed to a view of the world they are not mature enough to see.

Phones pose risks such as cyber bullying, exposure to all sorts of explicit and inappropriate content, making in-app purchases, sharing their personal data and potentially the parents data too and the inevitable addiction to tech due to excessive screen time.

Setting up parental controls are a useful way forward and may ease your concerns. You can find several really useful guides at www.parentsafe.lgfl.net. There is also useful information to be found at www.saferinternet.org.uk and www.childnet.com.

Do keep an open conversation with your child about the use of their phone and the potential risks. They are more likely to come to you for assistance if they do have a problem or something unexpected happens. Make sure they know that there are conditions attached to them having a phone.

Tips for keeping you kids safe:

• Make sure the phone has a secure password you both know

• Check the age limits of all the apps they might have access to

• Make sure their accounts are turned to private to ensure as much safety as is possible

• Create content filters to block inappropriate content

• Set limits on screen time

• Encourage them not to answer any calls or texts from unknown numbers

• Don’t post any personal information that can identify you, where you live or the school you go to (including photos with logos on school uniform)

• Don’t befriend people you don’t know

• Never send or do anything sexual online

• Don’t meet up with anyone face-to-face if you have only met them online

• Gran Alert- if you don’t want gran to see it, don’t post it

• Tell them if they see something online that makes them feel uncomfortable, unsafe or worried, turn it off and tell an adultremember you can mute or block people on social media

• Don’t forget that you can give your child a simple mobile which can only make calls and texts and if you consider your child will be safer all together with this option then try this for starts and see how responsible they can be with this in the first instance.

Cathy Press has been working as working as a psychotherapist and clinical supervisor for over 25 years, specialising in domestic and sexual violence and abuse related issues with children, young people and adults.

Her book When Love Bites: A young person's guide to escaping harmful, toxic and hurtful relationships is out now priced £14.99. Visit www.cathypress.co.uk for more information.

What’s On

Cambridgeshire

Stagecoach Performing Arts Classes

WHEN: Spring term starts from 4th January

WHERE: Chesterton Community College; Coleridge Campus, Cambridge; and Cambourne Village College, Cambourne Stagecoach aims to nurture and develop young potential through singing, acting and dance classes in Cambridge & Cambourne, stretching young imaginations and helping them to develop confidence, physical awareness, communication and articulation.

From £25.00 for two-week trial www.stagecoach.co.uk 01223 359974

Perform weekly drama, dance and singing classes

WHEN: Spring term starts from 4th January

WHERE: Hills Road Sports Centre, Cambridge: Wednesdays Newnham Croft Primary School, Newnham: Saturdays St. Andrews Church Hall, Chesterton: Mondays St. John’s Church Hall, Cambridge: Thursdays.

Confidence-building drama classes for 4-7s and 7-12s. A unique mix of fun drama games, dance and singing specially designed to boost confidence, communication, concentration and coordination.

To book a FREE class visit www.perform.org.uk/try enquiries@perform.org.uk www.perform.org.uk 020 7255 9120

Target Dance Company

WHEN: Spring term starts 6th January (Fridays and Saturdays)

WHERE: Trumpington Community College Sports Centre

Friday sessions cover the core fundamentals of ballet syllabus and jazz technique, cementing the foundations of your child's dance technique and discipline. Class focus include flexibility training, strength and conditioning, core stability and pirouettes, kicks and jumps.

Saturday sessions will encourage and educate your children in the versatility of dance training and will cover street dance, acro and tricks, lyrical dance, contemporary and musical theatre over the course of the term.

For Infants (3+), Juniors (6+) and Seniors (12+)

From £96 for 12 week term www.targetdancecompany.com

Half Term Cookery Fun

WHEN: 13th and 16th February

WHERE: Cambridge Cookery Morning or afternoon sessions for parent and child cookery lessons. Includes classic Italian, French baking and terrific tray bakes. Great for younger kids or older teens. From £50 www.cambridgecookery.com/ cook/classes

West Anglian Orienteering Club

WHERE: Milton, Trumpington, Ferry Meadows

Welcome members of all ages and abilities. Hold regular events with courses suitable for children and newcomers, many events have Training sessions for club juniors. Also provide two junior training nights each term. www.waoc.org.uk/juniors

Razzamataz Cambridge

WHEN: Spring term starts 7th January

WHERE: Impington Village College, Impington

Performing arts training for Razz Tots (2-3yrs), Minis (4-5yrs), Juniors (6-8), Inters (9-11yrs) to Razz Seniors (12-18yrs) along with Street Dance (7-18yrs) and Acro Arts (7-18yrs), with access to talented performers through specialist workshops and classes. Small classes to nurture a child’s confidence and self-esteem, plus a lot of fun. From £72 for 12 weeks. Free taster session available. www.cambridge. razzamataz.co.uk 01223 755113 or 07895 347239

CGA Gymnastics Satellites

WHERE: Bottisham, Cambourne, Chesterton, Ely, Impington Recreational classes follow the British Gymnastics proficiency award scheme with children grouped by age, gender & ability level. Each 1 hour session includes a 10 minute warm up, 15 minutes on floor skills and 3 x 10 minutes apparatus. From £6/hour www. cgagymnasticssatellites.co.uk

Gymnastics Academy

WHERE: North Cambridge Academy, Arbury Rd, Cambridge A series of fun classes for young children: Creepy Crawlies and Wiggly Worms (6wks to crawling); Toddling Tigers (crawling to 2yrs); Jumpy Joeys (2-3yrs), and Marvellous Monkeys (3-4yrs). Pre-book for term. From £7.30/session www.cambridgegymnastics. co.uk 07971 864653

Happy Mama Workshops, Courses and Classes

WHEN: January and February

WHERE: Huntingdon Happy Mama wholeheartedly believes that going to a baby/ toddler class is an opportunity to learn, bond and socialise with other likeminded Mums too. From Baby Massage and Baby Yoga to Nature and Active Tots, there is a class to suit every baby and toddler. www.happy-mama.co.uk

Cambridge United Community Trust Football for All

WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays

WHERE: Coleridge Community College

Disability sport sessions provided by Cambridge United Community Trust including Ambulant Cerebral Palsy, Downs Syndrome, Frame, Powerchair and Pan-Disability Football. £3 per session www.cuctrust.co.uk/inclusion/ disability-sport/

Rugbytots

WHERE: Various locations across Cambridgeshire

Fun, structured play sessions take children on a journey of sporting imagination whilst teaching them how to catch, pass, kick, run with the ball and play as part of a team. Suitable for ages 2 – 7. From £9.00 per session www.rugbytots.co.uk

Things to do this new year - drama, music & sport something for everyone in