Toddle About Northamptonshire Jan - Mar 2011

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Family picture courtesy of Mango Pictures

Hello!

And welcome to the Winter issue of Toddle About!

It’s cold and, if the predictions are correct, snowy. But not to worry - there are still LOADS of things going on in Northants for you and your little ones, and we’re doing our best to let you know about all of them.

As ever, our Daily Activity Planner (from p. 25) lists hundreds of groups and classes that you can attend, and the Directory (from p. 37) gives you dozens of fantastic local products and services especially for families like yours.

We also have some excellent articles and features with some great ideas for you regarding activities you can be doing with your children at home, as well as some information about some alternative practices that we hope you will find very interesting. Not to mention this issue’s Controversy Corner where we explore the thorny issue of discipline and punishment in the form of the infamous ‘naughty step’.

We’re delighted to say that we now have dozens of reviews of local bump, baby & toddler businesses to help you spend your money wisely on our website at www.toddleabout.co.uk/articles - a couple of samples can be seen on p. 50. We have also compiled a comprehensive list of local events on the website that you can search by date or location.

Thank you as ever for reading - we hope you enjoy it!

Tim & Ruth

PS. Don’t forget! You can subscribe to Toddle About completely for FREE at www.toddleabout.co.uk and we’ll post it to your door every quarter.

Contact us on 0845 643 2483, or info@toddleabout.co.uk

5 Shop About 6-7 Getting Ready for School 9 Ideas for Wintery Days 11 Toddle Models 13-14 Keep Active this Winter

8,000 copies of Toddle About are distributed every quarter around South, Central & West Northants.

Contents Baby Reflexology Treating Back Pain Baby Art Cafe Secrets of Success Work/Life Balance

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This furry little fella is Charlie!

He’s hiding all over the magazine - why not see if your little one can find him while you read?

Charlie wants to say a big congratulations to Nubia Whiting and her 3 year-old daughter Jessica, who won the last Toddle Models competition!

Jessica is the beautiful girl on the front cover, captured forever by Adele at Mango Pictures.

This issue’s Toddle Models competition is sponsored by The Style Lounge hairdressers in Northampton and Oriflame. They have put up some great prizes worth over £200. See pages 13 - 14.

And don’t forget everything in Toddle About and more is available on our website: www.toddleabout.co.uk

Controversy Corner Daily Activity Planner Special Offers The Directory Reviews

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information in Toddle About is accurate and correct, we cannot guarantee that this is so and neither Toddle About nor Tim Freed can accept any liability for loss, damage or problems arising from any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in content, nor from actions taken by readers based on information or opinions presented in advertisements or throughout the magazine. Images and information supplied by 3rd parties have been accepted in good faith and all liability for any legal transgression including breach of copyright remains with the supplying parties.

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Kick Start...

By Lynne Newbould

A

s the new year starts, many parents are choosing preschool sports activity programs such as swimming, gymnastics and football, to give their children a great start in sport. These sessions offer opportunities for young children to burn energy, learn new skills and have a whole lot of fun in the process. Research shows that if children are encouraged to develop an interest in structured physical activity from a young age, they are more likely to continue to enjoy sport throughout their childhood, giving them the foundation to lead a healthy and active life.

As well as being a mum to a 3 year old, I also run Little Kickers, so my area of expertise is preschool football classes, which are particularly good for helping to develop agility, co-ordination and balance. Our sessions are progressive and challenging - and loads of fun.

Children are much more likely to learn if their imaginations are engaged, so we introduce new skills through games rather than formal drills. For example, if you tell a group of 2-3 year olds that they are going on a Golden Egg Hunt and that they need to get all of the eggs (footballs) into the baskets (goals) before the giant wakes up, they are far more likely to participate and enjoy themselves!

But why should we have all the fun!

You can have your own Little Kickers session at home whenever you want.

Why not make a new year’s resolution to commit 15-20 minutes each day where you switch off the TV set and do something less boring instead? It’s actually really healthy for mum and dad to tune out of the stresses of everyday life and focus 100% on playing physical games with their children. This small change will have immeasurable benefits for your whole family’s health, and it’s the little things like this that make a huge difference to our relationships with our children.

...to an active childhood

Give it a go at home!

If you have a football**, go outside and have a kick around. There are a lot of things you can do to develop your child’s skills further – but most importantly, remember to have fun!

1) Set up a target

Use a jumper, an empty flower pot, the dog etc. Compete against each other to see who can get nearest the target.

2) Play against each other

You will be amazed how competitive you get. Please be gentle with them, they are only young…performing celebratory dances after you have beaten them may damage their confidence somewhat!

3) Encourage children to use both feet to kick.

Use different colour stickers as a way of marking each foot. Encourage them to practise with each foot as it will improve their balance immensely.

4) Penalties

Penalties are easy to set up, and siblings and parents can join in by going in goal, or help setting up obstacles. You’ll enjoy watching how involved your children get in this type of game playing.

(** Top tip – try to use a small ball size 2 rather than a full size adult ball, it’s easier for children to control, and less likely to hurt when they kick it at you!)

With the new year started, this is a perfect way to spend time with your child - doing what they really enjoy, leading by example and encouraging them to view sport as a normal, routine part of everyday life. More garden games are available on www.litttlekickers.co.uk What’s New section. Have fun!

Lynne Newbould runs Little Kickers preschool football sessions in Northampton, Daventry and Rugby. For more information, contact Lynne on 01327 310373 or lnewbould@littlekickers.co.uk. See advert on page 41.

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Baby & Toddler Must-Haves Stacking Cups - A Classic

Stacking cups are a classic of the toy cupboard - a definite must-have.

These 10 brightly coloured stacking cups each have a number on them and are a fun way for your child to start exploring size, shape, number and, well, engineering! Good fun at bath time too.

Just £6 from Early Learning Centre, 14 Peacock Place, Northampton + 15% off with voucher in centre pages.

The Bump CD Produced by Helen McPherson, Clinical Hypnotherapist and specialist in Fertility and Birth, the Bump CD is a must for any mother-to-be. It is an audio CD, written specifically to aid deep relaxation and counter the stress that many women feel during pregnancy which can be detrimental to a developing baby. By inducing a deep hypnotic trance, listening to the CD promotes the natural physiological processes in pregnancy and helps blood flow. £11.99 from www.pinkandbluebabyworld.co.uk.

Beautiful New Baby Cards Phoenix cards are well-known for their unique, high quality and very reasonably priced cards.

An ethical company, Phoenix Trading has donated over £1m to charity to date and uses only paper from sustainable sources to make their cards.

Most cards are £1.20 each - get 10% off orders at www.phoenix-trading.eu/web/charlotte with exclusive Toddle About code TA10 (plus free P&P on first orders!)

Cash Register - with Free 2011 Wall Calendar This year, Children’s Shoebox in Northampton have put together a bright and beautiful calendar to help raise money for local children’s charity, KidsAid. Featuring original and unique artwork drawn by the Shoe Box’s little customers from last year, there are only 250 copies available. To pick up your calendar, simply pop down to Children’s Shoebox at 15 Collingwood Rd, Northampton, NN1 4RD. The calendars are free, and all donations will go to KidsAid, helping children who have suffered traumatic events. www.kidsaid.org.uk.

free shopping basket

Role play is loads of fun and a vital element of a child’s learning process. This cash register set is the ultimate shopping role play accessory, with barcode scanner, chip & pin machine, working keypad, LCD screen and a working microphone to make announcements, all with realistic sounds. It also includes play food, play money and a credit card. You can even scan the food to find out how much it costs, then press the “total” key to find out how much the customer needs to pay!

Currently £20 with free shopping basket from Early Learning Centre, 14 Peacock Place, Northampton.

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All prices shown are accurate at time of going to print, but are subject to change.

Eitech Construction Kits

Eitech sets are German-made building toys with a modern slant.

These innovative and durable toy sets incorporate solar power to create interactive, moving toys for children. Eitech sets are used in many German schools as teaching tools as they encourage an understanding of technology and 3D thinking. They are also great for creativity as all the parts are compatible with other kits, and accessory packs are available with spare parts, motors, solar panels and more – so the only limit to what can be created is the imagination.

Available from Shirelings Toyshop, currently offering 30% off RRP on all Eitech - Eitech Mega Model was £140, now £95. Eitech Solar Helicopter was £27.50, now £19.00 (pictured).

Visit Shirelings Toyshop at the Heart of the Shires Shopping Village near Weedon. www.shirelingstoys.co.uk.

The Koko Tree Koko Tree is a family or friends tree which you can personalise with photos straight from your computer. You can also order a blank Koko Tree and fill it with printed photos. It is a super gift for friends and family and looks great on children’s bedroom walls. Kids simply love to see their family or friends on their Koko Tree! Fits handily into IKEA Ribba frames.

From £14.95 (free P&P) at www.kokoart.co.uk. Get 15% off with offer code in Toddle About centre pages!

FLEXA Beds These beds are a great invention! You can adapt the bed in a number of ways to suit your child as they grow and their needs change. It’s easy to change a single bed into a high sleeper or bunk bed for example, and there are plenty of accessories available that will transform the bed into a playground or a secret hide away, a knight’s castle or a princess palace.

It’s a practical and fun alternative to a normal child’s bed.

Available from Junior World, one of the largest stockists and distributors of FLEXA furniture in the Midlands. Get 10% off with voucher in centre pages. Tel: 02476 672446. www.juniorworlddirect.co.uk

Toddler Rolls Eddie + Teddie never let us down when it comes to unique, practical and super stylish handmade products.

Their toddler rolls are a great product for your toddler to take out and about to make sure they’re entertained no matter where you are. Each roll contains 8 crayons and a notepad, all wrapped up in a funky felt holder. Available in three colours, pink, turquoise and red.

Only £9.00, available from www.folksy.com/shops/ eddieandteddie. 10% off with voucher in centre pages!

They also have a fantastic pencil holder available now too...

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Will your child be ready for school?

by Melissa Wood

Melissa Wood is a qualified teacher and primary school tutor for children from the ages of 4 to 11, teaching Maths and English. She is also a mum to two boys; Charlie and Sam. Here she gives some top tips on introducing your children to numeracy to help them be prepared for school when the time comes.

It may seem a long time away, but before you know it your little one will be putting on their uniform for their first day of school. With class sizes of 20 – 30 children, one of the most important things you can do for your child before they go to school is help build their confidence in numeracy and literacy: they are the two most important subjects your child will learn at school, and it is vital that they don’t get behind in the early years.

Fortunately, children naturally love to learn so it is easy to incorporate simple numeracy and literacy ideas into everyday activities and this can make a huge difference to your child’s first year at school. Here are some things you could try:

Go Number Spotting

Wrap up warm and go for a winter walk together.

When you see a number on a door, ask your child if they can say it. This is great for younger children and as they get older, you can adapt it by asking them if they can spot numbers below 20, or over 20, or any other variations you can come up with!

Painting Numbers

Get some paints out and see what numbers you can paint together. Guide your children by drawing the numbers first if they need help. Try putting two numbers together and see if your child can begin to read two-digit numbers.

Play Catch

Grab yourself a ball and try some counting whilst catching. I do this a lot with the children I tutor and they always forget they are learning if it involves a ball! Throw the ball to each other and shout out the number before you catch it. For young children, counting to 10 is good preparation for school. For older or more able children, try counting to 20 or beyond, counting backwards, or counting in steps of 2.

Hide and Seek

Hide and seek with numbers is another good way of using numbers with young children. Write out a set of numbers (as easy or hard as your child can manage) on some brightly coloured card and hide them in a room. As your child finds them, ask them to say the number to you and then you can have a go at putting them in order together. Let your child hide them for you too.

Play Snap

Try playing number snap with your little ones. All you need is a pack of playing cards and before you know it they are shouting out numbers that you never even knew they knew!

Tip

Don’t forget to praise and recognise your child’s achievements and progress. They will respond far better and be much more eager to learn if they feel proud of their efforts. It’s a good idea to have a pile of stickers to hand as well. - the pupils I teach are always keener to work if they think they can earn themselves a sticker!

Most importantly of all, keep learning fun for your pre-school children and they won’t want to stop!

Melissa specialises in tutoring primary school children in Maths and English. For additional help when your child starts school, contact Melissa for a tuition information pack on 01327 831523. See advert on page 48.

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Ideas to help while away those wintery days

by Clare Page

As the nights draw in and the cold winds start to blow, it is natural to feel that the activities available to do with our children are fewer and further between. In truth it does take a little more creativity to think up suitably entertaining and educational activities for our little ones at this time of year, but there are definitely still plenty of options to choose from.

In our nursery at Akeley Wood, our staff are always coming up with great activities for the children throughout the year. Our criteria for choosing activities mean that they are not only fun but are extremely beneficial to the key areas of learning: creative development; knowledge and understanding of the world; physical development; fine motor skills and personal, social and emotional development. We hope you enjoy some of the activities below - all are proven wintery hits from our nursery staff!

Getting Outside

It is important that children spend time outside in the fresh air, and we encourage our children to do this every day, where mud painting, bug hunting, bark rubbing and nature walks are the order of the day. Children love to feel the natural elements around them, so we make full use of our wonderful outdoor spaces and so should you!

Mud Painting

Leaf Collage

Putting together Winter collages with the gorgeous fallen leaves helps children to understand how the different seasons affect the trees; how the leaves grow on the trees, then fall in the Autumn, leaving the trees bare for the Winter. By making colourful collages, using glue, paints and pencils, the children learn how to preserve these special memories by placing their collages around the home or classroom.

Bake Bread Hedgehogs

No matter how old they are, baking is always a treat for our children. Although making ‘Bread Hedgehogs’ needs a little bit of extra work, it is great fun and the delicious smell of freshly baked bread wafting through the school makes it all worth while. For the children, moulding the bread into the shape of a hedgehog and cutting into the dough to make the spikes just adds an extra element of fun. A word of warning though - always ensure you have all of the ingredients to hand before you start! (See the recipe for bread hedgehogs on the Toddle About website, articles section).

Another fun way to enjoy the outdoors! All you need is some pieces of cardboard (corrugated is best), twigs, leaves and little fingers.

Dig in the mud and add water if needed to make it different textures. To make the picture into a 3D masterpiece poke natural materials into the picture.

Make a Wormery

This is another fun idea which is always received well! Children learn how important worms are in our gardens, even if they do make Mummy squirm! Placing the wormery on the counter for the children to see each day, helps them to understand how long it takes for the worms to move through the soil and shows just how important they are in the nature cycle.

Clare Page is Head Teacher at Akeley Wood Junior School & Nursery in Wicken, near Deanshanger. For more information on their nursery and school provisions, please call 01908 571 231 or nikki.gowton@akeleywoodschool.co.uk. (Inside front cover)

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Sponsored by:

Make us smile!

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hat a great response we had to the last Toddle Models competition! Your entries have again been simply delightful, as you can see. Thank you to the hundreds of you who got involved either by entering or voting - we really find this competition so much fun and hope you do too! We’re now accepting entries to the next competition - details on the prizes and how to enter are on the next page.

You will already have seen our winner Jessica Whiting on this edition’s front cover - this beautiful image was taken by the competition sponsor, Adele at Mango Pictures. Congratulations to Jessica and her mum Nubia! And also to our 10 adorable runners up, who are all below in the yellow boxes. Each of them won a private photo shoot and a free 5”x7” print. Alas, we didn’t have space to print all the entries in the magazine, but you can see all of them at www.toddleabout.co.uk.

If you didn’t win, but you would like to sample the Mango Pictures experience yourself for less, please see the exclusive voucher in our centre pages offering a super discount.

Cover Girl! Jessica Whiting

Runners Up

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Poppy Knight, 9 wks

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Reggie PLatt, 10 mths

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Ashton Dumont, 2 yrs

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Chloe Edgerley, 21 m

Claudia Laskovicz, 10 m

Erin da Silva, 15 mths

Emily Smith, 3 yrs

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yrs

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by Helen Lewis

I

Baby Reflexology

basic methods of administering reflexology on young children themselves.

have treated many babies using reflexology during my career, usually when a parent asks me to ‘have a quick look’ at their baby during their own Reflexology session. All the children I have worked on have loved (or grown to love) their treatments, and are usually the first to climb into the chair as they get older, even if the session is booked for Mum or Dad!

How Does it Help?

What is Reflexology?

Reflexology is an ancient therapy which was introduced to the Western World early in the 20th Century and is popular worldwide for treating many varied conditions. Reflexology works on the theory that every part of the body is reflected in the feet (and hands).

A trained therapist can detect subtle changes and imbalances in the body, and using a unique method of stimulating the feet gently using the thumbs, these imbalances can be addressed and in many cases improved. Treatment is painless and very relaxing, so much so that the majority of patients fall asleep during their session.

Why Babies and Children?

During my career I have realised that babies and young children are particularly receptive to treatments; their feet normally

About Helen

Helen Lewis has been practising as a reflexologist for the last eleven years, currently practising at the Maple Tree Clinic in Northampton. She is a fully insured member of the Association of Reflexologists, which is the recognised regulatory body for the therapy. She previously worked as the resident therapist at a doctor’s surgery for four years, and she has treated patients of all ages, with a wide range of conditions. not being exposed to the stresses and strains of life as adults’ are. In fact, many midwives recognise the effectiveness of the treatment and use it on pregnant women, as well as those in labour. It’s fairly easy to learn simple techniques and I have developed a course to make training available to parents, allowing them to learn some very

Medical research supports the power of touch as being essential for parent-baby bonding, and reflexology is based entirely on touch, making it a fantastic bonding experience for parent and baby. The treatment is both soothing and relaxing, so it is suitable for babies or toddlers who may be struggling with feeding, colic, constipation, sleeping problems or other conditions that may leave them upset and distressed.

The younger a baby is when it starts having regular reflexology treatments, the more receptive it will be as it grows older.

Reflexology is also great for parents who may be feeling stressed – particularly in the early days of parenthood when a routine is still being established.

The wonderful thing about Baby Reflexology is that it can be easily used anywhere if you know the basics - babies’ feet are after all accessible at all times and in most situations! And as each treatment given only lasts a few minutes, it can easily be incorporated into their routine, at bedtime or bath time for example.

In my experience, children love receiving Reflexology treatments and many parents find that knowing the techniques themselves gives them more confidence as they have an additional tool to soothe and calm their child when necessary. It is for these reasons that I have decided to help parents learn for themselves some very basic methods to allow them to treat their own children.

From January, I will be running courses for parents at the Maple Tree Clinic. Places will be limited to ensure one-toone tuition, and they will be issued on a first come, first served basis. Classes will be small, relaxed and friendly and all attendees will be given notes to serve as a reminder should they forget anything.

For more details, please contact the Maple Tree Clinic on 01604 765880 or contact Helen Lewis on 07752 303822.

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Recent scientific findings suggest that the old adage of, ‘Fresh air does you good’ is more than just a way of getting the children out from underfoot - it could actually boost their brain power and make them happier.

Findings announced at the 110th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology last year showed that the benign bacteria (Mycobacterium vaccae) - which is present in soil and spread by the wind – could improve learning ability and act as a natural anti-depressant. US scientists have shown that mice which had ingested M. vaccae showed increased intelligence, demonstrated by learning to negotiate a maze twice as quickly as other mice who had not been fed the bacterium.

Previous studies had also shown that mice that had been injected with the bacterium showed fewer signs of anxiety than other mice.

“It is interesting to speculate that creating learning environments in schools that include time in the outdoors where M. Vaccae is present may decrease anxiety and improve the ability to learn new tasks,” remarked Professor Dorothy Matthews, who led the study.

Picture courtesy of Mango Pictures

Fresh Air Does You Good!

The Art and Soul of Birth

by Michelle Twiselton and Sue Kinross Pregnancy is a time of great change on a physical, emotional and spiritual level. Giving birth is intuitive and instinctive, and it unfolds in its own time – it is a right brain process. It is perhaps the most natural thing on this Earth for a woman to go through.

And yet we live in a left-brain world, where we are used to being (or at least trying to be) in control of our lives, and this control extends to pregnancy and birth in the many options available for pain control, birthing assistance and even the ability to choose the date of the birth.

This left-brain culture is reflected

Revolutionising the Treatment of Back Pain?

Neuroskeletal Re-Alignment Therapy (NSRT) is a gentle and holistic treatment for back pain and a whole host of other conditions including migraines, headaches and sciatica. It doesn’t involve any bone-crunching or cracking and is in fact so relaxing that many patients fall asleep during treatment.

Being so gentle, it has no documented side-effects, and as such is safe for treating women during pregnancy and even babies. It is this – and the 1000s of successful case studies compiled - that makes NSRT an attractive proposition to many people who are in pain, especially if they have not been helped by orthodox medicine.

How Does it Work?

The only tools required are the therapist’s middle fingers. Gentle and controlled pressure is applied to a pad of fluid that sits above nerve points which sets off a tiny electrical reaction. This sends a signal

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by Pippa-Jane Thomas

to the Central Nervous System which in turn sends motor signals to muscle groups, encouraging them to relax and return to their natural state. As a result, bones and ligaments reposition themselves, relieving pain and aches. Patients often feel warm or tingling sensations during treatment, and they are always advised to take a hot bath before bed to help muscle relaxation.

The History Brought to the UK from Australia in 1997 by Carole Preen, NSRT has helped thousands of people with a wide range of conditions, from back pain to migraines to arthritis and even stroke patients.

Pippa-Jane Thomas, who was originally trained by Carole Preen herself, has a thriving complementary therapy practice in Northampton offering a wide range of treatments, including NSRT. She now also teaches NSRT in London at Morley College.

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in the types of preparation women will normally receive for birth, which is typically very informative and is certainly useful, yet which fails to engage the intuitive, natural side of the brain as it prepares for something which is in itself very intuitive and natural.

Tamara Donn, a childbirth educator from Kings Langley, recognised this failure in the modern approach to birth and founded the Birth Art Café™. Her goal was and is to help re-awaken women’s inner wisdom and to empower them to fully trust themselves and listen to their heart to honour their journey into motherhood, however it unfolds. Tamara has trained many birth professionals to run Birth Art Cafes, and we are lucky enough to have two practitioners on our doorstep – Sue Kinross in Northamptonshire and Michelle Twiselton in Milton Keynes, both of whom

are independent midwives.

The Birth Art Café™ provides pregnant women with a forum where they can come together to explore their feelings and emotions about pregnancy through creativity. It’s an opportunity to meet other pregnant women, make new connections, paint, sculpt and chat to a background of relaxing music.

Painting and sculpting are creative processes which stimulate the primitive part (right side) of the brain, which is the active part of the brain in labour. It allows women to move away from the decision making and thinking of our left-brained society to a state of simply being – the way we are in labour – and reveals resources and qualities that a woman may not have realised she has, as well as highlighting perceived obstacles, fears and negative beliefs which can then be addressed before the birth. There is no ‘right’ way of

A Case Study A female client came to me who had been suffering from chronic headaches and migraines for about 30 years and a stiff and sore neck after two car whiplash injuries, which also exacerbated the headaches and caused tense shoulders and back muscle spasms and aches. The client also suffered sciatic symptoms, which may have been linked to the other problems.

Through NSRT treatments, we hoped to relieve the tension in the neck by re-aligning it and thus reducing the frequency of the headaches. For the pelvic region we wanted to help ease the sciatic symptoms and allow for a decent night’s sleep. It

approaching it - previous experience is certainly not necessary!

If this strikes a chord with you and you would like to find out more, please contact Sue on 07738 818549 or Wendy on 07815 542253 for courses in Northants and Michelle on 07852 100484 for courses in Milton Keynes. See full adverts on pages 46 – 47.

was agreed that we would book in six treatments following the initial consultation, where a full postural analysis was undertaken as well as a full medical history.

The client had this to say about her treatment, “[I was] a little doubtful after the first treatment because although I felt very relaxed, I did not appear to feel any other benefits. After the 2nd and 3rd treatments I began to notice reduced pain in the neck area, reduced headaches and reduced back pain. Further treatments have resulted in continuous pain relief from my neck leading to less muscle tension, cricking of the neck muscles and headaches, this in turn has reduced my intake of pain-killers. I also have pain relief from my lower back area ... Generally I feel 100% better for having this course of treatment and look forward to continued relief. Yahoo! No more severe headaches, neck or back pain!”

To find out more about NSRT and book your own consultation, contact Pippa-Jane on 01604 513112 or 07789465880, or visit pippa-jane.co.uk. Ad on p.42

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Secrets of Success

by Lynne James

Lynne James started working for herself in 1996. Today she has the 8th most successful business within Forever Living Products in the UK, earning a six figure income, whilst working part time and flexibly around her twin sons.

‘There is nothing special about me’, she says and in fact, over the past 14 years she has helped many other people to realise their own success. Here she shares some of her secrets of success that she usually reserves for her team.

I was fed up, demotivated and disillusioned with my role as an Executive PA, when I was introduced to Forever. Straight away, I was attracted to the huge flexibility and potential offered by the company, and I started to work with Forever alongside my fulltime job. To my surprise, within a year I had given up my job and become pregnant with twins! I realised that the business would enable me to be true to an important value of mine, which was to stay at home with our children, whilst at the same time develop a very successful career and income Was it a bed of roses? Was it easy? Absolutely not, and I didn’t expect it to be – I knew that this was a business, not a little thing I was doing for pin money. I knew I would have challenges, up days and down days, and I knew I had to keep focussed and true to my vision of success.

I now have a lifestyle that I love and I never have to go back out to that 9-5 job ever again if I don’t want to, and believe me, I don’t want to! The income I now earn allows me many perks that I wouldn’t otherwise have been able to afford, such as a private

education for my children, and it also allows me to give away more. Sadly, my mother died of breast cancer in May 2004, but I am now in a position where I can contribute regularly to Cancer Research, as well as a number of other charities.

So what are my secrets of success? Whilst I don’t presume to know what is right for you, I have been privileged enough to help a number of women to achieve success within Forever, and I believe there are three main principles that when followed, will help anyone achieve their goals no matter what area of business they are in:

Mums

The Big Three Attitude

Having worked with hundreds of women in business, it is apparent to me that one’s attitude cannot only be chosen, but is also probably the single most important factor. Also, our attitude can be worked on over time, as mine has! A positive attitude is really important if you want to be successful, whatever success means to you. A ‘glass is half full’ attitude is much better for those who want to achieve something meaningful in life than a ‘glass is half empty’ one.

Perseverance

This is key to being successful in all walks of life. We don’t always achieve our goals in the time frame we had planned. Some people fall at this first hurdle - the first time they fail, they give up.

Successful people however, pick themselves up, dust themselves off and plan again. Bob Dylan emphasised this when he said, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realise how close they were to success when they gave up”.

Making it

Coming from Contribution

In my experience, no matter what we do, whether it be in our personal lives or in our business lives, this is key. Let’s look at being successful in business – if we genuinely ask ourselves how what we can offer can be of benefit to others, how it can fill a need, rather than only what we can get from it, then success is more certain. Offering a win/win scenario is more attractive to others.

To find out more about working with Lynne and Forever Living Products you can contact Lynne on 01295 722525. See full advert on page 39.

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Does Work/Life Balance Really Exist?

Real work/life balance is hard to find. Short of finding life/life balance, it is probably one of the most common goals of parents today. If we’re not trying to work fewer hours so we can spend more time with our children, we are looking to work a few more hours (more than none that is!) to give our brains a work out whilst not affecting our parental responsibilities. But sadly the vast majority of us find this holy grail to be somewhat elusive... Is it too much to ask?

Well it seems that it might not be... Whilst at The Baby & Child Show last year, we had the pleasure of meeting a lot of Toddle About readers, and one reader, Sasha Guillan, told us that she had found a job with a company called Virtual Sales Team that was extremely flexible and gave her the work/life balance that she was looking for. And we were thrilled to find out that she had learned about it through Toddle About!

So why did Sasha apply for a role at Virtual Sales Team (VST)? “I had been thinking about getting back into the workforce for a while, however with my youngest at nursery and my eldest at school it was a real challenge to find a role where I could utilise my business skills whilst still maintaining the all important family routine.

VST offers flexible working hours, which are also adaptable to changing circumstances. This

allows me to do the nursery and school runs at both ends of the day. If my daughter is unwell and unable to go to school, I can make up my shift at another time. There is also the option to change or reduce my hours during the school holidays. This flexibility has made coming back to work enjoyable and easy rather than a logistical nightmare.”

Spotlight on Rebecca Range (Eddie + Teddie) So what’s your story?

I moved to Northampton for my job as a designer/product manager for Maclaren about 5 years ago and since then have been joined by my two sons Edward (3) and George (19 mths).

I set up Eddie and Teddie when George was 9 months - it took me that long to actually feel normal again!

Why Eddie + Teddie?

I have always wanted to do my own thing and moving into textiles was the natural decision. It’s in my blood! The products that I wanted for Edward just weren’t out there so I felt there was a design niche in the market for me.

What inspires you?

Based behind the Britannia Inn on the Bedford Road in Northampton, VST is a business to business sales support agency that prides itself on offering flexible, part-time roles which fit around family commitments and deliver a real sense of personal achievement, coupled with excellent rates of pay.

They realised that there was a gap in the employment market for professional people who would love to return to the workforce, if they could simply benefit from flexible and stimulating roles that fit around their personal commitments, and they seem to have filled it.

So congratulations Sasha, and thank you VST!

If spending a few hours a day back in the business world with like-minded individuals, and with a true work/life balance appeals to you, give Virtual Sales Team a call today. For more information about the roles available at VST please contact Laura on 01604 609944 or email info@virtualsalesteam.co.uk and quote TA/Jan11.

Inspiration comes from everyday life and what I would want in my home. I love colour and feel that there is too much beige out there, hence Eddie + Teddie is bright and vibrant. My products are fun, unique and different. They have to be practical and washable, but it doesn’t mean they can’t be stylish.

Biggest Challenges?

Finding time to work and selling it!

High Points?

I recently got featured on the Kiddibase facebook page for my Christmas stockings, that was good.

Advice for others?

Give it lots of thought as it takes a lot of effort and time, plus you don’t always earn money straight away!

How to find out more/buy?

I have a blog: www.eddieandteddie.blogspot.com. I am on facebook plus my website, www. eddieandteddie.co.uk and folksy. com.

Subscribe to Toddle About for FREE at www.toddleabout.co.uk

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The Naughty Step Debate Many of us use or have considered using the naughty step. We’ve all seen Jo Frost (AKA Supernanny) use it to successfully transform disruptive children’s behaviour, however some experts argue that punishing children (in this, or any way) can be detrimental to a child’s development and can actually cause them to misbehave more.

For The Naughty Step It works!

The proof, as they say, is in the pudding, and the naughty step really works. There are countless anecdotal stories regarding the success of this technique to prove its effectiveness.

Allows the child to calm down and reflect The naughty step removes the child from the situation that caused the bad behaviour, making it easier for them to calm down. Having this quiet time on their own gives the child a moment to think over what they have done. Jo Frost describes the naughty step as a place of reflection where the child realises they’ve done something wrong.

Gives the child a clear consequence for their actions Using the naughty step consistently shows the child that there is a consequence for all their actions and that they will not get away with misbehaviour. This causes them to behave with more respect towards their parents as they learn that there are repercussions for their bad behaviour.

Bad behaviour gets no attention Much misbehaviour in young children is caused by a desire for attention. In being removed from what they were doing and being made to sit on their own with no attention and no audience for their behaviour, the child soon learns that misbehaving has the opposite effect from what they intended.

Couple this by rewarding good behaviour with your attention, and children soon learn what gets the desired result.

Helps the parent to calm down While the step is in use, the parent gets a valuable moment gain some perspective on the situation and calm down themselves. Discipline rarely has positive outcomes when a parent loses their temper.

Teaches what behaviour is unacceptable Explanation is a key part of this technique which,

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through repetition, teaches the child that they are being punished because of particular things that they have done.

The explanation is very clear so the child soon learns what behaviour is acceptable and what is not.

Teaches the values of repentance and forgiveness By requiring the child to say sorry, they learn that it is OK to make a mistake as long as they apologise.

The parent also models that it is right to forgive someone who is sorry for something they have done.

Is a simple technique The naughty step takes the complexity out of discipline. There is a simple formula that anyone can follow, taking away possible damage caused by parents using a trial and error approach.

Summary of the Naughty Step Technique The naughty step technique is a ‘time out’ method used as a punishment when a child misbehaves. In summary, the child is told what it is they did wrong and that their behaviour is unacceptable. The child is warned that if they behave in that way again they’ll be placed on the naughty step. If they misbehave again the child is sat on the naughty step, told why they have been put there and how long they have to stay there (1 minute for each year of age). If the child gets up they are put back there until they stay for the required length of time. They are then told again why you put them there, and asked to apologise. You then give them a kiss and cuddle and go back to what you were doing. Jo Frost suggests a naughty mat is better for the under 3’s so you can keep an eye on your child the whole time.

Join to thedo? debate at www.toddleabout.co.uk/articles Need things Search the Daily Activity Planner from page 25

Punishing children doesn’t really work The naughty step is a form of punishment and research into the effects of punishment on children has found it to be more of a quick fix as it rarely results in a long term change of behaviour.

Distracts children from the real issues Children are likely to focus on how they are personally affected by their rule breaking rather than considering the effects of their behaviour on other people. Use of the naughty step might make a child’s good behaviour dependent on the presence of their parents.

Doesn’t get to the root of the problem Using a formulaic approach like this makes parents less likely to consider why their child is misbehaving in the first place. Trying to deal with the underlying cause of the child’s behaviour would be more beneficial to their development and more effective in influencing future behaviour.

Builds resentment Young children are desperate to exert their control over their world so are very resentful when it’s taken away. Putting a child on the naughty step makes them resentful which may make them want to misbehave again to seek revenge, or to regain the control that they perceive they have lost.

It is inappropriate for under 4s Some experts argue that the Naughty Step shouldn’t be used with children under the age of 3½ to 4 years, as they are not developmentally able to understand

y rs ve ro er nt rn Co Co

Against The Naughty Step

what it is all about. Their ability to reason is not sufficiently developed for them to be able to learn from the experience and to therefore behave differently next time.

Damages parents’ relationship with their children When children are punished like this it makes it very hard for them to see their parents as caring allies which is vital for a healthy parent/child relationship.

They learn that the same people who care for them and comfort them when they’re hurt or upset also sometimes make them miserable on purpose. Since a good parent/child relationship is often a reason why a child chooses to behave well, using the naughty step might actually cause them to misbehave more in the long run.

Signals that their parents’ love is conditional It’s hard for a child to understand why someone who clearly cares for them would make them suffer sometimes, and they may come to think that they are only loved as long as they do what their parents want of them. This can create insecurity in a child and sends a confusing message about the nature of a loving relationship.

It models the abuse of power The naughty step involves a battle of wills, which the parent ultimately wins. Some experts argue that forcing children to undergo something unpleasant to make them behave sends the message that it is OK to use your power to make another person suffer in order to get them to do what you want.

Alternative methods of behaviour management Positive Time Out An opportunity to cool off is beneficial for children when it is done in a positive way. If the time out is treated - and explained - as a way to help your child feel better, rather than as a punishment, then the battle of wills is removed.

Encourage your child to go to their time out place of their own volition and perhaps even stay with them whilst they are cooling down. Make their time out place somewhere comfortable and relaxing and involve them in choosing where it should be and what they would like there.

Encourage Empathy Try to explain to your child why they should be

kind or resist certain temptations, and explain the effects of their behaviour on other people.

Use Kind but Firm Discipline.

Instead of punishing little ones for their behaviour, simply remove them from what they are doing and show them something else they can do instead.

Distraction and redirection are the best strategies for younger children until they are old enough to learn to respect and cooperate with others.

Address the Root Cause Try to find out why your child misbehaved in the first place. Dealing with what caused their actions is the best way to prevent it from happening again.

Suggested further reading: Unconditional Parenting, A. Kohn; Positive Discipline: The First Three Subscribe to Toddle About for FREE at www.toddleabout.co.uk Years, Nelsen, Erwin & Duffy; Ask Supernanny, Frost.

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24 Sort groups by their distance from your home @ www.toddleabout.co.uk

MONDAYS

Abington

Abington /Kingsthorpe NCT 10:00 -12:00; Members houses; 50p donation Rachel: 01604 403766 or 07867 521411 For bump - 4. Everyone welcome!

Blackthorn Blackthorn Children’s Centre Childminding Group: 9:00 - 11:45 Breastfeeding Group: 13:30 - 16:00

Longmead Court, NN3 8QD; 01604 413504

Cliftonville Active Baby Company Swimming Cripps Recreation Centre, NN1 5BD 9:00 - 10:00 ; prebook 6-wk term Denise - 01604 826066 Swimming classes for 18 mths - 4yrs.

Duston Duston Mums & Tots

Duston Village Hall, Sycamore Rd 9:30 - 11:30; Termtime only

Kidz ‘n’ Co Mums and Tots Group

13:30 - 15:00; Term time only. Harpole Baptist Chapel, nr Turnpike Pub NN7 4DD. Rosemary: 01604 588116; £1 per family Everyone welcome, esp. Duston new build.

Duston Library Children’s Centre 10.30 - 11.00: Duston Rhymetime 14:00 - 15:00: Baby Weigh Pendle Road, NN5 6DT; 01604 752891

Far Cotton GymBugs

56 - 58 Rothersthorpe Crescent, NN4 0RY 10:00: 2-3yrs; 11:00: <2s; 13:00 & 14:00: 3-4yrs Tracey: 01604 859412 Enjoy ladders, beams & climbing apparatus

St Marys Tiddlywinks Group

St Mary’s Church, Abbey Road, NN4 8EY 9:15 - 11:00. For 0 - 5s. Termtime only

Grange Park Musical Minis

The Pavilion, Foxfield Way, NN4 5BE 10:00 - 10:45; £4 (book termly) Amanda Perkins: 01908 259914 Free Trial Offer Voucher in Centre Pages

Grange Park Parent & Toddler

Grange Park Community Centre, School Lane 9:30- 11:30 & 12:45 - 14:45; £2.00 Angie - 07816 484851. Free 1st session. All yr.

Hardingstone Cheeky Monkeys

Hardingstone Village Hall, High St, NN4 6DA 9:30 - 11:30; £2; Gwen - 01604 762954 For 0 - 4 years

Headlands Headlands Children’s Centre Parents & Babies Group: 10:00 - 12:00

Family Worker Drop In: 13:00 - 15:00 Bushland Road, NN3 2NS; 01604 411440; Free P&B for 0 - 15 mths.

Hunsbury Ante-natal Pilates Classes

13:30 - 14:30; The Maple Tree Clinic, 1 Overslade Close, NN4 0RZ

In the Water

Northampton

Susie Burgess, Back at Ease: 07880 750258 Pilates sessions specifically for pregnant mums

Water Play Session: 8:45 - 10:30 Tots go free; Maximum of two children under 8

Soft Play & Bouncy Castle: 9:15 & 10:00 £3.00 (£2.50 with leisure card); 6 mths to 4 yrs

Pre School Gymnastics: 11:00 - 11:45

£5.50 (£4.95 with leisure card); For 3 - 5s Danes Camp Leisure Ctr, Clannell Rd, NN4 0RX 01604 837200; Term time

Northampton Multiples

14:00 - 16:00; Camp Hill Comm Centre, Dayrell Rd, Camp Hill, NN4 9RR Claire: 07587 154104; £5 p/m + £1 per session

Kings Heath Stay and Play Drop in

Camrose at Kings Heath, 16 Park Sqre, NN5 7LQ 9:30-11:30 (breakfast available) & 13:00 - 15:00 Fri: 9:30 - 11:30; 01604 757694

1st Tuesday of mth is H/V Drop In

St James St James Parent and Toddler

St. James Com. Centre, St.James Rd, NN5 5LQ 10:00 -12:00 ; £1; Sarah - 01604 456231 Sometimes open during holidays.

The Mounts Mounts Baths Water Playgroup

The Mounts Baths, Upper Mounts 14:00 - 15:30 ; Tots are free; 01604 837400.

Max of two children under 8.

Thorplands Thorplands Children’s Centre

9:30 - 11:30: Midwife Drop-in 13:00 - 14:30: Cygnets Tots Group (0 - walking) 19:00-20:30: Dads Football @ N’pton Academy Farm Field Court, NN3 8AQ; 01604 741131

Whitehills St. Mark’s Parent & Tots Group

Kingsthorpe Kingsthorpe Children’s Centre 10:00-11:30: Messy Play 12:30-14:30: H’lth Visitor Drop In 13:00 - 14:30: Tiny Time

St Marks Church Hall, Greenhills Crescent, NN2 10:00 - 11:15 ; £1.50 + 20p p/c Sue - 01604 715342. Term time only.

Little Signers Club

Abington Abington Tots Group

TUESDAYS

St.Davids Road, NN2 6NS; 01604 791537 Kingsthorpe Children’s Centre 10:00 - 11:00: beginners Sue: 01604 791537; Please prebook Baby signing fun for you and little one.

St Gregory’s Church, 22 Park Ave N, NN3 2HS 9:00 - 11:00; £1.00; Sarah - 01604 712347 Crafts, toys, books and puzzles for 0-5s.

Blackthorn Blackthorn Children’s Centre,

Little Billing Active Baby Company Swimming

‘The Venue’, Billing Aquadrome, NN3 9DA 11:00 - 17:30 Denise: 01604 826066; £48 per 6-wk term Swimming classes for10 wks to school-Prebook!

Northampton Centre Mini Springers Parent & Toddler

Springs Family Ctr, Spring Boroughs, NN1 2SN 10:00 - 12:00; Free; Robyn - 01604 630457

Chatterbox

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, 147-155 Kettering Road, NN1 4BS 9:30 - 11:15; For 0 - 5s. Termtime only.

United Ref. Church, Abington Ave, NN1 4QA 13:30 - 15:00. Toys available for 6 mths-5 years.

Mini Music 9:30 & 10:45 (babies); £1

Victoria Road Congregational Church, Cyril St. Me & my Dad: 18:00 - 19:00; Little Movers: 15:30 - 16:30 Vernon Terrace Children’s Ctre, NN1 5HE Free; 01604 633894. Drop in sessions

Semilong Bangladeshi Mums and Tots

Spencer Camrose Breastfeeding Drop In Group

Camrose Sure Start, Streatfield Road, NN5 7DF 9:00 - 12:00 ; Free; 01604 585219

Singing & Signing

Physical Fun

Hunsbury Library, Overslade Close, NN4 0RZ 10:30 - 11:00; Free; 01604 702830

Ecton Brook Creative Crafts - Drop in arts & crafts

Far Cotton Gloucester Parent and Tots Group

Gloucester Nursery, Camborne Cl, NN4 8PH 9:00 - 11:00; Rachael - 01604 762251

GymBugs

56 - 58 Rothersthorpe Crescent, NN4 0RY 10:00: 2-3yrs; 11:00, 13:00 & 14:00: 3-4yrs Tracey: 01604 859412 Enjoy ladders, beams, & climbing apparatus

Goldings Rainbows Childminding Group

9:00 - 11:00; Old Barns, The Obelisk Centre

Gateway Centre, Mill Rd, NN2 6AX 13:00 - 15:00 ; Free; Kulsuma - 01604 624930

Parklands Children’s Centre, Spinney Hill Rd 9:15 - 11:00; £1; 01604 642118

East Hunsbury Hunsbury Rhymetime

Ecton Brook Children’s Centre, NN3 5DY 9:30 – 11:00; Free; 01604 409280

Toy Library

Spinney Hill Time 2 Play - Messy Play

13:00 - 15:00: Fledglings Play Session (book) 13:00 – 14:30: H/Visitor Clinic. Drop in Longmead Court, NN3 8QD; 01604 413504

Grange Park Stepping Stones

Grange Park Comm Centre, School Ln, NN4 5FZ 9:15 - 11:00, every 2nd & 4th wk, For 0 - 4s Charlotte:01604 875188. Includes breakfast!

Child Health Clinic

Grange Park Comm Centre, School Ln, NN4 5FZ 9:00 - 11:00, 1st Tues every month Health Visitors - 01604 742420

Arts & Crafts

For Pregnancy

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Daily Activity Planner

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** SPECIAL OFFERS * SPECIAL OFFERS * SPECIAL OFFERS **

** SPECIAL OFFERS * SPECIAL OFFERS * SPECIAL OFFERS **

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Daily Activity Planner

Northampton Borough

Hardingstone Music Bugs

9:15 - 11:00 & 13:30 - 15:00; £1.00 01604 642118; 1st Tues in month is H/V Drop In

Naomi - 07779 785166 Structured Play for 6m to 5 yrs all year. Book!

Hardingstone Village Hall, High St, NN4 6DA 9:45 - 10:25 & 10:45 - 11:25 Fiona - 0844 5781017 to book Fun music sessions: Book a taster session!

St James St. James Rhymetime

Music Bugs

Kairos Centre 9:30 - 10:10; Fiona Bayliss: 0844 5781017 Music session for 0-5s. Book a taster session!

Headlands Drop In Bump & Baby Health Clinic

St James Library, 138 St James Road, NN5 5LQ 10:00 - 11:00; Free - drop in; 01604 762192

The Mounts Parent & Tots

Headlands Healthy Walks - Bring along baby/toddler!

Headlands Children’s Centre, Bushland Rd 9:30 - 11:15; Free; 01604 411440

Come & Play!

Eastfield Primary School, St Alban’s Cl, NN3 2RJ 10:00 - 11:00; Free; 01604 411440 Play session for pre-schoolers & parents/carers

Family Worker Drop In

11:00 - 12:00; Cedar Road Primary School 01604 411440; Mthly, term time. Confidential.

Come and Play!

Cedar Road Primary School 13:30 - 14:30; 01604 411440 Play Session for preschool children + parents.

Kingsley Mums & Tots

Duke St Evangelical Church, 4 Duke St, NN1 3BA 10:15 - 11:30; Free; Moyra - 01604 635535 For 0 - 4s. Termtime only

Thorplands Thorplands Breastfeeding Group

The Abbey Centre, Overslade Close, NN4 0RZ. 9:30 - 11:30; £2 (1 or 2 children), 50p p/sibling Alicia: 07917 752533. Creative activities & toys!

Health Visitor Drop In: 14:00 - 15:30; Free Male “Whole You”: 11:15 - 12:15: Free

Water Play Session: 13:15 - 14:45; Tots are free. Max two children under 8.

Thorplands Sure Start, Farm Field Ct, NN3 8AQ 01604 741131; Health advice & baby weighing

Weston Favell Music Go Round

Kingsley Park Meth. Church, Milton St, NN2 7JF 13:30 - 15:00

Kingsthorpe Aqualight Swimming

Wootton Little Acorns Toddler Group

Tuesday Tots: Breastfeeding welcome!

All Saints School, Boughton Green Rd 10:00 - 11:30; £1.50+ 50p p/c. Termtime

Health Visitor Drop In

Wallace Road Nursery School, NN2 7EE 9:30-10:30; 1st Tues of mth. 01604 713422

Kingsthorpe Children’s Ctre Drop Ins 9:30 - 11:30: Spectrum (Autism group) 16:00 - 17:30: Double Trouble Twins St.Davids Road, NN2 6NS; 01604 791537

Little Billing Active Baby Company Swimming

‘The Venue’, Billing Aquadrome, NN3 9DA 13:30 - 15:30 Denise: 01604 826066; £48 per 6-wk term Swimming classes for10 wks to school-Prebook!

Moulton Moulton Rhymetime

Moulton Library, Doves Lane, NN3 2nd Friday of mth, 14:30-15:00; Free

Northampton Centre Early Learning Centre Playtime

ELC, 14 Peacock Place, Abington St, NN1 2DP 9:30 - 11:30; Free; Sharon - 01604 626256 Drop in to play with ELC toys! Restarts in Feb ‘11

St Giles Toddle In

St Giles Church Centre, St Giles Terr, NN1 2BN 10:00 - 12:00; 50p/family; Sue - 01604 230360 Termtime only - crafts, play and singing

Northampton Central Rhymetime

10:15 - 10:45; Central Library, Abington Street, NN1 2BA. Free; 01604 4620403

Spencer Drop in Family Health Group: 13:00-15:00 Stay & Play: 9:30 - 11:30

Camrose Children’s Centres, Tenby Rd, NN5 7DF 01604 585219; Advice and baby weighing

Spinney Hill Time 2 Play - Messy Play

Parklands Children’s Centre, Spinney Hill Rd

Hunsbury The Abbey Centre Mums & Tots Group

Farm Field Court, NN3 8AQ 12:30 - 13:30; Free; 01604 741131

St Peter’s Church, 76 High St, NN3 9:30: <1yr; 10:30: 1-2yr; 11:30: 2yr+ Becca: 01604 891675 Music classes, pre-book classes termly

Fairfields School, Trinity Avenue, NN2 6JN 15:30 - 17:30; Book as 11-wk term Emmaline Kitson - 01604 830405 30-min swim sessions for 0-5s. Prebook!

Headlands Children’s Centre, Bushland Rd, NN3 2NS; 13:30 - 15:00; Free; 01604 411440

Pre School Gymnastics: 11:00 - 11:45 £5.50 (£4.95 with leisure card); For 3 - 5s

Soft Play & Bouncy Castle: 9:15 & 10:00 £3.00 (£2.50 with leisure card); 6 mths to 4 yrs Danes Camp Leisure Centre, Clannell Rd, NN4 01604 837 200; Term time only.

Kings Heath Stay and Play Drop in

Camrose at Kings Heath, 16 Park Sqre, NN5 7LQ 13:00 - 15:00; 01604 757694

Wootton Trinity Church, High Street, Wootton 9:30 - 11:30; £2; rachelclarke39@yahoo.co.uk 0-5s. Refreshments provided. Runs all year.

Kingsthorpe Holy Trinity Church Mums & Tots

Little Stars Group

Kingsthorpe Children’s Centre 13:00 - 14:45: Stay & Play Drop-in 14:30 - 16:30: Midwife Drop In

St George the Martyr Church, Church Hill, NN4 14:00 - 15:00; Free; Toddler praise service.

WEDNESDAYS

Blackthorn Blackthorn Children’s Centre 13:30-14:00: Music Time (<12m) 14:00-15:00: Music Time (1 – 5yrs) 9:30 - 12:30: Smoking in Pregnancy Longmead Ct, NN3 8QD; 01604 413504

Cliftonville Active Baby Company Swimming

Cripps Recreation Centre, Hospital, NN1 5BD 9:00 - 11:00 & 14:00 - 15:00; Book as 6-wk term Denise - 01604 826066 30-min swim lessons for 10 weeks+. Book!

Duston Stay & Play- Baby: 9:30; Walk-4: 13:30

Duston Library Sure Start, Pendle Rd, NN5 6DT Please drop in; Free; 01604 752891

10:00 - 11:45; Church Hall, Edinburgh Road

St.Davids Road, NN2 6NS; 01604 791537

Little Billing Active Baby Company Swimming

‘The Venue’, Billing Aquadrome, NN3 9DA 11:30 - 16:30 Denise: 01604 826066; £48 per 6-wk term Swimming classes for10 wks to school-Prebook!

Lodge Farm

Play Sessions for 0-5s

The Barn, Community Ctr, Crestwood Rd 9:30 - 11:30; Free; 01604 785969

Northampton Centre Spring Lane Baby Cafe Drop In

Spring Lane Surestart, Spring Lane, NN1 2JW. 9:30 - 11:30; 01604 620484 or 07795 110109 Free Breastfeeding support drop In group

Chatterbox

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, Kettering Road, 9:30 - 11:15; For 0 - 5s. Termtime only.

Ecton Brook Tiny Tots Drop In Stay & Play Session

Aqualight Swimming

Far Cotton Far Cotton Rhymetime

Vernon Terrace Children’s Ctre, NN1 5HE Play & Learn: 9:30 - 10:30; £1 Messy Play: 15:30 - 16:30; £1 Baby Grow Group: 14:00 - 16:00; Free 01604 633894; Drop in: Baby weighing

Ecton Brook Children’s Centre, NN3 5DY 13:30 – 15:00; Free; 01604 409280

Far Cotton Library, Towcester Rd, NN4 8LG 10:30 - 11:00; Free; 01604 762192

GymBugs

56 - 58 Rothersthorpe Crescent, Rothersthorpe Trading Estate, NN4 0RY 10:00: 2-3 yrs; 11:00: 3-4 yrs Tracey: 01604 859412; Enjoy ladders, beams, & climbing apparatus

Grange Park Tumble Tots

Grange Park Comm Centre, School Ln, NN4 5FZ Gymbabes: 9:30: Toddlers; 10:30; 2-3yrs; 11:30 & 14:00; 3yrs+: 13:00

Park Inn, Northampton 9:30 - 11:00; Book as 11-wk term Emmaline Kitson - 01604 830405 30-min swim sessions for 0-5s. Prebook

Toy Library

United Reformed Church, Abington Ave, Northampton, NN1 4QA; 10:00 - 11:30 A range of toys are available for 6 mths-5 years

Sixfields Little Signers Club

Nuffield Fitness Centre, Weedon Rd, NN5 5BG 13:30 - 14:30; £45 for 6 weeks Angie Kennedy: 01604 751444 Baby signing fun for you and your little one

28 Sort all groups by distance from your home: www.toddleabout.co.uk

In the Water

Singing & Signing

Physical Fun

Arts & Crafts

For Pregnancyâ&#x20AC;&#x201A;

29

Daiily Activity Planner

Northampton Borough

Spencer Camrose Breastfeeding Group: 9:00-12:00 Stay & Play: 9:30 - 11:30 Camrose Sure Start, Streatfield Rd, NN5 7DF Free; 01604 585219; Breastfeeding support

St James Stay & Play Drop-in Family Health

St James Health Clinic 14:00 - 15:15; Free; Camrose - 01604 585219 Health advice & baby weighing

Mums ‘n’ Tots

Gospel Hall, Spencer Bridge Road, NN5 7DP 9:30 - 11:00: donations; Gill: 07749 520588 Wide range of toys & singing session at end

The Mounts Mounts Baths Water Playgroup

The Mounts Baths, Upper Mounts, NN1 3DN 14:00 - 15:30; Tots are free; 01604 837400 Maximum of two children under 8.

Thorplands Stay & Play

Thorplands Children’s Ctre, Farm Field Ct, NN3 13:00 - 15:30; 01604 741131 Informal group for children under 5 years old.

Upton Talking Point

16 Mill Pond Drive, Upton, NN5 4EW 10:00 - 12:00; Free; Marilyn: 01604 454243 Bump - 8 mths. Meet other new mums!

Weston Favell Music Go Round

St Peter’s Church, 76 High St, NN3 13:15: 1 – 2½ yrs; 14:15: 0 - 1 yr Becca: 01604 891675 Music classes, pre-book classes termly

Emmanuel Family Tots

Emmanuel Church, Weston Favell Centre.

10:00 - 11:30; £1; Maureen - 01604 402150 Relaxed atmosphere & safe playtime

Duston St Luke’s Mums & Tots

St Luke’s CEVA School, St. Crispins Dr, NN5 4BL 14:00 - 15:15 ; 01604 592008

Messy Play: 9:30; Story Time: 14:15; Coffee Shop: 13:00 - 14:00 Sunbeams Stay & Play

Northampton Centre Young Parents Lunch Club: 11:30-14:00 Baby Massage: 14:45 - 15:45

United Reform Church, Main Road 9:30 - 11:30, fortnightly; 01604 752891

East Hunsbury East Hunsbury Toddlers

9:30 - 11:00; East Hunsbury Primary School £1.50 per family; For 0 - 4s. Term time only

Ecton Brook Childminders Group: 9:15 – 11:15 Toddler Music: 9:30 & 10:00 Baby Clinic: 13:00 – 15:00

Ecton Brook Children’s Centre, NN3 5DY 01604 409280; All free drop in sessions

Grange Park Talking Point

10:00 - 12:00; 10 Foxglove Close, Grange Park Charlotte-01604 875 188 or H/V-01604 742420 Bump - 8 mths. Free. Meet other new mums!

Hardingstone Music Bugs

Hardingstone Village Hall, High Street, NN4 6DA Sessions at 9:15, 10:15 & 11:15 Fiona - 0844 5781017 Music for 0 - 5s. Book a taster session!

Headlands Headlands Parent and Tots Group

Headlands School, Bushland Rd, NN3 2NS 9:00 - 11:00; £1; Julie - 01604 413462 Activities for 0 - 4s. Term-time only.

Autism Concern Parent Group

Weston Favell Rhymetime

Hunsbury Ante-natal Pilates Classes

THURSDAYS

Abington Museum Toddler Craft Session

Abington/Northampton Museum (alternates) 13:00 - 15:00, twice monthly; Free Liz or Lucy - 01604 838111

New Beginnings

10:00 - 11:30. Venue TBC; free Charlotte: 07887 564370; Please call to book

Brackmills Birthing Lightly with Yoga

18:00 - 19:00; The Maple Tree Clinic, 1 Overslade Close, NN4 0RZ Susie Burgess, Back at Ease: 07880 750258 Pilates sessions specifically for pregnant mums

Under 8s Water Play Session

Danes Camp Leisure Centre, Clannell Rd 8:45 - 10:30; Tots are free; 01604 837200 Maximum of two children under 8 years.

Kings Heath Stay and Play Drop in

Camrose at Kings Heath, 16 Park Sqre, NN5 7LQ 9:30-11:30 (+ under 2s group); 01604 757694

Kingsthorpe Northampton Homebirth Group

Image Gym, Brackmills, Northampton, NN4 7EE 19:30 - 21:00. With Mummies Birth Buddy Claire Morrow-Goodman: 07966 288236

Whitehills Nursery School, Acre Lane, NN2 8DF 19:30 - 21:30, 1st Thur of mth; Free Kelly - 07716 017366 Discuss home birth options with midwives.

Cliftonville Active Baby Company Swimming

Breastfeeding Drop In Group

Cripps Recreation Centre, Hospital, NN1 5BD 9:00 - 12:00; book as 6-week term Denise - 01604 826066 30 min swim sessions for 10 wks+. Book

Collingtree Active Baby Company

Hilton Hotel, Collingtree 10:00 - 12:00 (6 mths+) Denise Wesson: 01604 826066 30-min swim classes. Call to book.

Boothville & Moulton NCT Group

Various parents’ houses - call for location!

10:00 - 12:00; Free; Carolyn - 01604 790496

Headlands Children’s Centre, Bushland Road 9:30 - 11:00, fortnightly; Free; 01604 411440 For 0 - 4s. Creche available.

Weston Favell Library, Shop Centre, NN3 8JZ 10:30 - 11:00 fortnightly; Free; 01604 403100

Carey Baptist Church, 34 West Street, NN3 7SB 10:30 - 12:00 and 13:30 - 15:00. For 0 - 4s.

Duston Library Children’s Centre, Pendle Rd 01604 752891; For 0 - 4s; Free Drop ins

Tots Group

The Salvation Army, Penistone Road 10:00 - 11:30; Mrs Pitt - 01604 404891

Swimming classes for10 wks to school-Prebook!

Moulton Toddle Inn

15:30-17:30; Kingsthorpe Children’s Centre, St David’s Road, NN2 6NS; 01604 791537

Time 2 Play Messy Play Baby Group

Wallace Road Nursery, Wallace Rd, NN2 7EE 9:15 - 11:00; £1.00; 01604 713422

Little Billing Active Baby Company Swimming

‘The Venue’, Billing Aquadrome, NN3 9DA 11:00 - 14:00 Denise: 01604 826066; £48 per 6-wk term

Vernon Terrace Children’s Centre, NN1 5HE 01604 633894. Young =under 19s. Free lunch inc.

Cupcakes & Cuddles Cafe for Babies

Roobarb & Custard, 12 Wellington Street, NN1 1:00 - 15:00; Free; Term time only Stacy: 07880 558440. For babies in their 1st year.

Rectory Farm Rectory Farm Toddler Group

9:30: Rectory Farm School, Olden Rd, NN3 5DD

Spencer Camrose Stay and Play and Toy Library

Camrose Children’s Centres, Tenby Rd, NN5 7DF 13:00 - 15:00; 01604 585219. Drop in session.

St James Stay & Play Drop in

St James Health Clinic, St James 9:30 - 11:30 & 13:30 - 15:15; Free Drop in; 0-5s Camrose Centre - 01604 585219

Lyncrest Primary Parent & Toddler

Lyncrest Primary School, Lyncrest Ave, NN5 5PE 9:30 - 11:30; £1 per family; 01604 751336 0- 5s, inc. snack & drink. Termtime only.

The Mounts Aquanatal Fitness Class

19:15 - 20:15; The Mounts Baths, NN1 3DN 01604 837400; £4 non-members; Plse prebook

Thorplands Les Canetons French Singing Group

Lodge Farm Barn, Crestwood Rd, NN3 8JJ Thurs: 10:00 - 11:00; £3.70 + 70p per sibling 07985 712339; www.speaktheirlanguage.co.uk French Singing Group for Little People. All year.

Little Signers Club: 13:00-14:00 Teens & Tinies (Mums <19 yrs): 11:30-13:00.

Free; 01604 741131 Thorplands Children’s Centre, Farm Field Court Drop-in Sessions

Child & Parent Ctr (NSPCC), 48 Waterpump Ct 10:00 - 12:00; Free; 01604 493336 For 0 - 4s. Toys, arts & crafts, music, etc.

Weston Favell Tumble Tots

St. Peters, Church Hall, High Street, NN3 3JX Gymbabes: 9:30; Toddlers: 10:30; 2-3 yrs: 11:30; 3-5 yrs: 13:00 Naomi - 07779 785 166 Structured Play for 6m-5yrs all year. Book!

Wootton Fields Wootton Fields Rhymetime

Wootton Fields Library, Wooldale Rd, NN4 6TP 10:15 - 10:45; Free; 01604 669213; Term time

FRIDAYS

Abington Abington Library Rhymetime

14:15 - 14:45; Lindsay Ave, NN3 2SJ Free; 01604 401402; Termtime only

30 Want your group listed here? Just email info@toddleabout.co.uk

Abington Parish Rooms, Ashburnham Road 9:10 - 9:50, 10:00 - 10:40 Fiona Bayliss - 0844 5781017 to book Music sessions for 0-5s. Book a Trial!

Active Play: 10:00 - 11:00 Rhyme Time: 11:00 - 11:30

Abington Children’s Centre, Abington United Reformed Church. 01604 521175; free

Cliftonville Active Baby Company Swimming

Cripps Recreation Centre, Northampton Hospital, NN1 5BD; 9:00 - 12:00; Denise - 01604 826066; Book per 6-week term 30min swim classes for 10wks-4yrs. Pre-book

Collingtree Active Baby Company

13:30 - 15:30; Hilton Hotel, Collingtree Denise Wesson: 01604 826066 30-min swim classes. Book per 6-week term.

Duston Duston & Villages NCT Group

Various members’ houses for bump - toddler 10:00 - 11:30; 50p; Sarah - 07743 673204

Earls Barton Earls Barton Rhymetime

Earls Barton Library, Broad Street, NN6 0ND 14:30 – 15:00; Free; 01604 810726; Term time

Ecton Brook Ecton Brook Children’s Centre 9:30– 10:30: Baby Babble (<12 m): 13:45 – 14:45: Soft Play (1–2 yrs):

Ecton Brook Road, NN3 5DY. 01604 409280

Grange Park Little Signers Club

Kairos Centre, Saxon Ave, NN4 5FB 10:00: Drop in!, 11:00: Beginners (Prebook) Angie: 07816 484851 Baby signing fun for you and little one

Hardingstone N H S Toddlers Group

Northampton High School, Newport Pagnell Rd 13:30 - 15:00: £1.50 per session; 01604 667979 For 2 - 3 yrs. Termtime only

Headlands Aqualight Swimming

Headlands pool, Northampton 9:30 - 11:30; Book as 11-wk term Emmaline Kitson - 01604 830405 30-min swim classes for 0-4yrs. Prebook!

Hunsbury Music Go Round

The Abbey Centre, 10 Overslade Cl, NN4 0RZ 9:30:1-2½yr; 10:30: 2-3yr; 11:30: 3+ Becca: 01604 891675 Music classes, pre-book classes termly

Pre School Gymnastics Sessions

15:45 - 16:30; Danes Camp Leisure Centre 01604 837 200; £5.50 (£4.95 with leisure card) For 3 years to School age. Term time only.

Abbey Centre Baby & Toddler Group

Abbey Centre, Overslade Close, East Hunsbury 12:30 - 14:30; Karen: 01604 760194; £1.50

Kings Heath Stay and Play Drop in: 9:30 - 11:30 Action Kids: 9:30 - 11:30, 2nd wk of mth Camrose at Kings Heath, 16 Park Sqre, NN5 7LQ 01604 757694

Kingsthorpe Young Parents - Drop in group for under 19s Kingsthorpe Children’s Ctre, St David Rd, NN2 6NS; 13:00 - 15:00; 01604 791537

In the Water

Northampton Borough

Kingsthorpe Rhymetime

£2/family; Mandy: 01604 764605; 0-5s. Term.

Kingsthorpe Library, Welford Road, NN2 6AG 10:30 - 11:00; Free; 01604 714021; 0-5s

Preston Hedgehogs

Wootton Community Centre, Curtlee Hill 9:30 - 11:30; £2 /family; Nicky - 07854 441062 Play time & songs. In holidays too!

Aqualight Swimming

Fairfields School, Trinity Avenue, NN2 6JN 12:00 -14:00; Book as 11-wk term Emmaline Kitson - 01604 830405 30-min swim classes for 0 - 3s. Prebook!

SATURDAYS

Jamboree Parent and Tots Group

Blackthorn Dads, Uncles & Grandads Drop In Group

Pastures Community Centre, Acre Lane 10:00 - 11:30; Julia Pollard: 07748 670294; £1.50. All ages welcome and open all year.

Blackthorn Children’s Centre, Longmead Ct. 10:00 – 12:00; 01604 413504

Northampton Centre Northampton Baby Cafe

Friends Meeting House, Wellington St, NN1 3AS 10:30 - 12:30; Free; 07780 672939 Breastfeeding support + drink & biscuit!

Chatterbox

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church, 147-155 Kettering Road, NN1 4BS 9:30 - 11:15am; For 0 - 5s. Termtime only

Barry Road School Baths. Barry Road, NN1 5JS 14:00 -18:00; Book as 11-wk term Emmaline Kitson - 01604 830405 30-min swim classes for 0 - 7yrs. Prebook.

Victoria Road Congregational Church, Cyril St. 9:30 - 10:30, 10:45 - 11:45 (babies) £1; 01604 633894; Music, movement & songs

Spencer Dad’s Stay & Play: 10:00 - 12:00, last Sat of

Baby Massage

Vernon Terrace Children’s Centre, NN1 14:00 - 15:00; 01604 633894

month. Starts 29th Jan. 01604 585219

Ante-Natal Parent Craft Classes: 10:00 -

Spinney Hill

15:00, alternative months. 01604 585219 Camrose Children’s Centres, Tenby Rd,NN5 7DF

Childminders: 9:00-10:45 (2nd Fri) Time 2 Play for Baby: 14:00 - 15:30 Parklands Children’s Centre, Spinney Hill Rd 01604 642118; Free drop in sessions

The Mounts, Northampton Mounts Baths family swimming

Spencer Breastfeeding Drop In Group: 9:00 - 12:00 Health Walks: 9:30 - 10:30 (meet at recep) Somali Women’s Group: 9:30 - 11:30 Child Minders group: 9:30 - 11:30

Camrose Sure Start, Tenby Road, NN5 7DF Free; 01604 585219

St James Stay & Play Drop-In

St James Health Clinic, St James 9:30 - 11:30; Free; 01604 585219 Elim Mums and Tots Group Elim Christian Centre, Gladstone Rd, NN5 7EG 9:30 - 11:30; £1 per family + 50p per sibling Michelle: 07799 314241. Termtime only.

Crafts, food and fun in happy, safe environment

The Mounts Mounts Baths Water Playgroup

The Mounts Baths, NN1 3DN 14:00 - 15:30; Tots are free; 01604 837400 Maximum of two children under 8 years.

Physical Fun

Wootton Community Centre, Curtlee Hill.

Gymbabes: 9:30; Toddlers: 10:30; 2 - 3 yrs: 11:30; 3yrs - school: 12:45 Naomi - 07779 785 166 Structured play for 6m-5yrs. Book a trial.

SUNDAYS

Duston Little Kickers

The Duston School, Berrywood Rd, NN5 6XA 9:35: 2 - 4 yrs; 10:35: 1½ - 3½ yrs; 11:35: 2–4 yrs Lynne: 01327 310373 Football classes for 18 months to 5th birthday

Northampton Centre Aqualight Swimming

Barry Road School Baths. Barry Road, NN1 5JS 15:00 -17:00; Book as 11-wk term Emmaline Kitson - 01604 830405 30-min swim classes for 0 - 4s. Prebook.

The Mounts Mounts Baths Family Swimming

St Peter’s Church Hall, High St, NN3 3JX 9:30: Gymbabes; 10:30: Toddlers; 11:30: 2-3yrs; 13:00: 3yrs+ Naomi - 07779 785166 Structured Play from 6m to 5 yrs. Book!

Singing & Signing

Wootton Tumble Tots

Danes Camp Leisure Centre, Clannell Road 8:00 - 9:00; Tots are free; 01604 837200 Maximum of two children under 8 years.

9:00 - 10:30: Health Visitor Clinic 9:30 -11:30: Midwife Drop In 13:00 - 14:30: Toddle Tots Group (fortnightly) 13:00 - 14:30: Little Stars (fortnightly) Farm Field Court, NN3 8AQ. 01604 741131 TT is for walking to 3yrs. Little Stars for preschool children with additional needs.

9.30 - 11.30; Wootton Trinity Church, High St.

The Mounts Baths, NN1 3DN 14:00 - 17:00; Tots are free; 01604 837400 Maximum of two children under 8 years.

Hunsbury Under 8s Tots Water Playgroup

Thorplands Thorplands Children’s Centre

Wootton Wootton Trinity Toddler Group

Kairos Centre, Saxon Ave, NN4 5FB 10:00 - 11:00 - beginner’s class (Prebook) Angie: 07816 484851 Baby signing fun for you and little one

Northampton Centre Aqualight Swimming

Mini Music

Weston Favell Tumble Tots

Grange Park Little Signers Club

The Mounts Baths, NN1 3DN 8:00 - 15:45; Tots are free; 01604 837400 Maximum of two children under 8 years.

Weston Favell Lings Forum Family Swimming

Lings Forum Leisure Centre, Billing Brook Rd. 10:00 - 11:00; Tots are free; 01604 837 300 Maximum of two children under 8 years

Arts & Crafts

For Pregnancy

31

Daily Activity Planner

Music Bugs

Daiily Activity Planner

South Northants District

MONDAYS

Bicester Sing & Sign

Salvation Army building, Hart Place, Bicester 9:45-10:45 (advanced), 11:00-12:00 (beginners) £66.00 per 11 wk term. Corma: 01280 704705 Baby signing with music, instruments & props

Brackley Preschool Gymnastics Club

Brackley Leisure Centre, Springfields Way 13:45 - 14:45; Booking essential: 01280 701789 For 3 - 5 years. Termly, termtime only.

Noah’s Ark

Methodist Church, High St, NN13 9:30 - 11:30 Parent & Toddler group for 0 -5s

Rugrats Twins and Multiples Group

Rugrats and Halfpints, Beaumont Rd, OX16 1QY 10:30-13:00; £4/family; Simone: 07921 460086 Fortnightly meeting - in hols too.

Bicester Sing & Sign

Salvation Army building, Hart Place, Bicester 10:00 - 11:00 (beginners + improvers) £66 per 11 wk term. Corma: 01280 704705 Baby signing with music, instruments & props

Brackley Musical Minis

Leisure Centre, Springfield Way, NN13 6JJ 10:30-11:15; £4; Amanda: 01908 259914 Free Trial Offer Voucher in Centre Pages

Tiny Tots Service

14.30pm - 15:15; Bugbrooke Church Singing & story service then toy-time

Deanshanger Tiny Treasures Baby Group

Deanshanger Holy Trinity Church 10:30 - 11:45; 01327 811426; Free For 0-6 months, 4th Jan to 22nd Feb

Denton Village Tots

Village Hall, Vicarage Lane, Denton, NN7 1DL 14:00 - 16:00; Lucy: 07919 185149 £1.50; 2nd Tues of mth =baby weighing.

Gayton Gayton Parent & Toddlers Group

Village Hall, Hillcrest Rd, NN7 3HG 10:30 - 11:45; £1.50 + 50p p/c; 0 - 5s Kerry - 01604 832890. Term time only.

Tiddlers Stay & Play: 10:00 -

11:30 (1-2 yrs)

Litchborough Litchborough Play Time

More than One!: 13:00-15:00 (mthly, for multiple birth families) Brackley Children’s Centre, Manor Road; Free drop ins; 01280 841674

Village Hall, Northampton Rd, NN12 8JA; 13:45 - 15:30; £1.50 per family Vanessa - 01327 830823; For 0 - 5s Crafts & singing, term time and hols too

Buckingham Musical Minis

Roade Roade Parent & Toddler Group

Well St. Centre, Well St, MK18 1EN 10:00 - 10:45; £4; Amanda: 01908 259914 Free Trial Offer Voucher in offers

Village Hall, Bailey Brooks Ln, NN7 2LS 10 - 12pm; £1.50 + 50p p/c over 1 Charlotte: 01604 863193

Middleton Cheney Stay & Play

Towcester Sing & Sign Baby Signing

Middleton Cheney Village Hall 10:00 - 11:30; 01327 811426; Free.

Drop in; Crafts, games & toys.

Towcester Children’s Centre 10:30-12:00: Beginners + Improvers 01327 811426; With music & props

Milton Malsor Musical Minis

Parent & Baby Swimming

Towcester Leisure Centre, Springfields, 9:00 - 11:00; £25.20 for 6-week course 01327 322480; Swim lessons for 6 mth+

Milton Malsor Village Hall, NN7 10:00 - 10:45; Amanda: 01908 259914 Fun session for 0 to pre-schoolers.

Mighty Atoms Soft Play Sessions 9:30 - 11:30; Towcester Centre for Leisure, Springfields, £3.20 per child; 01327 322480

Roade Sing & Sign

Roade Children’s Centre 10:30-12:30: Beginners + Improvers 01327 811426 Baby signing with music & props

Bumps & Babies Group

The Chantry House, Watling Street.

13:30 - 15:00; Free; 0844 2436299 Relaxed with baby toys and soft mats.

Towcester Little Turtle Swim Company

Gateway School, Tiffield 9:30 – 12:00; Zara - 01908 543384 30-min swim sessions for 2 m–5 yrs.

Breastfeeding Group

Brook Health Ctre, Swinneyford Rd 11:00 - 12:30; Free; 01327 323900 Very informal and open to all mums

Mighty Atoms Soft Play Sessions

Towcester Centre for Leisure 14:00 – 15:00; £3.20 per child; 01327 322480

TUESDAYS

Banbury Active Baby Company

Bloxham School, nr Banbury 10:00 - 12:00; £48 per 6-week term Denise: 01604 826066.

30-min swimming classes. Prebooking essential

Sing & Sign

Rugrats and Halfpints, Beaumont Road.

13:30 - 14:30 (advanced) £66.00 per 11 wk term; Corma : 01280 704705 Baby signing with music, instruments & props

Mighty Atoms Soft Play Sessions

Brackley Leisure Centre, Springfields Way 9:30 - 11:30; £3.20 per child 01280 701787

Little Fishes

Baptist Church, Waynflete Close, NN13 6AE 9:15 - 10:30 or 10:45 - 12:00; For 0 - 5s

Brackley Children’s Centre 10:15 - 11:00: Action Kids (Jan only) 10:00-10:30: Baby Rhymetime (0-9 m) 10:30-11:00: BABS Breastfeeding Group 13:30-14:45: Crafty Play (2-5yrs) Brackley Library, Manor Road; 01280 841674 Crafty Play: Based at Brackley Baptist Church

Bugbrooke Bugbrooke Stay & Play

Bugbrooke Comm Centre, Camp Cl., NN7 3RW 10:00 - 11:30; Free. 01327 811426 Drop in play session inc crafts & singing.

WEDNESDAYS

Brackley Preschool Football Sessions

Brackley Leisure Centre, Springfields Way 16:00 – 17:00; Booking #: 01280 701790 Termly football course for 4 yr-olds.

Baby Massage: 13:30 - 14:30 (WI Hall) Grandparents Group: 13:30 - 15:00 Brackley Children’s Centre, Manor Road 13:30-15:00, 1st & 3rd wks of mth 01280 841674

Deanshanger Deanshanger Toddler Group

Holy Trinity Church, Deanshanger 13:30 – 15:00; Free; Jennie - 01908 564725

Childminder Support Group

32 Want your listed here? email info@toddleabout.co.uk Search & group Save Groups in yourJust Favourites: www.toddleabout.co.uk

Hackleton Cupcakes & Cuddles Cafe for Babies

Hackleton Village Hall, Chapel Lane, NN7 2AH 13:30 - 16:30; Stacy: 07880 558440; free; All yr For those with babies in their first year.

Harpole Aqualight Baby Yoga

Harpole - Yoga for babies and toddlers.

13.00: 0 to crawling; 14:00: crawling to walking Emie - 01604 83 04 05

Kings Sutton Little Signers

Kings Sutton Children’s Centre 10:30 - 12:00; Baby signing for your little one

Middleton Cheney Middleton Cheney Rhymetime

Middleton Cheney Library, Main Road, OX17 10:00 - 10:30, 1st Wed of the mth; Free

Pattishall Pattishall Mums & Tots

Pattishall Parish Hall, School Lane 13:30 – 15:00; £1.50; Term time only.

Roade Roade Storytime

Weston Weston Tiny Tots

Weston Baptist Chapel, High Street, NN12 8PU 10:00 - 11:30; £2; Rosemary: 01295 760720 Term time only

Winslow Musical Minis

Kislingbury Kizzle Tots

Kislingbury Baptist Church, Mill Rd, NN7 4BB 9:30 - 11:30; £1 per family; For 0 – 4s.

Heather - 07962 157669; Term time only.

Roade Roade Stay & Play

Roade Community Centre 10:00 - 11:30; 01327 811426; Free drop in Activities include crafts, games & toys.

Sparrows Toddler Group

Silverstone Musical Monkeys

9:30am - 11:30; St Peters Church, Church Rd

St John’s Ambulance Hall, Islington Rd, NN12 9.30 – 11:00; £1.40; Jane - 01327 352321

14:00-15:00; Flore Millenium Hall Free; 01327 264809; Drop in play sessions

Brackley Mighty Atoms Soft Play Sessions

Brackley Leisure Centre, Springfields Way 9:30 - 11:30; £3.20 per child. 01280 701787

Roade Library, High Street, NN7 16:00 - 16:30; Free; For 4 - 8s. Free

9:00 - 11:00; Sunday School, Church Lane Free; 0 – 4s; Toys , painting & crafts activities.

Flore Stay ‘n’ Play

Ashton CE Primary School, Roade Hill, NN7 2JH 13:30 - 15:00; £1; Laura - 07825 371624

Rugrats and Halfpints, Beaumont Road.

13:30 - 14:30 (beginners + improvers) £66 per 11 wk term; Corma : 01280 704705 Baby signing with music, instruments & props

Bugbrooke Bugbrooke Parent & Tots

Evenley Village Hall, Broad Ln, NN13 5SD 9:45 - 10:45 (adv), 11:00 - 12:00 (beginners) £66 per 11 wk term; Corma: 01280 704705 Baby signing with music, instruments & props

THURSDAYS

Banbury Sing & Sign

Brackley Children’s Centre, Manor Road 10:00 - 11:30; Free; 01280 841674 New Baby & You runs fortnightly. Free drop-ins.

Evenley Sing & Sign

Winslow Public Hall, Elmsfield Gate, Bucks 9:45 - 10:30; £4; Amanda: 01908 259914 Free Trial Offer Voucher in Centre Pages

Ashton Ashton Parent & Toddler Group

New Baby & You: 10:00 - 11:30 (6-12m) Little Movers: 10:30 - 11:30 (ltd space!)

Brackley Rhymetime

Brackley Library, Manor Road, NN13 6AJ

Singing & Signing

Physical Fun

Silverstone Pavillion, Church St, NN12 8XA 10:30 - 11:30; £3.30 (£4 for family).

Vanessa - 07917 683330 Drop in for music, parachute and cake!

Arts & Crafts

For Pregnancy

33

Daily Activity Planner

Upstairs Brook Health Centre, Swinneyford Rd 14:00 - 15:30; Donation for tea; 01327 350182 For new babies up to 6 months

14:15 - 15:15; St Bartholemew’s Church 30p; Harriet - 07738 003418; Term time only

In the Water

14:15 - 14:45; Free; Cathy - 01280 703455 Free singing sessions open to all

Baby & Me Group

Greens Norton Tots Own Toddler Group

Towcester Wednesday Tots Group

South Northants District

For 0 – 5s Inc. sing-song. Termtime only

Deanshanger Community Centre 9:30 - 11:30; £2 per childminder Rachel: 01908 261864

Daiily Activity Planner

South Northants District Silverstone Tiny Tots

9:15am; St Michael’s Church; Open to all.

14:00 - 15.30 fortnightly; Free Melanie - 01327 351097; Ring for dates

Silverstone Tiggers

Parent & Baby Swimming Lessons

Methodist Church Rooms 13:30 – 15:00: £1.50; Catherine: 07854 309241 Puzzles, books, toys & trampoline.

Towcester Leisure Centre, Springfields, NN12 9:00 - 11:00; £25.20 for 6-week course 01327 322480; 30-min swim classes for 6 mths+

Stony Stratford Musical Minis

Towcester Rhymetime

York House, London Road, Stony Stratford.

9:30 - 10:15; £4; Amanda: 01908 259914 Free Trial Offer Voucher in Centre Pages

Towcester Library, Richmond Road, 10:00 -10:30 & 10:45-11:15, 2nd and 4th Fridays of mth; Free Free singing sessions open to all

Stony Stratford Storytime

Little Turtle Swim Company

Stony Stratford Library, 5-7 Church Street 14:00 - 14:30; Free; 01908 562562 Story sessions for under 5s

Gateway School, St. Johns Rd, Tiffield, NN12 9:30 – 11:30; Zara - 01908 543384 30-minute swim lessons for 2 mths - 5 yrs

Towcester Pilates for Pre & Post Natal Care

Towcester Stay & Play

Brook health Centre, Towcester 11am - 12pm; Susie: 07880 750 258 Runs 23rd Sept - 9th Dec. 8 max per class. Led

by Osteopath and experienced instructor

Towcester Toy Library

Towcester Community Centre, Islington Road 9:30 - 11:30; £1.50 per family.

Sheila: 01327 860437 Toy hire from 50p. Re-opening February ‘11

FRIDAYS

Banbury Sing & Sign

Grimsbury Comm. Hall, Burchester Pl. OX16 3JT 9:45-10:45 (advanced); 11:00-12:00 (beginners) £66 per 11 wk term; Corma : 01280 704705 Baby signing with music, instruments & props

Blakesley Blakesley Mums & Tots

Blakesley Village Hall, Blakesley 10:00 - 11:30; £1.50 per family For 0 – 5s. Includes drinks and biscuit

Brackley Tadpoles Toddler Group

St Peters Church, end of Church Rd 10:00 - 11:30

New Baby & You

Brackley Children’s Centre, Brackley Library, Manor Road, NN13 6AJ 10:00 - 11:30; Free; 01280 841674 Advice and support for babies 0 - 6 mths

Croughton Croughton Mother & Tots Group

Croughton Village Hall 10:00 – 12:00; £2; Beckie – 01869 819734 From birth - school. Term-time only.

Deanshanger Deanie Tots

Community Centre, Deanshanger 9:30- 11:30; £2 per family Rachel: 07710845865; Toys and crafts/activities

Deanshanger Rhymetime

Deanshanger Library, Little London, MK19 14:00 - 14:30, 4th Friday of mth Free singing sessions open to all

Nether Heyford Nether Heyford Little Fishes Group

Church rooms, The Green, NN7 3LE 11:00 - 13:00; £1 (free first session) Lia: 07709 020378; Bring sandwiches for lunch.

Towcester Towcester Twins Group

Brook Health Centre, Swinneyford Rd

St John’s Ambulance Hall, Towcester 10:00 - 11:30; Free; 01327 811426 Activities include crafts, games & toys.

Wicken Akeley Wood Baby & Toddler

Akeley Wood Nursery, MK19 6DA 10:00 - 11:30; Free; Nicola - 01908 571231 For 0 - 3s. Free play with lots of activities.

SATURDAYS

Brackley Kids & Co. for Dads & Male Carers

Brackley Children’s Centre, Manor Road 10:00 - 11:00, 3rd Sat of mth; 01280 841674 Free stay & play session for male carers & kids

Mighty Atoms

Brackley Leisure Centre, Springfields Way, 10:30 – 12:30; £3.20 per child; 01280 701787 Drop in soft play sessions for 0-5s

Swimming Lessons

Brackley Pool, Manor Rd, NN13 6EE 9:00; £4.20 per 30 minute lesson Booking essential: 01280 704906 Termly swim lessons for 6 mths - 3 yrs

Roade Roade Rhymetime

Roade Library, High Street, NN7 10:30-11:00, runs fortnightly; Free Free singing sessions open to all Towcester

Towcester Mighty Atoms

Towcester Leisure Centre, Springfields, NN12 9:00 - 10:15; £3.20 per child; 01327 322480 Soft play drop in sessions for 0 – 5s

Little Turtle Swim Company

Gateway School, St. Johns Rd, Tiffield, NN12 10:00 – 15:00; Zara - 01908 543384 30-minute swim sessions for 2 mths - 5 yrs

Parent & Baby Swimming Lessons

Towcester Leisure Centre, Springfields, NN12 8:30 - 10:00; £25.20 for 6-week course 01327 322480; 30-min swim classes for 6 mths+

SUNDAYS

Towcester Active Baby Company Swimming

Gateway School, St. Johns Rd, Tiffield, NN12 8:30 – 13:00; Book as 5-week term Denise - 01604 826066 30-min swim classes for 10wks–7y. Book.

Daventry MONDAYS

Braunston Little Fishes Toddler Group

All Saints Church, High Street. 14:00 – 15:00; 07762 620707 (Marian), 01327 702466 (Liz) For 0 – 5s. Termtime only. Free!

Byfield Baby Clinic

Byfield Surgery, Church St. NN11 14:00 - 15:30pm; Free; Philippa - 01327 260804 Health clinic inc weighing. Appointment only.

Catthorpe, Leicestershire Music Bugs

The Wheel Room, Manor Farm Cafe & Shop, Catthorpe, LE17 6DB 9:10 and 10:00; Fiona Bayliss - 0844 5781017 Fun music sessions for 0 - 5s. Book a Taster!

Crick Crick Tots

Crick Village Hall 10:30 - 12:00; £2/family; Cath: 01788 824344 Includes fun activities, snack and drink

Daventry Love Ballet Dance Company

Nene Hall, Tamar Sqre, The Grange, NN11 4RB Mon: 16:00 & 16:30: 3-5yrs; 17:00: 5-6yrs Lorraine: 07711 010404 Ballet classes for children 3 years+

Acorn Parent & Toddler Group

United Ref. Church, Foundry Place 9.30 – 11:00; £1; Rosemary - 01327 872650 0-5s. Story time 10.30 & singing 10.45.

Daventry Breastfeeding Group

Daventry Sure Start Centre, 14 Benbow Close 13:00 - 15:00; 01327 313861: Free Breastfeeding support drop in group

Adventure World Soft Play

Daventry Leisure Centre, Lodge Road, NN11 9:30 – 17:30; £1.65 under 5s; 01327 871144 Indoor soft play area For up to 8 yrs;

Harlestone Harlestone Tiny Tots

Harlestone Village Hall 10:00 - 11:30; £1.50 + 50p p/c 1yr+ Janet - 01604 843991. Please call b4 coming!

For 0 – 4s. On in holidays too.

Kilsby Kilsby Playtime

Kilsby Village Hall, Rugby Road 9:45 - 11:45; £1.50 + 50p p/c Susan: 07845 751449 or 01788 823079 All carers welcome. Termtime only.

Long Buckby Yoga for Pregnancy

Long Buckby Community Centre, NN6 7WB 18:15 - 19:45; £42 for 6-week course Lizzy Giles: 07950 573719 Physical & emotional pregnancy support

Long Buckby Mums & Tots

Community Centre, 41 Station Rd, NN6 7QB 9.30 – 11:30

Rugby Music Bugs

Hilmorton Paddox Methodist Church, Dunsmore Rd, CV22 5HD 14:00 – 14:40; Fiona Bayliss - 0844 5781017 Music sessions for 0 - 5s. Book Taster!

34 Want your group listed here? Just email info@toddleabout.co.uk

Overslade Community Centre, Buchanan Rd Gymbabes: 9:30; Toddlers: 10:30; 2-3yrs: 11:30; 3yrs to school: 12:45 Naomi - 07779 785 166 Structured play for 6m-5yrs all year. Book trial!

Hot Tots Soft Play Group

Scaldwell Scaldwell Mums & Tots

Long Buckby Long Buckby Mums and Babies

Scaldwell Village Hall, School Lane, NN6 9LD 10:00 - 12:00; £1.50 per family Kathryn - 01604 882786 Friendly group. Termtime only.

Upper Boddington Love Ballet Dance Company

Upper Boddington Village Hall, Warwick Road 9:30 (Nursery Ballet) & 10:20 (Adult Ballet) Lorraine: 07711 010404; Ballet for 2 - 5yrs and adults (no exp. necessary)

Woodford Halse Stay ‘n’ Play followed by Mini Minstrels

Woodford Halse Children’s Centre, Scrivens Hill, NN11 3SU; 13:00 - 15:00; Free; 01327 264809 Drop in stay n play session with music

TUESDAYS

Boddington Boddington Toddler Group

9:30 - 11:30; Boddington Village Hall, CV47

Braunston Braunston Rhymetime

Braunston Village Hall, The Green, NN11 7HW 12:45 - 13:15; 07544 726185; Free Stories and Songs for the under 5s

Braunston Toddler Group

Middlemore Farm Pub, Hidcote Way, NN11 5JZ 9:45 - 11:15; £1 donation; Clare: 0844 2436102 For bump - 3 yrs. Hot drink included.

Toddlers Group

Holy Cross Church, Church Walk 13:30-14:45, 2nd Tues of mth; Free Paula: 01327 877979 Termtime only. Fun find teddy game!

Daventry Leisure Centre, Lodge Road, NN11 13:00 - 17:30; £1.65 under 5s; 01327 871144 Soft play area for up to 8 yrs

Stay ‘n’ Play

Daventry Children’s Centre, 14 Benbow Close, 12.30 - 14.30; Free; Jenny - 01327 313861 For 0 -5s. Inc. messy play

Mums & Tums

Active Baby Company Swimming

Barcélo Hotel, Sedgemoor Way, NN11 0SG 9:45 - 12:15; Book as 6-week term Denise - 01604 826066 30 min swim class for 10wks-4yrs. Book!

Guilsborough Breastfeeding Drop In

Guilsborough Surgery, High Street, NN6 8QE 11:00 - 13:00; 01604 740210

Newnham School, NN11 3HG 14:00 - 15:00; Free; 01327 264809

Hellidon Hellidon Baby & Toddler Group

Rugby Music Bugs

Afternoon, various houses. Call for location!

Angela - 07973 659092.

Bilton Methodist Church, Main St, Bilton, CV22 7NB 9:30 - 10:10 & 10:30 - 11:10; Fiona Bayliss - 0844 5781017 Music sessions for 0 - 5s. Book trial!

Active Baby Company Swimming

Hellidon Lakes Hotel, Priors Marston Rd, NN11 6GG; 13:30 - 14:30; Book as 6-wk term Denise - 01604 826066 30-min swim classes for 8m-5yrs. Book!

Weedon Little Goslings Baby & Toddler

Long Buckby Love Ballet Dance Company

Weedon Bec Village Hall, West St, NN7 4QU 13:30 – 15:00; £1.50 per family Sonia - 01327 349951 Toys, crafts, song time + outside play.

Long Buckby Baptist Church, Market Pl., NN6 17:00 - 17:30; Lorraine: 07711 010404 Gymnastics class for 3 - 6 yrs

Fun with Music

Pitsford Pitsford Toddler Group

Pitsford Village Hall. 9:30 - 11:30; £2 per family Lorraine - 01604 881353 Termtime only. Great selection of toys!

Priors Marston Priors Marston Toddlers

9:30 - 11:30; The Priors Hall, CV47

New babes for 0 - 12 mths & Toddles 12 mths+

WEDNESDAYS

Badby Badby Mums & Tots

9:30 - 11:30 Badby Village Hall, The Green

Barby Chatterbox Baby & Toddler Group Byfield Rhyme Time

Byfield School Hall, Bell Lane, NN11 6US 10:15 - 11:00; Free; 01327 264809 For 0 - 5s. Please pre-book

Daventry Daventry Story Time

10:15 - 10:35 (fortnightly) Daventry Library, North Street; 01327 703130 Free story session open to all

Daventry Children’s Centre, 14 Benbow Close 9.15 - 11.15, 1st Tues of month Jenny - 01327 313861 Run by midwife for pregnant mums

Toddlers, Bumps & Babies (NCT)

Daventry Rhymetime

Younger Parents Group

10:00 and 10:30, fortnightly Daventry Library, North Street; 01327 703130

Daventry Children’s Centre, 14 Benbow Close Free; 01327 313861 Health Visitors: baby-weighing + advice.

Newnham Fun with Music Drop In

Barby Village Hall, Barby, Rugby, 9:30 - 11:30; £1.50; Inc drink & biscuit

Adventure World Soft Play

Itsy Bitsy (Baby clinic): 13:00 - 14:30 Health Trainer: 10:00 - 12:00

Naseby Methodist Church 10:00 - 12:00; £1.50 per family Jo - 01604 881344 Non-members welcome

Love Ballet Dance Company

Middlemore Parents & Tots (NCT)

Daventry Leisure Centre, Lodge Road, NN11 13:00 - 17:30; £1.65 under 5s; 01327 871144

Naseby Brixworth & Villages NCT Group

Woodford Halse Woodford Halse Children’s Centre 10:30 - 12:30: New Babes Group 14:00 – 16:00: Toddles Group Scrivens Hill, NN11 3SU; 01327 264809; Free

Nene Hall, Tamar Sqre, The Grange, NN11 4RB 17:15: 3-5yrs; 17:45: 5-8yrs Lorraine: 07711 010404; Tap dance classes for 3 yrs+

Adventure World Soft Play

Baptist Church, on Market Place 10.30 – 12:00; Free; Jane - 01327 843453 For 0 - 4 years. In school holidays too!

Daventry Tumble Tots

The Saxon Suite, Leisure Centre, Lodge Rd. 9:30: Gymbabes; 10:30: Toddlers; 11:30: 2-3yrs; 12:45: 3yrs - school Naomi - 07779 785166 Structured Play from 6m to 5 yrs all year. Book!

Daventry Methodist Church Hall, Golding Close 10:00 – 12:00

Daventry Leisure Centre, Lodge Road, NN11 4FP; 01327 871144 9-11:00; £1.35 <18m; £2.85 18m+ For 6m+. Bouncy castle and soft play.

Weedon Bec School, West Street, NN7 4QU 10:30 - 11:30; Free; 01327 264809 whcc@northamptonshire.gov.uk Free music session for 0 - 5s. Drop-in.

13:30 - 15:00; Braunston Village Hall, NN11

In the Water

Daventry District

Toddler Time

Free singing & music sessions open to all

Family Centre, The Grange, Staverton Road 9:30 - 11:30; £1; 0844 2436102 For bump – 4 yrs. Everyone welcome!

Weedon Musical Minis

Weedon Village Hall, West Street, NN7 4PQ 9:30 - 10:15; £4; Amanda: 01908 259914 Free Trial Offer Voucher in Centre Pages

Fun with Music Drop In

Weedon Bec School, West Street, NN7 4QU 10:30 - 11:30; Free; 01327 264809

West Haddon Caterpillar Club

West Haddon Village Hall, The Green, NN6 7AN 9:15 - 11:15: £1.50 per child Sarah: 01788 510760 Termtime only. Craft corner and singing

Woodford Halse Special Needs Group

Woodford Halse Surestart Children’s Centre, Scrivens Hill, NN11 3SU; 10:00 - 11:30; Free 01327 264809 Mthy drop in for special needs children + carers

THURSDAYS

Brixworth Olive Shoots Tots Group

Brixworth Library, Spratton Road 10:00 - 11:30, £1 per family; 0-3 yrs.; Term only Margaret & John - 01604 646300

Abbey Centre, Market Square, NN11 4BH 13:00 - 15:00; Free; Rose: 01327 313861

Singing & Signing

Physical Fun

Arts & Crafts

For Pregnancy

35

Daily Activity Planner

Tumble Tots

Daily Activity Planner

Daventry District Byfield Byfield Toddler Group

Byfield Village Hall, Byfield, NN11 10:00 - 11:30am

Daventry Bawlers and Crawlers NCT Tots

Ickle People’s Resource Centre, Daventry Leisure Centre, Lodge Road, NN11 4FP Thurs: 10:30 - 12:00; £1.50 Clare - 07753 841527 For 0 - 2s. Small, friendly group.

Monkey Mayhem: 9:30 - 13:00 Adventure World Soft Play: 15:00-17:30 Daventry Leisure Ctre, Lodge Road, NN11 4FP. 01327 871144 AW: £1.65 under 5s; MM: 6-18 mths: £1.45, 18 mths+: £2.90 Soft play fun! Inflatables and frame equipment

East Haddon East Haddon Toddler Group

The Pavilion, East Haddon Playing Fields, (turning opp. Red Lion Pub) 10:00 - 11.30; £1.50 per family Melissa - 01604 770024

Everdon Everdon Parent & Toddler Group

Everdon Village Hall, NN11 13:00 - 15:00 : £1 per family Alison: 01327 361811 Building to right of church on main road.

Great Brington Brington Mums & tots

The Reading Rooms, Great Brington, NN7 4JB 9:30 – 12:00; £2; Lucy – 07779 646074 For 0 – 4s. In holidays too!

Kelmarsh Parent & Tots Group

Nagarjuna Centre Cafe, Kelmarsh, NN6 9LZ 12:00 - 14:00; Sarah - 01604 686778 Free drink with every panini order!

Moulton Yoga for Pregnancy

The Old Cart Barn, NN6 9BB 18:30 - 20:00; £48 for 6-week course Lizzy Giles: 07950 573719 Physical & emotional pregnancy support

Hypno-Birthing Introduction Class Pitsford, near Moulton, Northampton 20:00 - 20:45; free Gill Blayney - 01604 643356 Free introductory Hypno-Birthing class.

Overstone Aqualight Swimming

Overstone Park, Northampton 9:45 - 11:15; Book as 11-wk term Emmaline Kitson - 01604 830405 30-min swim classes for 6m-3yrs. Book!

Staverton Staverton Mums & Tots

Staverton Village Hall, Croft Lane , NN11 6JE 10:30 - 12:00

Weedon Breastfeeding Baby Cafe

The Village Hall, West Street, NN7 4PQ Thurs: 10:30 - 12:30; Free; 01327 264809 Breastfeeding support drop in group

Welton Welton Toddler Group

Welton Village Hall, 9:45 - 11:15 Baby & toddler group for 0 – 4s

Woodford Halse Special Needs Group: 10:00-12:00 (mthly) Adoption Support Group: 15:30-17:00 (mthly) Woodford Halse Children’s Centre Scrivens Hill, NN11 3SU; 01327 264809 10:00 - 12:00, Once a mth - call for day Free drop in session

FRIDAYS

Welford Welford Babes & Tots Group

Welford Community Centre, West St, NN6 9:30 - 11:00; 07981 197855; £2 + 50p p/sibling Open all year. Warm welcome. 1st Session Free

Woodford Halse

Woodford Halse Children’s Centre

Family Morning with H/V: 9:00 - 11:30 Scrivens Hill, NN11 3SU; 01327 264809 Free drop in group

Brixworth Brixworth Rhymetime

Brixworth Library, Spratton Road 9.45 - 10.20; Free; Jill - 01604 882153 Free singing session. Termtime only

Daventry Love Ballet Dance Company

Nene Hall, Tamar Sqre, The Grange, NN11 4RB 16:15 & 16:45: Funky Dance (4-7yrs); 17:15: Gymnastics (3-6yrs). Lorraine: 07711 010404 Funky Dance and Gymnastics classes for 3yrs+

Dads Drop in Sessions

Abbey Centre, Market Square, NN11 4BH 13:30 - 15:00; Free; Rose: 01327 313861

Breastfeeding Support Group

United Reformed Church, Foundry Place, (next door to Dorothy Perkins) 12:00 - 14:00; 01327 313861 Breastfeeding drop in with Hlth Visitors

Hunny Bees

The Family Centre, Staverton Rd 10:00 - 12:00; Free Sally (H/V) - 01327 708819 Group for under 5s with special needs

Monkey Mayhem: 9:30 - 13:00 Adventure World Soft Play: 13:00 - 17:30

Daventry Leisure Ctre, Lodge Road, NN11 4FP. 01327 871144 AW: £1.65 under 5s; MM: 6-18 mths: £1.45, 18 mths+: £2.90 Soft play fun! Inflatables and frame equipment

Two or More Group (Twins+)

The Grange School, Staverton Rd, NN11 4HW 9:15 - 11:30, once a month; Free Liz: 07881911464, Jo: 01327700459 Bump-3yr. Once a month - call for details plse.

Long Buckby Long Buckby Rhymetime

Long Buckby Library, Station Road, NN6 7QB 14:45-15:15, 2nd & 4th Fri of mth; Free singing sessions. Termtime only.

Rugby Rugby Breastfeeding Cafe

Claremont Children’s Centre, Claremont Road, Rugby, CV21 3LU 12:00 – 14:00; Rosie - 07772 280302

Music Bugs

Townsend Memorial Hall, Church St, Clifton Upon Dunsmore 9:30 - 10:10 & 10:30 - 11:10; Fiona Bayliss - 0844 5781017 Music sessions for 0-5s. Book a taster!

SATURDAYS

Daventry Little Kickers

Daventry Leisure Centre, Lodge Rd, NN11 4FP 9:15: 2 - 3½ yrs; 10:15: 2 - 3½ yrs; 11:10: 3½ - 4 Lynne: 01327 310373; Football classes for 18 months to 5th birthday

Adventure World Soft Play

Daventry Leisure Centre, Lodge Road, NN11 9:00 - 17:30; £1.65 <5s. 01327 871144 Please call to check open on weekends

Stars Autism Support Group

Daventry & South Northants Family Centre, Staverton Road, NN11 4EY 10:00 – 12:00, 2nd Sat of mth Mandy - 07531 235528 Free support group for carers of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

Upper Boddington Love Ballet Dance Company

Upper Boddington Village Hall, Warwick Road 9:00: ballet (3-5yrs); 9:45:Gymnastics (4-6yrs); 10:15: ballet (5-7yrs). Lorraine: 07711 010404 Sat: Ballet & Gymnastics Classes for 2yrs+

Woodford Halse Dads/Grandads/Uncles Morning

Woodford Halse Children’s Centre, Scrivens Hill, NN11 3SU 10:00 - 12:00; Free; Plse Book: 01327 264809 One Saturday p/month - please call for details

SUNDAYS

Adventure World Soft Play

Daventry Leisure Centre, Lodge Road, NN11 9:00 - 17:30; £1.65 <5s. 01327 871144 Please call to check open on weekends

Weedon Stay ‘n’ Play

Piglets of Weedon, Bridge Street, NN7 4PN 13:30 - 15:00; Free; 01327 264809 0 - 5s. Drop in group.

Buggy Walk

Starting from Weedon Village Hall 9:30 - 11:00; Free; 01327 264809 Gentle exercise out in the fresh air. Drop in.

36 Want your group listed here? Just email info@toddleabout.co.uk!

Directory

Find It Quick Baby Signing Classes Beauty Business Opportunities Breastfeeding Support Child & Baby Shops Children’s Shoes Drama & Theatre Dance Classes Football Classes Entertainers Equipment for Little Ones Gymnastics & Physical Play Health & Wellness

37 37 37-39 38 39-40 40 40 41 41 41 41 41-42 42-43

Indoor Play Centres Music Classes Nurseries & Childcare Photographers Pottery Painting Pregnancy & Birth Preschools Private Tuition Swimming Classes Shows & Events Sure Start Children’s Centres Unique Products & Gifts

42 43 44-45 45-46 46 46-47 47-48 48 48 48 48 48-49

Find even more things for your little one in the online directory at www.toddleabout.co.uk

Baby Signing Classes Little Signers Club

Kingsthorpe, Grange Park, Hardingstone & Weedon Tel: 07816 484851 e: angie@littlesignersclub.co.uk Website: www.littlesignersclub.co.uk Tots love our interactive classes, bringing signs to life!

Beauty The Style Lounge Hairdressers

Tel: 01604 722224 Address: The Basement, Barratt House, Kingsthorpe Rd, Northampton, NN2 6HT Contemporary, spacious, child-friendly hairdresser See full advert & special offers on page 8

Business Opportunities

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The

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Breastfeeding Support

Business Opportunities

38â&#x20AC;&#x201A;â&#x20AC;&#x201A;

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The Directory

Business Opportunities

Child & Baby Shops

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Child & Baby Shops

Pink & Blue Baby World

Address: 58 High Street, Daventry, NN1 4HU Tel: 01327 705900 Website: www.pinkandbluebabyworld.com Everything you need from maternity to toddler.

See full advert on page 10

Children’s Shoes

Drama & Theatre Stagecoach Daventry & Rugby

Enrolling now for drama and theatre classes! tel: 01295 760056 | w: www.stagecoach.co.uk/rugby If they can walk, talk & run, they can act, sing & dance.

See full advert on page 15

40

Check the Special Offers centre pages to get great deals from many of these businesses

Entertainers Miss Tickle Magic Children’s Entertainer

Alison Williams, 43 Oaklands, Bugbrooke, NN7 3QU Tel: 01604 831483 / 07915 699322 Website: www.missticklemagic.co.uk Children’s Parties Silly Magic, Balloons and lots of fun!

Equipment for Little Ones

Cushi Tush - “The perfect babysitter” Website: www.cushitush.co.uk Paediatrician-approved, award winning babyseat See full advert on inside back cover

Football Classes

Gymnastics & Physical Play

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Dance Classes

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Gymnastics & Physical Play

Indoor Play Centres

Health & Wellness

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Music Classes

The Directory

Health & Wellness

The Maple Tree Clinic 1 Overslade Close, East Hunsbury, NN4 0RZ Tel: 01604 765880 E: info@themapletreeclinic.com Website: www.themapletreeclinic.com A multi-disciplinary clinic for complementary therapies

See full advert on page 16

Music Classes Musical Monkeys - Entertainment & refreshments

Silverstone Pavilion, Church St., Silverstone, NN12 8XA 10:30-11:30am every Thursday. Contact Vanessa Smith Tel: 07917 683330 e: nessie_king@yahoo.co.uk Music, parachute, bubbles, stickers, drinks & cakes!

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Nurseries & Childcare

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Nurseries & Childcare Families Information Service

Tel: 01604 237935 email: earlyyears@northamptonshire.gov.uk www.northamptonshire.childrensservicedirectory.org.uk Free Information and advice on childcare and family services

See full advert on page 24

Akeley Wood School

Address: Wicken Park, Milton Keynes, MK19 6DA t: 01280 812000 | w: www.akeleywoodschool.co.uk Brand new nursery facility for children from 12 mths See full advert on inside front cover

Photographers (more on next page)

Photographers (more on next page)

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Nurseries & Childcare

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Photographers (more on previous page)

Pottery Painting

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Pregnancy & Birth

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The Directory

Pregnancy & Birth

Preschools (more overleaf) Hackleton Pre-School Playgroup

Open: Mon - Friday; Morning, Lunch and Afternoon Add: Hackleton Village Hall, Chapel Lane, NN7 2AH 07561509635 | www.hackletonpreschoolplaygroup.co.uk Welcoming pre-school children from 2½ years

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The Directory

Preschools Towcester Scout Hall Preschool

Open: Mon - Friday, Mornings and Lunch clubs too Add: Baden Powell Crescent, Towcester, NN12 6DS 07890 525116 | contact@towcesterscouthallpreschool.co.uk Established, friendly preschool in the heart of Towcester

Private Tuition

Shows & Events Clic Sargent’s Yummy Mummy Event

26 March – 3 April 2011: Host a Yummy Mummy event and raise funds for children with cancer Website: www.yummymummy.org.uk See full advert on Page 12

Sure Start Children’s Centres Brackley Library Children’s Centre

Address: Manor Rd, Brackley, NN13 6AJ Tel: 01280 841674 Website: www.brackleylibrary.childrencentre.org See full advert on Page 32

Swimming Classes Active Baby Company

Swimming Classes Little Turtle Swim Company

Classes: Towcester, Stony Stratford & Milton Keynes t: 01908 543384 e: zara@littleturtleswimcompany.co.uk Website: www.littleturtleswimcompany.co.uk Teaching babies with respect, love and knowledge.

See full advert on page 33

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Classes: Across Daventry, Towcester & Northampton t: 01604826066 e:denise@activebabycompany.co.uk Website: www.activebabycompany.co.uk Progressive & tailored baby swimming for all ages See full advert on page 4

Aqualight Babies: Swimming & Baby Yoga

Classes: All week across Northampton t: 01604 830405 e:info@aqualightbabies.co.uk Website: www.aqualightbabies.co.uk Teaching babies with respect, love and knowledge.

See full advert on page 29

Unique Products & Gifts

Check the Special Offers centre pages to get great deals from many of these businesses

Please tell our advertisers you found them in Toddle About!

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Unique Products & Gifts

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www. .co.uk

Be a Yummy Mummy! 26 March – 3 April 2011

Every day 10 families are told that their child has cancer. As the children’s cancer charity, CLIC Sargent helps these families with clinical, practical and emotional support every step of the way.

What is Yummy Mummy Week?

Put simply, its fund-raising events held by mums, for mums. For the last five years, mums all over the UK have been getting together with friends and family in Yummy Mummy Week, having fun and raising money for children with cancer.

What sort of event can I hold?

Any event you can think of! No matter how much it raises, every penny counts. Pamper parties, coffee

mornings, family BBQs - anything goes! It can be as simple as having a special Yummy Mummy collection at your mums & tots group, or as extravagant as getting together with the girls to organise a Yummy Mummy party.

How do I raise money?

Depending on your event, you could charge an entry fee, sell raffle tickets or goodies or you could even organise a sponsored event - like a 5k walk in your local park or a sponsored swim in pink cossies!

What if I’ve never organised an event before?

Don’t worry - we’ll supply everything you need to hold your event including posters, invitations, sponsor forms and a handy list of hints and tips.

Getting involved is easy - just visit www.yummymummy.org.uk to register.

Reviews The Style Lounge Mango Pictures Read full reviews and many others at www.toddleabout.co.uk/articles

When we were asked to do a review for the Style Lounge in Northampton, we jumped at the chance. Not just because we were hoping to find a child-friendly hairdressers to recommend to our readers, but also because, well, the girls really needed a haircut.

The Style Lounge really lives up to its name: it’s stylish. The waiting area has plush leather sofas and a fireplace and the whole salon has been finished to the highest spec. Whilst that might make it sound like the kind of place not to take children, I couldn’t recommend it highly enough – the staff were so incredibly welcoming to our girls that the whole experience was thoroughly enjoyable. A box of children’s books and toys gives them plenty to do while they wait, and Paul (owner and hairdresser) is extremely good with the children – he even pulled out some funny voices to keep them entertained. Oh, and the haircuts were excellent!

The Style Lounge is in Barratt House, Kingsthorpe Rd, Northampton. See full advert and discount on p. 8

When baby William arrived in our lives in September last year, Adele at Mango Pictures was kind enough to offer to take our new family picture for the magazine.

As a mother to Harvey, nearly 2 yrs old, Adele is extremely good with children and really understands how to put them at ease. Photo shoots with our children in the past have got tricky because, like many toddlers, they don’t like being told what to do by people they don’t know. But Adele gave them plenty of time to play and get used to her whilst taking shots of them being natural on their own and with us. She let them look at the pictures she took on the camera and they really warmed to her, helping her capture some truly lovely moments that will no doubt be adorning our walls for years to come.

Without a permanent studio, she is mobile and can come to your house or take location shoots which is great if you want the children to be relaxed in their own environment, or if you are looking for something a little different.

For details on contacting Mango Pictures, see advert on p.45

50 Read more reviews and see more pictures at www.toddleabout.co.uk

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