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IN THIS ISSUE:Beat Bedtime Blues

Tots on the GoCool Kids’ Rooms

Kids’ FashionInspiring Young MindsPositive about Autism

and much more . . .

ISSUE 22

My Family Favouriteaward winner issue!

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:23 Page 1

contents3 Cool Kids’ Rooms

WIN a £50 gift voucher to spend at Poppy and thePirate

6 Beat the Bedtime Blues

9 Away with the Kids

14 Tots on the Go

18 Kids’ Fashion

20 Inspiring Young MindsWIN a collection of Busy Peas booksWIN a ‘groovy’ yellow van walker from LittleChipmunks

27 Health

28 Birth to Baby

30 Active Kids

32 Special Needs Family

33 Positive about AutismAutism’s Got Talent 2015 line-up revealed

My Family Magazine3rd Floor • St Georges House • St Georges Way

Leicester LE1 1SH

For advertising telephone: 0116 2014465 or emaillois.munns@myfamilymagazine.co.uk

www.myfamilymagazine.co.uk

Hi there!

There is so much to enjoy in this issue of MyFamily Magazine – from useful tips that helpmake caring for kids easier, to children’sfashion and cool inspirations for their rooms.

If you are suffering the effects of sleeplessnights because you child doesn’t sleep well,check out our Beat Bedtime Bluesfeature. We’ve teamed up with theChildren’s Sleep Charity to provide you with tips that will help yourchild to develop better sleep habits.

In Inspiring Young Minds we look at ways that you can supportyour child’s development with playtime activities and Liz Walkertakes a look at whether teaching a child to read is the job ofteachers or parents.

The summer holidays are just around the corner and many of youwill be heading for the beach; making this one of the mostimportant times to raise awareness of water safety at the seaside.With this in mind, we have joined with the ASA to tell you aboutSwim Safe and some tips to keep children safe at the beach.

Finally, I’d like to welcome Media Account Manager, Lois Munnsto the team – who will be helping to develop even more greatcontent for you to look forward to in each issue.

Have a great summer!

Karen xKaren Reddell – Editor

The TeamHazel AlemanyDesigner design@myfamilymagazine.co.uk

Petrina Kightley-Jones Photography

Jake Pullin Admin Assistant

Lois Munns Media Account Manager lois.munns@myfamilymagazine.co.uk

A note from the editor

Feature images used under license fromdepositphotos.com and Shutterstock.com.

Other images have been supplied by Kayjays Photography and otherindependent sources.

DISCLAIMERThe information contained in My Family magazine is not meant to replace that of amidwife, healthcare professional or GP. My Family would always recommend that

you seek medical information from a qualified health professional.

Like us on facebookwww.facebook.com/pages/My-Family-

magazine/178172092255392

Follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com @MyFamilyMag

Look out for ‘My Family Favourite’award winners 2015 in this issue

COMPETITION RULESFull details of competition rules are available on our website

www.myfamilymagazine.co.uk. Entering a competition through the print magazine or viathis website will be seen as acceptance of these rules.

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:23 Page 2

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:23 Page 3

Cute Things for Kids’ Rooms

Lamb Nappy Cake This gorgeous lamb nappy cake in baby girl pinkor baby boy blue is so adorable and cute. Theperfect gift for a for a baby with two toys and aphoto frame it also contains an assortment ofbaby essentials – price £50.00

www.coochycoonappycakes.co.uk

Charlie Oakley High Foot End Bed A magnificent bed fit for a boy or girl.Handmade to order here in the UK this is a highquality bed featuring a solid oak top. Availablein a choice of durable painted colour finishes.Price: £745.

www.littlelucywillow.co.uk

Harlequin Dawn CotBed Set Bedtime is a stylish affair withthe Harlequin Dawn cot bedset and bumpettes by Olli Ella.Harlequin 'Dawn' has playfulhues of tangerine, musk andpastel pinks and blues. Madein England (with lots of love)using 100% organic cottonthat is Oeko-tex certified.

www.nubie.co.uk

Organic Cotton Baby Bedding Putting your little one down to sleep on beddingthat is free from nasties is good thing to do andOrganic Cotton no longer means dull andboring, there are some fab funky organicbedding designs now available. Prices from£26.99.

www.poppyandthepirate.co.uk

Magic Garden 3 Bag StorageCabinet - Teamson Inspire your little ones with the gardencharacters printed on the storage bags and handpainted on the ends of this cabinet. Carefullycarved with plenty of useful storage space tohelp keep your kids room tidy – price £120.

www.yourlittlechipmunks.co.uk

If you are designing or updating your child’s bedroom,playroom or nursery, here’s a few items that we thinkmake a lovely addition their special space.

4 myfamily

COOL KIDS’ ROOMS

My Family 22 20/1/10 10:06 Page 4

Poppy And The Pirate have teamed up with My Family magazineto offer you a chance to win a £50 gift voucher to spend atwww.poppyandthepirate.co.uk. To enter simply email your nameand contact number to hello@poppyandthepirate.co.uk(competition closes 1st August 2015).

WIN! + WIN! + WIN!

5myfamily

COOL KIDS’ ROOMS

Poppy And The Pirate is a children’s online store specialising incool, kids, lifestyle products, educational toys, and dressing upoutfits as well as funky clothing like Hatley raincoats & wellies, andLittle Cotton Frocks – designer dresses – without the designerprice tag ;)

Dedicated to ensuring your child’s imagination thrives through playin a happy stimulating environment, Poppy And The Pirate helpyou to create a child’s space, a bedroom, garden or playroom, intoa space where they can express themselves and feel relaxedenough to dive into their imagination and see where they land.

Dressing Up is a great way toencourage kids to do just that andwith a fantastic range of baby andkids Dressing Up Outfits - fromcute Disney Baby to fun Piratesand Princesses – Poppy AndThe Pirate have just the ticket toget those imaginations whirring!

As they start to toddle aroundwhat better way to measure theirgrowth and help their development than by using cool kid’s wall artlike the Counting Numbers or the Princess Growth Chart – a

great inexpensive way toupdate a room and easy toremove and reposition if youfancy a move around.

We also love their fab range ofeducational placemats designedto help with everything fromthe Alphabet to their TimesTable – learning by stealth isthe way forward – playinglearning games whilst havingdinner and maybe even lettingthem test you can help makelearning fun.

My Family readers can SAVE 15% OFF BY USINGCODE MF15 at the checkout when ordering from

www.poppyandthepirate.co.uk

You could WIN £50to spend at

@poppyandpirate uk.pinterest.com/poppyandpirate

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Helping to make family life & parentinga little easier and a lot more fun!

Informative articles, discounts and so much more . . .Sign up to receive our newsletter today!

check out the latest issue FREE online at

www.myfamilymagazine.co.ukWe are looking for distributors in your area – contact

Karen on 0116 2014424 for information

Olli Ella’s new BallyhooBaby Bedding Collection

Olli Ella are delighted to introduce their 2015Ballyhoo bedding range, which will be launching atthe beginning of May 2015.

Ballyhoo bedding is made of 4 gorgeous prints Cosmo, Confetti, Terra andTartine in organic GOTS certified cotton, which has been said to be as softas a cloud.

The range includes fitted sheetspresented in a lovely tote bag,

perfect for storing nappies, wipesor other baby essentials.Reversible quilts which will keepbabies warm and snuggly onchilly nights, which also

double up as play blankets.Bumpettes – stylish cot bumpers – will protect little heads from bumpingagainst hard cot bars while still allowing air to circulate, keeping yourbaby bump-free and sleepingsoundly. Finally the boudoirpillows are perfect for tying yourbaby’s nursery together and canbe placed on your favourite chair.

The Ballyhoo bedding will beavailable from May 2015 atwww.olliella.com. Prices startfrom £25.

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:23 Page 5

Getting a good night’s sleep isvital for children’s wellbeing (aswell as their parent’s!). VickiDawson set up ‘The Children’sSleep Charity’, the only charityspecifically focusing on sleepissues for youngsters in the UK.

Vicki was once a sleep deprived mum and foundit difficult to get any support to help to improvethings with her son’s sleep issues. Vicki says,“Sleep deprivation is a form of torture. Trying tofunction on half the amount of sleep that yourbody needs is incredibly hard and can leadfamilies into crisis. Unfortunately the impact thatexhaustion has on our minds and bodies is notyet fully acknowledged in this country. I set upthe charity to offer support to other families andto help to raise awareness about the importanceof sleep”.

Practitioners from the charity, or sleep fairies asthey prefer to be called, use a range of cognitivebehavioural techniques to support children toget a better night’s sleep. The methods used areall gentle and are based on the most up to dateresearch. The charity work in partnership withsleep medical experts and now deliver anaccredited course to train others to carry out thisimportant work.

If you are having difficulties with your child’ssleep then you are not alone. Research suggeststhat up to 40% of children will have a sleep issueat some time. This statistic rises to as many as86% of children with additional needs having

sleep difficulties. Vicki co-wrote the book ‘Sleepand Your Special Needs Child’ with AntoniaChitty to offer families further support.

Vicki says, “Having a child with sleep issues canmake you feeling quite isolated. We work withmany families who say that they thought theywere the only ones going through this.Sometimes they are worried about asking forhelp for fear of their parenting skills beingquestioned. Many parents attend our sleepworkshops and are relieved to meet others in asimilar situation. “

Did you know that sleep deprivationcan impact on:

Memory • Weight • Hormone productionMood • Mental health • Your immune systemChildren’s growth • Learning • Concentration

A good routine is important to help children todevelop better sleep habits. You must beconsistent when you implement a new routine,your child’s sleep patterns may appear tobecome worse before they get better as theymay try to resist new changes that you make.Parents often give up when implementing aroutine as they feel that it isn’t working, youneed to give any changes at least 2 weeks inorder to see results.

Here are our top tips for developinga good bedtime routine:

l Do the same thing at the same time each day,including waking your child at the same timeeach morning; this will strengthen their bodyclock. Yes we know this is hard on a Saturdayand Sunday, but it is also very important!

l Switch off computers and televisions an hourbefore bedtime, these can be very stimulatingactivities and can hinder a good night’s sleep.

l Fine motor skill activities help children torelax, encourage them to take part in thesebefore bedtime. Colouring in, jigsaws,threading activities all help to promoterelaxation. You will need to plan appropriaterelaxing activities in advance.

l If your child enjoys being bathed then youshould include this within your routine. Abath 30 minutes before bed is perfect foraiding sleep. The decrease in bodytemperature after getting out of a bathmakes us feel sleepy around half an hourlater.

l Give your child warnings that bedtime isapproaching; you may use a visual timetableto show them what is going to happen next.

l Use calming music as part of your bedtimeroutine to help your child to begin to winddown.

l Say goodnight and leave your child to fallasleep by themselves if possible.

l Do not leave your child watching television orlistening to CDs if they have sleep issues, theymust learn to fall asleep by themselves at thestart of the night so that they can thenresettle themselves to sleep should they wakeup during the night.

l Write down the routine so that everybodyinvolved knows what the procedure is.

For more information about the charityvisit the website

www.thechildrenssleepcharity.org.ukor find us on Facebook.

Battling sleepless nights?This information could help you!

by Vicki Dawson Founder of The Children's Sleep Charity

6 myfamily

BEAT BEDTIME BLUES

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:23 Page 6

7myfamily

BEAT BEDTIME BLUES

TURN THE LIGHT OUT!‘But I’m Scared of The Dark’. . .Even a low light in a bedroom can be disturbing tosleep patterns, but many children are afraid of thedark. LumiPotti’s nightlight provides a singlesolution to your child’s lighting needs whilst leavingthem to sleep in the dark.

Activated by movement with auto-fade 60 secs after the lastdetected movement, it’s on when you need it and off when youdon’t! LumiPotti’s removable night light is perfect for:

l Checking on babyl Settling for night time feedsl Night toilet trainingl Portable night light

As your child grows they willcome to trust that LumiPotti’slittle light will come on if theyneed it, but leave them to sleep in peacefully in the dark!

LumiPotti is available online at Amazon,Argos, JoJo Maman Bébé,

independents nationwide and direct –see www.lumipotti.com for details.

Special buy directdiscount offer on page 27.

tucked up for a good night’s sleep,every night of the year.

Ideal for use at home or away,Snuggle Sac has a space within thehead area to fit a standard pillowand conveniently packs into its very

own travel bag – making it theideal travel companion.

Snuggle Sac’simaginative designs(including Harry Potter,Pirates, Fairies, Ponies

and many more) havebecome a global sensation

that has achieved a celebrity fansbase that includes J.K Rowling,Gordon Ramsay, Jeremy Clarksonand Jonathan Ross to name a few.

Snuggle Sac is a versatile, award winning fleecysleeping bag that is the perfect modernreplacement to traditional bedding. It is endorsedby the highly acclaimed Children’s Sleep charityas an alternative bedding solution that helpsprovide a comforting, secure environment, toensure a good night’s sleep for your child.

A good night’s sleep with Snuggle Sac

Children and teenagersof all ages can enjoy thebenefits of a SnuggleSac. For active sleepers itsolves the bedding on thefloor problem and for smallchildren who are making thetransition from cot to bed, My FirstSnuggle Sac resolves the problem ofthem waking upset and cold,because they have lost the covers.

Snuggle Sac can be machinewashed and is easily tumble dried,which makes it ideal for the pottytraining years, as it can be back onthe bed in no time at all. With100% cotton lining, you can beconfident that your child is snugly

My Family readers can SAVE 10%by using code MF10 at the

checkout when you order from

www.snugglesac.com

We are an independent nurserystore based in West Sussex.

www.fiesta-tots.co.uk

Our website offers an excellent range ofproducts to care for your little one at

home and when you are out and about.

With many years of experience in thetravel industry, we specialise in

products that make travel and days outwith little ones much easier.

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:23 Page 7

8 myfamily

BEAT BEDTIME BLUES

Ensuring your baby has a safe sleep is a toppriority for parents. So as the seasonschange and the weather gets warmer, youmay wonder how the rising temperatureswill affect your baby’s sleep.

No matter the time of year, it’s important tomake sure your baby is a comfortabletemperature. Sadly we know that thechance of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome(SIDS) increases if a baby overheats.

The Lullaby Trust recommends you keep thebaby’s room at a temperature of 16-20°C. Thismight be lower than you would expect, so you canuse a room thermometer to check the temperature of the baby’s room.Remember this is a guide, so you should also check your baby’stemperature by hand as well to see if he or she is too hot. Place your handon the baby’s tummy or neck (hands and feet will usually be cooler, whichis normal). If your baby’s skin is hot and sweaty, remove one or morelayers of bedclothes.

Light bedding such as sheets or a low-tog sleep bag will help you keepyour baby cooler, and you can then build up layers if needed.

The Lullaby Trust’s Safer Sleep guidance includes more information to helpreduce the chance of SIDS, with the key advice that parents place theirbaby on their back for every sleep, in a clear cot or Moses basket, withtheir feet to the foot of the bed.

For more safer sleep advice visit

www.lullabytrust.org.uk

Safe Sleep for Babyas Temperatures Rise

In order for your child to sleep well their bedroomor nursery needs to be a calm, restful place wherethey feel comfortable and safe. A good bed or cotshould always be top of the list for a good night’ssleep and at the award winning children’s furnitureretailer Nubie you will find the very best collectionof cots and beds for your little one.

Nubie, offer afantastic range ofstylish cots and cribsfrom Oeuf, Kalon,Leander and HugsFactory that willbring style and classicdesign to your littleone's room.

For children who areold enough to sleepin a big bed, choosefrom beds withstorage and trundleoptions, space savingbunk beds or bring some WOW and smiles to your child's bedroomwith amazing kids themed beds including Caravans, Jeeps, CamperVans to name a few.

At Nubie you will also findchildren's natural and

organic mattresses for cotsand bed in standard sizesas well as made tomeasure.

When it is time for bedyour child will love

climbing into cool bedding by Farg and Form, Ferm Living, Fred theDog and Majvillan. You can also choose from modern bedding sets incoordinating styles to match with nursery ranges from Aden & Anais,Olli Ella and Garbo and Friends.

Save 10%on all orders with discount code MYFAMILY10 atwww.nubie.co.uk (offer valid until August 2015)

Bedtime with Nubie

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:23 Page 8

For an area famous for its wide-open spaces,Mid Wales doesn’t half pull the crowdsespecially when there’s a major event on –but the rest of the time it’s a great place toenjoy the peace and tranquillity of thisbeautiful part of the world.

Mid Wales’s offers wide open spaces where you and your familycan walk, cycle or drive for miles without seeing another soul.There are no big cities, but there are plenty of gorgeous markettowns including Machynlleth, Brecon, Crickhowell, LlandrindodWells, Hay-on-Wye, Knighton and Presteigne.

It’s the ideal region for families that want to get away from it all,but it is action-packed at the same time.

For instance, Green Man in Powysis one of the most child-friendlyfestivals in Britain, attractingthousands of families to enjoy itsfolksy, whimsical charms. HayFestival, the ‘Woodstock for themind’ attracts the world’s greatwriters and thinkers to Hay-on-Wye every summer, is alsosuperbly welcoming to people ofall ages.

Another major attraction is theNational Showcaves Centre forWales which has some of the mostspectacular caverns in Britain (thelimestone mountains here areriddled with thousands of miles ofcaves). You’ve also got thegrandeur of Powis Castle andnearby, the Welshpool & LlanfairLight Railway.

And let’s not forget all the stuff nature has provided – The BreconBeacons National Park has the highest peaks in southern Britain,and the UK’s biggest concentration of waterfalls. The lakes andreservoirs – places like the Elan Valley, Llyn Clywedog, LakeVyrnwy – are wild, remote and utterly unspoilt.

www.visitwales.com

Family Adventuresin Mid Wales

Visit www.tygwynfarm.co.uk or phone 01597 829298 or01597 822665. Email: margot@tygwynfarm.co.uk

A magical place for children to explore and whereparents can have comfort and peace – The Straw Cottageoffers an idyllic holiday away from it all.

The Straw Cottage, as the nameimplies, is built of straw. It has noelectricity but it does have candles,lanterns, a wood burning stove,oven, hot shower and flushing loowhich with cosy beds and squashysofas make it a perfectcombination of adventure andcomfort.

Outside dark skies, birdsong, thesound of the stream and views ofthe hills complete the experience.Everything has been thought of –games and books for children andadults, maps and walks, warmwoolly blankets and hot waterbottles for chillier nights.

Hidden in beautiful Mid Wales

The Straw Cottage

“I want to stay here forever”, oneyoung guest at the Straw Cottagesums up how children feel aboutthis unique holiday. “The childrenlove stream dipping, the treasurehunt, building dens and playing onthe swing,” says Margot Porterwho with her husband Anthonybuilt the Straw Cottage in an idyllicposition in open woodland by astreamside meadow on their 130acre farm.

“It’s great to see children havingfun doing simple things likeexploring the woods or flying thekite. We also have a list of twentythings to do – like seeing the stars,creating wild art, bird watching, orrolling down a hill – all without theneed for technology!” she said.

Things to seeand do . . .

The Elan Valley is an area ofoutstanding scenic beauty withmagnificent dams and reservoirs.

You can enjoy great walking,cycling, fishing, golf and riding; allclose by. Watch Red Kites feed atGigrin Farm or visit The NationalCycle Museum and Quackers PlayCentre. Enjoy lovely small markettowns, quiet roads and panoramicviews.

9myfamily

AWAY WITH THE KIDS

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:23 Page 9

Cornwall is a firm favourite for familyholidays and with over 300 beaches,countless attractions and every type ofactivity a child could dream of, it’slittle surprise.The tiniest toddlers to thecoolest of teenagers will fallin love with this uniquepeninsula and discover thenatural playground whichhas been the backgroundto childhood holiday forgenerations.

With 80% of Cornwall surrounded by the sea, with the longeststretch of coastline in the UK including miles of amazing beaches,rivers, lakes and estuaries it’s the perfect destination for thosewho love watersports, fishing, coastal walks or a day on thebeach.

Explore Cornwall’s quaint seasidetowns and fishing ports – at Looeyou can watch the day’s catchbeing auctioned on the quay andpick up some fresh fish for dinner.If you don’t fancy cooking, trysome of the town’s best eateriesfrom award winning fish and chipsnear the river to gourmet menus insmart restaurants perched on thehill overlooking the harbour.

Along the harbour wall is perfectfor catching crabs – a line, a small bucket, a piece of bacon and abit of patience is all you need tokeep the kids entertained forhours.

Those who fancy a walk on thewild side, pay a visit to BodminMoor - from the top of RoughTor and Brown Willy, the twohighest peaks in Cornwall, theviews are spectacular. A brilliantplace for walking with over 150square miles to explore – this isCornwall at is wildest.

For further informationwww.visitcornwall.com

Cornwall – loved acrossthe generations

A warm welcome awaits you at Fox Valley Cottages,located in the beautiful countryside of south eastCornwall. The sweet little cluster of 11 self-cateringcottages and apartments offers the perfect base forfamilies to explore this wonderful part of the world.

Kids can let off steam at theoutdoor play area where they arefree to run around, kick a ball orplay cricket – there is a trampolineand a Jungle Jim with swings and aslide. Little ones will love FoxValley’s furry residents, Dec theguinea pig and Tufty & Chestnutthe rabbits, plus a number ofchicken and ducks, who arelooking forward to meeting themtoo!

A Child Friendly Holiday

in Cornwall

The properties on the complexcater for 2 – 6 guests and arecomfortably furnished and wellequipped. Out in the garden thereis a terrace furnished with sunloungers, plenty of gardenfurniture and a barbeque for thoseevenings when you fancy cookingalfresco.

If you fancy a splash about withthe kids, pop on down to the poolroom to take a swim or simplyenjoy relaxing in the Sauna andSpa. In the Games room you willfind a Pool Table, Table Tennis andTable Football plus an area to keepyounger children entertained.

Visit www.foxvalleycottages.co.uk, emailfoxvalleycottages@btconnect.com or telephone: 01726 870115

Things to seeand do . . .

At Bluereef Aquarium,Newquay there are 40 naturallythemed habitats to take you on afantastic journey from Cornishwaters to exotic seas.

Come face to face with freshwaterturtles, watch pulsating jellyfishand meet amazing pufferfish!

At the Aquarium’s heart is theocean tank where an underwatertunnel offers incredible views ofgiant Loggerhead turtle, reefsharks and shoals of colourful fish.

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10 myfamily

AWAY WITH THE KIDS

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:23 Page 10

Whether you like to take a traditionalBritish seaside holiday or enjoy the peaceand tranquility of the countryside, campingis a great way for your family to explore theBritish Isles. In recent years camping has seen renewed popularity – thanks toluxury camping also known as ‘glamping. It’s the best way toexperience the freedom of a tent while enjoying a little morecomfort – some sites even have Wi-Fi!

Camping is cheap, green, great fun and a wonderful way to getup close and personal with Britain's most sumptuous scenery.

Pitching a tent is one of the greenest holiday choices available andBritain is peppered with good-quality campsites, many of whichhave taken steps to become even more eco-friendly.

Camping also offers the perfect opportunity to ditch theelectronic devices and leave the distractions of the modern agebehind.

With children spending less time playing outdoors than kids ageneration ago and fewer than 1 in 10 children regularly playingin wild spaces, camping offers an ideal opportunity for children toget outside and reconnect with nature.

Whatever you preference, camping is about more than juststaying in a tent, yurt, treehouse, gipsy caravan or log cabin; it’sabout a completely different holiday experience. It's aboutgetting away from it all, exploring and finding adventureeverywhere you go.

So, what’s stopping you? Grab your tent and start your campingadventure!

A campingadventure for youand your family

11myfamily

AWAY WITH THE KIDS

For more information visitwww.fenfarm.co.uk or telephone 01206 383275

Just off the Essex coastline, around 10 miles fromColchester, in the peaceful rural setting of Mersea Islandyou will find Fen Farm Caravan and Camping Site.

At Fen Farm kids can enjoythemselves without having toswitch anything on or boot up!There is a play area with swings,seesaws and climbing frames, plusplenty of wide-open space toexplore including a wonderfulsouth facing beach within walkingdistance of the site.

Fen Farm holds the David BellamyGold Conservation Award for thework done to protect theenvironment in and around thecampsite, making it a popular withthose wanting an eco-retreat.

SPECIAL OFFERSCall 01206 383275 for

information on our special offers.

Family Friendly Camping

at Fen Farm

Owned by The Lord family since1918, the small yet well-appointedsite offers its guests a warm andfriendly welcome, catering fortents, trailer tents, touringcaravans and motor homes of anysize.

Fen Farm boasts award winningloos, a laundry and shower blockwith solar powered water heatingand a family sized shower roomthat provides plenty of space forparents to attend to little ones atshower time.

The site’s proximity to the Essexmarshes provides a unique andtranquil atmosphere ideal for thosewanting to escape the distractionsof everyday life.

Things to seeand do . . .

Mersea Island is one of Britain’sbest-kept secrets – a tiny island,just 5 miles by 2 miles with 12miles of coastline surroundingwonderful shops, cafes, a museumand restaurants, many of whichsell the famous native oysters. Jump on the foot ferry to

Brightlingsea or take to the waterfor sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, fishing or try crabbing inthe creek.

Visit Colchester town centre – just20 minutes’ drive away for a spotof retail therapy or pay a visit toColchester Zoo where guests atFen Farm can enjoy discountedentry.

My Family 22 20/1/10 10:06 Page 11

How about baby yoga? A fun theme park? Toddlerrugby? Or maybe something a little more creativewith pottery painting? Many families find it hard tokeep children entertained every day whilst makingsure that the activities they book are going to be good(and they don’t break the bank either!).

Toddlers can be entertained withdried pasta pictures for a certaintime, but older children and evenparents, need to get out andabout or to join local clubs. To findlots of ideas for children, allrecommended and checked outby parents, take a look atKalliKids.com.

Ever thought of going to amusic festival with the wholefamily? Camping out with thekids with lots of exciting things todo and see and everyone boppingto music – makes for a fantasticweekend. Debbie and Neil tooktheir two children to theElderflower Festival in Sussex(www.kallikids.com/elderflower-fields-festival-2015-22-25th-May) and loved it.

How about skate boardinglessons? Projekt Indoors SkatePark (www.kallikids.com/projekt-indoors-skatepark) is in central

Manchester and children can takeskate boarding lessons with theirfriends or even as family.

Thinking of where to bookyour holiday this year? Go toCornwall and delight the wholefamily with surf–boarding lessons(www.kallikids.com/fistral-beach-surf-school). Rosie says that her 5year old son, Toby, took to surfinglike a duck to water!

Looking for something a bitdifferent to do with your

baby/children this month?

Get inspiration for no-costfun at home. Every experiencehelps a child develop and role playcan help children understand howto make friends and gainconfidence. Find ideas at:www.kallikids.com/role-play-at-home

Find recommended activities atKalliKids.com or suggest yourfavourite place to go/children’sactivity and win £100 M+Svouchers – simply go towww.kallikids.com/Favourite

12 myfamily

Calvert Trust Exmoor enables people of any ability toexperience challenging and enjoyable activity adventures

with family and friends.At our fully accessible residential centre all activities arespecifically designed and equipped to cater for everyone.

Stay with us for a few days, a week, or just for the day; come and discover it's what you CAN do that Counts!

01598 763221 exmoor@calvert-trust.org.ukwww.calvert-trust.org.uk/exmoor

Calvert Trust Exmoor is the South West’s premieraccessible outdoor activity destination, welcoming over4,000 guests a year with the philosophy of “At CalvertTrust Exmoor it’s what you CAN do that counts”.

fully accessible accommodationoffers H-track hoists, mobile hoists,shower chairs, electric beds,trembler pads, and other loanequipment to make your stay morecomfortable regardless of yourdisability.

To find out more take a look at theirwebsite – www.calvert-trust.org.uk/exmoor or call thecentre on 01598 763221.

The centre enables people of allages and any level of ability toexperience exciting and enjoyableoutdoor activity adventures,together with their families &friends.

The only 5 star activityaccommodation in the country, thecentre is accredited by the NationalAccessible Scheme, and isVisitEngland’s ‘Access for All’ goldaward winner for 2014.

Holidays include a structuredprogramme of exciting activitiestailored to the needs of each guest;activities on offer include climbing,archery, horse riding, wheelchairabseiling, carriage driving, sailing,accessible cycling and many others.

Facilities on site included ahydrotherapy swimming pool,Jacuzzi, children’s play area, gamesroom, bar and sensory room. The

Accessible Family Holidays

AWAY WITH THE KIDS

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13myfamily

AWAY WITH THE KIDS

We have a range ofsun protection

swimwearwith UVP50+

as well aswetsuits,

floatsuits and pooltoys for kids aged

0-13yrs in cool,fashionable designs!

Call 020 8715 2385info@jakabel.comwww.jakabel.com

SAVE 25%with

discountcode MF1

Jakabel is number 1for safety in

the sun!

Tackle The Wistow MazeThis Summer

With England hosting this year’s Rugby World Cup,Leicestershire’s famous Wistow Maze is joining inthe fun.

hopper track, hoopla and a footballshooting game.

Across the road is the Wistow RuralCentre with its cafe, garden centre,art gallery, model village andnumerous shops, ensuring therereally is something to satisfy allages.

Opens 10am – 6pm 7 days a weekfrom 18th July – 6th September(then weekends only until Sun20th Sept). Free Parking.

Admission charges: Child £5.50:Adult £6.50: Family Ticket (2+2)£22

For more information visitwww.wistow.com

or ring 07884 403889

Created in the shape of a RugbyPlayer (scoring a try), the maze hasbeen designed to build on ourappetite for major sporting events,and to test visitors’ knowledge of12 other sports that also originatedin the UK.

Opening this year on Saturday18th July, Wistow Maze featuresover three miles of intricatepathways carved through 8 acresof living corn, with high levelbridges and towers givingunrivalled 3D panoramic views.

Wistow Maze is an excellent familyday out. As well as the challenge ofthis giant maze, visitors can testtheir skills on a variety of minimazes and games in the ActivityFunyard, which includes a space

Music In The ParkThis highly popular Music in the Park annual charityconcert is taking place on Saturday 13th June in thebeautiful grounds of Wistow Hall and is a great nightout for all ages.

FREE Parking – Gates open 5.30pm– Concert starts 7.30pm –Fireworks Display 10.00pm

More Info, directions & video atwww.wistow.com

Credit Card Hotline: 0116 231 8431

Bring your own picnic and enjoy awonderful evening listening tomusic by local covers band Krisisand the award winning HathernBrass Band.

The evening finishes with afabulous fireworks display in frontof Wistow Hall.

The concert is raising money for 2charities – LOROS (Hospice) andLeicester Charity Link(supporting people in poverty).

Ticket prices: Adult £15.00 (On theday/night £17.50), 10-16yrs£5.00, under 10's Free

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When the owner of AmaWrap, Shabs, first had her daughter sherealised that the “bond” that she heard so much about was not there,due to her difficult pregnancy and birth. Making a concerted effort toleave her apartment to combat the postnatal depression that she wassuffering from, (and struggling due to the lack of lifts in her apartmentblock) she thought back to an old custom that her family used topractice in Africa – wrapping their babies in slings.

“But what benefits are there for thebaby?” We hear you say!

Lying on mum’s chest reminds baby of thesounds and feelings that they were used to inthe womb. Feeling your voice, breathing andheartbeat has been proven to quieten and calma baby. This holds even more true for pretermbabies – studies have shown that wearingpremature babies in a sling (or however youchoose to initiate that skin-to-skin contact)helps to regulate their breathing and theirtemperature more quickly. And when you holdbaby that close, you become more attuned totheir behaviours and expressions, which meansthat you can pick up their cues before theyresort to crying.

What other benefits are there to havingyour child in a wrap?

Less colic and reflux for a start. Keepingyour child upright in a sling aidsdigestion, helps to avoid that painfulregurgitation, and also serves as agentle massage to baby’s stomach.

The wrap is different to many highstreet carriers because it allows youto provide a full knee-to-knee seatfor your baby, rather than a hardernarrow base which simply supports

their bums and leaves their legsdangling.

Breastfeeding is easier on the go – Mums canfeed their baby while in the wrap, with nobodybeing any the wiser! No longer do you have tostop what you are doing, find a place to sit, andget your baby out of the pram.

Slings are convenient – think about having to goto your local shopping centre or on publictransport with a pram. The buggy wars are toomuch! The AmaWrap allows you the use of bothof your hands, while keeping your baby out ofharms way.

And if your baby is fussing the AmaWrap canalso be worn inside the house too. You canpromote skin-to-skin contact by wearingnothing under the wrap and having your baby injust a nappy (and it still protects your modestyshould you need to pop to the shops!) Thebenefits of skin-to-skin are priceless…

The fabric used is made exclusively forAmaWrap, which means that the thickness andstretch is exactly what we consider to be themost supportive, yet lightest wrap available.

“Looking down to find that your baby hasfallen asleep on your chest… that’s peace.”

TOTS ON THE GO

As the sling wearing became more regular,Shabs realised that the fog of depression wasclearly dissipating, and did some research.

What she discovered made so much sense givenwhat she had just been through. The skin-to-skin contact between mother and babyproduces a powerful hormone called Oxytocin,(also known as the “Love Hormone”). This notonly allows you to bond more closely with yourbaby, but also stimulates breastmilk productionand significantly lowers the chances of postnataldepression. In Shabs’ words, “I had never heardof Oxytocin, or the term skin-to-skin contactwhen I first wrapped my baby in the sling. It wasjust a means to get out of the house withouthaving to lug the pram down a flight of stairsand aggravate my caesarian scar! But what Ifound is that when I looked down to find thatmy baby had fallen asleep on my chest, I felt themost incredible sense of peace. And, funnily, itfinally made me feel like a mother. Like Iwas doing something that felt sonatural.”

Quote myfamily at checkout on

www.amawrap.comfor 10% off your order

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:24 Page 14

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TOTS ON THE GO

Suitable from birth, the luxurious AmaWrap allows close contactwith baby, who is soothed feeling your voice, breathing and heartbeat. Itensures absolute comfort for both baby and parent, and allows you to get

on with everything else!

The contact is proven to regulate baby’s heartbeat and temperature,increase breastfeeding success and help to ward off the baby blues in mum.

Quote myfamily on www.amawrap.com for 10% off!

At Little Chipmunks we sell only the ‘berry’best clothing, toy, essential, and furniturebrands for babies and children,including Baba+Boo, Cuddledry, PlanToys, Red Urchin and Shnuggle.

With summer soon arriving, we’resure you have plenty of excitingday trips planned out. Whether it’sa fun day exploring at the park,discovering animals at the zoo orour personal favourite a day out atthe seaside; to makeyour day lessstressful and moreplayful we havechosen some ofour favouriteinnovativeproducts thatwill make yourday out easier.

We begin withthe MyyfeedBaby FormulaMixer whichstores and mixes

Introducing Little Chipmunks

hot water and formulain one product. This isideal for it is easy touse and reduces theneed to carrymultiple items – RRP£19.99.

Secondly we havethe Totseat – a compact,squashable and washable baby

seat that convertsdining chairs intoa safe high chairfor your baby.Perfect for wheneating out andsimple to use.Available inmultiple designscosting £24.50-£29.95.

Our next product is the FuzziFunSun Blind by Koo-di, which

keeps your little onesentertained whilst

protecting themfrom the heat ofthe sun. A greatproduct for whenmaking your way

to your destination –only £14.99.

Finally we haveanother superbproduct from Koo-di, the Sun &

Sleep Pop-up Travel BubbleCot – exactly what you needwhen out and about with itsintegrated zip-up mosquito netand black out/sun blind -complete with padded mattress– priced at £74.99

Visit our websitewww.yourlittlechipmunks.co.uk

to check out our full range.

Ultra-flat fold design fitsinto small boot spaces

(including Fiat 500)

Lightweight frame (under 10kg)

Easily folds using one hand

Soft-drive system – evenon rough terrain

Solar-poweredwarning light

Multiple colouroptions

WWW.PAULSTRIDE.CO.UKsales@paulstride.co.uk • Telephone: 01904 674800

20 Kathryn Avenue • Monks Cross • York YO32 9JS

Carrycotincluded

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:24 Page 15

16 myfamily

TOTS ON THE GO

Let's twist again – and turn pram, car seat or seatunit by 360° using only one hand. With its stylishchassis and high-quality materials, the Twister willcertainly stand out in a crowd.

This lightweight stroller offers theperfect ride every time. With itscomfortable wide seat kids willenjoy the generous space andfreedom of movement. Backrestand footrest can be adjusted andfor added comfort there is aremovable seat pad in acontrasting colour. The soft touchhandle is height-adjustable andthe extendable hood providesprotection against all weathers.

The carrycot with soft mattresscreates a safe environment fornewborns whilst the Zero PlusComfort 0+ car seat offers aninnovative side impact protectionsystem plus padded 3-pointharness. For information visitwww.hauck.com or telephone01978 664362.

Twister Trio Set

RRP: £550

www.hauckuk.com

Being outdoors and welcoming the warm sun canbe such a positive mood lifter. But, as much asbeing outside can have mental and physicalbenefits, we mustn’t forget that precautionsneed to be taken too, especially with little ones.

The Outlook auto-shade (from£19.99) is what Ilike to call a car

window-sock,providing total

coverage on rectangularor curved windows.

For buggies there aremany options that provideshade and often UV protectiontoo; from the traditional parasol, tototal coverage again. Some aresemi-blackout and great forsleeping on the go), while some

extend a hood like a sail. Pricesfor draping covers start at£9.99 while fitted semi-blackout covers and sail-styles start at £19.99.

When in the direct sun, weneed to protect both skin and

eyes. Sun glasses, such as BabyBanz (£15) are handy, with nohard handles. No strangers tostrong sun, Banz (An Australian

While staying in the shade is best,it’s not always possible. However,there are a number of ways toensure shade in the buggy, car oreven a bedroom. The Koo-dipack-it bedtime blind (RRP£23.99) with elasticated edges anda series of suckers is a greattemporary blackout blind and itpacks away into a small bagmaking it perfect for travel.

company), also do a range ofswimwear that is tested toAustralian standards and has a UPFrating of 50+. One-pieces are from£20 and separates from £12.

Finally, have fun and enjoy yourfamily time.

Keeping kids safe in the sunby Alex Wyver-Northam founder, fiesta-tots.co.uk,

winner of My Family Favourite Award 2015, Best for Travel Essentials

For the car you canchoose sun blinds that sucker on,pull down or are total coverage.

My Family 22 20/1/10 10:06 Page 16

Say Hello to Funky Little BumsIntroducing Funky Little Bums,the NEW place for parents andmums-to-be to shop inconfidence for change timeessentials and complimentingaccessories for their little one.

You can choose from colourful designs andfabulous unisex prints, with colour co-ordinated snaps for a smarter look and trim,sleek shape that gives a great fit across the agespan.

If you are a fan of cloth nappies and arelooking for a more environmentally friendlyalternative todisposablewipes, FunkyLittle Bumshandmadewashablewipes are justthe answer –they can bestored in awet bag andeasily washedand dried readyto reuse as a fresh clean wipe.

You are sure to catch the admiring glances ofpassersby with a Funky Little Bugs creationfeaturing the famous Marvel Comic series,Disney, Ninja turtles and many other fundesigns.

When youare outand about

with yourbaby, keepyour nappies

and wipesalong with all

your babyessentials in astylish change

bag handmade foryou by Steph to suit

your own personaltaste andrequirements.

17myfamily

TOTS ON THE GO

Teething babies and their stylish mummies willlove Funky Little Bums range of BPA Freechewable non-toxic jewellery byMummaBubba. A fashionable and safealternative to costume jewellery for mums withteething babies and perfect for babies who liketo grab and chew. This range of glamorousteething necklaces, bangles, bracelets andpendants are designed to provide safe relief foryour baby’s gums and they look fabulous too!

For more information visitwww.facebook.com/funkylittlebums

and www.facebook.com/funkylittlebugssay hello and tell us about your favourite

products and then like and share with yourfriends and family to help spread the word.

Funky Little Bums is brought to you bySteph Murrell, founder of Funky Little Bugs– the My Family Favourite award winner 2015for Best Handmade Products. The popularity ofher quirky personalised change bags withmatching mat, dribble cloth and wipes pouch,encouraged Steph to launch a site where thoselooking for good quality change time productscould buy everything they need – and Funky

Little Bums was born!

Visit the Funky LittleBums Facebookpage to browse agreat range ofessentialsincluding cloth

nappies by awardwinning Wonderoos –

creators of the original“one size” pocket nappy that

has become a popular choice with parentsaround the world for good reason. Not onlyare they extremely comfy, they are also highlyadjustable; fitting babies from birth to potty.

My Family 22 20/1/10 10:06 Page 17

18 myfamily

FASHION

Kew Gardens Collection fromPoppy – Discover the adventuresof Poppy and Fred along the hemof the dress and also in the free

storybookwww.poppyengland.com

Multi-elly organic cotton dresswww.tobytiger.co.uk

Wild Things Tiger Play Dresswww.yourlittlechipmunks.co.uk

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:24 Page 18

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FASHION

Martha Navy Butterfly and MarthaSage Make a Wish dresses from Poppy

www.poppyengland.com

Multi-bird sleepsuit and knot hatwww.tobytiger.co.uk

Wild Things Bunny Rabbit Play Dresswww.yourlittlechipmunks.co.uk

Boys’ Red Urchin Octopus Teewww.yourlittlechipmunks.co.uk

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:24 Page 19

Parents often question howoften their children are heardread by their teacher. This variesdramatically between schools,with some teachers managing tohear every child in the class readindividually a few times a week,whereas other teachers mightonly hear individual readersonce every few months.

In teachers’ defence, hearing individual readers isextremely time consuming and arguably not themost effective use of their time. Assuming ittakes approximately 7-8 minutes to listen toeach child read; it would take about 4 hours tohear a class of 30 children. After assembly,registration and break times are factored in, thiswould take nearly the whole teaching day.

Parents should be reassured that even thoughchildren might not read individually with theirteacher very often, they will read withteaching assistants and volunteer helpers.In addition, they will do guided readingwith a teacher (where a group ofchildren read the same text and focuson comprehension and thinking skills).

It is therefore up to parents to ensurethat lots of reading gets done at home.Research carried out by the Save theChildren ‘Read On. Get On.’Campaign has found that parents can

make a huge positive impact on children’s abilityto read – even if it is for just 10 minutes a day.

Ideally, reading should be part of an everydayroutine, as much as brushing teeth is. If it is a‘normal’ thing to do, then incentives shouldn’tbe needed and equally, reading won’t be seen asa chore. Making reading part of a daily routinecan sometimes be easier during term time, ratherthan during school holidays. This is also helpedby the deadline of having to fill in the readingrecord book by a certain date. Everyday routinesmight be thrown out the window duringholidays, but it is important to try to find a wayto keep reading going.

Take the time to ensure children have access toinspiring books at the right level of difficulty andother reading material that they choosethemselves. Getting children to read for pleasureis the ultimate goal. Children learn in differentways and enjoy different types of books. Manychildren, particularly boys engage better with

non-fiction books. Don’t panic ifyour children don’t warm to

Biff, Chip and Kipper books –there is plenty more out

there!

Holidays are the perfect time to let children havemore choice in what their read, without thepressure of being told what to do by school. Ifchildren want to read comics or footballmagazines, that is fine too!

Audio books are a brilliant way to keep children’sinterest in stories alive. Long car journeys are agreat place for a captive audience! These caneither be bought as CDs or downloaded fromwebsites such as www.audible.co.uk.

Try to keep bedtime stories going through theholidays. As children are outside more, stayingawake later and having more sleepovers, it isvery easy to put a DVD on before bedtime ratherthan reading a story.

There is a virtuous circle between enjoyingreading and being a good reader. Research forthe ‘Read On. Get On’ report demonstrates thatchildren who do not enjoy reading are ten timesmore likely to have fallen behind at school by 11.

It is a parent’s job (and hopefully a pleasure) tohelp and encourage all children to read at homeand develop a love of reading that will last alifetime.

To find out more about Reading Chest andaccess a wide variety of reading schemes,

go to www.readingchest.co.uk.

To find out more about theSave the Children ‘Read On. Get On’

Campaign, go towww.readongeton.org.uk.

Teaching Children to Read –the Job of Teachers or Parents?

by Liz Walker, founder of Reading Chest

INSPIRING YOUNG MINDS

20 myfamily

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INSPIRING YOUNG MINDS

5

Reading is the key to a child’sfuture. With busy schooltimetables and overstretchedteachers, it is up to parents totake more responsibility forhelping children learn to read.

The idea of Reading Chest began after Istarted buying extra books for my son whenhe was learning to read (for those occasions when he forgot tochange his school book - which seemed to happen a lot). Afterbeing struck by the expense of such books, which were finishedwith so quickly, it seemed an obvious idea to be able to ‘read andreturn’ them instead.

Reading Chest is a through-the-post book rental service forchildren, specialising in readingscheme books for 4 to 9 year oldsand works along similar lines toDVD rental companies. For amonthly fee, members receiveregular deliveries of books at theirreading level from ReadingChest’s extensive selection ofreading schemes including BugClub, Treetops, Oxford ReadingTree, Project X, Rigby Star andCollins Big Cat. These includeboth fiction and non-fiction titles.

Children learn in different ways and enjoy different types of books.Many children, particularly boys engage better with non-fictionbooks, which are often harder to come by in a school lendinglibrary than the well known Biff, Chip and Kipper stories. ReadingChest offers a huge variety of inspiring books and provides adviceto guide parents through their child’s reading journey.

Monthly membership starts from£9.95 and all new members receivea book bag, a bookmark, a rewardchart and stickers to encouragetheir reading. Certificates are alsoavailable to download from theReading Chest website andbudding literary critics can seetheir own book reviews published online.

To find out more about Reading Chest go to

www.readingchest.co.uk

Get £5 off your first month’s membershipwith the discount code MYFAMILY.

Enjoy your child’sreading journey with

Reading Chest

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:24 Page 21

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INSPIRING YOUNG MINDS

It’s a strange thing – andquite a peculiar happening!Because it’s official – theNational Young Writers’Awards have returned for anelectrifying, time-defyingseventh year!

Back by popular demand, children from allover the country will compete in one of thebiggest writing contests of the year – taking onthe challenge of putting pen to paper andwriting a 500 word story to the theme of‘Strange Events and PeculiarHappenings’.

Since launching seven years ago, tens ofthousands of children have battled it out to becrowned National Young Writer of the Yearwhere they are awarded the coveted prize of atrip to Disneyland Paris for their whole family –and £500 worth of books for their school!

The contest is organised by English and mathstuition provider, Explore Learning, whichhas 112 centres located across the country.

This year’s theme of ‘strange events andpeculiar happenings’ is anticipated to attractmore entries than ever before as children areencouraged to let their imaginations go wildand tell stories of the most peculiar happeningor strange events they can think of!

The National Young Writers’ Awards Return!

www.explorelearning.co.uk

An environment that children enjoy

Mapped to the National Curriculum

Maths & English tuition

Ofsted Registered & open 7 days a week

For 5 to 14 year olds of all abilities

Book your free trial today! Explore Learning has over 110 centres nationwide!

Visit or call 01483 447414 to register with your local centre or to find out more!

Previous judges of the competition have so farincluded some of the UK’s most prolificauthors, like Cressida Cowell, Liz Pichon, AndyCope and Alan Durant and this year’s judge isnone other than author of the hugely popularWorld of Norm series of books, JonathanMeres.

Jonathan says; “I’m genuinely intrigued todiscover what children can make upwhen they put their minds to it. Thiscompetition is a perfect opportunity tolet young imaginations run riot. And asfar as I’m concerned, the more riotousthe better!”

Children aged five to 14 can enter for free bysubmitting a 500 word story viawww.explorelearning.co.uk/youngwritersor popping into your local Explore Learningcentre.

The closing date is Friday 5th June.

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:24 Page 22

Play is an essential part ofchildhood development aschildren learn best whenthey are having fun. Learningthrough play helps childrendevelop social and cognitiveskills, gain self-confidenceand mature emotionally.As parents there are a number of ways that wecan provide a platform for learning through playactivities.

Let’s pretend…If you think back to your own childhood, youprobably have great memories of making upgames and acting out the scenes of your ownstory. It is important for a child to make believeas it offers the chance to act out aspects of theirown lives and also to understand the roles ofpeople around them.

As a parent you can supply a few simple items tohelp them to use their imagination rather thandirecting how they play. You can use somethingas simple as a few pegs, sheets, boxes so thatthey can create a den or you could set up a mini-kitchen with some pots, pans, plastic cups andplates.

Developing physical skillsOnly half of seven year olds are getting the hourof exercise that they need every day according toresearch by the UCL Institute of Child Health.Encouraging you child to take part in energeticplay not only helps with their physical well-beingbut will also help them develop confidence intheir own skill, strength and judgement.

Setting up an obstacle course in your garden or apark is a great way to help them judge direction,speed and distance. This type of activity alsoallows them to use their sense of control andbalance as well as spatial relationships as theymove around, through and beside things.

Sounds and musicChildren love rhythm, dance and singing, andhelping your child to experiment with songs andrhymes develops many skills. You could make upyour own songs or get little ones to sing along topop songs or nursery rhymes. Musical activitieswill help them with skills such as listening andunderstanding language.

Water or sand playHave you ever noticed how much fun childrenhave playing with water or sand (or both?)Tipping and pouring water from one container toanother or building a sand castles helps develop

muscular strength and hand eye coordination –they can even learn through play while on thebeach or in the bath. In the garden you could setup a paddling pool, bucket or washing up bowlcontaining water along with various objects suchas plastic jugs and cups or watering cans, sochildren can experiment with pouring and fillingwater (always supervise children when playing inor around water).

Build it upChildren just love building a tower and knockingit down, then rebuilding again – this game alsodevelops their mathematical skills as they learnhow many blocks they need and how tall theirtower is. While building with toy bricks, childrenalso learn about measuring and balancing, aboutmaking a plan, deciding what materials areneeded for it and then carrying it out. Buildingactivities also develop hand eye co ordinationand manual skills as children select andmanipulate objects.

It’s great to see children playing, learning andhaving fun and if you would like a few moreideas to make the most of playtime take a look atwww.pre-school.org.uk/parents andwww.playengland.org.uk/resources/nature-play-activity-recipes.

How you can help your childrenwith playtime learning

23myfamily

INSPIRING YOUNG MINDS

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24 myfamily

Learning is fun withBusy Peas

The essence of the Busy Peas brand revolves around anadorable range of clothing, toys and books for babies,toddlers and infants.

You could win a collection of BusyPeas books including The littlegreen tomatoes, The little peas,The veggie bunch go campingand The veggie bunch'sChristmas, by emailing your nameand daytime contact number toinfo@busypeas.co.uk using thesubject ‘MF-Comp’ (competitioncloses at midnight on 31st July2015).

All products are available topurchase on line at

www.busypeas.co.uk

WIN! + WIN! + WIN!

Peat Pea, Tom Tomato, CarryCarrot, Stewart Strawberry andGene Aubergine, as a range ofentertaining and educational booksand toys.

INSPIRING YOUNG MINDS

Welcome to the magical world ofWin Green

Win Green believe that children should be encouragedfrom an early age to explore their imaginations throughplay, allowing them to use their own creativity todevelop their individual playing and learning skills.

Created with love, passion and plenty of imagination, they havedesigned an enchanting collection of award winning playhouses andaccessories which will provide the perfect backdrop to whatevermagical tales of make-believe your children choose to explore!

Beautifully hand-embroidered and appliquéd, Win Green’s 100%cotton creations feature bright colours and imaginative detail withinspired themes including the Toy Shop, Beach House, Fairy Cottage,Pirate Shack, Princess Castle and the NEW Knight’s Castle.

If you want to encourage your children to have fun and explore theircreativity/imagination, take a trip to the magical world of Win Green at

www.wingreen.co.uk

The roots of this business lie in thegarden – with the aim of bringingfashion and education together,Busy Peas designs introducechildren to fruit and vegetables atan early age, encouraging them toread and learn to grow their specialfavourites!

The Playpod range introduces fivefun fruit and vegetable characters –

Little Chipmunks is the new onlinechildren’s store where youwill find a wide varietyof the highest qualityclothing, toys, essentialsand furniture brands forbabies and children.

All of the brands featured on the Little Chipmunks siteoffer the best quality and no less, so you can shop withconfidence knowing that they will benefit childrenby offering innovation, creativity,imagination and a splash of colour.

Visit our websitewww.yourlittlechipmunks.co.ukto check out our full range.

Celebrate withLittle Chipmunks

To celebrate our recent launch we are giving you the chance to win a‘groovy’ yellow van walker by the Eco-friendly toy brand Plan Toys. Toenter this competition simply email your name and contact number tocompetition@yourlittlechipmunks.co.uk (Competition closes atmidnight on Monday 27th July 2015)

WIN! + WIN! + WIN!

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:24 Page 24

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26 myfamily

INSPIRING YOUNG MINDS

5 Fun Ways To Play and Learn

Raise the anchor and ready themen! The swashbuckling Pirate Shack, with its strikingred roof, embroidered and appliquéd with acompass, palm tree, friendly parrot and a chestof bejewelled treasure, sets the scene perfectlyfor little Pirates to embark on untold adventures.Price £200.00 - £285.00 available fromwww.wingreen.co.uk (save 10% with codeMYFAMILY10).

www.wingreen.co.uk

Garden Table – BoikidoThis great activity table will keep your child busyexploring, learning, and having fun for ages.There are all kinds of different interactions thatare perfect for shape and colour recognition,problem solving and fine motor skills. Age: 18months+. Price £49.99 from

www.yourlittlechipmunks.co.uk

Gotrovo – the active treasure huntgame that gets kids moving!Gotrovo is the perfect family gift for Christmas –get the kids away from their screens by laying atrail for your intrepid treasure hunters to follow.Perfect for mixed ages and abilities – good old-fashioned fun!. Recommended Age 3+. £19.95inc free P&P.

www.gotrovo.uk

Snowdrop Kitchen This Interactive Kitchen has a compartment tohold a tablet device, simply download a free appand your little one can watch food cooking, hearthe sounds, and swipe to open the door,keeping their imagination alive whilst they alsoget a chance to use your tablet. Price £99.99 atwww.poppyandthepirate.co.uk (use code MF15to save 15% off the full price).

www.poppyandthepirate.co.uk

New Baby Lotto This game from Orchard Toys is designed tohelp parents prepare their child for the arrival ofa new baby brother or sister and for childrenwho enjoy baby role play. Suitable from 2 years.Price £9.50

www.orchardtoys.com

Keep the giggles flowing with five ‘funtastic’ playthingsthat are sure to spark your child’s imagination and offerhours of playtime entertainment!!!

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:24 Page 26

27myfamily

HEALTH

Toilet Training….Is a big challenge for a littleperson, so we developedLumiPotti™ for days and nights!LumiPotti’s removable night lightis movement sensitive, activatingas they sit up in bed. Dry nightsachieved, the nightlight providesa handy little light to guide themfor years to come . . .

Made in Britain withanti-microbial plastic.

20% off direct fromLumiPotti.comEnter code SUMMER15

(Valid 1/5/15 - 31/8/15)

For more information and stockists seewww.lumipotti.com

email: info@lumipotti.com

The children’s continence charity ERIC (Educationand Resources for Improving ChildhoodContinence), recently launched a nationalcampaign called ‘Let’s Talk About Poo’ to raiseawareness of childhood constipation amongparents of 2-4 year-olds and health and educationprofessionals working with this age group.

Constipation is most common in toddlers and pre-school agechildren; it is important to tackle it at this early stage to prevent itbecoming chronic and having a long-term impact on children’shealth and wellbeing.

The launch of a new website offersinformation about the signs,symptoms and treatment of children’sconstipation. The website featuresERIC’s fun and colourful wee and poocharacters and an interactive game

about poo. The aim of the game is to make children morecomfortable talking about poo and poo problems. ERIC’s resourcesabout understanding and maintaining healthy bowels are availableto download from the site letstalkaboutpoo.eric.org.uk

The earlier the signs and symptoms of childhood constipation arerecognised the easier it is to resolve and to avoid it becomingchronic. According to NICE guidelines, many parents don’trecognise the signs and symptoms of constipation and few relate itto the presence of soiling. ERIC’s campaign will raise awareness ofchildren’s poo problems and improve understanding of constipationto ensure it is recognised and treated at the earliest possible stage.

The campaign is supported bychildren’s TV presenter andpaediatrician Dr Ranj Singh, whocommented, "Constipation can bea major problem in childhood, andif not treated properly, can lead toissues in adulthood too.Unfortunately, it can be a difficultsubject for both parents and children,but the good news is that it's relativelystraight forward to sort out. It doesn'thave to be embarrassing and no-oneshould suffer unnecessarily – we need toget used to talking about it!"

Children’s continence charitylaunches constipationawareness campaign

Informative articles, discountsand so much more . . .

Check out the latest issue FREEonline at

www.mybabymagazine.co.uk

Absorbent pull-up style potty training pants fromBambino Mio are the perfect step away fromnappies towards big-kid pants!

They will promote independence for your toddler with pull-up style designand they are cotton through and through, nothing is softer against yourchild's skin.

The water resistant layer allows toddlers tofeel wetness while minimising accidentsand there is a concealed inner pad forsuper absorbency.

Price: £5.49 from

www.bambinomio.com

Potty Training Pants

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:24 Page 27

BIRTH TO BABY

28 myfamily

Shopping for a newbornWe understands what it means to be a parentand we know you want to give your baby thebest start in life. With this in mind we havecreated a handy checklist for items you mightneed for your baby’s first few months.

You don’t need everything straight away, but these are the essentials

l A cot and mattress, a waterproof mattress cover, plus sheets andblankets that can be added or taken away according to temperaturechanges.

l A Pram, pushchair or travel system plus sun canopy or parasol l Change bag, changing mat, toiletries, wipes and enough nappies –

either disposable or reusable (in the early weeks babies get through upto 10 nappies a day).

l Feeding equipment – if you're bottle feeding you'll need bottles,formula and sterilising equipment. If you're breastfeeding and plan toexpress milk, you'll need bottles and teats, and a breast pump, plusnursing bras and breast pads.

l Towels and flannels for bath time l Plenty of bibs and muslin squares for little dribbles!l Enough baby clothes for the first 2-3 months including cotton

sleepsuits, vests, hat, scratch mittens, socks, cardigans, shawls andsuitable outdoor clothing for when the weather is cooler.

l If you are travelling anywhere by car, you will need an infant car seat.l A room thermometer, smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detector,

baby thermometer, first aid kit and book.

Other handy things to have include

l A baby bath and bath thermometerl A moses basket and stand or cribl A sling is useful when you need your

hands free and also beneficial for thebonding process

l A baby monitor l A Baby thermometerl Baby brush and comb setl Nappy wrapper

Before you buy, take time to talk to friends that have recently had a babyas they will have tried some of the items on your list and can give you anhonest opinion about quality, convenience, what they found useful andwhat was a waste of money.

Most of us don’t realise what immense freedomwe have until the day our little ones are born –freedom to do what we want, when we want,whether that be evenings out, weekends awaywith the girls or… exercise.

The question is how to exercise with your baby in tow?

1 The first thing to remember is that the effects of exercise arecumulative - no need to find an hour-long block of time as youcan do five minutes here and there and it will all add up.

2 Consider online fitness that you can access and do anytimeanywhere.

3 Getting outdoors is one of the best ways of exercising with ababy: in the early months using a baby carrier is ideal and will keepyour baby happy whilst you go for a power walk.

4 As your baby grows heavier start using a buggy for your powerwalks. As well as the cardio work from powering up hills, park upnear benches and give yourself sets of press ups, and tricep dips tocomplete, or hook a resistance band over a branch and work yourupper body.

5 Finally, once your little one reaches the age of 6-9 months, you’llbe able to invest in a suitable bike seat, so ditch the car and takeup cycling to make your library visits or travel to all the babygroups you attend.

Dr Joanna Helcké is a multi-award winning pregnancy and post-natal fitness specialist. She is the creator of a personalised onlinesubscription service which delivers pregnant and postnatal mothersweekly videos, specifically designed to support each stage ofpregnancy and motherhood. Sign up for a free taster and her weeklynewsletters at www.joannahelcke.com.

Exercising when youhave no childcare

by Dr Joanna Helcké

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:24 Page 28

29myfamily

BIRTH TO BABY

Bibbles Bandana Bibs are functional,attractive and great for teething babiesand dribbly toddlers. Designed andlovingly manufactured in Nottingham,UK – we thought they were so good thatwe awarded them the ‘My FamilyFavourite’ award for the ‘Best Baby Product’.

Bibbles are made with a quality soft cottontop fabric and a soft fleece under layer toabsorb wetness and keep baby’s chin frombecoming wet and uncomfortable.Adjustable nickel free press stud means it’s acomfy fit and being machine washable yourBibbles will last for years!

Bibbles regularly changetheir range of over

100 different designs and colours, to suit everytaste and enhance any outfit.

Buy individually or take advantage of some ofBibbles great deals like 4 bibs for £10.00 and 10 bibsfor just £20.00 available directly from www.bandana-bibs.co.uk.

Award winningBibbles Bandana Bibs

Get an extra 10% off your 1st order by using the code FAMILYat the checkout. Valid until 30.06.2015

Award winning baby gifts from

Coochy Coo Nappy CakesIf you are looking to welcomethe arrival of a new baby witha gift that not only looksfantastic but will prove to bevery useful, check out CoochyCoo Nappy Cakes – the MyFamily Favourite award winner2015 is the market leaderspecialising in creating adorable, nappy cakesand a range of gifts for all new baby occasions.

At Coochy Coo Nappy Cakes® you will find anadorable collection of handcrafted nappy cakesfilled with high quality baby goods and toiletriesincluding Pampers branded nappies, a variety

of useful high quality baby clothing and bathtime or precious keepsake products, which newparents will appreciate and love.

With more than 120 eye-catching designs,from mini nappy cake gifts, through to the

larger three tier designs, including twin babygifts and personalised gifts, you’re sure tofind a present with real WOW factor atCoochy Coo NappyCakes!

Every nappy cake ishandmade to order right

here in the UK but if youcan’t find exactly what you are looking for abespoke gift can be created especially foryou.

You can also enjoy choosing froma fabulous range of baby clothesfloral bouquets, cupcake gift sets,gift baskets and a whole lot more.There really is something foreveryone no matter how big orsmall your budget.

Stay up to dateand be one of the first to know about the

growing range of products and designs ontwitter @coochycoonappyc or

Facebook where you can Likeand share your favourite items.

Visit the website to find a fabulous babygift for the special little person in your life.

www.coochycoonappycakes.co.uk

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:24 Page 29

British summertime seesfamilies from across thenation heading to seasidelocations for their holidays.

Make sure your kids aresafe this summer

Kids love to be in water, whether that isswimming at their local pool, splashing aboutin rock pools or playing in the waves by thebeach.

It is something of a tradition for kids to play inthe sea with friends and siblings while theirparents watch from the comfort of their deckchair, but parents need to be constantly awareof where their children are and what they aredoing to make sure they are safe.

The ASA, England’s national governing bodyfor swimming, and the RNLI, the charity thatsaves lives at sea, take annually to beaches andlakes nationwide to provide children and theirparents the opportunity to learn about stayingsafe in open water and understand beachsafety.

Swim Safe runs during the Summer Holidays, 6days a week during the period. Each sessionincludes a 10-minute talk with RNLI lifeguardsand 30 minutes in-water tuition from ASAqualified swimming teachers completely free ofcharge.

Children must be aged between 7-14 years oldand be able to swim a minimum of 25munaided to take part.

This year the Swim Safe programme takesplace in the following locations from the 18thJuly to the 13th August 2015:

l Bude Sea Pool, Bude, Cornwall

l Boscombe Beach, Bournemouth, Dorset

l Sandhaven Beach, South Shields, Tyne andWear

l Brockhole, the Lake District

For more information about Swim Safe, pleasevisit www.swimming.org/swimsafe oremail swimsafe@swimming.org.

ACTIVE KIDS

30 myfamily

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:24 Page 30

31myfamily

ACTIVE KIDS

Help other parents

and build an income as a KalliKids Champion

Parents across the UK are helping themselves by helping others and

we’d love you to be part of it.

Find out moreKalliKids.com/My-Champion-Role

Jakabel specialises in UV50+Sun protective swimwearwhich blocks out 95% of theharmful UVA/UVB rays of thesun – available in children’ssizes 0-13 years plus adult UV50+ wear as well. Jakabel eventakes care of babies with anexclusive Baby UV romper andgorgeous swim nappy designsto keep those little accidentsfrom creeping out!

The colourful designs inJakabel’s ranges mean kids loveto wear them! “We don’tmake black wetsuits,” saysmanaging director JoShephard, “as kids prefer a bitmore pizazz when they are outand about.”

If you areheading for the pool,Jakabel’s exclusive Swimsafefloatsuit is the only ‘learn to swim’aid which does not tip over in thewater, so kids can swim freely andeasily and parents can relax whilewatching over them.

“I can’t believe how quickly theirconfidence grew over a two-weekholiday,” said Liz from Windsorafter her two boys had a fantastictime in Portugal wearing Jakabelfloatsuits!

For swimming games/toys oraccessories, look no further as thereis fun for all the family too! From

water bouncing balls to waterblasters they have it all, withloads of exciting toys to choosefrom. For fun and

safety in the sunwe highly

recommendJakabel thissummer!

Whether you are planning a holidayabroad or are just going to the seasidefor the weekend, you will need to give yourkids some protection from the sun this summer.

To find out more, visit

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Sun, Fun and Safetyfrom Jakabel

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:24 Page 31

Kids feel safe, confident andcomfortable with Jakabel

The Swimsafe floatsuit from Jakabel is the best oneon the market today for giving your kids confidencein the water and helping them learn to swim.Key features are the comfort of the flexible floats plus the neck ringwhich stops them tipping face down in the water.

Sizes range from 1-5yrs and there is a choice of colours for bothboys and girls. Kids love them!!

Save 25% at www.jakabel.comwith discount code MF1.

32 myfamily

SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILY

Travel Safely withCrelling HarnessesIf you have a disability or aretravelling with a loved one withspecial needs, we’re sure you’llagree that it is important to haveequipment that makes thejourney and your holiday asenjoyable, safe and comfortable as possible.

Crelling Harnesses is afriendly family basedcompany offering a fullrange of seatbelts andharnesses for childrenand adults with specialneeds. All of Crelling’sbelts and harnesses aredesigned to providepostural support or inthe case of learningdifficulties andchallenging behaviour acertain degree ofrestraint.

Knowing that there are some purchases in life that you don’t makelightly and to ensure your full peace of mind, Crelling Harnesses are OFTApproved and carry the CE marking. They are a member of The BritishHealthcare Trades Association, as well as being an approved supplier ofBritax products.

Crelling are happy to adviseand help you choose thecorrect product for yourneeds. They offer extensiverange of products fromsimple belts to full harnessesfor use on all aspects ofspecial needs equipmentincluding vehicle seats,aircraft seats, wheelchairs,stairlifts and bathing &shower seats. They also makea range of walking reinsdesigned to help and controlchildren and adults withchallenging behaviour orlearning difficulties when outwalking.

For more informationTelephone 01253 852298, email info@crelling.com or visit

www.crelling.com

B ibbleplus+

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d i g n i t y b i b sBibble Plus+ Dignity Bibs are the functional and

stylish solution for older children, teenagers and adultswho have difficulties with drooling and dribbling.

Bibble Plus+ are available in 4 sizesand come in a range of colours and designs to suit

every taste and enhance any outfit.

Receive 10% off your 1st order. Enter code: FAMILY10 at the checkout to receive your discount

Valid until 30/6/2015

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:24 Page 32

Now in its 4th year, the award winning show has firmlycemented its status as a leading charity and autism event.

This year’s show will be presented by EastEnders actor JakeWood, Mitch Winehouse, Nicola Duffet, EmmaNoble-Parker, Pineapple Dance Studios founder DebbieMoore OBE, Principal of Pineapple Performing ArtsSchool, Maggie Paterson and Anna Kennedy Onlinepatron, Steven Smith.

MEET THE ACTS . . .Sixteen impressive acts by adults andchildren with autism will appear at theMermaid Theatre, London, to show justhow talented they are – here’s a previewof this year’s inspiring line-up…

Our favourite family show ‘Autism’s GotTalent’ returns to the stage on Saturday, 9thMay 2015. The star studded show which isco-produced by autism charity AnnaKennedy Online and Pineapple PerformingArts School, brings together a diverse groupof performers to fly the flag for autism andshow what people with autism andAsperger syndrome are capable of.

33myfamily

AUTISM’S GOT TALENT

HAaron YorkeAaron was diagnosed withAsperger syndrome at 30 yearsold. As a former special needsteacher, he consults withBirmingham schools onstrategies and raising awarenessof Aspergers. He is also wellknown to a Midlands audienceas a singer/songwriter, musicproducer and tv/film scorewriter, and has supported actssuch as Leona Lewis, McFly andScouting for Girls.

HAston Martin Avery

24 year old Aston has suffered anumber of complicated healthissues including autism, aserious bowel condition, Pica,extreme depression andanaphylaxis shock on threeoccasions. But he always fightsback and since enlisting in alocal drama school has managedto achieve ISTD grades in bothDrama and Dance and has justtaken his Grade 3 Ballet exam.

AN INSPIRING LINE-UP FOR

Autism’s GOT TALENT!2015

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:24 Page 33

HCorinna Kampalis10 year old Corinna, has alwaysloved music and dancing. Shepreviously entered the TeenStarsinging competition, havinggained a place in the competitionthrough an audition. She has noformal training and her TeenStarexperience last year, was her firsttime ever performing in front ofothers or on stage. Taking part in‘Autism's Got Talent’ is only hersecond! Corinna would love tobe famous and performing onstage at Autism's Got Talent willhelp her achieve some of hergoal.

HAutism withAttitude

This year Autism with Attitudefrom Hillingdon Manor Schoolare putting on a show bigger andbetter than anything you’ve seenbefore. They have double theamount of students, costumesand tricks, and all the studentsinvolved have workedexceptionally hard throughoutthe year to entertain your socksoff!

HKaner ScottUnable to speak until he wasfour, Kaner found his schoolyears difficult. At sixteen hediscovered dance and wascaptivated by the dance styleFlexin. At first he danced for funbut eventually he quit college todance and has taken it seriouslyever since. At seventeen hebecame homeless and had tostay at a hostel for severalmonths. His break came when hemoved into his own studio flatand his dance career flourished –he reached the semi-final of Gotto Dance and has worked withartists such as Rita Ora, T pain,and Fka Twigs.

HJoshua Bateup Joshua, 11, is working towardsbecoming a full-time author. Heis very musical and enjoysplaying drums and making upsongs and rhythms. He also likesdancing but most of all he lovessinging and can’t wait toentertain the Autism’s Got Talentaudience.

HBekah CookBekah has autism, a languagedisorder and suffers fromhypermobility; for which sheneeds a wheelchair when herpain is at its worst. Every day ishard for Bekah – there isemotional and physical pain, butdance has changed her life!Against all the odds, at 11 yearsof age she ranked 3rd in theWorld in gymnastics and at 14she attended a residential BalletCompany where she foundherself touring as a leading Swanin Swan Lake. She is currentlydoing a degree in Dance and it’sher dream to make it as aprofessional dancer.

HCalvin GlenCalvin, 14, is a songwriter,guitarist and pianist. Diagnosedwith Asperger syndrome sevenyears ago, he has had problemscoping with school and socialinteraction but music haschanged his life; giving him theconfidence to be himself. Hebegan playing music two and ahalf years ago as a way ofreleasing emotions andfrustrations. He is nowperforming 3-4 times a week atvarious venues and events,including bars, hotels, theatres,festivals and on local radiostations. He covers a wide rangeof popular artists from 1950s topresent day as well as writing hisown original songs.

HCallum KirrageCallum, 8, was born in Russiaand spent a year in a Russianorphanage. He has always hadhis struggles and been a bitdifferent to his peers. He wasdiagnosed with adhd andAsperger syndrome also odd, ocdand anxiety but despite thestruggles he faces everyday hebrings joy to those around him.Street dance and breakdancehave become his passion;building his self-confidence andgiving him goals for his future.His dream is to be a famousdancer and dance with diversity.

HBradley TurnerBradley Turner is 17 years oldand from a very young age hehas loved music and has alwaysenjoyed being the entertainerand performing. Over the yearshis love has grown – two yearsago he started taking singinglessons and he hasn't lookedback since. He has enteredseveral talent competitions andraised awareness for autism bysinging at many autism events.His greatest pleasure in life is tobring a smile to people's facesand make them happy when hesings. Bradley says,” The biggerthe audience, the more I love it!”

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AUTISM’S GOT TALENT

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:25 Page 34

HPineapplePerforming ArtsSchool

Dancers from the award winningPineapple Performing Arts Schoolwill be taking to the Autism’s GotTalent stage for the fourth year topartner autism charity AnnaKennedy Online in raisingawareness of autism.

HRobin Windsor &Anna Kennedy OBEA treat awaits the Autism’s GotTalent audience when Anna andher People’s Strictly partnerRobin become team Robannaonce again. In the words of CraigRevel Horwood, ‘’One word,three syllables: fab-u-lous!’’

H

Austin Hughes, Training Officerfor Anna Kennedy Online, is alsoset to entertain the audience ashe returns for Autism’s GotTalent 2015 as the compere.

HLuke DolphinLuke, 14, has played guitar sincehe was 8. Luke’s ambition is tobe a ROCK STAR! He lovesplaying in front of an audience,as it brings out his extrovert sideand gives him great confidenceand self-esteem. He has playedrock classics as part of a band, aswell as playing solo at variousstudent shows, school concertsand talent shows. He has alwaysbeen passionate about rockmusic particularly heavy metaland plays his guitar every day forfun and relaxation.

HMichaelAlexander

Michael has been playing Guitarfor 12-13 years. From an earlyage it has been his ambition toperform music professionallyand since leaving school at 18,this ambition has morphed intonot just performing live butcomposing, recording anddistributing my own music –which he has done sincecompleting a degree in MusicTechnology last year. He wouldnow like to expand to a widerange of genres and gainuniversal credibility.

HThe AutistiXThe AutistiX are a unique rockband. The band’s sound setsthem apart, but the 3 youngestmembers do too; drummer SaulZur-Szpiro, guitarist Jack BeavenDuggan and Luke Steels on bassand backing vocals, all haveautism. The band launched theirfirst EP ‘Butterflies and Demons’in January 2014, and the band’slatest recordings, launched inNovember 2014 as a double ‘A’side, ‘Something Better’ and‘Just The Same’. Their first musicvideo of ‘Just the Same’ wasproduced by the charity Fixers toillustrate how the bandtransforms lives throughinspiring others with disabilitiesto achieve their dreams.

HLauren Lovejoy Lauren from Nottingham hasAsperger syndrome which makessocial interaction difficult for her.She was tormented by bulliesthroughout her childhood andfaced daily taunts about herappearance. However, the bulliesor Asperger syndrome didn’thold her back – this inspirationalyoung woman is a song writer,singer, model, Miss Universe GBfinalist and she also made itthrough to boot camp on XFactor. She raises awareness ofautism and Asperger syndromeand is also an ambassador forStrongbones Children’sCharitable Trust.

Next Year . . .Autism’s Got Talent is a ground-breaking production and if youor somebody you know wouldlike to be part of next year’sshow emaillisa.robins@thevines.org.uk

H H H H H H

35myfamily

AUTISM’S GOT TALENT

HThomas PuttockThomas, 18, was diagnosedwith autism consistent withAsperger syndrome and learningdelay when he was four yearsold. He has had considerableproblems with communicationand interaction, and hasovercome huge problemsexpressing himself andunderstanding others. He has afabulous sense of humour and alarge repertoire of songs,sketches and poetry which heloves to perform – everythingfrom Monty Python to Phantomof the Opera. He works out hisown dance moves and has afantastic audio visualphotographic memory. He hopesto go to The Orpheus Centre inSurrey to do performing arts andlearn to live independently.

HThe HassocksAllstars Blues Band

Performing at Autism’s GotTalent 2015, The HassocksAllstars Blues Band is a group of6 extremely talented youngpeople – Callum, 16, plays leadguitar, Rhys, 17, plays bass andCameron, 17, is rhythm guitarist.William, 18, plays guitar, bass,saxophone and vocals in THABBand can also play keyboard.Bandmate Lucy King, 15 is thevocalist but she can also playpiano and drummer Joe Goately,14, is the youngest member ofthe band.

H H H H H H

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:25 Page 35

36 myfamily

POSITIVE ABOUT AUTISM

WLCC is an established specialist provision for adults withautism spectrum conditions including Asperger syndrome.Providing a 43-week service with sessions including.

Social Drama • Functional Skills • ICT Vocational Skills • Work Experience Placements

Horse Riding Classes • Art as TherapyLife Skills • Image in Action and Independence

Sessions are carefully geared towards each student’s levelof ability. GCSE’s and ASDAN can be incorporated intothe timetable.

For information call 01895 619700 orvisit the NEW WEBSITE

www.autismconsultants.org

West London CommunityCollege is specialist autismprovision for adults. Ourmain aim is to supportindividuals to reach theirpotential through a person-centred approach/programme as identifiedwithin their care plans.Community participation and the developmentof social skills are at the heart of the tailoredprogrammes for all students. Placements areavailable to students aged 16+ who for manyreasons are unable to continue in a specificeducational service.

West London Community College providesindividually tailored programmes to studentsattending from across fourteen local authoritiesand has been operating for fifteen years, five ofwhich have been over two campuses – TheStables Courtyard in Hayes, Middlesex andColne Lodge, in Uxbridge, Middlesex.

Specialist support foradults with autism at WLCC

The Stables CourtyardOffering daily support for up to twenty sixstudents, with five separate programmes inoperation, The Stables Courtyard is able to meeta diverse range of needs daily. Additionally,there is a positive behaviour unit within theCourtyard for up to three students each day.

Colne LodgeWith the capacity to support a daily maximumof ten students, Colne Lodge specialises incomplex needs and severe communicationissues. Staff are trained to deliver a variety ofcommunication methods including PEC’s,Makaton and Intensive Interaction.

Colne Lodge has a fantastic sensory room and apretty, fully enclosed rear garden which alsogives access to a small gym.

In addition, both sites operate a forty threeweek per year Saturday respite service which isperfect for those who don’t enjoy being awayfrom home overnight, but still achieving ameaningful period of respite for parents andcarers.

West London Community College has aneffective and dedicated therapy team, includinga Speech and Language Therapist, anOccupational Therapist and two GuidanceCounsellors.

For further information visit

www.autismconsultants.org

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:25 Page 36

37myfamily

POSITIVE ABOUT AUTISM

Hillingdon ManorThe largest school for children with autism, in the UK & Europe

Specialist independent day education for children aged between 3 and 19.

The following open morning is planned for parents and carerswishing to find out more about Hillingdon Manor school:

Yiewsley Grange (Lower School)Thursday 25th June 2015(starts at 10.30am)Tel: 01895 420315 for further information

• Local Authority referrals accepted.• Access to the National Curriculum.

For more information about admissions, open days and events,visit www.hillingdonmanorschool.org.uk or contact theHead Teacher, Akinyi Dulo on 01895 813679

Hillingdon Manor School had a fullOfsted inspection in March 2015and is proud to announce thatOfsted awarded the school a ‘Good’rating across all areas.

Inspectors observed 18 lessons across both ofthe school’s sites as well as holding meetingswith the proprietor’s regional manager, theheadteacher, the senior leaders, staff membersand students.

They looked at documentation including policystatements, schemes of work, teachers’ planningand records of students’ progress and of stafftraining, in order to check compliance with theindependent school standards.

Good rating for Hillingdon Manor School by OfstedResponses to Ofsted’s on-line questionnaire‘Parent View’ were analysed and the outcomesof recent surveys, conducted by the school wereconsidered, as well as sixty five questionnaireresponses from members of staff.

Ofsted inspector’s key findingsstated that

l School leaders and managers set highexpectations for staff and students. Theyhave ensured that the school continues toprovide a good quality education for itsstudents.

l Students with a wide range of abilities andlearning difficulties settle well in the schooland make good progress. This is a result ofgood teaching, an effective curriculum andwell-planned care and support.

l Students’ behaviour is good. As a result ofreceiving the support they need, students’behaviour improves during their time at theschool.

l Students are, and feel, safe and secure. Thisis because policies and procedures to ensuretheir safety and well-being are carried outwell.

l The proprietor provides effective governancefor the school, actively supporting the headteacher and ensuring all the independentschool standards are met.

l Children make a secure start in the goodearly years provision. They are well taughtand find the activities exciting.

l The sixth form is good. It provides aneffective range of courses that ensuresstudents are prepared well for their adultlives.

For more information visit www.hillingdonmanorschool.org.ukor to request a full copy of the report telephone

01895 813679

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:25 Page 37

38 myfamily

POSITIVE ABOUT AUTISM

After a full Ofsted inspection inOctober 2014 Baston House Schoolare very proud to announce that theschool was rated ‘Good’ across allareas.

During the inspection 12 lessons or parts oflessons were observed jointly with theinspectorand the headteacher and meetings were heldwith the school's leaders, teaching staff andstudents. A range of documentation wasexamined, including policies, behaviour logs,assessment records, the curriculum andteachers’ plans and procedures for keepingstudents safe. The inspector heard students read

Baston House School rated ‘Good’ by Ofstedand looked at their written and other work andthe inspector observed them at break times.

The views expressed by 26 members of staffthrough survey questionnaires were consideredas were 13 responses to Ofsted’s Parent Viewsurvey. A number of parents and carers alsocontacted the inspector about the impact theschool has had on their children.

Ofsted inspector’s key findingsstated that

l Students make good progress in reading,writing, and mathematics, and in othersubjects, because they are taught well.

l Staff ensure that each student’s learningactivities are matched accurately to their levelof development and academic ability.

l The new leadership and management aregood. They have established a culture ofhigh expectations of learning for all. Theyprovide a good standard of education forstudents with a diverse range of learningdifficulties.

l The arrangements for safeguarding thestudents are rigorous and the school is a safeplace for them.

l Students are well cared for. They make goodprogress in managing their behaviour andimproving their attitudes to learning. Staffdevelop positive and supportive relationshipswith students and understand their needs.

l Parents and carers hold the school in highregard.

For more information telephone0208 462 1010 or visit

www.bastonhouseschool.org.ukwhere a full copy of the report is available to

download.

Baston House School • BromleySpecialist independent day facility for children diagnosed with autism aged between 5 & 19 years

l Baston House School is a centre ofexcellence in education and development.

l Local Authority referrals welcome

l Admissions now being taken for Primaryand Secondary School

For further information about admissions, open days andupcoming events call 020 8462 1010 or visit

www.bastonhouseschool.org.uk

Baston House SchoolBaston Road • Hayes • Bromley • Kent BR2 7AB

My Family 22 20/1/10 03:25 Page 38

Positive and effective earlyintervention with high qualityresources is an optimum inautism. While this is an ideal,identifying that a person is autisticdoes not necessarily follow a text-book course; and progress anddevelopment before and after adiagnosis (if made), is of courseindividual to that person.

For many, a diagnosis does not come early.While much effort has been made to developsensitive and effective screening tools, themultiplicity of potential presentations of autismmeans for example, that “classic” autismrepresents just one part of the “spectrum”.Diagnosis can also be difficult because expertiseand resources are limited and can beconcentrated in particular parts of the countryand/or at particular centres of specialistexpertise. Once a diagnosis has been made, thisdoes not mean that resources for appropriateand timely support and intervention – social,educational and otherwise – are alwaysavailable, or available for the long term, tomatch the evolving needs of any one person.There is for example, an identified lack of speechand language therapy provision in the UK forunder-5’s with autism, but also recognised are

Supporting Progress andAchievement in Autism

Challenges and potential benefits of specialistprovision away from home

the economic costs of not intervening, in termsof additional support that can be required inlater life.

The earliest a child may come to live at a Hesleyschool is eight years of age, though generally itis later, with the majority of young people beingtwelve and above on arrival. Hesley’s specialistresidential services comprise two schools andtwo colleges for children and young people anda range of provision for adults.

and comprehensive, high quality, person-centred, individualised education, care andsupport. Speech and language and occupationaltherapists utilise Intensive Interaction andspecific sensory approaches, in ways thatempower staff and can also be shared verypositively with families. There is a focus onbuilding relationships through meaningfulactivity and on people being actively engagedand appropriately busy each day. Each personhas a planned, progressive, regularly reviewedpathway of care, to take them through andbeyond Hesley provision, at a pace that matchestheir needs – potentially back to home areas. Afocus on progress and achievement helpsenhance self-esteem and increaseindependence. Hesley’s own unique, value-based model of positive behaviour support – theHesley Enhancing Lives Programme (HELP) –unifies the various strands of provision for eachperson.

Because Hesley services are highly specialised,they are focused in one part of the country –South Yorkshire. However, access to all servicesfrom around the UK is good. Ongoing, positivefamily contact is actively supported. Hesley offeraccommodation on-site for families and canassist with alternatives and transport and otherarrangements, so families can make the best ofvisits. Hesley also place a strong emphasis onkeeping all those who live in services safe. It isrecognised that a child or sibling living away canbe hugely difficult. Through the provision ofexcellent and safe services, in which people livehappy, progressive and meaningful lives, Hesleyhope that potential distress can be limited, so forthose living in services and their families, life canbe as positive as possible.

www.hesleygroup.co.uk

“A focus on progress andachievement helps

enhance self-esteem andincrease independence”

When a person comes to live with Hesley, it is inthe context of autism, learning disabilities andparticularly complex needs, including behavioursthat may challenge, which it has not provenpossible to address in other settings.

Resources and facilities are provided on anindividual and small group basis and can oftenenable good progress. Expert and experiencedstaff work in high quality therapeuticenvironments, in conjunction withcomprehensive, multidisciplinary therapeuticclinical teams, to provide thorough assessment

POSITIVE ABOUT AUTISM

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