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Issue 13 • Winter 2013
EE reflecting modern family living
IN THIS ISSUE: Holidays • Education • Bump to Business Birth & Beyond • Autism News • Competitions and much more . . . My Family is proud to support annakennedyonline.com
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Winter Warmers Tips and products that will keep the whole family warm as temperatures plummet this winter. Beat the cold with our online shopping inspirations for winter
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Gift Inspirations Overcome gift-giving conundrums with our simple guide to purchasing the perfect gift for every occasion COMPETITION – Win a Skibz Easter Bib COMPETITION – Win your very own Safedreams Hoppy
14-15
Bump to Business Ways to make your business STAND OUT by Helen Lindop
16-18
Women in Business The Gender Agenda Five businesswomen tell us how they started out
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Made by Mums
20-21
Mums Show Live The place to be for mums of 4-12 year olds this May
22-31
Education Choosing right independent school for your child by The Independent Schools Council Should there be a clear line between homework reading and bedtime reading? By Liz Walker Products and services to support reading outside the classroom FREE! 4-week trial from Reading Eggs Parents and young people are invited to explore vocational careers
DISCLAIMER The information contained in My Family magazine is not meant to replace that of a midwife, healthcare professional or GP. My Family would always recommend that you seek medical information from a qualified health professional.
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A note from the editor
32-35
Birth & Beyond Shopping for a Newborn Breastfeeding in the workplace
36-41
Holiday & Leisure Family fun in Britain Family friendly holiday accommodation Child friendly festivals in England
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Health & Wellbeing Keeping healthy and warm this winter
43-48
Understanding Autism Understanding autism Step in the Right Direction Autism Dance Day The NHS and Continuing Care: An Introduction by Sean Kennedy Legal Advisor for Anna Kennedy Online An exciting year ahead for Anna Kennedy OBE The latest news from annakennedyonline.com
My Family magazine 75 Elizabeth Court • Wigston • Leicester LE18 2AF Telephone: 0116 2100911 For advertising enquiries email karen@myfamilymagazine.co.uk For subscriptions and distribution information email info@myfamilymagazine.co.uk
Hello and welcome to My Family Magazine’s first issue of 2013. We have loads of exciting things planned for you over the coming months. We start with the launch of our new look website where you can check out what’s happening between issues including coming events, new products launches, informative articles and if you’ve missed a copy of My Family, you can access the last 8 issues in our archive. Clickable links make shopping with our advertisers and sourcing information easy and you can subscribe to our first newsletter. From February we have some fantastic online exclusive competition prizes to give away, so watch this space . . . Winter is upon us once again and although this can be a wonderful time of year, being cold can take the fun out of it. In this issue we share some tips on how to keep your family warm as temperatures plunge and look at some fabulous winter warmers to help you beat the cold. The big freeze may have taken hold but this needn't be the unhealthiest time of year for you and your family. If you are feeling the urge to hibernate until springtime, check out our 5 tips to keeping healthy and fit this season. With Valentine’s, Mothers’ Day, Easter and many other gift giving occasions just around the corner, we help you to choose gifts for even the most difficult to choose for recipients with a simple guide to purchasing the perfect gift for every occasion. In our education section, The Independent Schools Council advises on how to choose the right independent school for your child. There are also some great products to support your child’s reading including an article by Reading Chest founder, Liz Walker and a FREE 4-week trial from Reading Eggs. If you are planning a holiday this year, look out for our section about Family Fun in Britain and browse information about some of the best family friendly accommodation in the UK. Wishing you all the best for 2013,
www.myfamilymagazine.co.uk
Karen x Karen Reddell – Editor
The Team Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/pages/My-Family-magazine Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com @MyFamilyMag
Front cover and feature images used under license from Shutterstock.com. Other images have been supplied by independent sources.
Hazel Alemany Designer
design@myfamilymagazine.co.uk
Julie Scotton Advertising Sales
julie@myfamilymagazine.co.uk
Helen Lindop
Helen@businessplusbaby.com
Petrina Kightley-Jones Kayjays Photography
Kightley.jones@googlemail.com
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WINTER WARMERS
Winter Warmers As temperatures plummet you don’t need to feel like you are out in the cold. We have put together some tips on how to keep you and your family warm this winter.
Keep your home warm Keep your main living room at around 1821°C (65-70°F), and the rest of the house at least 16°C (61°F). If you can’t heat all the rooms you use, heat the living room during the day and the bedroom just before you go to sleep. Draw your curtains at dusk, keep your doors closed and plug the gaps to block out draughts.
Get the best deal energysavingtrust.org.uk provides advice on how to reduce bills and make your home more energy efficient. They can also advise on grants and schemes available around the UK. Visit metoffice.gov.uk for practical ways to prepare for winter weather, including cold, ice and snow, high winds and flooding.
Wrap up warm Wrap up warm, inside and out. Wear several light layers of warm clothing, rather than one chunky layer. Head for bed early and read a
book; it is usually the warmest place! Cuddle up to a hot-water bottle or use an electric blanket – but not both at the same time!
Eat Well Food is a vital source of energy, which helps to keep your body warm. Try to make sure that you have hot meals and drinks regularly throughout the day.
Keep active Stay on top of the chores – doing housework will soon warm you up, but you will have more fun, if you pop some music on and get the kids up and dancing.
Zippy Suits for Speedy Changes For day or night, Zippy Suits are the smart new essential for every baby’s capsule wardrobe! Zippy Suits have a safe, single zip within the inside leg – reducing the time and stress of every baby change. This clever suit not only makes life easier, but also looks good and comes at a smart price. It’s available in several gorgeous designs, from pale nursery colours through to vibrant funky prints. To help become a wardrobe basic for every baby, each 100% luxury cotton Zippy Suit is only £12.
Nicole Graham, founder of Zippy Suits said “I got so frustrated trying to match up poppers whilst my daughter wriggled around that in desperation I ended up making a sleepsuit with a zip instead. She then wore this every night when not being washed! Research showed that I was not alone and so Zippy Suits were carefully developed to meet the needs of today’s savvy parents. Launched recently, Zippy Suits and bibs have really taken off, with many customers buying again. Zippy Suits are particularly helpful for parents with very active babies or with multiple babies. They also ease night time changes in dim light, as well as helping parents and grandparents with reduced hand dexterity.” Super absorbent, bandana-style dribble bibs are available too. A cool and really practical accessory that makes a perfect set (Bibs from £3.95, Zippy Suit and bib set from £15.95).
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Zippy Suits are available from www.zippysuit.com and www.amazon.co.uk. For all customer and trade enquiries, please contact customercare@zippysuit.com.
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WINTER WARMERS
Alpaca Annie Has Winter All Wrapped Up! versatile – it’s sumptuous enough for duvets/ pillows and strong enough to be turned into Alpaca Wool and used for socks, jumpers, hats and scarves (without the prickly feeling of wool!).
Alpaca Annie duvets are exquisitely soft and made in Nottinghamshire from only natural UK sourced materials. The Duvets and Pillows are made of 100% cotton fabric covers filled with pure alpaca fibre – from our own herd!. Alpaca fibre is similar to sheep’s wool in many ways, yet it is much lighter, softer and contains no lanolin - meaning Alpaca products are hypoallergenic (an excellent choice for asthma and allergy sufferers).
Alpaca Annie Duvets are uniquely hand stitched to allow maximum air flow and work with your internal thermostat, to keep you at a comfortable temperate! Light enough for summer, yet their insulating qualities are incomparable, vital for those cold winter nights. This comes from Alpacas adapting to the weather of their native country the Andes, where temperatures soar and plummet to the extremes! Alpacas do not shed their fibre, so they are shorn once a year and the rest of the time have fun on the farm meeting their adoptive parents and going for treks! This fibre is so
There is no tog value on natural fibre products. However, we understand (for the weight of fibre per sq. metre) our duvets will perform similar to 13.5 in the winter and 10.0 in the summer. The reason for this is Alpaca fibre manages body heat, unlike feathers and synthetic materials which simply insulate.
www.alpacaannie.com
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WINTER WARMERS
Splendid Cashmere Blankets for Babies, Mums and Dads
Organic, traditional and alternative clothes for babies to toddlers. Hand made by professional knitters in the UK.
We think ROAM has the perfect solution for keeping loved ones wrapped and cosy in the softest 100% Scottish Cashmere. Each designer blanket is individually made, so you can choose your own personal message and have it knitted directly into the design at our very own Scottish Borders micro-factory. At ROAM we have taken great pride in sourcing the finest Scottish Cashmere since 2007. This gives our blankets unrivalled touch and drape, and the resilience to last a lifetime. Despite the myths, your cashmere blanket is easy to care for and loves a gentle wash to keep it looking as beautiful as ever. In fact, with simple wash care, your favourite winter warmer will become softer and more luxurious as the years roll by. Come and visit us at
Telephone: 07724 181 827 www.handknitbabywear.com
www.studioroam.co.uk or if you prefer, call us on 01896 758604. We’re sure you’ll not be disappointed.
G Just zip up – no frustrating poppers G A wardrobe basic for every baby G Luxuriously soft, 100% cotton
10% off at checkout FIRST10Z
G Several gorgeous designs, from pale nursery colours through to vibrant funky prints G Available with matching bibs, a delightful present G Comfy and practical, Zippy Suits have a zip guard and a cover over the fastening zip pull G Suitable for machine washing and tumble drying Prize draws, sales, reviews & more at: www.facebook.com/zippysuit www.twitter.com/zippysuit
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www.zippysuit.com
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WINTER WARMERS
The Fine Cotton Company Help Your Family Stay Cosy and Warm Beat the Winter blues with a fantastic range of products from organic bed linen and home accessories store, The Fine Cotton Company. They specialise in gorgeous organic cotton bedding, sumptuous blankets, the fluffiest organic cotton bath towels, organic towelling robes and slippers, and stylish home accessories for adults, children and babies. The Fine Cotton Company are totally passionate about design and quality, with the emphasis on style and luxury, they offer a range of products which are soft to the touch, kind on the conscience and great value too.
perfect for the cold weather or with a deliciously warm Lambswool Angora Throw, available in a range of in five colours to add the finishing touch to your bedroom.
the house, sitting watching TV or travelling on a plane or in the car – the seat belt fits over the Bugglebag® to keep your child safe. Bugglebag® is quick, easy, versatile and very comfortable. When it’s freezing outside, stay cosy and warm with a 100% pure new wool or cashmere covered luxury hot water bottle. Choose from a selection of wonderful designs including spots, dots, and beautiful tie top bottles in stripes or romantic hearts available for Valentine’s day.
Winter Warmers With a little help from The Fine Cotton Company the whole family can stay warm with their fabulous range of 100% organic cotton bed linen made from beautiful quality fabrics with 200 – 600 thread count.
Little ones will love bedtime too, with The Fine Cotton Companies new Owl design duvet covers, which are embroidered with cute owls in pink or blue. The fun children’s range includes matching fleece blankets and hooded organic cotton baby towels, a must for baby’s bath time.
The Fine Cotton Company is a firm favourite of Mary Portas, Mary Queen of Shops who gave the following review: My bedroom is a sanctuary, where I think, where I write and where I rest. What I put on my bed has to take me into a space of total relaxation and indulgence. So when I discovered The Fine Cotton Company I was literally in heaven.
Make the most of long winter nights, as you snuggle down for a great night’s sleep with a snow goose duvet. This exquisitely sumptuous duvet is filled with the softest 100% snow goose down, which is super light and sensationally warm. This can be matched with the Stowe collection of fitted sheets, flat sheets and duvet covers, made from certified 100% organic cotton flannel that has been lightly brushed to give a super soft, warm and cosy finish. For an extra layer of comfort complement with the Hampton organic cotton fleece throw, an extremely snuggly blanket which is
Unsure of what you want? ®
For kids on the go the Bugglebag is a new comfy snuggle bag with a difference – it leaves the feet free so the child can walk around. Pop on over clothes or pyjamas – it has a zip side, velcro fastening at the shoulder and a large pocket at the front which is great for keeping a favourite toy close at hand. A great alternative to the dressing gown for wandering around
Call 0845 602 9050 and The Fine Cotton Company will advise you on the type of bedding, what to buy for your new baby’s nursery or even a gift suggestion – they are always happy to help, have a gift registry and gift wrapping service, and ship Worldwide.
www.thefinecottoncompany.com myfamily
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WINTER WARMERS
Keeping warm this winter. . . www.thefinecottoncompany.com
www.handknitbabywear.com
www.studioroam.co.uk www.alpacaannie.com
www.vitalbaby.co.uk
www.zippysuit.com
www.bundlebean.com
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www.notonthehighstreet.com
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GIFT INSPIRATIONS
A Gift for Every Occasion Gift giving is a way of expressing your gratitude, recognition and appreciation for someone special and a way of expressing love, friendship, hope, sorrow, happiness and joy. Giving a gift can strengthen relationships between family, friends and even business clients. Whether it’s a gift for your mum’s birthday, your friend’s wedding, a wedding anniversary or to say thank you, we often find ourselves heading for the wine, flowers and chocolates in order to find a ‘quick fix’ to our gift giving dilemmas. We all know, deep down, that we could have chosen better! It’s easy to run out of ideas and then there are also ‘tricky to buy for’ recipient, who seems to have everything and needs
nothing! At some point we all find ourselves asking ‘What am I supposed to get?’ If you are facing a gift giving conundrum we want to help you put a smile on your loved one’s face. Because every gift giving opportunity is a chance to strengthen relationships and show appreciation for the people we care about, here are a few suggestions to bear in mind when looking for the perfect gift solution… G Don’t leave it until the last minute; give it some thought before you go shopping to buy the gift. Ask yourself what would be the perfect gift to buy for the person receiving it. Before you hit the highstreet have a few ideas in mind or you will walk around aimlessly searching for the perfect gift. G Decide what kind of gift you would like to give. Sentimental, humorous or breath-taking? Does the recipient have a quirky personality, a favourite colour, or a special interest?
G When you are buying for a child consider age, ability and personality. Discretely ask child’s parent what they might like and what others are buying, this will help avoid the disappointment of duplicate gifts. G Take a moment to remember something about the person receiving the gift. Perhaps there was an event that you two have shared or a special memory that you could relate to the perfect gift. G Listen out for hints – has the recipient been hinting about something that they would like to receive as a gift? Do they have a wishlist? G Be personal. The perfect gift should be personal, after all that is what makes it the perfect gift. Consider a personalised piece of jewelery or keepsake. Would they prefer something that is handmade? G Be creative and bear in mind that if you have bought the perfect gift in the past, that the perfect gift you bought for one person will not be the perfect gift for everyone. G Explore the internet. There is a world of fabulous gift ideas at your fingertips. This will also take the legwork out of gift shopping as your gifts can be delivered directly to your door.
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GIFT INSPIRATIONS
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GIFT INSPIRATIONS
The online gift-giving concept The Present Club has been launched by Georgette Hewitt, a successful entrepreneur on the hit BBC 2 TV programme, Dragons’ Den. Georgette, once the City’s youngest ever female trader and now a mother of three was
amazed by how hard it was to keep on constantly buying presents for her kids and their friends. The dozens of parties made it exhausting, but she had a gem of an idea. She took her idea into the Dragons’ Den and came away having won the support of Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis. Peter and Theo were blown away by the brilliance of The Present Club’s award winning idea, which offers a facility for friends and family to come together and buy a special present for a person, meaning that unaffordable gifts become suddenly obtainable. The Present Club website also gives customers the option to instigate an online whip-round for a work colleague or a teacher, taking away all the hassle involved in collecting money and signing cards because the website has a unique personal messaging system.
The concept is not only convenient, it saves waste once and for all! The Present Club is far greener than adding to the mountains of unwanted presents that go neglected each year. The Present Club gives online access to a world of fantastic presents with some of the most popular retailers and service providers on the market including Argos, House of Fraser, M&S, John Lewis, Thompsons and Marriott hotels – over 70 great brands. There is so much to choose from at The Present Club – amazing experiences and pamper days, top fashion, delicious food and wine, music, games, holidays and home improvements. Alternatively, you can print or email a Present Club voucher and give the gift of choice to your friend in seconds. From you, to them, with a click of your fingers. Join the online gift-giving revolution and solve all your present needs at
www.thepresentclub.co.uk
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GIFT INSPIRATIONS
Looking for a gift that's a bit different? Bag Crazy can help with a great range of gifts for children and adults including iphone and ipad cases, tablet cases, neoprene lunch bags, backpacks and sports bags. Visit our NEW website to make your gift unique with the simple to use, personalised design tool. You can choose the design and name on any of our personalised shopping bags, lunch bags, laptop bags, water bottles and much more!
There's a gift for every occasion at
www.bagcrazy.co.uk • Tel: 01823 430530 12 myfamily
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GIFT INSPIRATIONS night long. This soft cotton cot toy is made from airmesh and stuffed with hollowfibre, minimising the risk of suffocation and allowing the bond between baby and cuddly toy to flourish! RRP: £14.99 Stockist: www.safedreams.co.uk
Easter Treats (the non-edible kind!) It’s only January and we are already being bombarded in every supermarket with tempting chocolate Easter treats! Chocolate eggs, chocolate bunnies, chocolate chicks, the list is endless! Everyone needs a yummy chocolate egg at Easter time, but chocolate is not the only way to enjoy Easter! Why not change things up a bit, celebrate with an alternative Easter, and spoil your tot with these wonderful nonedible Easter gifts! Skibz, makers of the award-winning dribble bibs, are adding another gorgeous design to their ‘Made in Britain’ range, proving they truly are the coolest bibs in town! Joining the immensely popular series is a beautiful Easter egg design. This lovely bib would guarantee the adorability factor when the little ones venture on their egg hunt! RRP: £15 Stockists: www.skibz.co.uk
You could win your very own Hoppy simply email your name and daytime contact number to hoppy@myfamilymagazine.co.uk Closing date for entries is 20th March 2013.
You could win a Skibz Easter Dribble Bib – simply email your name and daytime contact number to skibz@myfamilymagazine.co.uk. Closing date for entries is 20th March 2013.
As new-borns can’t indulge in chocolate eggs, a cuddly toy would be a great alternative! Hoppy is the innovative, super cute rabbit has been developed with safety and breathability in mind, allowing worried parents a peaceful slumber whilst their little one can snuggle up to their bedtime buddy all
Searching for an extra-special baby gift or celebration present for new mums and dads? Create a Wishlist Save your friends the hassle of shopping for your present by adding items to your wishlist, which they can chip into at a click of their fingers!
Going to a party today and have no present? You’re in luck, download and print our voucher which your friend can spend towards any product on the website! Choose the amount and personalise the voucher and give the gift of choice within seconds!
Our discerning customers know ROAM has the perfect solution... Our bespoke cashmere blankets have been keeping loved ones wrapped and cosy in the softest 100% Scottish Cashmere since 2007. Splendid, contemporary heirlooms that will raise happy smiles for many years to come!
Start a Collection Fed up with the hassle that goes with organising a whip-round? Then look no further, start an online collection and email it out to friends and they can contribute and leave messages. Perfect for teachers!
visit us at www.studioroam.co.uk myfamily 13
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FROM BUMP TO BUSINESS
Ways to make your business
STAND OUT When you look around and see that there are lots of local people running a business just like yours it can be demoralising. Maybe you’re in the wrong business? Perhaps your market is already saturated? Don’t despair because some healthy competition shows that there is a demand for what you sell. Instead of giving up, you just need to stand out from the crowd. Here are some ways that you can do that:
Be different To stand out you need to be different from the other businesses out there. You don’t necessarily need a unique product, though. You could but put a new twist on a wellknown product or deliver a familiar service in a new way. In fact, selling a completely new product can be a big challenge because you may need to spend time educating your market about what you’ve got and why they need it.
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So look around at the products and services already out there, see where they aren’t fully meeting people’s needs and work out how you can do it better.
Have a strong brand Once you have worked out how your business is different, you can communicate this by developing a strong brand. Branding goes way beyond just a logo and is more like your business’s personality. So yes, it does include your logo, but it also includes the words and photos you use on your website and brochures, the way you answer the phone and any other way that your business communicates with its customers or market. The trick is to make sure this brand is both consistent and memorable. For example, a yoga teacher might want to communicate calmness and balance, so it would make sense for her to use a logo, colour scheme, photography and language that all suggest these things. As for standing out, she could look at what she brings to the local area that is different from all the other teachers. Perhaps she specialises in a particular group of clients (e.g. pregnant and new mums) or maybe she has a different approach or philosophy.
Helen Lindop Helen helps parents grow businesses around their young families. You can grab her free e-book Running a Business Around a Family: 9 Steps to Success’ at www.businessplusbaby.com/9steps
Whatever this difference is, it needs to come across loud and clear in her branding.
Be remarkable In other words, be one of those businesses that people remark on. Be so good, or original or different that they want to tell their friends. That doesn’t mean that you need a wild and crazy product, it could mean something as simple as having exceptional customer service. We’ve all been on the receiving end of terrible customer service, so speaking to a business that really does care about you as a customer can be a remarkable experience!
Promote, promote, promote Many small businesses don’t stand out because they aren’t telling enough people about their products. It doesn’t matter how great your product or branding is, if people don’t know about it then it’s going to be invisible. Are you doing enough promotion? Are the promotional activities you are doing working? If not, try to be very specific about who your ideal customer is, then look for the places that she already goes, both online and in the real world. Then go to those places yourself. Using these simple ideas, you really can stand out from everyone else and become the go-to business in your area.
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FROM BUMP TO BUSINESS
A rewarding opportunity, more than just financial!
The springboard to confidence for your child Tumble Tots is Britain's leading National Active Physical Play Programme for children from 6 months to 7 years • Using specifically designed equipment your child will learn agility, balance, climbing and co-ordination skills appropriate to their age
If you are self-motivated, confident and enthusiastic, you too could develop your own successful Tumble Tots business. With 31 years experience and more than 500 centres nationwide, Tumble Tots leads the way in Active Physical Play for Pre-school children. Since its inception, almost a million children have benefitted from the programme. As part of this established network of around 100 franchised businesses, you will benefit from:
• A structured programme designed to build self confidence and develop essential listening and language skills
• Extensive & ongoing technical training • Business and marketing support from a central team of experienced Tumble Tots personnel • The recognition of the market leading brand in the industry
• Supervised by trained staff in a fun and caring environment
To find out more about classes or franchise opportunities call 0121 585 7003 or visit www.tumbletots.com
Check out our shiny new website! WHAT’S NEW G Read about up and coming events, shows, awareness campaigns, tried & tested by My Family, new products and services. G Subscribe to our newsletter. G Don’t worry if you missed a copy of My Family you can read the latest issue and back issues online completely free of charge. G Have fun with online exclusive competitions. G Clickable links makes shopping with our favourite companies easy.
www.myfamilymagazine.co.uk To advertise online, in our newsletter or in the next issue, email info@myfamilymagazine.co.uk or call 0116 2100911. Deadline for bookings and artwork is 5.00pm on Friday 15th March.
Like us on facebook www.facebook.com/pages/My-Family-magazine Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com @MyFamilyMag
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WOMEN IN BUSINESS
The Gender Agenda Every year on the 8th March, the world celebrates International Women’s Day, recognising and applauding women’s achievements as well as observing and highlighting gender inequalities and issues. Women's organisations and governments around the world observe International Women’s Day by holding large-scale events that honour women's advancement, while diligently reminding of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's equality is gained, and maintained in all aspects of life. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models, one could think that women have gained true equality.
The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men. However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, and women have real choices. Therefore, the tone and nature of IWD has moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives. Annually on 8 March, a global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world, to inspire and celebrate women’s achievements. Ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatrical performances, fashion shows and more. You can join them and make a difference, think globally and act locally!! Make EVERYDAY International Women’s Day – do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding. Each year thousands of International Women’s Day events are uploaded by
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corporations, women's groups, schools, governments, charities and individuals from around the world. No matter where you are there is bound to be a range of exciting events near you. To find out how you can get involved visit www.internationalwomensday.com on twitter @womensday or on facebook www.facebook.com/Internationalwo mensday.
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WOMEN IN BUSINESS
Naturally Cool Kids Founder:
Fiona Wood As a mum of two sons, I have experienced everything from sniffles to glue ear; and prickly heat to eczema. I founded Naturally Cool Kids in July 2010 after years of being frustrated by the lack of affordable, natural skincare for kids. Like many parents, I’ve always used natural products on my children’s skin, but when summer came, there were few alternatives to chemical-laden sunscreens; and in winter I had to compromise my sons’ natural skincare for cold protection containing petroleum and other additives that have been linked to carcinogens*, and which I absolutely wanted to avoid! As I looked further, I started to think about how I could use my experience to create a children’s skincare range for parents who are looking for a more natural, greener way to protect their children’s skin and health. My big break came when mums from all over the UK voted for Naturally Cool Kids to win the Barclays Take One Small Step new business idea competition – a national campaign which aims to find people with outstanding business ideas and help to get them started. As a result, I’ve developed six products which only contain lovely, natural and soothing ingredients . . . and not a nasty in sight! Having the privilege of creating products from scratch meant that we could choose where and how we manufacture, so, true to our passion for all things natural, we’ve made sure that our products are kind to the environment, and we also manufacture in the UK. Careful thought has also gone into the packaging design too, to make it so easy to use that children can even do it themselves!
Success in 2012 We were blown away when we found out that we had one not only one but two awards in the My Family Magazine’s Best for Baby 2012. The winning products Cheeky Chops Lip & Cheek Protector and Rub A Dub Dub Hair & Body Wash, were entered by members of the public for consideration, when they were asked to nominate products that made life with little one’s that bit easier. Further success followed in 2012, after beating off stiff some competition and impressing 17 high profile judges included Duncan Bannatyne OBE, Luke Johnson and BBC Click’s Kate Russell, Naturally Cool Kids were named Mumpreneur Business of the year at the Startups Awards 2012. Naturally Cool Kids also came in the Top 3 businesses of the whole event identified as a company that will do well in the future. And there are big plans for Naturally Cool Kids in the future so be sure to read our regular news updates on the website!
Alpaca Annie Founder:
Anne Clifton Holt Anne and Robert are hands on farmers as were both their parents. Over the years they have kept abreast of new ideas and have diversified in their farming activities. Their two sons Alan and Toby have joined them and both play an active role in the running of the farm. When you visit Haguelands Farm you are greeted by a large new timber building designed and fitted to a high specification and incorporating a Bistro with an attached conference room and a variety of shops. The Bistro has an excellent, varied menu for breakfast, lunch or dinner, including delicious cakes and biscuits to accompany a cup of coffee or afternoon tea. All the food is locally sourced, freshly cooked and the chefs also provide cookery courses for all ages and one-off cookery evenings. There’s a gift shop with many lovely hand- made, locally sourced items and an excellent fish shop with the widest range for maximum choice and a unique shop full of local produce, delicious cheeses, eggs, fresh vegetables, jams, chutneys, a variety of cooking oils and fresh orange juice are just some of the range on offer. For children, there is a large play area and in the summer months a superb Maize Maze (weather permitting) to delight everyone. The alpacas are Anne’s passion and with Robert’s help they are building a strong herd. Anne started the herd in 2008; they now have 31 alpacas and a few more on the way, so it is a busy and exciting time on the farm. Anne takes an active part in the day-to-day running of the herd, halter training the young alpacas, and trekking with the older ones. She is regularly spotted out in the paddocks making sure they are happy and well and, with Robert’s help they do all the necessary husbandry tasks, such as toe clipping and weighting alpacas. Anne is slowly learning all about Alpacas. She has attended courses on all the different aspects involved with keeping them. Alpacas are naturally inquisitive and love to meet people; guests can take the alpacas out on a supervised trek followed by a picnic. Haguelands is a happy, stress free environment for the alpacas and they thrive on it. Anne says ‘All our alpacas are available for adoption and we look forward to welcoming adopted parents to the farm to meet and enjoy their chosen or gifted alpaca’. Visit www.alpacaannie.com for more info on trekking and to check out the Alpaca products. As Haguelands is a working farm we ask you to make an appointment, we do try to fit in with your arrangements, but please be aware that this is not always possible. We also limit the amount of visitors per weekend for the welfare of our animals.
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WOMEN IN BUSINESS
Stephanie Lumley: Tumble Tots Franchisee Six years ago, who would have thought that I would be doing what I am doing today, certainly not me! The transition from a successful senior manager in a large multinational company, to a mother of two boys running my own business, has been a surprisingly smooth one! I gave up work to have my first son, as I knew that a part time role was not realistically going to work for me. For a while, being a stay at home Mum was great, however after eight months I needed some adult company and something that used my brain. It’s not that being a Mum wasn’t enough, it was harder work than anything I’d done before, but I needed something for me, which still fitted in with family life. There aren’t that many opportunities out there today and seeing my friends whose children have started school struggling to find work that suits, I’m thankful for how things have turned out. My son was one when I bought my local Tumble Tots franchise. I worked 3 days a week, my son went to nursery for two of those days and because Tumble Tots is for children aged 6 months to 7 years, he came to work with me for the other day. Owning a franchise gives me the opportunity to run my own business but at the same time I have some support. Making it a success is up to me and five years on we’re still going. I can decide what days and times to run classes, and have arranged our timetable around the school year, and school times, juggling all the other business administration is done when I can fit it in. My Tumble Tots franchise gives me the chance to network and meet Mums in the local area, and to make good friends. My staff have family too, so Tumble Tots works well for them. My second son was born 5 weeks ago and he will come to work with me too.
Inventor of the Holo®:
Emma Benson Originally the idea came to me just over 5 years ago, at 28 weeks pregnant, while on holiday in Spain.
I was aware that lying on my back with my tummy in the sun was not advisable, as apparently an unborn baby doesn’t like the brightness in its eyes and will turn away in the womb. Lying on my front was just not an option unless I dug a big hole in the sand! It seemed obvious that all I needed was a lilo with a hole in it for my tummy to go in.
Today international interest is growing with Holo® proving to be an instant hit with happy mums-to-be, physiotherapists and pregnancy yoga teachers worldwide.
I got to work on the project and in 2009 the Holo® was born! The Holo® has received excellent reviews including TV presenter Jenni Falconer’s and in 2012 at the Baby Show Holo® took centre stage in the fashion show.
www.holo-lilo.com
Life on the farm with
Rita Corrigan Mother and now Grandmother, Rita Corrigan has a hands-on role at the heart of family business. Wanting a new challenge, Rita and husband Mike purchased Eastfields Farm, which is situated between Middlesbrough and Stokesley in North Yorkshire, in 2001. Whilst not farmers previously, the couple always had a keen interest in nature, wildlife and the great outdoors, and although they had initially dreamed of a quiet life, they set about creating a sustainable working environment and a haven of tranquillity that others could enjoy. The couple worked closely with Tees Valley Wildlife, Askham Bryan Agricultural College and local volunteers on programmes
including bird, bat, pond and wildflower surveys. They planted thousands of trees to create woodlands, restored and replanted hedgerows, excavated ponds and ditches to create wildlife habitats. Award winning Blackthorn Gate is the latest development on the farm – four luxury, eco-friendly, holiday lodges with the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors National Park right on the doorstep.
For more information visit
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MADE BY MUMS
The award winning company dedicated to making children Feel Good about themselves and their world.
Award winning BuggyTug is rapidly becoming a safety essential for all new mums. With an rrp of just ÂŁ3.99 have you got yours yet? BuggyTug is available nationwide including from www.buggytug.com, Asda, John Lewis, Jo Jo Maman Bebe & Kiddicare.
Fun, educational products that help to build confidence and self esteem. Encouraging children to feel happy, creative, magical and special. Bring the Feel Good factor into your home!
For more information visit
www.feelgoodfriends.com myfamily 19
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MUMS SHOW LIVE
The New and Only Show for Mums of Wonderful, Brilliant, Infuriating, School Aged Children If you feel guilty about leaving your children to go to work, if telling your children about the birds and the bees makes you weak at the knees or if you worry about how to discipline your children, then fear not. Mums Show Live, the UK’s first show for parents of four-to-12 year olds, is taking place at Alexandra Palace this coming May (16-19) to answer all of these questions and more.
Shop in the Fashion section and Marketplace. See a wide selection of the best and coolest fashion for both you and your children, with some great retailers including Joules and Fit Flops. Get inspired in Lifestyle which will keep you stocked up with great rainy day and trip ideas, ensuring you’re the most imaginative mum ever, then wander round The School Gates to keep you up to date on the latest teaching aides and education services. Finally, dump your man and kids in The Den, filled with entertainers and games, and sneak off to Mum’s the Word to discover all the little treats that will make you feel like the superwoman you are.
Things to do at the show Join in at The Conversation Theatre which will be filled with a mix of celebrity and expert presenters addressing issues surrounding health, entertainment and education. It will be the perfect destination to get answers to all those questions you were too afraid to ask. Come and enjoy the ‘roundtable’, open, café-style format where the audience and presenters are as one. Speakers include the kids’ life coach Naomi Richards, broadcaster and parenting ambassador Sue Atkins, and author of The Times blog ‘School Gate’ Sarah Ebner. Listen and learn at The Inspiration Theatre where you will hear from leading experts and companies about innovative techniques and products that could have a real and meaningful impact on your life. Lectures will cover a wide range of topics and skills; from photographing the family to jam making, from getting back to work to wine tasting. Chill out by the Fridge Door and leave messages for friends and family. More importantly, relax and have a well-earned cup of tea and slice of cake.
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Tickets Book your ticket now to meet experts, join live debates and get face-to-face with leading brands. Tickets are just £10* – book online or call 0844 854 0504. Opening times Thursday 16th Friday 17th Saturday 18th Sunday 19th
pm preview 10:00 – 17:00 10:00 – 17:00 10:00 – 17:00
For the latest schedules and a taste of what’s on offer at the show, visit
www.mumshowlive.com *When booked in advance, £15 on the door. Terms & Conditions apply.
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and they’re p u n w o r g l al
Blink... W The new and only show for mums of wonderful, brilliant, infuriating, school-aged children.
W Full of energetic discussions in our theatres. Then enjoy a little ‘me time’ too.
W Shop the vibrant marketplace, and discover everything from family days out to leading brands and innovative new products.
W All weekend long there will be entertainment for kids and dads in the Den and across the grounds of Alexandra Palace.
st
Tickets ju
£10
Book now online or call 0844 854 0504
*
For the latest schedules and a taste of what’s on offer at this show,especially for you, visit www.mumshowlive.com
Hundreds of sponsors and exhibitors including..
*When booked in advance, £15 on the door. Terms & Conditions apply.
Exhibition & Conversation
ALEXANDRA PALACE 16 - 19 MAY 2013
www.mumshowlive.com U 0844 854 0504
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EDUCATION
Choosing the Right Independent School for Your Child The Independent Schools Council (ISC) brings together eight associations which represent over 1,200 independent schools in the UK. These schools are ranked among the best in the world and educate more than half a million children each year, around 80 per cent of independently educated pupils.
Each child needs to be given specific opportunities and support in order to excel. The diversity of our independent schools means that you can match the specialism of the school to each child’s individual gifts and challenges. For very clever children there are a number of highly academic, selective schools. For the very bright child you can be sure that such schools will stretch them and have much expertise at gaining admission to the best universities. For musical children there are schools which specialise in music or have outstanding music departments. The cathedral schools offer pupils the incredible experience of singing in a cathedral choir.
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Academic success ISC exam results from 2012 reveal that; more than half of ISC pupils (51.39%) achieve A* or A grades at A-level (compared with a national average of 26.6%), and six out of ten (60.0%) GCSE and IGCSE entries achieve A* or A grades (compared with a national GCSE average of 22.4%). Further information about results for year 11 and year 13 can be found on our website http://www.isc.co.uk/press/pressreleases Route to university Independent schools are very strong in traditional subjects. In order to get into the best universities it helps if you have studied the subjects that those universities want. Private schools in the UK teach these subjects especially well. Subjects like music, Latin and Greek are not offered to A-level in many state schools. Subjects like modern languages, maths, chemistry and physics have a bigger take up in fee-paying schools than in the state sector.
How to choose an independent school Choosing the right school is a very important decision that takes plenty of time and research. At www.isc.co.uk you can do a personalised school search to find an ISC school in the right area which matches requirements including boarding, gender, age range, examinations and financial assistance. The registrar at each school will be available to answer any questions and will be happy discuss how their school can best meet each child, and family’s, needs.
The value of independent education
91% of ISC pupils continue on to higher education. Small class sizes and good discipline © Hallfield School
For children who are good at sport, it is easy to find an independent school which will guarantee them good coaching, a full fixture list and the opportunity to play alongside other children of high athletic ability. For children with special needs such as dyslexia or autism, there are many outstanding independent schools offering the best provision in the country for such children. For parents who wish for their children to be educated in a single-sex environment, there are a large number of exceptionally good independent schools which cater solely or pre-dominantly for boys or girls. Another important specialism is boarding. There are some very good state boarding schools, but they are few in number. Parents choose independent boarding schools because they offer a secure environment where pupils receive excellent care, outstanding teaching and unparalleled access to extra-curricular activities.
ISC schools have a higher staff to pupil ratio and as such are able to offer significantly smaller class sizes with 9.4 pupils for every teacher. Freedom Because our schools are free from government interference, they can organise themselves in the way which best suits your child. They do not have to follow the National Curriculum. They can set their own pay scales to attract the very best teachers and support staff. Extra-curricular opportunities Independent schools are very strong in extra-curricular activities. Sport, music and drama tend to be stronger at independent schools than in state schools. This is especially true of schools which have some boarders but is in fact true of all independent schools. In most state schools, a small PE department has to manage most of the sport. In most independent schools many teachers are required to help with sport, so greatly increasing the number of teams that compete in any week. Sports such as rugby and cricket, not to mention
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EDUCATION rowing and fencing, are dominated by independent school pupils. You will no doubt have read that independently educated athletes performed particularly well at the London 2012 Olympics. You may therefore find these figures useful: 45 out of the 114 medal-winning athletes in team GB attended an independent school. This takes into account 12 athletes who won two medals (including two independentlyeducated: Chris Hoy and Laura Bechtolsheimer). In terms of medals - independent school athletes accounted for all or part (depending on if it was a team or solo event) of 24 out of the 65 Team GB medals. Fee assistance Even in this time of recession, the number of pupils in ISC schools nationally has risen, demonstrating that parents continue to consider finding fees for independent education a priority.
ISC schools are sympathetic to the financial challenges facing many parents and the amount of fee assistance available has grown to reflect this. ISC schools provided almost £600million in fee assistance in 2012. Attitudes to the sector More parents than ever would choose to educate their child at an independent school if they could afford it, according to research published today. The Populous survey of 2,057 adults commissioned by the Independent Schools Council (ISC) found that nearly six out of ten (57 per cent) of parents would send their child to an independent school if they could afford to. Only 25 per cent would not. This is the highest favourable response in the survey’s history: in 2002, 48 per cent said they would and 42 per cent said they would not. Unprompted, better standards of education remains the key reason parents would opt for the independent sector (51 per cent).
7 in 10 of all adults agree that independent schools provide good university and employment prospects for pupils as well as giving them opportunities to fulfil their potential. The public strongly believe that independent schools have higher educational standards than state schools (59 per cent), with only 6 per cent believing they are lower and 23 per cent saying they are about the same. The view that independent schools offer a higher standard of education has been growing stronger over the past decade from 49 per cent in 2002 to 59 per cent in 2012; by contrast, the proportion believing independent school standards to be lower has hardly changed, falling from 9 per cent in 2002 to 6 per cent in 2012. For full information, please see our recent press release: http://www.isc.co.uk/press/pressreleases/2012/more-parents-thanever-favour-independent-education-2 012-11-12
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EDUCATION
Achieving excellence in all we do. Hallfieldfirst, 3 months - 2 years, Pre-Prep, 2+ - 7+ and Upper School 7+ - 11+
Our next Open Morning will be held on
Saturday 9th February 2013 between 10.00am and 12.00pm. For full details contact Mrs Alyson Devonshire, Director of Marketing and Admissions, for an application form.
Church Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3SJ. ,THPS! HKTPZZPVUZ'OHSSÄLSKZJOVVS JV \R
0121 454 1496 www.hallfieldschool.co.uk 24 myfamily
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EDUCATION
Give Your Child the Best Start at
Hedgehog Hill Nursery Hedgehog Hill Day Nursery is an independent Day Nursery and Pre-school located in the centre of the village of Greens Norton, Towcester, Northamptonshire. Whilst benefiting from a quiet country location the nursery is easily accessible to the main routes for Milton Keynes, Northampton and Oxford. The nursery provides a safe, secure and friendly environment where your child can learn and develop, while receiving a good grounding for the school years ahead of them. Hedgehog Hill is spacious and well equipped, with facilities that include a Baby Suite which caters for babies from 6 weeks. Within the Baby Suite there is a calming Sleep Room with mood lighting and calming music, where little ones can take a nap in individual cots while being continually monitored. The Nursery is a well-designed and homely room where babies are nursed by caring and experienced members of staff and for the ‘movers and groovers’, the Play Room provides an area where babies learn to move and play safely.
visit the Jubilee Gardens, Pocket Wildlife Park, playground and local small holding. In the nursery garden children are encouraged to study a multitude of mini-beasts as well as learning to grow their own tasty vegetables. Hedgehog Hill’s motivated and qualified staff work with the children to achieve the four principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). To find out more or to book a place at Hedgehog Hill Day Nursery, please call us on 01327 323012 and we'll be happy to help! Follow us at www.facebook.com/ hedgehoghill.nursery or on twitter @NurseryHedgeHog.
For toddlers the fully equipped, large open plan ‘Happy Hippos’ room, includes an indoor playground allowing toddlers the freedom to explore, learn and play whilst they are closely supervised by fully qualified, caring staff.
Pre-School children are provided with a more structured approach to play and learning in the ‘Funky Monkeys’ room which offers the freedom of indoor/outdoor play. In preparation for their move into primary education, this area of the nursery contains age appropriate equipment and has the benefit of an IT Suite with internet access.
Hedgehog Hill recently became part of the Best Start Nurseries family, which was founded by owner Sue Ensor in May 1990. Based in South Leicestershire, Best Start Nurseries have two childcare provisions – St Mary’s Montessori Day Nursery in Lutterworth and Alma Park Nursery in Wibtoft. For more information or to arrange a visit go to www.beststartnurseries.com or call 01455 554034.
Exploring the outdoors is an important part of every child’s development, therefor all age groups have access to the garden and are taken on regular walks through the village to
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EDUCATION
Learning about Feelings Feel Good Friends is the award winning company whose fun, educational products help children feel good about themselves and their world. Teaching children about feelings, and how to express themselves from a young age, gives them important skills that will benefit them throughout life. These skills are critical for their wellbeing and for building relationships. The first step in coping with a feeling is identifying it, which is why it is so important to explore the language of feelings with children, expanding their vocabulary of feeling words and their meanings. When children learn to express themselves, they are better able to calm themselves, bounce back after conflict and disappointment, and they will get along better with others. Feel Good Friends resources are great tools to help children become familiar with different feelings in a fun way. For more information visit
www.feelgoodfriends.com
Established since 1997, Ladybird Day Nursery provides a friendly stimulating and safe environment where children enjoy challenging activities that stretch their imaginations and help develop a range of new skills. Registered with Ofsted Early Years – all staff hold appropriate childcare qualifications. The nursery also benefits from a large, secure garden and CCTV. Situated next to Edgbaston county cricket ground, opposite Cannon Hill Park, Ladybird Day Nursery offers flexible childcare for up to 29 children from 0-8 years of age – including school holidays and teacher training days. Open Monday - Friday, 7.00am until 6.30pm (excluding bank holidays)
Telephone: 0121 440 5706
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EDUCATION
Should there be a clear line between homework reading and bedtime reading? by Li z Walker, proprietor, www.readingchest.co.uk
Learning to ‘enjoy’ reading is more important than ‘learning to read’. Bedtime reading should be an enjoyable time – not a stressful time for parents or children. If children enjoy reading and they are not too tired to read at bedtime, then there is no reason why reading school books or
‘homework reading’ cannot be done at bedtime. For beginner readers or struggling readers however, bedtime can be the worst time to do reading. This is when children are at their most tired and more likely to make mistakes and get frustrated. It is not very motivating for children to hear comments such as ‘but you’ve just read that word on every other page – of course you know it!’ Bedtime can also be a good time for siblings to read to each other – even if it is the same favourite book every night! Older siblings will enjoy the responsibility of reading to younger siblings, their confidence will grow and their reading skills will benefit. If the book is suitable, you could always use the bedtime reading opportunity to share the odd page or line with a child who wants to help out, or perhaps play a game such as trying to find certain high frequency words such as ‘and’ or ‘this’ , or find all the words on the page beginning with ‘t’.
Even if you are lucky enough for your children to read by themselves or for siblings to read to each other at bedtime, it is still so important for parents to read to their children. It is a special time to be shared when children can appreciate what reading is all about and hopefully develop a love of reading not just the ability to read.
Put books at the heart of your child’s world with an award winning Tidy Books Children’s Bookcase Babies and children love to browse through books well before they can read, and if children can explore their books independently, it helps to plant a love of books and reading, right from the start.
As Geraldine Grandidier, mum and Tidy Books company founder explains; “Ordinary children’s bookcases decorated or not, made no sense to me – books fall out. Plus how can you put such thin books of different sizes on an ordinary shelf? I wanted something that worked well for kids and their books, so I created the original Tidy Books Children’s Bookcase.”
“8 in 10 kids who are above average readers have books of their own at home.” National Literacy Trust Book Ownership Report 2011.
The Tidy Books Children’s Bookcase is perfect book display and storage for your children: n Front panels keep children’s books in place. n Holds 85 children’s books of all shapes and sizes. n Slimline design; takes up very little floor space. n Finished in eco friendly water lacquer.
“A great, well made and easy to assemble bookcase. Ideal for children who can choose books by their front covers rather than their spines. My 3 year old loves it!” Carolyn. The Tidy Books Box, is your handy book box with a play clock. Awarded a Mother and Baby Silver medal, the Tidy Books Box will put books at the heart of your children’s world, and the play clock gives them a lovely introduction to tidy up time! Visit our website, tidy-books.co.uk, to find out more and buy. Special 20% Discount for My Family Readers – used code MYFAM20. Expires May 30th 2013.
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EDUCATION
Fill their World with a WONDER-ful story National Storytelling Week takes place at the end of January and multi award winning children’s brand, My Wonder, have the perfect way to get the little ones enjoying stories from day one with their Goldilocks story filler, allowing children to enjoy the much-loved tale time and time again!
This classic tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears is brought to life with this gorgeous 12 piece set of material squares for the original Wondercube, along with the printed story so parents can read while their children follow along with the sequenced Wonder squares. The simplicity is what makes it so great – a cube packed with textile squares that children can pull out one by one – just like they do with the box of tissues or baby wipes! Although based upon a simple idea, it allows the little ones to use a variety of skills and encourages them to explore and also helps stimulate babies’ senses and develop their fine motor skills. Each square has a different feel and sound to investigate; the pieces can be pulled apart, stuck back together, and rearranged in any order. Wondercube is a real investment for parents too, as it has been designed to grow with the child. As well as the soft Wondercube, a solid wooden version is also available which for older children between the ages of 2-6. With a huge choice of innovative add- on fillings - including numbers, letters, animals and storybooks - the adaptability and versatility of this simple cube is infinite. RRP: Starting from £17.99 (For Wondercube) and £12.99 for the Goldilocks filler and storybook Stockists: www.mywondecube.co.uk, Selfridges, amazon.co.uk Suitable from: newborns up to 6 years
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13 to lds r3 ro Fo ea y
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Maths & English tuition Six great reasons to choose Explore Learning... & get your child to love learning! 1. Support your child’s school work We work extensively with local schools and all our courses are mapped to the National Curriculum. This means that we can support your child every step of the way from foundation to secondary.
2. An individual plan for your child At Explore Learning we cater for children of all abilities - stretching and challenging whilst supporting and nurturing. Your child will work at their own pace and to a personalised plan that can cover all elements of maths and English, ranging from handwriting, spelling and poetry to telling the time and fractions.
3. Flexible membership Explore Learning centres can be found throughout the UK and are open 7 days a week all year round meaning children get consistent support throughout term-time and holidays. Once members, children can attend the Explore Learning centre twice a week without booking or calling in advance.
HIS CONCENTRATION (E IS NOW ABLE TO ³QUICK THINK´ AND RESPOND TO QUESTIONS ACCURATELY (IS SCHOOL PERFORMANCE HAS IMPROVED OWING TO THE SKILLS LEARNED AT %XPLORE ,EARNING ² Husna, Parent
4. In partnership with parents Tutors work in partnership with parents and children, allowing families to come in to discuss their child’s progress throughout and tailor their individual concerns to their child’s tuition.
5. Fun and friendly environment Our centre is a fun and friendly place where children boost
6. Free initial consultation - Come along and judge for yourself! We have centres throughout the UK. For details of your nearest centre please visit our website, or call
01483 447410 www.explorelearning.co.uk
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EDUCATION
Parents and Young People invited to explore Vocational Careers Parents play a key role in influencing their children’s job choices, according to research by The Skills Show, the UK’s largest free skills and careers event. The figures suggest that almost a third of children and young people are most influenced by parents and teachers when selecting their future careers. With this in mind, it is vital that parents are as aware as possible of the different career options open to their children, as well as understanding the different paths that they might take to achieve a successful career. As a result children can make informed decisions about their future. While many young people follow the route of taking A-levels followed by a degree programme at university, this can ignore many of the more vocational opportunities which are available to young people, and does not always allow young people to consider the broadest possible range of careers which might be open to them.Many job opportunities for young people exist for which they require specialist training. This can be achieved via “on the job” programmes or apprenticeships and can open up a new world of possibilities. The value of vocational training and the development of work-based skills are often overlooked by parents, teachers and young people but in reality, vocational training in sectors such as engineering and manufacturing can lead to university placements and provide the basis for long term, successful careers. Heather Lloyd, a mother of two from Staffordshire, understands the importance of vocational training.Heather and her husband both took up the opportunity to develop workbased skills and themselves learned “on the
job”. As a result they now both have successful careers in pharmacy and mechanical engineering respectively and Heather is keen that her two children also understand the benefits of developing work-based skills. She recently took her 16 year old daughter to The Skills Show at the NEC Birmingham to find out more about different careers and to enable her daughter to gain first-hand experience of a number of different skills. Heather was keen to provide her daughter with as much career support as she could during such a vitally important time in her life.
stimulating and financially rewarding, and the opportunities are there for young people to take.It is our role, and that of parents, to ensure that today’s young people are fully informed so that they can make choices that they can reap the benefits from in years to come. “Talking to those who visited the show, 90% of those who attended enjoyed it, and a high proportion would recommend visiting to a friend (94% of adults and 85% of young people). The most encouraging figure is that two thirds of attendees said that the Show helped to improve their knowledge of vocational training, and more than 70% of the young people visiting said that it had made them more interested in pursuing a vocational course or career.These figures confirm that The Skills Show has a crucial role to play in changing perceptions and bringing skills to life for young people seeking a career.”
Heather says: “I think it’s really important that children are aware of the alternative routes into jobs, as well as the wealth of different roles available to them. My daughter is a high achiever at school therefore many people automatically think she will go to go to university but I wanted to show her that she had other options that could also lead to a rewarding career. In my experience, employers value those with a good work ethic and some experience, and training in the workplace can provide a great grounding for a worthwhile career.In my opinion training “on the job” or taking up an apprenticeship which enables you to “earn while you learn” is ideal because you get the best of both worlds.”
The Skills Show, held at the NEC in Birmingham in November 2012, welcomed more than 70,000 young people and aimed to inspire visitors by bringing skills to life and changing the way they think about skills, training and apprenticeships.For more information, please visit www.theskillsshow.com.
David Cragg, Deputy Chair of The Skills Show, says: “It is crucial that we open the eyes of parents and young people to the breadth of careers available and the value of education and vocational training. A focus of The Skills Show was to give young people and their parents a real experience of careers, rather than offering just traditional careers guidance. In this way young people could be properly informed of all the options open to them, and it enabled those attending to match their future training and skills to the vacancies available to them.Vocational careers are mentally
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Shopping for a Newborn Whether this is your first child or you are adding to your brood, shopping for a new baby is exciting and it is easy to go OTT. Before you go shopping make a list of the things that you will definitely need, as well as optional extras. Once you have completed your checklist it’s worth comparing prices on some of the nursery equipment websites. It’s a good idea to check out items on your list both online and at your local nursery shop. Specialist stores have will have advisors who will be able to inform you of the benefits of different products and help you select the ones that are right for you. Before you buy, take time to talk to friends that have recently had a baby. They will have tried some of the items on your checklist and can give you an honest opinion about quality, convenience, what they found useful and what was a waste of money.
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You don’t need everything straight away, but you will need G A cot and mattress, plus sheets and blankets that can be added or taken away according to temperature changes. (Pillows, duvets, quilts or fleeces are not recommended for babies under one year old). G If you have a car or you will need a car seat. G A Pram, pushchair or travel system G Enough nappies - either disposable or reusable. In the early weeks babies get through six to eight nappies a day! G Changing mat, toiletries and wipes for bath and changing time. G Feeding equipment – if you're bottlefeeding you'll need bottles, formula and sterilising equipment. If you're breastfeeding and plan to express milk, you'll need bottles and teats, and a breast pump, plus nursing bras and breast pads.
G Loads of bibs G Plenty of towels and flannels for bath time and muslin squares for dribbles! G Clothes – cotton sleepsuits, vests, hat, mittens, bootees, cardigans, shawls and suitable outdoor clothing for when the weather is cold. Handy things to have include – G Baby thermometer G Moses basket/ crib (plus mattress, sheets and blankets) G Baby bath G Baby box or bag G Sling G Bouncy chair G Baby monitor G Changing bag G Steam steriliser G Bath thermometer G Baby brush and comb set G Nappy wrapper When you are making your checklist remember; all babies need are their basic needs met – to eat, be kept safe, clean and warm, and to be loved. If you meet these basic requirements, you've got it covered from the start.
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Cheeky wipes – Making a Bum Job Better! Award winning Cheeky Wipes, are leading a bottom cleaning revolution for DISPOSABLE or WASHABLE nappy users and just ONE wipe will do for a number TWO!
wash load and your clean baby wipes come straight out the washing machine and back into the Fresh Baby Wipes Container – no drying required! Could it get any easier?
No more chucking endless baby wipes in the bin, Cheeky Wipes are cost effective and environmentally friendly. Free from harsh chemicals, Cheeky Wipes are also gentle on baby’s bottom making them a real alternative to disposable wipes, especially for sensitive skin and eczema.
busy parents. Use the special out and about waterproof travel bags, just pop some clean damp baby wipes in a bag and off you go! Got a mess? Drop the soiled baby wipes in the mesh insert in the Mucky Baby Wipes Waterproof Bag until you get home.
What’s more, they are convenient too! Cheeky Wipes can be used when out and about with baby – which is great news for
The clever all-in-one kit means that no extra wash loads, dirty baby wipes can go straight into the washing machine with a normal
If you want an excellent product that is kind on baby’s bottom and the planet, Cheeky Wipes really are the business! The full kit is priced at £39.95 and is available from www.cheekywipes.com. And, for poo-squeamish parents, Cheeky Wipes have recently launched a 'Hands & faces' kit priced at £26.95, perfect for using after messy meal times!
Bibbles are functional, attractive and great for teething babies and dribbly toddlers. Designed and lovingly manufactured in Nottingham, UK. Bibbles are made with a quality soft cotton top fabric to absorb wetness and a soft fleece under layer to act as a barrier, preventing clothing and baby’s chin from becoming wet and uncomfortable. Adjustable nickel free press-studs means it’s a comfy fit and being machine washable, your Bibble will last for years! Bibbles come in a continually changing range of colours and designs to suit every taste and will enhance any outfit, ideal for the modern mum and baby of today. We don’t use any fancy packaging as we like to pass on the saving to our Customers so you can save money and help the environment. Also available in 3 larger sizes for older children and adults Bibbles Nappy Cakes are a unique gift with the wow factor. Made exclusively with Bibbles Bandana Bibs.
www.bandana-bibs.co.uk FREE DELIVERY ON YOUR NEXT ORDER — Enter MYFAMILY at the checkout
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Breastfeeding in the workplace A new survey revealed that one third of mothers are returning to work earlier than expected because of the current economic climate. Committed to supporting working mums Medela, the world leading breastpump provider, and babyworld.co.uk conducted the report to learn more about the current opinions on maternity leave and what provisions employers put in place to support working mothers. Despite the fact that mothers are going back to work earlier, 67% of them said their employers offered them no general advice or
guidance on their return. Readjusting to life in the work place following maternity leave can be a very challenging time with one mother explaining she was so worried about leaving her daughter that she “felt physically sick.” The report highlighted that on the whole retuning to work was a stressful experience, but it seemed to be particularly hard for those who were still breastfeeding. Thirty percent of mothers who took part in the survey were still breastfeeding when they returned to work. Worryingly, 50% of the mums who were still feeding said their biggest struggle was the fact there was nowhere they could go to express milk.
One participant said: “I really dreaded it and gave up breastfeeding the first time as the stress of going back to work and expressing was too much.” Setting up a breastfeeding room is a simple change businesses can make to support new mums. A special place where mums can go and express milk privately will reassure many that they are making the right decision about returning, and will prove that the company values its staff and places great importance on supporting mums who want to breastfeed. Some mothers may want to express, whereas others may prefer to take short breaks throughout the day to feed their baby. Providing flexible working hours and taking the time to really discuss all the options available is something all employers should do as standard. Some businesses are certainly leading the way by going the extra mile, for example one mum said: “I had an afternoon break to go to the nursery and feed my son which continued for a couple of months which was a gentle introduction back to work.” Commenting on the survey Managing Director of Medela UK Paul Furlong said: “This news should be a great concern for employers, especially in the current climate when it’s difficult to hold onto valued employees. Organisations really should be doing everything they can to support mums. We’ve all heard of Babies in the Office, but a dedicated expressing room is something far easier to implement. It’s a great first step for businesses and will really mark them apart.”
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Holo® Pregnancy Comfort Holo® approve of its use and are amazed nothing like this has been developed before.
The Holo® is an inflatable airbed with a hole in the middle, developed for use in pregnancy to enable women to lie on their tummies.
professionals are realising that lying on your tummy is not just an essential part of getting your baby into optimal position for birth, but quite often is a way of relieving aches and pains in the pelvis, and allows total relaxation, which in the build-up to birth is often hard to achieve. Before now, it has always been assumed that once your belly gets too big, front lying is just one of those things you have to accept that you can’t do. This is no longer the case! Many
We use it with nearly every pregnant patient now. For healthcare professionals, finding a comfortable position to treat pregnant women in can be difficult. The Holo® solves that problem easily. We can more effectively assess back pain and pelvic pain when they are on their fronts. We love it and recommend other clinics give it a try.
“
®
The Holo has revolutionised tummy lying in pregnancy! Midwives, osteopaths, yoga teachers, physiotherapists, obstetricians, who have seen the
”
Peter Mulvey, Prophysiotherapy, London, MSc MMACP MCSP
The Holo® can be used at any stage of pregnancy, from the moment it becomes impossible to lie on your tummy, right up
until the birth. One size really fits all! Not just for holidays, it’s ideal for pregnant or sensitive tummies to use on land or water, to lie on your front for relaxation, massage and sunbathing. If you are finding it hard to sleep or if you just want to watch telly, have a quick catnap, or read a book lying on your tummy like you used to do, then the Holo® is the answer.
www.holo-lilo.com
New Year, New Choices . . . As consumers, we are always encouraged to make green choices, but although our intentions are good, we don’t always quite get around to it and often opt for a more convenient or cheaper option. With a new baby arriving, shopping choices become all the more important and with such a huge market out there, it can become mind boggling. However, the arrival of a little one presents the perfect opportunity to start making some choices that will not only make you feel good, but are also great for your baby and the planet! TotsBots, the UK’s leading reusable nappy brand are passionate about the importance of using reusable nappies and encourage parents to make the switch as it will be the best choice
organic cotton, it’s a great choice for parents who want an ecofriendly sling. Even better they’ve just released two brand new colours for 2013 – Pebble and Berry so you’ll look super smart too. they’ll make for the world, their pocket and their little one’s bottom (plus they look super cool too!) RRP: Starting from £8.99 Stockists: www.totbots.com The BabaSling® Organic is a great solution for parents wanting to ‘wear’ their baby or toddler. Little ones can be carried in five different ways from birth to two years; Mum can breastfeed discreetly in the early stages and Dad can enjoy some quality bonding time. Made from 100%
RRP: £44.99 Stockist: www.thebabasling.com Considering newborns spend the majority of their time sleeping, choosing a mattress for the little ones is a very important decision. The Little Green Sheep has specialised in making the highest quality natural and organic baby mattresses that are entirely chemical-free and safe for babies. RRP: from £145 Stockists: www.thelittlegreensheep.com
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HOLIDAYS & LEISURE
Family Fun in Britain Family holidays are a magical time but it can sometimes be a little tricky to find something that will keep everyone happy. But take a break in Britain and you will find something for all – from heritage and culture to music and stunning countryside, Britain has plenty to inspire all ages. Explore the rugged coastlines and beautiful beaches of Cornwall, situated at the SouthWestern tip of England, or Wales where the more adventurous in the family may like to get out and experience the wide array of watersports that can be found along the coast. Surfing, coasteering, stand up paddleboarding, and sea kayaking can all be easily found and enjoyed. Don’t worry if you don’t know one end of a surfboard from another – places such as the Cornwall Surf Academy or the Gower Surf School (which runs at Gower beach in Swansea, Wales, and Newquay in Cornwall) can teach at all levels.
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open as a musical in London’s Theatre Royal in June 2013 following on from the resounding success of Matilda the musical another Roald Dahl classic which opened in London’s West End in 2012.
If perhaps you prefer to stay on dry land for your adrenalin filled activities then don’t worry – climbing, mountain biking and archery are just some of the experiences that can be enjoyed in England’s beautiful Lake District or for some tree top adventures head to one of the Go Ape locations that are situated in forests around the UK – swing like tarzan across the treetops before zip-lining back down to earth. Britain has been home to some of the greats in children’s literature, as a visit to Seven Stories in Newcastle (North East England) will show you, it is the only exhibition space in the UK dedicated to the celebration of British children's literature. Visit the World of Beatrix Potter in the Lake District where her timeless stories about Peter Rabbit and his friends are brought to life, or the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden – only 45 minutes from London – the village where the great author lived and wrote. One of Roald Dahl’s most loved stories, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, is set to
The imagination of JK Rowling gave Harry Potter to the world and adults and children alike will be enchanted by the Warner Brothers Studio Tour where you can walk down Diagon Alley and sit in the Great Hall in Hogwarts while learning the secrets behind the films. The Studio is less than an hour away from London.
Britain has centuries of history to explore and there are plenty of museums and attractions up and down the country helping to bring it to life. Visit Jorvik a groundbreaking visitor experience that enables you to experience life in Viking-Age York or visit one of the many National Trust properties where you can step into the past with some dressing up, try climbing a chimney or re-enact a great battle in ruined castle. For a more hands-on science experience, head to At-Bristol or the Glasgow Science Centre in the Scottish city, where hundreds of hands-on experiments will give you hours of fun.
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HOLIDAYS & LEISURE
St Monica’s Cottage Set in the quaint and picturesque conservation village of Egleton in Rutland, St Monica's Cottage provides luxury, well-equipped self-catering accommodation for up to six people. The predominantly stone built, single storey, thatched cottage is ideal for families wanting a real home-from-home feel. Quietly nestling in England’s smallest county, the welcoming and recently renovated cottage overlooks scenic farmland to the rear, beyond which is the well-known Rutland Water.
In an area surrounded by breathtaking scenery, this dreamy little cottage is wonderful for newlyweds and those getting married at Normanton Church, Rutland Water, which is known for its stunning water front location for civil ceremonies.
This peaceful retreat is perfect for guests who just want to relax, unwind, and enjoy a taste of traditional England. Normanton Church, Rutland Water
For those who like to get out and about there is plenty to do – cycling, sailing, walking, fishing, bird watching and windsurfing are all available to enjoy locally. Easily accessible by car or train, its location is perfect for those wanting to explore an array of unspoilt villages, attractive market towns, and the beautiful countryside of Rutland and beyond.
Telephone: +44 (0) 7771 610668 or +44 (0) 1572 722749 email info@rutlandholidaycottage.co.uk or visit
www.holidaylettings.co.uk/95665 Follow us on Twitter – @rutlandcottage Find us on Facebook – Rutland Holiday Cottage
Luxurious Rural Accommodation Down on the Farm Nestling in the charming south Norfolk countryside, amongst rolling farmland and hidden waterways, Wheatacre Hall Barns can be found.
The Wheatacre site has extensive river frontage with access to a network of walks varying in length amid the picturesque landscape. Fishing is available along the river and an abundance of birdlife is easily accessible for enthusiasts.
The attractive cluster of eight barns on the Burroughs family working dairy and arable farm, have been tastefully restored retaining many of their original features to create luxury, self-catering accommodation, for couples and families alike.
Norfolk and Suffolk food produce deservedly has a great reputation, those who fancy eating out can visit one of the quality, local pubs or restaurants. Further afield the fine medieval city of Norwich has a magnificent cathedral, castle with museum, cinemas, theatre, high street stores, designer brands, independent shops and a covered market, offering the perfect opportunity to combine a spot of retail therapy with a little sightseeing.
All Wheatacre Hall Barns have stylish and comfortable interiors equipped with contemporary modern touches, internet access, LCD TV, DVD/Video, CD/Radio, ipod docking stations, microwave, dishwasher, fridge, freezer and automatic washing machine. Each barn boasts its own private garden and furnished patio area with barbecue, where guests can relax and unwind while enjoying the tranquillity of the countryside. For the more energetic members of the family there is a games room, fitness barn and the extensive grounds offer plenty of grassy areas for football and other outdoor games. Not forgetting the youngest family members, the play barn is sure to keep under 5’s amused when they are not visiting the animals on the farm.
For information and availability, visit
www.wheatacrehallbarns.co.uk or telephone 01502 677208.
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Fen Farm Caravan and Camping Site is ideal for people looking for a quiet family retreat. Situated just off the Essex coastline, approximately 10 miles from Colchester, you will find the unique and largely undiscovered holiday haven, Mersea Island. One of Britain’s best-kept secrets, this tiny island is just five miles by two miles and has twelve miles of coastline. Owned by the Lord family since 1918, Fen Farm Campsite is located in the southeast of the island. In a tranquil, rural setting, this small yet well-appointed campsite offers its guests a warm and friendly welcome. The site caters for tents, trailer tents, touring caravans and motor homes of any size and has well maintained laundry facility, toilet and shower block with solar powered water heating, separate wheelchair accessible toilets and showers, hair driers and razor points, 10 amp electric hook up and chemical disposal unit. What more could you need! A haven for local wildlife, the proximity of the Essex marshes gives a unique tranquil atmosphere and the abundance wildlife adds to the ambience. Cudmore Grove Country Park is very close by and the renowned Fingringhoe Wick nature reserve is just 6 miles away. Abberton Reservoir with its abundance of water birds is also well worth the 10 minute drive. Offering something for family members of all ages Fen Farm is within walking distance of a wonderful south facing beach, The ‘Dog and Pheasant’ public house is a few minutes walk, and a little further away is the the ‘Pick Your Own’ fruit, flower and vegetable farm. Kids can enjoy themselves without having to switch anything on or boot up! There are play areas with swings, seesaws and climbing frames, plus plenty of wide open space for ball games, flying kites or just walking the dog. In addition to this children enjoy ‘crabbing’ in the creeks, playing on the beach or in the sea. A continuing commitment to protect the environment has resulted in Fen Farm Campsite receiving the David Bellamy Conservation Gold Award annually since 1999.
Beautiful Self-Catering Cottages in Cornwall Fox Valley Cottages at Lanlawren (this means valley of the foxes) is the perfect place for a holiday in Cornwall. Be it lazing on the quiet sandy beaches, strolling around the picturesque little fishing ports of Looe and Polperro, enjoying the stunning coastal footpath walks or simply enjoying the peace and tranquillity of Fox Valley. Hidden in the valley surrounded by beautiful Cornish countryside, Fox Valley Cottages are a great place to relax and unwind in our indoor heated pool, spa or sauna. Our beautiful garden has sun loungers and garden furniture as well as BBQ’s for those evenings where you fancy cooking alfresco. It’s the ideal place for families to let their hair down, with plenty of space for children to run around and explore. There’s a putting green, trampoline, slide and swings, games room and ride on toys for the toddlers. The kids will love helping Andy to feed the chickens, ducks, rabbits and guinea pigs. Our cottages and apartments are comfortably furnished, well equipped and within easy reach of Cornish attractions such as The Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan, and Bodmin & Wenford Railway. Alternatively, you can spend your time on horseback, playing golf, fishing or cycling and thrill seekers can jump off a cliff on the UK’s biggest fastest, longest zip wire, fly a hovercraft or go go-karting. Family pets are welcome so you don’t need to worry about leaving anyone behind!
Telephone: 01726 870115 email: foxvalleycottages@btconnect.com
For more information about Fen Farm Campsite visit
www.fenfarm.co.uk or call 01206 383275
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www.foxvalleycottages.co.uk
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Environmentally Friendly Luxury at
Blackthorn Gate Blackthorn Gate’s location offers the opportunity for guests to delve into the areas rich history, visit stately homes and gardens or enjoy picturesque towns and villages.You can even fit in some retail therapy – shopping in York or The Metro Centre is less than an hour away.
Blackthorn Gate Luxury Holiday Lodges are ideal for environmentally conscious couples and families alike. Set in 230 acres of open farmland on the border of North Yorkshire and the Tees Valley, Blackthorn Gate comprises of four eco-friendly pine lodges constructed using timber from sustainable forests in the far north of Sweden. Owners Mike and Rita Corrigan have always had a keen interest in nature, wildlife and the great outdoors. They have created a haven of tranquillity for their guests to enjoy and make every effort to ensure that their business respects the conservation of the area.
Alternatively, simply enjoy a day spent wandering around the farm – looking out for wildlife including deer, otters, stoats, hares and owls. There are five wildlife ponds and three fishing ponds for guests and family. After a busy day, you can relax in your private sauna, play pool or table tennis in the games room, or just unwind on your veranda with a drink and a bite to eat. Blackthorn Gate currently holds the Green Tourism Silver Award and come highly recommended by My Family, receiving the magazine’s ‘Eco Friendly Accommodation award for 2012’ in recognition of their work to provide environmentally friendly accommodation for their guests. The spacious and airy lodges offer excellent selfcatering facilities with fully fitted kitchen, a comfortable living room with a dining area, master bedroom with en-suite shower room, separate bathroom and a sauna. Sleeping up to five people, two storey lodges ‘Skylark’ and ‘Lapwing’ also have a large wet room shower area suitable for wheelchair users – single storey ‘Curlew’ and ‘Chaffinch’ sleep up to four people. All lodges have fabulous views of Roseberry Topping and guests at Blackthorn Gate don’t have to travel far to enjoy the rugged beauty of the area. For wide horizons and see-for-miles views, the summit of Roseberry Topping is in a class of its own. Layers of human and geological history have shaped this distinctive and iconic landmark, with its bluebell woods and heather moorland. Towering over the landscape, it guarantees a memorable walk, with breathtaking sights from the top.
Whether you want to relax, exercise, have an adventure, explore the landscape, experience nature or go shopping you’ll be spoilt for choice!
READER OFFER Compliments of Rita and Mike, you will receive a bottle of wine upon arrival at Blackthorn Gate by quoting MyFamily13 when booking.
For more information including up-to-date availability telephone 01642 324496, email info@blackthorngate.co.uk or visit
www.blackthorngate.co.uk
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Isles Scilly
HOLIDAYS & LEISURE
of
inclusive holidays
AN AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY, the Isles of Scilly are situated in the Atlantic Ocean just 28 miles off the Cornish peninsula and offer the perfect getaway. A spectacular and welcoming oasis in the farthest west reach of the UK. Rich in archaeological sites, rare bird species, stunning white-sand beaches; these beautiful Isles form an archipelago of five inhabited islands surrounded by over a hundred rocky islets. Their unique position gives rise to a contrasting landscape ranging from the surprising, lush sub-tropical gardens on Tresco to the granite and heather-topped ridge of St Martins. The climate here is one of the mildest and warmest in the UK and offers the perfect haven for the varied and abundant wildlife and flora it attracts. With award-winning cuisine and a great range of cosy accommodation, as well as exciting outdoor sports and pursuits, these Isles delight at every turn... and offer the perfect holiday destination for families, couples and the lone traveller alike. Visitors come from both the UK and worldwide and return year on year it’s a stone’s throw from Land’s End and easy to get here by boat or plane from the mainland.
Long and short inclusive breaks on the beautiful Isles of Scilly
01720 422200 www.holidayonscilly.co.uk relax@islesofscillyholidays.co.uk Call us or visit the website for the latest deals and availability
Y3586
we are a local agent with Atol & Abta bonding 100% financial protectioN
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Child-friendly festivals in Britain Festivals and fun events are no longer the domain of the grown-up. Across Britain and throughout the year there is a wide selection of festivals and events that have been created with kids in mind. Cue smiling faces all round… Imagine Festival 11-24 February 2013, Southbank Centre, London www.southbankcentre.co.uk/imagine For two weeks in February, more than 100 free and ticketed events will run for children at one of London’s leading arts venue, the Southbank Centre. Kids can enjoy games and trails to follow throughout the whole centre and activities are tailored towards all ages; think opera for babies to vampirethemed Valentine’s Day celebrations for teens. Further highlights include children’s theatre, animated films, readings from top children’s authors and a chance to get close to lifesize dinosaur puppets.
Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival 20-24 March 2013, Cardiff, Wales www.cardiffchildrenslitfest.com Some of the UK’s best contemporary children’s authors and illustrators will gather for the inaugural Cardiff Children’s Literature Festival. One of the first popular authors to confirm attendance is Jacqueline Wilson, who penned The Story of Tracy Beaker, Lola Rose and Jacky Daydream, among many others. The festival encourages children to ‘come and meet singing mermaids, daring dragons, Groovy Greeks, cuddly bears and many more wonderful characters.’ Budding authors and illustrators will also get the chance to show their hand at writing and drawing.
Kew Easter Egg Hunt 29 March-14 April 2013, Kew Gardens, London www.kew.org/events Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate – what better way to celebrate Easter than to let the children loose on the Easter Egg Hunt at Kew Gardens, where collecting tokens around the site will lead to a delicious chocolate treat from the Easter Bunny himself. Kids will discover where chocolate comes from on the Gardens’ chocolate-themed trail, chocolate workshops and arts and crafts activities during the Easter holidays.
siblings; previous festivals have welcomed the English National Ballet and the Insect Circus and Museum.
Just So Festival 16-18 August 2013, Rode Hall Parkland, Cheshire, north-west England www.justsofestival.org.uk Less than an hour south of Manchester the Just So Festival in Cheshire has been designed for families with small children. Set in the Grade II-listed park and gardens of the beautiful stately home Rode Hall, previous festivals have featured activities ranging from jive dancing lessons to bedtime stories in the 40 Winks tent. Baby facilities include a dedicated baby changing tent, with changing mats, nappies and wipes, plus there is baby feeding boudoir, electricity points for bottle warmers and sterilisers and baby bathtime is held in a special tent of baby baths, warm water and bubbles.
Roald Dahl Day 13 September 2013, UK-wide www.roalddahlday.com Whizzpopping, scrumdiddlyumptious celebrations can take place on 13 September each year in honour of legendary children’s author Roald Dahl’s birthday. Celebrate with a trip to see either Matilda The Musical or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory The Musical (previews from 18 May) – based on his famous novels – in London’s West End. Or visit Great Missenden in Buckinghamshire – an hour north-west of London – home to The Roald Dahl Museum, or the Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery in nearby Aylesbury.
Camp Bestival 1-4 August 2013, Lulworth Castle, Dorset, south England www.campbestival.net A perennial family favourite, Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle in Dorset – just over an hour from the coastal town of Southampton and its international airport – is big on kids entertainment. As well as plenty of space for little ones to run around there are a multitude of activities, shows, theatre workshops, bouncy castles as well as separate Toddlers’ Area. Elsewhere, the Lower Kids Garden offers entertainment for older
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HEALTH & WELLBEING
Winter Health It may be cold outside but winter needn't be the unhealthiest time of year for you and your family. Here are five ways to make sure that even when your body is telling you to hibernate you can keep healthy and fit, no matter what the weather's like:
1 Sleep
3 Eat more fruit and veg In winter it can be tempting to fill up on unhealthy comfort food, but it’s important to ensure that you still keep your diet healthy and include five portions of fruit and veg a day. If you find yourself craving a sugary treat, try a juicy clementine or satsuma instead, or sweet dried fruits such as dates or raisins. Winter vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, swede and turnips can be roasted, mashed or made into soup for a comforting winter meal.
4 Stay active
On average we sleep six-and-a-half hours a night, much less than the seven to nine hours recommended. It’s perfectly natural to adopt hibernating habits when the weather turns cold, so use the time to catch up.
2 Drink more milk Our bodies need protein to work properly and to grow or repair themselves. Calcium helps to keep our bones strong. Milk and dairy products are great sources of protein and vitamins A and B12. They're also an important source of calcium, which helps keep our bones strong. Choose lower-fat dairy foods where possible, because these are healthier choices.
Don’t stay in and lounge around, instead, get out with the whole family to try out a new activity or take a bracing winter walk. Regular exercise helps to control your weight, boost your immune system and is a good way to break the tension that can build if the family is constantly cooped up inside the house.
5 Have a hearty breakfast Winter is the perfect season for porridge. Eating a warm bowlful on a cold morning is a delicious way to start your day, it also helps you to boost your intake of starchy foods and fibre, which give you energy and helps you to feel fuller for longer. Oats also contain lots of vital vitamins and minerals.
Slim at home
Buy our range of weight managment
Acai Berry products www.fabulousbodydiet.com 46 myfamily 42
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UNDERSTANDING AUTISM
Understanding Autism There are over 500,000 people with autism in the UK – that's 1 in 100. Together with their families that's over two million people whose lives are touched by autism every single day.
What is Autism? Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to other people. It also affects how they make sense of the world around them. It is a spectrum condition, which means that while all people with autism share certain difficulties, their condition will affect them in different ways. Some people with autism are able to live relatively independent lives but others may have accompanying learning disabilities and need a lifetime of specialist support. People with autism may also experience over or
under-sensitivity to sounds, touch, tastes, smells, light or colours. Asperger syndrome is a form of autism.
What causes Autism? The causes of autism are still being investigated. Many experts believe that the pattern of behaviour from which autism is diagnosed may not result from a single cause. There is strong evidence to suggest that autism can be caused by a variety of physical factors, all of which affect brain development – it is not due to emotional deprivation or the way a person has been brought up.
What can be done? Much can be achieved to make life less challenging with appropriate education and support. It is crucial that there are services in place to meet the needs of people with autism in the UK today.
For more information about autism support visit:
www.annakennedyonline.com annakonline.com www.autism.org.uk
Hillingdon Manor The largest school for children with autism, in the UK & Europe Specialist independent day education for children aged between 3 and 19. The following open mornings are planned for parents and carers wishing to find out more about Hillingdon Manor school:
Yiewsley Grange (Lower School) Tuesday 15th January 2013 at 10:30 • Tuesday 27th February 2013 at 10:30 Tuesday 16th April 2013 at 10:30
Tel: 01895 420315 for further information
The Manor (Upper School) Thursday 16th January 2013 at 11:00 • Thursday 28th February 2013 at 11:00 Thursday 18th April 2013 at 11:00
Tel: 01895 813679 for further information Local Authority referrals accepted. • Access to the National Curriculum. For more information about admissions, open days and events, visit www.hillingdonmanorschool.org.uk or contact the Head Teacher, Akinyi Dulo on 01895 813679
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UNDERSTANDING AUTISM
Step in the Right Direction Autism Dance Day This is a great way of publicising our cause and showing off your event to your family, friends and the nation.
Anna Kennedy Online would like to invite you to dance for Autism on 26th April 2013. Step in the Right Direction Autism Dance Day brings together large numbers of special needs and mainstream schools to organise dance events to raise funds for Autism. We all know the positive benefits of dance for those with Autism and this has been demonstrated in the DVD Step in the right Direction. So we thought we would take one step further and ask you to join in a nationwide dance festival to raise funds for Autism. It’s easy to organise – someone brings the music and the invitees provide the moves – and if we all get behind the occasion we think it will
Obviously the choice of autism charity you support is an individual one but we hope you’ll get behind this fun initiative and raise funds for autism. Here are a few examples of how we are improving the lives of those with autism right now.
really capture the imagination of children with Autism, their parents, carers, friends and family. Anyone can join in this fun event to raise money for this great cause – to register simply visit www.annakennedyonline.com or email lisa.robins@thevines.org.uk We would also like to share the fun by inviting you to upload pictures or video of your event, onto our special facebook page www.facebook.com/pages/Step-in-theright-Direction/279466905419220.
G Speaking engagements and presentations about autism across the UK G Funding specialist reports for children and adults with autism G Providing free legal advice to families whose children live with autism G Donating domestic items, educational resources and sensory toys to families with limited funds G A market stall for adults to work on and gain new skills and work experience G Promoting Autism’s Got Talent G Working with a range of partners on the anti- bullying campaign
Baston House School • Bromley Specialist independent day facility for children diagnosed with autism aged between 5 & 16 years G A centre of excellence in education and development. G Local Authority referrals welcome G Admissions now being taken for Primary and Secondary School The following open mornings are planned for parents and carers wishing to find out more about Baston House School February 26th 2013 • March 21st 2013 April 30th 2013 For admissions and information about upcoming events call 020 8462 1010 or visit www.bastonhouseschool.org.uk Baston House School Baston Road • Hayes • Bromley • Kent BR2 7AB
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UNDERSTANDING AUTISM
The NHS and Continuing Care: An Introduction The vast majority of people with an autistic spectrum disorder, or indeed any other life-long disorder, who have a high level of support need obtain the services they need via their local authority. Often this means that the person in receipt of services may have to make a contribution towards service costs out of their benefits and savings. Whilst this is what we have come to expect, it is worth remembering that in the early 1980’s approximately half the people in receipt of services from the NHS were long term patients. These days the NHS doesn’t do long term care and this “care gap” has been mostly filled by social services. This raises the question: is the above change in support provision is more than just an interesting historical fact? The answer is yes because service provision by the NHS is on the whole free of charge. So can a service user simply ask the NHS to do the job social services is currently doing? The answer is possibly yes. So what are the circumstances when this can be done?
Court of Appeal considered this matter and ruled that is was when a persons health care needs became so significant the entirety of their care needs became the responsibility of the NHS. Key to this decision was the meaning of s 21(8) National Assistance Act 1948 which essentially says that where a service could be provided by social services or the NHS, it should be provided by the NHS. So where do people with non physical disabilities stand when it comes to NHS Continuing Care? As far as the NHS is concerned, illness includes a ‘mental disorder’ hence anyone with autism, dementia etc are as much the responsibility of the NHS as local authorities are. In recognition of this, the NHS has produced the Decision Support Tool for NHS Continuing Healthcare which can be found on the Department of Health’s website though should be said that this document has been the subject of criticism.
n Ombudsman Case No: E.62/93-94 – NHS criticised for placing too much reliance on specialist care as a reason for withdrawing support. n Ombudsman Case E.420/00-01 – Comprehensive criticism of the NHS for failing to properly assess a woman's eligibility for NHS-funded continuing n Ombudsman Case E.22/02-03 “the Pointon Case” – Care of lady with dementia at home not material to continuing health care. n T & Ors, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Haringey [2005] EWHC 2235 – Care of a gentleman at home with long term health condition should be provided by the NHS. To conclude, the possibility of continuing care by the NHS should be considered by anyone involved with supporting someone with a physical or mental disorder who has long term care needs.
Anyone wishing to pursue the possibility of NHS Continuing Healthcare may wish to look at the following cases:
In the case of R v North and East Devon Health Authority ex p Coughlan the
Sean Kennedy Legal Advisor for Anna Kennedy Online
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UNDERSTANDING AUTISM
An Exciting Year Ahead for
Anna Kennedy OBE The last year has proved to be an outstanding year for Autism Campaigner, Anna Kennedy. She scooped a number of awards including My Family Magazine’s Business Mum of the Year, Daybreak’s Dr Hillary Health Hero award and Mumpreneur UK’s award for Best Interactive Service for autism charity Anna Kennedy Online.com. Anna was chosen for the once in a lifetime opportunity to be a Games Maker at both the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Her unique autism dance DVD ‘Step in the Right Direction’ was endorsed by UNESCO and two new Patrons, James Hobley and Kathy Lette joined her award winning autism charity. Baston House School – the second school founded by Anna celebrated its 1st Birthday, Autism’s Got Talent made a
successful debut at the Mermaid Theatre, and Anna received an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Wow! What a Year! Those who know Anna will know that the determined mum very rarely pauses to take a breath! In fact, if you want to keep up, be prepared and grab your tap-shoes, as 2013 is destined to be just as exciting for the multi-talented tapdancing mum, author, autism campaigner and theatrical producer.
Tesco Mum of the Year 2013 This year started with Anna winning the Tesco Mum of the Year Awards 2013. Over the past few months, people across the UK have been nominating mums who are unsung heroines, those that raise money for charity or selflessly help others despite having their own challenges to overcome.
Her next book is a heart-warming and inspiring update of life since ‘Not Stupid’ and provides other parents of children on the spectrum, with advice and guidance on coping with autism.
Out of 2,000 nominations, Anna was chosen as one of 6 winners who will attend a glitzy celeb-filled awards ceremony, be treated to a gorgeous outfit, a goodie bag full of treats, a free stay in London, and be truly recognised for all the amazing things they do.
A Sequel to ‘Not Stupid’ After the success of Anna’s first book, Not Stupid, a second book is due in the summer. Readers will get an insight into her busy life as an autism campaigner, and family life as a mum to two young adults with autism. “I want to give others help, advice and hope. When it comes to being a parent to an autistic child, I know it can be lonely, confusing and you feel you’re in a constant battle, so I want to give back and tell other parents they aren’t alone,” says Anna.
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Social Networking Anna’s reputation as a fighting force in the autism community has prompted great interest on social media networks; over the next year she will promote discussions amongst the autism community and update over 50,000 followers with the latest news from her charity and campaigns. To find out more follow @AnnaKennedy1 on twitter or www.facebook.com/ Annakennedyonline
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UNDERSTANDING AUTISM
Latest news from
annakennedyonline.com
With Inclusion into mainstream education, employment and society on the increase, the demand is higher than ever to raise awareness of autism.
achievements of these pupils and look forward to them making their mark in this world, starting with this book.” The book was launched with great ceremony and smiling faces all round as the local Mayor, Councillors, family and friends all joined the young writers to celebrate this wonderful achievement.
Too many parents and families are introduced to autism through the diagnosis of a child or relative but given no understanding of what ‘autism’ is or what it will mean to the child and their family. What is annakennedyonline.com doing to change this?
Autism Awareness Training for Everyone! This ‘Training Day’ is a great starting point for everyone who wants to better understand Autism and the all the basics that surround it. The team at Anna Kennedy Online use their years of experience, and knowledge from their own family experiences and care environments to offer Autism Awareness Training for Everyone! The one day session is designed to give everyone a good, solid, basic understanding of Autism so they can better relate to and understand not only those on the Autistic Spectrum but also those situations that can be presented with and around Autism. Families, relatives, those working in education, employers and anyone coming into contact with autism, will learn about the basics of autism including sensory issues, triad of impairment right through to challenging behaviour. For more information contact Training officer, Austin Hughes a.hughes@annakennedyonline.com
Autism’s Got Talent 2013 After a successful stage debut in 2012, Autism’s Got Talent 2013 will take to the stage for a second time at the Mermaid Theatre, London On Saturday 11th May 2013.
The young authors who have contributed to the book are Sam Francis, Andreas Lopes, Sam Burton, Shomari Nassor, Milo Rodgers, Leanne Middlemass and Justin Eseigbe. Retail price £5 plus postage and packing – to order your copy contact lisa.robins@thevines.org.uk
Anna Kennedy Online and Pineapple Performing Arts School will bring together a diverse group of people who are all on the Autistic Spectrum to show everyone just how talented they are! Tickets are now available from lisa.robins@thevines.org.uk or call 01895 619736
Autistic teens reach out to others in their own way!
Jussi Jaaskelainen Plays Host to Autistic Fans
My teacher looks like a bowling ball is a guide to everyday hurdles written by autistic teens for autistic teens. An honest and endearing guide to the everyday hurdles many autistic teens face, and advice on how best tackle them.
Hammers Goal Keeper, Jussi Jaaskelainen welcomed a young group of visitors to the Boleyn Ground recently and ensured they had a great time visiting the home of West Ham United. Anna and her fellow guests went pitchside and sat in the home dugout before receiving a personal guided tour by Jaaskelainen.
Written by a group of autistic students for their Young Enterprise project at Hillingdon Manor School, the aim is to help other students who have found themselves in tricky situations. Co-Founder of Hillingdon Manor School, Anna Kennedy said “I have no hesitation in confirming that this book is one of the schools greatest achievements. It provides advice from the people who matter, namely the young pupils who are affected by Autism Spectrum Conditions. I am very proud of the
Joint-Chairman David Sullivan donated a fivefigure sum to the charity earlier this year – a pledge he made if Hammers won promotion. That money has helped the charity expand the work that it does. Jaaskelainen said "It was good to meet everyone and to hear of the work Anna is doing and everyone involved in the charity is fantastic. I wish them well and we look forward to them being here at West Ham again soon."
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