Families Gloucestershire January-February 2018 issue 42

FR E E

TAKE

ME H

OME

IN THIS ISSUE

Gloucestershire

Education

Being Happy At Nursery

Learning To Read Alone

New Year, New You Fitness Ideas For Parents Tips For Good Mental Health

IALS FREE TR

Issue 42 January/February 2018

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Editor’s Letter

Big Garden Birdwatch

Dear readers New year – new you!

Parenthood keeps you busy but does it always keep you fit? Temptation to eat naughty treats is all around when you have kids while finding reasons to put off doing exercise is all too easy when you are tired. Check out our fitness ideas to inspire busy parents.

It is just as important to look after our mental well being as well as our physical health. Maintaining good mental health is important for the whole family. In this issue we share the five-aday tips for good mental health.

You and your family can take part in this year's garden bird survey being organised by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). All you need to do is to count the different birds you spot in your garden over three days and record what Diane Clifford you see. The RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch takes Editor place between 27-29 January.

01684 770566 ww2.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/birdwatch editor@familiesgloucestershire.co.uk

We also discuss how to keep your children active and how to encourage them to enjoy reading alone. And you will find news on open days for the leading independent schools in our area.

Lack Of Sleep Is Damaging

Advertise with us and reach over 44,000 Next issue March/April (Easter).

Booking deadline is Friday 9 February.

Families Gloucestershire 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 Gloucestershire are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Hereford & Worcester. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine, but the franchise company, Families Print Ltd and Lifecycle Marketing cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequence thereof.

More than a third of primary school children are failing to get sufficient sleep, according to new research. The study has linked poor sleep with difficulties in paying attention in class, keeping up with school work, forgetfulness and absenteeism.

The research, carried out by the University of Leeds has shown that despite the NHS recommendation of 10 hours, 36 per cent of primary age children get eight hours of sleep or less per night. Even more worryingly, 15 per cent get less than seven hours. Other factors contributing to poor sleep were poor parental sleep patterns and lack of routine. More information on the study can be found at www.leeds.ac.uk

Register for Wear A Hat Day And Start Planning Your Event Wear A Hat Day is the UK’s premier brain tumour research fundraising event. It takes place on Thursday 29 March. UK Brain Tumour Awareness Month is also in March. Schools and families across the country get involved to help raise funds for research into brain tumors.

Brain tumors kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer… yet just 1% of the national spend on cancer research has been allocated to this devastating disease. Families are being left devastated by this dreadful disease.

Taking part can be as simple as putting on a hat and donating on the day, but most families like to create entertaining fundraising events. Many schools for example have inventive hat competitions, parades and fashion shows and raise hundreds if not thousands of pounds.

Register now on www.wearahatday.org and start planning your hattastic fundraising event.

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To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesgloucestershire.co.uk

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News & Views

Old Woollen Mill Comes To Life

Don’t Forget

Applications for local authority Primary Schools must be submitted by Monday 15 January if your child is due to start school in September 2018.

Thanks to a major grant from the For more information: www.gloucestershire.gov.uk Heritage Lottery Fund, visitors will be able to step back in time to the sights and sounds of Ebley Mill for a dramatic new exhibition at The Museum in the Park, Stroud, in February 2018. additional costs or challenges this might According to a survey by workingmums. involve and discuss them honestly.

Cathedral of Cloth, which runs from 3 co.uk, almost three quarters of working February to 4 March will demonstrate mums identify flexible work as being Give examples of the ways in which your the life and times of Ebley Mill, covering crucial to getting more women into work can be successfully carried out the site’s time as a woollen cloth mill for senior roles. under any new proposed working over 600 years.

The survey shows that mums feel flexible pattern, and show that it will not harm The programme includes workshops for working is vital for them to manage work the business. Point out any business children and adults in weaving and using and family life and that 60% of those who advantages. natural dyes during February half-term. work flexibly would like even more Research some case studies, ideally in www.museuminthepark.org.uk flexibility. So what can individuals do to your sector that shows how the help persuade their employers to agree suggested work pattern can be mutually to them working flexibly? beneficial.

Here are some tips: If managers are dubious, suggest a trial Think through what the job requires and Call 01684 770566 period. And have a compromise solution whether the tasks you have to perform to put your business in as a back-up. can be done at a different location ie from home, or at times outside of the front of 38,000 parents standard working day. Take account of any For more info www.workingmums.co.uk

More Flexible Working Opportunities

Maths Tops Popularity Poll for Children New research has shown that when it comes to children’s favourite subject it’s a numbers game as maths comes out on top. A survey carried by the extra tuition provider, Explore Learning has found that maths was the most enjoyed subject of four to 14 year olds (26%) followed by PE (20%) and art (16%). This was despite the fact that maths is also the subject that children admit to finding the most challenging, followed by English and geography.

More highlights of the survey include: • The next generation may signal the end of the gender divide as seven in ten (69%) of children think boys and girls are equally good at maths • Nearly two thirds (61%) think a job in maths would be exciting!

• 90% think being good at maths will help you get a better paid job in the future To inspire your aspiring mathematician there are great on how to make maths fun and engage young maths mind ideas at www.murderousmaths.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Could you be the next editor of Families Gloucestershire?

Would you like the flexibility of working from home and never miss a school performance or sports day again?

Are you interested in running your own business and would find the support offered by a franchise helpful?

Are you self-motivated and well organised?

You now have the opportunity to buy Families Gloucestershire Franchise – a business which is up and running, including established client base, readership and drop points.

No previous experience needed, training is available and you will have the support of the fantastic team at Families Magazine Ltd.

To find out more about running your own business around your family call 01684 770566 or email editor@familiesgloucestershire.co.uk

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3

Ed’s Reading Room

Hi kids, parents, grandparents, teachers – and book lovers everywhere! I’m Ed and here is my New Year book selection.

Ed’s Reading Room is an exciting free book review website. Download the specially written reading activities for these books and buy the books online at www.EdontheWeb.com. Have fun reading!

FOR AGES 5-7 YEARS

Safari Pug: The Dog Who Walked on the Wild Side by Laura James (Bloomsbury £5.99)

ED SAYS: “Pug is rather frightened when Lady Miranda wakes him with a very loud scream and tells him there is a lion in the bedroom. Lady Miranda’s housekeeper hurries into the room and searches everywhere. She assures them there is no lion – just a lot of crumbs under the bed!

The next day the friends set off for the safari park in order to meet a real lion and overcome their fears. But what if lions, or any other wild animals for that matter, liked pugs for lunch?”

Marge and the Great Train Rescue

by Isla Fisher (Piccadilly Press £5.99)

ED SAYS: “Have you met Marge who is arguably the best babysitter in the whole universe? Jemima’s little brother Jakey has a wobbly tooth that won’t quite come out but the children, with Marge’s help, find a rather unusual way of dealing with it. When the threesome set off on a journey by train, they are hopeful that Jakey will be able to drive the train but, when this looks doubtful, can Marge make his wish come true? And when they finally make it to the zoo, Marge entertains not only Jemima and Jakey but also crowds of other children.”

FOR AGES 7 YEARS PLUS

Toto the Ninja Cat and the Great Snake Escape by Dermot O’Leary

(Hodder £6.99) ED SAYS: “Toto the ninja cat and her brother Silver live in a town house in London but they were born in an olive grove in southern Italy where Toto learned to rely on her senses from a ninja cat master. During the day they appear to be ordinary cats but at night they love having adventures, starting with a tour of London by animal Tube. However things become more serious when a king cobra escapes from London Zoo. Toto has to draw on all of her skills to investigate and find the deadly snake before it’s too late.”

The Hippo at the End of the Hall

by Helen Cooper (David Fickling Books £10.99)

ED SAYS: “Come now or come never!

These are the words on the invitation delivered by bee-mail to Ben’s home.

There was no name on the envelope but Ben knew it was for him. It was strangely enticing to be invited to the Gee Museum but his Mum seemed very wary about it. It leads Ben into a curious world of unusual characters – some villainous and scary but some warm-hearted and lovable. Ben often wonders if he will ever find out the truth about his father’s mysterious disappearance.”

Ed’s Reading Room is part of www.edontheweb.com, a DTI award-winning website. It was created by Maggie Humphreys, a teacher of more than 25 years, and Les Snowdon, who together are authors of several books on fitness walking and healthy eating. You can contact Maggie on 01753 730019 or by email at maggiehumphreys@aol.com. See Maggie’s latest ebooks at www.WalkWalk.co.uk.

Churchdown School Opens Its New Phiz Lab New facilities at Churchdown Village Junior School, Churchdown, Gloucester were unveiled last term. At a special opening students from the school and local secondary schools conducted the first physics experiments in a new Phiz Lab. The Phiz Lab was made possible thanks to funding from the Ogden Trust, a charitable trust that exists to promote the teaching and learning of physics.

The opening consisted of 12 science stalls where budding young scientists wore lab coats and googles when demonstrating the exciting world of physics.

Churchdown Village Junior School is part of the Ogden Trust’s Gloucestershire North East Partnership who are at the heart of the Trust’s work and a crucial component of engaging both students and teachers in the area. The partnership consists of seven primary schools in Gloucestershire.

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Education

Encouraging Every Child To Talk

Are modern children losing the art of conversation? Are they too distracted to listen?

Are they able to listen to an opinion and then give their own or have they lost key skills through too much time on computer games and devices?

Communication skills are an essential part of learning and are currently a hotly debated topic – raising all these questions and more!

Dr Carolyn Shelley

The exponential growth of technology offers exciting learning opportunities and improved communication tools but they can also be an unwelcome distraction. In my experience, children have not lost the art – they are ‘hardwired’ from birth to develop the key skills of communication. However, in today’s busy world we do need to put an extra emphasis on ensuring CPPS - Families Magazine Ad_Layout 1 22/11/2017 11:03 Page 1 that children get as many opportunities as possible to develop these vital skills in amongst all the exciting activities they do.

Communication is, of course, one of the prime areas in the Early Years curriculum and it is always a delight being with young children and seeing their speech and listening skills develop and flourish through our many exciting and lively activities. In Kindergarten (our Pre-School year) for example, the Michaelmas Term curriculum puts great emphasis on Dean Close Pre-Prep - Families Magazine: Landscape - 130mm High x 180mm Wide (22.11.2017) listening, with many activities specifically geared towards

children developing greater skills in preparation for the introduction of phonics, such as role play, games and through the listening modelled by the adults around them. By the time children reach Year Two they amaze me with their astute comments on their work, their deep thoughts when discussing complex subjects (for example Remembrance Day) and their vocabulary when writing wonderful stories.

These are all vital building blocks for reading, writing and the foundations for becoming an independent, eloquent and wellrounded little person. I love listening to the children when they pop into my office to tell me how the day is going or what they did at the weekend. I encourage all parents to seize each and every precious moment they can to develop these essential skills no matter how small . You will certainly notice a big difference!

Dr Carolyn Shelley is headmistress www.deanclose.org.uk

Make the right start Open Days

Age 2-7 Years

DC

DEAN CLOSE

CHELTENHAM

Reception

Open Morning 9.00-11.00am

Tuesday 23rd January 2018

Whole School

Open Day

9.00-11.00am

Saturday 3rd March 2018

Whole School

Open Day

9.00-11.00am

Saturday 12th May 2018

PRE-PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Tel: 01242 258079 Email: squirrels@deanclose.org.uk www.deanclose.org.uk

LIBRARY | FOREST SCHOOL | STRINGS ‘ORCHESTRA’ | TENNIS & SWIMMING LESSONS

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5

Education

Ensuring Your Child Is Happy At Nursery The process of introducing a child to a new caring environment can throw up a number of challenges.

However, some can be prevented if your child’s nursery gets to know upfront what both you and your child need and want from childcare.

By Kristen Harding Before a child arrives at a new nursery, staff should take time to fully understand your child’s home routine. In this way, potential issues can also be nipped in the bud early.

Settling In This is a key part of the adjustment process. A change in environment can upset a child and parents are generally stressed and worried when their child is unsettled. For this reason, it’s vital that your chosen nursery takes time to help your child gently settle in. Communication is very important at this stage. You need to develop a trusting relationship with the staff and settle into the new arrangement just as much as your child does. In fact, it’s often parents that have most difficulty leaving a child behind in a new setting! However, communicating Potty Training regularly can help ease your nervousness and worry. In turn, any This is another key milestone in your child’s development and insecurity your child is feeling will also lessen. reaching it may throw up stumbling blocks! Again, it is important to remember that each child is different and so will begin to Separation Anxiety learn at a different point and progress at a different speed to Regardless of the time taken beforehand, separation anxiety is a other children. A good nursery will ensure there’s no feeling of natural and sometimes unavoidable part of leaving a child at a peer pressure between parents or children! nursery. Generally, separation anxiety lessens over time but you can help by ensuring that nursery staff understand as much as Don’t start potty training as your child is starting nursery. When possible about your child’s individual needs, how they behave you do decide to begin, ensure it’s not at a time of change or a when they are sad, anxious or upset and what helps calm them. stressful period at home. Share training methods with your child’s nursery to ensure consistency of approach.

Often the anxiety of a child lessens when his nursery assigns a key worker to him. By identifying one particular carer who is Sleep going to form a strong bond and connection with your child, he It is important that home and nursery work together over nap will have the stability of knowing there is an individual there times, as the needs of individual children differ. When a child that he can rely on. starts at a nursery, the nursery should follow the child’s home routine before adapting it slowly to suit the nursery pattern. It’s Eating then helpful if you try to prevent your child taking extra naps, Meal times at nursery are important and can have a real impact as his routine is likely to be disrupted. If your child struggles to on the confidence and comfort of a young child. What your sleep at the nursery, a toy or blanket from home can provide child is used to at home may differ greatly from what occurs in comfort and help them drift off. the nursery setting.

Whilst challenges are bound to arise during your child’s time at When you visit your child’s nursery, try to do so at meal time nursery, most particularly at the beginning, these can generally occasionally. In a good setting, you will see nursery staff leading be dealt with as long as there is good communication between by example, engaging children with different food choices, you and your child’s setting. helping them to learn about what they are eating and introducing new foods gradually. Meal times at nursery, as at Kristen Harding is a childcare expert at Tinies Childcare UK. For home, should be unpressurised and enjoyable. more information, visit www.tinies.com

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Education Start Your Child’s 11 Plus Journey Now The New Year is a great time to start thinking about your child’s 11plus future. By now, they’ve had time to settle into their new classes at school and January provides the perfect opportunity to set goals for the coming year.

Children who start their 11plus preparation now have plenty of time to identify and tackle any weak areas and steadily improve their skills.

It is also a good time to look into mock exams so that children know what to expect when the big day finally arrives.

In fact, KSOL’s experienced 11plus tutors recommend that children get as much practice as possible, as the exams will not only profile their ability but also help them to overcome emotional fears.

Using over 10 years of experience, KSOL can help your child achieve 11plus success with personalised online 11plus tuition and live exam experiences.

familiesonline.co.uk

KSOL runs specialised 11plus workshops during the February and Easter half term, aimed at children sitting their 11plus Grammar School exams.

For more information about KSOL mock exams and special New Year Offers on online courses, visit www.ksol.co.uk or call 0121 733 6558.

To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesgloucestershire.co.uk

7

Education

Teach Your Child To Love Reading Alone We all have that exquisite oft-repeated childhood memory, don't we? Nose in a book, legs dangling, miles from those meddling adults - metaphorically at any rate. So why is it so impossible for our own children to achieve literary independence; that feeling of wanting neither the chapter nor the afternoon to end?

By Justine Crow

siblings around, especially newborns, have a box of books the first child can escape to. Tell them it is theirs and nobody else's.

They can choose to share or enjoy by themselves.

4.When they are tiddlers, keep tablets and phones solely for games - preferably educational ones. Small children need the magic of a physical book to encourage their love of reading. As they grow older, e-readers have their place, such as on long journeys but don't forget, not only do children spend a lot of leisure time online, their schools increasingly use technology. For them, screens are the norm, not a refuge.

5.The switch from picture books to chapters is an exciting rite of passage. Now that they can actually read words, celebrate by going to the library or bookshop and allowing them to choose stories to try. It's okay for them to discover they don't like something they've picked out - they will find their preference in time. Don't put them off 'big' books - most modern kids manage to get through the Harry Potters without a problem. The arcane language of many children's classics is tough to make sense of, even for a seasoned adult reader, but let them have a go.

6.Get them to make a bookmark and feel proud of how many pages they clock up without interruption.

Instead, when your child proclaims that they are bored and you suggest they read a book, their sceptical facial expression says it all. But it is hardly surprising that there's a difference in our experience - we grew up without mobile phones, tablets, Xboxes, YouTube, or the lure of Minecraft. It was even customary then to have the telly rationed.

Now, it would be a miracle if they could concentrate long enough to watch a whole CBBC programme undisturbed. Here are my top ten tips for ensuring the book is as much of a distraction as its digital competition.

1. Start them young. Board books, cloth books, lift the tab. Show them how it works and then let them do it themselves. Don't be precious. Let them bite and chew and tear.

2. Encourage growing babes to turn the pages themselves. Not only will they get an idea of how a book functions, it will also help develop the essential fine motor skills for learning.

3. When choosing books for toddlers, consider their complexity.

Hardbacks are desirable but they are heavy for little hands. With 8

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7. Tintin is the perfect type of leave-alone-reading. Just because graphic novels are illustrated doesn't mean they lack in quality; just listen to the giggles when they get an Asterix book to themselves. Many favourite authors are available in accessible comic book form, especially the classics. Short story anthologies are less daunting and juicy fact books can be hard to put down.

8. Lead by example - if your child sees you gaining pleasure from the simple act of finding a corner and a book to retreat with, even for a mere five minutes, they will follow. Inevitably into the same corner as you!

9. Don't push them to read at bedtime when eyes and minds may be tired. Offer to finish a chapter aloud for them instead. It will keep them wanting more. And if they turn the light back on after you've closed the door to continue, is it really such a crime?

10. Don't use force. Reverse psychology is a wonderful device.

As an adult, there is nothing quite like the sheer heavenliness of being left in private with something thrilling and absorbing. Get it right and your child will long for that sensation all their lives.

Justine Crow is the author of The Little Book of Nits published by Bloomsbury. Parent of three, she owns her very own bookshop with her partner, The Bookseller Crow on Hill. www.booksellercrow.co.uk

To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesgloucestershire.co.uk

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Education

Register Early To Prepare For 11plus

Parents wishing to help their children prepare for Gloucestershire’s 11plus examination are advised to register early for group courses for Year 5 beginning in September 2018.

Courses are held in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham. They are run by a published author of very popular 11plus books who has many years experience of preparing hundreds of children for the 11plus.

Free trials are available any week. There is an option to switch course day if you are unable to attend a particular day.

The courses have an excellent record supported by testimonials and teach over 100 children weekly. The courses include periodic progress tests, the opportunity to do mock exams and also provide guidance and feedback to parents.

Due to demand, an additional course is being launched this month and places are filling quickly. Mock exam dates are due to be released soon. For more information: Please contact Philip McMahon email: 11plustutoringacademy@gmail.com or call 01242 221271

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Buckinghamshire Gloucestershire CEM 11+ EXAM GROUP TUITION • Year 5 and Year 4 - small group courses (supported • Mock Examsby 1 to 1 tuition) • Groups run by professional tutor and published author, Philip McMahon • Our own high quality resources for tuition and homework • Sunday available Saturdaycourses and Tuesday Courses • Proven results

CEM STYLE TEST PAPERS FOR BUCKS 11+ EXAM Order our new test papers in conjunction with Letts Letts, the expert in revision and 11+ Tutoring Academy, have teamed up to provide pupils with resources for CEM • Completely new and up to date content • CEM style in their format and question types • Designed for practice at home Order our new test papers at collins.co.uk/letts11plus PRIVATE TUTORING COMPANY OF THE YEAR 2015 2016- FINALIST

www.11plustutoringacademy.co.uk 01242 221271 Twitter @11plustutoring

To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesgloucestershire.co.uk

9

Health

New Year, New You: Fitness Ideas to Inspire Busy Parents If you are sitting around in an adult unicorn onesie, eating crumpets, and musing about the extra pounds you can’t seem to shed, now is the time to take some action. The New Year is a good time to start a health regime or exercise routine.

If you have a Spare Ten Minutes Why not scoot to school with the kids? Having an adult scooter is a great way of keeping up with the kids, plus you’ll get home quicker. Jumping on your scooter not only saves time, scooting can also increase feelings of mental alertness and create better reaction times. Adult scooting is also a great way to build up fitness; it’s low impact and works major muscle groups. Further info at www.micro-scooters.co.uk If you have 20 Minutes Try a HIIT workout. The bestselling Body Coach Joe Wicks espouses the benefits of short 15 to 20-minute high intensity workouts and low carb eating. High Intensity Interval Training for the uninitiated is a timed set of exercises, which work the whole body. The idea is that you push the body hard doing the exercise for a short amount of time, followed by a short period of rest or transition. There are plenty of free apps and online tutorials available. Go to www.bodycoach.com

swapping high intensity workouts and cardio for weightlifting and are enjoying the benefits of strong, lean muscles. Your local gym or a personal trainer should be able to give you a routine, or you could check our your local CrossFit class.

If you have 60 Minutes If you love to dance but your clubbing days are well and truly over, why not give Clubbercise a go? You can work out in the dark with disco lights, glowsticks and your favourite club classics. To find your nearest teacher go to www.clubbercise.com.

You could also try a swimming HIIT workout. Swimming is a great full body workout and leisure centres are offering lowimpact, high-intensity water-based classes, a great change from just swimming lengths.

Last but not Least If traditional classes and workouts leave you cold, you could try something simple or fun instead. Go walking. It’s good for the soul and so is being in nature. If you want to switch it up, try Nordic walking with poles; you burn more calories, and it is very sociable. Go to www.nordicwalking.co.uk. You could also look on www.meetup.com for local groups that meet for walks.

Relive your childhood and give hula-hooping a go, it’s great for thinning your waist and can be done in the comfort of your If you have 30 Minutes own home. You could get the whole familiy involved, Channel your inner Rocky and try a high energy boxing routine, Do a trampolining class. When you book the kids a session, the Boxx Method, in the comfort of your home. It’s an online don’t sit on the sidelines watching, make sure you join in too. platform, so you can do a workout that fits in with family life.

Many trampoline parks also offer adult exercise classes. Jumping The signature workout is BoxxHIIT, which is a full body fat is fun, good for your circulation and burns more calories than burning, muscle toning workout which combines intense most standard fitness classes. shadow boxing with high intensity interval training. All you need is a 1kg pair of dumbbells. www.theboxxmethod.com Get skipping! It’s a great full body workout and a great form of If you have 40 Minutes exercise for endurance training and conditioning. It’s low impact, and you burn more calories than running. It’s also a budget Try strength training. Hashtags like #fitisthenewthin are flooding option; you can pick up a decent rope for less than £20! social media platforms like Instagram. Many fitness fans are 10

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Health

“I Don’t Know How To Deal With Mental Health”

Hands up who feels like this?

Mental health is scary, right? We hear stories of someone with mental health issues shooting people, maybe stabbing their partners, or harming their babies.

By Jessy Paston These are extremes but these are also the examples we are given of what mental health is. So when we are faced with anything concerning mental health, for many of us, there is a stigma attached, from society and from ourselves.

We’re not as bad as the stories we hear, so we don’t seek support or help. I have to say, awareness is growing and part of my work is to raise this awareness. First step is to be aware that we ALL have mental health, just as we have physical health. And just like physical health, we can have good and bad mental health.

We know a lot about physical health; what to eat, how to look after ourselves and we do things every day to keep our physical health good. Look around you though, not everyone is at their peak physical health are they? There are differences, because we are all different.

There are different levels because we all have different abilities. The same can be said for mental health.

We are all at different places with our mental health; some of us can bounce back from a crisis, some cope under pressure, some take changes in their stride, some are very positive. The majority of us though, I suspect, struggle a little every day but do not feel the need for support because this is how it’s always been.

For healthier mental health, let’s start doing a little bit every day; just like we do with our physical health (brushing our teeth, combing our hair, showering etc). I want us to start looking after our mental health.

The way I see it, if we found a lump; we’d be straight at the doctors. We wouldn’t wait until it was stage 4 cancer, would we? So why do we do this with our mental health? We wait until we are at crisis point before we seek help. This does not have to happen and we can start by simply getting into good daily practices.

As part of raising awareness and improving your mental health, I have put together Five A Day goals (see coloumn), just for mental health: All these things can be done on your own or as a family and would it be great to be able to teach your kids about good mental health from a young age.

Your Five A Day For Good Mental Health Gratitude – Think of three things each day that you are grateful for. A good gratitude practice helps balance the mind as often we hold on to the negatives.

Highs – What was the best thing that happened to you each day? This is good to do at the end of the day so you finish remembering what was good.

Connections – Who did

you connect with each day?

How did they make you feel?

This helps to realise who gives you energy and who you need to set stronger boundaries with to feel safe and happier.

Achievements – Instead of a ‘to do’ list, think of this as a ‘ta da!’ list. All too often we beat ourselves up about what we haven’t done, so instead, think of all the things you have done and feel a sense of satisfied achievement (and amazement!) at how much you can manage in a day.

Play – Life as a grownup

can be far too serious so make sure you try and do something fun and relaxing to recharge each day either by yourself or with your family.

Jessy Paston is a Qualified new parent counsellor, BACP member and mental health support worker. familiesonline.co.uk

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11

Clubs and Classes

Keep Your Little Ones Active During The Winter With the short days and temperatures dropping, the idea of sending your child out on to the football pitch, tennis court or athletics track is not an attractive one.

But active after school activities offer children great developmental benefits including: Improved Academic Performance Research has found that children from disadvantaged background who participate in after-school clubs get better results at ages 11 than their peers.

Enhanced Socialisation Skills Making friends with children from outside their school allows children to broaden their social experience, whilst extracurricular activities at school give children the chance to enjoy a different type of social experience with their school friends and As parents, we are responsible for setting up other children in their class. opportunities for our children to keep active during winter months. So here are our ideas for Better Health and Fitness keeping your restless young one on the go – and According to the National Association of Sport and Physical the good news is you don’t have to force them (or Education, kids aged 5-12 should exercise for at least 60 you!) outside: minutes of each day, and this figure shouldn’t be ignored just because it’s cold outside.

Trampoline Clubs and Parks These are popping up all over the country and classes are fun Stress Relief and social. The UK now has over 190 trampoline parks and Exercise helps to relieve stress built up by homework, exams most offer kids a safe environment to cut loose as well lessons and peer pressures. and classes for children from as young as toddlers upwards.

Teach your kids to ride a bike in 7 easy steps Teaching your child to ride a bike has never been easier.

1. Begin with a balance bike Balance bikes are great because they have no pedals or stabilisers and are much lighter.

2. Start on flat ground Always begin to teach your child on flat ground in a traffic free area. You can work your way up to small hills.

3. Teach them to use the brake At the age of two and a half to three, children are able to operate a hand brake, as long as it’s gentle enough for their fingers. Begin by showing your child how the brake works and encourage them to practise.

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4. Always wear a helmet

Wearing a helmet is a must. The sooner your little one gets used to it, the better.

5. Look for safety add-ons A steering limiter is recommended as this will enable your child to keep in the right direction and prevent falls.

6. Get an adjustable seat

Try to choose a bike that has an adjustable seat. Adjust the seat so both feet should be firmly on the ground and the knees should be slightly bent.

7. Upgrade to a bigger bike When your child has developed enough skill and confidence you can get a pedal bike.

*WITH THIS VOUCHER ONLY. VALID UNTIL 30 SEPTEMBER 2017. PHOTOCOPIES NOT ACCEPTED AND THIS To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesgloucestershire.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk VOUCHER MAY ONLY BE USED ONCE. FAMGLOS

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Clubs and Classes Indoor Rock Climbing This activity is also growing in popularity across the country with a centre likely to be very close to you. Even the NHS recommends it as an activity that provides unique physical and mental benefits whilst at the same time catering for all ages, fitness levels and abilities.

Get Some Fresh Air

Girl Guides And Scouting Scouting and Girl Guides are experiencing an unprecedented surge in popularity. Why? Because they offer an antidote to the modern world with adventure being at the heart of everything they do. From as young as 6, children can get involved in learning outdoor skills and undertaking leadership qualifications, as well as enjoying camps and residential experiences. However, waiting lists can be long so act quickly! To register interest visit www.girlguiding.org.uk or www.scouts.org.uk Ice Rinks Snow Slopes Snow slopes and ice rinks are great places to get kids active during the winter and offer kids the opportunity to try tobogganing, skiing or snowboarding, or get a pair of skates on.

There are indoor and outdoor rinks and centres, depending on how you feel about braving the cold or damp weather.

Indoor Sports You can access indoor classes for most outdoors sports such as football, cricket and tennis at leisure centres or school recreation halls. Likewise for toddlers and pre-schoolers, multisport and ball skills classes are often run inside during winter.

How Many is Too Much?

Whilst clubs and classes are important for children, be careful how many activities you sign your child up for. Some require significant time commitment. For example, joining a swimming club can involve two or more weekly training sessions, as well as competitions. Are you and your child up for that? What else will suffer or be sacrificed? If your child’s opportunity to have unstructured time for play will go by the wayside, then this is probably not a good thing. Children these days have much more structured lives than previous generations. Research indicates that unstructured play with minimal adult supervision helps children to learn important social skills, use their imagination, concentrate and be more self-directed.

If you do opt for indoor class and club options for your child during winter, try to get them some regular fresh air at weekends whatever the weather.

Consider heading to the countryside or a beach (even at the darkest time of year), where you can breathe different air and be closer to nature. You don’t have to organise a full itinerary and it doesn’t have to cost much either. Simple games like running races on a beach or climbing a tree can be exhilarating for children after a week cooped up at school, and being outside is both refreshing and invigorating for everyone and will improve everyone’s mood!

The National Trust offers loads of activities at their sites across the UK including treasure hunts, nature trails, and even horse rides. The Woodland Trust has great expanses of woodland which are ripe for families to explore and provide a great natural habitat for nature walks. Some are very ancient and provide a great historical backdrop of legend and myth. It’s also worth checking out The Wild Network which brings groups across the UK to share the simple goal of getting children back in touch with nature. www.nationaltrust.org.uk www.woodlandtrust.org.uk www.thewildnetwork.com

Music To Their Ears

Monkey Music is the UK’s leading pre-school music group with classes across Cheltenham and Gloucester. The littlest ‘Monkeys’ start their musical journey with ‘Rock n Roll’ classes from the age of 3 months.

It’s all about sensory experience; gentle songs, fascinating sounds and musical activities all introduced and enjoyed. Of course little Monkeys can join the fun at any age – with classes for children up to the age of 4. They were brought to Cheltenham and Gloucester by Sian Ferris, a local mum-ofthree, back in 2002.

To book your FREE TRIAL CLASS – call Sian on 07768 457403 or visit: www.monkeymusic.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

Award winning music classes for babies & young children CHELTENHAM & GLOUCESTER T: 07768 457403 E: cheltenham.gloucester@monkeymusic.co.uk

Saturday classes now open!

To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesgloucestershire.co.uk

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What’s On

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MORE

Spin A Tale During National Storytelling Week

ONLINE

The first week of February marks National Storytelling Week, a chance to reflect on one of the oldest art forms in the world. We are all immersed in stories — from conversations retelling events in our lives, to watching our favourite television shows.

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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 to be a good speaker and listener first. But above all, storytelling is fun.

Whether we are listening to someone else’s story or telling our own, inventing and adapting narratives can open doors to exciting new worlds — both real and imaginary.

GROWN-UP LIVE CLASSICAL MUSIC IN A RELAXED, BABY-FRIENDLY SETTING

National Storytelling Week takes place in storytelling clubs, theatres, museums, schools, hospitals, spoken word venues, and care homes. The Society for Storytelling has lots of information as “the home of UK oral storytelling” and offers free packs for schools to download. To find a local event or to look through its extensive archive visit www.sfs.org.uk

WHERE TO FIND US WE MEET MONTHLY ON MONDAYS AT 10.30AM, ST ANDREWS CHURCH, MONTPELLIER ST, CHELTENHAM GL50 1SP LILLIPUTCONCERTS

@LILLIPUTCONCERT

Gloucestershire Slingmeets GLOUCESTER AND CHELTENHAM SLING MEETS For times and venues please check www.facebook.com/ cheltenhamandgloucesterslinglibrary STROUD SLING MEETS Parliament Street, Children’s Centre, Old Bisley Rd, Stroud

Gloucestershire Breastfeeding Supporters’ Network Support Groups All groups are free drop-in sessions. You don’t need to have a breastfeeding problem.

Monday. 10.00 – 12.00 noon: MOBS in Dursley, Parish Room, St James the Great Church GL11 4JE Tuesday. 10.00 – 12 noon: BAPS, Hesters Way Children’s Centre, Dill Avenue,Cheltenham GL51 0ES Wednesday.

10.30 – 12.00 noon: BABES, Noah’s Ark Children’s Centre, York Road, Priors Park, Tewkesbury, GL20 5HU Thursday 9.30am – 11.30am: CRIBS, Church Hall, St John’s Church, Churchdown GL3 2DB 10.00am – 11.30am: BEST, Springboard Children’s Centre, Trinity Road, Cirencester, GL7 1JU 10.00am – noon: MOBS in Stroud, Parliament Street Children’s Centre, Bisley Old Road, Stroud GL5 1NL 12.30pm – 2.00pm: GLOBES, Gardners Lane Children’s Centre, Cheltenham GL51 9JW. Full information: www.gbsn.org.uk

Cheltenham Children’s Centre Baby Groups

Every Monday at St. Margaret’s Hall, GL51 3NU 10.00am-11.30am (0-18 months) Every Tuesday at Rowanfield Children Centre, GL51 8HY 1.00pm-2.30pm (mums to be and 14

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pre-walking babies) Every Wednesday at Gardners Lane Children Centre, GL51 9JW 10.00am -11.30am Every Thursday at Hester’s Way Children Centre, GL51 0ES 1.15pm -2.45pm Every Friday at Oakwood Children Centre, GL52 5QH 10.00am - 11.30am.

Bishops Cleeve Library Children’s Centre.

Every Tuesday from 10.15 – 11.30 a.m.

Bishops Cleeve Library, GL52 8NN. From new born to crawling.

NCT Courses CHELTENHAM & NORTH COTSWOLD BRANCH First Aid Spaces are limited so please email Louisa at:events@nctcheltenham.org STROUD BRANCH NCT Signature antenatal course For more details see www.nct.org.uk/courses or contact your local course organiser on 0208 752 2494 or bookings3f@nct.org.uk NCT Early Days/Postnatal course For more details see www.nct.org.uk/courses or contact your local course organiser on 0208 752 2494 or bookings3f@nct.org.

TETBURY BRANCH Signature antenatal course For more details see www.nct.org.uk/courses or contact bookings3d@nct.org.uk uk

NCT Drop Ins CIRENCESTER BRANCH Bumps, Babes & Beyond: Every Wednesday 9.30am - 11.00am at Cirencester Baptist Church, Chesterton Lane.

Contact: ParentSupport.cirencester@nct.org.uk BEST - Breastfeeding Support: Every Thursday, 10.00am – 11.30am at Springboard Children’s Centre, Trinity Road, Cirencester, GL7 1JU. Contact: breastfeeding@cirencesternct.org.uk GLOUCESTER BRANCH Gloucester Breakfast Club: Every Wednesday.

10:00am – 11:30am. Wheatstone Inn, Centre Seven, Gloucester GL4 3HR. Open to all, members and non-members. Contact: coordinator.gloucester@nct.org.uk Relax, Stretch & Breathe Classes: Every Monday in term time.

For more info visit www.nct.org.uk.uk/ gloucester/courses Gloucester Bumps and Babies Every Tuesday from 10.30am-12.00 noon at Salvation Army Hall, Eastgate Street, Gloucester, GL1 1QU. You don’t need to be a member to come along. Contact: Gloucester@nct.org.uk Tots on the Move at Tinies Nursery at Gloucester College on Llanthony Road, GL2 5JQ. Every Monday term time only 10.00am -11.30am no need to be a member. Parking is limited.

TETBURY BRANCH Bumps and Babes: Every Wednesday 10.30am – 12.00 noon at The Snooty Fox, Market Place, Tetbury GL8 8DD

To advertise call: 01684 770566 or email: editor@familiesgloucestershire.co.uk

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Half Term Activities...

CORINIUM MUSEUM Park Street, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 2BX 01285 655611 www.coriniummuseum.org 12 February. Roman Soldier Peg Doll March in to the museum and march out with your own Roman Legionnaire. 10.30 – 11.30am.

13 February. Beaker Burials

Learn about the fascinationg Beaker people and make your own Beaker burial. 10.00 – 11.00.

14 February. Mini Mosaics Create your own mosaic tile to take home. All materials and instructions provided. 10.30-12noon.

15 February. Storytelling Event A Slice Of Cold Sausage. A story that starts in a most unlikely place with Charlie dreaming about voyaging in a submarine. 10.30am- 11.30am.

16 February. Family Film Friday Film titles are released approximately 4-6 weeks in advance. 11.00am.

CHEDWORTH ROMAN VILLA Yanworth, Cheltenham, GL54 3LJ. 01242 890256. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chedworth-roman-villa 10–18 February. Roman Romance Trail Come along for a fun day out, with a special Roman romance trail and craft activities for children every day. Look out for the mosaic making workshop, too. Woodland trail open weather permitting. 10.00 – 4.00pm MUSEUM IN THE PARK Stratford Park, Stratford Road, Stroud GL5 4AF 01453 763394 www.museuminthepark.org.uk 3 February-4 March. Cathedral of Cloth Hands-on workshops for children and adults in weaving and using natural dyes from the life and times of Ebley Mill For full details check website.

WE THE CURIOUS

Anchor Road, Bristol, BS1 5DB 0845 345 1235 www.wethecurious.org Until 23 March. Winter in the Greenhouse It might be cold outside but nature doesn’t stop.

What’s On

Museums...

MUSEUM IN THE PARK Stratford Park, Stratford Road, Stroud GL5 4AF 01453 763394 www.museuminthepark.org.uk 1 January – 4 March. Medals. Part of the World War One commemoration programme.

This display looks at the Museum’s collection of medals from the First World War

SLIMBRIDGE WETLAND CENTRE Bowditch, Slimbridge, Gloucestershire GL2 7BT 01453 890 333 www.wwt.org.uk/visit/slimbridge Until 24 February. Every Saturday.

THE WILSON Decoy Dog Demonstrations Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum, Clarence Watch our very own furry canine assisting with Street, Cheltenham GL50 3JT conservation work as birds are caught and ringed 01242 237431 www.thewilson.org.uk in the decoy nets. Included in normal admission.

Last Sunday of every month. Arty Book at the Admission desk. 2pm.

Sundays Families can take part in fun and 10 – 18 February. Puddle Jumping interactive art activities. FREE. Championships February half-term will see WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre play host to

the Dusty’s Puddle Jumping Championships. This WE THE CURIOUS

event will be fun for all ages.

Anchor Road, Bristol, BS1 5DB 14 February. Family Wildlife 0845 345 1235 www.wethecurious.org Photography A practical and enjoyable day for 12 January. Toddler Takeover: Crazy budding young wildlife photographers (aged 8 or Creatures Bugs, bears, birds, badgers, bats, and above) and their parents to learn how to get butterflies! Assemble your little ones for a day great shots of wildlife. This event is suitable for all completely devoted to the most crazy creature skill levels and camera types (compact or SLR). of them all - the toddler. £32 per adult and child

Babies and Toddlers...

LILLIPUT CONCERTS St Andrew’s Church, Montpellier Street, Cheltenham GL50 1SP THE BACON THEATRE www.facebook.com/LilliputConcerts/ Dean Close School, Shelburne Road, Cheltenham Classical Concerts GL51 6HE 01242 258002 www.bacontheatre.co.uk Live music in a relaxed environment for babies and toddlers and their adults. 40 18- 21 January. Aladdin minutes of music followed by delicious A tale full of Eastern promise and filled with freshly made cake. Check Facebook page adventures. And in true panto style, there will be for dates. plenty of audience participation. Please call the

Theatre...

Promenade Production’s own box office for tickets and information: Showcase 01242 224144 THE GLOUCESTER GUILDHALL email:info@showcaseonline.co.uk 23 Eastgate St, Gloucester GL1 1NS NEWARK PARK 15 February. Brainiac Live!

01452 503050 www.gloucester.gov.uk/guildhall Ozleworth, Wotton-under-Edge, GL12 7PZ Strap on your safety goggles boys and girls, due Mondays. LaLa Lounge 01453 842644 to popular demand, Science’s greatest and most For parents with under 5’s. Escape the shopping www.nationaltrust.org.uk/newark-park volatile live show is returning with a vengeance. frenzy for an hour or two in our comfy cinema.

3-22 February. February Family trail Based on the multi-award winning TV show.

Meet your friends, chill and chat, treat yourself to Explore quirky Newark House as it reawakens tea, coffee or a light lunch while the little ones after winter. Enjoy carpets of beautiful THE ROSES THEATRE play. 10.30am – 12.00pm. Free entry. snowdrops, fresh air, stunning wintery views over Sun Street, Tewkesbury GL20 5NX the Cotswold countryside.

01684 295074 www.rosestheatre.org THE WILSON 12 February. Don’t Dribble On The Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum, Clarence WESTONBIRT ARBORETUM Dragon Tom is a toddler with a cool older Street, Cheltenham GL50 3JT Tetbury, Glos, GL8 8QS 01666 880220 brother, a secret dragon… and a dribbling 01242 237431 www.thewilson.org.uk www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt problem that just won’t stop! When Tom’s Every Thursday (term-time only).

All January -Februay. Winter Family endless drooling threatens to tear the brothers’ Paintasaurus Trail: Conifer Capers

friendship apart can their dragon’s amazing magic Use your hands, feet, fingers and toes in this Caper about amongst the beautiful conifers at help them put it back together again or will it sensory art-play workshop for little ones!

Westonbirt Arboretum as you explore our only end up making things worse? Based on the Movement and fun combine with tactile art winter family trail. Discover all about their bark, fabulous new book by Steven Lee and with magic materials, to create a colourful engaging cones, shapes and leaves through exciting designed by the legendary Paul Daniels. 2.30pm. experience. New idea in each session. acitivites along the way!

1.30-2.30pm. Limited spaces, so booking advised. familiesonline.co.uk

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