reflecting modern family living

FREEIssue 20

IN THIS ISSUE:Kids Fashion

Getting boys reading Help with Maths at home

Change time: Reusable Nappies Things to do this winter

Positive about Autismand much more . . .

My Family is proud to supportannakennedyonline.com

www.myfamilymagazine.co.uk

ChristmasGift Guide

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:54 Page 1

contents4-7 Kids’ Fashion

Autumn’s a great time to have fun with fashion

8-11 EducationGetting Boys readingCould your child benefit from extra tuition?Help – My child is struggling with maths!

12-13 Get CraftyCreate an invitation for baby’s first birthday

14-15 Cool Kids’ Rooms

Creating a Cool Room for a Child

16-17 Change TimeChange time doesn’t have to be a bum deal

18 HealthTiny Tweaks: Controlling Your Weight over Christmasand the New Year

19-37 My Family’s Christmas Gift GuideMagical Gifts for KidsTween Gift InspirationsGreat Gifts for TotsWhat Mum SaysInspiring Young MindsHandmade with LoveReasons to Buy British Goodies this ChristmasFinding the right gift for a Grown Up

38-39 Away with the KidsThings to do this winterFestive Travel Tips

40-41 Special Needs FamilyGifts with Purpose Reforms for children with SEN and disabilities comeinto effect

42-48 Positive about AutismWear it for Autism is a Smash Hit!!!

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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.

Thank you for picking up our5th anniversary issue and I’dlike to take this opportunityto thank all of our readers,media partners andadvertisers for your support.

The team and myself have been workinghard to bring you loads of great features,tips and advice for you and your family.

With Christmas fast approaching, My Family’s fantasticChristmas Gift Guide is full of inspiration for the festiveseason. We have teamed up with some great companies tobring you 19 pages of gift inspirations for the whole family.With magical gifts for kids, extra special handmade andpersonalised presents, some of the very best British made itemsand gifts for grown-ups, you are sure to find some wonderfulgifts to add to your Christmas list this year.

Find out about the reading crisis among Britain’s under-11s inour education section and check out Liz Walker’s tips to getboys reading. Find out if your child could benefit from extratuition and Lesley Higgin – Maths teacher and Director ofMathstraks Games – offers helpful tips for children strugglingwith maths.

Winter is a great time for exploring everything that the UK hasto offer! From Magical Ice Kingdoms, to stately homes andChristmas events, there is something for everyone in our Awaywith the Kids section.

In fact, we have so much to offer you, why not grab a cuppaand a mince pie or two, relax, and enjoy the read.

Wishing you all a HappyChristmas,

Karen xKaren Reddell – Editor

The TeamHazel AlemanyDesignerdesign@myfamilymagazine.co.uk

Jake PullinSales and Admininfo@myfamilymagazine.co.uk

A note from the editor

COMPETITION RULESFull details of competition rules are available on our website

www.myfamilymagazine.co.uk. Entering a competition through the print magazineor via this website will be seen as acceptance of these rules.

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My Family magazine75 Elizabeth Court • Wigston • Leicester LE18 2AF

Telephone: 0116 2100911

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My Family 20 3/11/14 16:54 Page 3

Oilily boys’ Never GrowUp hooded sweater and

girls’ Corazon coatwww.oililyshop.com

Poppy Martha London dress 6-12monthsto 9-10 yearswww.poppyengland.com

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Kids’ FashionAutumn/Winter2014/2015

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Drop waisted hip cowl dress for tweenswww.isossychildren.com

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Hedgehog print romperwww.pigeonorganics.com

Hedgehog hat and scarf setwww.pigeonorganics.com

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Isossy Omo Boys jacketwww.isossychildren.com

Little Jems elegant Champagne & IvoryLace Dresswww.littlejemsmanchester.co.uk

Spoilt Rotten black organic t-shirtwww.spoiltrotten.com

Poppy Jane and Martha Snowstormdresses and Classic Cardiganwww.poppyengland.com

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Pettisserie TotallyTeal Pettiskirtwww.justdresses.co.uk

Freya pink sparkling ballerinas, Hannah purple & silverglitter balerinas and Ivy pink satin & glitter handbag www.thesparkleclub.co.uk

Poppy Rosie dress Woodland print in plum linenwww.poppyengland.com

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:54 Page 7

Being able to read well at theage of 11 is the keystone to agood start in life. Childrenneed to ‘learn to read’ andthen they ‘read to learn’.Save the Children have recently launched theRead on Get on Campaign with the goal ofensuring all 11 year olds will leave primaryschool being able to read well by 2025. At themoment, only 75% of 11 year olds are able toread well. (Reading well is a ‘level 4’ at school,or in real life terms – it is being able to enjoystories such as Treasure Island or Harry Potter,as well as confidently being able to enjoyreading in a wide range of subjects.)*

The Read on Get on Campaign wants tomake reading at the heart of our culture bybringing together a coalition of head teachers,teachers, schools, parents, politicians,celebrities and the wider community to helpchildren become better readers.

Research published by Save the Children in theRead on Get on report shows that there arecurrently more boys unable to read well at theage of 11 than girls. The difference betweenboys and girls reading is accentuated in low

income families. (45% ofwhite British boys from

low income familiesare unable to readwell at the age of11). Even thoughgirls generally dobetter than boysinternationally,the reading gap

between girls and boys in England is one of thewidest in the developed world.*

We need to do more to get boys reading andmore importantly – to get them to read forpleasure. There is a virtuous circle betweenenjoying reading and being a good reader.Developing a love of stories and books iscrucial.

All the ideas and strategies below to get boysreading more can obviously to apply to girls aswell.

l Read for at least 10 minutes a day with orto your children. Frequent short bursts arebetter than prolonged reading sessions. If itbecomes as much a routine as putting onsocks, then reluctant readers are less likelyto complain.

l Read anything. Boys are more likely toenjoy reading if they can choose their ownreading material and read for a purpose. Trygadget magazines, skateboard magazines,golf magazines, farming magazines,football programmes or sports biographies.

l Get dads reading in the home! Read onGet on research shows that the impact ofparents and in particular dads, has a hugepositive impact on children’s reading.Children fall into reading habits based onwhat goes on in their home. If they neversee their dad or older brother reading, theyare much less likely to pick up a bookthemselves.

l Get dads into schools! Many schools andorganisations such as Beanstalk encourage

volunteer readers to helpwith children’s reading.

(There are details ofhow you can volunteer

at www.readongeton.org.uk.) It’s noteasy for working people to take time out tohelp with reading in school, but employersare being encouraged to get involved withRead on Get on by forming partnershipswith local schools and being more flexiblewith employees to allow them to volunteerto help with reading. Imagine the impactwhen boys in a school see a real builderwith his hard hat on reading with a child,because his employer allowed him toextend his lunch by half an hour.

l Boys are more likely to be embarrassed toread or be seen to enjoy reading than girls,as it is seen as un-cool. Boys need ‘cool’ rolemodels, to be seen reading, to talk aboutbooks and to get involved in readingprojects in schools. Get your son to write tosports personalities, celebrities or authors tosee if they will visit their school. They mightbe quite receptive with such an activecampaign going on.

l Have a ‘no power’ night in the house oncea week. Instead of watching TV, playing onthe Xbox or PC, play board games and readbooks together.

l Integrate reading into everyday life as muchas possible. Ask your son to help you readinstructions for tasks you need help with, orget him to read out the recipe as you arecooking.

l Time pressured parents need to rethink howthey enjoy their time with boys. If you onlyend up with half an hour of one to one timewith your son, then reading a booktogether should be given as much priorityand time as kicking a ball in the backgarden.

l If nothing else works – use incentives!

Whether you are a mum, dad, employer,politician, sports coach, celebrity, builder orchef – there is something we can all do to getinvolved with Read on Get on and helpreach the goal of ensuring all 11 year olds willread well by 2025.

For more information and to signthe Read on Get on petition visit

www.readongeton.org.uk.

For reading advice and access to a widerange of reading books visitwww.readingchest.co.uk.

*Read on Get on report, published by Savethe Children 2014.

Getting boys readingby Liz Walker, founder of Reading Chest

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EDUCATION

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EDUCATION

Established since 1997, Ladybird DayNursery provides a friendly stimulatingand safe environment where childrenenjoy challenging activities that stretchtheir imaginations and help develop arange of new skills.

Registered with Ofsted Early Years – allstaff hold appropriate childcarequalifications.

The nursery also benefits from a large,secure garden and CCTV.

Situated next to Edgbaston countycricket ground, opposite Cannon HillPark, Ladybird Day Nursery offersflexible childcare for up to 29children from 0-8 years of age –including school holidays andteacher training days.

Open Monday - Friday, 7.00am until 6.30pm (excluding bank holidays)

Telephone: 0121 440 5706

www.theladybirdnursery.co.uk

One and a half million childrenwill reach the age of 11 unableto ‘read well’ by 2025 unlessurgent action is taken to tacklethe reading crisis facing Britain’spupils, according to newresearch.

Reading Crisis Among Britain's Under-11sThe worrying situation has prompted leadingcharities, teachers, parents and businesses toform a coalition called Read on Get on. Theyare launching a national mission to supportparents and teachers to get all 11 year oldsreading well by 2025, meaning they can read,understand and discuss stories, such as HarryPotter. The move has also been backed bypublishers and their bestselling authors.

A report by the coalition shows that England isone of the most unequal countries when itcomes to children’s reading levels, second onlyto Romania in the EU. The gap between thestrongest and weakest readers is equivalent toseven years of schooling. The report calls for aconcerted effort from all corners of society.

The most comprehensive study of pre-schooland primary school-aged children in ageneration found disadvantaged children arethe worst affected, with four in ten not readingwell by the age of 11 – almost double the rateof their better off peers. The report, which usescurrent data and that from the past decade,also found they are not reading enoughoutside school, or with their fathers.

Read on Get on aims to create a nation ofstrong readers by:

l Supporting parents to read with youngchildren for ten minutes a day

l Urging the public to volunteer to helpdisadvantaged children improve theirreading

l Building a powerful coalition of the county’smost influential public, private andcharitable organisations to pledge tosupport the mission

l Urging all political parties to support the2025 target and two interim 2020 goals

For more information visit

www.readongeton.org.uk

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EDUCATION

The number of children receivingprivate tuition continues to growyear on year. The benefits oftuition are vast, and can includeincreased confidence, a greaterlove of learning and improvedacademic attainment.

The research showed that “Explore Learningmembers’ improvement in maths was 30%higher than that of the comparison groupafter controlling for gender, age, year group andspecial educational needs.” The study alsofound that “Building confidence, overcomingshyness to put up their hand to ask for help,being more independent and less reluctant to trywithout assistance were all elements thatparents recognised in their children and directlyattributed to Explore Learning.”

Parents that use the service echo the benefits ofextra tuition such as Explore Learning:

"My two sons have contrastingabilities and both have benefitedfrom attending Explore. It hasgiven them confidence in coresubjects and highlighted areasthey need help in. They have bothimproved considerably over theyear. Explore employ helpful andapproachable tutors who makelearning fun. They rememberevery child individually and givethem great encouragement."

K. Waterhouse, Parent

Could your child benefit from extra tuition?

The tuition company Explore Learning recentlycommissioned the University of Reading toconduct an efficacy study in order to provideindependent proof of the benefits of ExploreLearning Tuition.

www.explorelearning.co.uk

An environment that children enjoyMapped to the National Curriculum

Open 7 days a week

For 5 to 14 year olds of all abilities

Maths & English tuition

Book your free trial today!

Explore Learning has over 90 centres nationwide. Visit www.explorelearning.co.uk/FindCentre or call

01483 447410 to find your nearest centre.

Explore Learning has centres across the UK – tryus for free to find out how your family canbenefit!

To book your free trial, visit

www.explorelearning.co.ukor call 01483 44710.

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:54 Page 10

We all worry about our children –their health, their friendships,their schoolwork. One subject cancause particular anxiety – Maths.Why is this? Well, we all knowhow important a good grade inmaths is and perhaps some of usretain unhappy memories of ourown maths lessons.

Maths education has changed significantly in thelast twenty years. Most parents will have beentold how to do a calculation, whereas childrenare now guided to understand a variety ofdifferent methods, with the emphasis very muchon understanding. Just because your child mightbe using a method that is unfamiliar or evenstrange, doesn’t necessarily mean they are notcoping. The best way to find out if your child isstruggling is to chat to them about maths and tryto gauge whether they feel confident with thesubject, whether they enjoy it or not andwhether they are understanding what is beingtaught in class. If you suspect that your childmay be struggling, speak to their teacher and askwhat you can do to help your child.

What can parents do to helptheir children?l Talk positively and confidently about

maths. If your children hear you expressingnegative views about the subject, they willpick up on this and it will affect their attitudeto the subject.

l Don’t worry if you are not confidentwith your own abilities: Ask your child toexplain a method to you, or test each otheron your times tables. It can be a real

confidence boost for a child to help a parent!There are also lots of tutorials availableonline, which you can watch together.

l Practise, Practise, Practise… The bestway to become confident with something isto do it lots of times until it feels familiar. Ifyour child is struggling with simple arithmetic,do 10 quick questions every day. This doesn’ttake long, but your child will quickly seeresults.

l Money, money, money . . . Encouragechildren to work out how much items willcost and what the change will be. If a childunderstands money they also understanddecimals. For example, in my mathsclassroom I have often come across childrenwho struggle to add 1.4 and 3.5, but caneasily add £1.40 and £3.50. Familiarity withmoney can help a child to understandnumbers.

l Play games . . . Helping your child withmaths can be fun and playing mathematicalgames is a brilliant way to help childrenimprove their arithmetic. Lots of great gamesare available, for example, the traditionalgame of ‘Shut the Box’ is brilliant for

improving simple addition skills. My ownbusiness, Mathstraks Games, began when Idesigned some fun numeracy card games toplay with my own children. *

l Discuss maths problems and be amazedtogether. Set yourselves a problem and eitherwork out the answer or find it online. Forexample, how far do you think it is from theEarth to the Moon? How many hours arethere in a year? How many pennies wouldmake a pile 1 metre high?

l Find some online maths games. Thereare lots available which are free to use, forexample, the BBC bitesize website. Lots ofschools pay for specific sites such asMangahigh and MyMaths; if so your childwill have login and password details and theywill be able to access the games and learningmaterial at home.

l Have a go and make a mistake . . . Lotsof children worry about ‘going wrong’. Ialways encourage children in my class to havea go and make a mistake. This can lead to theright answer and a better understandingalong the way. None of the greatMathematicians made their discoverieswithout a fair few mistakes first!

* Mathstraks Games produces 3 award-winning numeracy card games; ‘MathicalCreatures’, ‘Monster Maths’ and ‘FairyTables’. All of the games are available inselected toy and game shops around thecountry and online, including Amazon. Formore information message Lesley via theMathstraks Games facebook page:www.facebook.com/mathstraksgames

Help – My child is struggling with maths!By Lesley Higgin – Maths teacher and director of Mathstraks Games

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EDUCATION

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Step 3Using the Four Your Party stamp set and a sheetof Whisper White cardstock stamp the words“you’re invited” and “party!” On the envelopestamp the word “celebrate” in the bottom righthand corner.

How to create invitations foryour baby’s first birthday party

Step 1Fold the blank cards in half and stamp your Date,Time and Place stamp on the inside of each card.

Step 2Choose a piece of patterned paper from the AllAbloom designer paper stack. Trim the paper tobe 4 inches x 3 inches or 10.2cm x 7.7cm. Nexttrim your baby photograph to be 2 inches x 3inches or 5.2cm x 7.7cm.

Using the glue stick attach the paper to the cardfront, and then at a jaunty angle affix the imageof baby.

Step 4Using scissors, trim the banners for the front,making a v-shape at the ends for tails. Using theStampin’ Dimensionals foam pads attach to thefront of the card.

Step 5For the final stage, use tweezers to apply the self-adhesive rhinestones to the front of the card.

MATERIALS LIST

l Date, Time, Place Stamp Set

l Four Your Party Stamp Set

l Strawberry Slush Ink Pad

l All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack

l Note Cards & Envelopes in WhisperWhite

l Whisper White Cardstock

l Anywhere Glue Sticks

l Rhinestone Basic Jewels

l Stampin’ Dimensionals Foam Pads

l A photograph of your birthday baby

l Paper trimmer

l Paper Snips Scissors

www.stampinup.co.uk

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GET CRAFTY

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Suffering from post-Summerblues? Looking forsomething to distract youfrom the Autumnal weather?Well, look no further! Hosting a Stampin’ Up! party is a greatopportunity to get your friends together, havefun and be creative.

Your local Stampin’ Up! demonstrator willcome to your home, demonstrate a range ofStampin’ Up!’s beautiful craft products andshare a whole host of tips and ideas. You’llthen have plenty of time to get crafty and toperuse the Stampin’ Up! catalogue.

Stampin’ Up! is a direct salescompany offering an exclusive lineof decorative rubber stamps andbeautiful accessories for greetingcards, craft projects and capturingyour memories, which can bebought through a network ofStampin’ Up! demonstrators.

Four great reasons to have a Stampin’ Up!party:

1. The new Autumn/Winter catalogue hasjust been launched, so there are loads offabulous new products to try!

2. Your Stampin’ Up! demonstrator will do allthe hard work. As the hostess, all you needto do is invite your friends!

3. The party will give you an opportunity tomake beautiful projects using the fantasticStampin’ Up! products – and maybe get ahead-start on Christmas cards and gifts!

4. Hostess credits (which can be used topurchase any full-priced catalogue item),and half price items. The more sales yourparty generates, the more hostess creditsand half price items you earn!

The summer holidays might be over, but the fun is just beginning!

To find your local Stampin’ Up! demonstratorand arrange your party visit our websitewww.stampinup.co.uk or call our freephone support line on 0808 234 4765

www.facebook.com/stampinupuk

@stampinupuk

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GET CRAFTY

Tweens are cool, funky, cuteand inquisitive – but anyonewho has tried to buy for atween will know how tricky itcan be!

If you want to challenge, inspire andentertain the tween in your life, check outGifts for Tweens – a fantastic online storethat offers a choice of creative, fun andunique toys and gifts for children between the ages of 6-12 years old,otherwise known as the Tween age!

At Gifts for Tweens you willfind a great selection of craftand science inspired kits byGeek and Co. that are sure tofuel your tween’s creativestreak, as well as an exceptionalrange from well-known brandssuch as Seedling, Pippin, Ein-OScience and Cupcakes &Cartwheels, to name but a few.

Whether your tween enjoyscrafts, science, baking and nature, or wants to try something new – youwill find a wonderful selection of gifts, toys, clothes and accessories thatencourage kids to have fun, be active and use their imagination, at

www.giftsfortweens.co.uk

Crafty Tweens

Fuel the children’s imaginationsand go colour-in crazy creating

a unique festive display, to bringcheer to those gloomy winter

days in the lead-up to Christmaswith Eggnogg’s

Colour-in 3DChristmas Tree(RRP £15.99).

www.eggnogg.co.uk

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COOL KIDS’ ROOMS

Introducing Petit Home, the onlineboutique full of quirky and unusualgift inspirations, contemporarykid’s bedroom decor and babybedroom decorations that defy thepredictability of the highstreet!

Create a spacefor kids to growwith Petit Home

The mumpreneur behind Petit Home, AuroreVincens, sources timeless accessories andgorgeous items that she would choose tobrighten up her own child’s space – productsthat make her smile! Each item is lovinglyhandpicked with her little one in mind and thenshared with others looking for special items fortheir own child.

So, if you are looking for the perfect items tomake your child's space a fun and special place,head to Petit Home for an array of decorativeitems that make a kid’s room a unique andbeautiful place to dream, grow, work & play.

You will find an exceptional selection of chic andenchanting items to decorate and personaliseyour child’s room, including children’s bed linen,baby quilts, and adorable kid's cushions, quirkylamps by Heico, poetic mobiles, lovely musicboxes and jewellery boxes by Trousselier, plusmany more delightful gifts and accessories thatare exclusively sold at . . .

www.petithome.co.uk

Is there a “Special someone” aged2-7 years, who loves their ownspecial things and loves stories?Someone who loves to play, rapt intheir own imagination?

FairytaleFurniture for aSpecial Person

As your baby becomes a toddler and thenumber of toys grows it’s time for the nursery toturn into a child’s bedroom and playroom.

Zandra Johnson, the CEO of Fairytale Furniture,is a passionate advocate for the importance ofimaginative play. “Children love their ownspecial things and they love stories. So we putthe two together. For every chair we design wewrite an illustrated story book and include itwith the chair.”

Being a mum Zandra is very aware how activechildren are, and each design is rigorously testedfor safety and stability. All the chairs are alsoethically sourced and eco-friendly. There’s evena chair designed for twins.

“Children seem to relate to the chairs straightaway and begin to play. Something that wedidn’t foresee was how the chairs becomespecial reading chairs. The children love to readand rock, returning to the chair with yet anotherbook – even if they are only “pretend reading” –it’s establishing a pattern and a love of books.We offer so much more than just a seat”

www.fairytalechildrensfurniture.co.uk

Stylish Roomsfor Little Ones

from NubieCreate a nursery space that’ssafe, comfortable and equally asstylish with the delightfulcollection of furniture and babyaccessories from onlinechildren’s boutique, Nubie.co.uk.

Sourced from around the world, the cooland contemporary range features an array ofmodern essentials from nursing chairs andchanging tables to cots and design-savvyhomewares to suit any mother’s style.

Choose key furniture pieces from designledbrand Oeuf of New York that include a chicmix of minimalist changing table and dressercombos as well as sleekScandinavian stylecribs, skilfully crafted using sustainable woodand non-toxic finishes.

Sleek yet practical, the inspiring furniturerange is beautifully complemented by agorgeous selection of baby accessories anduber-cool bedding designs that range frombold robot prints to geometrics in mutedpastel hues.

www.nubie.co.uk

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COOL KIDS’ ROOMS

A one-stop shop for all thingsmodern for little ones, Nubie holdsa passion for providing parents withan eclectic collection of high qualityproducts that perfectly complementtoday’s up-to-date interior style.Brimming with a treasure trove ofsuper chic designs from leadingchildren’s designers, styles rangefrom cribs and cots, toddler beds, todécor accessories and outdoor buys.

Enter Voucher codeMYFAMILY at checkout for

10% off your first order.

www.nubie.co.uk

baroo baby and toddlerbedding – where imaginations

come to life!

Established in 2004, baroo specialises in the design and production ofaward winning baby and toddler bedding and accessories. baroo givesparents everything they need to transform their little one's bedroom withstunning, fun and imaginative nursery interiors and accompanyingaccessories.

Over the past decade baroo have taken a huge amount of pride in theirdesign and production process which is why they have become a well-loved and trusted brand amongst children, parents and celebrities as wellas snapping up some awards along the way.

This season, baroo are especially proud of their new collection whichconsists of 6 gorgeous new designs to capture the imaginations of childrenand parents alike. Each design consists of a duvet and pillow case set andare made to fit their super snuggly duvets and dream filled pillows.

You can view the new collections on their newly launched website:

www.baroo.co.uk

Designing and decorating akid’s room can be fun andexciting for you and your child.Kids love to be involved inchoosing all the great thingsthat are going into their space

You can have real fun with this, but there are afew things to bear in mind along the way.

FurnishingDepending on the function of the room –bedroom, playroom, a space to chill withfriends or all of the aforementioned – you need

decide on the amount of space to allocate toeach of the uses and measure up before youordering furniture. Also think about storage –most kids have loads of stuff and there aresome great storage solutions that stylishlycombine function, for example – a bed that hasa built in guest bed or is combined with a deskfor study space.

LightingCreative and well position lighting fixturesmake a child’s room a healthy and inspiringplace to grow, learn and play. Fun, playfullighting helps to make a kid’s room aninteresting, comfortable space and it helpsprevent them developing a fear of the dark.Also, pay special attention to how windows aredressed so that you can make the most ofnatural light, especially in winter.

ColourResearch shows that colour has the ability toinspire, excite, sooth and even agitate, somecolours are thought to have an effect oncreativity and even on a child’s reading speedand comprehension. If your child has a veryclear view of a colour that makes them feelrested, happy or even inspired that’s great, but

Creating a Cool Room for a Child

if not, the best approach may be to use accentsof colour throughout the room.

Bring it all togetherFinally, if you are struggling to put everythingtogether, it is a good idea to create a moodboard filled with the furniture designs, colours,textures, styles and accessories that you andyour child love, so that you can see everythingcome together bit by bit before you begin.

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Carbon Conscious parents havebecome increasingly aware ofthe effect of 3 billion disposablenappies thrown away in the UKevery year – equating to over355,000 tonnes of disposablenappy waste every year, with90% of this going to landfill andan annual disposal cost to localauthorities (and tax payers) of£32 million.

At an average cost of 16p per disposable,between them parents in England and Wales arespending approximately half a billion pounds ondisposable nappies every year.

Real nappies are not only more environmentallyfriendly; they can save you money too! Parentscan save between £150 and £1,000 over thetime of using nappies – even more when thereusable nappies are used on any siblings thatmight come along!

It’s EasyModern cloth nappies come in many shapes andstyles, and are designed to be comfortable andsecure. It’s not all pins and origami, you can nowbuy shaped Real Nappies which are styled justlike disposables, fastening with poppers orVelcro. Real Nappies today require no boiling;simply pop them in the washing machine beforedrying and using them again!

Fabulous FabricsModern reusable nappies are available in a rangeof fabrics including organic cotton, bamboo,

microfiber, hemp and fleece. Whether you arelooking for exceptional drying capabilities,something natural or super soft, there is a fabricto suit every family’s need.

ChoiceWith a fantastic choice of styles, fabrics, colours,levels of financial savings and more importantly achoice on how much they can reduce theirenvironmental impact, there is no better time totry reusable cloth nappies. Even using them parttime will help reduce a families waste to landfillfrom birth to potty training. Take a look at thegreat selection available atwww.funkymonkeypants.com

WipesWhen it comes to change time it’s not justdisposable nappies that have an impact on theenvironment and our bank accounts – take amoment to think how many disposable wipes areused in just one day!

The good news is that there are a number ofreusable wipes available that can simply bethrown in the washing machine along with yourreusable nappy wash. Check outwww.cheekywipes.com – their revolutionaryAll-In-One Kit will help you do your bit for theenvironment and save you up to £250 vs usingdisposable baby wipes while your little one is innappies!

Potty TrainingWhen your child is ready to leave nappies behindand is ready to start potty training, you’ll bepleased to know that by choosing aLumiPotti™ for your little one, you will bereducing your carbon footprint as it is made herein the UK.

LumiPotti™ encourages children’s naturalprogression through every stage for total toilettraining.

Toilet training is more than just day dry.LumiPotti™ doesn’t stop when the night drawsin – its special movement activated night lighthelps children master night dryness too. Formore information and for potty training advicevisit www.lumipotti.com.

Change time doesn’t have to be a bum deal

Reports have shown that a 40% carbon savingcan be made through using reusable nappiescompared to using disposables – and yes thatincludes the washing! It is not just our localcommunity that benefits, but our widerenvironment as well.

Worried about money?Using reusable cloth nappies saves money forboth parents and our communities. For everyyear your baby is in nappies, he or she will neednearly 2,000 nappy changes. With potty trainingaveraging at two and a half years, that is nearly5,000 nappies per child!

16 myfamily

CHANGE TIME

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:54 Page 16

CHANGE TIME

17myfamily

Toilet Training….Is a big challenge for a littleperson, so we developedLumiPotti™ for days and nights!LumiPotti’s removable nightlight is movement sensitive,activating as they sit up in bed.Dry nights achieved, the night-light provides a handy littlelight to guide them for years tocome . . .

Made in Britain withanti-microbial plastic.

10% off direct atLumiPotti.com

use code LOCAL14

For more information and stockists seewww.lumipotti.com

email: info@lumipotti.com

Our funky handmade NappyBags are cleverly designed to

contain all your baby essentials onthe go – includes matching

changing bag, mat, dribble clothand wipes pouch.

Checkout our unique rangeof bespoke Nappy Bags, Toddler

Bags, Baby Accessories, JeansBags and Tote Bags in cool

designs including Marvel Comic,Mr Men, Polka Dots &

many more.

Each design is handmade to orderin small limited runs and if you

can’t find what you’re looking forwe can customise a bag for you.

www.facebook.com/funkylittlebugs

An independent nurserystore in West Sussex.

Our online presenceconcentrates on those

great products that maketravel and days out with

little ones so much easier.

www.fiesta-tots.co.uk

Eco shopping for your clothnappies & accessories

If you live in Cornwall drop inand see us at

5c Water Ma Trout Industrial EstateHelston TR11 0LW,

call 01326617171 or visitwww.funkymonkeypants.com

Help &Advice foryour nappy

needs

Informative articles, discountsand so much more . . .

Check out the latest issue FREEonline at

www.mybabymagazine.co.uk

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:54 Page 17

18 myfamily

If like most people the indulgenceof Christmas and New Year result inyou gaining a few extra pounds, youcan try to stop this happening byadding a few little tweaks to howyou eat over the festive season.

Tiny Tweaks: Controlling Your Weightover Christmas and the New Year

By Denise Hughes

Let’s start by stating that to put on 1lb of weight you have toover eat by a whopping 3,500 calories! So one large mealwon’t put too many inches around your waist, but as we knowChristmas and the New Year seem to roll into one big longeating and drinking session. This leads to over eating and ourclothes start to feel really tight.

Tiny Tweaks is designed to help you to be good and feelbetter over the festive season.

Tiny tweaks means swapping un-healthy food for a morehealthy option.

Here are a few tips:

l Christmas is an ideal time to eat moreprotein. Eating more protein likechicken, turkey and even eggs (atbreakfast) for example make you feelfuller quicker. Why? Because proteinscontain amino acids which send a quickmessage to the brain that you are full – asignal to stop eating.

l Try starting your Christmasmeal with a clear soupwith chunks of vegetablesin, rather than a creamyone with pureedvegetables. A clearsoup hasfewer caloriesin than acreamy one.The chunkyvegetablesmake you feelfuller for longerand less likely to over eat.

l With Christmas lunch try to stick tounprocessed food – steer clear from thestuffing, sausages wrapped in bacon, andbread sauce, try to choose just the meat,vegetables, and a handful of roast potatoes tokeep you full. For desert say no to Christmascake, pudding, trifle and brandy butter. Insteadhave a mince pie, but remove the top. Mince

pies contain around 240 calories each, but without its top onyou will cut this down to 160 calories, as a third of them

are in the lid.

l As the drinks keep flowing bear in mind thatalcohol contains empty calories and will increase your

appetite. So try to save calories by having a white winespritzer, but add fizzy water and not lemonade to makeyour drink last longer .

After lunch comes the big flop down in front of thetelevision with snacks, nibbles and chocolate.

l Snacking is one of the main reason people puton weight, so try buying in healthier options like

Pitta breads (great toasted), hummus, oatcakes,nuts and seeds, malt loaf and fresh, canned or dried

fruit. Treat yourself to a good quality bar of darkchocolate, and have a few small squares a day, ratherthan the whole bar. You could even turn this into a

game with the whole family, who can keep theirbar of chocolate the longest.

l Tempted by peanuts? Try swappinga 25g handful of roasted salted peanutsfor a handful of shelled hazelnuts.Roasted peanuts have less than 2 percent of the recommended daily

allowance of the nutrient andantioxidant, Vitamin E, compared toover 50 per cent that is found inthe 25g of hazelnuts. This little nutalso contains more Iron thanroasted topside of beef and morefolic acid than broccoli.

l And finally compensatefor any over

indulgence bymaking aneffort to eatless for thenext fewdays andexercise a bit

more. Everyone enjoys a walk and gettingoutside whatever the weather, makes you feelbetter.

Finally, it is best not to start a diet overChristmas but try to be sensible about yourweight and food in-take.

You can find more diet tips and advice on theFabulous Body Diet website:

www.fabulousbodydiet.com

HEALTH

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:54 Page 18

ChristmasGift Guide

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:54 Page 19

20 myfamily

CHILDREN’S GIFTS

A selection of chic bed linen,lighting, decorative

accessories, wall stickersand musical playthings

www.petithome.co.uk

cottonkidscottonkidscottonkidscottonkids

• Large personalised Christmas Sacks & Aprons •• Duffle, laundry, tote & shopping bags galore •Call us on 01323 482186 • sales@cottonkids.co.uk

www.cottonkids.co.ukwww.cottonkids.co.ukwww.cottonkids.co.ukwww.cottonkids.co.ukwww.cottonkids.co.ukwww.cottonkids.co.ukwww.cottonkids.co.uk

VISIT OURWEBSITEFOR THEFULLRANGE

lots of funeco-friendlybags for alloccasions

lots of funeco-friendlybags for alloccasions

With Christmas just aroundthe corner, now is the timeto get organised and start towrite your Christmas list.At this time of year the high street is heavingwith mass produced toys and games, and itcan be hard to filter through everything to findsomething that is special for your child. Thereare so many wonderful items available buttracking them down in the busy Christmas rushcan be a nightmare.

So, if you are looking for an extra special giftthis Christmas, why not enjoy a stress freeshopping experience as you browse for theperfect festive treat from the warmth of yourliving room. You may already have a few ideasof what to buy for that special little person inyour life but if you are struggling to find theperfect gift, we are here to help.

We’ve been searching the internet to puttogether a selection of gorgeous gifts that aresure to bring smiles all around on Christmas

morning. The criteria for the ‘Children’s GiftGuide’ were to offer you gift inspirations thatwouldn’t usually be found on the high street –gifts that stand out from the crowd!

As well as educational and creative gifts thatwill spark their imagination way beyondChristmas, we have chosen a selection ofgorgeous alternatives for children and babies –from unique handmade gifts and keepsakes, towonderful décor for kid’s spaces, soft snuggly

MagicalGifts for Kids

items to keep out the winter chill and superstylish outfits, so they will be dressed toimpress this festive season.

There are also some fabulous competitionprizes up for grabs and exclusive discountcodes from a selection of retailers, to help yourChristmas budget go a little further.

Happy Shopping fromthe My Family Team x

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:55 Page 20

Busy Peas, is a brand thatrevolves around an adorablerange of clothing, toys andbooks for babies, toddlersand infants.

The Busy Peas product rangesfeature five cute fruit and vegetablecharacters – Peat Pea, Tom Tomato,Carry Carrot, Stewart Strawberry andGene Aubergine. The roots of this business lie in thegarden –bringing fashion and education together, Busy Peas designsintroduce children to fruit and vegetables at an early age, encouragingthem to read and learn to grow their special favourites!

BabyPod is a vibrant rangeof clothing for babies fromnewborn to 18 months, thatincludes colourful all-in-onebaby grows, sleepsuits,bodysuits, comfy daywear,bibs, hats and booties, allmade in the softest cotton tocare for baby’s delicate skin.

Playpod introduces the fruitand vegetable characters asa range of entertaining andeducational books and toys,which includes ‘The veggiebunch’s Christmas’ afabulous festive addition tothe range. Each toddler toy

has a cheeky personality, while the toddler books involve the child in theadventures of their favourite Busy Peas character.

The Busy Peas Luxury Collection is a beautiful white handmade babygift box containing an all-in-one with matching accessories, toy and adelightful story book. The box comes tied with a gorgeous green ribbonand a Busy Peas tag –the perfect gift for every little boy and girl thisChristmas!

All products are available to purchase online at

Gorgeous Christmas giftideas at Busy Peas…

CHILDREN’S GIFTS

21myfamily

First holy communion,flower girl, christening,

bridesmaid dresses,dance wear and occasion

wear for children.

Toys, Gifts and Cards

10% offwith code MF10

www.littlejemsmanchester.co.uk

LONG SLEEVE BABYGROWSSHORT SLEEVE BABY T-SHIRTS

MATERNITY TOPS • BABY GIFTSSCRATCH MITTENS • MUM &

DAD T-SHIRTS • FATHER & BABYGIFT SETS • BABY HATS & MORE

www.spoiltrotten.com

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:55 Page 21

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We love POP-ONs – the latest musthave for tots on the go!

With sleeves which give babies and toddlersfreedom to stretch their arms, play with toys orexplore the ribbons around the front pocketwhilst ‘on the go’ – there’s no more frustratedbabies with nothing to do!

POP-ON fits over harnesses on buggies, carseats, etc. making it quick and easy to put onand take off, which is great for thechangeable British weather. With fold oversleeve ends and a foot pocket, tiny handsand toes keep warm and snug. When notin use, they can be folded into the footpocket to make a soft fleecy cushion.

Available in sizes 0-1 year or 1-3 years. For the full range of coloursand other wonderful products visitwww.coziewarmers.co.uk

For your chance to win your very own POP-ON simply email yourname, address and daytime contact number toheather@coziewarmers.co.uk (Competition closes at midnighton 29th December 2014)

WIN! ++ WIN! ++ WIN!

Warm, Snug, Fun andEasy to POP-ON

CHILDREN’S GIFTS

BundleBean GO is a multi-usewaterproof footmuff,designed to keep little oneswarm and dry this winter.

A waterproof shell is backed with cosy fleece and various design featuresmake this the most versatile footmuff on the market. It fits pushchairs, carseats, bike seats and slings/carriers; it can also be used as a play-mat/waterproof rug or rolled up for easy storage.

This ingenious productfits all ages fromnewborn, fits in secondsand cheers up thegloomiest of winterdays, making it a perfectgift for busy parents onthe go! BundleBean GOhas won many parentingand product awards forits design andpracticality. It comes infive stunning coloursincluding the everpopular red star andgrey elephant prints.

RRP £29.99 • Discount code: MYFAMILY20 – for 20% off

Visit: www.bundlebean.com

For a Bundle of Joy this Christmas

Cherish & Cherubs is providing gifts that are just thatlittle bit different this Christmas – designed to ensuregifts for little ones and mums have the x-factor.

Something a little bit different

No little boy’s room would be complete without a train! Thispersonalised wooden train with front and rear carriages is just theticket – for just £3 for the pair of carriages and £1.25 per letter.

Everyone should have a special top towear at Christmas – especially littleangels. This personalised T-shirt isavailable in navy, pink, khaki, red andgrey for £20 – also available in reindeerandChristmas pudding design.

Cherish & Cherubs was set up to bring afresh approach to gift buying. With anethos of quirky, different and quality, theonline retailer strives to provide productsthat aren’t stocked on the high-street, toensure British homes retain the muchloved quirky nature we’re renowed for.

For more great gift ideas that kids will love visit

www.cherishandcherubs.co.uk

It’s beginning to look alot like Christmas!

Join in the fun as the fabulous FESTIVE GIFT FAIR, returns to the NECfrom 20 – 23 November 2014.

Christmas is all in the preparation! Start with a trip to THE FESTIVE GIFTFAIR and you will see how easy it is to find everything you need for theperfect Christmas, all under one roof.

From the moment you walk into the Fair, you will be caught up in theexcitement of the day, exploring over 325 stalls full of clever new giftideas and decorations that don’t cost the earth. The variety is huge, withsomething for ALL the family!

And when your bags are full,drop them off at the PresentCrèche and continue to shopor stop for a bite to eat andenjoy the atmosphere createdby bands, choirs andentertainers.

Find out for yourself why somany people LOVE shoppingat FESTIVE GIFT FAIR andreturn every year!

For further information or tobuy tickets visitwww.festivegiftfair.co.uk.

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:55 Page 22

Introducing The Sparkle Club, theonline store for little girls andbudding princesses – the placethat dreams are made of!

There’s something special forevery occasion including girlsparty shoes , bags, accessoriesbridesmaid shoes and bridesmaidbags, plus dress-up and gifts too.

Check out our fabulous range ofgirl’s sparkly party shoes andbags, and baby princess shoes,which are created exclusively forthe Sparkle Club by our award-winning team of designers.

For glittering Christmas Gift ideasvisit our website today!

www.thesparkleclub.co.uk

TOZIE Slippers for Babies andToddlers 0-4 years

Our soft and flexible Tozie slippers / soft shoes have beendesigned to stay on! With anti slip grips on fleece soles

they are the next best thing to bare feet. See website forfull range of colours and sizes available.

www.coziewarmers.co.ukPhone: 01525 718097

CHILDREN’S GIFTS

Bring some joy to Christmas with our wonderful world of children’s toys, clothes, and accessories atwww.loubilou.com

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My Family 20 3/11/14 16:55 Page 23

Tween Gift Inspirations

Design your own Superhero Capeby SeedlingWhat better way to encourage your Tween'simagination than by helping him to design hisown cape. A great design kit for boys, it is goodfun to make and is certain to be used over andover again. Price £27.00

www.giftsfortweens.co.uk

Mini-JumpsMini-Jumps are the fun exercise game for kidsaged 4 to 14. Available in two sizes they arespecially designed for safe play. The crossbarheight is fully adjustable and their lightweightensures no injuries if impacted. Easy to put upand compact to store, Mini-Jumps turn yourgarden, hall or garage into a Gymkhana partyvenue!

www.mini-jumps.co.uk Tel: 01832 238008

ZOOB Bot – perfect for kids wholove robots and love to build!Endorsed by the Science Museum this is anaward winning building set with a difference;the pieces move, can interchange and offernumerous design possibilities. Instructionsinclude two design options – a vehicle and arobot. Pull back motor action and light upeyes/headlamps. The set includes 50 ZOOBpieces. Suits ages 6 and up. Price: £27.00

www.smartstart-toys.co.uk

Sparkly heeled party shoesMartha are beautiful 2 part girls fashion sparklyheeled party shoes. Heeled section in fine silverglitter and front section in chunky fuchsia glitter.Edged in silver with silver ankle strap and TWOdetachable flower trims, one in pink and one insilver for FOUR styles in one! Price £17.99

www.thesparkleclub.co.uk use codeMYFAMILY – for 10% off

Paris colouring posterKids will love this giant Paris coloring poster(0.5m high, 1.8m wide) from OMY Design &Play, a French brand, founded by graphic artistsand illustrators. Put this art paper on a wall or onthe floor it will make a nice creative decorationand will keep your kids busy for hours! £15.50

www.petithome.co.uk

Cloud Nine Children's Bracelet A multi strand leather cord bracelet with goldplated heart charms. This pretty children’s charmbracelet is finished off with a gold plated lobsterclasp. The bracelet comes in a peach colour. Forage range 6-8 years, price £14.00

www.thelittlebritishcompany.co.uk

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CHILDREN’S GIFTS

Tweens are funny, cute and curious but this inquisitive and rapidlydeveloping in-between age can be difficult to buy for. So, here area selection of items that we think tweenagers will findentertaining, useful, inspiring and super stylish – things thatTweens will adore!

Helco Bunny Rabbit lampAdd a fairytale touch to a child’s space with thiscute little rabbit lamp by Heico. It looks great inany nursery and kid’s room décor, casting awonderful warm light it is as pretty switched onas switched off. Its soft tone adapts to anyenvironment; retro or design and it gives ahumoristic touch to any room. Available inwhite, pink or blue – £38.00

www.petithome.co.uk

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:55 Page 24

Great Gifts for Tots

Christmas Velour SleepsuitsThese wonderfully festive Christmas VelourSleep suits in red or white are super soft andcosy. Front fastening with press studs to makechange time quick and easy. The red and whitestripe detail to sleeves and feet, with Santa andChristmas tree applique on the front make themthe perfect gift for baby’s first Christmas. £7.50

www.littlejemsmanchester.co.uk

Can You Guess?Orchard Toys has launched the perfect familygame for Christmas!

Can You Guess? is an action-packedperformance game for ages 4 and over, makesounds and perform actions, which the otherplayers have to guess. Confident children canshow off their acting skills, while those who area little more shy, will grow more comfortablebeing the centre of attention.

At just £11.75, it’s a great way game for yourlittle stars this Christmas!

www.orchardtoys.com

Jack in The Box – perfect for kidswho love surprises!A beautifully crafted wooden Jack in The Box.Turn the handle and watch as Jack springs out inhis bright fun costume. This traditional woodenclassic will last the generations and never go outof fashion. Suits ages 3 and up. Price: £16.00

www.smartstart-toys.co.ukGotrovo – 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

Multi-stripedBunnyOur floppy-eared, multi-striped bunny has to be thebrightest rattle in town!Featuring all the colours inour organic cotton range, he’sfun, friendly and fully machine-washable. Hand-knitted in 100%cotton yarn and made inBangladesh by talented andcapable artisans. Purchasethis cute little guy andyou will be supportingfamilies in ruralBangladesh – removingthe need for economic migration andproviding women with flexible workingopportunities close to their homes. Price £13.75

www.funkymonkeypants.com

Baby Merino Coat and Hat SetYour little one will look great in this adorableBaby Merino coat and hat set in raspberry,finished with black merino edging to collar andcuffs. The little double breasted coat has atucked in waist with six pretty flower buttons,comes with a cute hat with raspberry colouredpom poms. Perfect for winter days this stylishset can be knitted to order on request. £65.00

www.incywincycashmere.co.uk

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CHILDREN’S GIFTS

Whether you are looking for a special gift to celebrate baby’s firstChristmas or a present that will stretch a child’s imagination, hereare a few items that we think you will love . . .

FINtastic FUN!SwimFin is suitable for children from 2 yrs+through to adults learning to swim. It can beused across all four swim strokes for all abilities.Worn on the back, it works in harmony with thebody providing total freedom around the armsand legs, thus allowing for a natural swimmingposition.

www.swimfin.co.uk

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:55 Page 25

26 myfamily

Smart Start Toys offer qualityeducational toys for children of allages, including discovery andcreative kits, games, science kitsand puzzles.

Our award winning toys areinnovative and fun providingextensive learning and play value.

We offer a gift wrapping service anda speedy delivery

to all UKmainland

addresses.

www.smartstart-toys.co.uk

Enjoy15% off

your next orderwith offer code:

MFM14

Free delivery onorders over £60

A vibrant range of clothing, toys and books for babies from newborn to 18 months.

Bringing fashion and education together, Busy Peas introduces children to fruit and vegetables at an early age, encouraging them to read and learn to grow their special favourites!

For more information please contact:Jayne Liston: T. 0208 748 7671

E. jayne@busypeas.co.uk

www.busy peas.co.uk

“Pic you own” uni giffo a pecia baby.

valid until 31/1/2015

CHILDREN’S GIFTS

Buying gifts and toys forchildren can be trickier thanit sounds. Children grow andtheir tastes change quickly –so how do you find a giftthat will stand the test oftime and keep their interestlong beyond Christmas day.

Whether you are short of ideas or feel confusedby the amount of choice there is for kids, onething’s for sure – Mum usually has a good ideaof what their child would love for Christmas.

This got us thinking and we asked 4 mums toshare their ideas about what makes the idealgift.

Sarah, mum of 3 children aged between6 and 10 years

Although my children are all very different, theyall love to play together. A game that involvesmultiple players is always a hit when thewrapping paper comes off! In our house a good

game is always on their Christmas lists and pastfavourites include Jenga, Operation and Pop UpPirate. It’s great to hear them laughing as theyplay together – myself and my husband havebeen known to take our turn too.

Mandy, mum of Kieran aged 3

Kieran loves anything with wheels – fire engines,racing cars, bikes and tractors; he’s got them all!If he can scoot them around the floor, climb inand drive or watch them speed around a track,they are sure to be a hit. His favourite toy at themoment is a figure of 8 wooden train set – heloves driving the train around the track andrepositioning the people and houses.

Melissa, mum of Scarlet aged 9

Scarlet is very creative; she likes cutting, sticking,stitching, painting and anything that involvesglitter. She is always thinking about what hernext creation could be and on Christmas dayyou will quite literally find my daughter playingwith the cardboard box, as she uses hercreativity to turn it into something spectacular. Ifyou know a child like Scarlet, I would suggestSeedling Fashion Designer Kit.

What Mum Says . . .

Jayne, mum of Josh aged 5

My son Josh loves puzzles – he’s a real thinker!He loves working through the process of fittingthe pieces together to create the end result – itgives him a real feeling of satisfaction. We havea number of puzzles that Josh plays with overand over again. He especially likes puzzles thatuse skills he is learning at school, like learninghow to put letters together to make words orthat test is numeracy skills – his favourite is a 30-piece number puzzle called One,Two,Tree byOrchard Toys.

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:55 Page 26

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Gifts for Tweens offer achoice of creative, fun andunique toys and gifts fortweenagers between theages of 6-12 years old.

At Gifts for Tweens you willfind favourite brandsincluding Seedling, LittleExperience, Ridleys byWild & Wolf, X-rayAnatomy sets by Revell,Pippin Jewellery Sets,Spiegelburg, andCupcakes &Cartwheels, to namebut a few.

For exceptional gifts, toys,clothes and accessoriesthat encourage tweens tohave fun, be active and usetheir imagination, visit ourwebsite . . .

www.giftsfortweens.co.uk

They found the treasure – can you?Watch your little ones delight in hours of treasure-hunting magic with 5 star rated treasure hunt game,Gotrovo!

Perfect for play-dates, parties, or special one-to-onetime, it’s the stuff memories are made of. You couldeven lay a trail to the Christmas presents!

Recommended Age: 3+ • £19.95 including free P&P

www.gotrovo.uk

CHILDREN’S GIFTS

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:55 Page 27

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CHILDREN’S GIFTS

This Christmas, your child canenjoy an enchanted journey ofmathematical play with threeaward winning new numeracy cardgames by Mathstraks Games.Mathical Creatures, MonsterMaths and Fairy Tables offerhours of educational, festive funfor 2-4 players.

Imagination GamingAwards, silver award winnerfor Best Numeracy Games –Monster Maths, is anexciting card game for children

aged 5+. Monster Maths will help youryoungster practise and improve addition

skills for 1 and 2 digitnumbers – using simplesums, the aim of the gameis to be the first player tomake a monster.

Your littleones will love playingMathical Creatures –an enjoyable,mathematical card gamefor children aged 7+which uses the funtheme of myths andmonsters, to teach andreinforce key numeracy

skills. This much-lovedgame will help your child practise

and improve their mental arithmetic, andimprove their mathsconfidence through play.

Fairy Tables will takeyour child to a magicalrealm of fire-breathingdragons, handsomeprinces and beautifulprincesses, wherethey use their timestables knowledge in

Christmas Fun for Kids from Mathstraks Games

For supplier information, check outMathstraks Facebook page

www.facebook.com/mathstraksgames

a race to place fairy tale characters in stories.This is an ingenious card game to help kidsaged 7+ practise and learn theirmultiplication tables.

Mathstraks Games are available from manyindependent toy and games shops and avariety of online retailers including Amazon.

Play is an essential part ofevery child’s life and is vitalto their development. Kidslearn best when they arehaving fun because theyengage more. Learningthrough play helps childrendevelop social and cognitiveskills, gain self-confidenceand mature emotionally.Although PCs, tablets and electronic games playtheir part in teaching these key skills, it isimportant to encourage kids to turn off thegadgets and play.

Christmas is the ideal time to do this and thereare loads of great gifts, games, toys and puzzlesthat will fire up their imagination, spark theircreativity and will keep on giving way beyondChristmas.

Here are a few tips to help you to choose toysand games for your child, that will help them tolearn and develop key skills while having lots offun too:

l Consider toys that encourage creativity, suchas toys that can be taken apart and put backtogether again or that involve creatingshapes or models that will grow with yourchild and provide hours of fun. Lego or stickybricks, cookery sets and craft kits are goodexamples of creative gifts that have stood thetest of time.

l Good toys allow children to use theirimagination rather than directing how theyplay – dolls, playhouses, dens and cars aregood examples of toys that will spark theirimagination and provide a platform for play.

l It is good for a child to be able to entertainthemselves but equally important for them tobe able to play with others, share andunderstand the rules of game play. A gamethat they can play with other children or theirparents such as a board or card game willchallenge them and encourage socialinteraction.

l Avoid gimmicks and toys that are toocomplex – simplicity allows the child to usetheir own imagination and avoids thefrustration that comes with over complicatedgadgets and gizmos.

Inspiring Young Minds at Christmas

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:55 Page 28

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CHILDREN’S GIFTS

30 myfamily

Teach the timeTeach the timein a week?in a week?

Teach the timein a week?

Aramazu illustrated books make great gifts.Fun, easy to read and effective,

85% of children learn to tell the time in one week.

www.aramazu.com/shopPrices from £6.99 + p&p

"very impressed" TimesOnline

The award winning company dedicated to making children Feel Good about themselves

and their world.

Fun, educational products that help to build conf idence and self esteem.

Encouraging children to feel happy, creative, magical and special.

Bring the Feel Good factor into your home!

www.feelgoodfriends.comFor more information visit

Every child loves a treasurehunt . . . and with 5 star ratedtreasure hunt game Gotrovo, sowill you!

Developed with educationalists, thisunique and highly adaptable gameinspires children to learn while they play,following a trail of clues through yourhome, garden or local park. Real active fun without a screen in sight!

Perfect for play-dates, parties or magical one to one time. Suitablefor a wide range of ages and abilities to play together. The kitcomes complete with 100 reusable clue cards, treasure maps, swag bag,golden coins and a golden treasure bar. Just lay the trail and watchthem go!

Recommended Age 3+ • £19.95 including free P&Pwww.gotrovo.uk

To win your free Gotrovo answer the riddle

Scrub your hands ‘til they’re nice and pink,your next clue’s hiding in the _ _ _ _

Email us with the answer along with your name and address atinfo@gotrovo.uk by the 10th December 2014 and we will pick thelucky winners at random and post your game out in plenty of timefor Christmas!

WIN! ++ WIN! ++ WIN!

Win a Treasure Hunt Game

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:55 Page 30

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32 myfamily

HANDMADE WITH LOVE

This year, the creatively inclined will be in theirelement at the brand new Simply Christmas show,28 – 30 November at the ExCel, London.

Held alongside the established Hobbycrafts andArt Materials Live shows, Simply Christmasoffers the perfect opportunity for crafty typesto stock up on all they need to make beautifulfestive cards and presents this holiday season.

Inspirational workshops and tips from exhibitors will give visitors achance to create their very own handmade pieces to add someChristmas spirit and sparkle to their homes or pick up clever ideas inthe many ways to add some creative touches to cards and presents.

Buy tickets on-line at www.ichf.co.uk or Phone Ticket Hotline:01425 277988

Simply Christmas

As the Christmas trees anddecorations go up, and youtuck into your first mincepie; it should be starting tofeel a lot like Christmas!

You are probably thinking about joining millionsof shoppers on the highstreet to find gifts anddécor to make Christmas 2014 an occasion toremember. But, before you join them, pleasetake a moment to think about buyinghandmade gifts for friends and loved ones thisyear.

Handmade gifts are cool, stylish, trendy andusually one-of-a kind; besides, it is so muchmore fun shopping for unusual, quirky itemsthat can’t be found on the highstreet.

Few gifts are more appreciated than those thathave been made by hand and when you give ahandmade gift, your loved one will be delightedthat your intention was to make it both personaland unique – that you chose somethingespecially for them!

Usually you’ll be in direct contact with theperson who is making the item for you, whichmeans that they may be able to tweak thedesign or personalise the gift to your ownspecification. Also, because handmade gifts arerarely mass-produced, it solves the problem ofgiving an identical gift as someone else.

Unique, bespoke and handmade with love

In the age of mass produced goods, let’s notforget the warm fuzzy feeling of knowing thatyou are helping to support a skill or trade in avery direct way. When you buy a handmade giftyou gain a unique connection with an artisan –which is really cool!

Plus, buying handmade, especially locally cangreatly reduce your carbon footprint – so youwill be helping the environment too.

So, if you are sitting down to write yourChristmas list and you are looking for somethinga little different or there’s someone who is trickyto buy for, a handmade gift may be just thesolution that you are looking for.

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HANDMADE WITH LOVE

The Shetland Teddy Bear Company® is a small, awardwinning family business, making an adorable collectionof traditional jointed heirloom teddy bears in theremote Shetland Islands.

The charming little family of Teddy Bears are handmade from 100%Organic Shetland Wool, which is grown, spun, woven and knitted on theisland. Each cuddly bear wears either a chunky hand knitted scarf, lacescarf or shawl. They are made entirely by hand and each bear comes witha certificate, hand signed by the artist.

Uradale Bears are the new addition to the clan and are available in 6Heritage colours made from natural plant dyes. Each bear’s heritage is fullytraceable back to the actual field on which the wool was grown, UradaleCroft, in the Shetland Islands.

To find the perfect teddy bear or a fabulous keepsake gift, visit:www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ShetlandTeddyBearCo or followwww.facebook.com/shetlandteddybears on Facebook

The Perfect Teddy Bear Companion

Bags of funky gifts forChristmas

As the Christmas countdown begins, it is likelythat you are looking for just the right gifts foreveryone on your list this year. Look no further –check out Funky Little Bugs, for bags of stylish giftideas this Christmas.

Mum’s all over the world love theunique, quirky range of bags andaccessories handmade by Steph righthere in the UK. Funky Little Bugsoffers an eye catching collection ofNappy Bags, Toddler Bags, Jeans Bags,Tote Bags and baby accessories,featuring the popular Marvel Comic

series, Mr Men, Polka Dots and manymore original designs.

New lines are regularly added but ifyou can’t find what you’re lookingfor, Steph welcomes orders forcommissioned items – working withher customers to create a bag thatwill suit the users own style and need.

To find the perfect gift, personalised Santa Sacks,Christmas Stockings and Gift Bags visit

www.facebook.com/funkylittlebugs

Looking for something different? Somethingfor twins? Something they can play with, read

in and treasure as their own special chair?

Every chair comes with its own illustratedstory book, perfect for encouraging littleones to read.

Child’s wooden rockingchair with illustrated

story book: £149

www.fairytalechildrensfurniture.co.uk

A reflection of modern familylife from birth to early teens

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.uk

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:55 Page 33

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MADE IN BRITAIN

The countdown to Christmashas begun and there is nobetter time to make the mostof the great selection of Britishmade gifts and décor available.

In Britain, we are fortunate to have a wealthof homegrown industry and innovations righton our doorstep.

For those who enjoy the best that life has tooffer; the ‘Made in Britain’ label representssome of the finest quality gifts, decorations,tableware, food and drink, in the world.

Christmas is a time for giving but when weare considering what to give to that specialperson on our list, isn’t it our duty to thinkabout how and where it was made?

When you buy an item with British pedigreeyou know that you are not only supportingethical production, fair wages and decentworking conditions but reducing theenvironmental impact of imported goods.

You will be buying a safe, traceable productthat has been produced to very highstandards of safety. British made productsmay sometimes cost a little more, but becausethey are often better made, you are investingin something of quality that will last.

Reasons to Buy British Goodies this ChristmasBy purchasing Britishproducts you will behelping to keep age oldskills of craftsmen andwomen in studios,workshops, factoriesand farms throughoutthe British Isles alive.

You will be assistingfuture growth andprosperity, strengthening British productionand British capabilities – benefiting futuregenerations too!

If we all buy British made products, theincreasing demand for things made in the UKwould force retailers to think twice aboutwhere they source their products from.

By flying the flag for British made goods, wehope that you will take inspiration from thewonderful items recommended in this sectionfor the family and friends on your Christmaslist this year.

As a British, family companyestablished in 1919, wepride ourselves on all thingsBritish. After dinner puzzlesare a favourite Britishpastime and a perfect wayto keep the whole familyentertained this Christmas.

To pass the puzzling bug ontothe very wee ones in your life,why not try our My Worldrange? There are 19 fun,educational puzzles and games in

Gibsons Creates the Perfect Recipe for Post Xmas Dinner Fun

We’ve teamed up with My Familyto give away 5 Gibsons puzzles intime for Christmas.

To enter go to ‘competitions’ atwww.myfamilymagazine.co.uk,choose a puzzle and click the linkto enter before 8th December2014

WIN! + WIN! + WIN!

From teensy 2 piece to whopping60 piece giant floor puzzles,there’s lots to learn anddiscover!

Our Spot theSillies range isperfect forchildren aged 5+who want apuzzle that is alittle trickier thanMy World, butjust as fun.

There are fivedifferent scenes, fromhorse riding lessons, to piratepandemonium, all have 100pieces and once complete have10 silly additions – the challengeis to find them all!

For aspiring geographers, ouraward-winning Jig-Mapsprovide hours of entertainmentand a good geography lesson...for Mum and Dad too, we’rebetting! Each puzzle sets thechallenge not only of piecing

together the map, but placingeach identically shaped country

or city name in the rightspot on the puzzle. Thereare three editions in therange, UK & Ireland,Europe and Worldmaps.

Gibsons are availablefrom a range ofgood toy and giftshops around theUK – use the store

finder online atwww.gibsonsgames.co.uk/where-to-buy

the range that have all beendeveloped in conjunction withchild psychologist, AmandaGummer, so they are perfectlytailored to teach children

essential skills forlife.

myfamily

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MADE IN BRITAIN

10% Discountto all readers with code MF10

www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ShetlandTeddyBearCo

Luxurious hand knittedcashmere baby wear

Everything you need to keep yourlittle one warm, cosy and comfy.

All of our knitwear can beknitted to order

Member of Craft Scotland andUK Handknitting

www.incywincycashmere.co.uk

The Little British Companywas launched in 2013 byJacky, who has always had apassion for all the lovelythings Britain has to offer.

Shewanted to come up with a websitethat would exhibit the gorgeousproducts you can find on yourdoorstep, that are produced inbeautiful Britain. What’s more she

wanted to develop a place where people could buy British made, highquality goods and support our UK traders without the consumer havingto break the bank!

The Little British Companyhas something for everyoneon your gift list on our easyto use online store. Anaward winning companywhich is driven by passionto support British madegoods and ultimatelydelivering them to you; foryou and your gifts receiversto enjoy! 1st class delivery and free gift wrapping help to complete yourshopping experience.

www.thelittlebritishcompany.co.uk

From Britain with Love

www.thelittlebritishcompany.co.uk

Bibbles are functional, attractive andgreat for teething babies and dribbly toddlers. Designed and

lovingly manufactured in Nottingham, UK.Bibbles are made with a quality soft cotton top fabric to absorb wetnessand a soft fleece under layer to act as a barrier, preventing clothing and

baby’s chin from becoming wet and uncomfortable.

Adjustable nickel free press-studs means it’s a comfy fit andbeing machine washable, your Bibble will last for years!

Bibbles come in a continually changing range of coloursand designs to suit every taste and will enhance any outfit, ideal for the

modern mum and baby of today.

10% Off your 1st orderwith code FAMILY

www.bandana-bibs.co.uk

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:55 Page 35

GIFTS FOR GROWN UPS

36 myfamily

Choosing the right gift for someone can bedifficult and as we all go into shoppingautopilot this Christmas, it is easy to run out ofideas. Then there is also the ‘tricky to buy for’recipient, who seems to have everything andneeds nothing! At some point we all findourselves asking ‘What am I supposed to get?’

should be sentimental, humorousor breath-taking?

Does the recipient have a quirkypersonality; are they sporty, dothey have a hobby or a specialinterest? Are they an extrovert?They may like something that willchallenge them or get theiradrenalin going, like an experienceday.

Be creative and bear in mind, thatthe perfect gift you bought for oneperson will not be the perfect giftfor everyone.

Finding the rightgift for Grown Ups

The perfect gift should bepersonal, after all that is whatmakes it the perfect gift! Maybethey would prefer jewellery orkeepsake or something that ishand-made?

There are also things to avoid! Ifyou don’t know the recipient wellenough avoid gifts like makeup asit is easy to get it wrong orearrings, which can’t be exchange

or refunded (for hygiene reasons)if the recipient doesn’t like yourchoice.

Before you head to the highstreet,explore the internet – there is aworld of fabulous gift ideas at yourfingertips. This will also take thelegwork and stress out of giftshopping, as your gifts can bedelivered directly to your door.

Adults especially, can be hard tobuy for and we can often findourselves heading for the wine,socks or chocolates in order to finda ‘quick fix’ to our gift givingdilemmas; knowing deep down,that we could have chosen better!

Before you hit the highstreet thisChristmas have a few ideas in mindor you will walk around aimlesslysearching for the perfect gift.

Give it some thought before yougo shopping – decide whether thegift that you would like to give

If you are looking for aunique gift for Christmas,a keepsake to mark thearrival of a new baby ora gift to treasure for aspecial person in your life,The Silver ImpressionCompany can provide you with the perfect gift.

The stylish collection of fine silver jewellery and gifts includes pendants,cufflinks, bracelets, keyrings and handbag charms that can bepersonalised with a loved one's fingerprint, handprint or footprint tocreate a totally one-of-a-kind gift. Simply take an impression using thequick and easy-to-use kit provided, return by post and the impression isthen returned to you as a beautiful piece of silver jewellery.

Every item is handmade right here in the UK byJane Allman, the talented designer behind TheSilver Impression Company. If you can’t findexactly what you are looking for, Jane willdesign an item to your own personalspecifications – ensuring that your gift givingmoment is truly memorable one. Visit:

www.fingerprintjewellerycompany.co.uk

Anyone & Any Occasion – Gift BasketMake Christmas fun, remarkable and memorablewith the perfect gift basket, whatever the occasion,whoever the recipient.

The Anyone & Any Occasion Gift Basket is carefully wrapped incellophane and adorned with ribbons to make a stunning presentationwith your own personal printed message card included.

Anyone & Any Occasion – Gift Basket contains: Coffee, Cup andSaucer, Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Home Candle, Jo Malone -Lime Basil & Mandarin Soap, Luxury Neck Pillow, Jet Set Toiletries Bag,Inflatable Bath Pillow, Eye Mask and a Towel Turban for her OR a soft,absorbent hand towel for him. Price: £150.00

www.mainlybaby.co.uk

Unique Handmade Giftsand Keepsakes

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GIFTS FOR GROWN UPS

The worldwide #1 bestselling infant development book The Wonder Weeks is a worldwide bestsellerexplaining the perceptual world and the leapsbabies make from 0-20 months.

With each leap comes a drastic change in yourbaby’s mental development, which affects not onlyhis mood, but also his health, sleeping patterns andthe “three C’s” (crying, clinging and crankiness).The Wonder Weeks helps your baby to get themost out of his development and helps him gothrough these difficult phases.

It’s finally here – My Wonder Weeks Journal . . . For allthose magical leapsHow did YOUR baby make the leaps? What did he do? How did he react?What did he like to look at? You can now record all of this information inThe Best – Journal – Ever!

The NEW Wonder Weeks Journal will help you to get an insight into thelittle things that make huge impact. Writing and scrapbooking in this journalis fun and meanwhile… the questions make you much more aware of thebrainy things your clever, smart, fabulous baby is doing.

The Wonder Weeks Journal is the ultimate Christmas present! Be the authorof your own most treasured book!

Available: 16 November

www.thewonderweeks.com

The Wonder Weeks

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:55 Page 37

The clocks may have goneback and the shortest day isfast approaching, but thatdoesn’t have to signal atime of hibernation for ushumans! Winter can be oneof the nicest times of theyear to get out and about –less crowded and clear blueskies (sometimes!).

Pay a visit to Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshirefrom 25th November to 21st December, whereyou can enter the world of the Stahlbaum familyas Clara and Fritz celebrate a traditionalChristmas Eve in the Nutcracker Mansion.

Witness the battle between Clara's Nutcrackerdoll and gingerbread soldier, against the MouseKing and his army of mice, then follow Clara'sjourney as she weaves through the ChristmasForest to the Land of Sweets. Costumed guideswill be baking traditional festive delicacies andthere are mincemeat treats to enjoy. Forinformation about opening times and entry costsvisit www.tattonpark.org.uk

A wealth of beautifully lit Christmas trees in theCastle Courtyard welcomes you to Christmas ofa bygone era. Walkers House restaurant will beserving a delicious selection of home-made andlocally sourced dishes, tea, coffee, cakes,warmed mince pies and Mulled Wine. The CastleGift Shop is filled with delightful Christmasgoodies and gifts for friends and family. Forinformation about opening times and entry costsvisit www.rockinghamcastle.com

Things to do this winter

Fewer tourists make this a great time for familieswith small children to get out and about in theUK. Whether taking an invigorating walk alongthe coast, meandering through the countrysideor visiting a Christmas Market, you will be spoiltfor choice.

Gather the family together and head for UK’sspectacular Christmas destination – Hyde ParkWinter Wonderland, from 21st November forsix exciting weeks of winter festivities,entertainment and new attractions. Visit TheMagical Ice Kingdom where children andadults are invited to walk through the frozenforest and explore the world of frozenprincesses, unicorns and the Snow beforeheading to Santa Land, where young visitors canmeet Father Christmas and his Elves.

Take to the ice for a spin the UK’s largest outdoorice rink or watch the action from above, on theiconic Giant Observation Wheel. Otherfavourite attractions include the ever-populardaytime show for all the family, Zippos ChristmasCircus and an evening show for older thrillseekers, Cirque Berserk.

Christmas shoppers can browse over 200 chaletsin the beautiful Angels Christmas & YuletideMarkets for unusual and handmade gifts andcrafts, before stopping off for a glass of mulledwine and something to eat at one of therestaurants and bars throughout the attraction.For further information visitwww.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

Take a step back in time for a VictorianChristmas at Rockingham Castle, 17th to21st November. It’s Christmas Eve 1881 –George Lewis Watson, his wife Laura Maria, andseveral if their relatives are at Rockingham forChristmas. The Castle Staff are busy preparingfor a magnificent family Christmas gathering.Dressed in period costume, the House Keeper,Governess, Butler & Footman will be taking youback in time to the reign of Queen Victoria; theirstories of Victorian family life below stairs andabove will entertain and delight.

Celebrate New Year’s Eve and welcome 2015with a bang at the London NYE 2014Fireworks, presented by the Mayor of London.At midnight on New Year’s Eve London’s nightskies will be a blaze of light and colour with adisplay of stunning pyrotechnics from the riveron London’s famous South Bank. It’s a trulybreath-taking sight set against the capital’sunique skyline, and one that draws crowds ofover 500,000 people each year – makingLondon’s NYE Fireworks one of the biggestcelebrations of its kind in the world. Don’t missout on this spectacular event, tickets are £10each and you can book up to four ticketswww.london.gov.uk/nye

Don’t stay indoors waiting for spring – wrap upwarm, grab a brolly and venture outdoors to seeall that this fabulous season has to offer –because winter’s just too good to waste!

38 myfamily

AWAY WITH THE KIDS

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AWAY WITH THE KIDS

For more information visit www.holidaylettings.co.uk/95665 ortelephone: +44 (0) 7771 610668 or +44 (0) 1572 722749

Quietly nestling in England’s smallest county is StMonica's Cottage, a place to unwind and enjoy a tasteof traditional England.

There are two bedrooms – onelarge double bedroom with kingsize bed and en-suite bathroomwith roll top cast iron bath andlarge shower, plus a twin bedroomwith adjacent shower room.

The enclosed gardens arefurnished with a table and seating,providing a peaceful place to enjoyviews over open countryside and asafe environment for children toplay.

Easily accessible by car or train thisdreamy little cottage providesperfect location for those wantingto explore an array of unspoiltvillages, attractive market townsand the beautiful countryside ofRutland and beyond.

A Cottage Breakin England’s smallest county

Set in the quaint and picturesqueconservation village of Egleton inRutland, the beautifully renovatedcottage overlooks scenic farmlandto the rear, beyond which is thewell-known Rutland Water.

St Monica’s is a single storeythatched cottage, furnished to avery high standard with leathersofas, a fitted kitchen and centralwood burning stove, providingluxury self-catering accommo-dation for up to six people.

Things to seeand do . . .

There is so much to see and doright on your door step in theunique little county of Rutland. Ifyou enjoy sailing, windsurfing,fishing, walking and cyclingRutland Water is the place to be.

20 minutes away, nearby Stamfordis well worth a visit with atraditional of Friday Street market,a wealth of boutiques and cafes allsurrounded by Georgian splendor.Or, pay a visit to Burghley House –events include Spooky Tours, TheBurghley Pumpkin Trail, Santa FunRun and Christmas Carol Concertfor Families.

I remember 7 years ago, preparing for Christmas.Our child was just 4 months old and we weregoing to be away from home for nearly 2 weeks.I could still hear my Mum’s and Mother-in-Law’samusement at how much kit we seemed to need,to go anywhere with one little baby.

Well, we made that first Christmas our opportunity to prove themwrong.

We packed sensibly for all three of us and tried to reduce theamount of clothing we took. Let’s face it; there really wasn’t anyneed for more than 3-4 outfits for a little baby, especially when wehad easy access to a washing machine.

Festive Travel Tipsby Alexandra Wyver-Northam – founder of fiesta-tots.co.uk

One piece of equipment that definitely helped us in our missionwas the Koo-di Bubble Travel Cot (previously known asSamsonite) – with an integrated mosquito net and mattress, itpacks up very small and light. It’s officially suitable for up to 18month olds, although we used it up to two years old.

We needed to wake up for a madly earlyflight, so we used a travel sleeping bagthat made the transfer from bed to carseat much easier. I’d recommendInventa by Love to Dream – it hasre-sealable slot for the car seat crotchbuckle to go through and also benefitsfrom zipped vents – a great idea whentravelling because of the manyfluctuations in temperature.

My third and final equipment tip is thesmall and innocent looking Sock Ons.So small but they pack a punch for

usefulness.No more lost socks and cold feet, ofvital importance when travelling -remember the packing light on theclothing front idea? You don’t wantto risk loosing a sock and you don’twant a baby full of cold overChristmas. Trust me, they work!

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:55 Page 39

40 myfamily

SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILY

MedicAlert members wear a custom made Braceletor Necklace, which is engraved with their basicmedical details.

Healthcareprofessionals aretrained to look forthe MedicAlertsymbol that is inscribed onthe jewellery, when checking theneck or wrist pulse points. Thisenables a medical condition to be quicklydiagnosed in an emergency.

Should more information be required, a call to the 24/7 emergencynumber (engraved on the jewellery) can be made to gain access to themember’s detailed medical record.

This enables MedicAlert members to live their lives as normally aspossible, in the knowledge that if they find themselves in an emergencysituation, their MedicAlert jewellery will communicate their conditioneven if they can’t.

MedicAlert has been working for 50 years, receiving no funding fromgovernment or the NHS, being mainly financed by the membership feesand sales of the jewellery.

www.medicalert.org.uk

The MedicAlert Foundation helpspeople with Medical Conditionsor Allergies live life to the full

For style and comforton the go…

BundleBean GO is the perfect cosy andwaterproof cover for kids in special-needsbuggies or wheelchairs. It is non-restrictive and can be fitted in secondswithout moving your child. It doubles as awaterproof blanket or mat for time out ofthe buggy and features a pouch pocketfor special things. RRP £29.99

Discount code: SPECIAL20 – for 20% off

From www.bundlebean.com

Fits all brands of special needs buggy andkids wheelchair – suitable for ages fromnewborn up to about 12 years of age.

Fashionable chewingbracelets

Chewigem Tread Bangles are a rangeof stylish chewing bracelets with a tyretread pattern and designed to lookamazingly fashionable whilst discreetlyserving your child’s need to chew.

Suitable for moderate to aggressivechewers – helping to provide valuablesensory input into the jaw throughchewing and biting.

Especially rewarding to babies & childrenand adults with special needs, autism andsensory processing difficulties, who seekadditional proprioceptive input into thejaw. Non-toxic and safe to chew. Age 3Years+

www.sensorytoywarehouse.com

Christmas Glitter BallsOur fabulous Christmas Glitter Balls aremagical multi-sensory balls which arefascinating to observe, and super bouncytoo - with a cheerful Christmas characterinside. Made in tough, rubberytransparent plastic, each is filled with aglittering liquid mixture. Bounce, shake orroll the ball and the glitter within the ballswirls and erupts into mesmerizing cloudsof dancing glitter – excellent ball for 'Toand Fro' games to get them interacting.Age 3 Years+

www.sensorytoywarehouse.com

Christmas is just around the corner and if you arelooking for a gift for someone with special needsor a disability, you’ll be pleased to know thatthere is an extensive range of exciting and usefulgifts to choose from.

Buying a gift for a personwith special needs ordisability does not have tobe difficult if you follow afew simple steps.

The best place to start is tothink about things that therecipient enjoys such ashobbies, activities, afavourite TV show,storybook characters etc.

Think about limitationsthat the recipient may have– can they use the itemindependently, will it beuseful or make life easierfor them?

Consider whether the recipient would like a gift that will help them learnnew skills or help develop a skill that they are working on – look outsensory products, items that help with speech and language or with self-help skills.

Gifts with Purpose

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:55 Page 40

Bibbleplus+

www.bibbleplus.co.uk

b a n d a n a b i b s

Bibble Plus+ Bandana Bibs are the functional and stylish solution for olderchildren, teenagers and adults who have difficulties with drooling and dribbling.

Bibble Plus+ are available in 3 sizes and come in a range of colours and designsto suit every taste and enhance any outfit.

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

41myfamily

SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILY

The biggest education reformsin a generation for childrenand young people with specialeducational needs became lawon Monday 1 September.

The new Children and Families Act will offersimpler, improved and consistent help forchildren and young people with specialeducational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Reforms for children with SENand disabilities come into effect

As well as protecting the schools budget, it willextend provision from birth to 25 years of age.This will give families greater choice indecisions and ensure needs are properly met.

The new system will extend rights andprotection to young people by introducing anew education, health and care plan.Professionals will also provide more tailoredsupport to families, giving them the help andassistance they need.

In England 1 in 5 children has SEN or disability,ranging from dyslexia to a physicalimpairment. These reforms, outlined in thecode of practice, will enable them and theirparents to have a role in shaping the supportthey receive.

The code of practice advises local educationauthorities, maintained schools, earlyeducation settings and others on carrying outstatutory duties for children’s specialeducational needs.

‘Pathfinder’ families in 31 areas around thecountry have taken part in pilots for thechange. Their feedback has shown that they

believe the reforms help to place them at thecentre of the system.

The reforms were developed in partnershipwith parent groups, including the NationalNetwork of Parent Carer Forum, Contact aFamily and Special Needs Jungle.

For further information visit www.gov.uk

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:55 Page 41

42 myfamily

POSITIVE ABOUT AUTISM

@

College

Henshaws College in Harrogateprovides specialist furthereducation for students with adiverse range of needs. Henshawsis building on its existing servicesfor students with autism byopening new residential andteaching facilities on campus in2015, alongside developingtechnology to support autisticlearners.

Places available for September 2015One in three students at Henshaws Collegehas a diagnosis of autism. The College’s highlytrained education, care and therapy teams

Supporting students with autismhave many years of experience in supportingyoung people to develop their independence,employability and communication skills.

These new facilities will allow the College todevelop further its excellence in this area ofprovision by creating a safe, specialistenvironment for learners with autism.

Students at Henshaws benefit from:l In–house therapists and disability support

specialists

l Team Teach trained staff

l A sector-leading Assistive Technology team

l Personalised study programmes from Pre-Entry to Level 1

l First class residential, media and sportsfacilities.

New technology for autistic learnersHenshaws College is working with the NorthEast Autism Society to produce two innovativesolutions for autistic learners. The Autism DayPlanner and the Sequence Slider will supportlearners on the autistic spectrum to sequencedaily routines and work tasks. Support staffand parents can access the planner remotely toupdate routines, giving students a method todeal with change and unfamiliar activities.

Visit Henshaws CollegeFamilies are always welcome to contact theCollege to arrange a visit:

Call 01423 886451or email admissions@henshaws.ac.uk

www.henshaws.ac.uk

My Family 20 3/11/14 16:55 Page 42

43myfamily

Sally took a gamble by sending her sonto a new and unproven school, butBaston House has paid off for the wholefamily in many ways

Sally Pettitt has three children, the middle one being 13-year-oldHarry who was among the first six students at Baston House School

To learn more about Baston House visitwww.bastonhouseschool.org.uk

input. These resources, along with the smallclass sizes, have almost certainly had the biggestimpact on Harry’s learning and achievement,and given him a far greater chance to reach thepotential he undoubtedly has.”

Addressing the challengesin the most effective wayAutism is a disorder which presents each child itaffects with a varying range of challenges. AtBaston House, believes Sally, every child isrecognised as a person in their own right andtreated accordingly. “All these children havesomething to offer and should be given thechance to shine. Whether Harry will be able tocapitalise on his academic or other achievementsin the future we don’t know, but at least he hasbeen given the chance to make the most of hisabilities. As far as I am concerned, I will knowthat by enrolling him at Baston House I havedone the very best I can as a mother.”

Limited choicesHarry was diagnosed with autism (PDD-NOS)when he was four years old but was fortunateenough to be able to attend a mainstreamprimary school, which was more than able toadequately address what Sally believed were hisneeds at the time. However, when the timecame to consider his secondary education, Sallyhad to reassess the situation, especially in lightof the fact that their Local Education Authorityoffered only a limited choice of settings.

“His primary school had served him very wellbut they accepted that Harry needed more thana mainstream school could provide at the nextstage,” Sally says. “The only option we weregiven by the LEA was not geared specifically tochildren with autism and, as a child who is veryable on the autistic spectrum, we felt that Harrywould plateau academically if he was not giventhe right opportunities.”

“I had heard that a new school was beingstarted up, one which I subsequently discoveredwould focus only on children similar to Harry,and when I eventually went to look around Irealised that we had found precisely what weneeded.”

Huge steps forwardThat school was Baston House, officially openedby Samantha Cameron in 2011, and althoughSally had to challenge the decision of the LEA,twice she was triumphant at tribunal. “It was abit of a gamble as the school had only recentlyopened but I liked the ethos and what theypromised, and I was right to take the chance.Not only does Harry have a smile on his faceevery morning, he is learning, achieving andmuch more socially adept than before. That initself is a huge step forward.”

A dramatic changeWhilst Harry is currently out-performing for hisage in some areas and likely to take somerecognised qualifications, other aspects of hisdisorder were potentially holding him back froma more rounded life, as well as restricting that ofhis own family. “In common with many autisticchildren, Harry has sensory processing disorderwhich affects his ability to maintain normal

BASTON HOUSE SCHOOL CASE STUDY

interaction,” Sally explains. “He is extremelysensitive to noise and texture, for example,which means he finds it difficult to function in asupermarket or restaurant so it was alwaysdifficult to take him shopping, or to go out for afamily meal as he had a very limited diet. Sincebeing at Baston House, he has learned to try,and enjoy, a much wider range of foods and heis a great deal more confident around peopleoutside his immediate family. The change hasbeen dramatic.”

A major impact on learningSally believes that it is the approach of BastonHouse which has effected this change in herson. With a complete understanding of eachchild’s individual needs, the teaching and othertrained staff members are able to tailor thecurriculum to every student. “Harry needsspeech and language therapy, occupationaltherapy and the availability of a psychologist, allof whom are always on-site and provide regular

POSITIVE ABOUT AUTISM

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Wear it for Autism 2014proved to be a great successfor the second year, as thesell-out event saw 200 plusguests and celebrities fill thevenue at the MillenniumHotel Knightsbridge to raiseawareness of autism. Founded by Anna Kennedy OBE of autismcharity Anna Kennedy Online – Wear it forAutism provided the opportunity to highlightthe difficulties faced by people on the spectrumand their families, and to celebrate the amazingachievement of inspirational mums, dads,children, grandparents and carers, who eitherhave autism themselves or care for those livingwith the condition.

Anna Kennedy OBE says, “The idea behindWear It For Autism was to spoil those whousually never get a chance to treat – or eventhink – of themselves. Living with autism can bechallenging and extremely demanding, so wewanted to create a special event that would befun for all involved’

During a vigorous and emotional process earlieron in the year, judges Steven Smith, AngelSinclair, Dr Pam Spurr, Maggie Paterson,Sam Tomlin and Fiona Shepherd wentthrough the heart wrenching process of choosingwinners from many worthy nominations to takecentre stage at the event.

The winning line up Ann Wright, SharonKing, Maimuna Mutaasa, Lisa Embery-Donaghy, Craig Binns, Lee Cook, SandraTrotter, Demi Stamp, Emma Bell, Anneand Steven Rann, Dani Bowman andSophie Jayne Garner, were pampered byprofessional make-up artists and styled byCelebrity Stylist Lewis-Duncan Weedon,before joining celebrity hosts and Models ofDiversity to strut their stuff on the catwalk.

The winners – all of whom are affected byautism, were greeted on the catwalk bynumerous celebrities including Amy Willerton,George Gilby, Mitch Winehouse, ArlenePhillips, Keith Mason, Dr Pam Spurr,Steven King and Nicola Duffet – which initself was a highlight of the evening.

During the show, the audience which includedcelebrity guests Lydia Lucy and Olivia Cox,enjoyed performances from PineapplePerforming Arts, Jess and the Bandits,X Factor and Autism’s Got Talent star ScottJames and the adorable Ryan Wiggins, whodidn’t leave a dry eye in the house.

Another major highlight was the announcementof author Steven Smith as the new patron ofAnna Kennedy Online.

Steven Smith commented, “Having been ajudge for ‘Wear if for Autism’ Iunderstand the often horrific bullying insociety of young people with Autism andthe discrimination they face in life. Iwanted to make a difference. Meeting thetruly remarkable Anna Kennedy OBEinspired me to come on board. I hope tobring my skills to the table and help makea difference.”

Wear it for Autism is a Smash Hit!!!

Delighted with Steven Smith’s support Annacommented, “I asked Steven Smith tobecome the new patron of the charity,because of his ongoing and extensivesupport of the charity and Wear it forAutism. He has been on board from startto finish, and has participated in severalevents to raise money and awareness forboth the charity and for autism. He hasbecome a fantastic ambassador and aclose friend. He was very excited when Iasked him to fill the role, and I wasthrilled when he agreed. I couldn’t wait toannounce the news at Wear it forAutism.”

Thanks to the masses of support received fromModels of Diversity, My A Dress Book,Bon Prix, Miglio Jewellery, Living Autism,Pineapple Performing Arts plus the donationof items to the winners and the event, Wear itfor Autism 2014 charity fashion event was theepitome of glitz and glamour.

Anna commented ‘’I would like to say ahuge thank you to everyone involved,who helped make the second Wear it forAutism the best yet!’’

Photos: © So Shoot Me Photography & Avalanche Studio

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In December 2013, studentsfrom West London CommunityCollege performed the worldpremiere of their original playabout autism; in August 2014they took ‘The Trip’ to themasses to perform at thebiggest performing arts festivalin the world – Edinburgh FringeFestival.

I’m proud to say I was fully backed by Hillcrestand my managers.

We opened online money giving pages, soldcakes and lunches in the college.

Armed with a mini bus full of set, costume and,of course, enthusiastic actors, we headed toEdinburgh full of anticipation; it didn’tdisappoint.

From start to finish, the experience was trulyamazing. The play was extremely well receivedand the actors themselves fell in love with thisancient city.

The Trip by Jamie FosterWe enjoyed as much as we could of whatEdinburgh had to offer; from seeing other showsto the museums to the nightlife.

The highlight has to be seeing this extraordinarygroup of individuals work so tirelessly as a teamto pull each other through our time there. They

Anna Kennedy OBE and staff atHillingdon Manor School had agreat deal to be proud of at therecent celebration of the school’sfifteenth year.

The special event included pupils and teachers,who were joined parents and special guests SirJohn Randell, MP for Uxbridge and WaterlooRoad Star Richard Mylan – who was met withvery excited members of staff and pupils, manyof whom are fans of the show.

Hillingdon Manor School Celebrates 15th YearGuests enjoyed a star performance by Dancewith Attitude – Hillingdon’s street dance group,and pupils helped Anna to cut a Birthday Caketo mark the special occasion. The highlight ofthe celebrations was when pupils in their finalyear, gave heartfelt and emotional speeches onwhat the school had meant to them.

autistic children, after her two autistic sons wereturned away from mainstream education.

Hillingdon Manor School first opened its doorsto 19 pupils in September 1999 as a specialistprimary school for children with an autisticspectrum condition. Today, the school is locatedover three sites and is the largest school forchildren with autism in the UK & Europe –offering a brighter future to students through aunique mix of education and support to pupilsacross the spectrum.

www.hillingdonmanorschool.org.uk

Shomari Nassor described his experience atHillingdon Manor School, “I am very different tohow I was when I started at Hillingdon Manor in2007. This may just be an old building andschool that needs tender loving care, but itscosy, its home and a great place to learn.”

The school was founded by autism campaignerAnna Kennedy OBE, who re-mortgaged herown house so she could set up a school for

lived together, laughed together, even criedtogether, but came out the other side asstronger, more confident human beings.

I’m incredibly proud of what we achieved upthere. Our aim was to educate the audiencesabout the complex condition that is autism. Wedid that every time we stopped someone andasked them to take a flyer.

www.autismconsultants.org

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If you have a relative, child orfriend who is on the spectrum andhas a great talent that they couldshare with others then why notget in touch with us? Maybe youyourself are on the spectrum andhave a hankering to take to thestage.

All that we ask people to do whoare interested in enteringthemselves or someone they knowfor Autism’s Got Talent is tosend us a little Vid/Youtube clip ofthat person performing so that wecan see them when making ourdecision.

The decision process is VERYdifficult for us as we like to makethe show as diverse as possible. Ifyou are not lucky enough to bechosen please do not take it as anegative. Chances are it will justmean we had too many peopledoing the same thing or from thesame area. Believe me we wouldLOVE to have EVERYONE but theshow would end up being a weeklong!

As a final note please doremember that Autism’s GotTalent is NOT a competition butrather a CELEBRATION of justhow talented those on the AutisticSpectrum really can be.

It’s that time again…Show us your TALENT!!!!!

The date is set and the Theatre booked. So, itwould seem that everything is in place. Actuallythat is not strictly true! What we are missing atthis time is the most important part of all . . . theSTARS of the show!

Please send all Vids/Youtube clipsto lisa.robins@thevines.org.uk orAustin@annakennedyonline.com.Entries will be accepted up untilDecember 31st. The decisionprocess will take place in January2015.

Get practicing and GET THOSEENTRIES IN!! GOOD LUCKEVERYONE!

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Each year we look for a diversemix of talents from across thespectrum and the country. It is notall about singing and dancing, soif you think you can play aninstrument and WOW people,perform magic and make Austindisappear or even present a talkon something you have achieved,as the lovely Jo Redman did thisyear on her Kick-Boxing – thenplease DO get in touch with us.Don’t presume we won’t beinterested in what you do!

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Baston House School • BromleySpecialist independent day facility for children diagnosed with autism aged between 5 & 16 years

l A centre of excellence in education and development.l Local Authority referrals welcomel Admissions now being taken for Primary and Secondary

School

The following open morning is planned for parents andcarers wishing to find out more about Baston House School

Thursday 5th March 2015 (Starting at 10am)

For admissions and information about upcoming eventscall 020 8462 1010 or visit

www.bastonhouseschool.org.uk

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

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 mornings are planned for parents and carers wishingto find out more about Hillingdon Manor school:

Yiewsley Grange (Lower School)Monday 1st December 2014 • Wednesday 25th March 2015(all starting at 10.30am)Tel: 01895 420315 for further information

The Manor (Upper School)Thursday 11th December 2014 • Thursday 12th February 2015(all starting at 11am)Tel: 01895 813679 for further information

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

For more information about admissions, open days and events, visitwww.hillingdonmanorschool.org.uk or contact the Head Teacher,Akinyi Dulo on 01895 813679

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