Mum's Survival Guide Summer 2013

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Great advice and activities for you and your children

SUMMER SURVIVAL GUIDE 2013

WIN

www.mumssurvivalguide.net

a Fab FING from Splash About!

See page 4

PLUS Childhood Allergies

EXPLAINED

BACK TO WORK

Get your career back on track

BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL! Get them ready for the new school year with our buying guide including offers, prize draws and competitions!

SUMMER HOLIDAY FUN! Loads of fantastic activities for the whole family

WI N

FriXio the e n pens fo nt r WOR ire family T see p H ÂŁ100 age 4 2!

Welcome

Children’s Furniture

Online & Sensibly Priced

Welcome to the summer issue of Mum’s Survival Guide! Thank goodness the sun is finally shining and we can all look forward to the holidays.

You’ll find stacks of fantastic summer activities in this edition that are either free or very inexpensive. From snail racing to DIY classes, there is something to suit every taste during the holidays, to ensure you and the kids are never stuck for something fun to do. We’ve focused on activities that have an educational element to them, to keep your children’s brains ticking over whilst they are having a good time. This should ensure they will be alert when the new term starts in September.

Here’s my son testing one of Splash About’s UV protective clothing range. Nice work if you can get it! Check out our sun protection feature on page 26.

Speaking of which, check out our Back to School special, starting on page 41. We’ve got some great tips on how to keep things simple and less time consuming. Plus there are great giveaways to be won, with some genuinely cool stuff from some of the leading stationery brands – our thanks go to them. In fact the whole issue is littered with terrific prize draws, competitions and exclusive discounts for our readers so please do read the magazine carefully so you don’t miss any of them!

If you are thinking of resuming your career or going back to work after a parenting break, then turn to page 10 where we pinpoint the steps needed to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Given the startling statistics regarding the number of families affected in some way by allergy, the chances are that the article by Maureen Jenkins from Allergy UK, will be a mustread for many of you (see page 14).

All in all, it’s a packed issue and we hope you find it useful, entertaining and of course free! Please visit www. mumssurvivalguide.net for even more tips, advice, offers and information to help make life that little bit easier.

Thank you for picking the magazine up and we wish you a wonderful summer!

Victoria Howdle, Editor Published by Lincolnbrody Ltd, 98 Hornchurch Road, Hornchurch, Essex RM11 1JS EMAIL info@lincolnbrody.co.uk EDITOR – Victoria Howdle DESIGN & PRODUCTION – Daniel Josty (CREATIVE DPS) ADVERTISING MANAGER – Robert Hennebry

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.

WWW.MUMSSURVIVALGUIDE.NET

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No more holding onto floats, Fings is unique because it supports the child in a natural swimming position but leaves arms and legs free to splash about! Fings is available in 3 sizes small (3-15mths) medium (15mths-3yrs) & large (3-6yrs) & retails at £14.99. Fings are funky, fun and functional – Look the coolest kid in the pool!

Contents 6 & 9 SURVIVAL NEWS Going back to work after a career break is not as daunting as it might seem.

Here we meet some mums who have successfully got their careers back on track and some of the employers that recognise the potential in this largely untapped and newly skilled workforce

14 CHILDHOOD ALLERGIES EXPLAINED

With half of the children in the UK having some form of allergy, Maureen Jenkins, Director of Clinical Services at Allergy UK, tells us all we need to know about some of the more common types of childhood allergy

19 SUMMERTIME ADVENTURES Yes, the sun is finally shining and that means your children will want to be outside enjoying the great outdoors!

Here is a round-up of some fantastic summertime activities courtesy of the Woodland Trust

37 ARE YOU SITTING COMFORTABLY?

Emma Brooks on the fantastic benefits and enormous pleasure children can derive from listening to books

Keeping the children entertained during the holidays doesn’t need to cost a fortune – here’s a selection of some of the best deals around this summer

Everything you need to ensure that getting the kids back to school in September kitted out with the best and most up to date gear is not only simple but also doesn’t break the bank

24 TAKE IT EASY

51 SCROLL. CLICK. SAVE!

Dreading travelling on masse with the family this summer? Kit Perkin’s tips for a trouble-free and enjoyable journey will help!

Our top five money-saving websites

53 FISHING OUT THE GOOD FACTS

Babi Chana, BCS – Biochemist and Nutritionist and Pharma Nord’s expert tells us all about the benefits of fish oils

54 ENJOY PHONICS THIS SUMMER

Liz Walker, founder of Reading Chest, suggests some fun techniques to help younger children keep up with their reading during the holidays

p26

c) 13-21 years

Simply enter online by visiting: www.mumssurvivalguide.net/splashabout by 30th August 2013

With thanks to our friends at toucanBox, here are their top ten ways to help your children keep learning whilst having fun during the summer holidays

22 GREAT SUMMER OFFERS

What age range are Fings designed for? b) 7-12 years

34 SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER!

41 BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL – LET’S GET ORGANISED

Entering the competition couldn’t be easier – all you need to do is answer this simple question:

a) 3mths-6 years

p37

10 TAKE BACK YOUR CAREER

26 HELLO SUNSHINE!

Read our sun safety guide and make skin protection simple and straightforward this summer

31 MUM’S TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

To see the 2013 collection visit:

www.splashabout.com No purchase necessary. The winners will be the first 3 names drawn at random. The winners will be notified no later than 31st September 2013.

The judges’ decision will be final and the competition is not open to employees of LincolnBrody, Splash About or their agents. By entering into the competition you agree to receive future marketing and promotional information from Splash About 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

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Our natural products expert Rebecca Goodyear’s checklist of some of the best natural toiletries and health items to take on holiday with you this year

33 SAVOUR THE OLD, EMBRACE THE NEW

Here are some smart ways to ensure your child maintains a healthy balance between reading books and reading on computers. Plus details of this year’s Summer Reading Challenge

p54 56 AL FRESHCO DINING FROM PYREX

Four tasty summertime recipes from the ‘Pyrexperts’

59 LEARNING AND TECHNOLOGY Courtesy of Early Education, find out how to make the most of our children’s fascination with technology

At Wright’s we have been milling flour for nearly 150 years and successfully blend traditional craft with modern technology.

We only use the finest ingredients in our flours and mixes so you get great results every time – cakes you’ll enjoy taking the credit for!

Both finalists in The Cake Awards 2013 Available via Wright’s mail order, Sainsbury’s, Morrison’s, E.H. Booth & Ocado

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Survival News

Stay Cycle Safe this SUMMER!

SCHOOL’S out, summer is here and it’s a great time for youngsters to get on their bikes. Cycling is free, it’s good for the environment and it’s a fun way to keep fit. However, before your child jumps on the saddle and pedals off down the road, just remember a few safer cycling tips because more cycling accidents involving children happen in the six week school summer holidays than at any other time of the year.

1. A lways wear a cycle helmet. Ensure it is correctly fitted and sits squarely on your child’s head. It should not be too far forward or too far back and the straps should form a V shape under each ear. Always read the manufacturer’s fitting instructions. The helmet should be snug fitting but not tight.

by 30th August 2013.

Standard LincolnBrody prize draw rules apply for full terms and conditions visit www.lincolnbrody.co.uk/competitions

It’s definitely not Terry’s!

4. M ake sure you know where your child is going and that they know how to get there. If they have a phone get them to take it with them to call you in an emergency, but ensure they do not use it whilst cycling.

7. E nsure your child wears sensible clothing. Do not let them cycle in high heels or flip flops or in widebottomed trousers.

8. Cycle training courses are often available in the summer holidays. Contact your local council to find out details.

This information is provided by The Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust - a registered charity committed to saving the lives of young cyclists. For more details visit the charity’s website www.bhit.org or contact the Trust on Tel: 0118 958 3585

Happy and Safe Cycling!

The Bicycle Helmet Initiative Trust has recently joined forces with WD-40 and Lazer Helmets to get primary school aged children to design their very own cycle helmet. The winning designed will be manufactured and given to disadvantaged children across the UK. It is hoped the joint initiative will reduce the number of children killed and seriously

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Daisy Waugh’s take on guilt-free motherhood has certainly set the online parenting communities on high alert. Whether you love or loathe her razorsharp and witty take on modern motherhood, it’s a great read and may just make you rethink some long held opinions – and as far as we’re concerned here at Mum’s that’s a good thing!

With thanks to publisher’s Orion Books, we’ve got a copy to give away to 5 lucky readers.

www.mumssurvivalguide.net/daisywaugh

3. Do not let your child wear headphones whilst they are cycling. They need to be able to hear the traffic as well as see it.

6. If your child is cycling at night or in the dark ensure they have lights at the front and rear of their bike and that they are wearing reflective clothing. In the day they should wear high visibility clothing.

Win a copy of I Don’t Know Why She Bothers

By Daisy Waugh!

For your chance to win a copy simply enter online at

2. E nsure your child’s bike has been thoroughly checked. In particular, test the brakes front and rear, check the saddle height is correct. Your child should just be able to touch the ground with their feet.

5. D o not let your child carry a bag on the handlebars – it will make cycling very difficult. If they do need to carry a bag either use a rucksack or a bicycle pannier.

WOW! 5 Copies to be WON

injured in cycling accidents in the UK every year by teaching youngsters the importance of bicycle safety, encouraging them to wear a helmet and teaching them to keep their bikes roadworthy.

Primary schools can register to take part in the competition by visiting www.wd40.co.uk/helmet

We love an ingenious idea here at Mum’s, and Astonish have definitely done that with their new Chocolate Orange Anibacterial handwash. Getting the kids to wash their hands before mealtimes and after visiting the loo can be a bit of a pain, but here’s something that will make the ‘hand check’ a pleasure!

Aimed at the family, this mild and effective aromatic liquid handwash smells so much like chocolate orange that your kids will be washing their hands all the time!

The handwash moisturises, deodorises and is pH balanced, antibacterial and is very gentle on your hands.

Astonish is a British manufacturer based in the north of England, manufacturing ethical cleaning products that are cruelty free, Vegetarian approved and biodegradable.

The range covers all areas of stain removal as well as a popular hand wash range.

Visit www.astonishcleaners.com to find out more about Astonish.

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Survival N ews Say ‘Goodbye’ to Nasty Knots with the NEW Michel Mercier Untangle Your Day Detangling Brush Especially for Kids!

The Purrfect Reading and Writing App!

The Collins Big Cat apps have had rave reviews and now they are free to download on the app store. Each based on a muchloved Collins Big Cat book, they contain:

✓ An interactive version of the book ✓ The ability to record your own narration story creator section – make your own book ✓ Ausing characters, key vocabulary and backgrounds from the original story

uidance for parents to get the most out of ✓ Gthe book Each Collins Big Cat app is designed to encourage children to connect reading to writing and to extend learning beyond the book, with practical guidance for adults to help children develop their literacy skills. There are hidden surprises on every page of the animated book, plus a quiz at the end to check understanding.

Watch a video about the apps and find links to download all eight here: www.collinsbigcat.com/apps

After experiencing the dreaded ‘brush time’ with his 12-year-old daughter, acclaimed stylist Michel Mercier set about creating a hair brush that would free his, and many other daughters around the world from a bundle of tears, tantrums and tangles…

Of course, no one child is the same so Michel Mercier has ensured that all little angels can benefit from this innovation by creating three colour coded models, each one designed to suit a different hair type: Fuchsia and Purple for fine hair, Baby Pink for normal hair and Purple for thick hair.

The Michel Mercier Brush works perfectly with all hair types, including European, Afro and Asian hair

textures, gliding smoothly through wet, dry, curly and straight hair – hoorah for this detangling breakthrough!

Untangle Your Day with Michel Mercier The Michel Mercier Detangling Brush is priced at £14.95, and will soon be available from www.michelmercier.co.uk

Pharma Nord are giving away 80 capsules of their BIOmega-3 Kids fish oil (RRP £7.25) to 20 lucky readers.

This is the perfect everyday source of natural omega-3 for the whole family, made to very high standards. There’s a lemon flavour and no fishy taste. The capsules can be swallowed, chewed or squeezed into food. See page 53 for more omega-3 information.

WIN

a free pack of kids fish oil!

To enter, simply e-mail your name, address and the word MUMS to fishoil@pharmanord.co.uk Or send your details to FREEPOST NT1587, Pharma Nord UK Ltd, Morpeth, NE61 1BR. Offer closes 30.09.2013. One pack per household, chosen at random.

Natural Teething Solution Boiron launched Camilia®, a natural remedy for teething and related symptoms in babies and young children, in May this year.

Camilia® treats infant teething pains as well as related symptoms, such as crotchety behaviour, swollen gums, sore bottoms and profuse salivation. Thanks to its exclusive formula, which combines three natural substances — Chamomilla vulgaris 9c, Phytolacca decandra 5c and Rheum 5c — and purified water, Camilia® has been the remedy of choice for infants from Canada to Tunisia since it was first developed in the mid-1990s.

A liquid with a neutral taste, Camilia® contains no artificial colouring, no preservatives, no sugars, no lactose and no ethanol. The medication comes

in sterile, drinkable single doses, which is ideal from the point of view of hygiene and makes it easy to administer to babies and toddlers.

Packaged in boxes of 10 single doses, Camilia® has a recommended retail price of £6.95 per box in the UK. The remedy can be bought over the counter (i.e. without mandatory medical prescription) from pharmacies and health food stores, as well as through many online-sales sites.

For more information visit www.camiliateething.co.uk WWW.MUMSSURVIVALGUIDE.NET

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Back to Work Thought having a family meant putting your career on hold?

Think again. Meet the mums getting back on the fast track (and the employers helping them on their way). Whether it’s been a few months or a few years, it’s never too late.

Take back your

CAREER

B

eing a mum is the most demanding and rewarding job most of us will ever have. But what happens when it’s time to pick the Cheerios out of your hair and get back to the office?

Re-joining the professional world can be a challenge, whether it’s putting in the long hours needed to get ahead, or catching up on everything that’s happened while you’ve been away.

We take a look at some different ways mums are getting back into their careers, and how they’re making the workplace work for them.

Coming back after maternity leave Sarah Quigley, staff engagement manager at the Financial Ombudsman Service (the free service who you can talk to if you’re unhappy with your bank or insurer) recently went back to work after having twins last year.

Tell us about your family “I’ve got twin girls, who turned one earlier this year – as they were my first I was definitely thrown in at the deep end. But while it can be hard work, it’s exciting and double the fun too.

“I went on maternity leave in April. It was such a relief not having to do the commute for a while – it’s amazing how many people don’t offer you their seat on the train! I took nine months off after having the babies and returned to work in February this year for four days a week.”

Can you tell us a bit about what your job involves?

“I work in a busy internal communications team which helps staff feel involved and work more efficiently together. Our organisation’s recently taken on an extra 1,000 staff, so we now have around 3,500 people - with plans to hire another 1,000 this year so it’s been busier than ever.”

How did you feel in the run up to your return to work?

“It was a complete mixture of emotions – I had the natural worries that probably occur to most mums returning to work. What if I missed the girls too much? What if my job had changed since I had left?

“I had “keeping in touch” days, which were a great way to stay up to date with what was happening in the office and with colleagues. It made the return to work a far less daunting prospect. I’d definitely encourage anyone who’s planning to return to work to use your keeping in touch days.

“It’s worth checking out what your employers can do to help you out – you never know if you don’t ask. It can take a bit of time to get all the arrangements in place, so don’t leave it to the last minute – and if you’re not sure about anything just ask your employer. I’m lucky that I love my job and arranged flexible working to balance my work and home. I also have some really good friends across the service so I was excited to catch up with them again, too.”

What’s it like, juggling your work and looking after the twins?

“It makes for a busy life but I certainly never get bored. Naturally I still worry about the girls when I’m in the office but I’m lucky enough to have a strong network of family, friends and childcare, which means that I can get on with my work knowing

they’re in good hands or that an update is just a phone call away.”

What advice would you give to any return to work mums?

“Be prepared, organised and realistic about your time – and don’t be too hard on yourself. Most of all, try to enjoy it!”

Getting back after a few years Even if you’ve been out of things for a while, there’s plenty of help to get you back on track. Employers are starting to realise that – apart from years of experience – mums have other valuable skills too, like time-management and communication skills (dealing with office prima donnas is a doddle after sorting a toddler tantrum).

In fact, some companies are even running schemes to get mums on board, like a recent initiative by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, specifically aimed at mothers who’d been out of work for three years or more.

Room at the top As Michelle Fullerton, the bank’s head of diversity for Europe and emerging markets, put it, “One thing we noticed is that while we have a good number of women at lower levels, as you go up the organisation there are fewer and fewer women.

“We can keep fishing at the bottom and expect women to progress, but it will take a long time for them to get to the top. So we wanted to look at how we could parachute some female talent in.”

One of the issues it confronted was that many of the experienced women had taken time out to have children, so they decided to target those who might be looking to get back into the workplace. Working with Mumsnet, they advertised the three-week returners’ programme, aimed at senior-level women who had taken at least three years away from their careers. “These women needed someone to say that their skills and talent were still valued and to give them some support to get back into the workplace,” said Fullerton.

The bank cast the net as wide as possible, but deliberately kept the application deadline to just two weeks as Fullerton knew they would be inundated.

Over 90 women applied for the 20 spaces and she says every one of them was of a high calibre.

The bank’s recruitment team sifted through the applications and assessed them as if the women were applying for a job. Fullerton offered feedback to all who had not been accepted.

Not all had experience in the finance sector, but all had transferable skills. The programme consisted of three one-day sessions – 10am-4pm – spread over two weeks. At least one woman had been out of the workplace for seven years.

On the first day, the group focused on their current situation, past experience, and how they could get back into the workplace. They heard from a panel of women managers, including a single mother, who spoke about how they managed their work-life balance. It also cov-

“ We wanted to look at how we could parachute some female talent in.”

Michelle Fullerton, Bank of America Merrill Lynch

Sarah Quigley, staff engagement manager at the Financial Ombudsman Service ered industry changes over the last five years. “Literally everything regarding regulations has changed,” says Fullerton, “which may mean it’s a good time to come back since everyone’s in the same position.”

The last day included sessions with members of the recruitment and leadership teams who gave the women individual tips about their CVs and passed on advice.

Fullerton says that in just two weeks the group’s aspirations have undergone a “radical transformation”.

“On day one they wanted to work part time and were saying they needed to leave at a certain time.

They were still very much in the mums’ mindset.

By day three they had seen how IT advances had made it easier to work flexibly and were talking about maybe working four days with one day working from home or working till 5pm and then logging on after the children were in bed. They recognised that they deserved a career and they realised that they had missed work,” she states.

As a follow-up, the organisation offered to support them for a year by giving them a space to meet up every quarter to catch up and network.

They’ve also set up a LinkedIn group to stay in touch and give each other support. Recruiters at the bank will also contact them if suitable vacancies arise. Fullerton says the bank is definitely interested in doing it again.

THE FINANCIAL OMBUDSMAN SERVICE If you’re unhappy with your bank or insurer – or you’d like to find out more about current vacancies at the service – talk to the ombudsman 0300 123 9 123 or www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk WWW.MUMSSURVIVALGUIDE.NET

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FROM TV SCREEN TO ICE CREAM You can now take your favourite children’s TV Character home in Ice Cream format No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives 6 pack Peppa Pig Ice Cream lollies now available in all good supermarkets

Peppa Pig © Astley Baker Davies / Entertainment One UK Limited 2003. www.peppapig.com

Icefresh Foods Ltd, W: www.icefresh-foods.co.uk E: info@icefresh-foods.co.uk

Finding the right balance Whether you have taken a few years off to bring up your children or are going back to work after maternity leave, there are often similar issues that arise. In Workingmums.co.uk’s surveys, the top three barriers to return to work are consistently childcare costs, lack of flexible opportunities and confidence.

Confidence may be a bigger problem the longer you’re away, but lack of flexible working opportunities is the main factor. When you’re dealing with a traditional one-size-fits-all corporate culture, getting home for bedtime and achieving professional recognition can be hard, if not impossible.

That’s why Workingmums.co.uk was set up in 2006 – to put employers who offered family friendly working together with women who wanted some degree of flexibility in their working lives. So employers get workers with bags of experience – and employees can work in a way that fits better with family commitments.

Flexible working covers anything from part-time hours and flexi-hours to compressed hours, job shares or a few days a week homeworking.

Going it alone Just because a job’s not advertised as flexible, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask. Legally, you can’t apply for flexible working until you’ve been in the job for six months, but many employers are open to a bit of negotiation at interview stage (for example, you

could ask about the organisation’s flexible working policy and take it from there).

Of course, the employer needs to know they’re getting something out of it too.

The job share Niamh Conroy and Katie Quinton are a great example. They share the role of Global Brand Development Director – Becel/Flora pro.activ at Unilever. They planned their job share meticulously and got buy-in from their colleagues. Both admit to working a little over their hours to make it work, but the payback of being able to work three days a week and having someone to share the load and bounce ideas off is, they say, priceless. And for Unilever there are ample returns. Katie says: “We have complementary skills and double the energy.

If one of us has not been in a particular situation before we can be sure that the other has – and knows how to deal with it, so the company gets a lot more than six days out of us.”

Sometimes the difficulty is not that there aren’t options, but there are so many, it’s hard to know what to do – or what to expect. In reality, there are as many different arrangements as there are families, and only you know what’s right for you. Making it come together can involve a bit of trial and error, but with the right balance and the right employer, your career can go from strength to strength.

Just remember to take those Cheerios out first.

10 ways to be FLEXIBLE Want a more flexible working approach?

Here are some of the buzzwords employers are using now. (Good news for mums, whatever you call it.)

✓ Working part-time ✓ Flexi-hours ✓ Agile working ✓ Compressed hours ✓ Remote working ✓ Telecommuting ✓ Job-sharing ✓ Working from home ✓ Location independent working ✓ Smarter working

Flexible working: who’s doing it? ✓ 9 6% of companies offer flexible

working overall (100% large firms; 95% medium-sized firms and 91% SMEs)

✓ T hree-quarters make ‘some use’ of flexible working

✓ T he most popular form of flexible

working offered is part-time working – by 88% of all employees

✓ S ome 25% use some form of

flexitime, while 20% say they work from home on a regular basis.

✓ A further 14% say they take

advantage of remote working

✓ M ore women work flexibly than men (77% vs 70%)

Source: CIPD, May 2012

USEFUL LINKS www.workingmums.co.uk Job share can be very productive, both for the employees and employer

www.mojomums.co.uk WWW.MUMSSURVIVALGUIDE.NET

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th Survival Heal

Childhood Allergies Explained 50% of children in the UK have some form of allergy and 20% of infants have atopic (allergic) eczema and many of these will develop food allergy, asthma and rhinitis/hay fever. With these startling statistics in mind, we spoke to Maureen Jenkins, Director of Clinical Services at Allergy UK, who tells us all about childhood allergies.

What is allergy?

Allergy is a response by the immune system to a normally tolerated substance, such as peanut or cat, (known as an allergen), creating an IgE-antibody to that allergen, causing sensitization. Later this IgE will recognise the cat allergen causing the immune system to release histamine creating the immediate irritant response, also releasing natural chemicals, which cause swelling and later mucus production.

Being atopic, i.e., having raised IgE to a specific allergen and a positive allergy test, may be predictive but does not prove allergy without correlating symptoms.

Atopic eczema Atopic eczema / dermatitis is characterised by a defective skin barrier through which allergens may easily enter. Later contact with the allergen to which the child is sensitised may induce eczema lesions. The defective skin barrier cannot retain the moisture essential for healthy skin so becomes dry and deprived of the natural protective skin oils. This dry, leaky skin provides easy entrance for allergens as well as any bacteria, which would not affect healthy skin.

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Up to 80% of all children under one year old with moderate to severe eczema are sensitized to one or more food allergens. It is increasingly recognised that infants with poorly controlled severe eczema are at increasing risk of poor growth. Those with mild eczema usually outgrow it and are unlikely to have food allergy.

If prescribed moisturising creams or ointments applied copiously and frequently do not control the eczema, then you should ask your GP to refer your child to a Paediatric Allergist to identify the cause and any allergens. Avoiding the allergen (e.g., food, house-dust mite, cat) and frequently applying copious amounts of an emollient / moisturiser with scrupulously clean hands is paramount to controlling the symptoms. Expert management is key – eczema is complex and steroid creams or other medications may be needed to get the severe lesions under control. This includes treating bacterial infection, which is present in the majority of inadequately managed chronic eczema. Moisturisers often have to be changed as the child may react to an ingredient in a previously tolerated product. Children with eczema need to drink extra water to replace the water lost

MUM’S SURVIVAL GUIDE

PRODUCT FIND

Dry Wonder’s Waterless Carpet and Fabric Cleaner This amazing cleaner is waterless and uses non-toxic and natural ingredients. It is anti-bacterial and kills dust mites but is child and pet friendly. It can also help prevent asthma. You can use this product for regular maintenance of your carpet. Dry Wonder is a totally environmentally friendly carpet/upholstery cleaner that freshens and disinfects.

We put Dry Wonder to the test and were hugely impressed with the results – visit www.mumssurvivalguide.net to see the reviews.

What’s more, we’ve teamed up with Dry Wonder to bring you an incredible exclusive reader offer – please turn to page 18!

through the defective skin barrier. A protein called Filaggrin that protects the skin surface, is depleted in patients with atopic eczema and has prompted research into the development of future treatments.

Children with moderate to severe eczema often react to things with which they are in contact, such as chemical cleaners, plastic furniture, modelling clays or remnants of food that have been smeared on tables or chairs at home or in nurseries or school.

Food allergy Food allergy can be classified into immediate IgEmediated and delayed non-IgE-mediated allergy. IgEmediated reactions frequently occur within minutes or up to two hours. Delayed non-IgE-mediated reactions usually occur a few hours, or even a few days, after eating the offending food and so are harder to diagnose. Indeed, the problems are often not linked to allergy.

Immediate IgE-mediated food allergy typically occurs in infancy, often soon after eczema. Symptoms are usually rapid and can affect the airway, skin, gastro-intestinal system or even cause collapse (anaphylaxis), which, if not treated rapidly may be fatal. It can be diagnosed by blood tests to specific IgE or by skin-prick testing.

Symptoms may be:

✘ Skin: itching, inflammation, rashes or swelling around the lips, face and eyes.

✘ Gastro-intestinal: itching or swelling in the mouth or throat, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea.

✘ Respiratory: itching, sneezing, runny nose, congestion, cough, tight chest, wheeze, shortness of breath.

✘ Other: conjunctivitis, panic, loss of consciousness.

Delayed non-IgE-mediated food allergy causes signs and symptoms that are also distressing and chronic.

One type, Eosinophilic Gastro-intestinal Disease (EGID) is still largely undiagnosed with huge impact on affected infants’ development and health. Some children may have both types of allergy.

Common symptoms are:

✘ G astro-oesophageal reflux, which causes crying, back aching and vomiting after feeds

✘ abdominal pain; severe colic ✘ diarrhoea or constipation ✘ eczema ✘ aversion to foods ✘ faltering growth Cows’ milk allergy (CMA) is the most common food allergy in infants and young children, affecting up to 7.5% of infants. CMA causes both immediate Ig-E and delayed non-IgE-mediated reactions and symptoms as listed above with some infants having both types of CMA. It typically starts when the infant first has cows’ milk in formula feed, at weaning or sometimes breast feeding. Detailed information is available at www.allergyuk.org.

All children suspected of having immediate IgEmediated food allergy should be referred to a paediatric allergist without delay. Diagnosis should only be undertaken in a specialist allergy clinic where skin prick or blood tests may be used in the diagnosis of IgE-mediated food allergy in conjunction with an allergy-focussed history. A specialist allergy dietician will support the parents in managing the infant’s diet.

Those with non-IgE-mediated food allergy will, under dietary supervision, have the suspected food removed from the diet for an agreed period. Reintroduction and monitoring of symptoms will follow and if no improvement, the child must be referred to a paediatrician who specialises in gastro-intestinal allergy.

The nose and bronchial tree is one airway lined with continuous mucous lining. 80% of those with allergic asthma have rhinitis and over 40% with rhinitis have asthma symptoms. Hayfever is seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (SAR), describing the inflammatory effects on the nose and the eyes. Perennial rhinoconjunctivitis presents symptoms either all year or intermittently throughout the year. This may be due to a combination of allergen triggers, e.g., tree, grass then weed pollens, followed by mould spores in addition to probable house dust mite and animal allergens. “Summer Asthma” occurs with seasonal allergic rhinitis and should be treated with a preventer inhaler until all symptoms have disappeared.

Rhinoconjunctivitis is a miserable condition often described as “like having a cold all the time”, with sneezing, itchy and blocked nose, congestion in the head, sinuses and ears and sometimes itchy ears

Asthma and Rhinoconjuctivitis/hay fever Some infants are a bit wheezy but will outgrow these symptoms before school age. Others, particularly those with food allergy or eczema, may develop asthma at any age. 80% of children with asthma are allergic to one or more allergens. With correct allergen diagnosis and management, the child should have a chance of massive symptom reduction, less need for medication and improved quality of life.

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Nature’s way to wash away allergens

100%

NATURAL

Stérimar Nasal Hygiene is a gentle and 100% natural seawater based nasal spray that is recommended by UK doctors. It helps provide hay fever relief for all the family* and helps prevent allergic reactions.

• Clinically proven • Provides relief from hay fever, chronic conditions and sinusitis • Suitable for use from 3 months of age • Keeps the nose in top condition to help prevent allergic reactions • Washes away allergens and airborne contaminants before they take hold • Easy and convenient to use • Can be used alone or with medication, for as long as needed

For a cleaner, healthier nose, naturally For more information please visit www.sterimarnasal.co.uk or ask your health adviser *Suitable for use from 3 months of age Stérimar is a trademark of SOFIBEL SAS. Rev. 05-13.

Gentle on Your Baby, Tough on Germs Aquaint is a revolutionary 100% NATURAL sanitising water for your little ones and you - strong enough to kill germs, yet safe enough to spray in your mouth. A natural and alcohol-free way to eliminate 99.9% of bacteria, Aquaint can be sprayed on everything from skin to surfaces without the need to rinse. Suitable for use at home and away, Aquaint is available in a family-sized bottle and travel size spray, and has been endorsed by Allergy UK. It and throat. Usually, the eyes are affected by irritation + conjunctival oedema. Frequently it is accompanied by asthma symptoms and it always affects daily living with sleep disturbance and consequent difficulties in concentrating during the day. Although children do not have to operate machinery or drive, the effects can be manifested by irritability, poor attention and sleepiness.

These children commonly display the “allergic salute” – unconsciously rubbing their noses upwards with the heel of the hand, sometimes with the resulting nasal crease. This mannerism is because of the constant nasal irritation.

Non-sedating antihistamines and a daily steroid nasal spray or drops should control the nose, as well as allergic eye symptoms, which can be more troublesome than the nose. Sodium cromoglycate drops or ointment in addition, should alleviate the symptoms. Wraparound sunglasses protect from strong light and pollen. For more detailed management visit www.allergyuk.org Persistent symptoms despite treatment require referral to a paediatric allergist. Any very severe allergic eye symptoms not controlled with medication should be referred urgently to an eye consultant.

As well as the reduced quality of life caused by allergic disease, studies have shown that teenagers with moderate to severe hayfever drop a grade in their GCSE exams.

Many parents are reluctant to let their children use steroid inhalers, nose sprays or eczema creams.

This is because of the bad press and misunderstanding about the effects. These creams and sprays contain such a minute quantity of steroid as it is delivered straight to the spot needed rather than having to be swallowed and absorbed throughout the body.

They are an important treatment to treat inflammation, which can otherwise cause long-term damage and the dose is reduced or stopped when necessary.

Allergens can enter the body through the respiratory mucosa (airborne allergens), the digestive mucosa (food and airborne allergens) as well as through the epithelial skin barrier, including the eye and are numerous and diverse. In the UK, the most common allergens are:

✘ Airborne: house-dust mite droppings, pollens, animal dander, mould spores.

✘ Ingested: egg, cow’s milk protein, peanut, fish, wheat.

✘ Injected: bee, wasp, hornet.

House Dust Mites House-dust mites are microscopic, sightless insects that thrive in the perfect environment of our modern homes. They are quite harmless unless you are one of the millions who are allergic to the protein in their faecal particles. Many studies show that around 80% of those with atopic asthma and perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) are allergic to house dust mite (HDM) allergen. The figures are even higher for children with atopic eczema.

House dust mites cannot drink so absorb water through their bodies and require warm, humid conditions with an optimum relative humidity of 75-80% and temperature around 21-25°C. However, they can survive between 15C-30°C and relative humidity 45%. The humidity in our homes is caused by cooking, running hot water, unvented tumble dryers, damp clothes and the water vapour from our breath.

Mould grows rapidly on damp window frames and tiles and helps feed HDM. Dust is composed of flakes of dead skin, pet hair and dander (brought into pet-free homes on clothes and shoes), breakdown of fabrics and debris blown in from outside. Dead skin cells slough off constantly and those with dry skin shed even more. These dead cells and all other dust components provide food for the HDM. High levels are found in all textiles, upholstery, carpets and beds. The bed is the house dust mites’ Shangri-La with warmth and up to half a litre of water vapour from exhaled breath plus up to 1g of skin cells providing soup for the HDM!

Moulds Mould spores are an extra food source for the HDM and can cause significant symptoms for those with atopic eczema, rhinitis and asthma. Other indoor sources are piles of newspapers, damp soil and particularly fungi in damp walls, sometimes where there is no damp-course. Persistent symptoms may be due to unidentified fungal problems. Outdoor mould levels are high in the autumn and mild winters or in persistently mild, wet weather. Piles of damp leaves near the house and woodland are prolific sources. Spores are extra microscopic and ubiquitous, penetrating the smallest airways and sinuses and are challenging to eradicate.

is ‘Hypo Allergenic’ and suitable for use for those with conditions such as Eczema, Psoriasis and Asthma. Aquaint can be used to cleanse the hands and pretty much any part of the body, even sensitive skin, without drying it out or producing any irritating effects.

Available in selected stores and online from the NCT (www.nctshop.co.uk), JoJo Maman Bébé (www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk), and www.aquaint-uk.com

40% of the UK population. It can affect very young children, causing sneezing, runny nose, inflamed airways and sinuses, itchy or inflamed eyes and wheeze.

Young infants may have eczema reactions to grass pollen and these reactions may persist into adulthood.

These are the children most likely to have food allergy to wheat. The pollen persists between mid April – late July or August.

Early tree pollens cause symptoms in March, whilst Birch pollen, the most common in the UK, pollinates in March – April and continues through July.

Other trees cause fewer symptoms.

Weeds cause allergic symptoms from July to September, mainly from mugwort and pellitory and may affect children who are crawling or playing on grass.

Birch contains similar antigens with foods, such as apple, hazelnut, tomato, peach and apricot, causing cross-reacting oral symptoms, e.g., tingling mouth, swollen lips and urticaria. Grass pollens cross-react with many vegetables and fruit. This is Oral Allergy Syndrome, which is managed with a non-sedating antihistamine, unless the child has asthma, when he or she should be assessed by a paediatric allergist.

Animal allergens Animal allergens are from the saliva and skin oils that is distributed on skin cells, fur, hair or feathers when the animal cleans itself. This is known as animal dander. Cats are the most common cause of pet allergy but hamsters, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, dogs, birds or any animal can be allergenic. Horses can cause allergy symptoms, although sometimes it is the dust or mould spores in the stable and hay that affect the rider. Birds can cause serious respiratory problems.

Pollens Grass pollen is the most common cause of allergy symptoms, affecting around WWW.MUMSSURVIVALGUIDE.NET

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Summertime ADVENTURES

Survival F un

We round up a selection of the Woodland Trust’s summer activities for adventurous kids

S

ummer is the season many children adore; playing outdoors until the sun comes down, the sound of the local ice cream van, sweet-smelling flowers, spotting birds, climbing trees, sunny trips to the park, spending hours in the garden, hunting for creepy crawlies – the list is endless. This time of year is ideal for maximizing children’s love for the outdoors and making sure children spend time outside that is both enjoyable and engaging, creating memories that will stay with them forever.

Naturedetectives.org.uk, a website run by The Woodland Trust, contains over a thousand free downloads available for children of all ages. Each activity provides hours of fun that incorporates nature, creativity and learning, and can be adapted to suit children of all ages.

The summer activity section contains a whole host of ideas for adventurous children, including the Summer Play Booklet and the brand new Woodland Adventure Booklets.

Here are the Trust’s top picks from the summer activity section of the Nature Detectives website, each of which can be downloaded for free at: www.naturedetectives.org.uk/summer. From wildlife spotting sheets to woodland-inspired recipes, picnic kits to den building guides, get set for a summer of adventures!

The ‘My Summer Adventure’ Booklet This handy booklet is ideal for keeping as a memory book for your family’s summer holiday adventure and can be kept forever as a keepsake. The children can record where they’ve explored, who with, how they’ve travelled and what they’ve discovered along the way. Help them to print the booklet off, staple it together, then encourage them to fill it with mementos. Let them make it their own by filling it with doodles, jottings, photos, poems and natural treasures. www.naturedetectives.org.uk/summer/ activity_booklet.htm

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NEW – Woodland Adventure Play Booklets These brand new adventure booklets were created in collaboration with Westonbirt Arboretum and they are bursting with 44 fresh ideas for forest fun this summer. The themes that each activity falls under include ‘build’, ‘discover’, ‘imagine’ and ‘create’, and activities include a marvellous mud pie café, impressive mole castles, a fun obstacle course, cute fairy tree parties and a handy animal poo spotter sheet.

Snail Racing Snail Racing is a real hands-on, fun way to get kids up close to nature. It’s great for getting a number of children involved at once and is guaranteed to create a lively, exciting atmosphere. The downloadable Snail Racing Kit enables you to make a race track and hold your own snail racing championships. The kit has everything you need to set up a race including a printable race track, stickers, top race tips, a winner’s podium, chequered flags and trophies. There are also top tips for holding an exciting snail race along with extra ideas to experiment with. This activity is great for encouraging children to think about handling a living creature. www.naturedetectives.org.uk/download/ snail_racing_kit.htm

Boat Making Make-shift boats and rafts are great for sailing across puddles or in simple buckets of water. It’s simple and easy to make sailing boats with children using leaves, bark and twigs. Set the children the challenge of making their own boats using materials found outside and help them discover what sinks, what floats and what sails. Race the boats by encouraging children to blow them across the water, paint them, or decorate them in whatever way you can imagine.

This activity is great fun and gets children thinking and talking about physics in a practical, easy manner. www.naturedetectives.org.uk/download/ boats.htm

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www.naturedetectives.org.uk/download/ booklet_woodland_adventure.htm

Blackberry Pack Blackberries are nutritious, delicious and hunting for them with children can be lots of fun. The Trust has a range of great recipes, spotter sheets and a collecting bag all easily downloadable in one area. There are also top tips for picking blackberries fresh from the bush and guidelines for where is good to pick from as well as how to spot them. Once the children have filled their collecting bag, they can then discover how to turn them into smoothies, jam tarts and ice lollies. www.naturedetectives.org.uk/packs/ blackberry_pack.htm

Woodland Picnics This pack includes tasty treats and fun and games for picnics in the woods. The range of fantastic woodland-inspired recipes includes forest floor cake, chocolate conkers, caterpillar tortilla rolls, bramble jelly and fruit sticks. To drink, there are recipes for blackberry iced tea, fruity berry smoothies and strawberry sparkle cordial. The recipes are extremely simple and fun to make with children on the eve of a picnic and will only add to the excitement of the pre-picnic build up. www.naturedetectives.org.uk/packs/ picnic_pack.htm

Butterfly hunting Download these hunt sheets and encourage the children to look for beautiful butterflies wherever they go. The printable iDials are also great for identifying species on the move and popping in your or your children’s pockets before an outdoor adventure. The activities encourage children to look all around them when outside and also helps them to learn about particular species they may not yet be familiar with. www.naturedetectives.org.uk/packs/ butterfly_pack.htm

Survival Fun

Great Summer Offers!

It really doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg to keep the children entertained over the summer holidays – there are some fantastic deals to be found with a bit of research and there are loads of free activities and offers for children. Here’s a selection of some of our favourites LIVE THEATRE Now in its 16th year, run by the Society of London Theatre and supported by Ticketmaster, Kids Week is all about encouraging young people to experience the magic of live theatre.

During Kids Week (1-31 August) a child aged 16 or under can go free to participating shows when accompanied by an adult paying full price. Up to two extra children’s tickets can be purchased at half price. Kids Week also has a fantastic range of free activities and events such as Q&As with the stars, song and dance workshops on stage and a peek behind the scenes to see how the magic happens.

Whilst tickets for certain shows were snapped up quickly, plenty more tickets are still available for shows including Billy Elliot The Musical, Brainiac Live!, Dinosaur Zoo, Horrible Histories – Barmy Britain, We Will Rock You and Wicked.

For more information on the line-up of over 30 shows and to buy tickets visit www.kidsweek.co.uk or telephone 0844 248 5151 (no booking or postage fees apply).

CULTURE At Tate Britain this Summer: Visit Lowry and the Painting of Modern Life this summer and explore the work of the much loved British painter as a family with their new Lowry family guide.

With loads of specially designed ideas and colourful characters, Tate’s family guide will help families interact with Lowry’s work in a fun and imaginative way. Children under 12 can visit Lowry and the Painting of Modern Life for free when accompanied by an adult. Adult £16.50 (without donation £15.00) Until 20th October.

At Tate Modern this Summer: Explore Meschac Gaba’s fantastic installation Museum of Contemporary African Art at Tate Modern this summer. With lots of different themed rooms, including the Games Room, complete with puzzles and a giant chess set, as well as a library full of children’s books, families can discover an exciting new and interactive space which has never been shown before in the UK. Admission is free.

For more info visit www.tate.org.uk

FAMILY BREAKS

Best Western are firm family favourites with some fantastic free offers and activities for kids. Whether you want a castle for that fairytale break you’ve promised your little princess, or wide open spaces for your little monkeys to run around in, Best Western make it easy to enjoy more fun in their child friendly hotels: Kids under 12: • Stay for FREE when sharing a family room (up to two children, minimum two adults) • Can enjoy breakfast for FREE when their parents purchase breakfast • Will get a fab FREE welcome pack when they stay Look out for the Family Favourites logo when searching for your hotel.

If you have children aged between 6-10 also visit www.bestwestern.co.uk/hotel-kids-club for details of BW Kids club.

Museum of Contemporary Modern Art

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For more information visit www.bestwestern.co.uk/ offers/family-hotels

DIY!?

B&Q kids workshops are fun and a chance for you to enjoy making something together.

• Learn how to make something from scratch • Have a go yourself under the guidance of DIY experts • Learn new skills such as sawing, drilling, gluing and nailing • Ages of 7-11 accompanied by a parent or guardian With more than 15 workshops to choose from, there is something for everyone. One week you might be making mug holders and the next perfecting planters or building bird boxes for the garden, but all under the watchful eye of kids workshops experts at selected B&Q warehouses.

To find classes in your area visit www.diy.com/ kidsclasses

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Hicks Lodge TM

Stay Play Explore in Leicestershire for £109

Enjoy the National Forest with bike hire and scenic trails, de with the whole family in mind

Five exciting family adventure experiences and a selection of top hotels from across Leicester and Leicestershire have come together for an exclusive Stay Play ExploreTM Family Adventure break.

OPENING TIMES 10am - 6pm Mon to S 10am - 5pm Sundays Closed: Christmas Day

At Hick’s Lodge, the National Forest Cycle Centre near Ashby de la Zouch, you can cycle in safety on miles of traffic free trails.

The site is designed with the whole family in mind. Bike hire is available for children and adults of all ages and abilities, Family bowling at Hollywood Bowl Leicester including child seats, tagalongs and Cycle hire in the National Forest with Hicks Lodge trailers, as well as a full range of mountain Purple Mountain Bikes and comfort bikes. There are plenty of trails to choose from, starting with flat and Tobogganing at Swadlincote Ski Centre easy, progressing to an exciting single Family cinema pass at Phoenix Cinema, Leicester track with blue grade challenges. Whether TM A choice of outdoor activities at Leicester you’ve tearaway toddlers getting their first taste of cycling or young teens keen to Outdoor Pursuits Centre blast the blue, we’ve got a great day out ook Choose your accommodation from Barcelo Please bie waiting for you. Enjoy a picnic down by Hinckley Island or Hilton East Midlands. per nces r ex the lake or lunch in the Hicks Lodge Cafe, youFive *(2 adults and 2 children aged 3 – 16 years) ! exciting family adventure experiences and a selection of top ce n va in the award winning visitor centre. d a in from across Leicesterbased hotels and Leicestershire have come together Offer expires on 31st December 2012. for an exclusive Stay Play ExploreTM Family Adventure break.

A family of four* can enjoy entry into three of these five attractions then relax and enjoy an overnight stay with breakfast at a top family friendly hotel - all for an amazing £109.

• • • • fun-packed, •

Willesley Woodside Moira, Ashby de la Zouc Leicestershire LE65 2UP

If you and the family are looking for a adventure-filled short break that doesn’t cost the earth, then look no further than Leicester and Leicestershire as they invite you to Stay, Play and Explore this summer! Our friends at Leicester Shire Promotions have put together a selection of unbeatable offers at the area's top fun and adventure locations. Experience a real land or w nture with a range of a And what’s more, one lucky reader and their family can win an overnight Stay Play andadve • Adventure Club activities • Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Take on the 500m ExploreTM break – please see details below!

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Advanced booking es based in the award winning ad 11am – 9pm (weekdays) Offer expires on 31st December 2012. bookings subject to availability A family of four* can enjoy entry into three of these five attractions then relax and enjoy an overnight stay with breakfast at a top family friendly hotel - all for an amazing £109.

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hoose from two fantastic family short breaks, offering savings of up to 58%, and enjoy an exciting range of attractions and activities for the whole family. So, why not switch off the TV, turn off the computer and have a lot of fun helping the kids to tune into their own creativity instead?

STAY PLAY EXPLORE FAMILY FUN A family of four* can enjoy entry into three of these world-class attractions then relax and enjoy an overnight stay with breakfast at a top family friendly hotel – all for an amazing £109.

 Theme park fun at Twinlakes  Adventures in the Forest at Conkers  Take off at the National Space Centre  Interactive experiments at Snibston  Re-live history at Bosworth Battlefield

Choose from 3 or 4 star hotels at: Hinckley Island, Holiday Inn Leicester, Leicester Marriott and Hilton Leicester.

STAY PLAY EXPLORE FAMILY ADVENTURE

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– 6pm (weekends) Or take your family of four* to experience three of 10am Closed: Christmas Day, Boxing these action-packed activities then relax and enjoy an Day overnight stay with breakfast a top friendly Ride the at 500m Crestafamily Run toboggan – it’s safe, fast, furious & fun for Sir Herbert Wragg Way, hotel – again for £109.ride children and adults alike!! The car takes Swadlincote,

WIN AN OVERNIGHT STAY!

hire in the National Forest with Hicks Lodge  Cycle Café and Cycle Centre  Tobogganing at Swadlincote Ski Centre  Bush craft, orienteering or woodland skills at Conkers choice of outdoor activities at Leicester  AOutdoor Pursuits Centre Family bowling at Hollywood Bowl Leicester  you up to the top of the hill and then you are in control all the way down the run through the series of twists and turns.

Please Note: Children between 4-7 years must be accompanied by an adult (age 16+) and children aged 8 and over must ride on their own.

Derbyshire, DE11 8LP t: 01283 217 200 www. jnlswadlincote.co.uk

OPENING TIMES 9am – 6pm (Mon - Fri)

9am – 5pm (Saturday) Take on the 500m Cresta 11.30am –Home 5pm to (Sunday) 15 acres of adve Run with a family session of Closed: 25-26 exciting outdoor activities f Dec tobogganing. filled High Ropes elements

Leicester Outdoor Pursuits one of the ranges. Centre This pa Loughborough Leicester LE one ofRoad, the centre’s 90 min t: 0844 826 1463 the week (limited spaces) o before the chosen time wh www.lopc.co.uk

One voucher is valid for 16 rides per family ticket.

OPENING TIMES DAILY 11am – 9pm (weekdays) bookings subject to availab 10am – 6pm (weekends) Age restrictions can apply Bookings are transferable Closed: Christmas Day, least 48 hours notice. All p Boxing Day this must be signed by thei See individual provider websites for opening times during public holidays as times may vary. All information correct at please visit www.stayplayexplore.co.uk for details.

Ride the 500m Cresta Run toboggan ride – it’s safe, fast, furious & fun for Sir Herbert Wragg Way, children and adults alike!! The car takes Swadlincote, you up to the top of the hill and then you Derbyshire, are in control all the way down the run DE11 8LP through the series of twists and turns. t: 01283 217 200 Please Note: Children between 4-7 www. jnlswadlincote.co.uk years must be accompanied by an adult (age 16+) and children aged 8 and over One voucher is valid for 16 must ride on their own. rides per family ticket.

Choose your accommodation from Hinckley Island or Hilton East Midlands. *(2 adults and 2 children aged 3 – 16 years. Additional child tickets are available at £15 each.)

These offers are brought to you by Leicester Shire Promotions and expire on 31st December 2013.

Bookings are transferable only at the discretion of LOPC management, least 48 hours notice. All participants must fill in a consent form, for c this must be signed by their legal parent or guardian. Age restrictions can

If you haven’t experienced a Stay Play Explore short break, then enter our fantastic competition and you could win an overnight break – simply enter the competition at

See individual provider websites for opening times during public holiday please visit www

www.stayplayexplore.co.uk/ survival

Call our short break booking specialists on 0844 888 5181 or find further details at www.stayplayexplore.co.uk 18

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Take It Easy Going on holiday with the family this year? Don’t dread the journey there and back. For the children, it’s part of the excitement of the holiday; it should be for you too. Here’s how to have a stress-free, relaxing and enjoyable journey for you and your kids, whether you’re going by land, sea or air; playing at home or abroad.

Before you go ●S tart stocking up on little surprise treats and toys. Get a few bargains like stickers, pens and colouring books beforehand to save spending your holiday money in the airport or service station. Audio books are brilliant for long journeys – check out our feature on page 37! The toys don’t even have to be new; the novelty of forgotten toys can keep them amused for ages.

Perhaps you put some extra presents away just after Christmas? Now’s a good time to get them out of the loft. ●H andheld games consoles are becoming increasingly ‘vital,’ so make sure they’re all charged up along with your camcorder and mobile phones.

Pack chargers/spare batteries/travel adapters in your main luggage. Make them aware that they

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should take regular breaks from their gaming to conserve battery energy and give their brain a rest.

Too much stimulation will cause bad tempers. Not good long-haul. ●E xplain to your children what will happen on the journey. Help your child know what to expect by explaining exactly how long it will take to get there. They may not have the most accurate sense of time, but at least they won’t be saying “are we nearly there yet?” every five minutes. ●C ountdown to the holiday. Give younger children access to a calendar so they can cross off the days until their holiday.

On the day of the journey Allow plenty of time for travel – factor in stops if going by car or allow extra time for going through customs at the airport.

Survival H olidays A great favourite is the Secret Monster game.

Take an A4 piece of paper, fold and rip it in half lengthways. Each child takes a piece and starts drawing the head of a monster, pirate, alien, princess, or any kind of creature. Fold over the paper to hide the head, but leave two marks where the end of neck would be. Swap pieces of paper again and draw the body and arms. Hide this bit and swap again, leaving only marks where the hips should be. Next, draw the hips to knees and swap, leaving four marks this time for lower legs and feet. When all is finished, swap again for a grand unveiling of some weird and wonderful creations. Some are so bizarre and hilarious you’ll want to keep them forever.

And for mum.... ●A void drinking alcohol; stick to fruit juices and water. Take odourless garlic capsules or the herbal remedy Padma for healthy circulation.

●N othing too restrictive or tight. That means no tight belts or too-skinny jeans. If you are going by plane, remind your family to keep metal belt buckles and jewellery to a minimum, so you’ll zoom through the metal detectors at the airport. ●A voiding DVT, or worse...boredom. Get up and walk around the cabin when the seatbelt lights are off.

Your children may want to run up and down the aisle all the time. Tell them the cabin crew only allow it a certain amount of times, and the captain is really an ogre who will come out of his cockpit and eat them if he gets angry. (OK, you can forget the last part.)

Keeping kids occupied

●S nacks: avoid high sugar content snacks as this will drive them – and you – up the wall. Remember if you are flying long haul, you will be asked to leave behind any fresh food. For more detail on what to expect at the airport, check with www.nidirect.gov.uk/air-travel

What to wear

●C omfy shoes. It’s amazing how many miles you can rack up just walking round the airport. Plus you’ll need to be able to take them off (yes, your children’s too) as airport security has been ramped up every year since 9/11.

●B eauty treatments: Air conditioning in the car or plane can really dry up your skin, nose and throat. Sip water regularly. Keep skin hydrated with a fine water spray, like Avene. For long haul flights, remove make up and moisturise well. Remember the French saying “The face ends where the bra begins...” ? Why not go the whole way and give yourself ‘facials’ on your hands and feet? Some airlines give out free socks, which come in useful when you slather yourself in moisturiser.

If you’re feeling a little flush, perhaps you can treat yourself to one or two duty-free bargains at the airport, or in the on-board flight catalogue. If not, make the most of offers in Boots and other chemists before you go, then pack them in your suitcase, so you’re not tempted to load up on the restricted, overpriced selection at the airport and try to cram it all into your carry-on luggage.

Help all of your family arrive at your destination happy and relaxed, not just your children. At the end of the journey, with a little preparation, there’s a chance you’ll feel more like a yummy mummy too.

Games to play on the way Check out the Michelin I-Spy guides on the search engine on www.amazon.co.uk.

Top Ten The whole family has to think of ten things in a certain category; e.g; ten tunes with colours in the title; Moshling animals, insects with wings, famous landmarks, etc. Working together to come up with ten things prevents arguments.

Change the category to include all your children’s ages and interests.

Or try the ‘What Am I?’ game – one person thinks of something and the others take turns to ask questions which involve only ‘yes/no’ answers.

Ritu Manoj Jethani / Shutterstock.com

Sitting still for any length of time in a car or plane can affect blood circulation, and being uncomfortable can cause the most even-tempered child to moan, so it’s advisable to wear light, loose layers that can be removed if it gets too hot.

Comics, stickers, felts, colouring/puzzle books, pack of cards with informative pictures (eg wildlife, famous castles etc) Top Trumps, or other travel games. Don’t forget the little surprise toys you have been saving for the holiday.

Older kids should be encouraged to pack a small bag with their chosen books and toys. Before you leave the house, ensure their toys are light enough to carry on their own and will keep them occupied long enough. Check they haven’t packed any surprises that might upset airport security.

Allow extra travel time and plan some interesting stops along the way if you’re going by car. You don’t have to stop for a 3 course meal every time, just pack a picnic with snacks. If you can, find somewhere adults can enjoy the scenery and kids can stretch their legs safely.

●S leep remedies: Homeopathic aconite will help you sleep without knocking you out. If the aeroplane engines keep you awake, try earplugs – Bioears are fantastic; anti-bacterial and effective.

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th Survival Heal

Enjoy the summer with our simple sun-safety guide

Hello Sunshine!

Ah, the sun. We spend months waiting for it to come out, then worry that our kids are getting too much of it. Our sun-safety guide is here to make skin protection easy, so everyone can play, relax and have fun.

It’s what summer was made for.

How much sun do you need?

The first step to sun-safety is making sure your knowledge is up to date.

For example, a lot of people think going slightly pink in the sun is “just part of getting a tan”, when actually it’s sunburn. There’s also been a debate about how much sun exposure we really need. While our bodies need sunlight to make vitamin D, according to the charity Cancer Research UK, we can get this just by enjoying the sun safely (there’s no health benefit to actually bathing in it).

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© Splash Ab out

MAKES LEARNING

TO SWIM FUN! Works for all ages and abilities

www.swimfin.co.uk

If you’re at risk from deficiency (if your skin is naturally brown or black, you wear clothing that covers your whole body or you’re pregnant), the government recommends a supplement of 10mg (400IU) a day.

The big three of sun protection

Sun safety begins at home

Head for the shade

UK holidays have become more popular in recent years, but whether you’re in Thailand or Torquay, the same rules apply (it’s the same sun, after all).

Top up your sunscreen regularly, stay out of the sun between 12-3pm and cover up with a T-shirt and hat (UV protective if possible). And don’t be fooled by our cloudy weather – even on overcast days, 3040% of UV rays will still come through. If half the sky is covered in clouds it’s more like 80% - almost the same as no clouds at all.

Water, water everywhere Although a quick dip is a great way to cool off, it won’t help you avoid sunburn, as sunlight both goes through water and reflects off its surface. Make sure everyone is wearing waterproof sunscreen and get them to reapply it regularly (even ‘one application’ varieties rub off with a towel). Kids need plenty of water inside too – make sure you take some with you whenever you’re out in the sun.

Sun safety comes down to three things – shade, protective clothing and sunscreen. Here’s how to use them correctly, and get the most out of your time in the sun.

Maximising on shade is one of the most important aspects of sun protection, whether you’re in the garden or at the beach. But try telling kids that. This is where a bit of psychology (or, as we prefer to call it, sneakiness) comes in.

Top tips for keeping young adventurers out of the glare: Put play areas like sandpits or paddling pools in a shady part of the garden.

✓ Invest in a small play tent – great for home or away.

✓ Create a shady chill-out area with cold drinks, cushions and quiet activities like sticker books, which they can come to for some down time out of the sun.

✓ Encourage den-building with any safe materials you have to hand – with any luck, they’ll stay there for hours. Genius.

TOP 10 BEACH ESSENTIALS ✓ Plenty

of drinking water

✓ Waterproof sunblock

✓ Hats and sunglasses ✓ UV protective swimwear ✓ Beach or water shoes ✓ Beach towels ✓ Beach shade ✓ Ball game ✓ Bucket and spade

✓ Money

for ice creams

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CHOOSING UV PROTECTIVE CLOTHING You can now find UV protective options for all ages, including swimming costumes, trunks, reusable swim nappies, float suits, wetsuits, jackets, hats and shoes – even baby wraps.

Look for items with an SPF 50+, as tested by an accredited body, for example the Australian agency ARPANSA. © Splash About

Exposed areas like face, ears, hands and feet are still going to need a good dollop of

Top sunscreen mistakes (and how to avoid them) There’s no doubt that sunscreen is a summer essential, but a lot of us still aren’t using it properly - or have unrealistic expectations of what it can do. Watch out for these common mistakes that could make your sun protection less effective.

✘ Mistake 1: Not using enough Cancer Research recommend using an ice cream scoop of sunscreen per adult if you’re wearing a swimsuit (scale down for little ones as appropriate). Any less and you’re not getting the full effect.

✘ Mistake 2: Thinking a high factor can help you stay out for longer Sunscreen, no matter what the factor or star rating, can’t help you stay out longer in the sun. Children especially shouldn’t be in full sunshine for too long, especially not in the middle of the day.

✘ Mistake 3: Relying on sunscreen alone Sunscreen alone can’t protect you from sun damage. Think of it as a useful tool alongside shade and clothing – the other two essentials for protecting children’s skin.

Dressing for the sun We’ve always known that covering up in the sun is a wise move. So it’s a good idea to make sure your kids’ summer wardrobe includes loose, long sleeve options and lightweight trousers (not just T-shirts and shorts) as well as the obligatory wide-brimmed or Foreign Legion-style hat.

And for the beach, there’s now a huge range of kids clothes with UV protection too. It might not be as cheap as throwing on an old T-shirt, but the high-tech fabric often comes with other benefits like temperature regulation and sand proofing to keep kids comfortable all day.

And finally…

We all know children are great ones for copying. If you’re not wearing a sunhat, they’ll pull theirs off in no time. If you’re applying sunscreen regularly, they won’t want to be left out.

Keeping little ones safe in the sun is a great excuse to get the whole family into good habits. Explain to older siblings that they’ve got an important part to play in showing the younger ones what to do. And make sure Grandma, Grandpa and Auntie Carol are on board too.

What’s your sun-knowledge SPF? Are you sun aware? Take our quiz to see if you offer minimal coverage or full sun protection.

1. You can’t get sunburnt if it’s cloudy True.

False.

Answer: False. Clouds only filter out 20-50% of the sun’s rays. That’s not enough to stop you burning.

2. You’re sunburnt if your skin

Looks a bit pink.

Goes bright red.

Is tight and sore.

Answer: According to Cancer Research, any pinkness in your skin after being out in the sun is a sign of inflammation and damage, which can build up and cause skin cancer in later life.

3. The best way to protect your kids’ skin is to Choose the right sunscreen and apply it regularly.

Use shade and protective clothing as much as possible.

Keep them out of the sun during the hottest part of the day.

Answer: All of the above. While sunscreen – and using it correctly - is essential, your best bet is to make sure they’re not getting too much exposure in the first place.

How many did you get right?

0: Oops. That’s not going to cover it.

1-2: Some coverage, but not enough for the summer sun.

3: Congratulations! Sounds like you’ve got sun safety covered.

For more sun safety information from Cancer Research UK visit www.sunsmart.org.uk

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sunscreen. And don’t forget sunglasses or goggles with a good SPF too.

UV protective clothing is pretty effective, but you should still keep kids out of the sun between 12-3pm. This not only protects against sunburn on any exposed skin, but helps stop children getting overheated, which can be a serious problem - especially for little ones.

Our Mums’ Survival Guide team share their top summer tips… “ Freeze bottles of water to take to the beach.

It’ll gradually thaw during the day, and kids are much more likely to drink refreshing cold water than something a bit lukewarm.” “ Keep a few travel-size bottles of sun cream in various places – the glove compartment, your handbag, the pushchair. That way, you’ll never be caught short.” “ Let kids help pick out their sunhats and sunglasses. That way they’ll be proud of them – and more likely to wear them.” “ Bribery works. In my family, there’s an ice lolly for everyone who keeps their hat on – including Dad.”

UV Protective Clothing

KEY FACTS

Victoria McQuade from safety swimwear and sun protection products Splash About, gives us the lowdown UV Protective Clothing

Practical Meets Cool The New Happy Nappy Board Shorts!

Get set for summer with Splash About’s uber cool surf shorts!

Tropical print fabric in blue or pink with SPF 50+ sun protection, but best of all the UK’s top-selling, multi-award winning, reusable swim nappy, the Happy Nappy is discreetly hidden inside!

How does the fabric in your UV Protective Clothing work?

All Splash About products from swimwear & reusable swim nappies to float suits, jackets, hats & shoes, give maximum sun protection SPF50+ as standard, which means that they block 98% of the sun’s harmful rays.

The Splash About UV Combi is a unique piece of safety swimwear. It’s made from high quality super soft neoprene which offers complete sun block. The fabric is light – about half the weight of a wet suit – and the flexible elastane side panels make it really easy to get in and out of. The UV Combi has a two-in-one benefit of keeping children warm in water but the high tech nature of the fabric actively wicks away perspiration to keep kids feeling – and looking cool on the beach!

Are there any technical specifications our readers should look out for when purchasing UV protective clothing?

No fuss, no leaks just fun in the pool!

Happy Nappy Board Shorts Blue/Green

Happy Nappy Board Shorts Pink

Look for fabrics which don’t cling to the skin as these can lock in perspiration – high quality fabric won’t do this. Also the higher the Sun Protection Factor (SPF) number, the higher the protection.

Is the clothing tested by an official body?

We all know children’s skin is delicate and more vulnerable to sunburn than adults, so Splash About has its fabric tested by the best; the Australian agency ARPANSA. ARPANSA confirmed our fabrics all have an SPF of 50+ and awarded them the category ‘excellent’.

Do children need to use sun block if they are wearing UV Protective Clothing?

We would always recommend children wear a high factor sunscreen on the parts of their body which are exposed to the sun – face, ears, hands & feet. But as every parents knows it is not always easy to slather a wriggling child in sun cream – to make things easier for mums and dads our chunky sun shoes are perfect for the beach with non-slip soles, a breathable mesh vented panel, adjustable ankle toggles and are all certified SPF 50+ Plus we have a great range of hats which are always in fashion when it comes to sun protection.

Splash About, Always Innovating — from the original Float Jacket to the award winning Happy Nappy & for Summer 2013 — Fings, the latest way to have fun in the pool & get water confident.

Tell us about Splash About?

Splash About has an unrivalled, award winning 25 year history of design and innovation in safety swimwear and sun protection products, especially for babies and children.

Quality products and innovation are our passion – we are credited with creating the first neoprene float jacket for children, the BabyWrap which is an open flat wetsuit, the UK’s best-selling reusable swim nappy, the Happy Nappy, the BabySnug, WarmInOne, UV Combi and many, many more!

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To see the new 2013 collection, to find out more about our products and for a list of stocklists, please call 0845 528 0831 or visit:

www.splashabout.com

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Mum’s Travel

Survival H olidays

ESSENTIALS

Going on holiday as a family is supposed to be a fun time, one of relaxation and building strong bonds, whilst creating lasting memories for life. For parents, and let’s face it, mums in particular, organising everyone and preparing everything (planning, packing, itinery and so on) can be a very stressful time. Natural Products Expert, Rebecca Goodyear, pinpoints some natural travel essentials.

I

n order to make your life a little easier this holiday season, I’ve devised a holiday check list to make packing of toiletries and health items just that little bit easier. Staycation or Sienna sunsets, wherever you’re going and whatever you’re doing this summer holiday, have a good one!

Sun Protection Please see page 26 for an in depth look at this important holiday topic.

Aftersun Products The best aftersun product you can possibly take away with you for use on all the family is Aloe Vera! It’s not just great for aftersun skincare, there are so many other uses for aloe vera – treating minor abrasions and bruises, fading scars, minimising razor burn, healing minor cuts, acne, eczema, psoriasis, ulcers, stings, bites.... and the list goes on! When buying products that contain aloe vera, check it is Aloe Barbadensis and also make sure it is the first ingredient in the product otherwise you are buying watered down, and therefore not particularly effective, aloe vera products.

Beauty/Toiletry Essentials Travelling as a family, it’s easiest to take as few products as possible so you want to look for ones that can do more than one job. Here are the ones I never leave home for any length of time without:

✓ A multi-tasking liquid soap, one that not only washes the body but also can be used for clothes, hair, to make a refreshing cool poultice, to help prevent infection of mosquito bites, soothing parched or sun-damaged skin and even cleaning down surfaces if your accommodation is a bit dirty (don’t get carried away though, you’re on holiday remember!)

✓ A n all-purpose natural balm, which can be used for in-flight hydration, soothing insect bites, dry skin, intense moisturisation and calming rashes

✓ Coconut oil for sun protection – it has an SPF of 8, which works for me if I apply regularly – for skin moisturisation, facial treatment, shaving product, hair protection from sun’s rays and for use as a hydrating hair mask for hair that’s been out all day and exposed to the sun, sea and swimming pool

UM’S ONLY! – an intensive night time ✓M treatment for face – serum and cream to make sure skin is nourished and hydrated

First Aid Essentials

✓ T ea Tree Oil. There are over 100 components in Tea Tree Oil and these contribute to the broad spectrum antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties of the oil. In short, it is an extremely effective first aid kit essential and can be used to treat all manner of skin ailments such as cuts, burns, insect bites, stings, rashes, fungus, dandruff, spots, bacterial infections and even infestations. It’s not just the upper layer of the skin that Tea Tree Oil can be used to treat, it penetrates deep in to the lower epidermis and helps to reduce inflammation, disinfects wounds, delivers analgesic chemicals and wound-healing ingredients. Tea Tree Oil is an expectorant so can be used to clear the chest, lungs and throat when there are signs of infection by using in a diffuser or vaporiser. Finally, it is also a diaphoretic, which means it makes you sweat, which induces the body’s own natural defence mechanism against infection. itch Hazel can be used to treat many different ✓W symptoms within the body – bruises, insect bites, rashes, psoriasis, eczema, acne, after shaving to reduce razor burn, swelling, inflammation, bleeding gums, haemorrhoids and I could go on! In beauty, Witch Hazel is used as already mentioned to treat acne and spots, but it also tightens the pores and removes any excess oil.

Health Essentials Many make the mistake of starting to take supplements too late. To help build up healthy immune and digestive systems ideally you should start taking supplements two weeks to a month before you go on holiday.

✓ Immune Support – look for a natural supplement to help strengthen the immune system prior to going on holiday and to support your body whilst on holiday. Remember you will be exposed to different bacteria than you are used to and this is why people sometimes fall ill on holiday.

igestive Enzymes are, as you might expect, ✓D designed to help support the digestive system and aid food absorption, which can come in useful when eating strange foods in foreign lands.

✓ P robiotics are friendly bacteria which helps replenish the intestinal flora, combat yeast infections and ensure our bodies have the best defence mechanism for fighting disease. When shopping for a probiotic you want to consider three things: 1. the number of cultures in the supplement 2. the number of strains of bacteria in the supplement 3. whether there are any prebiotics contained in the supplement

Mum’s Natural Beauty and Health Checklist and Recommended Brands ● Mineral Sun Protection – JASON, Green People, Earth’s Best ● Aloe Vera After sun – JASON, Green People ● Tea Tree Oil – JASON, Desert Essence www.jasonnaturalcare.co.uk ● Multi-Tasking Liquid Soap – Dr Brunner www.drbrunner.co.uk ● All-Purpose Balm – Balm, Moa the Green Balm www.thegreenbalm.com ● Coconut Oil – Native, Biona www.biona.co.uk ● MUM’S ONLY Serum – Antipodes, Beyond Organic ● MUM’S ONLY Night Cream – Antipodes, Beyond Organic www.beyondorganicskincare.com ● Witch Hazel – Balm www.balmbalm.com About the author Rebecca Goodyear – Natural Products Expert Rebecca is a PR and Marketeer who specialises in grooming and beauty, particularly natural and organic products. She writes a blog dedicated to these topics at www.biteablebeauty.com

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Natural summer essentials Have a healthy and happy summer with these handy tips.

Could chilli make you hot?

It’s one of the questions which baffle millions of people, why do some people gain weight eating the same diet as others who remain the same weight?

The answer may be found in varying rates of dietinduced thermogenesis, a process whereby excess calories are converted to heat rather than stored as fat.

Studies carried out using thermogenic ingredients such as ginger and capsicum have shown positive effects at burning calories.

Several studies have found that the addition of capsaicinoids found in chilli to the diet causes a reduction in ad libitum energy intake during subsequent meals, in other words, eating capsicum at breakfast causes a person to eat fewer calories at lunch.

Capsipure (1) contains a patented chilli extract which avoids the gastric disturbance many can experience from eating chilli. Available from Holland & Barrett and Health stores, check out Healthy2u.co.uk for 50% off during July & August.

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1 5

Skin healthy After the age of 20, the body loses the ability to store silica and cannot produce it so it has to be supplemented through the diet. Silica also plays an important role in maintaining moisture levels in the skin, which the sun can deteriorate, leaving the skin dry and increasing the potential for wrinkles.

Silicea (2) is available in one a day capsules or a highly absorbable liquid form, which is uniquely free of any preservatives, flavours or colours. Available from all health stores or visit healthy2u.co.uk

Defence against the sun Summer is also the time when many of us are prone to cold sores, as the stronger sunlight triggers attacks. But now Silicea Cold Sore Lip Gel (3) can help (available at health stores or www.revital.co.uk).

This effective, natural treatment soothes away the burning and itching caused by the outbreak, and also bonds with any secretions from the cold sore, meaning blisters dry out almost immediately, accelerating the healing process.

4 3 Slimming down for summer ...

Another holiday woe can be migraines, which are sometimes caused by the stronger UV rays and a change in atmospheric pressure, whether you stay at home or go away for summer. But a new, handbag sized cure is coming to the rescue in the form of Migrastick (4), available from Holland & Barrett and selected Pharmacies.

Apply it whenever you feel the onset of an attack, as a two-month study showed it relieved symptoms in 91 per cent of participants trialling the remedy, who all said it was excellent for relieving their symptoms.

Use it as soon as you spot the first signs of a headache or migraine.

means exercise and a healthy diet are crucial. But, there are ways to speed up your results. A new Raspberry Ketone Complex (5) from HealthSpark (hollandandbarrett.com) is the latest 100 percent natural weight loss formula combining seven ingredients all recognised to support a healthy weight, including Raspberry Ketones, African mango, Green Tea and Baobab, which is a real powerhouse of antioxidants and vitamins.

Raspberry Ketone is the natural aroma that gives raspberries their smell, and has been described by world-renowned Dr Oz, as the ‘number one miracle in a bottle�

Products featured on this page are available from your local health store including Holland & Barrett.

Call 01782 564512 for stockists.

New research released by the National Literacy Trust shows that for the first time children are reading more on computers and other electronic devices than they are reading books, magazines, newspapers and comics.

Survival E ducation

Savour the old, embrace the new

W

hat does this mean for children’s reading ability? While technology provides refreshing ways of engaging children in literature, the research found that children who only read on-screen are much less likely to be good readers than those who also read in print form. In addition, they are significantly less likely to enjoy reading.

Words for Life, the National Literacy Trust’s campaign for parents, has come up with the following tips to encourage your child to have a healthy reading balance between reading books and print materials and on-screen!

Getting the balance right

✓ Embrace the eBook!

eBooks, eReaders, tablets and other electronic devices are a great way to get your child into reading and to make it fun! Most children’s eBooks have interactive games and activities which enable the story to grow in your child’s mind and takes comprehension to the next level. Check out the free recommended eBooks at www.wordsforlife.org.uk to get you started.

✓ Keep it varied

We know that reading in print is still crucial to your child’s literacy development, so do try and balance their on-screen reading time with leafing through the pages of books, magazines or comics. Encouraging your child to read a range of materials will keep reading interesting and will help them to develop their own preferences and habits when it comes to reading.

✓ Play games, set challenges

Ask your child to find out information from newspapers, the Yellow Pages, websites, cookery books, etc.

This is a quick and easy way to get them to engage with reading texts in a range of formats and will encourage them to pick up balanced reading habits.

✓M ake time for reading on-screen and off-screen If you’re worried about your child spending too much time reading on-screen, set some time aside to read a book with your child and help them to engage with the story by asking questions about what happens or the characters.

✓ Fiction or non-fiction?

Support your child to choose what they want to read, whether it is news, fiction, non-fiction or browsing websites and pick a format which they enjoy.

✓ Set the example...

We all know how much kids copy their parents. Make sure they see you reading the newspaper or a magazine, a book or a recipe. In copying you they will gain confidence and get to be great readers too.

Summer Reading Challenge 2013 Here’s a great way to help get the balance right between reading books in print and via technology this summer!

We all know that our children’s reading can ‘dip’ during the long summer holidays. The annual Summer Reading Challenge helps gets three quarters of a million children into libraries to keep up their reading skills and confidence, encouraging children aged 4 to 11 to read six books during the long summer holiday.

There is a different theme each year. Children can read whatever they like – fact books, joke books, picture books, audio books – just as long as they are borrowed from the library. Every time a child finishes a book they get stickers and rewards and there’s a certificate for everyone that finishes.

The Summer Reading Challenge is run each summer across the UK public library network by The Reading Agency, the national charity running creative programmes which help people feel inspired and confident about reading. The Challenge is supported

by children’s book publishers and is open to all children, who can sign up for free at their local public library. It is designed for all reading abilities: schools work with local libraries and give out information to encourage children to take part.

The theme for the 2013 Summer Reading Challenge is Creepy House, illustrated by award winning Chris Riddell.

There’s a spine-tingling adventure waiting for children when they take part in the 2013 Summer Reading Challenge. They can join our adventurers as they explore the Creepy House, simply by reading six books from the library. They can discover the secrets of Creepy House and meet some of the hair-raising residents! Are the UK’s children brave enough to explore The Awful Upstairs, The Frightful First Floor and The Sinister Cellar?

The Creepy House theme for 2013 ties into publishing trends for books that thrill children without being too scary. It is also a theme which will appeal to a wide age range and to both genders. Creepy House will inspire libraries and schools to create exciting visual displays and to set up events using local tales and history archives.

The Creepy House Summer Reading Challenge will be in libraries across England, Wales and Scotland this summer.

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tion a c u d E l a v i v r Su

School’s out for

SUMMER!

T

here has been some debate over whether a long holiday is detrimental to children’s learning. Sonia Sodha, head of policy and strategy at the Social Research Unit, said: “With a long break from studying maths and English, children’s abilities take a dive over the summer in both areas.” She calls for a five-term school year, as the old reason for having a long summer break – so children could help with harvest – is now out-dated.

Whether you agree with Sodha’s proposal or not, there is no doubt that returning to school after a long break can be hard. We’ve asked Sara Barokas, an

experienced educator and head of product development at toucanBox to share her top 10 ways to help children keep learning over their hazy summer days.

1. Summer fiction Challenge your budding young author to enter a short story competition. It’ll help them develop both the mental and physical exercise that is writing. Chapter One Promotions (http://www.chapteronepromotions.com/ kids-korner/writing-competition.htm) has categories for children aged seven-to-nine and 10-to-12.

2. Count your pennies If you go abroad, show your children the new currency and tell them the rough exchange rate. Challenge them to work out how many pounds a 20-euro note is worth. Or count stacks of pennies and ask them to help you find the change for goodies, like ice cream.

3. Summer reading challenge Libraries are encouraging four-to-11-year-olds to read six library books during the summer break. Sign up online (www.creepy-house.org.uk) or at your local library – for more info, please see page 33.

4. Summer scrapbook Creating a scrapbook diary is a lovely way to document adventures, capture memories and develop creative writing skills. Encourage your children to

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A long summer break is seen as one of the perks of childhood. Whilst it is important for children to have fun, they can enjoy the holidays and keep their brain active. draw a picture and reflect on the day’s events, explaining what happened and how it made them feel. Encourage them to add to it each day, sticking in ticket stubs, leaves, leaflets and photographs.

5. Gardening Gardening is a great way to keep your kids entertained and learn about science all at the same time.

Grow a carrot top garden or an avocado seed in the kitchen. Grow a herb or veggie garden in the backyard. Turn meals into a simple botany lesson by identifying if what you are eating is a fruit, root, legume or flower. Discuss what plants need to grow and thrive.

Start composting with a homemade worm bin.

6. Cook together Not only is learning to cook a great life-skill, it’s also a great maths skill! Try halving a recipe for cupcakes. Can your child work out how much flour, sugar and butter you need now? Ask the children to measure the ingredients carefully, using scales, jugs and spoons. Learning by doing puts maths in a real-life context.

7. Make a rain gauge As we all know, summer can sometimes be a weather washout, so why not embrace it? Cut the top off a plastic drink bottle, place stones in to stop it from blowing away, and mark measurements along the

toucanBox to the rescue! t

side of it using a ruler and a pen. Start the measurements just above the stones and fill water up to that point. Leave it outside and, after a rain shower, check to see how far up the water has risen.

8. Countdown

oucanBox provides parents with children aged 3 to 8 the opportunity to create and play together in an educational, fun and stimulating way. Every month a box full of hands-on projects is delivered straight to your door, containing everything you need to construct, explore and create. Each box includes all the materials to make four unique crafts, supported with colourful, easy-to-follow instructions and a reading book to inspire and explore ideas further. Each toucanBox is themed to give children a direct, creative investigation into all manner of ideas, from insects to outer space, superheroes to weather. With toucanBox there is no limit to imagination!

Our team of educational experts tailor each toucanBox to suit each child’s developmental stage, stimulating their creativity and curiosity and focusing on essential skills to ensure excellent progression in key areas such as concentration, problem solving, hand-eye coordination, numeracy and literacy.

Create and play, the toucanBox way!

If you have an event on the horizon help your child countdown to the big day. A countdown will help hone your child’s counting skills, time telling skills and help fill the time until the event. Make a paper chain with as many loops as there are days until the event. Number each loop. Break off one loop each day until the paper chain is gone and the day of the event has arrived.

9. Marshmallow Shapes Use the marshmallows as the corners to different shapes, and add cocktail stick sides. This is an excellent way to explore the properties of 2D and 3D shapes, and familiarise children with key words such as sides, corners, faces, vertices, parallel and perpendicular.

10. Simple Kitchen Science Why not mix water and oil or combine vinegar and baking soda and find out what happens? You probably already have most of the ingredients for simple science experiments in the kitchen. Ask your children to make observations on what happened, and guess why it happened. Together you could try and find the answer out!

Towards the end of the break, get children mentally prepared for school – especially if they are starting for the first time. Invite school-friends over; get up and dressed at the time you would if it was a school day; encourage children to be independent by allowing them to pour their own cereal and milk, choose their own clothes and dress themselves. That way, it won’t be such a shock when they go back!

For more exiting and fun ideas, visit: blog.toucanbox.com

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Readers of Mum’s Survival Guide can enjoy £10 OFF their first toucanBox. To claim your discount, go to www.toucanbox.com and enter code: SUMMER10 at checkout. (New customers only, valid until 31/08/2013).

WWW.MUMSSURVIVALGUIDE.NET

35

Survival F un

AUDIO BOOKS “ Listening isn’t a passive experience. It’s something the brain has to work at, engaging with the author’s words at every step.”

Are you sitting comfortably...

We tend to think of children’s audiobooks as a fall-back option – great for keeping kids happy in the car, but that’s about it.

In fact, listening to books brings enormous benefits. Lifelong book-lover and child-at-heart Emma Brooks is glad to hear it.

F

or me, it was Penelope Keith. Back when I was too young to appreciate her archyet-lovable performances in To the Manor Born or The Good Life, I was already a devoted fan of her voice. We had a tape called ‘The Terribly Plain Princess and Other Stories’ (sadly not available any more), narrated

by Ms Keith, which my young brother and I adored. The stories were short, ironic and gently funny and we must have listened to them hundreds of times.

The enjoyment we got from those recordings, and other titles like ‘More about Paddington’ (read by Bernard Cribbins) and ‘Johnny Morris Bedtime Stories’ (one from my mum’s childhood – but we didn’t know that), still makes me smile, thirty years on.

An extra dimension to learning In our multimedia age, where we worry about too much television, internet and video games, there’s a tendency to think the printed word is best. But experts know that listening brings an extra dimension to children’s learning. After all, it takes a long time for youngsters’ reading skills to catch up with their

understanding. This is where audiobooks are fantastic – helping kids enjoy stories and poems well beyond their reading level.

And unlike watching TV, listening isn’t a passive experience. It’s something the brain has to work at, engaging with the author’s words at every step. In an environment that’s increasingly fast-paced and full of distractions, this kind of intelligent, sustained listening is a vanishing skill – but one that our children need, both for getting ahead at school and building rewarding relationships.

For the fun of it According to the American educational boffins at Scholastic.com, it’s the sheer pleasure of audiobooks that makes them so valuable. “Narrators on tape tend to embellish their storytelling with silly voices and dramatic enhancements. They emphasize reading as a source of pleasure rather than a skill, making children eager to learn how to read.”

This makes sense to me. I mean, I love reading Dr Seuss to my kids – but throw in Adrian Edmondson’s anarchic delivery and it’s about as good as it gets.

Mix and match Of course, listening to audiobooks can’t replace reading with your children, but it’s definitely something that’s worthwhile in its own right. For the best of both worlds, you could buy the book and the audio version, or look for editions that come with a CD attached.

Where to find kids audiobooks Where you find books, you’ll find audiobooks – whether that’s Amazon or the CD section of your local bookshop. Online music stores like iTunes have a good range too, usually in partnership with a specialist publisher like audible.com.

Another great place to look is AudioGO (www.audiogo.com/uk), the BBC’s audiobook shop.

Their children’s section is easy to browse and has some real treasures, from classics read by household-name stars (Bill Nighy reading The Wizard of Oz, Mr Gum read by Kate Winslet), to much-loved titles from the BBC’s back catalogue, like Mr Men and The Wombles.

Audiobooks on a budget If audiobooks from the usual places are looking a bit expensive (and there’s no doubt some are), there are plenty of free and low-cost options out there too.

✔ Online For older children, you’ll find a huge selection of free audiobooks, from Anne of Green Gables to WWW.MUMSSURVIVALGUIDE.NET

37

NEW Famous FictioN Classic children’s stories read by your favourite celebrities

Bill Nighy Jenna-Louise Coleman

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Exclusive to Mum’s Survival Guide readers,

Buy thrEE aNd gEt thE Fourth oNE FrEE! Available from July and August:

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5. Code can be used for CD’s or Downloads, but not both. 6. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.

Wind in the Willows, on www.booksshouldbefree.com.

They won’t be read by anyone famous (hence free), but that’s not a problem, as long as the story shines through.

For younger listeners www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/ genre/childrens is the place to find CBeebies Radio alongside other free downloads aimed at babies and toddlers upwards.

✔ In your local library You can also borrow children’s audiobooks from your local library (feel free to ask a member of staff if you need pointers – that’s what they’re there for).

✔ Charity and second-hand shops These can be a gold mine, as long as you check the disc for scratches. Don’t worry if the box looks a bit scuffed – it may just be a sign that it’s been well-loved.

Is it any good?

As with anything, the quality of audiobooks can vary enormously, from unspeakably bad to insanely brilliant – so it usually pays to read the online reviews or listen to a sample first.

Choosing a good audiobook for your child ✔ Who’s reading it?

The reader (or readers) is the first thing you should look at. Think about Stephen Fry’s famous Harry Potter recordings – a perfect partnership that brings the stories to life perfectly. Julia Donaldson (The Gruffalo) is actually a wonderful reader of her own books – and performs her own songs too.

✔ What’s the recording quality?

As much as we love the stories that we grew up with, some older recordings may not have been remastered properly for the digital age, so watch out for background fuzz. Other audiobooks made on the cheap can have the same problem. Definitely a case of try before you buy.

✔ Is there any music or sound effects?

Again, this can be a good or bad thing, depending on how it’s handled. Some of the best audiobooks are just the spoken word, with the rest left to your child’s imagination. Others feature music and sound effects that younger children especially will love – but avoid it if it’s too loud or doesn’t suit the story.

Don’t forget, your personal reaction and taste is important – once your child gets hooked on a particular recording, you’ll be listening to it a lot. I guarantee it.

WHERE TO LOOK 5 places to find children’s audiobooks (apart from Amazon)

1) AudioGO – www.audiogo.com/uk 2) Booksshouldbefree – www.booksshouldbefree.com 3) Audible.com – www.audible.com 4) iTunes – www.apple.com/uk/itunes 5) Waterstones – www.waterstones.com Or visit your council website to find your local library.

Mum’s Audio Book Reviews!

To help get you started, here are four terrific audio books from specialists, AudioGO, reviewed by readers and their respective mini critics.

The Wheels on the Bus Singalong Narrrated by Deryn Edwards.

Tested by Lucy and her two year old son Raffy.

A collection of traditional nursery rhymes for the family to enjoy together. Comprising 30 favourite pre-school playgroup songs for everyone of all ages to enjoy and join in the fun.

Lucy said: ‘We both loved this fantastic collection of classics, sung with warmth and affection. Raffy was mesmerized and tried to sing along with me despite my desperate need for autotune! Raffy: ‘Stop singing mummy!’

Mr Men by Roger Hargreaves Narrated by Arthur Lowe – Tested by Kate and her 4 year old son Jack The simple and humorous stories, with brightly-coloured, boldly drawn illustrations, have been part of popular culture since 1971, with sales of over 85 million copies worldwide in 20 languages.

This is part of the Vintage Beeb facsimile editions with the original vinyl and LP artwork.

Kate said: ‘Firstly, I loved the retro packaging – it brought back happy memories of my own childhood. Arthur Lowe is the perfect choice as reader for these classic stories. We hear about Mr Messy, Mr Daydream, Mr Mean and many more characters, in these tales which I’m sure will amuse parents as much as their children.’

Jack said: ‘The story where Mr Snow comes to life is my favourite. I really liked the man who reads the stories, he is funny.’

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll Adapted by Paul Kent. Read by Gemma Arterton – Tested by Jette and six year old daughter Pia. Film star Gemma Arterton reads an abridged version of Lewis Carroll’s classic story. Part of the fabulous Famous Fiction range of abridged children’s classics read by celebrities.

Jette said: ‘Pia loves princess and fairy stories and Alice in Wonderland is one of her favourites. Gemma Arterton uses great expression in her voice keeping attention focussed, and making it very easy to listen to. It’s a great way to get children interested in the classics and other books.’

Pia said: ’I love the lady who is reading, she sounds like my teacher. Can we buy some more stories on CD, it makes me want to go to bed earlier?’ Yes, she actually said that!

Mr Gum by Andy Stanton Read by Kate Winslett – Tested by Kate and her 8 year old son Max A box set collection of the first four zany adventures of Mr Gum. The books are a huge hit with 6-9 year olds keeping them laughing at the mad happenings in the town of Lamonic Bibber.

Kate said: ‘If you have a surreal, slightly silly sense of humour you will love these. Kate Winslet has a great range of accents relevant to the characters, with a naturally comic sense of timing.’

Max said: ‘I really like the Mr Gum books, they are really funny!

The lady reading this got nearly all the character voices right – Polly is really good. I love listening to books in the car, because I can’t read, it makes me car sick. My favourite is Mr Gum and the Goblins.’

For more detailed reviews, visit www.mumssurvivalguide.net

WWW.MUMSSURVIVALGUIDE.NET

39

BACK TO SCHOOL WITH uni-ball NEW TERM CHECKLIST... uni-ball pens and pencils Writing pads Pencil case Lunch box PE kit

uni SUPER INK MARKER for name labels

@uniball_uk

www.

uniball_uk

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Available from all major supermarkets

Back to School SPECIAL!

Survival E ducation Getting them ready for the new school year doesn’t need to be a drain on your summer. Our Back to School Survival Guide will help you get everything done with the minimum of fuss!

Let’s Get ORGANISED!

W

hether it’s your first day at the school gates (gulp), or you’re a seasoned school-run veteran, a few pointers always come in handy.

Our Back to School guide aims to have you primed and prepped, so you can relax knowing everything’s, quite literally, in the bag.

What you’ll need (Hint: It’s always more than you think.)

First stop is obviously the school’s uniform and kit list. If you haven’t been sent one and can’t find it on their website, or you have any questions, get on the phone now in case the school office closes for the summer holidays.

What the list won’t tell you is how many to get of each item. It’s basically a case of cost versus effort: the more you buy, the less the washing machine will need to go on.

Think about your budget versus how much laundry you can reasonably cope with. If you feel one weekly wash is enough, then four or five sets will be fine.

Of course, if they’re the kind of child dirt is magnetically attracted to, go for more rather than less. If they’re usually quite clean, some items might manage a second day – there’s no need to put freshly-laundered uniform on each day for the sake of it.

And finally, don’t panic. School uniform is still sold after September (although you might have to shop online to get the full range), so if you have under-bought, you should be able to order more.

Basic uniform list Item

Quantity

Sweater or cardigan or sweatshirt

3-5

Shirts or polo shirts

3-5

Trousers or skirts

3-4

Socks

5 pairs

Shoes

1 pair

Your Notes

Raincoat or mac Two-in-one coats are great – usually a raincoat over a fleece – for year-round use

Warm overcoat See above

1 1

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41

Back to School SPECIAL! Basic uniform list cont...

For some schools, you might also need Item Tie (clip-on or elasticated is better for younger kids)

Name tapes and labels Order plenty of name tapes and label everything (more on this later). A set of stickers with your child’s name on will be handy for any lunchboxes, water bottles, toys taken in for show-and-tell and the like – you could just run these off on the printer at home.

Where to shop Most uniforms these days are a mix of generic items (which you can buy anywhere), with school-specific ones, like sweatshirts with the school crest. For these, you’ll need to visit a specialist outfitter or online shop (the school will tell you where to go).

For plain trousers and skirts, you can save money by picking up a few in larger supermarkets or on the high street. M&S and Next usually offer a good balance of reasonable prices and decent quality – with the added bonus of adjustable waistbands if your child’s a bit on the skinny side.

For school-specific items, it’s worth finding out if your school has a swap shop or second-hand uniform sale (or ask friends with older children if they have anything to hand on). Even if you’d prefer to buy mostly new uniform, it’s useful to have second-hand stuff as spares.

If your family income is low, you might be eligible for funding to pay for uniform. Contact www.citizensadvice.org.uk or your Local Education Authority for more information.

When to shop Around a month before term starts is a good time to start buying. Although large stores sell uniform all year, you might find stocks run low at the end of August. You’ll have more choice if

FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL? Uniform tips for reception class Where possible, choose items which your child ✓ can easily put on and take off themselves (think Velcro, not laces).

Tights are notoriously tricky for little girls to get on ✓ and the bane of many a teacher’s life on PE day – avoid if you can.

If you have colour options, darker shades rather ✓ than light will be better - stains will show up less.

Where your school offers a choice, for example, if ✓ girls can wear trousers or skirts, go past at pickingup time to see what most children are wearing – so your child doesn’t feel like the odd one out.

Check out new clothing technology – non-iron ✓ garments save on the laundry time and Teflon

Quantity 2

(in case one gets lost)

Blazer

1

Fleece

1

Dinner tabard

1

Painting tabard

1

Woolly hat, summer hat

Your Notes

1 of each

Scarf

1

Gloves

1 pair

PE Kit This varies from school to school, but in general you’ll need: Item PE bag Check whether it needs to be regulation or not.

Plimsolls

Quantity 1

Check whether you need an indoor/outdoor set.

1 pair

Shorts

1 pair

T-Shirt Check your uniform guide for colours.

Socks Especially for girls if they’re wearing tights.

Swimming kit Check if there’s a regulation colour. If your child has long hair they might need a cap.

Other sports kit For example, football boots, shin pads and so on

Your Notes

1 1 pair 1 costume or pair of trunks As needed

coatings are great for limiting stains.

WWW.MUMSSURVIVALGUIDE.NET

43

BACK TO SCHOOL Made Easy w ith Korbon d

Do you often feel that the school holidays fly by and before you know it your children are ready to go back to school?

Getting back into the school routine can be a bit overwhelming if you are not organised, but by having all of your children’s uniform prepared by the end of the school holidays, you can make the first day back at school a breeze…

DON’T FORGETl Kit

Unifor m Sur vival Kit skirts: How to hem trousers & Hand Stitch- Hemming:

to be. h you would like the new hem 1. Pin hemline to chosen widt in the end of the thread.

2. Thread a needle & tie a knot ing the inside using a basic runn from 3. Begin sewing the hem from nd the trouser leg, working stitch. Continue stitching arou right to left. re it same stitch three times to secu 4. When finished, go over the ad. thre ss exce & cut off any

e Labe Use our Nam ’ childs ur yo te to wri ! ng hi yt name on ever ts ge If something ld find its lost, it shou you. way back to

r: How to label school-wea e): Iron On- Labelling (Sew Fre

on the non-adhesive Pen write your child’s name 1. Using Korbond’s Laundry side of the label. l & round the corners.

2. Using scissors cut the labe n in suitable location & set iron dow 3. Place label adhesive side . to a low temperature cool. g an ironing cloth & allow to 4. Iron the label in place usin

Quick & Easy Labelling

tion: Hand Stitch- Badge Applica Free): Iron On- Hemming (Sew

of your new hem & cut a 1. Decide on chosen width g Web to fit. piece of Korbond Hemmin . ming Web between the fold 2. Create a fold & insert Hem e using an ironing cloth. plac in Web g min Iron Hem has re hem until Hemming Web 3. Continue around the enti . cool to e leav & ded bon eated & the hem can be 4. Hemming Web can be re-h term as your child grows. ol scho the ng duri ped drop

Quick & Easy Hemming

orm & make sure it is 1. Pin the badge to the unif positioned correctly. that is either the colour of 2. Choose a suitable thread of the patch. the uniform or the colour eath the uniform using a 3. Begin stitching from benstitching around the patch e tinu Con h. stitc running removing pins as you sew. same stitch three 4. When finished, go over theany excess thread. times to secure it & cut off

to follow instructions. ther guidelines an d easy fur h wit e com cts du All of our pro

Korbond products are available in major supermarkets & high street outlets Facebook: www.facebook.com/korbonduk Twitter: @korbonduk www.korbond.co.uk

Iron On- Badge Application (Sew Free): 1. Cut Korbond Extra Wide shape Hemming Web to required of school badge. ge onto uniform 2. Place Hemming Web & bad straight. making sure it is positioned ng & do not allow setti heat 3. Set the iron to a high ct contact with the iron.

Hemming Web to have dire g an ironing cloth 4. Iron the badge in place usin & allow to cool.

Shopping lis • Pins • Needles • Thread • Scissors Kit • Alteration n • Laundry Peeb • Hemming W

t

you start earlier, and you can always exchange them for the next size up if anyone decides to have a growth spurt. (Keep labels on and receipts to hand just in case).

Do hold off purchasing shoes until mid-August (that is, if you want them to last till Christmas). Don’t leave it too late though, as the queues for fittings can get ridiculous (you’ll want to get their school shoes fitted properly, seeing as they’ll be wearing them every day).

Don’t forget to allow a few days for your child to wear shoes in at home before term starts.

Labelling If you want to do things properly (hey, we’re not stopping you) you can order traditional embroidered sew-in name tapes ahead of time and get your needle and thread out, but there’s really no need to go to all that trouble.

Time-saving options include iron-on name tapes (although watch out as some fall off in the wash after a while), taggits little button-like tags which clip the name tape in place, or the really simple option of writing their name on the label with a permanent marker – we’ve recently tested Uniball’s Super Ink Permanent Marker and our reviewers loved it – as Kate, one of our testers said, ‘You can name practically anything they are likely to take and lose at school – lunch boxes, pencil tins, book bags and clothes’. For a more detailed review, please visit our website and for a chance to win one of these pens plus more of Uniball’s range, see the competition below.

If you’ve got younger children who might inherit these items later, stick with the surname (unless it’s Smith) - this will do the job and means no re-labelling in future.

Phew, that looks like everything.

Now relax and get the barbecue going – it’s not September yet!

Back to School SPECIAL!

Extras And don’t forget these: Item

Quantity

Book bag Usually regulation – or you’ll need to choose your own

1

Lunch box or bag

1

Small water bottle for lunch

1

Daytime water bottle Although some schools provide these, and some don’t use them at all

Your Notes

1

Stationery Pencil case with pencils, pen (the school might tell you which type), coloured crayons, ruler, pencil sharpener, rubber (Stationery is usually not needed for reception class, but you might want to check)

Music bag + instruments Rucksack Make sure it’s got plenty of room in it!

Gloves

As needed

As needed 1 1 pair

L’S BAL UNI OF SET A !

WIN BACK TO SCHOOL PENS With thanks to Uniball, we’ve got 10 sets of their fantastic Back to School range to give away! Each prize set will comprise: Magik Girl – erasable ink, available in 7 colours with a rubber on the pen’s cap to erase pen ink!

Uniball Eye Needle – 6 liquid ink pens with a stainless steel needle tip that is resistant to bending/ breaking, smooth flowing for a continuous ultra precise writing experience!

Signo 207 – quick drying gel ink, comfortable/ ergonomic rubber grip, with a scratch free tip!

Super Ink Marker – permanent/wash resistance laundry marker – perfect for labelling just about everything!

Taking part couldn’t be easier – simply enter online by 30th August* at: www.mumssurvivalguide.net/uniball *The winners will be the first 10 names drawn at random. The winners will be notified no later than 5th September 2013. The judges’ decision will be final and the competition is not open to employees of LincolnBrody, the Mitsubishi Pencil Co. or their agents. Please visit www.lincolnbrody.co.uk/competitions for full terms and conditions.

WWW.MUMSSURVIVALGUIDE.NET

45

Back to School SPECIAL!

Survival E ducation

The Pencil Case 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! And in fairness to the UK stationery industry, there really are some fantastic products on offer – school children today are spoilt for choice! This is a good thing but it can present a challenge for parents, with such a wide range to choose from. Here are some products we really like and hot tips for choosing 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, Ryman’s and Staples, 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 and a bit of time spent on research can save a lot of money on your overall spend.

Don’t leave it too late as prices can rise as offers disappear when we get into September and certain lines may also sell out.

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.

What to buy We are a nation of stationery lovers and there is a huge selection of incredible products to choose from.

To make your task easier, we went to the experts at Stationery magazine, the trade publication for retailers of stationery and writing instruments, to get the inside scoop on the best products available this summer – what they don’t know isn’t worth knowing! They are also the brains behind National Stationery Week,

taking place next year between 31st March and 6th April – check out www.nationalstationeryweek.com to find out more about more about this and the Let’s Get Britain Writing campaign.

On-trend For many children having the latest designs is really important, such as this season’s colours, retailer own brand designs or a license or brand: there will be plenty of choice in 2013.

Licensed stationery has historically been very dominant with kids naturally wanting to have products carrying the images of their favourite groups, books, TV programmes or fashion brands. There will be no shortage of licensed ranges for 2013. Hello Kitty, the humorous The Stupid Factory, the colourful Pantone and on trend Angry Birds are expected to have strong offerings.

Writing concerns In the last few years there has been a real focus by the government, educationalists and parents on the inability of many 11-year-olds and older school leavers to write well. This focus on handwriting has meant that pens that help children to write better by having ergonomic grips or that are specifically WWW.MUMSSURVIVALGUIDE.NET

47

Back to School SPECIAL!

designed to help left handers have seen a significant increase in demand. Many suppliers work hard to get on to a school’s recommended list as this encourages parents to buy them for their children as part of their BTS kit.

For example Staedtler is a well-known brand in the education market and is trusted by teachers and parents alike. Their new Term-Time Essentials is an impressive themed collection of stationery which focuses on the writing and drawing needs of primary school children through to college students.

Likewise Berol Handwriters are often recommended as the plastic tip has a slight resistance to paper and thus helps children to develop better control and letter formation. For older users, the triangular grip of a Lamy makes it a favourite fountain pen, though some schools are now recommending the Pilot VPen disposable fountain pen. Others, like Zebra, are now exploring this market with the launch of a disposable ink pen coming soon.

Manuscript Pen Company’s Back to School range aims to promote the art of handwriting and creativity and includes Calligraphy sets and Callicreative marker pens.

Sheaffer has an attractive range for BTS called VFM Vibrant. Fun and modern, it has a smoothly rounded profile and comes in a stunning range of colours.

This summer, on-line retailer Bureau Direct will be offering a range of French exercise books with special rulings to help young children learning to form their letters properly.

Maped has a new soft base for displaying pen colours while they are being used and the Magik Girl pens from Uniball have an extra springy dip which can be clipped to notebooks or even used to tie up hair – check out Uniball’s competition on page 45 for a chance to win a set of Magik Girl pens. Faber Castell’s Connector Bucket is full of felt tips with clever “connector clips” which allow children to create their own models.

Fun and fuctional M & G’s unique Mechanical Exam Pencil has a soft 2B lead and 1.8mm tip making it perfect for multiple choice examinations. Pilot’s FriXion range of erasable pens are ingenious and you can win a collection worth £100 by entering the competition on page 42!

Siconi’s silicone adhesive pads are really useful and can be used to organise and brighten any desk or working area. A pencil case essential is the Harinacs staple free stapler in a range of vibrant colours. It punches a slit into the paper, binding a number of sheets together quickly and safely. Very cool! And for those of you with children who like their stationery quirky, check out www.justmustard.com where you can find anything from Lipstick Shaped markers to erasers that turn pencils into arrows or wands!

Please visit www.mumssurvivalguide.net for links to the websites of all the products listed in this article.

WIN WIN WIN! Thank you to our friends at Uniball, Pilot and Zebra Pen for the terrific prizes they are offering in these pages – be sure to enter as directed to have a chance of winning. And finally, Helix, the educational specialists are offering 5 lucky readers the opportunity to win a fantastic set of Helix products to com-

plete your child’s pencil case in one easy hit! Helix products cover all aspects of the ‘Back to School’ time of year, and now as part of the Maped group of companies, Helix has even more innovative products for schoolchildren of all ages and levels, from Reception to University. They are aware that choice is something we are becoming used to in modern times which on one hand is a good thing, but on the other can lead to confusion especially when you are on a tight timescale. Trust is something that can help with this confusion and Helix is a brand that many have trusted for years, to their benefit. Each prize consists of the following products: Clear Pencil Case, Helix Locking Compass, Helix Oxford 15cm Geometry Set, Helix Oxford Student Set, Helix Oxford 30cm Folding Rule, Maped 4 Pc Fluorescent Mini Highlighters, Maped Dark Assorted Ballpens, Maped Twin Tip 4 Colour Ballpen, Maped Jungle Innovation Felt Pen Stand, Maped Tatoo Soft Touch Scissors. Taking part is easy – simply enter online by visiting www.mumssurvivalguide.net/helix by 30th August 2013* *The winners will be the first 5 names drawn at random. The winners will be notified no later than 5th September 2013. The judges’ decision will be final and the competition is not open to employees of LincolnBrody, Helix or their agents. Please visit www.lincolnbrody.co.uk/competitions for full terms and conditions.

To win this fantastic set from Helix visit: www.mumssurvivalguide.net/helix

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Survival M oney

Scroll. Click. Save!

Recently published data suggests that nearly half of us actually use price comparison websites and about a third visit online discount code pages, but we wanted to give you some tips that really make a visible difference to the bank balance.

Here are the top 5 websites where our readers have been watching the pennies: Mysupermarket.com

them. The site even has a live currency converter so you can save on your holiday money by making the most informed decision before you travel, but more seriously it offers advice on mobile phone tariffs and can even help with your taxes.

Quidco.com

This is a comparison site for your supermarket shopping. It covers the likes of Sainsbury’s, Ocado, Tesco, Asda, Superdrug and Boots. It also has a “Savvy Buy” tool which lets you know when selected products have fallen by 30% or more. The site claims that annually they can snip up to 35% from your grocery bill which is serious talk. Is it possible to save 4 months worth of shopping from a family grocery bill? One thing we do know is that such an amount of money could certainly help pay a few other bills too.

Moneysavingexpert.com

This is the UK’s most popular cashback website.

According to the website’s own homepage you simply join up, shop, and get money back. They deal with over 3,300 merchants so there is plenty of choice and over 2 million members suggests there is something to it. Previously it had been thought that cashback sites could only be of benefit for large purchases however quidco.com lists the like of Tesco, Asda, M&S, Next, Sky, Aviva, and even Argos as retailers from which money can be saved. Offers vary from store to store, but on the site you can read testimonials from fellow shoppers who have made cash back and they are by no means insubstantial sums.

Petrolprices.com

Voucher codes and incredible shopping deals are some of the offers to be had here. On top of that there is great advice about and information regarding credit cards, transport, ISA’s, PPI reclaim and utilities.

They have been operational for over a decade and with thirteen million hits every MONTH we think there might be something we can all learn from

An important one primarily because people assume that petrol prices are fixed nationally and don’t see it as an area where we can make real savings. The AA says that since January there has been a near £5 rise in the price of filling a 50L tank with unleaded petrol.

We say that’s not good enough at all. Once you have signed up, petrolprices.com lists more than 10,900 stations nationwide and gives price comparisons on petrol (Unleaded and lead replacement), diesel, super unleaded and even LPG (liquid petroleum gas) and it gives you the cheapest price near you! They claim to make each user a saving of £2 per fill up using their optional e-mail alerts which let you know about price changes.

It might not seem like much but over the course of a year...

Pricerunner.co.uk

A nice easy one here with over 1000 retailers and more than 3 million products this website simply lists what you are searching for in the places it is available and always puts the cheapest price first.

So there you have it. We know miracles are hard to come by and everybody just seems to want more of your money and give you less for it these days, but that’s why we’re here. Mum’s Survival Guide wants your money to go further. Why do you think it’s free?

But don’t forget to visit www.mumssurvivalguide.net where you can get all the offers and advice from our partners with just a click of the mouse.

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Survival H ealth

Fishing out the GOOD fats!

Are you and your family part of the 75% of the UK population who doesn’t eat oily fish? You could be starving you and your family’s bodies of life-giving ‘good’ fats. Furthermore, there is some good evidence to suggest that fish oils (specifically omega-3 oil) can improve children’s learning and behaviour.

W

e spoke to Pharma Nord’s expert nutritionist Babi Chana BSc Nut Med about the health benefits of ‘good’ omega-3 fats.

We’re always told to cut down on fat in our diet. Is this bad advice?

It’s not bad advice, it’s just too simplistic. There are bad fats and good fats. 95% of the population are lacking the good, essential fats that keep us healthy. Despite the bad press that fats have received, fat-phobias and the popularity of low-fat diets, obesity has doubled since the 80’s. In fact, almost half the population is overweight! In the younger generation, this will become more deadly than smoking. But it’s preventable.

Tell us more about the essential fats Health degenerates from a lack of essential nutrients.

This can be caused by imbalanced diets and whole foods that become over-refined and loaded with additives. Our body takes in food, water, air and light to maintain and rebuild us. We are what we eat. Sadly now, many of us are consuming sugars and processed foods instead of fresh fish, nuts, seeds, fruit and veg.

A major factor contributing to widespread disease patterns is the deficiency of a group of essential fats, in particular omega-3 (commonly understood as fish oils). We just don’t get enough of this stuff.

Why are omega-3 fats so important?

They are termed essential fats because the body can’t make them for itself, but they are vital for our survival from conception, through breastfeeding, childhood and growing older. Omega-3 intake is poor in the UK as we don’t eat enough oily fish – the most potent source.

Did you know that the brain is composed of over 60% fats? Over one third of these are essential fats, particularly the omega-3 fats found in fish oil. This is why

our grandmothers always say ‘fish is good for the brain’.

Is your child one of the French-fry generation?

These kids are gravely undernourished and have heads full of noxious fats and not enough essential fats like omega-3. This can lead to poor brain function and behavioural problems. ADHD, autism, dyslexia and hyperactivity, depression and violence are common and on the rise. In Japan, consumption of omega-3 and intelligence is high, while their rates of depression remain among the lowest in the world.

So omega-3 fats are brain food! Is that all?

They do so much more! Research shows that daily omega-3 intake (equivalent to at least 1000mg of fish oil) may help improve vision, protect the heart, reduce blood clotting, reduce blood pressure, optimise immune function, relieve tiredness, regulate response to pain and inflammation (joints), protect our cells, digestion, keep skin healthy (psoriasis) and so much more. There are over 12,500 published studies on omega-3!

But I just can’t stand the taste of oily fish. How else can I get more omega-3?

You’re not alone. Lots of us shun oily fish because of the taste or because we worry about the toxins.

If you don’t consume wild salmon, trout, mackerel, sardines or fresh tuna, you could consider flax seeds.

However, they are lower in omega-3 than oily fish.

You should also take a quality fish oil capsule each day to keep your omega-3 topped up. Pure fish oil from the flesh of the fish is better than liver oil as it is cleaner and more natural to eat. Some supplements have a natural fruit flavour and are easy to swallow or chew. Take in around 1000-4000mg of fish oil a day. This should contain 300-1200mg of

FAT FACTS: ● 9 5% of us don’t get enough essential fats and 75% don’t eat oily fish. ● F ish oil is the best source of omega-3. ● T he brain is over 60% fat, with a high omega-3 content. ● A dequate omega-3 helps the heart, brain, vision, joints, skin, immunity and more. ● T here are over 12,500 scientific studies on omega-3. ● I f you don’t eat oily fish, high quality supplements will help restore your omega-3 balance.

For more nutrition advice contact 01670 519 989 or visit www.pharmanord.co.uk/babi omega-3 fats (DHA and EPA). Avoid fish oil supplements in jars as the oil can turn rancid and the capsules get sticky - choose blister packs instead.

Pharma Nord’s expert Babi Chana, BSC - Biochemist and Nutritionist WWW.MUMSSURVIVALGUIDE.NET

53

ation Survival Educ

Enjoy PHONICS this Summer!

by Liz Walker Former primary school teacher and founder of Reading Chest, the children’s book rental service

Whilst children might think of a ‘summer slide’ as a fun activity on a sunny day in the park, the ‘summer slide’ is also used to describe what happens to some children’s learning, including a decline in reading achievement, when they are away from school during the long summer holidays.

S

ome parents might feel daunted by the prospect of helping younger children learn to read – afraid they may get it wrong – but there is nothing to worry about and it can be fun!

Most schools in the UK teach children to read and write using phonics (as recommended by the current government). The term ‘synthetic phonics’ refers to ‘synthesising’, or blending sounds to read words. Learning to read using phonics isn’t a new concept, but in the past, it has been used in combination with other methods, such as ‘look and say’ and predicting or guessing words based on pictures or context.

In the English language, there are 44 sounds (phonemes) but only 26 letters. This means that some sounds will be made up by more than one letter such as the ‘oa’ in boat or the ‘ough’ in through. (‘Through’ has 7 letters but only 3 phonemes ‘th-rough’.) The other thing to note is that although there are 44 different phonemes, there are a number of different ways to write some of them, e.g. the sound

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‘oo’ as in loo, can also be written in the following different ways – ‘grew’, ‘to’, ‘soup’, ‘through’, ‘fruit’.

When children first learn to read, it is the sounds that are more important than the letter names. Different schools use different phonics programmes, but it is likely that your child will learn their letter sounds in small groups together and then work on blending them to make words. The first sound group is normally - ‘s, a, t, p, i, n’. Once children know these sounds, they will be encouraged to blend them together to make words, such as ‘s – i – t’. It would be helpful to find out from your child’s school which sounds they have already covered and which sounds are to be covered next.

The most important thing to get right when helping your child learn letter sounds at home is to pronounce them correctly. This might seem obvious – but your child should learn to say the sound at the beginning of ‘mat’ as ‘mm’ sound rather than ‘muh’. There are lots of websites to help with letter sound pronunciation, such as www.oxfordowl.co.uk – (follow the link for ‘expert help’).

The more you can do at home to help children recognise and say letter sounds, the better. The speedier children become at recognising letter sounds, the easier it becomes to blend them together and learn to read.

As soon as your child has learned the first few sounds, they can start to read. There are quite a few decodable reading schemes available, such as Phonics Bug, Floppy’s Phonics, Big Cat Phonics, Yellow Door Phonics, which are stocked by Reading Chest. These books are written so that your child can sound out most of the words using their phonic knowledge. They might include a few ‘tricky’ words, such as ‘does’ where the letters don’t represent their normal sounds. These ‘tricky’ words will occur quite frequently and need to be learned by sight.

There are many fun ways to introduce and reinforce sounds. Here are some ideas for the summer: 1. Catch a Duck This is great in the paddling pool or bath. Write phonemes onto the underside of some plastic ducks / fish / boats. Use a fishing net, or hook, or your hands to catch them. When you catch a duck you can keep it if you can say the sound / think of a word beginning / ending with that sound etc. If you have a group of children together, they could work in teams to make as many words as possible with the ducks / phonemes they have caught.

2. P honic Pebbles These can be bought from various places such as www.yellowdoor.net, but

W

a b

3. Full Circle Children start off with a simple word using sound flashcards. (These could be shop bought or homemade.) e.g. ‘pin’. Then take turns to change 1 letter at a time and see how many different words can be made until you get back to the original word (e.g. pin – pit – pat – sat – sit – sin – pin).

4. I Spy Using flashcards – it’s an old favourite, but still works. Use the flashcards to help build the link between the letter and its associated sound.

5. Magnetic Letters Make the most of these on your fridge and around the house. These can be easily moved around to make different words – nonsense words as well as real.

6. Shaving Foam! Have fun practising writing letter sounds with your finger in shaving foam on your kitchen table. If you want to get really messy – add a little paint!

IN

ee

! ck tails pa r de ee fo fr elow

-S

are basically pebbles with phonemes written on them.

If you are spending a day on the beach, make your own. Use phonic pebbles as a starting point for games to reinforce blending sounds together, similar to the fishing games. If you are on the beach, children could copy them and write in the sand.

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7. P lay Schools with Friends Let children experiment and teach each other. This works well if older siblings can get involved too. With a whiteboard, a register and some bits printed from the internet, it can go on for hours!

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8. Educational Apps! Children won’t think of it as ‘reading’ but there are many brilliant educational apps available. Apps4primaryschools. co.uk is full of apps, some phonics based, which are recommended by teachers.

9. Join readingchest.co.uk to receive regular deliveries of books at your child’s chosen reading level delivered to your door. Members also get reward charts, certificates and write book reviews online. Not only is it fun and motivational for children, it is also convenient for working parents who might not be able to make it to the library.

Also available from your local independent health food store or pharmacy.

WIN one of 20 FREE packs of BIOmega-3 Kids™!

For your chance to win one of 20 FREE packs of BIOmega-3 Kids™ 80 capsules (RRP £7.25) simply email your name and address plus ‘MUMS’ to fishoil@pharmanord.co.uk, CALL 0800 591 756, or complete your details below: Code: 1352

Name Address Postcode

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Email WWW.MUMSSURVIVALGUIDE.NET

55

Send to: MUMS Comp, FREEPOST NT1587, Pharma Nord (UK) Ltd, Telford Court, Morpeth, NE61 1BR.

Survival Food

Al Freshco Dining! from One of the great summer treats for all the family is outdoor eating, whether it be in the garden, at a picnic or on the beach and with thanks to the ‘Pyrexperts’, here are four fresh and simple recipes guaranteed to stop rumbling tums!

Classic Vinaigrette Dressing Linven up any salad with this classic dressing which is very easy to make.

You will need...

• 100ml olive oil

Method...

To make a basic vinaigrette, measure and mix all the ingredients in a Pyrex Kitchen Lab shaker. Put on the lid and shake well. The dressing can be stored in a cool place (not a fridge) for up to a week.

• 100ml red wine vinegar • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard • Salt and pepper to taste Why not try these variations?

• Sesame oil instead of olive oil • 3 tbsp of lemon juice • A pinch of oregano • 1 tbsp clear honey

• A pinch of crushed chilli flakes • A crushed garlic clove • 2 tbsp of balsamic vinegar

Piri Piri Chicken This Portuguese classic is bursting with Mediterranean flavours and is so simple to make that it’s certain to be a family favourite.

If possible, marinate the chicken overnight for maximum flavour.

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Ingredients for the marinade...

Method...

• 2 tsp sweet smoked paprika • 1 tsp chilli flakes • 4 cloves garlic, crushed • Juice and zest of 1 lemon • 2 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar • Sea salt and black pepper • 4 chicken thighs, skin on • 4 chicken drumsticks, skin on • 1 red pepper, deseeded and quartered • 1 yellow pepper, deseeded and quartered • 1 red onion, peeled and cut into wedges

Combine all of the ingredients in a 2.6 litre rectangular Pyrex dish, cover and place in the fridge to marinate for at least an hour or overnight if possible.

Preheat the oven to 220°C/425°F/ gas mark 7. Cook in the oven for 20 minutes then turn the heat down to 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4 and cook for a further 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.

Serve with potato wedges or chips and a simple green salad.

SERVES 4-6

Chicken with honey and ginger Kids love this healthy recipe for slightly sweet, sticky ginger-chicken kebabs. The wonderful taste comes from the Chinese style marinade, which only takes about 30 minutes to work its magic.

You will need...

Method...

• 2 chicken breats • 2cm of fresh root ginger • 2 tbsp clear honey • The juice of 1 lemon • Salt and pepper • 8 wooden skewers

Cut the chicken in to bite size pieces and put on the skewers. Peel and grate the ginger and mix in a bowl with the honey and lemon juice. Pour over the marinade and season well. Leave to marinade in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Pre-heat the oven to 200°c and place the skewers in the oven for 15 minutes, turning the skewers half way through the cooking time. Can be served as a snack or with salad and rice as part of a summery picnic!

Why not try....

SERVES: 2

You can also add 2 crushed garlic cloves in to the marinade and replace the lemon with soy sauce.

Taboulé Full of flavour, this is the perfect salad for picnics and barbecues as it produces no juice and is very easy to carry.

You will need...

Method...

• ½ a cucumber, diced • 250g tomatoes, cubed • 2 tbsp cooked semolina • 2 spring onions, chopped • 1 bunch of fresh parsley, chopped • Handful of fresh mint, chopped • The juice of 2 lemons • 4 tbsp of olive oil • Salt and pepper

Combine all the ingredients together in a Pyrex glass dish, cover and place in the fridge to allow all the flavours to develop in the fridge before serving.

As a variation, this dish will also taste great with chicken, feta cheese or prawns.

SERVES: 4

P

yrex has been well known and loved for nearly 100 years and today, more than 75% of British kitchens are home to an item of quality kitchenware from this legendary brand. From the classic collection of glass bowls to the iconic measuring jugs, these items are now synonymous with the British kitchen.

The ‘Pyrexperts’ strive to develop superior quality products which are guaranteed to provide smart solutions for all our cooking needs. From cooking, baking, picnicking and food on the move, the collection has evolved to offer a vast choice of quality products.

For further information about Pyrex visit www.pyrexuk.com.

You can also follow Pyrex on: Twitter @ PyrexUKOfficial

‘like’ the Pyrex UK (Official) Facebook page Pyrex® is a trademark of Corning Inc, used by permission.

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Survival E ducation

Learning & Technology Children accept technology as part of their life and they very quickly learn to use it. They have arrived into a technological world and there is so much you can do to help them make the most of it – to develop their language and encourage them to explore their world so they can discover new things. Talking with children as they explore technologies will help them to see why things happen and how things work.

What is ICT? ICT is ‘information and communications technology’.

The term simply means all the technology around us, things like mobile phones, computers, video recorders, CD and DVD players, and digital cameras. ICT describes children learning about different technologies within their setting and school.

Toddlers and ICT ICT is everywhere. At home, toddlers can program the washing machine, television and microwave.

These actions have a purpose in everyday life which makes sense to children, while also encouraging them to see how timers, words, numbers and colours are used in everyday situations. Out and about, young children can press buttons at traffic crossings.

Visits to the supermarket, railway station and airport terminal introduce children to digital screens and electronic arrival and departure boards, broadcast announcements and how to follow directions using technology.

Toddlers are fascinated by sound and music, and love interactive musical instruments. They also love to play pretend. When pretending, toddlers often chatter away and you can help this along by joining in and answering questions. Parents sometimes like to encourage pretend play with toys such as colourful food mixers, vacuum cleaners or drills which need

batteries so that they move and look real. Having some of these toys alongside their pots, pans, teddies and dolls can be exciting for young children, but they must have several features if they are to remain interesting.

When giving a battery-operated toy to young children, ask yourself if they might first be happy to play with it as a toy without the batteries inside. You can always add them later, giving the toy a whole new lease of life. Once a child is used to a toy being battery operated, try to keep a spare set of batteries to hand as the toy will be useless if they run out.

Battery-operated toys can be expensive. You can borrow some from local toy libraries and they are often available at car boot sales for very reasonable prices. Check that toys work before you buy at a boot sale, and clean them thoroughly before giving them to children.

ICT for young children It’s always worth remembering that the best teacher is a truly interested adult and the best friend is a playmate to share and have fun with. But technology can also provide a rich learning tool for children to use. Children love its ‘magic’ qualities, where things can happen at the touch of a button. It also gives them a sense of control, something that is very powerful when you’re a small person in a big world.

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Here are some ideas for what children can learn through technology, and how to help them do this without spending too much.

Technology indoors and out Children are fascinated by machines in the home.

Encourage them to recognise numbers, read the on/ off switch and tell one sound from another. Help them to load DVDs and CDs. This will develop their curiosity and their skill with small movements. It also teaches children how to treat equipment correctly and with respect.

On local trips to the shops, children love to catch sight of themselves on closed-circuit TVs, pressing the buttons at the pedestrian crossing or seeing how scanners and tills operate. They enjoy being able to help with the shopping by using the digital weighing machines and reading the results together with you.

ICT can be incorporated into many aspects of physical and outdoor play. Metal detectors, walkie-talkies, CD players, remote controlled cars can all be used outdoors. Digital stopwatches and heart monitors help children to see the effects of exercise on their bodies.

Technological toys Choosing the right toys can be very difficult, especially if parents expect a technological toy to educate their child. No machine can teach a child better than you – although you can play alongside young children to help get the most out a toy.

Some animated toys use batteries at a terrific rate. Children love them for a short while and then never play with them again. If you suspect a toy might be one of these, think before you buy.

Computers Playing with a computer can provide many learning opportunities for children and is just one of the many ways for them to learn about the world around them.

There are lots of exciting websites to explore and good software which children love. The best computerbased learning experiences come from a truly worthwhile activity which allows children to be in control. For example, using a paint program to ‘draw’ a picture or to explore using colours and shapes in different ways.

Some software also allows children to experiment and try things out, for example an interactive story which encourages children to make choices and decisions.

Don’t worry if you don’t have a computer at home. Most libraries have them, and you can usually reserve time at a computer so you can use it during a visit to choose books or listen to a story. Many libraries also lend out computer programs.

When you have found a good website, help children to load it themselves. Sit with them when looking at a new screen and help them to explore the possibilities. Don’t spend too long at a computer and don’t leave your child too long alone at the computer. About 20–30 minutes is long enough.

It often amazes parents how quickly children learn to use a mouse. Talk to them using the correct ICT language – screen, toolbar, website, software, mouse, keyboard – and show them how to save and print. (If you need computer training yourself, contact LearnDirect – www.learndirect.co.uk) Show children how to use the computer properly: how to draw using a simple program and how to get to the websites they’re interested in. If you use the computer for work or to store other important information, show children what your work looks like.

Ask them to come and find you if your work is on screen when they go to play with the computer or, if you’re happy for them to save your work, show them how to do this. It’s also a good idea to show children what a virus warning looks like on your computer. Tell them to come running if they see one of these!

Other technology If you own a digital camera, a scanner or a digital video recorder you can have lots of fun with children.

A four year old is perfectly capable of taking digital photos and printing the results – though do remember to put the camera strap around the child’s neck first. Accidents can happen!

Scanners can be used to take copies of children’s paintings, drawings, writing, weaving or needlework. It is quite easy to scan 3D objects and artwork, and you can use any of these to make books or posters.

Children love to be videoed as they dance, sing, tell a story, dress up, play with friends or make a cake. A child’s self-esteem is a precious and fragile thing. Watch it grow as you play back a video.

And finally…

Don’t be afraid of technology, or think it is has nothing to offer young children. They have been born into the digital world and encouraging them to make use of this technology will ensure that they develop confidence in making it work for them.

This article first appeared as part of the Learning Together series produced by Early Education has been reproduced with their kind permission.

About the author Lynn Kennington was head of Gamesley Children’s Centre for 25 years. The centre is regarded as a beacon of excellent practice in the world of ICT in the early years and has received several awards for good ICT practice.

The centre staff train staff all over the country in ICT practice and how to thread the curriculum and play.

Learning Together series The Learning Together series of leaflets aims to help parents and other caring adults understand children’s development, play an active part in their learning and enjoy the children they spend time with. The leaflets cover a wide range of topics, including life with babies and toddlers, children’s behaviour, being outdoors, drawing and writing, reading, maths, ICT and equality – and more. The leaflets can be downloaded from the Early Education website www.early-education.org.uk Early Education promotes the right of all children to education of the highest quality. It provides support, advice and information on best practice for everyone concerned with the education and care of young children from birth to eight.

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torial r e v d A l a v i v r Su

Safe as Houses

Keeping children safe online is now just as important as their safety outside of the home.

A

s a time pressured, full time working mum, it’s impossible to keep tabs on everything my children are doing online.

There’s no doubt that the internet can be a really exciting place

for children to discover the world - but there are also downsides to them having that freedom.

It’s astounding how technology, interactivity, social networking and online-sharing are second nature to children even as young as 7. But at what cost?

HomeSafe™ provides unique and highly effective security features.

Kidsafe – Helps protect your kids from seeing inappropriate websites with easy to set content categories.

Homework Time – Helps prevent distractions during homework time by allowing you to set time limits to filter social networking and gaming websites.

Visit: talktalk.co.uk/security

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Virus Alerts – Provides a layer of protection while you surf the web and alerts you if you visit a suspected site.

Setting rules for going online Just as you would set boundaries for your kids out of the home, online rules are just as important.

Research shows that two thirds of parents lay down the law for using the internet because they are only too aware of how many unsuitable websites are out there.

HomeSafe™ can really help TalkTalk has developed an award-winning online security service called HomeSafe™ which acts as a safeguard against online nasties.

There’s no better way to ensure online security, especially as it has Virus Alerts and parental controls and it has been developed in partnership with online safety experts.

HomeSafe™ is simple to install, and there is nothing to download or update, so it won’t slow your internet connection or computer down, and it works across every device that connects to the internet in your home.

Help keep your family safer online with award winning HomeSafe™ from TalkTalk.

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