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www.familiescambridgeshire.co.uk
R E E 速速 Cambridgeshire Issue 15 March/April 2012
! Easter Activities ! Childcare Special ! Olympics Feature
The Useful magazine for families with children from birth to teenage
Editor’s Welcome ! Welcome to the fifteenth issue of Families
Cambridgeshire - the really useful magazine for parents and children! It seems that the half term is only just behind us, and I don’t know about you but I’m already trying to plan ahead for the Easter holidays! However, help is at hand with our comprehensive Easter Activity guide come rain or shine, and don’t forget to check our Out and About pages for more activities to do in March and April including the ever popular Science Festival. Why not log onto www.familiescambridgeshire.co.uk and join the forum to discuss what you’re doing over Easter or to make your recommendations? Our baby page in this issue is devoted to TANTRUMS! Hopefully there may some tips to help you, or just to remind you that life does go on after the terrible twos...my eldest is turning thirteen this month so I’m eagerly awaiting the next batch of trouble..... Do also check out our Childcare feature and the importance of choosing the correct option for you, but Mums, if you only do one thing this issue make sure that you have a wonderful Mother’s Day and enjoy your little ones! As always, I do hope you enjoy this issue of Families and feel free to contact me with any news or events that you would like to see featured in future issues. Please mention Families whenever you contact one of our advertisers. Best wishes
Sara
08 Olympic Special 10 Childcare Special 12 Easter Activities 15 Out and About
‘My Phonics Kit’ includes a CD-ROM with eBooks and phonics support; reward chart; sticker sheet; tips for parents; and 3 phonics workbooks. It has been created by educational experts, to be totally in line with how children learn to read in school. The Kit combines decoding practice with engaging stories and interactive features – making learning to read a fun and exciting journey. Independent literary consultant, Laura Sharp, who led the development of the Kit, said: “The Oxford Reading Tree is a well-established programme and a trusted resource used by teachers across the UK.We have developed ‘My Phonics Kit’ to give parents this same level of support and enable them to provide as much guidance as possible to their children with reading activities at home.” ‘My Phonics Kit’ will be widely available to purchase from 02 February 2012 at an RRP of £9.99. It is the latest addition to the wide range of Oxford University Press phonics resources for parents, which includes the free eBooks and advice on www.oxfordowl.co.uk, the ‘Read with Biff, Chip and Kipper’ books available on the high-street and the ‘Songbirds Phonics’ series by the Children’s Laureate, Julia Donaldson.
When it comes to the health and nutrition of a new born baby, the mantra has long been ‘breast is best’. Expert help is on hand to assist with positioning; latching on, appropriate clothing and a healthy diet; but even with the best made plans pain and discomfort is a frequent problem.
Circulation 12,000 copies of Families Cambridgeshire available through schools, nurseries, libraries, selected shops and restaurants. If you would like copies for your establishment please let me know. Contact Sara Carr, editor@familiescambridgeshire.co.uk tel: 01223 319437 mobile: 07748 183700
Design: Louis T Koehorst tel: 01223 576688 ted@happyted.co.uk
As six-year-olds prepare for the first ever phonics check at school this summer, Biff, Chip and Kipper will be giving a reassuring helping hand to parents and children who want to practise together at home.
Swedes know breast; innovative new product launches in the UK as a safe and natural way to ease the pain and discomfort in breasts, associated with the birth of a new born baby.
In this issue
Print: Bishops Printers Limited, Portsmouth tel: 023 9233 4900 www.bishops.co.uk.
‘My Phonics Kit
Swedes know breast
Cover photograph courtesy of www.roomseven.com
002 Welcome and News 03 News 04 Baby Page 05 Health 06 Mother’s Day
News - March/April 2012
Families Cambridgeshire is part of the Families Group established in 1990 and headed by Families South West. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under license. We take every care preparing for the magazine, but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers, the accuracy of the contents nor for any consequences.
Innovative breast warming pads researched and developed in Sweden and the UK, have been helping to protect and support tens of thousands of Swedish mothers every year from the pains and conditions associated with breast feeding. The pads utilises NASA technology and uses a mother’s natural body heat, to help prevent and cure problems including mastitis, engorgement, blocked ducts and nipple vasospasm. They also provides fast and effective relief from hard, sore or lumpy breasts and can help with expressing and blocked ducts. They are also ideal for new mothers choosing not to breast feed and having to deal with milk reduction. Prevention is better than cure, the pads are also recommended to be used immediately after birth as a protection against any potential breast pain problems.
Purple Fitness tel: 07545 284 928 www.purplefitness.co.uk ® Mention when calling to receive a free taster Boot Camp! ®
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By Joanna Moorhead and Sara Carr The pads slip inside the mother’s bra and need no other equipment such as electricity, microwaves or other heat producing assistance to work. They are light, slim and very comfortable to wear. Ideal for mums on the go. Since launching in Sweden, the breast pads, which are manufactured in the UK, are now being used as far away as Australia. Launching as Breast Aid in the UK, the pads are now available to UK mothers, distributed by Enviro-Pod Ltd. Enviro-Pod Director Valerie Bullard said: “The Breast Aid pads are an ingenious solution to a range of problems which can be set new mums.We are delighted that we can play a part in alleviating the discomfort and ensuring that this magical period is as special and comfortable as possible for mother and baby”. The pads, which are shaped for maximum comfort and can be worn day and night, they have received the backing of midwives, including Dr Jill Bruce who highly recommends the breast warmers to her patients. Breast Aids are currently available to buy online. Further information on Breast Aid can be found at www.enviro-pod.co.uk
SPECIALIZED – A MODERN TAKE ON SPECIALS CLASSICS DOWNLOAD ALBUM & C.D RELEASE from WWW.THESPECIALS2.COM A MODERN TAKE ON CLASSIC SPECIALS’ TRACKS TO HELP TEENAGE CANCER VICTIMS In February 2012 a charity album with a difference will be released. “Special-ized - A Modern Take on Specials’ Classics” is a ‘specially’ compiled double album comprising hits by 1980’s band The Specials covered by a wide-ranging and eclectic mix of modern bands and artists in various styles. The project has been put together by Specials biographer Paul Williams, who is also coadministrator at the official fan site for the ska legends The Specials, www.thespecials2.com. The album will be downloadable and also available as a limited edition double CD. All proceeds will go to The Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity highlighted and supported by The Specials on their British tours since 2009. The Specials themselves supported the Teenage Cancer Trust through their tours since 2009, raising more than £9,000 in the process. Paul and Specials2.com want to continue that connection to raise as much as possible for this worthy cause. As the trust themselves say “There’s never a good time to get cancer, but for a teenager the timing seems particularly cruel.” The Teenage Cancer Trust supports teenagers struggling with cancer in many ways. You can learn more at www.teenagecancertrust.org. LYNVAL GOLDING OF THE SPECIALS SAYS: "...We will all be touched by cancer in our lifetime but when it is our youth afflicted with such a struggle it makes it that much harder to fathom. After learning about the incredible services that the Teenage Cancer Trust provides for youth with cancer, I was honoured when they asked the Specials to play their Royal Albert Hall Benefit concert. We are proud to support them again by endorsing the charitable Specials cover compilation album "SPECIAL-IZED", with proceeds to benefiting the Teenage Cancer Trust. If we all just do a little, it could do so much in these young people's lives. Please join us in making a difference! “
WWF’s Earth Hour Whether you’ve taken part in WWF’s Earth Hour before or not, don’t miss it on Saturday 31 March at 8.30pm. A chance to get involved in a global phenomenon, join hundreds of millions of people turning off their lights for one hour on the same night, all across the planet. But it’s not just to save an hour's electricity - Earth Hour is about people coming together to celebrate the planet and focus on how we need to protect it, not just for an hour but every day. Sign up at www.wwf.org.uk. Marc h/ A pril 20 1 1
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Awards announced The shortlist for the Blue Peter Book Awards 2012 has been announced, celebrating the best authors and greatest reads for children. This year’s shortlist includes a fact book about the 2012 Olympics, a treasure trove of information about the extremes of the planet, a novel that investigates those strange howls in the night, and a tale of time travel and tragedy. The shortlisted books will be judged by more than 200 young Blue Peter viewers from 10 schools across the UK, and this year the winner will be announced on a special edition of Blue Peter to coincide with World Book Day in March. www.booktrust.org.uk.
Autism redefined Concerns are growing within the autism community as proposed changes to the criteria used to diagnose autism threaten services, benefits and future research. The definition of autism is due to be tightened to exclude many of those who are presently diagnosed with what are considered to be milder forms of the condition, such as Asperger syndrome, and the new criteria could have far-reaching implications for families, says Gillian Loughran, editor of Autism Eye. "The exclusion of people who don't meet criteria in the new definition is being seen within the autism community as a way for governments to curtail the skyrocketing rate of reported cases of autism worldwide, and with it the need for services and benefits." Currently, autism cases are reported to be running at around one in 100 children. www.autismeye.com/news
Safety first As more and more children are going online, the UK National Centre for Child Protection (CEOP) is calling on parents in a new campaign to help keep their children safe. Four reports are received each day by CEOP of instances of a child finding themselves in immediate danger, with many linked to internet abuse. “Have fun online and enjoy the benefits the internet can bring,” says Peter Davies, CEO of CEOP, “but we ask parents to talk to their child and make sure their online safety is built into everything they do. Every day we see the effects on children's lives when things do go wrong, so please work with us to help keep your children safe and empower them to know what to do if things go wrong". Giving out personal information, posting inappropriate photos and befriending people they don't know can put children at risk of bullying or even contact from people who may cause them harm. www.clickceop.net.
NCT changes tack The NCT is the UK's largest charity for parents, offering services from antenatal and parent preparation courses through to day-to-day support based in local branches. But now, with the aim of reaching 20 million parents by 2020, the charity are updating their priorities for the future. "NCT is reaching huge numbers of parents right across the social spectrum, but is reputed to only be working with middle to higher income families,” says Belinda Phipps, Chief Executive. “We have been changing this, and we need to change the way people see the charity too, so every parent knows they are welcome." While credit must be given to the NCT for persuading policy makers to understand the health benefits of breastfeeding, they have been criticised in the past for a lack of support towards those who choose to bottle feed. “Our breastfeeding counsellors can help when you are using formula as well as when you are breastfeeding,” continues Phipps. The charity wants all parents to know it is there to help, whether they choose to breastfeed or formula feed, and that all parents can call NCT's helpline on 0300 330 0700. To see NCT's new strategy visit http://www.nct.org.uk/about-nct/nct-2020-strategy. ® ®
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tantrums Relentless: That is the word I tend to mutter when I’m stomping around in a grumpy haze, steadying myself on walls and furniture, hand clamped onto forehead, begging the powers that be for strength as I surrender to the teeth-clenching exasperation that sometimes constitutes motherhood. ‘It’s just relentless.’ I hiss to myself.‘Relentless!Why did no-one tell me just how damn hard this parenting thing was going to be?’ Actually, mothering is only really relentless when I am not quite rising to the challenges it is chucking at me. And the last few months, dear readers, I have mostly been struggling with: boundaries.Ah yes, that old brick wall that children just love kicking against, for as long as they possibly can, until their little metaphorical feet hurt too much to keep going. What is it with little ones? Why do they give us such a hard time? I mean, where is their respect?
Losing It Not long ago I found myself in that awful position of being the kind of mother I thought I would never be, losing my rag as I attempted to manage an all-guns-blazing tantrum, smack bang in the middle of town, at rush hour. Reasoning was not getting anywhere. Neither was shouting. In the end, I had to grab my boy by the scruff of the neck and yank him onto a bus, holding him at arms length to avoid his attempts to scratch me. Determinedly ignoring the bus full of tut-tutting commuters, I pulled him and his flailing limbs upstairs and mercifully found a place right at the back for him to howl himself into exhaustion. Not my finest hour.
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I really thought I knew about boundaries. Not only do I have a background in therapy, hey, I watched almost every episode of BBC3’s ‘The House of Tiny Tearaways’ with child psychology expert Professor Tanya Byron at the helm. The theory is great; but practically speaking, I had no idea how tough it would be to draw that all important line without resorting to threats, bribery or a big stick. With the jigging motion of sitting on the back seat of that bus starting to calm us both down and normalise my blood pressure, I noticed that my internal dialogue was sounding horribly judgemental: ‘After all I have done for you,’ my inner embittered doormat moaned, ‘you ungrateful little...’ Cue the scratchy sound of a needle veering off an old vinyl record. ‘Noooooo!’ I yelled inwardly, sitting up with a jolt as if waking up out of a nightmare. This was not the person I ever wanted to be. The Blame Game See, I know that blame is the easy option.The popular American family therapist Dr Phil insists that you have to teach people how to treat you. In fact, it is your job to point out when people are taking you for granted. But this takes courage, tenacity and, importantly, respect for oneself. It means giving up the niceness and need-to-be-needed so prevalent in the female conditioning. Lying in bed that night, still stunned at just how hellish my afternoon had been, it dawned on me that I had been giving into everyone’s wants apart from my own – and lost my sense of self in the process. It was indeed mortifying to mentally assess just how resentful towards my family I had become; how relentless everyone’s needs felt upon me. My son had given me the gift of reflecting back just how secretly angry I was at myself, for relentlessly ignoring my own needs. The art of good taking good care of oneself, as well as our children, I have found, is being able to set ground rules as a matter of fact. ‘This is Mummy time’ has to be said in the same straightforward manner as ‘the grass is green’. It is just how it is; no need to defend it with barbed wire and machine guns.As a friend of mine likes to say,‘once everyone in the family knows their place, even the dog and the cat, we can all relax.’ Cute Tantrums ‘You know, when I think back to those days of tantrums,’ a mother of several teenagers reminisced to me recently, ‘I actually think it was really cute.’ Cute?! It took me a while to get my head round that one. Children’s little brains, I have to remind myself, are not wired for considered, rational behaviour. If they want something they want it. Now. Not having it can bring on a full-blown grief reaction. As overt as they are with their sadness, they are with their happiness and love too.There is nothing quite like my son running up to fling his arms around me when I walk through the door, after nipping to the corner shop. The other week, my son’s school nursery teacher told me she had asked the class if anyone knew what a tantrum was. My boy’s hand, apparently, shot up. ‘A tantrum,’ he said solemnly as he stood in front of the class, ‘is when you just pry and pry and pry.’ (He hasn’t got the hard ‘c’ sound nailed in that particular word just yet). The discussion opened up and, one by one, the faces of his nursery chums lit up. ‘Oh yes,’ they chimed, ‘I do that sometimes too!’ And: ‘So do I!’ A four-year-olds tantrum support group! Awwwww. Now that really is cute. Helena is a hypnotherapist and writer about all things holistic and spiritual. See: www.helenafoss.co.uk
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Z Child Health Teaching Children to look after their bodies by Caroline Sherry Motivating children to exercise is all very easy if you have a child who is keen and up for anything. But what about those that need lots of encouragement to be more active and who will opt out of school sport given half a chance, well that’s not so easy.
Do it together Getting the whole family involved makes it less directed at one or two individuals – and it’s good for everyone to learn how to eat well. Sitting down together at mealtimes allows your children to see you eating the same things plus giving them an opportunity to discuss the food they want to eat.Try giving them options to pick from for tomorrow’s meals or let them help you cook.This should help to reduce resistance to new/healthier options as they have been able to pick and prepare for themselves. If your child is not keen to join in with school sports, clubs and classes get them to exercise with you - work out an exercise plan together, set goals and monitor them. For instance, how long did it take to walk/jog to the park and back? Is that faster than last time? (see our Tip Box for more ideas). There are also fitness centres and gyms who provide programmes for primary aged and teenaged children which include fun games and routines. Keep in mind it is recommended that children aged 5–17 should accumulate at least 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily. Making good Choices Even if you’re not worried about your children being or becoming overweight, educating them on how to eat a balanced healthy diet (which includes snacks and treats) as well as the importance of exercise and rest will enable them to make good choices for their own bodies.
How much exercise do your children get? For parents it is hard to know exactly how much or how little exercise your child is doing at school and in other activities or how effective it really is. As your child gets older it becomes increasingly difficult to manage every aspect of their diet as much as the level of exercise they should be getting. Ultimately we want to be good role models to our children, but as busy parents there isn’t always time to cook healthy meals from scratch and to lead by example in exercising every day without exception. We need to show them how Therefore it is essential that we educate our children about their own health, to show them how to make good choices about meals and snacks (even ready-made options) and that being active is important and can be fun and social. It is up to us to help them understand the significance of how they treat their bodies and where necessary the effects of not taking care of themselves. Childhood obesity is a growing problem Following a host of national studies and surveys over the past few years it has been shown that children’s waistlines measure up to 3 inches larger than those 30 years ago and that childhood obesity can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease and many other health problems as they grow into teenagers and adults and this can also cause psychological effects leading to low self-esteem. What can we do? If you're worried your child is overweight, first seek advice from your GP and follow up with advice from a dietician if necessary. Try not to start fad diets or an aggressive reduction in food. Look into making long–term changes to healthy eating by increasing your child's intake of fresh fruit and vegetables and reducing their fat intake. Marc h/ A pril 20 1 1
Get moving – ideas that a child might not even consider exercise: ! Walking to school rather than going by car ! Riding scooters which are great fun and use lots of energy ! Swimming once a week choosing a pool with waves and slides to make it more fun ! Dancing - have a family disco and give out prizes for the funniest or most impressive dances ! And for those who like their Games Consoles try out the fitness Games. There is a great selection available including yoga, zumba and aerobic games – remember you can rent them you don’t need to buy them.
Ideas to encourage children to eat healthily ! Give them more of the veggies and fruit they do like rather than buying and throwing away food they won’t eat. ! Remember it’s better to grill and bake rather than fry or microwave - and limit portions. ! Keep your cupboards stocked with healthy snacks and drinks instead of less healthy alternatives to children get used to eating them. ! Breakfast is important in helping kids focus better at school so if your kids like the sweeter cereals mix them half and half with a healthier option or add fruit to whole grain cereals to sweeten them rather than sugar. ! Add more veggies to favourite meals – hide them if necessary in a sauce or by chopping them small. A regular favourite in our house is the ‘Veggie Draw Sauce’, recipe below: At the end of the week, I usually have a selection of odd vegetables left over which are still good to eat. I steam the veggies. Heat up a large tin of tomatoes. When it’s all cooked, mix it together. Add seasoning for taste if needed. Puree and freeze in batches. I usually add this to wholemeal pasta twice a week for a good dose of veggies!!
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What mums really want forMother’s Day Warning: This is a page for dads only – mums, look elsewhere (or leave the magazine conveniently open on this page where it might be found by your other half…)
Psst, dads – want to know what mum really wants for Mothers’ Day? Here are some ideas to show her how much you care. A family gathering Mothering Sunday was originally a day-off from Lent, when servants were allowed to travel home to see their mums, and have a slap-up dinner together. Traditional presents were flowers and cakes – and you won’t go too far wrong if you stick to tradition. What mum doesn’t love having the family all around one table, with cake and flowers thrown in? But mum’s not making the feast, or doing the washing up – oh no. Book her favourite restaurant or pub, or make the meal yourself - and make sure you wash up afterwards.
Time with you, alone Chances are, since the kids came along, life’s been a little (or a lot) less romantic. Mothers’ Day is the perfect time to put this right, with a hotel reservation slipped inside the card and the grandparents on standby for next weekend. Happy days all round.
Personalised works of art If home is where your woman’s heart is, then a few personal touches to beautify it won’t go far wrong. Book a portrait session for the whole family with a great local photographer or find a local service that turns an existing photo into a fantastic artwork.What woman could resist a framed print of her wedding day as a romantic gesture? Something really unique Breakfast in bed Again, a traditional but excellent choice. Try making Jamie Oliver’s ridiculously easy American-style pancakes (1 cup each of flour and milk, plus one large egg: www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/fruitrecipes/apple-pancakes-with-the-girls) with fruit and maple syrup, add flowers and a pot of tea, and Bob’s your auntie’s live-in lover. Follow up with a family walk – or take the kids off yourself to let her really enjoy that extended lie-in. Time to herself This is one thing we mums often crave more than anything, so organise her some proper “me time”. Book her a spa day or indulge her hobby (yoga/writing/crafts/cookery) with a weekend course. If she doesn’t get to see her closest friends enough, maybe you could secretly liaise with them and organise a weekend away?You’ll be rolling in Brownie points after any of these.
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With a little planning ahead, you and the kids can present mum with a truly unique and handmade creation. Take the children’s fingerprints or hand or foot casts, and have them made into pictures, keepsakes or jewellery – there are lots of places that do this now. Alternatively, take the kids to a pottery painting shop and have a great time making a personalised plate, mug or vase that mum will treasure forever.
Whatever you decide, we hope every mum has a wonderful Mothers’ Day! M arc h /A pri l 2 012
Education News By Joanna Parry B Schools face no-notice Ofsted inspections
From Autumn 2012 schools will face inspections without being given notice, Ofsted chief announces. Sir Michael Wilshaw, HM chief inspector, said the move was a "logical" progression, adding that it was vital the public had confidence in inspections and that inspectors must see schools “as they really are in the corridors, classrooms and staffroom”. Interviewed by the Press Association, Sir Michael said the introduction of new guidelines offered a "good opportunity" to cut the notice period given to all schools, not just those causing concern. This comes after new worries that some schools were using tactics such as sending less successful teachers and unruly pupils home when inspectors were visiting. The "great majority of schools conduct themselves properly", Sir Michael said, but added that if there is any thought that a school is not,
Ofsted must address it. However, school leaders revealed they had "real doubts" that the move would improve inspections, raising concern that the change had been announced without consulting headteachers. Brian Lightman, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: "We welcome moves to improve the effectiveness of inspection, but I have real doubts that no-notice inspection will accomplish this. An effective inspection system is based on mutual trust and respect, not the premise that schools are trying to 'cheat' and need to be caught out.”
Raise limit of class sizes? The government has been told to raise the limit on infant class sizes in primary schools after a report showing that Sefton council on Merseyside paid £274,00 to hire extra teachers to keep classes below the legal threshold. In 1998 the then Labour government legislated to limit infant classes for five- to seven- year olds to a maximum of 30 pupils, but some councils in London are now calling for this to be raised to 32 when it was revealed that Sefton council spent the cash on extra teachers for just 8 extra pupils during the past 2 years. "The problem is that the '30' class size limit for infant classes is completely rigid,” said Liberal Democrat
councillor Simon Shaw in a report. “Surely, a bit of flexibility could be introduced? A common-sense solution is to change the law so that schools have the flexibility to go up to 32 children in an infant class, if they wish, but only so long as they have a qualified, full-time teaching assistant as well as a teacher." Liberal Democrat-controlled Sutton Council is asking for support from other London councils to urge Education Secretary Michael Gove to change the legislation, while a Department for Education spokesperson said the government's position was unchanged: "The law remains clear that it is illegal for infant classes to exceed 30 pupils – no parent would want their child taught in a huge class.” Government figures show that nearly half a million extra primary pupils in England will need places by 2015.
Top Tips on Flexible Working 1. When negotiating flexible working, make sure you think practically about what works for your family. For instance, make sure your childcare plans allow enough leeway so you don't end up rushing everywhere all the time.
to do all other tasks that need doing outdoors, eg posting a letter, enroute. Eventually it will become a way of life.
3. Prepare all the school/nursery/childminder stuff you need in the morning the night before, including uniforms and lunch boxes. That way you only have to get the kids up, dressed, breakfasted and out in the morning. Anything more increases the stress levels and means you arrive at work as if you have been on a combat training course.
once in a while.
7. Be good to your friends and family.You will need them. If a friend does you a favour, 2. Be incredibly organised. Have a list where ensure you always repay it so that you can you write down everything you have to do. ask again in the future. You can then feel a sense of achievement as 8. Simplify your life - say no to the things you you tick it off, even if you are adding more don't need to do and build in some rest time things to it in the meantime. into your life. Everyone needs a duvet day 9. Ask your friends for tips on what makes their lives easier. It may be something as simple as tying your door keys round your neck to stop you from always scrabbling about for them. Learn from those who have gone before you.
10. Be your own best friend. You will spend 4.Try to plan ahead so you are not always re- your life doing things for other people. Ensure arranging childcare at the last minute. This that you also build some time in for yourself, includes inset days, holidays, Christmas plays, even if it is only to have a bath all by yourself. summer outings, etc, etc. 5. Have a back-up back-up plan. Negotiate with your partner, if you have one, or any other form of support what you will do if there is an emergency such as school closure and try to share the burden. If you know in advance that there is going to be an emergency such as a school strike negotiate with your work to see if you can work more flexibly that day, eg, from home.
This article is written by Mandy Garner, Editor of Workingmums.co.uk. Workingmums.co.uk is a jobsite and community for workingmums looking to work flexibly around their family. They also run events - Workingmums.co.uk LIVE London is at the Business Design Centre, 6. Multi-task. Try to save time by doing Islington on March 27th 2012. To register several things at once. If you are going out to your free place visit drop someone off, make sure you remember www.WorkingmumsLIVE.co.uk/london
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Get ready to celebrate t This summer, the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be an amazing festival of sport and culture: a breathtaking event that the whole nation can get excited about.You will get to see the very best athletes in the world, the fastest runners, the highest jumpers and the strongest swimmers. Here’s how you too can get involved and be a part of the greatest sporting event in the world. Be a Local Leader The Local Leader programme is an opportunity for people in communities across the UK to be at the heart of the London 2012 Games and celebrate them in your local area. Millions of people will be celebrating and at the heart of every celebration will be the one person who makes a difference, an organiser or someone who makes things happen. So if this sounds like you, why not become a London 2012 Local Leader and plan an activity that can include the whole family. All you need is an idea of how you will celebrate the Games.You can create your own events or use the ideas communities across the UK suggested to London 2012. From Gardening for the games to planning a sports quiz or an opening night in or a super Saturday family BBQ, get your friends, family and neighbours ready to celebrate the greatest sporting event in the world. Ideas to get you started and involve the whole family: Let’s get gardening Dig out your trowel and get planting! Use your window pots, garden or community allotment to celebrate through all things floral. You can use Olympic colours or Union Jack themes. School’s out Every week during the school holidays keep the family busy during the holidays with the toolkit from London 2012. Packed with ideas and learning opportunities. Design a flag Why not design an Olympic flag to wave when the Olympic Torch passes through your town or village. For more information and to register visit: www.london2012.com/localleaders Youth and Family Gold Challenge The Youth and Family Gold Challenge is the charity challenge where you take on Olympic and Paralympic Sports to raise money for charity. Everyone aged 5 and over can take part either as an individual, as part of a team, or with your family and fundraise money for one of Gold Challenge’s 125 charities.
1. The 2012km Challenge Celebrating the Olympic year, choose your target distance at 2,012, 201.2 or 20.12km and then complete this in your preferred sports.You need to be aged seven or over to register. Cover your chosen distance via one or more of the following sports (for families or groups this is an aggregated total): ! Running ! Walking ! Swimming ! Canoeing/Kayaking ! Rowing ! Sailing 2. Olympic Sport Challenge
! Cycling ! Horse-riding
This challenge is for those of you who want to try out new sports. Pick five Olympic or Paralympic sports to learn or improve on, then coach or take part in a competitive event to complete your challenge. You need to be aged seven or over to register. 3. The Family Activity Challenge This is a two part challenge, perfect for families as it's all about doing sports together, regardless of age or ability. Firstly, choose one new sport to learn then do two of the following as a family: ! Swim 500 metres ! Run 1,500 metres ! Walk 5,000 metres ! Cycle 10,000 metres The Family Activity Challenge can be done anywhere you choose but you must complete it together as a family. More information is available at: www.goldchallenge.org Renting your home for the games For those lucky enough to live near to the Olympic park, there’s one bit question you might be thinking; can I rent my house to visitors for the games? Some London letting agents have reported a serious interest from those looking to rent their homes near to the action this summer. Reports suggest some homeowners are asking between £3,000 and £5,000 per week to rent their home.
The Family Activity Challenge This challenge is all about doing sports together and is perfect for families. Learn one new sport and or try a family run, walk, cycle or swim. It’s accessible for younger children or those who want to involve elder members of the family too. The Youth and Family Gold Challenge offers three challenge options to choose from. This is your challenge and you can choose how you do it: ! Complete your challenge indoors or outdoors ! Choose new sports, or push yourself further in your favourite sport ! Complete it as an individual or as a family
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he London 2012 Games If you are thinking of renting your home, there are two options available: pay an agent who specialises in short-term lets or do it yourself! Agents will typically charge commission of 10 – 15% and the advantage being they provide a contract and crucially collect the money for the rent. If you wish to avoid paying commission, then there are a variety of websites such as rentduringthegames.com where you can list your property for a small insertion free. Considerations for letting your family home ! All your cupboards, wardrobes and draws will need to empty and all personal possessions removed from y our property. ! You will need to have a spotlessly clean house ! There will be a cost associated with finding somewhere for your family to stay while your home is rented ! You will pay tax on the income you generate from the rent ! Your home insurance will not cover you for commercial lets so you will need to organise additional cover. Useful website to help you decide whether to rent your home during the Olympics www.accommodatelondon.com/olympics
www.londonrentmyhouse.com • www.2012homerentals.com www.rentduringthegames.com Carry on camping! There is also the opportunity for garden owners of London to fill the accommodation gap with an affordable alternative – renting your garden to campers!
Campinmygarden.com launched in April 2011 is an online advertising site for private garden owners to rent their garden to travellers as a low cost shortterm alternative to expensive hotels.The London 2012 Olympic games offers homeowners the opportunity to rent their garden as a micro-campsite for two weeks, providing an accessible, affordable and fun alternative to traditional accommodation that might otherwise be very costly. Campinmygarden.com allows garden owners to be open about the facilities they can provide and the pricing they offer. The rating and reviewing system also allows campers to provide a review and a rating, which can provide an insight for the next visitor. Why not rent your garden this summer and earn yourself some extra cash whilst allowing visitors to experience the “real” London with a warm welcome and friendly stay. For more information visit: www.campinmygarden.com
Sir Steve Redgrave you raise? Yes, I am fully recovered after my accident. We managed to raise about £35,000 for Sport Relief and my fund. Do you think you are born with the desire to succeed or can you cultivate it? There are so many different factors in achieving something. I am sure it is a combination of both.
Photograph: Tom Hayton
Sir Steve Redgrave is one of world’s most famous Olympians. Claire Winter interviewed him about the London 2012 Olympics and his life as an athlete and a dad. How did you get in to rowing? The head of the English department at my small comprehensive in Marlow asked me if I would like to try the sport. Going out of school during school time always appealed to me. Being this country’s and one of the world’s most successful Olympians is quite an accolade- how have you managed to achieve so much? A lot of fun but hard work, dedication, focus and desire. What do you think your greatest achievement is? A combination of all the Olympics I competed at, being a consistent winner for nearly 20 years, which stands me out from almost every other Olympian. It is possible to balance family life with being a competitive athlete? Yes, I managed to balance it but it helped having a very supportive family. You took part in the cycling race, Race Across America in the summer. Are you fully recovered from the accident you had and how much money did
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The London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic rowing and canoeing events are being held at Dorney Lake next year, do you think that more young people will take up rowing and canoeing because of this? Yes, definitely.After every Olympic games the intake of people taking up the sport increases. I am sure after the home games this will be even greater. What is your advice to young sports men and women who want to take up sport competitively? I think the main factor is enjoyment. The more you enjoy something the more effort you will put in and the more you will achieve. Many schools don’t hold competitive sports days, do you think we need to encourage more competitiveness in our schools? We live in a very competitive world and I feel sport helps you deal with the success and failure of life and this is something we shouldn’t be hiding away from until you leave school and enter the big wide world. How can parents encourage their children to do more sport? Most people find sport through education. But parents should play a big part in encouraging them to get involved outside school, but this is a very big sacrifice for them as well.
Marlow rowing club (where you used to train) has suffered a terrible blow because of the fire in August, do you think it can recover? Yes, the club is going through a difficult time at the moment but it is amazing how much support the club has had from the local community and I am sure it will be stronger in the long term. You have just released a new book Great Olympic Moments, apart from your own, what is your favourite? It is difficult for me to pick out one because all the images mean something to me. Mark Spitz was my first awareness of the Olympic games as a 10 year old, which had a big impact on me, but I love the image of Cathy Freeman sitting on the track straight after her success at the Sydney Games. She looks like she has just lost and not won and I can empathise with that feeling. So much focus, dedication and sacrifice has gone in to that moment, but no thought has been given to what happens once you cross the line. Sir Steve has published an Olympic themed book,Great Olympic Moments. Complete with stunning, specially selected photographs, he recounts his favourite Olympic stories and reveals what it is that makes these moments truly great. All the stars of past and present are in the book. Also included are some of the more infamous moments of Olympic history, including Black Power 1968, the Munich hostage crisis of 1972, Mary Decker Slaney's clash with Zola Budd in LA 1984 and Ben Johnson's disqualification at Seoul 1988, to name but a few. ® ®
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Nursery care _ the beds and iron the laundry and leave the kitchen spotless at the end of the day. And of course, if you’ve been out at work since dawn and you’ve got another tough day tomorrow, tidiness does matter – because in order to enjoy a bit of time with your child, you don’t want to have to start ploughing through the washing up. But expecting too much ‘round the edges’ from a carer means your child can miss out: because it’s that primary relationship between the nanny, or mother’s help, or childminder, that matters more than anything else. Interestingly, Ofsted recently came to the same conclusion. In recent years, the main thrust of an Ofsted check on a nursery or childminder has been on safety issues, especially safeguarding ones. But under new plans, inspectors will concentrate instead, in the future, on whether children feel loved and emotionally secure while they’re in the nursery or childminder’s home, and will look at children’s personal development, such as how ready they are to share and to take turns, and how well they engage with the other children around them.
Joanna Moorhead reveals the secret ingredient in childcare – and explains how Ofsted has caught on to it as well If 18 years of organising childcare for my children taught me anything at all, it’s this: you can pay someone to look after your kids, but you can’t pay someone to love them.What this means – or at least, what it means to me – is that when and if someone comes along who actually does love your kids, hold onto them for all you’re worth; because they are literally priceless in your family’s life. For me, the wonderful carer who really did love my daughters was Linda, who looked after them (and sometimes me as well) for eight years. She arrived in our family’s life when my eldest child was two, and she stayed until the birth of my fourth. When she left, she said it was because she didn’t want to fall in love with another of my babies – because then it would be too hard to leave, and during the time she’d been working for us, she and her husband had moved further out of town. Across the years I reckon I’ve paid at least 20 different carers to look after my children – and I still occasionally have to find childcare for my youngest daughter, who is nine. I’ve searched for – and found – carers for tiny babies, and for older (and not always very easy) pre-schoolers. I’ve found nurseries for some of my children, and I’ve had au pairs from time to time. None of the carers in our family were as much a part of our team as Linda was, and none of them loved my children as much as she did (she still comes back to see them, several years on); but the more the carer engaged with, and enjoyed, whichever child or children she was looking after, the happier the children were. So I have no doubt at all what matters most in choosing a childcarer. Look for someone who makes your child happy, pure and simple. Look for someone your child looks forward to being with, and is happy to share his or her days with. Often – or so it has sometimes seemed to me – parents are too ambitious in their hopes for a childcarer; and ironically, this means they end up getting a raw deal for their child. They want a carer who, as well as looking after their child, will also manage to make
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The plans are out for consultation until April, but they’ve already received a warm welcome – because of course they make perfect sense.
I’d also say, looking back over my many years of employing childcarers, that – strangely enough – the carers the kids would have chosen were unfailingly the ones who were most successful in our family. The litmus test of a childcarer’s abilities is, at the end of the day, whether your child would choose to be with that person (assuming you aren’t available which, of course, you’re not). For this reason, it seems a bit odd to me that parents sometimes report feeling jealous of the feelings their child has for their childcarer. No carer is ever going to replace a parent, but surely the very best accolade for the choice you’ve made for your children is if your replacement is the next-best person in their life? Ideally, a carer should resemble a much-loved family member – depending on what sort of carer they are, and what sort of age they are. So in my family, Linda was a ‘granny’ figure (although she was only ten years older than me, and a very glamorous granny when she first arrived at our door, aged just 40); we’ve had Czech and Polish au pairs, usually shared with other families, who have had a bigsisterly relationship with my daughters; and we’ve had carers in nurseries who have been like favourite aunties.
And all in all, my daughters have laughed a lot, and enjoyed their time, and improved their social skills through their attachments and their relationships with the people who’ve cared for them. Like every working mother, I owe all these people who’ve backed me up through the years a huge debt of gratitude: because we all need to know our kids are safe and happy in order to do our jobs. So, follow your instincts is what I’d say: find someone your child really likes being with, and a carer who clearly enjoys being with your child. If you’re very , very lucky, you may even find someone to love him, or her; and then you’ll truly have hit the jackpot. M arc h /A pri l 2 012
_Nursery care Childcare: your options There’s lots to think about when you’re weighing up which sort of childcare to go for. Do you want your child looked after at home, or somewhere else; with other children, or one-to-one with a carer? You’ll also need to consider what sort of care will dovetail with your working hours; plus (and all-importantly) your budget. A nursery: usually open long hours, typically from 7am to 7pm. You need to think about how you’ll get your child to and from nursery; also, if you intend having another child soon, remember that having two children at nursery will double (or almost double, if there’s a sibling discount) the costs. Expect to pay: £30-50 a day
Childcare pitfalls
NDon’t be vague with your carer about what you want/need. But once you’ve spelt out what you need, be prepared to trust her to provide what your child needs when she’s in charge, within the boundaries you have set
NDon’t enter into a childcare arrangement unless you’re certain that the logistics work. Any niggle about practicalities is likely to grow much, much bigger as time goes by
NDon’t forget to trust your instincts. Never ignore any nagging doubts about a carer’s suitability – explore the doubts instead, because you need to be completely sure that all is well when you’re not around
A childminder: looks after up to six children (three of whom can be under five) in her own home. Childminders can often be flexible about working hours. Expect to pay: between £3 and £8 an hour A nanny: looks after your child in your own home, and may live in or live out. You can cut your costs, and give your child a playmate, if you share a nanny with another family with a similar-aged child. Expect to pay: between £7 and £10 an hour, plus you’re responsible for your nanny’s tax and NI contributions. An au pair or mother’s help: au pairs or mother’s helps tend to come from other EU countries, and may or may not live in your house. They’re often not trained, but will need to have some experience of childcare; they look after your children, and may do some housework as well. Expect to pay: between £6 and £8 an hour for a live-out, less if they’re live-in and you’re providing food.
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Activities this Easter The holidays are a’ coming Anglesey Abbey, Gardens and Lode Mill and the endless weeks of the The great Lode egg raft race 2012 Easter break loom ahead, Family fun with an egg, card, lollypop stick and water this Easter... your marks, egg-set, go...create your own raft, decorate an egg long and empty. You’re On then try your hand at sailing it down the Lode. Eggstra special bored of the park but don’t prize for all brave designers! Face painting, games and competition want your kids stuck in front make Anglesey Abbey extra fun for all this Easter. of the TV, so why not enrol For more details:them in one of the many 01223 810080 angleseyabbey@nationaltrust.org.uk clubs and classes running Easter Family Fun Day during the holidays. From Farmland Museum And Denny Abbey drop-in groups to week- Make your own easter bonnet or bandana and then take part in Easter parade, weave willow help paint and complete the giant long camps, there’s a whole the Easter motif on the grass, then you can take part on the Easter array of activities out there. egg trail. Drop in (no bookings needed)
From football, rugby, tennis, horse-riding, swimming, martial arts, archery, gymnastics and trampolining to ballet, drama, arts and crafts, pottery, design, leaning a language, cookery, science, music, chess, puppet making, clay modeling, princess camp and even beauty camp (a little scary!), there are more activities on offer than ever before. Holiday activities can be a great experience for children: classes can play a big role in children’s physical and intellectual growth, whilst working with others helps them learn cooperation and teamwork. Activities can give children confidence and while they learn their new sport or instrument they are having fun and, most importantly, making friends.
info@farmlandmuseum.org.uk 01223 860 988 8th April- 9th April 10:30am- 5.00pm
SuperCamps- The Perse School Prep Multi-Activity Day Camps
For All Kids Aged 4-14 Over 40+ Activities that include Sports, Arts & Crafts Book Individual Days or Full Weeks. Exciting activities like Motor Quads, Archery, Trampolining and more. 24ft Mobile Climbing Wall - suitable for ages 6+ www.supercamps.co.uk 01235 832 222
Top tips
Easter Fun at St Neots Museum
o Deciding which activity to choose can be hard -
o
o
*Easter Family Drop-in Workshops*
consider your child’s interests and temperament but try not to label them too rigidly. Just because your child is shy doesn’t mean drama should be off the menu
Don't limit yourself to the familiar — try something new. Even if your child shows a special talent and interest in one activity, make sure they get exposed to others too, although if you do find something your child is passionate about, don’t hesitate to encourage it Check the fees involved – there may be hidden costs such as uniforms or costumes
o If your child is a reluctant joiner, find out what activities their
friends are doing. With some children, who is more important than what
o It’s important that children have at least some unstructured time at home to play, relax, even get bored. Remember that a little boredom can be the fountainhead of exploration and creativity
No need to book, just come along! All children must be accompanied by an adult. £2 per child, suitable for ages 4+. *Easter Eggtrstravaganza!* Wednesday 4th & Thursday 12th April
Bring along a hard boiled egg and decorate it with glitter galore. Make an Easter bunny basket to display your sparkling creation. *Easter Bonnets and horned helmets*
Whether you go for suave and stylish or bold and battle-ready, join in the fun and make your own hat for Easter. Thursday 5th and Wedsnesday 11th April 2012 *FREE Easter Trail*
Follow the trail around the museum and collect your Easter surprise. 01480 388921
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f Easter Barracudas kids Camp- Huntingdon Activity’s vary depending on the the age of the child, you can go on there website: www.barracudas.co.uk
Santa Pod 6-9th April 2012
gardens and glasshouses, the Cambridge University Botanic Garden is an inspiration for gardeners, an exciting introduction to the natural world for families, and provides a great day out for all our visitors. The Garden Café and Botanic Garden Shop are open every day, and visitors are welcome to bring picnics. www.botanic.cam.ac.uk 01223 336 265
The Auto Trader Easter Thunderball at Santa Pod Raceway
KINNERZ COACHING EASTER FUN DAYS
Santa Pod Raceway is the home of adrenaline-fuelled Drag Racing. Four days of action packed motorsport and entertaining fun for the whole family.
@ Park Street school, Cambridge
www.santapod.com
April 3-5th & 10th-12th ~ 8:45 am – 3:30/5:30 pm
Arts & Craft – Dance – Football – Multi sport & more. Family discounts on offer.
Easter Extravaganza
For full information, contact Phil Kinsey today:
3, 5 and 7 April 2012
pj.kinnerz@ntlworld.com / (01223) 571 385
Celebrate springtime this Easter holidays and join in the Easter Extravaganza at the Cambridge University Botanic Garden on Tuesday 3,Thursday 5 or Saturday 7 April 2012. Children can make a bunny or a lamb using natural materials, and navigate a special Easter Trail, collecting signs of spring stamps on the way. As an added eggstra, Dawn Isaac will be joining in the fun on Saturday’s Easter Extravaganza! Dawn is the author of a new book Garden Crafts for Children, and she will be demonstrating activities such as growing birthday cards, decoupage plant pots and herb bath bags, as well as signing copies of her new gardening with children bible. Easter Extravaganza runs on 3, 5 and 7 April from 11am – 3pm, £3 per child, drop-in, no need to book, plus normal Garden admission charges for accompanying adults.
For more activities over the Easter Holidays please see out What’s On Section on pages 15 - 16.
With plants from all over the world displayed in a 40-acre oasis of
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Family ! Supporter of Red Balloon launches e-petition to change the law A supporter of Red Balloon has submitted an e-petition requesting an amendment to the education law to ensure that students who self exclude from school following severe bullying have a legal right to access full time suitable education and that money is specifically identified to fund this from within allocated alternative provision budgets. Dr Carrie Herbert MBE, founder and Chief Executive of Red Balloon, commented: “We are delighted that one of our supporters feels so strongly they have launched this e-petition. We know that we can successfully recover bullied children at our Centres – but we need your help to secure the necessary funding from Government. Please visit http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/26152 to sign the petition and let all your family and friends know that by signing this they could help change the lives of thousands of severely bullied children” Founded in 1996, Red Balloon is the only charity which specifically helps severely bullied children who are out of school and missing an education. Research shows there are 16,000 such children in the UK today. With Centres in Cambridge, Norwich, NW London, Merseyside, Reading and Warwick as well as a new on-line initiative, Red Balloon of the Air, the aim of the charity is to restore children’s self confidence, get them back on an academic track and support their return to mainstream education or into employment. Some of the students have been out of school for months or even years – but they are recoverable and 95% of the children who stay at a Centre longer than six weeks are successfully recovered.
The Moca-do-poo Bird By Alasdair Adie Come on a journey with Sam and Daisy into the fabulous fantasy land of the Home Stream, as they meet the Moca-do-poo Bird and his enchanting friends. The Moca-do-poo Bird is a bright and comical character whom Sam and Daisy discover was abandoned as a young chick on the edge of the Home Stream and raised by Moo, the cow. Sam and Daisy share a series of encounters with the Moca-do-poo's animal friends and help him to rediscover his purpose in life and find out what happened to his own family. A rich, warm and enchanting tale with beautiful illustrations, written to be a true bed time story. Aimed at ages 4 to 7. This is an utterly charming book which not only enthralls the younger reader, but also the parents who read it to them. The characters are delightful in their innocence and inquisitiveness which in turn, enthralls and engages the reader. The wonderful illustrations by Jane Porter only enhances this wonderful story. www.mocadopoobird.com
H OW M U C H WO U L D YO U PAY TO P U T A H AT O N YO U R H E A D ? On the 30th of March 2012 Brain Tumour Research and its member charities will be encouraging nurseries, schools, colleges, universities, public sector bodies and office workers to make a donation in order to nominate their head to wear a s illy hat for the day in aid of the charitys annualWear a Hat Day. The campaign aims to raise awareness regarding the prevalence of brain tumours and the need for vital research. Wear a Hat Day is an annual awareness day which encourages people to makedonations to wear a hat to school or in the office. This year Brain Tumour Research is also encouraging students and workers nationwide to challenge their head to wear a hat for the day. From sponsored silences to charityruns and office bake-offs, organisations around the country are beingencouraged to raise money in any which way they see fit in order to sponsor their head to wear a silly hat. Sue Farrington-Smith, Director of Brain Tumour Research, comments: Brain Tumour Research receives less than 1% of national cancer
researchspending in the UK yet the deadly disease kills more children and people under the age of 40 than any other cancer. Wear a Hat Day is a fun way of increasing awareness and getting people raising money for an often overlooked form of cancer. Brain Tumour Research has recruited the help of Kate Langrish-Smith, crowned Young Hat Maker of the Year 2010, to develop the official range of campaign hats. Instructions to make your own bespoke hat will be available to download from the website alongside another downloadable PDF which will allow you to create your own hat simply out of paper. These interactive features allow everyone to access and support the campaign and both DIY hats will be
accompanied by an online instructions video. Philip Treacy, celebrity hat designer and patron to the charity, comments: Fashion is a feeling and a mood and therefore how better to express your passion and commitment to a subject such as brain tumour research than by wearing a fantastic hat? It immediately creates a statement and it doesn't matter what the hat is or how much it costs; everybody who gets involved will feel a million dollars on the day, whilst also raising much needed research funds and awareness." Philip has also contributed to the campaign by providing an image of a hat that he has designed for an exclusive badge that will be available as a limited edition. This badge will be available for purchase through the website, alongside this years wear a hat badges which will be launched for sale during March brain tumour awareness month. Brain Tumour Research represents the united campaign voice of the BrainTumour Research group of 18 charities. Launched in 2009, the charity was established specifically to raise funds for brain tumour research.
To g e t i n v o l v e d , r e q u e s t y o u r f u n d r a i s i n g p a c k s o r f o r f u r t h e r b a c k g r o u n d i n t o B r a i n Tu m o u r Re s e a r c h g o t o h t t p : / / w w w. b ra i n t u m o u r r e s e a r c h . o rg / > h t t p : / / w w w. b ra i n t u m o u r r e s e a r c h . o rg / .
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" What’s on/Events Mon 12 March - Sun 25 March Cambridge Science Festival Venues throughout Cambridge With over 180 events, the Festival offers children and adults alike the chance to get involved in some of the University’s cutting edge research between 12 – 25 March, with family fun days on the 17 and 24 March 2011. As part of the Inspire programme of activities across the UK, endorsed by the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Festival has the theme ‘Breaking boundaries’, and we have loads of events celebrating the science behind sport throughout the Festival. The Guest Director for 2012 is comedian Robin Ince who will be hosting loads of events. These include Robin Ince’s ‘Bad science book club’ (16 March), in which he will join Alan Moore and other guests to discuss their favourite odd, arcane or frankly just bad pieces of science literature, and ‘Happiness through science’ (18 March), in which Robin asks can you be happy and rational at the same time?
by Lizzie Hazell
Hovermagic 10.00am - 4:00pm Design a model hovercraft. The Department of Engineering invites you to learn about the forces needed to make a hovercraft move by making a working model. Will it go? Will it travel in a straight line? How fast can you make it go? Free, University Centre, tel: 01223 337766
Saturday 17th March 2012 Babboe Box Bike Open Day - Lammas Land Babboe box bikes are the number- one selling cargo bike in Holland and are now available in the UK cambridgebabboe@hotmail.com
Sunday, 25th March 2012 Wandlebury Science Festival Breaking boundaries Explore how plants and animals break boundaries and try breaking some yourself take a walk around the country park
Other highlights of the Festival include a discussion on the subject of The Planets between an astronomer and a conductor, followed by a performance of the work by Holst; racing mini rockets using lasers at the Institute for Manufacturing; and a talk on how the BBC’s hit series Frozen Planet was produced.
Drop by from 11am- 3:30pm
Twisters and spirals 1.00 - 3:00pm
Whatever you age, there will certainly be something of interest at this year’s Cambridge Science Festival. We’ll have the usual mix of interactive fun for all ages at our open days on 17 and 24 March, along with plenty for adults at the evening lecture series.
As part of Science Week, join artist Lara Jones for an introduction to kinetic sculpture in the permanent collection, with an opportunity to make your own mobile.
01223 766 766
Free, Kettle's Yard House and Gallery 01223 748100
Tuesday 3rd April or Wednesday 4th April Easter Holiday Activity day at Wandlebury Archery and orienteering taster 10am- 12:30pm ages 6+ children must be accompanied £6.50 per child CPPF members £5.00 Adults are free
Thursday 5th April 2012 Burwell Museum Children's activity day Easter arts and crafts www.burwellmuseum.org.uk
Tuesday 3rd April And Thursday 5th April 2012 Children’s activity day Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey - Waterbeach 124 pm
Sunday 11th, 18th, 25th March and 22nd April 2012 Duxford Imperial War Museum Fundays Sundays 11.30 - 15.30
Toys time about toys from the past under 5’s free £4.50 for above 5’s Drop in (n bookings needed) 01223 860 988 info@farmlandmuseum.org.uk
Battle of Britain Hangar 4 Try on mini-wartime uniforms and learn about the War through toys and books. duxford@iwm.org.uk 01223 835 000
Saturday 17th March 2012
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Friday 6th to Monday 9th April 2012 The Sedgwick Museum The time truck 10:30 - 15:30pm
Steam Rides at East Anglian Railway Museum
Sedgwick Museum of Earth Sciences and Department of Earth Sciences Travel in time with Time Truck! Investigate rocks and minerals, discover dinosaurs and explore earthquake science with handson activities and demonstrations. Drop-in, all ages, hands-on. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Free but donations welcomed.
01206 242524
Thomas is planning to visit Chapel! East Anglian Railway Museum Chapel and Wakes Colne Station
Saturday 7th April 2012 Easter fun day at Wandlebury 11am- 4pm Cost: £8.00 per child photo trail egg hunt and make easter related crafts all children must be accompanied by adults booking is essential • for details and to book a place phone Cambridge past, present and future head ranger Jon Gibbs: 07833598155 ranger@cambridgeppf.org ® ®
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" What’s on/Events Sunday 8th April- Monday 9th April 2012
Ongoing
Easter Family Fun Day 10:30am- 5.00pm
Treasure Seekers - Cambridge Christadelphians
Farmland Museum And Denny Abbey Make your own easter bonnet or bandana and then take part in the Easter parade, weave willow help paint and complete the giant Easter motif on the grass, then you can take part on the Easter egg trail.
Where: Christadelphian Hall, 184, Vinery Road, off Coldhams Lane, Cambridge, CB1 3DS When: Ongoing regular activity. On Thursday. 6.30 - 8 pm. Available to: any child if brought and collected by an adult between the ages of 5- 12 Children have Bible Story with art/craft and indoor games
Drop in (no bookings needed) 01223 860 988 info@farmlandmuseum.org.uk
Tuesday 10th April 2012 Easter Holiday Activity Day at Wandlebury: Watery Wonders 10am- 12:30pm story led by nature ages 2-5 must be accompanied £6.50 per child adults free booking is essential as places are limited contact: Cambridge past, present and future 01223 243 830 EXT 201
M a t h s Tu i t i o n Would you like help with school or college mathematics? GCSE, AS or A2 levels by experienced tutor at your home. I can also help with younger children with school maths problems.
Playdays - The Fields Children's Centre 12:30pm-2:30pm Where: The Fields Children's Centre, The Fields Children's Centre, Galfrid Road, Cambridge, CB5 8ND Ongoing regular activity. On Thursday.A fun drop in and play session including singing, books, chattersacks and more! Suitable for children 0-4 years.
Come & Play - Papworth Children's Centre 9am - 12pm Papworth Children's Centre, Pendragon Community Primary School, Varrier Jones Drive, Papworth Everard, Cambridge, CB23 3XQ Ongoing regular activity. On Thursday. Free Come in and use our facilities at any time during the day to meet with friends and have a coffee whilst the children play. Breakfast available until 10am. Under 5’s
Little Stars - Papworth Children's Centre 1:30 - 2:45pm Daisy Childrens Centre, Varrier Jones Drive, Papworth Everard, Cambridge, CB23 3XQ Ongoing regular activity. On Thursday. Structured play session to provide stimulation and information for children who would benefit support around development and health needs.
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