hildren c r o f s ie it iv t Ac Word Up! family festival Make Runaways Safe The Children’s Society has launched Make Runaways Safe; a campaign dedicated to improving the services available for young people who run away from home; either through choice or because they are forced to do so by their parents. Recently, young people from the charity’s London Youth at Risk project in Peckham met Tim Loughton, Minister for Children and Families. They told him of their own experiences of running away and urged the government to put an action plan in place to help young runaways in London and across the country. London Youth at Risk project worker, Laura Poole, said: “We were delighted that the minister took time out to meet with our young people. It is incredibly important that Mr Loughton listens to the young people he met with today. No one knows better than them just how essential the need for a runaway’s action plan is. These young people have seen and experienced the dangers of running away first hand and I am incredibly proud of how they have spoken out to raise the profile of this important issue.” For more information, go to www.makerunawayssafe.org.uk.
Children from six local primary schools will showcase their talents by opening a new books and arts festival in Dulwich at the end of October. Word Up! is a brand new family festival which is running from 22-24 October at Alleyn’s School in East Dulwich. A host of celebrated writers and poets will be talking about their writing and reading from their books; there will be live music performances and workshops, tempting food stalls and more; from 10.30am-9pm every day. For more details, see page 10, and the full programme online at www.wordupfestival.co.uk.
Half Term with Little Gems Children who love to dance, act and sing are invited to sign up to a five-day half term workshop with Little Gems. The classes will run in Sydenham from 9am-3.30pm, 24-28 October, for ages 3-16, with a performance for parents and friends on the last day. £125 per child; sibling discount available. For bookings or more information, call 07946 176 452 or email emma@littlegemsdance.co.uk.
Latino Bambino With Latino Bambino, mothers and babies enjoy the pulsating Latin American tempo together. New mothers can join in the Salsa Fun dance/ exercise classes with their babies in carriers or slings; while for mothers with 1-4 year-olds there area dance classes full of Latin/ Tropical rhythms enriched with props. The classes use a range of musical styles and have been designed to build confidence; develop motor skills, coordination and balance. Children’s birthday parties are available too. For more information on local classes, call Urska on 07961 838349 or visit www.latinobambino.co.uk.
National Chocolate Week
10-16 October is National Chocolate Week, when a number of top London restaurants including the Almeida, Le Caprice, and Gaucho will be featuring special chocolate-themed events and menus. I say pah! - it’s Chocolate Day every day in my house - you’re talking my specialist subject. For example, did you know that: • Raw cacao bean is the most widely consumed nut in the world that paradoxically, nobody actually eats. It is massively processed: heated, cooked, roasted; and by the time it reaches us, all of its extraordinary properties have simply vanished into smoke • Raw cacao is the most chemically complex food in the world, with over 1,200 constituants of flavour alone (the next highest is royal jelly with 300 to 400 constituents) • The highest anti-oxidant food in the world, the cacao bean has more vitamin C than any other Becoming a parent is good for your health, nuts or beans. It is also the highest natural source according to new research findings. In a study of magnesium, iron and chromium, and is of 2,000 British parents: extremely high in zinc, copper and manganese, • 63 per cent believe they adopted a healthier which are some of the most deficient minerals in lifestyle following the birth of a child our world. • Just over half claim the added responsibility of So there you go - a little bit of what you fancy a new-born was the kick start they needed to does do you good (provided you opt for the raw pay more attention to their own well being stuff: nicking the children’s chocolate buttons • 46 per cent of new parents do more exercise doesn’t count). since having a child than they did before, and PS: Shortly after taking our 65 per cent pay closer attention to what they picture, I blissfully munched are eating my way through this slab of • 85 per cent of parents said they were aware it ‘Willie’s Delectable Cacao’, was important to set a good example for their sent to me by my delectable children to follow. sister-in-law, the last time I The study shows around one in three parents who was anaemic. It is (was) introduced a healthier regime after having a child 72% cacao and can be did so because they wanted to be around to see ordered online from their child grow up; or didn’t want their child to be www.williescacao.com.
And finally
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overweight. A similar number said they made changes due to needing more energy to keep up with the family, and 24 per cent said they simply didn’t have time to go out partying anymore. When it comes to mealtimes, 36 per cent paid more attention to their own diet after starting to cook healthy meals for their offspring. From cutting down on takeaway meals, unhealthy snacks and alcohol; to being more likely to cook from scratch and read food labels for ingredients when shopping, parents have introduced a range of healthier habits. Many have also started to adopt a ‘practise what you preach’ attitude to food, such as eating your greens. More than half of parents have eaten new foods they wouldn’t have tried prior to children; and over 40 per cent have eaten foods they don’t particularly like - such as sprouts and fish - to encourage their child to eat them.
MA DRA AGES 12 - 19
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october 2011 - families south east
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