Family247 Back to School Shopping & Survival Guide

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247

P P IN G & SU O SH L O O H SC O T K BAC

BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL

R V IV A L G U ID E www.family247.net

Stationery essentials Help with homework Get them reception ready Choose the right footwear

N I W

Win a Kurio Smart 2 in 1 tablet worth £179.99!

ack to b O e L I bundl y a STAB r e n o l stati o o h c s ! er £50 v o h t wor

…plus much, much more inside!

WELCOME

The back to school period can be as much about endings as it is about new beginnings, particularly for those of us with children either starting school for the first time or moving from primary to secondary school. Our features on pages 3 and 8 cover each of these themes both practically and personally. We’ve got great tips on stationery, homework and healthy lunchboxes as well as some sound advice on dealing with bullying anxiety. Throw in prize draws and competitions from Kurio, STABILO, Sun-Maid Raisins and ProVen Probiotics, along with reviews and recipes, and we have a big chunk of back to school covered!

Please visit www.family247.net for more features, reviews and competitions!

Back to School Competition!

In this Issue...

P3 FIRST DAY PTA members share their top tips for getting your child ready for their first year at primary school

P13 THE WRITE STUFF – BACK TO SCHOOL STATIONERY A round up of some of the best back to school necessities

P17 ON TEST – STABILO

P6 WIN A KURIO SMART 2 IN 1 TABLET You’ll get into your child’s good books for the rest of the school year if you are our lucky winner!

Our crack team of reviewers do some writing. And drawing. On windows!

P19 HOW TO MAKE THEIR LUNCHBOX HEALTHY

P7 IS YOUR CHILD WORRIED ABOUT BULLYING?

Getting the lunchtime balance of nutrients and taste right

Ways to help ease any anxieties regards bullying for the new school year

The importance of making sure their footwear fits correctly

P8 BYE, BYE BABY Leaving Primary school can be an emotional wrench – for parents!

P24 FEET FIRST

P28 PARKA LIFE – ON TEST WITH REGATTA Parkas in the summer?

Sadly, yes!

P10 HOME HELP

P30 FIT FOR SCHOOL PRIZE DRAW

Advice on reading, writing, arithmetic and homework in general

Win a three month supply of Fit for School from ProVen Probiotics

Published by Lincolnbrody Ltd, 98 Hornchurch Road, Hornchurch, Essex RM11 1JS EMAIL info@lincolnbrody.co.uk EDITOR – Victoria Howdle

DESIGN & PRODUCTION – Daniel Josty

ADVERTISING MANAGER – James Martin Copyright LincolnBrody Ltd No reproduction in whole or part is permitted without written permission. The publisher cannot be held liable for any loss suffered as a result of any information herein and are unable to accept and hereby expressly disclaim any liability for the consequences of any inaccuracies, errors or omissions or any implied warranty related to the promotions in this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Editor or the publisher. Although every effort has been made to ensure that all information is correct at the time of going to press, prices and offers may be subject to change.

STABILO are helping us to celebrate the new school year in style by giving 4 lucky readers the chance to win an incredible Back to School stationery bundle WORTH OVER £50!

Each prize bundle will comprise: 1 x pack of 5 STABILO BOSS Mini Funnimal highlighters, 1 x STABILO EASYoriginal marbled rollerball pen, 1 x STABILO EASYergo 1.4 pencil , 1 x STABILO EASYergo 3.15 pencil, 1 x pack of 2 STABILO EASYgraph pencils, 1 x STABILO FUN rollerball, 1 x pack of 30 STABILO Power felt tips and 1 x pack of 6 STABILO EASYcolors colouring pencils.

Just answer this simple question: How many highlighters are in a pack of STABILO BOSS Mini Funnimals? a). 3

b). 5

c). 7

For your chance to win this fantastic prize, simply enter online by 20th September 2017 at www.family247.net/stabilo giving your answer where indicated.

You can find out more about STABILO’S unbeatable range of highlighters, pens and pencils at www.stabilo.co.uk Our crack team of reviewers recently put a selection of STABILO pens and pencils through their paces... see their report on page 17!

No purchase necessary. The winners will be the first 4 names with the correct answer drawn at random.

The winners will be notified no later than 25th September 2017. The judges’ decision will be final and the competition is not open to employees of LincolnBrody, STABILO International GmbH or their agents. By entering into the competition you agree to receive future marketing and promotional information from STABILO International GmbH and Lincolnbrody. If you do not wish to receive future information please indicate this on your entry. Please refer to the full terms and conditions at www.lincolnbrody.co.uk/competitions

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The simple way to tackle head lice Checking for head lice should be a normal part of every family’s personal hygiene routine, like brushing teeth.

For tips on what to look for and how to make this stress-free, visit www.onceaweektakeapeek.co.uk

‘It’s thought that up to

1 IN 3 children in the UK may get head lice at some point during the year’*

CHECK

• Use a proper detection comb • Adult lice are 2-4mm long, immature lice are even smaller • Nits are dead or empty egg shells attached to the hair

TREAT • Ask your pharmacist for a clinically proven treatment • Non-pesticide treatments work physically on the louse so resistance is not an issue • Follow the pack instructions carefully

COMPLETE • Check your child’s hair a couple of days after treatment to ensure that all the head lice have been killed • Continue to check for head lice regularly – ONCE A WEEK, TAKE A PEEK *http://www.nhs.uk/conditions head-lice/ Pages/Introduction.aspx

No Drama.

FIRST DAY

S

tarting ‘Big School’ is a really exciting time for children and parents alike. A whole new world of opportunity opens up as children explore their new environment, learning through play and forming friendships which could last their lifetime. For parents too, it’s a time to meet new families and socialise, find support as you go through this phase of your child’s development and enjoy the progress you’ll see at this stage of their lives. PTA UK, the national charity that champions parents in education has been speaking to

Get your child ready for their first year at Primary school with these top tips its members and shares their top tips on how to make a smooth transition from a home setting or pre-school into Primary school.

Get organised You’ll have been to the ‘settling-in’ sessions and possibly even attended the last summer fair to help your little one get to know their new school, but once they actually start, you’ll find a surprising amount of admin to deal with.

Letters and forms come home every week and it’s good practice to get into the habit of reading these from the start – after all, you don’t want your child to be the only one in uniform on an own clothes day! Make a note of any key dates and familiarise yourself with the school website.

Develop independence Though Early Years staff are happy to help with shoes, PE changes, cutlery etc, the effort you put in to preparing your child for school life by encouraging independence, won’t go unnoticed. Get your little one to practice dressing and undressing themselves, and make things easier for them – think Velcro shoe straps and elasticated waist bands!

Avoid the fear of the unknown There are lots of ways you can get your child used to the idea of school – start by borrowing a few books about going to school from your local library and read them often. Treat your

Shop for the essentials The school will probably provide you with a list of everything your child will need. Ask other parents which items are essential right from the start and which can wait until later. Get your child involved by letting them choose anything that doesn’t need to be strictly uniform, like their coat or lunchbox. Reception children come home covered in everything from mud to lunch to paint and playdough, so it’s a good idea to have plenty of uniform. Ask whether the PTA runs a pre-loved uniform shop – it’s a great way of showing your support and saving money.

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Get your little one to practice dressing and undressing themselves, and make things easier for them – think Velcro shoe straps and elasticated waist bands! www.family247.net

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ERASABLE COLOUR FELT PENS www.pilotpen.eu

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If it is not permanently attached to your child, put their name on it! Labels help them identify their own clothes, and also help staff deal with piles of identical jumpers and bookbags.

It’s not a race Try and dodge playground discussions about whose child can already read or count – your child will develop at their own pace. The qualities that matter most in Reception age children are things like curiosity, independence, imagination, and enjoying playing and sharing with other children. child to a sticker or activity book about starting school, play ‘school’ with their teddies, and let them wear their new uniform around the house - if there’s anything itchy or annoying you can deal with it before the big day.

Accept that they’re going to be tired Prepare yourself for inconsolable meltdowns.

After being as good as gold all day everything can often come out once they are at home.

They’ll be hungry too, so bring a snack at pick up time. It’s good to get into a routine of early bed times and wake ups well in advance. Even children who are used to nursery will be tired after school.

Label it If it is not permanently attached to your child, put their name on it! Labels help them identify

their own clothes, and also help staff deal with piles of identical jumpers and bookbags.

If your child isn’t reading yet, use labels with little pictures next to their name. There are lots of quick and effective alternatives to sew-in nametapes, including stamps, iron-on tags, or indeed, the old marker pen on the label trick.

Lunches Children don’t get a lot of time to eat lunch, and usually they don’t want to sit down for too long, so make sure packed lunch quantities are manageable. If your child will be having a hot dinner (all Reception children in England are entitled to a free school lunch), look at the menu together in advance to make choosing less daunting. Try out similar meals at home so they get used to the food on offer, but don’t underestimate peer power – children will often give new things a go at school without much resistance.

Listen up “Nothing” and “I can’t remember” are standard answers to questions about your child’s day.

If you’re used to detailed nursery handovers, this lack of information can come as a bit of a shock. Don’t be discouraged: wait a little and the stories will come out, usually at an odd time – when they’re in the bath or on the toilet. Try asking specific questions like “who did you play with at break” or “what made you laugh today?”

Be positive and calm Your child may feel anxious if they see that you are worried. Accept that, just like them, you will learn as you go. If you have concerns talk to the teacher, school office, or head teacher; they are there to help – open communication is best.

On the first day don’t stay around at drop off; it’s generally best to leave them to it and have a box of tissues ready at home – just in case!

Get involved in school life Getting involved in the school PTA, volunteering to help with reading, or joining a parent council, are all great ways to be involved with the school and take part in your child’s school life. Attend meetings and get-togethers and you will soon get to know other parents who understand the school well. F

PTA UK is a national charity that supports Parent Teacher Associations nationwide, with advice, information and online forums for parents to share ideas and ask questions.

For more information and advice visit www.pta.org.uk or join PTA UK’s parents Facebook page www.facebook.com/ForParentsbyPTAUK

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BTS Prize Draw

Win a Kurio Smart 2 in 1 tablet worth

£179.99!

With thanks to KD UK, we’re giving one lucky reader the chance to win a Kurio Smart 2 in 1 tablet. This fantastic children’s tablet is the perfect addition to this year’s back to school essentials, ideal for school, home or on the move!

Features Kurio Smart is a 2 in 1 tablet, with detachable keyboard, meaning it can be used for everything from homework to play.

The Microsoft Windows 10 operating system and huge 32GB of internal memory are complimented by programmes such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint and more, allowing children to do all of their school tasks with ease.

And when their work is done, Kurio Smart is the first ever Windows device to feature some of the coolest games and apps preloaded, including Minion Rush, Sonic Dash, and lots more, with further apps available from the Windows Store.

What’s more, Smart features the exclusive Kurio Motion Technology, with one and

two player games. 18 fun games will get all of the family up and moving, including Wingsuit, Mountain Bike, Dance, and much more.

Meanwhile, mum and dad can rest assured that their children are safe thanks to the Windows Family Safety parental controls, which features internet filtering, time management and app management.

The tablet offers an HDMI port to link it to a TV, Bluetooth and wifi connectivity, an 8.9 inch IPS capacitive screen, and an Intel Baytrail quad core processor. There is also a micro SDHC card to add up to 32GB extra memory.

For more information and details of stockists visit www.kurioworld.com

The winner can choose between either a pink or blue Kurio Smart 2 in 1 tablet.

For your chance to win this fantastic prize, simply enter online by 15th September 2017 at www.family247.net/kurio No purchase necessary. The winner will be the first name drawn at random. The winner will be notified no later than 25th September 2017. The judges’ decision will be final and the prize draw is not open to employees of LincolnBrody, KD UK or their agents. By entering into the prize draw you agree to receive future marketing and promotional information from KD UK and Lincolnbrody. If you do not wish to receive future information please indicate this on your entry. Please refer to the full terms and conditions at www.lincolnbrody.co.uk/competitions

Get back to cool with MadPax! Check out the new back to school range of modern backpacks from Madpax Multi-award winning and celebrity favourite U.S. back-pack brand MadPax have launched a range of new designs ready for Back to School 2017.

Created in Phoenix Arizona in 2011 “MadPax was founded on one key principle – to create 3D inspired, progressively modern backpacks for kids of all ages,” claims MadPax co-founder, Tina Huber.

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MadPax allows kids to express their inner creature, with a pack that is functional, funky and fun – why blend in when you can stand out from the crowd? Celebrities and their kids seen rocking a MadPax include Hugh Jackman, Willow Smith, Kate Hudson, Ben Affleck & Heidi Klum!

For more information visit www.madpaxworld.com

BTS Handwriting

Is your Child Worried about

BULLYING?

Going back to school or starting at a brand new one after the summer holidays can be an exciting time. It can also be a nerve-wracking one, particularly if your child is worried about bullying.

The Diana Award Anti-Bullying Campaign shares their top tips for helping your child transition into a new school year My child’s a bit anxious about starting school, what can I do?

It’s understandable to be worried about going back, and there are things your child can do over the holidays to help. Joining a club or starting a new hobby can help them make friends outside of school and boost their confidence.

They could also message someone they get on well with at school and ask them if they want to do something over the holidays – this will help them settle in again when they get back. Make sure they know they can talk to you if they have concerns and that you’re there to support them.

My child was bullied last term and is worried the same thing will happen again. How can I help them?

It can be nerve-wracking going back to school when bullying has occurred last term. The most

important thing is for your child to stay positive and talk to you or a teacher if they’re worried. In the weeks leading up to school, make an action plan together about what they could do if the bullying happens again- this will help them feel more confident about going back. If the bullying does start again make sure they know not to suffer in silence and to tell you or a teacher so that together you can get it sorted as soon as possible. Most importantly, they should try to enjoy their time off from school - remember that the likelihood is that it won’t carry on and their peers may have grown up a lot over the holiday.

How can I help my child start at secondary school?

Yes, Secondary School is a bit different than Primary School: the people are bigger, your child will have new subjects and a maybe a longer school day. But encourage them to think about

it this way: there are also way more people to make friends with, they get to spend more time with them, the school food is better (sometimes) and there are so many opportunities and activities to get stuck into!

The best way for your child to calm their nerves is to really familiarise themselves with their new school. Read over any information the school have sent you and look at the clubs and activities on offer. It may even be worth visiting the school again and walking around so you know where to go on their first day. If getting public transport to school why not encourage your child to practice the journey over the holiday so they know which train/bus to take.

Remind your child that it is the first day back for everyone so they are not going to be the only one feeling a bit nervous, even the teachers might be. They’re going to have a great year, so they should think positively, be themselves and get excited about the opportunities ahead!

Support The Diana Award’s #Back2School campaign by sharing your school picture and your advice. Use the #Back2School and tag us on @antibullyingpro.com.

For more information go to: back2school.antibullyingpro.com The Diana Award Anti-Bullying Campaign has trained over 24,000 young people as Anti-Bullying Ambassadors, young people responsible for tackling bullying in their schools and communities. Speak to your child’s teacher about introducing the programme in school and visit www.antibullyingpro.com/training for more information. F www.family247.net

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Bye, Bye

BABY

T

hey come spilling out, bright and chattering – ‘Mummy!

Year 6 started crying at BREAK time!’ enthuses my daughter.

‘Yes!’ chips in her friend, ‘even Jamie is crying’. They are both agog at the rite of passage happening in their midst – years away for them, still being little year 3s – and stunned by the fact that my son, her brother, mister-sports-captaintoo-cool-for-school is, finally, affected – crying no less!

And here they come – year 6 – end of the primary trainline – eyes red rimmed and glistening, wiping runny noses and hugging and cuddling in threes and fours, t-shirts covered in smudgy felt tip kisses and goodbyes. I get a quick grubby grin from mine and the usual clutch of nylon bags shoved my way.

Me? How am I feeling? Luckily, I’ve got a mum friend standing close (we met at the school gates on that first day 7 years ago) who now promises Prosecco and a night of boozy catch up to stop any tears pricking, instead of the early years quick coffee after drop off. I wipe a watery eye with the back of

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How am I feeling?

Luckily, I’ve got a mum friend standing close (we met at the school gates on that first day 7 years ago) who now promises Prosecco and a night of boozy catch up to stop any tears pricking.

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his grimy Arsenal lunch box (must have been that gritty playground dust).

Yep, it’s arrived: the last day of primary. A day that seemed so far off – The First Day – when my shy boy peeked round the corner clutching his Fireman Sam figure – quickly relaxing as the teacher grabbed his little mitt and pointed out the fire engine they’d put aside for him. And he’s been hurtling through the weeks and years ever since – fire engines got replaced with life boats, life boats with Star Wars then football – the nightmare ‘Match Attack’ years both collecting cards and then the You-tubers doing their reveal packs – through to Minecraft, fidget spinners, skipping Pokemon Go, thankfully, but got hit badly by the dreaded bottle flipping. Books and school work kept pace – stick pictures transitioning into quite eloquent essays – and smart first day shiny shoes and pristine t-shirts dropped for achingly cool Adidas and Huaraches. That sticky grin? Now a cheeky wink. The warm hand holding and spontaneous cuddles traded up for hard edged iPad time negotiations.

And so on to the grand finale – the Leavers assembly. It’s not a crammed in the scratched parquet floored school hall but outside and the sun is ‘kind of’ shining. Hot enough that my summer dress is ‘SO embarrassing Mu-um.’

We parents take our seats – and they come on to the stage with gusto, busy-ness, excitement and no hint of trepidation, relishing their year 6 kudos. The headmaster starts to introduce the event but is drowned out by an overhead helicopter. We all gaze up expecting a tuxedoed year sixer to be landed in the playground – it IS Islington after all! At ease parents – something is going on at the nearby Emirates stadium. A microphone is found to compete against the noise and the show goes on. They take to it with ease – sharing their favourite memories: the farm trip

Whilst most children are more than ready to leave their primary school life behind, it can often be a surprisingly emotional time for us parents.

Here Family247 reader, Suzanne Harris, reflects on the bittersweet moments of her son’s last day of year 6 to Treginnis, Chessington Adventures (where my son couldn’t believe the parent helper wasn’t prepared to jog between rides and had the audacity to want to sit down to eat their picnic lunch and not chobble it down in a queue), the Kingswood adventure centre weeks residential, the PROM, quiz night, their end of year comedy production… and it’s clear they are all SO ready for the next phase – cracking jokes, taking it on the chin when the memory involved one of them ‘sicking up on the farm trip’ or ‘being scared of the goats’. Reticent reception smiles swapped for impromptu asides and ribbing the staff.

Us in the audience think back to the fund raising behind it all that made it possible and bonded us tightly: many a morning sat on the dusty hall floor tagging raffle prizes, or sifting through bags of suspiciously marked second hand toys, coffee runs for those hanging up fairy lights and material to suspend disbelief that this is really a proper Prom palace……. late night emails asking what the flippin heck

are you going to rustle up for a costume – and was it just my kid who only told me last night?!

My friend Heidi hit the nail on the head: The kids almost seem more ready by the end of it than us parents. If only there was a similar dedicated set brief for us and our school-gates friendships! Whilst anyone who has gone through play dates and birthday invites, fall outs and sports days has to admit the parental dynamic can be a pain in the you-know-where, I’ve definitely made mum (and dad) friends for life – and given the word is parent involvement at secondary is unheard of – I feel duly thankful for that.

Another mum, Jo, remarked ‘The school have definitely been very adept at steering them toward and over the important transition, marking it with lots of special events, all evidently firmly stored in their young memory banks. It’s the end of their real childhood and our role as parents to younger children’. She’s right, and, deep breath, it’s actually all OK. F

Jamie’s first day at primary

5 minutes later! www.family247.net

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Home HELP Of all the parenting hats we wear, teaching is one of the most important. So, when it comes to your child’s school work, here are some of the best ways you can help Helping your child with maths Even if you didn’t enjoy maths at school, there are lots of ways to help your child be numberconfident. Here’s the advice from the National Numeracy Trust, a charity dedicated to helping to raise low levels of numeracy among adults and children. Visit www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk for more information about the charity: e positive about maths – “You can do B it” – Don’t say things like “I can’t do maths” or “I hated maths at school”; your child might start to think like that themselves. oint out the maths in everyday life P – Include your child in activities involving maths, such as food shopping, using money, cooking and travelling. raise your child for effort rather than P talent – This shows them that by working hard they can always improve.

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How to bring maths to life ocus on asking questions and F exploration – Ask your child why something makes sense, instead of simply getting to the ‘right’ answer. alk through activities as you are T doing them together – Ask your child to explain their understanding. Get them to teach you!

I nvolve siblings and other family members – This can help to create a positive buzz which boosts everyone’s confidence. ook online for resources and L activities that you can do – The Family Maths Toolkit by National Numeracy is a great place to start! You can find this at www.familymathstoolkit.org.uk

How to help with reading Children who enjoy reading are more likely to succeed at school and throughout their lives.

Here are some simple ways to help your kids learn to love books.

Read regularly, little and often Reading shouldn’t be restricted to bedtime, or sitting on the sofa at home. Next time you’re out and about as a family pack some books or magazines in a bag. You could pull these out when you’re waiting for a bus or taking a train journey. Encourage your child to read when you’re doing activities such as shopping, ordering food from a menu or following road signs.

Pick topics they enjoy One of the best ways to get children hooked on books is to find reading materials that are linked to their interests. Is your son a football fan?

Encourage him to read the sports pages of the newspaper or a football magazine. Does your daughter love animals? Why not suggest she checks out websites about different dog breeds.

Once reading is connected to pleasure, picking up a school book won’t seem such a chore.

Make reading cool Your children are still young enough to be impressed by you (the teenage years are another story!) so this is the perfect opportunity to become a reading role model. If you can show your children that you get great personal enjoyment out of reading, chances are they will too.

educationalists and neuroscientists has found that older children, with better handwriting skills showed greater neural activity in areas associated with working memory (used for planning, ideas generation and composition skills for written work).

Due to the way that our working memory functions the handwriting process can impact on the quality of the work. For instance, those who have poor handwriting ability use a disproportionate amount of their working memory capacity in recalling and forming the letters, effectively blocking the higher level composition process (Gathercole, Pickering, Knight & Stegmann 2004, cited Medwell et al. 2007).

This is because children with fluent handwriting skills have developed an automotive (instant, subconscious) ability to recall and reproduce letter patterns, making handwriting a lower level process within their working memory.

At this point it would be easy to say, if they are struggling with handwriting, get them to use a keyboard. However other neurological research (Karin James, 2012) has found that a young child’s brain is stimulated differently when they write a letter compared to when they press the same letter on a keyboard. The process of handwriting stimulates the areas of the brain related to the literacy skills such as the visual and motor memories in a way that tapping a keyboard doesn’t.

This would suggest that learning to handwrite with accuracy, fluidity, speed and legibility is a vital goal if we want our children to reach their true potential. Once handwriting has been mastered a child can focus more effectively on the composition and structure of the piece, which requires planning and logical thought processes, so that the plot or argument can be fully explored and presented.”

Visit www.teachhandwriting.co.uk for step by step guides and tutorials on everything from the basics of holding a pencil to joining the letters of the alphabet and much more.

Homework tips What’s homework for?

There’s a lot of debate about how much homework children should get (the norm varies from country to country and school to school).

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But wherever you live, the principle is the same – homework helps kids practise what they’ve learned in class, while getting used to thinking on their own.

But wherever you live, the principle is the same – homework helps kids practise what they’ve learned in class, while getting used to thinking on their own. It also shows teachers how your child is getting on, and any areas where they might need help.

Things to try o have a flat, well-lit homework area or D table with all the stationery they need (so they don’t have to go looking for a pencil sharpener mid-session). o be aware of modern teaching methods, D like phonics and ‘chunking’. o create a homework routine that you D both agree to. o give your child a small, healthy snack D before starting to keep their energy up. o chat about the homework they’re doing D and how it connects with school. o turn off the TV, although music’s okay if D it helps them concentrate.

Things to avoid Don’t give your child the answers, although you can remind them how to work it out.

Don’t teach your child methods you used at school. It could confuse them.

Don’t let homework become a chore.

Keep it fun and make it a special time that you both look forward to.

For more information all these topics, visit www.family247.net F

The importance of good handwriting Despite the relentless ‘rise of the machines’, handwriting is still a fundamental part of schoolwork and if your child finds putting pen to paper a challenge, this can have a hugely detrimental effect on their studies. But help is on hand with the fantastic website, www.teachhandwriting.co.uk. Set up by former primary school teacher Lucy and her husband Chris, Teach Handwriting offers advice, video tutorials and ideas to help improve your child’s handwriting, from absolute beginners to those who are having difficulties or would like to improve their technique. We can’t recommend this site highly enough. Here Lucy explains why being proficient at handwriting is so important: “Research in recent years by psychologists, www.family247.net

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ERASABLE GEL INK PENS, HIGHLIGHTERS AND FELT PENS

BTS Stationery

The Write Stuff

The one thing that most children look forward to about the new school year is all the cool new stuff they hope to get for their pencil case!

W

ith so many fantastic products available, from pens and pencils to folders, notebooks and essentials such as rulers and rubbers, school children today are literally spoilt for choice! This is a good thing but it can present a bit of a challenge for us parents with such a wide range to choose from. So here we have pinpointed some products, particularly writing instruments, that we really like and offer some tips for shopping for school stationery.

Prepare Get a list of stationery requirements from school so you can sort the ‘must haves’ from the ‘nice to haves’! Set a budget and make a list, prioritizing the essentials above funky gadgets which will help ensure you don’t overspend.

Cross Check Once you are happy with your list, check what items you already have that can still be used – there’s no point buying new things just for the sake of it. Notepads, folders,

pencil sharpeners may still be usable for the new school year – work together with your child on this – some of the money you save not having to purchase these essentials can be used for something that they really want but don’t particularly need.

Compare An excellent by-product of having a prepared shopping list is being able to compare prices amongst the retailers. For the likes of the supermarkets and stationery specialists such as WH Smiths and Ryman’s, back to school is one of their most important sales periods and they invest a lot of time to ensure that they have a unique and differentiated offer to entice you in. A bit of time spent on research can save a lot of money on your overall spend.

Ask What They Want The stationery you buy for them is going to be used every day by your child so it makes sense to get them things they actually like. Be firm regards budget but getting them involved in the decision making process will give them a sense of ownership of the products in their pencil case and in turn they will hopefully take more care of them!

By following these sensible steps, buying school stationery should be straightforward, not too expensive and will result in a happy pupil getting ready for the new school year. F

Pilot FriXion… erasing mistakes for over 10 years!

The FriXion erasable pen has now been a Back-to-School must-have for a decade.

Kids love it because it looks cool and allows them to erase any mistakes and to perfect their handwriting.

NEVER cross out again with FRIXION, the erasable pen from Pilot! Pilot’s best-selling rollerball allows you to cleanly write, delete (FriXion It) and rewrite – all with the same pen. Simply rub out your mistakes with the eraser stud and watch the ink disappear as if by magic! The unique gel ink responds to the heat generated by the

rubbing out, and lets you write over your mistake immediately with the same pen. Available in black, red, blue, green, orange, violet, pink & light blue, there’s a FRIXION for everyone! Save yourself money and be kind to the environment by refilling your FRIXION pen instead of buying a new one – it’s never been easier to be green!

To find out more, visit www.pilotpen.co.uk or follow us on Facebook – www.facebook.com/pilotpenuk

www.family247.net

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BTS Stationery

Stationery Essentials Maped Helix Vintage Maths Set  Helix has been producing the iconic Oxford Maths Set for generations. This special edition features the same high quality contents as the original Oxford maths sets from 1935, with the added benefits of modern design innovations, such as a PVC free eraser and metal compass with safety point.

Available at WHSmith, The Range, Waitrose and Amazon. RRP £7.99

 Pukka Notebook & Filing Collection Everything you need for the new term including an A4 Lever Arch File, A4/A5 Jotta and Reporter’s Pad, 25 A4 Punched Pockets, a Presentation Display Book and a Stationery Set. Available at Tesco. £8

 Mi Pac Pencil Case – Space Rockets Let kids keep their school stationery in this cool space rocket print pencil case from Mi-Pac. The easy-carry handle also makes it more convenient to carry to and from classes, perfect for those little ones on the go!

Available at www.beckyandlolo.co.uk £7.98 (delivery charge may apply) *All prices correct at time of going to print

Three of the best from uni-ball

uni-ball Jetstream RT Smudge Free Pen SXN-210 The Jetstream RT has all the benefits of a regular rollerball pen – fast and smooth flowing – but its ink has the fast-drying properties of a simple ballpoint, meaning less smudging – even for left-handers.

This pen is extremely comfortable to use for both left and right-handed writers, and it’s retractable too.

It also comes with the added benefit of uni-ball’s Super Ink, which is fade resistant, water resistant and tamper proof.

1.0mm ball. Available in black, blue and red.

uni-ball Air UB-188

uni-ball Signo TSI Erasable UF-220

The uni-ball Air pen gives you the freedom of a fountain pen with the security of a roller – no leaks here. Unlike other rollerballs, the Air’s metal ball is held in a plastic surround, allowing the ball to move and meaning less friction when the pen is held at an angle.

The Signo TSI erasable pen takes the pressure out of writing neat documents. Its erasable ink means there is room for error – simply use the eraser on the top of the pen or cap (there are two!) to correct your mistakes quickly and easily.

Light pressure will give a finer line as ink is transferred by the ball itself, whilst firmer pressure allows the ink to flow freely around the ball for a thicker line.

It works due to the thermo-sensitive ink that turns clear once enough heat is generated – so when rubbed the line is ‘erased’ and ready to write over again.

The Air also contains uni-ball’s famous Super Ink which is fade and water resistant and tamper proof.

Available in medium (UB-188-L) in Black, Blue and Red, micro (UBA-188-M) in Black, Blue and Red and new coloured barrels sky blue/green, green/sky blue, pink/orange, orange/pink all in black ink.

Available in black, blue, red, green, light blue, pink and violet.

For more information visit www.uniball.co.uk www.family247.net

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STABILO

BTS Handwriting On Test

Pens and Pencils

It doesn’t matter how old you are, one of life’s unexpected little pleasures is using a new pen for the first time and loving the fit, the feel and the pure ‘writing’ of it – that sensation when a pen feels custom made for you.

For children, particularly when they are learning to write and draw, it is critical that the pen or pencil is the correct size and weight. For STABILO, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers, ergonomic (efficiency and comfort) design has always been at the forefront of their writing instruments. So, we were delighted when they sent us a selection of their pens,

 STABILO Pen 68 and STABILO point 88 These pens are brilliant for writing and drawing.

They are comfy to hold and have a nice grip. I like the thin ones for delicate colouring and writing – it makes me feel really accurate and the colours are really strong. I love them!

Pia, 10yrs There is a huge range of colours, they are really bright and bold on paper. They are easy to hold and control because of hexagonal shape. No lost lids, as they fit neatly on end. The fine point means you can be very precise with your lines.

Max, 13yrs

pencils and highlighters to try out. Our review team of Maisy, Pia, Jack and Max put them through their paces.

VERDICT Our reviewers give this STABILO range of pens and pencils a resounding five stars! For reviews of more STABILO writing instruments, please visit www.family247.net

STABILO EASYoriginal  They look very intriguing. I would choose these as they look different to other pens. The pen feels really nice to hold, my fingers fit well in the indents. I like the colour and it writes really well – really smooth! The triangle shape is good as it doesn’t roll and fall off table and break.

Jack, 10yrs

 S TABILO Woody 3 in 1 I love the colours, especially the skin colour for colouring people (that’s drawings of people, not actual people – ed), they are easy to hold and it feels really smooth when I draw. I also like writing letters with these pencils, but my favourite thing is drawing pictures on the windows.

Maisy, 5yrs

Maisy absolutely loves these pencils – she engaged with them and actually wanted to practice lettering which was wonderful.

They are also a hassle-free alternative to paint and both Maisy and her daddy love drawing on the windows! Recommended.

Maisy’s Mum

To find out more about the STABILO range, please visit www.stabilo.co.uk www.family247.net

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BTS Kitchen

How to Make their Lunchbox HEALTHY A healthy lunch keeps active kids alert and focused and gives them the nutrition they need every day. But no matter how healthy your child’s lunch box is, it won’t provide any nutritional value if it doesn’t get eaten. Here is how you can make sure their lunches are both healthy AND tasty What should my child’s packed lunch include?

A Starchy Food Bread, pasta, cous cous or potato. Wholegrain varieties contain more fibre so choose these where you can. And while sandwiches are often our go-to choice, you can use different types of bread to give kids variety – pitta, wraps, bagels, chapattis or toast fingers with a dip. And don’t forget, leftover pasta, noodles, potatoes or cous cous can be the makings of a cold packed lunch salad the next day as long as you cool and store them properly.

Fruit and Vegetables We all need to eat more of these, whatever our age! Get veg into packed lunches in all sorts of ways: on their own (e.g. sticks of cucumber, carrot, pepper, celery, cherry tomatoes, baby corn, sugar snap peas, pots of mixed salad), as part of sandwiches or stick pulses like kidney beans and chickpeas in pasta salads. Halved cherry tomatoes in a pot, instead of tomato slices in sandwiches, can help to avoid the soggy sandwich effect.

For fruit, children often prefer a pot of

chopped fruit rather than whole fruit (especially younger children). Try chopped apple (stop it turning brown by rinsing it in diluted lemon juice), satsuma segments, strawberries, blueberries, halved grapes (longways) or melon slices on their own, or as a mixture. Small pots of canned fruit in juice can work well, or with some yoghurt (remember the spoon!)

Raisins, sultanas and dried apricots are another popular choice – and they’re cheaper and often healthier than processed fruit snacks, which may contain added sugar and be more damaging to children’s teeth.

Beans, pulses, fish, eggs and other proteins Mix it up rather than the failsafe ham sandwich: try strips of chicken, beef, pork, cooked or canned tuna or salmon. Meat alternatives like soya, tofu, Quorn, or cooked egg can also work well in sandwiches or salads. Try houmous or other bean dips with strips of pitta and veg sticks, or as a topping for crispbreads and crackers. Peanut butter’s another option, but always check your school’s policy on nuts before trying this one.

Dairy Foods Pack milk as a drink (go for semi-skimmed or 1% milk – all the same vitamins, just less fat).

If you want to go for flavoured milk, check the label and choose one with lower sugar. You can also put cheese in sandwiches, with crackers or fruit, or as sticks or cubes. Don’t forget, cheese

can be high in fat and salt so choose strongertasting ones (you can use less of it) or reducedfat varieties cheese, and don’t pack cheese every single day. Yoghurt or fromage frais are also great choices – go for the plain varieties or check the labels and choose pots that are lower in sugar. Rice pudding pots or custard with fruit are also good packed lunch puds.

A Drink Plain milk or water are the best choices for children’s teeth. If you want to pack fruit juice in your child’s lunchbox, stick to a 150ml portion.

Better still, dilute it with still or sparkling water to make it more hydrating. F

❝

Plain milk or water are the best choices for children’s teeth. If you want to pack fruit juice in your child’s lunchbox, stick to a 150ml portion. www.family247.net

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BTS Kitchen

A D V E R TO R I A L

SUN-MAID CALIFORNIA RAISINS

Love Raisins, Love Sun-Maid For over 100 years, Sun-Maid’s famous little red boxes have been enjoyed by children and adults alike

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s a co-operative, Sun-Maid Growers of California is owned by family farmers who grow the grapes in the San Joaquin Valley of Central California.

Sun-Maid California Raisins are naturally sun-dried, with no added oils or glazing agents – they are just ‘Grapes & Sunshine’.

The process of making raisins requires flavourful seedless grapes and the California sun. The sun and soil work a special magic, turning the grapes gradually sweeter. By August, the grapes are plump and full of sweetness.

In the traditional harvest method, the ripe grapes are picked and placed on clean paper trays laid beside the vines. Generally, it takes two to three weeks of hot, dry weather to turn the sweet green grapes into plump, tasty raisins.

During drying, the hot sun bakes the vineyard floor, producing intense ground temperatures that caramelise the sugars in the grapes enough to give California raisins their distinctive flavour and colour. The raisins are then washed, sorted and packed for you to enjoy.

Raisins contain only naturally occurring fructose sugar and have no added sugar.

The sugars in raisins are included in the World Health Organisation (W.H.O.) definition of “intrinsic sugars”, that are naturally present in whole foods like fruit and vegetables, for which it places no limit on intake.

Sun-Maid California raisins are a source of potassium, copper, manganese and Vitamin B6. Because they do not easily spoil, are available year-round, easy to store and

transport, they serve as a convenient way to increase fruit consumption. A typical serving of 30g (about a heaped tablespoon) of Sun‑Maid Raisins will provide one portion of the recommended 5 A Day. Naturally sweet, portable and convenient, Sun-Maid California Raisins make an ideal playtime snack or lunch box treat and are an excellent ingredient to add sweetness to many recipes.

Why not try our recipe for Kids Trail Mix – a delicious snack for your children’s lunch box.

For your convenience, Sun-Maid Raisins are available in a variety of pack sizes: 14g ideal for young children, 42.5g for older children and adults and our 500g canister which is suitable for snacking at home or for your favourite recipes. F

Sun-Maid Kid’s Trail Mix Preparation Time – 10 minutes.

Makes 12 mini bags or one large jar

 50g sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds 5 0g White chocolate, milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips (optional)

Ingredients  100g whole-grain cereal hoops or flakes

Method

 100g Sun-Maid California Raisins

ix all the ingredients up in a big bowl. ❶M S

❷ tore in a large jar or in separate zip lock

5 0g dried fruit (i.e. chopped apricots)  50g mixed nuts (optional)

snack bags for packed lunch boxes.

Enjoy F

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter

Sun-Maid Raisins – Just Grapes & Sunshine!

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@SunMaidUK

@SunMaidUK

For more information and recipe ideas, visit our website at www.sunmaid.co.uk

BTS Kitchen

Sun-Maid Oaty Raisin Cookies

Try this delicious recipe for Oaty Raisin Cookies, ideal for breakfast, a lunch box treat or after school snack and sweetened by Sun-Maid California Raisins Prep Time – 10 minutes,

METHOD

Cooking Time – 15 minutes

❶H EAT the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 4

Makes 24 to 28 cookies

❷M IX, in a large bowl, the butter and sugar

and grease a large baking sheet together until soft, then beat in the honey.

INGREDIENTS:  100g butter  100g caster sugar  2tbsp honey  2 eggs  2tsps ground cinnamon  100g wholemeal flour  2tsps baking powder  160g porridge oats  100g Sun-Maid California raisins

❸ A DD the eggs and cinnamon and mix well. ❹C OMBINE, in another bowl, the flour, baking powder, oats and raisins and mix together.

❺ A DD to the butter mixture. ❻D ROP heaped dessert spoonfuls of the cookie dough onto the baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly golden. When you remove the cookies from the oven they should be golden, but still soft to the touch.

❼C OOL on the tray for 5 minutes, before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Enjoy!

This recipe has been brought to you by Sun-Maid California Raisins www.sunmaid.co.uk To see how to make these fabulous cookies, visit www.family247.net

Sun-Maid California Raisins Prize Draw We have teamed up with Sun-Maid to give 5 LUCKY READERS the chance to win a bundle of SUN-MAID GOODIES, plus A CASE OF SUN-MAID MINI SNACK RAISINS for their children’s school.

Sun-Maid California Raisins are naturally sun-dried, with no added oils or glazing agents.

They contain only naturally occurring fructose sugar and have no added sugar.

Sun-Maid California Raisins make an ideal playtime snack or lunch box treat. They also add natural sweetness to many recipes.

Each prize bundle will comprise: 1 Sun-Maid Baseball Cap, 1 Sun-Maid Drinking Cup, 1 Sun-Maid Centenary Book and Sun-Maid Mini Raisins, plus one case of Sun-Maid Mini Snacks for your nominated school.

Find more information on Sun-Maid and delicious recipe ideas at www.sunmaid.co.uk For your chance to win this fantastic prize, simply enter online by 30th September at www.family247.net/sunmaid No purchase necessary. The winners will be the first 5 names drawn at random. The winners will be notified no later than 7th October 2017. The judges’ decision will be final and the competition is not open to employees of LincolnBrody, the sponsor or their agents. By entering into the competition, you agree to receive future marketing and promotional information from Sun-Maid and Lincolnbrody.

If you do not wish to receive future information, please indicate this on your entry. Please refer to the full terms and conditions at www.lincolnbrody.co.uk/competitions.

www.family247.net

21

BTS Kitchen

Lunch & Dinner IDEAS  Nature’s Finest 220g fruit pots Nature’s Finest, the premium potted fruit brand, is on a mission to make life a little fruitier this back to school season. All fruit is packed only in juice, locking in the goodness and naturally sweet taste, making it the perfect after school snack. The 220g fruit pots are available in Mandarin, Peach, Pineapple and Tropical Fruits.

For more information visit www.naturesfinestfoods.co.uk. RRP £1.10.

 Sistema® Lunch Packs Keep their school lunches fresh with the Sistema® range of lunch boxes, yogurt pots and drink bottles. Their stylish, funky coloured lunch boxes come in a range of sizes to suit every need and with many schools operating a no rubbish policy, these lunch boxes help cut down on using plastic bags, cling film and foil.

Designed and Made in New Zealand. Lunch boxes are Phthalate & BPA Free.

Despicable Me 3 Children’s Snacking Net  The Despicable Me Snacking net contains 5 x 20g round pieces of mild cheddar, each with a re-peelable sticker featuring a character from the Despicable Me 3 film. There are 15 to collect. Perfect for lunch boxes or to snack on at home, on the go or at the cinema!

Visit www.sistemaplastics.com for full details about the range and stockist information.

Available at Sainsbury’s

*All prices correct at time of going to print

Sunshine Kebabs with California Raisin Rice Try this delicious recipe from our friends at Sun-Maid, for a quick, easy and nutritious weekday meal that all the family will enjoy Serves 4

METHOD

INGREDIENTS: Kebabs

❶C UT the chicken into bite sized pieces. ❷M IX half of each of the soy sauce, sake

4 skinless, boneless, chicken breasts 4 tbsp of Sun-Maid California Raisins 9 0ml reduced salt soy sauce 1 20ml sake or dry sherry 2 level tbsp of honey 3 garlic cloves, skinned and chopped 2 .5cm fresh ginger, finely grated G round black pepper, to taste A lso, soak wooden skewers for 15 minutes in water before use to prevent burning whilst cooking.

Rice 5 0-75g of brown basmati rice per person 1 medium red pepper, seeded 1 medium green pepper, seeded 2 medium shallots, finely chopped

and honey along with all the ginger, garlic and black pepper (to taste).

❸ A DD 2-3 tablespoons of warm water, stir to combine the flavours.

❹ A DD the chicken and mix well to coat the pieces thoroughly.

❺C HILL for at least 1 hour (preferably overnight if possible) turning occasionally to ensure even coating.

❻C OOK the rice in 2 parts water to 1 part rice for 20 minutes or until fluffy. Whilst the rice is cooking, thread the chicken onto the pre-soaked skewers and grill for the last 10-15 minutes (of cooking time). Turn and baste the skewers regularly with any remaining marinade.

❼ S TIR-FRY the peppers and shallots in a little olive oil or spray cooking oil until the shallots are just beginning to brown.

Remove from heat.

❽ P LACE the remaining soy sauce, sake, honey and raisins in a saucepan with 2 tbsp warm water and gently simmer for 7-8 minutes or until the raisins are plump and most of the liquid. has been absorbed.

❾ R EMOVE from the heat and SERVE with the kebabs.

Enjoy!

This recipe has been brought to you by Sun-Maid California Raisins www.sunmaid.co.uk www.family247.net

23

Feet First Back to School advice on footwear from The College of Podiatry

W

ith the back to school shopping to finalise, and your child having had yet another growth spurt, you may find yourself purchasing new uniform this September. As well as clothing, it is important to keep an eye on your child’s footwear, to make sure their shoes fit correctly and are suitable for everyday wear.

A staggering 29 per cent of British children could be wearing shoes which are completely the wrong size, according to a new survey of 2,000 parents by The College of Podiatry. The survey also found that a worrying 55 per cent of children have suffered damage to their feet, such as

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blisters, bruises and calluses, because of wearing shoes which are either too small or unsuitable for young feet.

Dr. Stewart Morrison, a podiatrist from the College of Podiatry and The University of Brighton, commented: “It is worrying that so many children are wearing shoes which either don’t fit them properly or are not suitable for everyday wear. Children’s feet are still growing and are more susceptible to damage than adult feet, so it’s really vital to ensure they are wearing shoes that fit them well – in width as well as length – and that are suitable for age, as well as the task they are wearing them for.

“We recommend parents have their children’s feet measured and their everyday shoes fitted by a professional. For a young child (aged 1-3), foot changes can happen very quickly

Material: Leather is the best material for kids’ shoes as it is flexible and soft, but hard wearing. It also lets air in but keeps moisture out, meaning feet stay cool and dry in most conditions. Nubuck, suede and other soft fabrics are different types of leather and share most of the benefits.

Avoid shoes which are largely made of other materials (synthetics and plastics) as these are often hard, inflexible and won’t allow your children’s feet to breathe. dequate depth of toe area: This is A particularly important in individuals with a big toe that curls up at the end and helps to avoid toenail problems. and parents should have their feet measured approximately every 8 weeks, and for older children, we would advise every 3-4 months.

This would be particularly important during growth spurts.”

Advice from The College of Podiatry on general guidance for what to look for in a children’s shoe: Adequate length and width: All children’s footwear should be measured for length and width, and fitted by an appropriately trained shoe fitter. If fitting is not available, or is refused, go elsewhere.

Broad base of heel: This should be as wide as the heel to give stability, and be made of a shock-absorbing material.

Height of heel: You are looking for a slight heel to provide sufficient shock absorption, ideally around a quarter of an inch. Completely flat shoes such as ballet

pumps provide little shock absorption but heels of 2cm of higher can shorten calf muscles and place pressure on the ball of the foot. oe area shape: This should be foot T shaped and not pointed, or excessively tapered.

Holding the foot in the shoe: It is important that the shoe is kept on the foot by laces, Velcro or ‘T’ bar, which acts like a seatbelt in a car, holding the shoe onto the foot. This helps to prevent toe deformities, as lack of support to keep the shoe on the foot can allow the foot to slide up and down in the shoe and damage the toes or cause the toes to claw to help keep the shoe on. This is a particular problem with the current fashion of not tying shoelaces or with ballet pump and slip-on style shoes.

Support: The shoe should offer sufficient support for the foot. The shoe should not bend or crumple excessively. Plimsolls and ballet pump shoes are examples that bend too easily. F

❝

Leather is the best material for kids’ shoes as it is flexible and soft, but hard wearing. It also lets air in but keeps moisture out, meaning feet stay cool and dry in most conditions. www.family247.net

25

BTS Handwriting

Safe, warm…and so COOL!

The Regatta Great Outdoors AW17 range offers a wide range of back to school styles that are sure to keep your little ones protected from the elements. From waterproof jackets and school fleeces to trendy parkas, it’s never been so easy to get ready for the year ahead. With practical features including reflective piping, pack away hoods and hardwearing fabrics you can rely on Regatta to keep out the cold, keep them dry and make sure they are seen on the walk to and from school.

Check out our top picks here and browse the complete back to school collection at www.regatta.com

 Luca IV 3-in-1 The Luca IV is the perfect trans-seasonal coat for back to school. The jacket features a separate fleece which can be worn under the Waterproof Hyrdrafort shell. Reflective trims enhance visibility and a printed name label means the jacket will never get lost!

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 Hurdle

 Greenhill II

Featuring Regatta’s Thermoguard and Hydrafort technologies the Hurdle is the ideal jacket to keep your little one warm and dry in the playground. With reflective piping and trims they are sure to be seen in the dark, and in an array of colours to suit everyone.

This is a favourite for mums and kids alike, the Greenhill II jacket features Regatta’s Waterproof Hydrafort fabric to keep little ones dry on rainy autumn days.

A D V E R TO R I A L

 Kids Icebound III The Icebound III is a great lightweight jacket for keeping kids dry and warm on chilly school days. Regatta’s Warmloft insulation keeps them warm whilst the stylish design keeps them looking cool at school.

Malham  The Malham is perfectly practical for chilly autumn walks to school. Regatta’s Hydrafort waterproof fabric gives protection from the rain and the fleece lining ensures your little one will stay warm during the winter months.

 Hollybank Parka The stylish Hollybank parka is both practical and most definitely cool. Featuring a waterproof and breathable Isotex 5000 outer layer and filled with Regatta’s Thermoguard insulation, this parka is ideal for the autumn/winter terms. The luxe faux fur collar is perfect for any young fashionista.

Paxton Parka  This premium Waterproof and breathable Isotex 5000 Paxton parka will make your little boys the talk of the playground.

Strategically placed reflective piping enhances visibility and internal fleece panels guarantee warmth. The stylish faux fur trim finishes the jacket for an ultra cool look.

 Larkhill

 Disguize

 Berryhill

The quilted Larkhill features ThermoGuard insulation and a water repellent outer, ensuring all weather protection. Reflective trims and stylish pockets finish the jacket for an overall cool for school look.

The Disguize jacket makes rainy days a little more fun with its water activated pattern. Available in pink and blue, the Disguize also features reflective trims for enhanced visibility on the school run.

The Berryhill offers a snuggly, stylish coat for the ultimate style princess. With Thermoguard insulation and a faux fur lining in the hood, this jacket is both practical and pretty!

To shop the new AW17 back to school range go to www.regatta.com www.family247.net

27

Regatta On Test

PARKA LIFE With this so-called summer feeling largely like autumn, it wasn’t too hard for us to start thinking about warm jackets for the back to school period. So it was perfect timing when Regatta Great Outdoors sent Jack, Max and mum Kate a selection of their new AW17 range to try out  Max and Jack – Paxton Parka

 Kate – Hollybank Parka

Both boys found the coats to be very warm and comfortable both commenting and how well they felt on. They loved the combination of outer and lining colours and the hoods were particularly cosy. They are both looking forward to wearing them to school next term!

Kate: ‘This Parka is warm and lightweight and I like the long length and slim fit. The two-way zip is really practical so I can zip up from the bottom to allow for a longer stride or to sit comfortably in it. The hood is deep and feels warm and snug. An excellent jacket for the school run and weekend walks with Nala (our dog!)

To shop the new AW17 back to school range go to www.regatta.com

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BTS Prize Draw

Extra ‘FRIENDS’ to support your kids going back to school…

As parents, we are all concerned that our children have enough friends to help keep them happy and healthy – and sometimes we need to provide additional ‘friends’ to support their health and wellbeing.

C

ontact with groups of friends in the classroom can provide the perfect environment for unwanted bugs and illnesses to thrive, particularly in the winter months when the windows are closed and there is less chance to spend time outdoors.

Children are more likely to be in close contact with each other than adults, to share toys and games and to put their hands to their face and mouths more frequently.

Children are also less likely to wash their hands properly or to put their hands over their mouths when coughing and sneezing.

“As well as unpleasant symptoms for the child, this can cause other inconveniences, such as GP visits, time off school and parental absence from work.” Dr Nigel Plummer, Managing Director at ProVen Probiotics A survey commissioned by ProVen Probiotics in 2015 revealed that two thirds of children took days off school due to the common cold last year, meaning that two thirds of parents had taken time off work to look after them.

And when children bring bugs into the home, it is also likely that parents and other family members will pick them up too.

Antibiotics are designed to destroy bacterial infections, but have no impact

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on viruses. And whilst destroying the bad bacteria, they also wipe out the friendly bacteria that our bodies need to support immunity and digestion.

And this is where the extra ‘friends’ come in – probiotics are friendly bacteria that can help to replenish gut bacteria if antibiotics are required and have also been shown to support the body in fighting viral infections.

ProVen Probiotics’ Fit for School has been proven in a clinical trial to lead to:

✓ 5 0% reduction in total symptoms of coughs and colds

✓ 3 3% reduction in the number of episodes of cold symptoms

✓ 4 3% reduction in the number of visits to the GP and thus antibiotic prescription

✓ 30% reduction in absence from school and thus in childcare costs

Fit for School is available in two forms to suit you and your child:  Stick packs containing 12.5 billion friendly bacteria plus vitamins C and D and prebiotics  Chewable tablets containing 12.5 billion friendly bacteria with vitamin C For further information visit www.provenprobiotics.co.uk or call us on 01639 825107

WIN

ProVen Probiotics are offering 5 readers the chance to win a three-month supply of Fit for School (you can choose either tablets or stick packs).

For your chance to win one of these fantastic prizes, simply enter online by 20th September 2017 at www.family247.net/fitforschool clearly stating your preference for Chewable Tablets or Stick Packs No purchase necessary. The winners will be the first 5 names drawn at random. The winners will be notified no later than 25th September 2017. The judges’ decision will be final and the competition is not open to employees of LincolnBrody, Cultech Ltd or their agents. By entering into the competition you agree to receive future marketing and promotional information from Cultech Ltd and Lincolnbrody. If you do not wish to receive future information please indicate this on your entry.

Please refer to the full terms and conditions at www.lincolnbrody.co.uk/competitions

Sick Notes

By Dr Sarah Jarvis, clinical consultant at health website Patient (patient.info)

If your child’s off to school for the first time, you’re probably far more concerned about how they’ll settle in than whether they’ll be ill. But many common illnesses are easily passed on in the playground, and it’s best to be prepared Tummy bugs

Impetigo

With these, it isn’t a matter of if, but when.

Most tummy bugs are caused by viruses which can be easily passed on through hand-to-hand contact - and there’s lots of that at school! The main symptom is diarrhoea, which can last for a few days. Vomiting is also common, although this tends to settle within a day or so. They can eat if they want, but it’s really important you get plenty of fluids (not fruit juice or fizzy drinks) into them. Tummy bugs are very infectious, so you need to keep your child off school until 48 hours after their symptoms have settled.

This bacterial skin infection is extremely infectious, and can spread like wildfire among primary school children in particular. It starts with small blisters which burst and leave a scab, often with a yellowgolden crust and red skin underneath.

It often starts with a single patch, with more patches developing nearby over the next few days. Doctors usually advise treating it with antibiotics to stop it spreading - although it does usually settle within two or three weeks without treatment, your child might have infected a whole class by then!

Sore throats These are more common in the winter months, and often go along with a cough and cold. There are some symptoms which make it more likely your child has tonsillitis, which may need antibiotics. They include a sore throat without a cough; fever; tender swollen glands on the front of the neck; and white spots on the tonsils (you can ask your child to open their mouth wide for you to shine a torch onto the back of the throat to see). If your child has two or more of these, see your GP. Otherwise, simple painkillers like ibuprofen or paracetamol will help.

Head lice Just hearing the word ‘nits’ is enough to make most of us feel itchy, but these little crawlers are an almost inevitable rite of passage for the average schoolchild. They are just as likely to affect children with clean hair as dirty, and they can’t fly, so need close head-to-head contact to move between people. Head lice lay eggs (seen as white ‘nits’) which hatch in 7-10 days, and grow into adults which can lay their own eggs within another 10 days. Normal combing and shampooing won’t get rid of them.

Many kids with head lice won’t get any symptoms itchiness of the scalp happens when you become allergic to the lice, which can take months. They mostly live close to the scalp, where it’s warm, and are often found first in the hair around the ears. The easiest way to check for them (and it may be worth doing regularly when your child is at school) is to use a detection comb from your pharmacist.

After shampooing, condition and comb out all the knots from your child’s hair. Comb with the detection comb

from the roots and look for black insects the size of a sesame seed. You only need to treat if you find live head lice, not if your child just has nits (the white shell cases). You’ll also need to check everyone in the family for lice and treat them, too, if you find live lice. Your pharmacist can advise on the options for treatment. F Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions.

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Tummy bugs are very infectious, so you need to keep your child off school until 48 hours after their symptoms have settled. www.family247.net

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Mystery Shades of Grey…

…enjoy our back to school laundry lesson as Dr. Beckmann investigates why whites lose their brightness and the colours fade on our children’s school shirts and sportswear

During the rush of back to school laundry, many of us have accidentally put a red sock in with our whites and turned the whole wash pink, including our little one’s brand new school shirts! High profile laundry disasters such as these are obvious and we know immediately how they happened. But less obvious yet equally as frustrating is the way new coloured clothes and whites shed their brightness slowly after every wash causing them to lose their new and fresh look.

Or the way colours fade and whites go grey and dull. What are the reasons for this and why does it happen?

Laundry specialist, Dr. Beckmann, has taken a deeper look into this mystery, discovered the reasons why it happens to our clothes and has found a time-saving solution to prevent it from happening.

The Problem When we wash our laundry, colour and dirt are released into the water which can then soak back onto the garments during the wash. The options we have to prevent that from happening include separating colours, washing at lower temperatures or looking at each garment individually to check the labels for colour-fastness – laborious, time-consuming tasks that most of us have neither the time nor inclination for every time we do the laundry.

This is particularly the case at this time of the year, with the extra laundry back to school brings. During this hectic

period with new uniforms and sportswear, it’s more important than ever to take real care when washing coloured t-shirts, school shirts and blouses, socks and pullovers.

So even if you do have the inclination to separate your wash loads and sort textiles by colour in order to protect the laundry from colour runs, it still doesn’t solve the problem of that tricky wash with stripes and patterns or mixed washes in general.

The Solution Dr. Beckmann has invented a specialised product that comes as a sheet and is extremely easy and convenient to use.

The ingenious little sheets are perfect for those ‘what if’ moments of washing, when you have a colourful dress or striped t-shirt that you just don’t know what to wash it with. The sheets collect all the stray dirt and dye in the wash, making sure none of it soaks back into your clothes leaving them looking dull.

But how does it actually work and what is the technology behind it?

The Dr. Beckmann Colour & Dirt Collector sheets contain a special coating that gives the sheets a positive charge that is the opposite to the negatively charged colour and dirt molecules that get released into the water when you wash dirty and coloured clothes. Without the sheets, the colour and dirt isn’t collected and ends up back on your clothes, resulting in your colours being spoilt and less vibrant and whites discoloured and dull. But with a sheet in the wash, the colour dyes and dirt particles are naturally drawn to the sheet that works like a magnet and locks them on, preventing them from mixing with your clothes and garments.

Thanks to Dr. Beckmann’s unique and innovative microfibre technology, the sheet is even more absorbent and stronger than any other colour catching product in the marketplace!

Case Closed Pop a sheet in with every wash and say goodbye to unwanted colour runs, save time on sorting and wash mixed colours with confidence.

TOP TIP! Wash small mixed loads together

To find out more vist our website and social media channels www.dr-beckmann.co.uk @DrBeckmannUK

You also do something good for the environment by saving energy and water and most importantly, you can keep your children’s school wear looking fresh, colourful and brighter than ever and be the shining star this term!

PROTECT YOUR CLOTHES FROM COLOUR RUNS • Colours stay brighter and newer for longer • Whites are whiter as dirt is collected • No more sorting - shove everything in together • Less was loads - saves time, energy and money

View our How-it-works video by scanning the QR code

www.dr-beckmann.co.uk @DrBeckmannUK