Rascals Of London 6

Rascals of London l September 2012 - 1

2 - September 2012 l Rascals of London


Advertising - Rascals of London

© Mind Candy Ltd. Moshi Monsters is a trademark of Mind Candy Ltd. All rights reserved.


With many thanks to our contributors:Isabelle from DreamMakers, Natasha Wiening Photography, Gambado, Diddi Dance, Future blood group, Moshi Monsters

Maria from Eddie Catz, Prima and Karen from Beanies, Huggle, Annabel Karmel, Sarah Rose, La Chouette School &

all our advertisers.

Advertising with us:Email: [email protected]

Tel: 07514 852 648Web: www.rascalsoflondon.co.uk

No part of this magazine, including the advertisements within it may be reproduced, without the express permission of the editor. The

publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions.

The opinions expressed within Rascals of London magazine are not necessarily the views of the publishers, but those of individual writers.

Rascals of London is printed by Warners Midlands PLC

Quick Numbers

London travel: 0843 222 1234

London Underground: 0845 330 9880

London Buses: 0845 300 7000

Barclays cycle hire: 0845 026 3630

Oyster customer services: 0845 330 9876

Congestion charges: 0845 900 1234

Boots Pharmacy Piccadilly: 0207 346 126

The Portland Hospital Woman and Children:Children 0207 390 6504Maternity 0207 390 8274

NHS Direct: 0845 4647

Child benefit: 0845 302 1444

Tax credits: 0845 300 3900

Job centre: 0800 055 6688

Natasha HewettEditor-in-chief

Rebecca HardingAssistant Editor

Lucy PailingCopywriter

Gavin BridleArt Direction


Sept

30

Giving your Child the Best Start in LifeWhat is the ideal age for my child to start learning a second language?

Heart & Sole Collection Three celebrity mummies have designed a limited edition range of unique shoes and boots for us

Perfect Summer StyleCheck out this stylish range of swim wear

On the Go Let Huggle help you choose your perfect pushchair

What´s On Our guide to keeping the whole family entertained

Cord Blood Collection A frozen asset for your baby and your family

Wishing on a FamilyDr Goldstein explores the powerful emotion of family

Christmas Wish ListBeat the rush, get ready for Christmas early

Editors Top 20 Children´s BooksNatasha takes you through her most enchanting favourites

Get in the Groove for Gun PowderFind out where there is a firework display near you

20

22

24

28

34

40

42

46

52

63

All the rest

7

15

7

What’s inside

Top 10 London ShowsOur recommended must see shows on in the city right now

Fussy EatersHow do I stop throwing yet another meal in the bin?

Cool Kids go Back 2 SchoolHow to dress em, prep em and more

Learning to ReadHow do we help our little ones read in the midst of a busy life?

The best bits7

14

30

474714

7

Halloween Spookfest!

Cute CostumesGhoulish GamesSpooky Annabel Karmel Recipes

55

FREE

MEMBERSHIP 24-hour

Inside


Thank you to all of you who have shared with us the cute and funny things that your children say, we had so many to choose from so needless to say it was difficult picking a select few. Check them out on page 62.

From the Editor

Hellohat a great few months London has had, first we had the Queens Jubilee and then the Olympics. London has been buzzing and now we are left feeling rather patriotic and inspired. Maybe now is the

time to take up a sport and finally shift those pounds we promised to shift at the beginning of the year!

My 7 year old has told me he is going to be an Olympian so that’s nice, the only thing is he is not quite sure what event would suit him the most, I am trying to talk him out of Shooting, Archery, and Fencing as I can see a common theme appearing! Running seems like a nice safe sport if you ask me!

I have also told him if he doesn’t start eating properly he will never grow taller than 4 foot, which is clearly a lie but as parents we will try anything to make sure our children are as healthy as possible. Maybe the answer lies on page 14 as we have a great article from the Bespoke Nanny, Kathryn Mewes on fussy eating, and how to avoid throwing yet another meal in the bin.

In this edition we also have some delicious Halloween recipes from the one and only Annabel Karmel (page 59), a great feature on getting your kids back to schoolthe easy way on page 30, and if you fancy really treating the whole family to an evening out we have our current Top 10 London Shows on the following page.

Make sure you are careful on Fireworks night, and make sure your little ones know how to Trick n Treat safely, and ´YES´ do start picking up a gift here and there to make Christmas that little bit more affordable and most of all, less stressful!

For now I’m off for a glass of wine and to find out what all the fuss is about with this ´Mr Grey´.

See you in November, don’t forget to check us out on Facebook and Twitter to keep up to date with all the latest London gossip.

Happy reading,

Natasha Hewett, Editor-in-chief

Natasha

W

Many thanks to Toby and Emma from Chelsea for being the Stars of our Autumn edition and to Natasha Wiening Photography for taking such fantastic shots.

Cute ConversationInsidethis

issue


The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

Open the door and enter a spectacular new world with Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy as they journey through the magical land of Narnia. Adored by all ages this major new production of the classic story has been created by an award-winning team. It combines live theatre with Threesixty’s ground-breaking surround video and enchanting puppetry performed in a state-of-the art theatre tent.

Where: The threesixty theatre, Kensington Gardens. When: Until 9th SeptemberWeb: www.lionwitchtheshow.com

The Wind in the Willows

When Mole abandons spring cleaning for the delights of the riverbank, he has no idea of the adventures that lie ahead. With Toad’s obsession for all things fast causing chaos (poop, poop!), it falls upon his friends Ratty, Mole and wise old Badger to save him. But that means coming face-to-face with the ferrets and weasels of the Wild Wood...For ages: 5 – 11 years.After-show Talk: 1st Dec - 2.30pm.Sign Language Performance: 8th Dec - 2.30pm. Autism Friendly Performance: 5th Jan 5.30pm.

Where: Polka Theatre, The Broadway, Wimbledon. When: 23rd November - 16th February 2013. Web: www.polkatheatre.com

Too Many Penguins? How many penguins are too many penguins? Polar bear thinks one is more than enough, thank you very much! But Penguina has other ideas... she wants someone to play with. Just one friend... well, maybe two... or three... Squeeze into this fun theatrical experience and find out just how many penguins we can get into one space. It might get crowded but we promise that the arrival of the penguins will entertain and delight!

For ages: 1 - 4 years Where: Polka Theatre, The Broadway, Wimbledon. When: 17th October - 16th February 2013 Web: www.polkatheatre.com

Top


Sticks & Stones

August 2011, riots are spreading. It’s summer, it’s hot and the entire country is holding its breath...As events fly out of control, a group of friends are caught in the middle. Shaken by what they see and do, their friendship is tested like never before. What will happen when life returns to normal? And what are people saying about the ‘youth of today’? Inspired and shaped by interviews with hundreds of children across the country, this explosive and thought-provoking new play invites young people to discuss what they thought about last summer’s riots. For ages: 9 -13

Where: Polka Theatre, The Broadway, Wimbledon.When: Tuesday - Saturday, 29th September - 27th October.Web: www.polkatheatre.com

Ice Age Live

Ice Age Live! A Mammoth Adventure will transport audiences on an awe-inspiring journey with an all new story that includes fun filled, beloved moments from the first three Ice Age films. This unique show brings your favorite characters to life as never before through innovative and unique ways! You’ll also meet new characters on this one of a kind Ice Age Live Adventure! Filled with fun, laughter, on the edge of your seat dramatic moments and of course the humor you have come to love!

Where: Wembley Arena. When: 1st November - 3rd November.Web: www.iceagelive.com

Shrek The MusicalFeaturing all new songs as well as cult Shrek anthem I’m a Believer, SHREK THE MUSICAL brings the well loved characters to life, in a hilarious and spectacular production based on the story and characters from the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film. The world of fairytales is turned upside down in an all singing, all dancing, irresistible mix of adventure, laughter and romance.

Where: Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.When: On going. Web: www.shrekthemusical.com

The Wizard Of Oz The Wizard of Oz tells the bewitching tale of a girl named Dorothy from Kansas, who, along with her pet dog Toto, finds herself in a distant and magical land after a powerful tornado strikes her family’s farm house and whips her away to Oz. Meeting friends along the way such as the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, Dorothy journeys down the yellow brick road in search of the Wizard in the hope of finding her way back home to Kansas.

Where: London Palladium, Argyll Street, Soho. When: On going. Web: www.londonpalladium.org


Matilda The MusicalRoald Dahl’s much-loved story bursts into life on stage in this brand new musical version by Dennis Kelly and award-winning musician and comedian Tim Minchin. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination.

Where: Cambridge Theatre, Earlham Street.When: On goingWeb: www.matildathemusical.com

The Tiger Who Came To TeaThe doorbell rings just as Sophie and her mummy are sitting down to tea. Who could it possibly be? What they certainly don’t expect to see at the door is a big, stripy tiger!The tea-guzzling tiger is back in the WEST END in this delightful family show; packed with oodles of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos! A stunning stage adaptation of this classic tale of teatime mayhem, expect to be surprised!

Where: Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue.When: Until 2nd September.Web: www.londontheatredirect.com

The Lion KingWith a cast of over 40 actors, singers and dancers, the story of The Lion King

is miraculously brought to life in London’s West End using masks, puppets and striking costumes to tell the story of young Simba’s epic adventures as he

struggles to accept the responsibilities of adulthood and becoming king.

Where: Lyceum Theatre, Wellington Street.When: On going

Web: www.atgtickets.com




For more information call Amanda and her team on 01895 623999, email info@ amandasactionclub.co.uk

or visit www.amandasactionclub.co.uk

Baby and toddler sensory extravaganza classes and birthday parties in London.



SuperBounceInflatable fun and

party gamesWith a friendly host!

upgrade to a theme party from £200

Wrecking ball

disco dome

sumo Wrestling

soft play World

Choose from:

from £450!

Call Charlotte to book 020 8542 1480

Be sure to mention Rascals Of London when contacting any of our advertisers



Dove Studios is an oasis of creativity which offers a safe and nurturing space for children to develop their creativity and skills. We provide scope for artistic continuity and growth on a short, mid and long term basis. Dove Studios is a fun learning environment to complement school.The facilitators alternate classes to share their knowledge and expertise. Dove Studios is based in the heart of Chelsea near to the capitals most wonderful museums including the magnificent V&A.

Dovehouse Street London SW3 6JZContact Cornelia on 0777 568 2094 email: [email protected]

Discover Art at Dove-Studios.com


Hobbledown is a unique farm park adventure based ona book by A J Kecojevic and illustrated by Lyn Stone.At its heart it is a story about adventure and mischief. The story is the basis on which the park and everything in it has beenbuilt. Nothing escapes the Hobblers’ quirky touch, from tables and benches to the houses the farm animals actually live in.

In amongst it all are the most unusual and exciting play areas you are likely to have seen. “A place full of curious things made ofwood”, is one way to describe it, but that just wouldn't be doing it justice! We make no apology for the fact that you will just have

to come and see it for yourselves and make your own mind up!

The Hobbledown Barn is for days when the weather is not quite so nice. It’s also a great place to enjoy our freshly prepared,healthy food or to spend a couple of hours playing in one of the two themed play frames - one soft and one wooden - and take on

the indoor maze with its hidden treasure hunt.In the courtyard is theHobblings Play Village. There are mazes and role-play areas as well as an Interactive Sand Play Zone.

The Mining Village is the one of the main reasons the Hobblers came to Hobbledown - to search out the Crystallite stoneswithin caves in Hobbledown. Maybe you could help them? Like any mining area there are tunnels to explore, mazes to navigate

and work to be done.Here you can help the Hobblers by turning the capstan to drive the water to help you find the magical stones. Watch out though,

some cheeky Hobbler has mixed up some of the water spouts and you may end up getting wet!

Carry on towardsHobbledown Village and you will be able to explore the houses and towers in our largest area. Here you canexplore the tunnels under the Village, test your skills on the Low Ropes Adventure or even brave the Aerial Walkways that link

the towers that our friends the Hobblers call home.

For the bigger Hobblers who have mastered the Low Ropes Adventure there is the Aerial Adventure Course that will challengethe bravest of you.

Hold on -What’s that noise? Sounds like Rumpletump’s awakeand I can see Professor Topperpot coming over the hill...

Hobbledown, Horton Park Childrens Farm, Horton Lane, Horton, KT19 8PTT: 0843 289 4979 E: [email protected]

For up-to-date images and information, have a peek at the website -www.hobbledown.com

www.facebook.com/hobbledownuk www.twitter.com/hobbledown

Through anold wooden doorthe Hobblers discoveredA place more magicalthan any other

An enchanted world fullof excitement and play

Where Huck, Tipp and Elizacould spend their days…

NowOPEN!

9990_A4 Feature-RASCALS:Layout 1 2/8/12 15:08 Page 1


is the reply and the plate is pushed to the middle of the table, which is a blessing compared to yesterdays Sheppard’s pie which decorated the kitchen floor!

In despair and with a fear of him going to bed hungry you give him what he wants.......the jam sandwich!

Does this little tale ring an element of truth in your home, if so; do not think that you are alone. All children between 1 - 5 years old will challenge their parents at some stage at the meal table. This is a natural part of child development. It cannot be avoided. It needs to be managed accordingly.

Kathryn Mewes, Bespoke Nanny, enters family homes every week and helps them with a variety of challenges they are having with their children.

One element of her work revolves around meal times and in just 3 days she has made fundamental changes.

A fresh face with a positive attitude can break the habits you have found yourself in and give you the strength and guidance to believe in your child again. They will eat a variety of foods.

Small steps and a calm and positive attitude and soon the meal table will be the hub of family life.

A third of parents in England worry that their children are not getting enough to eat or eating the right foods.

Let me set the scene...

Once again you have prepared a lovely meal for your darling little one and you have placed it in front of him with your other hand behind your back with your fingers tightly crossed in the hope that he will devour the entire lot... the green vegetables first!

“Yuk”



‘Nobody likes to feel they are being watched or pressured into eating.’

You are not alone if meal times have become that part of the day you dread.

Stop the meal table being a battle ground! It is a fact that if you make a change in a child’s routine and continue for 3 consecutive days you will see a strong change in their behaviour ... So what have you got to lose?

In her book ‘The 3 Day Nanny’ Kathryn Mewes talks about believing in your child. The moment your child senses that you have labelled them ‘The Fussy Eater’ or ‘The nightmare at the table’ this is what they become. When your child senses that you have no belief in them, they then have no belief in themselves.

This does not mean that you cannot make a change. You can start straight away. Dedicate 3 consecutive days to making a change at meal times and continue with positive energy and you will see life unfold at the meal table.

First things first

Look at the foods your child eats and try to abbreviate on these.For example:If he is eating chicken nuggets now is the time to start to bread different things such as turkey, beef or fish. If he enjoys chips then introduce home-made potato wedges or roast potatoes.If pasta is eaten now start to add a tomato based sauce with hidden vegetables.

Do not read this and say under your breath - “That won’t work!” Remember the key factor -believe in your child.

Sit and create a weekly meal plan with your child’s likes in mind and see if you can follow it without giving in and succumbing to what their ‘good old favourite is’.

It is a fact that a child needs to see a meal presented to him at least 6 times before he is even likely to try it. Most parents will introduce a meal 2 to 3 times and

then make the decision that their child does not like it. The fact of the matter is that it has not been presented to them enough times.

Many parents will say to Kathryn how they hate to see food wasted. She suggests that you cook the meal with the child the first time you make it and ‘batch cook’. This way the food is placed in the freezer and will be presented in the the following weeks. In fact it is 6 weeks until the food becomes familiar to a child.

Involvement

Children love to feel involved in a ‘grown-up’ activity. They love the sense of ‘helping’. Kathryn suggests cooking with your child. She cooks with children as young as 18 months of age.

Don’t underestimate what your child is capable of.

An 18 month old can chop raw mushrooms and

courgettes with a blunt knife, 2 year olds can mix a marine for the stir fry chicken, 3 year olds can roll out pastry for the quiche, 4 year olds can turn on the gas and cook a bolognaise from start to finish!

The moment a child takes ownership for helping to prepare the meal, they take interest in eating it as well.

A child can get lost in the moment when cooking and if you turn a blind eye they will often put something in their mouth without thinking! ‘Hey Presto - a new flavour!’

Eating together

Kathryn tells a true story which helps put into perspective the importance of eating together.

Recently she went out to meet with friends at 2pm in the afternoon. There had been a mis-communication and when she arrived everyone had eaten at home earlier and were all drinking coffee. Kathryn was starving so ordered herself a meal. She was the only one at the table eating.Even though she was with close friends she felt conscious of being watched, she couldn’t decide as to whether she ate quickly to remove the evidence of being the only one eating, or whether to pick at it in a discreet fashion.


The point here is: ‘Nobody likes to feel they are being watched or pressured into eating.’

Kathryn advises that you sit with your child and eat what they are eating. “You will not become the size of a house by eating a little dinner with your child at 5pm and then a main meal with your partner/ husband. Look at it as a starter and then your main meal!”

Posture at the table

When sitting at the table we tend to have our tummy button not too far from the surface of the table. This needs to be the same for your child. They need to be looking down on their food.You do not want a situation where your child has demanded that they sit on ‘an adult chair’ and their nose is level with their plate. This position will not encourage eating. Kathryn recommends the Trip Trap chair. ‘A chair that grows as your child does!’

Your child will immediately feel your anxiety and then take control, demanding a different meal and pushing this one aside.The key is to not feel anxious.It is only the meal table and if your child chooses not to eat,they will simply be hungry for the next meal!

• Sit at the table and focus on your meal.• Place your child’s plate a reach away from them. Do not place it directly under their nose.

• Do not make eye contact with them.• Do not start to ‘coach’ them into eating. They know what they have to do.• NO PRESSURE.• Eat your meal slowly so that you are not sitting with an empty plate before they have even started.• Ignore them totally if they start to experiment with their food. They need to touch it and become familiar with it.• Do not enforce strict table manners with a fussy eater.• Talk about topics other than food. Eg: Talk about your last holiday or the morning’s music class you went to.• Do not ask your child too many questions at the table. This will take their attention away from eating.• The more people you can have at the table the better. This allows your child to relax and feel that not all of the pressure is on them to perform.• When they do eat, do not make a huge fuss. Praise them but do not push them to eat more.

Keeping your Cool

• The idea is that you have a meal plan on your fridge and you have made your child aware of what the next meal is going to be so that it comes as no surprise.• The next step is to involve your child with cooking the meal.• Thirdly the idea is to sit at the table with your child / children.• Now comes the challenge. It is at this stage that you will often feel your stress levels increase and you will become anxious that your child will not eat.

You are a great parent – Not an ‘Eating Coach!’ No child wants to hear ‘Go on, you can do it, one more

mouth full!’


Annabel Karmel’s Superfoods for Babies and ChildrenAnnabel explains the inherent qualities of certain foods and how they will benefit your child whether they be foods to promote growth, enhance concentration or boost energy.

Annabel Karmel is the best-selling author of cookbooks for children and their families. Relied on by millions of parents, Annabel knows what children like to eat and how to make family meals as trouble-free as possible.

My Kitchen Table: 100 Family MealsIn this collection, Annabel has chosen 100 recipes that will suit kids and grown-ups alike.

Weaning50 delicious, nutritious puree recipes and 3 menu planners will show you exactly what to feed your baby, and when.

You Can Cook Annabel Karmel teaches

children the skills they need for a lifetime of

excellent cooking.

Fear of your child being hungry

Kathryn hears this all of the time and she will often say that this is a common thought that causes a lot of parents concern. The fact is ‘we want your child to be hungry’. This is the time when they are most likely to eat. Children will generally only eat when they are hungry.

If breakfast has not been eaten, see this as a positive, they will be hungry for lunch. If lunch is not eaten, they will be hungry for dinner. If dinner is not eaten you can offer a small amount of fruit and small yoghurt or a cup of milk. This will line your child’s stomach and prevent them from waking in the night hungry.

“I have been helping and guiding parents with their children for nearly 20 years. They have NEVER woken hungry. They may say this to see your reaction but they are not generally hungry.” States Kathryn.

If your child hears you saying at the end of a meal “You will be hungry in the night”.They will believe you and when they come into a light sleep this is what they will tell you!

Snacks in between meal-times

Parents will tend to give their children snacks in between meals if they have not eaten well at the previous meal.

The main point Kathryn suggests is that:

• A snack is small. It does not replace a meal.• A snack is fruit or protein, try to avoid carbohydrate. Eg: A rice cake with cheese and half an apple is far better than a jam sandwich.

• Do not give snacks 2 hours before a meal. If dinner is at 5pm snacks should stop at 3pm.

Helpful hints towards a happy meal time

• Be realistic with your expectations. A meal needs to be seen at least 6 times before a child attempts to try it.• Have your child sitting in a good position at the table. Tummy button close to the surface of the table.• Eat with your child. Eat the same food.• Do not overly focus on what your child is doing at the table. Eat your food slowly and do not keep looking at them. This is pressure they do not need.• Do not use the TV as a distraction. The radio can be on to prevent silence.• The more people at the meal table the better. Invite friends for a meal.• NEVER tell your child to ‘Eat Up’.• Do not always give an alternative food. Your child will see this as the routine. “I don’t eat the first thing she gives me but something always comes afterwards!”• Do not be nervous that they will be hungry. If you are not eating you can get down. “I am sure you will be hungry later when we have our dinner.”• Keep calm. Your anxiety will spill into your child. Relax so that they can do the same.

It is far from easy when you have found yourself in a downward spiral at the meal table but I am sure that if you took on board some of the suggestions above, and continued for 3 consecutive days you would see a change.The steps are slow with meal times but you will get there.

The easy option in life is never the right one.The challenge holds the reward.

For more information or to follow Kathryn Mewes’ 3 Day Plan to solve Fussy Eating buy her book The 3 Day Nanny from Amazon for £10. If you wish to learn more about Kathryn’s service go to her website www.bespokenanny.com where you can contact her direct.


Prince Lionheart BebePOD Plus

This cleverly designed Prince Lionheart bebePOD Plus is soft and squishy for ultimate comfort, yet

ergonomically designed to provide excellent support without the need for straps

Price: £40.00

Zoli On-The-Go Formula & Snack DispenserMade with 100% non-toxic materials and an eco-friendly manufacturing process. Comes with an easy-pour spout and 4 separate containers. Plus the clever stacking system lets you take just what you need.

Price: £12.00

OXO 4 Piece Feeding SetThis 4 Piece Feeding Set contains a training plate with non-slip bottom, a high-sided bowl with snap-shut lid and a fork & spoon with soft-grip handles.

Price: £18.00

Beaba Bib ExpressoThe Beaba Bib Expresso is the fast, safe and convenient way to prepare all your baby’s bottles. It makes a bottle in just 30 seconds, and the direct water control makes sure the milk is always prepared to the right temperature.

Price: £75.00

Contigo Kids No Spill CupContigo Kids Cups are spill-proof and leak-proof because your kids aren’t. The cleverly designed Autoseal lid seals the cup between sips.

Price: £16.00

Boon GrassThis cleverly designed Grass Drying Rack lets you drain and dry all your bottles and teats and other accessories. The flexible plastic blades keep everything free from standing water.

Price: £18.00

OXO Sprout Highchair

So convenient, the seat, footrest and tray can be adjusted independently of each other ... with no tools! The seat, back and cushions are contoured for comfort and promote “sitting up straight.”

Price: £200.00

Bloom Fresco Special Edition

Chrome Baby Chair

Contemporary chic meets practical

design in the new redesigned Bloom

Special Edition Fresco Mercury Chrome Highchair.

Adding a hole free unit for improved cleanability

and a new click on/click off booster for newborn and early age flexibility.

Price: £470.00

ORE Lunch Sack The ideal choice to carry food, drinks or snacks. Featuring full insulation, a hook-and-loop closure, interior card for ID information and a convenient handle strap.

Price: £14.00

madeeasy

www.huggle.co.uk

Weaning50 delicious, nutritious puree recipes and 3 menu planners will show you exactly what to feed your baby, and when.


everal articles in science and research magazines have described the amazing brain power that children are naturally born with.

You have probably seen television programmes describing how brain cells work. They show the way children experience life (by seeing, listening, touching, smelling... sensorial) can make 100 billion brain cells hook up with each other!! (not bad for such little ones...)

The more sensory input (such as the unique sounds of a language), the more brain cells connect to each other and the faster the brain is capable of learning.

There is scientific evidence that children who are exposed to a second language from an early age not only achieve much better results in languages, but also in maths, science and music, and in general helps build brain power and cognitive skills.

Any toddler can easily learn that “cow” and “vaca” have the same meaning, and that one is English and the other Spanish. But that understanding will trigger the essential abstract thinking skills that are the basic tools for further learning.

The American Academy of Pediatrics stated that “there is abundant evidence that the best time to learn new languages is relatively early in life.”

Mr Harry Chugani of Wayne State University’s Children’s Hospital of Michigan quotes “the

optimum window of opportunity for learning languages lasts until about the age of ten or twelve, yet most US districts wait until secondary school, after the windows are closed.” In the UK - and in many other countries - the teaching of a second language has also been delayed until secondary school.

This is now proven to be detrimental as learning a language becomes increasingly difficult. A young child is able to hear the “puresounds” of a language, but just before becoming a teen, that ability will be gone. He or she might still be able to learn a second language but will definitely have an English accent (that’s if he/she is English, of course...!!) Here are some quotes from different field experts, to illustrate the facts:

“Research suggests that learning a second language at an early age can enrich mental

development.” (Business Week, Edward Baig, Bringing Up Baby - Bilingually.)

“Children who receive even small amounts of second-language instruction are more creative and are better at solving complex problems.”(SmartKid online)

“The learning of languages other than one’s own provides a unique conduit to higher-order thinking skills.”(Annals of the American Academy of Political & Social Science, C.Brown.)

“A study of 13,200 primary school children was revealing. Regardless of race, gender or academic level, children taking a foreign language did better in the English section of the Basic Skills Test. Maths scores of children studying a second language improve, too.” (Child, Lynne S.Dumas, Learning a second language.)

It is very satisfying to see little children naming animals and daily objects, or counting and singing in Spanish, knowing that this will help them in their studies for the rest of their lives.

The benefits of learning a second language are countless; just make sure that your child has fun whilst learning!

S

A very common question amongst parents is “What is the ideal age for my child to start learning a second language? The answer is easy... the earlier the better!!

Regardless of race, gender or academic level, children taking a foreign language did better in the English section of the Basic Skills Test. Maths scores of children studying a second language improve, too.

Giving your children the start in life

bestBy Les Petis Lapins



New Independent Pre-Prep Bilingual School !

la

chouette school

pre-prep bilingual schoo

l

Bilingual Education through Immersion(50% taught in French)

An Education that focuses on developingeach child's well-being

Environmental Awareness

Combined French National and Early Years Curriculums

Children aged 2 to 6 years old - Small class sizes - Extra Curricular Activities - Before&After School Care Facilities - School Meals

www.lachouetteschool.co.uk Tel: (+44) (0) 7557 029255 [email protected]

17 The Mall, London W5 2PJ

By Les Petis Lapins


Heart & Sole CollectionStep2wo for the British Heart Foundation

Designed by Charlotte Church,Rachel Stevens & Jasmine Guinness

Step2wo, the British designer children’s footwear label, is supporting the British

Heart Foundation’s (BHF) Mending Broken Hearts Appeal.

www.step2wo.com


Three very glamorous and stylish celebrity mummies have designed a limited edition range of unique and eye-catching shoes and boots for us.All of the profits of the sales from the collection will be donated to the British Heart Foundation to help mend broken hearts.

I hope my shoes can offer the first steps towards

helping keep families dealing with heart disease -

I´m ready for the race

“”


We all study the magazine feature which claims you only need a pair of sandals, a wrap which moonlights as a chic dress and a pair of gold hoop earrings to look like a holiday goddess. Yet few of us possess the ability to really make this minimal approach to packing work.

As every mother knows as soon as you give birth to a pink one this anxiety heightens. Now I appreciate there are varying degrees of this sin ranging from sleepless nights through to a far more blasé approach but I still deny any woman who claims not to suffer with the desire for your brood to look great at least a little bit.

With a relatively slim choice of children’s swimwear on the high street, further reduced when you remove the cartoon

character fashion (apologies to mums whose daughters have reached an age where you can no longer say ‘no’ to these kinds of choices... we feel for you!) it is not an easy task. Well that is until now...

Set up by mother of 3 girls, Kelly Haswell, Tres Flores is an example of a modern brand where the people who couldn’t

find what they wanted... did it for themselves. The phenomenal success that is Jo Jo Maman Bebe was set up by a woman depressed at the thought of wearing dungarees during her pregnancy. Not only has this brand become a high street staple it also helped motivate a focus on maternity fashion and not just maternity ‘wear’.

Perfect Summer Style

Tres Flores is an example of amodern brand where the peoplewho couldn’t find what theywanted...did it for themselves.

There is only one thing to overshadow the excitement of a beach holiday (well one thing alongside the anxiety over wearing swimwear in public, the ‘mummy tummy’, whether you really should have gone for the ‘Aruba’ choice of fake tan and whether you will really lose the advertised 12 inches from that superwrap!) and that is... what to wear.

Little_Rascals_v4_Final.indd 1 30/07/2012 17:30


Tres Flores hopes to do the same. Following 2 years of painstaking research and development the brand is ready to go. Initially launching with a small range of girl’s swimwear Kelly believes that her design led range of products, which do not carry a premium price tag yet still do the job, will go down a storm.

Kelly said: “Tres Flores was an idea that had been brewing in my mind for a while. Childrenswear has changed dramatically over the last few years with a greater number of innovative and design led brands being launched. However, many of them are well kept secrets or on the expensive side. I wanted to create something which was a bit different but still affordable. A range which didn’t compromise quality and design for affordability but which brought those things together. So Tres Flores was born!”

Designed with an attention to detail usually only found with the premium brands the range showcases beautiful pastel hues adorned with bows and flowers perfect for little girls. The range even has matching hair accessories – sheer genius!

As well as being beautiful the swimwear has also been made with high quality fabrics and with little girls in mind so far from being too delicate or restrictive the swimwear can run, skip, splash and paddle with the most active of little’uns.

Initially being sold online and in a handful of outlets the range is available for girls aged between 6 months and 10 years. To order some of the lovely designs just in time for the summer holiday or trips to the beach or pool visit www.tresflores.co.uk

The launch range includes classic designs with a modern twist which will later be extended to include additional girls’ items as well as a boys’ range. So whether you have pink or blue ones you can still rock the beach or pool!

So the only thing left to worry about is...’what are you going to wear?’

S W I M W E A R

...don’t tell everyone!

tresflores.co.ukwww

Tres Flores is a new company producing a unique swimwear range for babies and young girls - classic designs with a modern twistWe use only the very best fabrics so our designs not only look amazing, but are also extremely comfortable for your active, sensitive little ones to wear.

Be the first to hear...

www.facebook.com/TresFloresStylewww.twitter.com/TresFloresStyle

Sign up today for the latest news and offers

Shhh...



Litzy CollectionThis simple, yet stylish swimsuit is a beautiful blend of green and pink pastel colours, perfect for all ages and with a large matching bow to the chest area it adds an extra twist to this classic swimsuit design!

Swimsuit - £29.99 Also available in a bikini and swimpants

Lavinie CollectionThis bikini is a beautiful classic floral design with a stunning large blue bow to the back of the bikini bottoms. Available from ages 1 year – 10 years.

Bikini - £24.99 Also available in a swimsuit and swimpants

Maribel CollectionThis pretty bikini is a gorgeous mix of green paisley patterns, complemented with the bright orange bow details to both sides of the bikini bottoms. With orange hair bows available to match, this is one pretty bikini your little girls will love to wear!

Bikini - £24.99

Mariposa CollectionSimply cute! These frilly swimpants are perfect for our little ones. They can be used to pull on over a swim nappy or to be worn alone.

Available in ages 1-2 years and 3-4 years (however, age 1-2 years fits a baby from 6 months wearing a swim nappy).

Also available in a bikini and swimsuit in polka dot pink and blue, in ages 1 year to 10 years.

Swimpants - £17.99

Bonita CollectionThis Limited Edition range is simply

stunning, with great attention to detail, each rose is handmade. This 2-piece is sure to be a head turner on the beach or around

the pool! Also available in pink.

Bikini - £35.99



Eldora CollectionThis unique and classic one-piece swimsuit is one of a kind with a vertical stripe waistband to compliment the horizontal stripe of the body. The added details of the large white bow only makes this swimsuit more desirable!

Swimsuit - £29.99 Also available in a bikini and swimpants

Lavinie CollectionA stunning floral swimsuit with large bow detail to the back. Matching hair

clips and hairbands are available to complete this outfit.

Swimsuit - £29.99 Hairclip/bands £3.99

Daisy HeadbandThis gorgeous daisy headband, is extremely versatile. The daisy is removable and can also be used as a hair clip or even a corsage!

Headband - £4.99

S W I M W E A R

tresflores.co.ukwww

www.facebook.com/TresFloresStyle

www.twitter.com/TresFloresStyleSign up today for the latest

news and offers




On the Go

Baby Jogger Performance The ultimate pushchair for active mums, this Baby Jogger Performance incorporates a one-piece aluminium frame for lightweight strength, 20’’ pneumatic tyres to reduce rolling resistance, and rear shock absorbers to ensure your little one enjoys the ride too.

Bugaboo Cameleon Base

The Bugaboo Cameleon Complete travel system isn’t just about the looks. It’s about

getting you and your baby out and about in style - wherever your mood takes you. Adjustable suspension for off-roading, small front wheels for precise steering,

and reversible handlebars to tackle bumps head on with the big wheels.

iCandy Peach Stroller- Sweet Pea

The peach baby stroller offers all the functionality you need, the ease with which this stroller folds - one simple smooth action allows the chassis to fold down, be picked up using the carrying strap and away you go, it really is that simple! All the

original iCandy options of forward and rearward facing give you the ultimate versatile stroller and you will really fall in love when you feel how easy it is

to manoeuvre... It’s quite simply a peach!

Baby Jogger City Mini DoubleWith padded reclining seats and front suspension, the chic Baby Jogger City Mini Double is about comfort as well as style. Less than 30’’ wide and with swivel front-wheels, it’s perfect for negotiating busy streets. And the easy-fold design means it’s super-simple to pack away for convenient storage or transport.

for parents & kidswww.huggle.co.uk


Everything you should need to choose your pushchair wisely.


On the Go

iCandy Peach Upper Carrycot

The peach offers all the functionality you need from compact one hand folding to being able to convert into a double mode of transport - this upgrade is done simply with the addition of a peach blossom converter. A great investment from the outset knowing you can grow your pushchair with your growing family!

UPPAbaby Cruz Pushchair

The ideal combination of function and style, the UPPAbaby CRUZ delivers

a compact stroller solution without compromising on the features of a full-size stroller. Grows with your

child from birth through the toddler years.

iCandy Cherry Carrycot

The iCandy cherry is Extra lightweight and versatile, the iCandy cherry is available in either liquorice or fudge colour options.

The flexibility of forward and rearward facing seat modes and the option to add

the iCandy cherry carrycot, or the Maxi-Cosi Cabrio infant carrier allows

you to create a contemporary and complete system.

Phil & Ted Vibe

With one-hand seat adjustment, adjustable

push-bar, one-touch brake and multi-position

sun hood, this Phil & Teds Vibe Inline Buggy rides as

well as it looks. Doubles kit attaches in line and folds away with buggy. With

strong, lightweight aluminium frame it’s

engineered for safety and comfort…

just as a buggy should be.

Stokke Xplory Complete The innovative Stokke Xplory has a unique elevated sitting position, bringing your child closer to you and letting them share your view of the world. Lightweight and easy to fold, this Complete set comes with rain covers, mosquito net, shopping bag and carrycot. All you’ll ever need for you and your baby to travel in style.



New friends, new teachers, new routines - making the transition from the lazy days of summer to the school year is chaotic for your kids and for you. Get back into the swing of things with fresh ideas from fellow mums who’ve been there, done that!

School uniform

Check school uniform requirements with your child’s school. You can get some real bargains on school uniforms in the summer holidays

thanks to supermarket price wars. Check your school’s uniform policy for exact requirements, but most children will need:

Blazer, jumper, shirts/blouses and tie,trousers/skirts, PE kit t-shirt / PE top, PE shorts / PE skirt, specific sports

wear, tracksuit, socks/tights, shoes and plimsolls/trainers, football/rugby/hockey boots, school bag

and PE bag, swimming shorts/trunks/suit, name tags.

Stationery and books

You can pick up school books cheaply online.School stationery can be picked up for just a few pounds on the high street. But don’t automatically head to a specialist stationer, bargains can be found elsewhere in supermarkets and independent discount shops.

For books, shop around online to find the cheapest retailers.

Common back to school essentials include:Pens, pencils, coloured pencils, sharpener

and eraser, felt tip pens and highlighters, pencil case, ruler, protractor,

compass, calculator/scientific calculator, notepad, Tippex/

correction fluid, English dictionary, language

dictionary (French, German etc.)

Back Cool Kids go

School2

Back To School EssentialsMost schools provide a shopping list of essential items your child will need during term time - ring your child’s school if you haven’t yet received one by mid-August. In the meantime we’ve compiled a list of back to school essentials to help you get started.

How to Dress em,

Prep em and more



Preparing For School

The new school year can be a stressful time for parents and children, especially for those approaching a change such as a new school or exams.

Children benefit from encouragement and reassurance from their parents about going back to school, and from having anxieties listened to and taken seriously. Parents also need to feel able to talk over their fears and worries so they can support their children.

Talk to your child about any worries they have about returning to school.

The following tips are for nervous parents and school children.

Start finding your routine again near the end of the holidays. Getting back to term-time bedtimes is a good place to start, then it won’t be such a shock when school starts again.‘Back to school blues’ are common at the end of the holidays, but if you feel your child seems unusually worried or apprehensive use a quiet time out to ask if they are OK.

Talk about change. Whether it’s a new school or a change in your family’s circumstances, make time to talk about any fears or worries. Why not visit the school to get your child used to the new journey?

Your child may be worried about losing friends who are going to a different secondary school or about making new friends. You could try inviting an old school friend round for tea at the end of the first week so they can compare notes.

Tell your child you’re proud of them. If your child is about to start an important year such as GCSEs or first year at secondary school, they may need a bit more reassurance.

Re-address any problems left over from last term. If your child has experienced bullying or has had problems at school, make sure you understand what they want to happen too - even if it means just talking about it.

Be prepared to give them a bit of leeway for the first week or so. School can be a long day for kids and when they’re out of practice, it can be exhausting.

Teachers’ top tips for starting the year 0ff right

KEEP IN TOUCH. Parent contact is the key to a child’s success, so keep the lines of communication open. “Let us know how to reach you,” says Natasha Johns, a fourth-grade teacher in Bedford. “Is e-mail best? Should we never call you at work? We need this info so we can be in touch.”

FILL THEM IN. It’s better for teachers to know too much about your child than not enough. “Tell us about medical issues and any matter that might affect mood or behavior, like the death of a pet,” says Joan Rice, a teacher in Islington.

GET INVOLVED (BUT NOT TOO INVOLVED). It’s helpful when you stay up-to-date on classroom notes and events. “Be present by volunteering to help out in the class and by asking us how you might reinforce school lessons at home,” says Rice. To avoid overstepping, she suggests, “stay focused on your own child’s development, rather than on that of the other kids.”

BRING THE LESSONS HOME. Help your child keep learning when he’s at home by creating an environment that reflects the attitude that school is important. “Establish consistent routines — a place to study, a place to keep materials, and a quiet time each evening devoted to schoolwork,” says Rice.

SHOW SOME TRUST! “Just as you trust the dentist to know how to pull your tooth, realize that we’re specialists in educating your child,” says Tammy Wawro, a facilitator for new teachers in London. “So back us up and believe that we’re here because we care about your child’s success.”

School2



Children need a healthy, balanced diet, which is rich in fruit, vegetables and starchy foods. If your child has school dinners, talk to them about the types of food they need to eat to stay healthy and encourage them to vary their meals.

Packed lunches give you more control over your child’s diet, but it can be a challenge to keep them interesting and healthy.

Making school packed lunches

Children should get a third of their daily nutrients at lunchtime.

Use these guidelines to help you pack a healthy school lunchbox:

Around a third of the meal should be made up of fruit and vegetables. Another third should be starchy foods such as bread, rice, potatoes and pasta - choose wholegrain varieties whenever you can. Some milk and dairy foods should be included, and should make up about 15% of the meal. Some meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein are part of a balanced meal. These should make up around 12% of a meal.

Tips for preparing lunchboxes

Keep your child’s school lunch cool by including a frozen juice carton. By lunchtime the juice will have melted into a refreshing drink and the rest of the lunchbox will be cool and fresh.

Keep a variety of different types of bread, wraps and pittas in the freezer to be taken out as you need them. This will ensure day-to-day variety without bread and wrap products going off.

You can sneak extra vegetables into your child’s diet in sandwiches. Lettuce, cucumber, tomato, green pepper, roasted peppers or sweet onion make great sandwich fillings.Choose 100% fruit juice drinks rather than

those labelled ‘from concentrate’. Pure fruit juice counts as one of your child’s recommended five daily portions of fruit and vegetables.

Vary the fruit and veg you add to school lunchboxes to help your child eat a balanced diet and discover favourites. Serve fruit in different ways and combinations - such as mixed slices, whole fruits, cubes and vegetable sticks to make lunches more enjoyable.

Choose lower-fat sandwich fillings such as lean meats like chicken or turkey, fish (such as tuna or salmon), cottage cheese, edam and mozzarella.

These example school lunchbox menus will help you get started packing more nutritious and tasty lunchboxes.

Making healthier School lunch Boxes

School lunch menus for

5-8 year olds

Menu 1

Houmous, red pepper and grated carrot pittaReduced-fat cheese triangleLow-fat fruit yoghurtBox of raisinsApple juice

Menu 2

Edam, ham and lettuce wrapCelery sticksMini blueberry muffinNectarineSemi-skimmed milk drink


9-12 year olds

Menu 1

Tortilla with chicken, tomato, onions and peppersPlain popcorn (small packet)Cucumber and carrot sticksGrapesYoghurt drink

Menu 2

Pasta salad with tomatoes, mushrooms, pepper and tunaReduced-fat cheese triangleLow fat muesli yoghurtMango slicesFresh orange juice


13-16 year olds

Menu 1

Pastrami and Edam cheese wrap with lettuce and tomatoPepper slicesSlice of carrot cakeAppleBottle of water

Menu 2

Slice of homemade ham, mozzarella and tomato pizzaCucumber sticksGrapesFresh fruit salad with low-fat fromage fraisOrange juice

Blafre Retro Lunch Box Brown Elephants - £13.99

LEGO Lunch Box 8 Brick, Green - £10.99

Blafre Small Tin TwoOwls on Branch - £6.99

Blafre Tin Lunch Box Twitter Birds - £12.99

TUMTUM Tiny Snackpots - £8.50

www.lunchboxworld.co.uk


LEGO Lunch Box 8 Brick, Green - £10.99

www.lunchboxworld.co.uk



September 1stBaby & Toddler Summer PartyEnjoy complimentary prosecco, canapes and cupcakes and let the whole family get involved with the taster music classes, massage for mum, story time, baby corner, face painting and a special show and meet & greet with CBeebies presenter Katy Ashworth.

Where: Beaufort House, 345 Kings Road, Chelsea.Time: 3pm - 6pmwww.pippapoppets.com

August until September 16thDora The Explorer” - Live at the Apollo Theatre

Kid’s TV favourite Dora The Explorer is coming to London in a brand-new musical adventure. Dora has lost her teddy bear Osito and she needs your help to find it! Help her search the City of Lost Toys with her trusty map, Backpack and Boots, along with Diego and all her friends, as they encourage the audience to use their counting, music and language skills to successfully pass through the stages.

Where: Apollo Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, Soho.www.londondrum.com

September 3rd - 6thHairy Maclary Are your family fans of the book Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy by Lynley Dodd? With music, singing and several of your favourite Hairy Maclary stories, this show is a must for the whole family.

Where: The London Wonderground, South Bank centre.www.onestoparts.com

Until September 9thTropical Island MusicalMeet the Islanders! Colourful fruit characters are bringing sunshine, music, smiles and dance to the Cotton’s Restaurant & Theatre in Islington. Enjoy the fun and laughter of this live interactive musical show and win lots of prizes from the pirates treasure chest!

Where: Cotton’s Restaurant and Theatre, Islington.www.netmums.com

October 1st -7thChildrens Book WeekNational Children’s Book Week takes place every year in the first full week of October. Designed to highlight the fun of reading and to gently encourage children to get excited about literature, the event has been running for almost 80 years.

Where: Southbank Centre, South Bank.www.londontown.com

Five Wednesdays from September 26th - October 24thSee It, Draw ItImprove your ability to draw from natural still life and found objects. Make observational drawings of objects ranging from clock parts to flowers, decorative cups and saucers to pine cones and shells. With artist Jo Veevers.

Where: Dulwich Picture Gallery, Dulwich Village.www.childrenandarts.org.uk

October 6thMeet Where’s WallyCome celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Where’s Wally? series in store with story time and Wally activities. Wally will be hiding around the children’s department. Can you find Wally?.

Where: Waterstones, Piccadilly.Time: 11.30am - 3.30pm.www.waterstones.com

CentralLondon

North London

West London

South London

East London

CentralCamden, Islington, City of Westminster,Kensington & Chelsea, Wandsworth, Lambeth, Southwark, City of London



Every Thursday & Saturdays

Young Farmers Club

Spitalfields City Farm Young Farmers Club (YFC) is an inclusive play project for children aged between 8-13. It’s a free of charge club (donation of £3 per session greatly appreciated) where you will have the chance to care for farm animals, ride donkeys, make new friends, garden, and make arts and crafts, such as clay modelling, t-shirt printing, and scarecrow creating. Plus much, much, more!

Where: Spitalfields City Farm, Buxton Street, Tower Hill.www.spitalfieldscityfarm.org

Mondays Pick and CookOur FREE Pick and Cook sessions are an opportunity to learn how to cook using garden produce to create tasty, interesting and nutritious meals, and to share food in a

friendly setting.

Where: Spitalfields City Farm, Buxton Street, Tower Hill.www.spitalfieldscityfarm.org

Until DecemberMatilda the Musical

London is the theatre capital of the world - but the West End sparkles with Broadway imports and they haven’t made a great new musical since ‘Billy Elliot’. Rejoice, then, as ‘Matilda’ is the best British musical in years. And it’s not just a kids’ show.

Where: Cambridge Theatre, Earlham Street. Tel: 0207 907 7071www.matildathemusical.com

Until December 5thBaby Cinema at Beaufort HouseYour little ones can either sit on your lap or kick around on the soft matting we provide whilst you sit back and relax. With plenty of space to leave your buggy, and with baby changing facilities, we have everything you need to have a comfortable visit with your mini movie buff. Since everyone else will be bringing their bundle of joy too, you don’t have to worry if they cry or gurgle through the film. It’s a great chance to get out of the house, catch up on all the films you’ve been missing and meet other parents.

Where: Beaufort House, 354 Kings Road, Chelsea.www.beauforthousechelsea.co.uk

October 6thRoar with LaughterZSL is proud to present the comedy event of the year – Roar with Laughter! If you’re a comedy fan then we’ve got a treat for you. ‘Roar with Laughter’ promises to be a top night out, featuring cutting-edge talent including Phill Jupitus, Andy Parsons, Jon Richardson, Sarah Kendall, Richard Herring, Ed Byrne, Lucy Porter and Greg Burns.

Where: HMV Hammersmith Apollo Theatre. www.zsl.org

October 21stDumbs Up! A stand-up comedy show for kids (and their keepers).Brilliantly interweaving a kooky gallery of voices with an absurd imagination, International Kid’s Comic Ian Billings has galloped across the world with his acclaimed stand-up comedy for kids. His infectious glee and vaudevillian skills takes the audiences on a giggle-filled, chuckle-stuffed romp though his mad mind.

Where: Greenwich Theatre, Crooms Hill.www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk

October 30th - November 1stCreative Choreography Dance Workshop with Holly FinchKids love being given a license to explore their own ideas in these fun and friendly workshops. They explore a variety of dance styles to a wide selection of music genres, including Salsa, Bhangra, African drums and classical piano. The children are encouraged to explore space, tempo, rhythm and mood. Using props and textiles from their dressing up box the children’s imaginations call the shots and choreographies evolve.

Where: Eddie Catz, Putney.Tel: 07872 599 003www.eddiecatz.com

November 21st - JanuaryRoom On The Broom

The witch and her cat are flying happily along on their broomstick when a stormy wind blows the witch’s hat, bow and wand away into the night. With the help of a daft dog, a beautiful bird and a friendly frog, her belongings are retrieved. But this broomstick’s not meant for five and - CRACK! - it snaps in two! When a hungry dragon appears, who will save the poor witch? And will there ever be room on the broom for everyone.

Where: Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue.www.onestoparts.com



Until September 30thSing-a-Long-a Lion King Now you can sing along and dance to the original Disney animated classic film in a special screening by the produc-ers of smash-hit show Sing-a-long-a Sound of Music.

Where: Charles Cinema, 7 Leicester Place.www.netmums.com

October 1st - 31stThe Big Draw The Big Draw takes place nationwide throughout the month of October and museums, galleries, heritage sites, libraries, schools and parks all play host to a variety of events encouraging people of all ages to discover how drawing can connect them with their surroundings and communities.

Where: Wellcome Collection, 183 Euston Road, Bloomsbury.www.londontown.com

November 1st - 3rd Ice Age Live

With dance, acrobatics, flying and skating, the Ice Age Live London shows at Wembley Arena look set to be a thrilling way to spend the half term school holidays. The show brings some of the best loved characters from the animated films to life.

Where: Wembley Arena.www.viewlondon.co.uk

November 26thSnakes and Ladders Love Cupcakes! To celebrate National Cake Day Snakes and Ladders have special cupcake decorating sessions for youngsters. You’ll need a voucher which you will find at www.facebook.com/snakesandladdersBrentford so your little one can claim a yummy cake and go wild with the sprinkles.

Where: Snakes and Ladders, Syon Park, Brentford. Time: 10am - 11amwww.netmums.com

August 30th - September 2ndAngelina Ballerina

Following Angelina Ballerina’s first real live ballet, Angelina and friends return to the stage. This magical new ballet by English National Ballet follows Angelina as she prepares to audition for the prestigious Camembert Academy. Miss Lilly prepares Angelina for her big chance to dance in front of the judges and, although excited about the possibility of an exciting new adventure, Angelina worries about leaving home and Alice behind..

Where: The Green, Richmond Theatre.www.Onestoparts.com

September 20thPhotography Courses for Mums The course is designed for Mums and Mums to be and it teaches the basic skills of photography. It covers exposure, lighting, composition with many practical and fun exercises. The course is intended for beginners, bring your own camera. Children are very welcome.

Where: Neighbourhood Centre, 7 Bradmore Park.www.netmums.com

September 29thForge Venue presents: Children’s Interactive Music session 1-4 yearsRun by experienced workshop leaders, these regular music-making sessions are a great way to introduce and encourage your children into music. Activities will include singing, dancing, rhythm work, movement and percussion playing.

Where: The Forge, 3-7 Delancey Street, Camden.www.forgevenue.org

CentralLondon

North London

West London

South London

East London The West

Hammersmith & Fulham, Hounslow, Ealing, Hillingdon, Harrow, Brent



September 1st - 2nd Little Creatures family festivalThere’ll be colourful characters, a full programme of entertainment including; facepainting, sack races, egg & spoon races, tug of war, splash zone, adventure playground, bouncy castles, giant slides, storytelling and a chance to shake your stuff in the Zoogie Woogie kids disco.

Where: ZSL London Zoo, Regents Park.www.zsl.org

September 16thZSL London Zoo Stampede

Are you ready?... Unleash the animal in you and delight in the sights and sounds of nature while you embark on an exciting new 10k running event. Whether you want to sprint, strut or stomp this NEW Stampede event will provide runners of all abilities with a 10k unlike any other in London! The Stampede will be giving runners a great chance to experience running through the zoo before it opens to the public and taking in the scenery of the unique pathways of exotic animals, before entering the wilderness of Regents Park.


October 28th Halloween Howler

It’s time to carve the pumpkins plus other traditional craft activities for children including face painting and storytelling. Tractor rides and ghostly stories.

Where: Capel Manor college and Gardens, BullsmoorLane, Enfield.Tel: 0845 612 212www.capel.ac.uk

Selected Saturdays Until NovemberBedBUGS Sleepover

The sleepover with a difference... Stay overnight in the BUG house at ZSL London Zoo. Bug-tastic fun for 8-11 years old. Sleepovers are held in BUGS! so your neighbours could include spiders, beetles or tamarins. The lions sleep nearby too... Explore the zoo by torchlight and wake up to the sounds of the animals. Plus games, story-telling, talks - all animal themed of course! Breakfast is included.


November 20thAndy and Mike’s .... Big Box of Bananass

In aid of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice.This hilarious, slap-stick show is perfect fun for all the family. Children will have the opportunity to meet Andy and Mike after the show. So don’t forget to bring along your camera for that “ must have photo”.

Where: Tally Ho, North Finchley.www.artsdepot.co.uk

Every ThursdayBake and TakeBake and Take “make your own cookie or cake from scratch” Come join in the mixing, baking and decorating and eat whatever you make “yum yum!”.

Where: Go Kids N20 ,1105-1111 High Road, Whetstone. www.gokidsn20.com

Every FridayKids Magic ShowFamily friday´s are magic at that place on the corner. Great fun and kids eat free.

Where: That place on the corner, 1 - 3 Green Lanes, Newington Green.Time: 6pm - 8pmTel: 0207 704 079www.thatplaceonthecorner.co.uk

CentralLondon

North London

West London

South London

East London The North

Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Waltham Forest



September 8thBack to School BakingBake delicious spicy biscuits and decorate a box to take them home in. Holiday and weekend activities are for children aged 3 - 16 and are free for individuals and their families. Places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis 30 minutes prior to the beginning of each activity.Where: The Geffrye Museum, Hackney.Time: 10.30am - 12.30pm and 2pm - 4pmwww.netmums.com

October 13thLadies Dinner and Dance FundraiserA “ Ladies only” Dinner and Dance Fundraiser will take place at the Asian Centre to raise funds for a new youth provision on Friday evenings. Ladies come and let your hair down!

Where: The Asian Centre, 18a Orford Road, Walthamstow.www.netmums.com

October 14thLSO Discover Family ConcertJoin in with LSO in a musical fun-filled afternoon for families with children aged 7-12.Where: Barbican Centre, Hall Silk Street, Moorgate.www onestoparts.com

October 20thThere’s a Monster in my PianoWhat do you do when you hear strange noise inside your piano? call the piano Dr of course. With his bag full of ears, can he stop the musical notes from packing their bags and running away?

Where: Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue.www.lyric.co.uk

Every SaturdayRoller Disco Family JamChildren aged 5 - 14 can join in the fun and get their skates on at Roller Disco Family Jam, at the weekly event hosted by the Renaissance Rooms.

Where: Miles Street, Vauxhall.Tel: 0207 720 914www.rollerdisco.com

September 2ndFamily Roller Skating

Due to the success of the last half term holidays family skate, we have decided to do it all again at Newham Leisure Centre, so during the summer holidays we will roller skating again. For just £5 per person we supply helmets, pads and skates, skating boot camp, roller disco dancing and games, great fun, and a great way of keeping the whole family fit.

Where: Newham Leisure Centre, Plaistow, Newham.www.netmums.co.uk

September 6thOne Day Doula Workshop‘Introduction to the work of a doula’If you have ever thought about becoming a doula or birth companion but not sure if it is really for you or how to go about it or if you have looked at various doula training courses on offer and are not sure which one would be for you, look no further. Where: 116 Forrest Road, Hackney.www.doula.org.uk

September 8thThe Henley Show

A wonderful Day out for the whole family, Horse show, Dog show, Sheep, Cattle, Trade stands and much more.The main attraction this year will be a fantastic parade of crop growing machinery through the ages.

Where: Greenlands Farm, Dairy Lane, Hambleden.www.thehenleyshow.co.uk

CentralLondon

North London

West London

South London

East London The East

Redbridge, Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Hackney, Tower Hamlets, Newham, Lewisham, Greenwich, Bexley



September 1stRugby Munchkins Beckenham Open Day Join in the fun at Rugby Munchkins FREE Open /registration day. Taster sessions will be taking place through out the morning for your children to participate in and learn some new skills. Lots of other entertainment will include a BBQ, face painters and our munchkin mascot - Goldie the bear.

Where: ODRFC, St Dunstan’s Lane, Beckenham.www.netmums.com/croydon

September 8thMums 2 Mum MarketAt Mum 2 Mum market nearly new sale you can buy top quality second hand baby and children’s clothes, used toys and baby equipment at bargain prices, direct from the previous owners.

Where: Southfields Baptist Church, 225 Wimbledon Park Rd, Southfields.Time: 2pm - 4pmwww.mum2mummarket.co.uk

September 15thFamily Fun AfternoonBouncy castle, sideshows, children’s races, games, afternoon teas and lots more! Bring your favourite teddy bear for the Grand Teddy Bear Parade!Admission free.

Where: Croydon Minster, Church Street, Croydon.Time: 2.30pm - 4.30pmwww.netmums.com/croydon

September 19thTeddy Bears Picnic If you go down to the woods today …. ‘Teddy Bears Picnic’ in 15th Century castle setting with indoor and outdoor toys for children aged 2 – 6 yrs. Bring your favourite Teddy Bear and come along and enjoy free playtime fun and games in stunning grounds once enjoyed by Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn.

Where: Wickham Court Nursery School, West Wickham.Time: 1.30pm - 2.45pmwww.netmums.com/croydon

October 14thCome and be a PIG! Pamper Indulge and Give!PIG is a charity event aimed at all the family! So whilst mum and dad are enjoying relaxing massages the kids can be exploring their creativity with badge making and face painting! Treatments throughout the day will include: Nail Art, Massages, Facials, and much more! Plus a raffle with amazing prizes and a special guest appearance.

Where: Electric Social 40, Acre Lane, Brixton.www.eventelephant.com/pamperindulgeandgive

October 20thNCT Croydon Baby Show 2012

• Free entertainment and activities for toddlers all day, with soft play areas and workshops.• Advice, support and information from NCT Antenatal Teachers and Breastfeeding Counsellors.• Gifts and essential items from a variety of exhibitors• Grab a bargain at the Nearly New Sale.• Refreshments available in the Café.

Free Admission, early attendees will receive a goody bag.

Where: Trinity School, Shirley Park, Croydon.Time: 10am - 3pmEmail: Abi Lynn on [email protected]

October 31st - November 1stBen and Hollys Little Kingdom

Fiirst time ever live on stage, Holly is a Young Fairy Princess, who is still learning to fly and her magic doesn’t always go according to plan.

Where: New Wimbledon Theatre, 93 The Broadway.www.onestoparts.com

CentralLondon

North London

West London

South London

East London The South

Bromley, Croydon, Sutton, Merton, Kingston Upon Thames, Richmond Upon Thames



Because we want you to have the facts explained in a simple way, about why you should have your cord blood and cord tissue or tooth stem cells collected and preserved, we’d like to send you our Information Pack. To request it, simply call our Customer Care Team on 0800 954 5335, email [email protected] quoting Rascals of London Magazine or visit our website at www.fhbb.com

... you deserve a long, healthy life.

... you’re the best thing that’s happened to us and we want nothing but the best for you.

... chances like this only come around once in a lifetime.

... we decided to store your umbilical cord stem cells the same day we decided on your name.

Because...... we’ve found someone who can save your stem cells from your cord tissue as well as your cord blood.

... finally the whole idea of collecting your stem cells doesn’t seem scary or confusing any more.

... it’s better to have your stem cells and not need them, than need them and not have them.

... your little tooth could be a big help in the future.

... your toothy grin is our peace of mind.

... we’ve found someone who cares for your health just as much as we do.

... we don’t want to hide your future health under your pillow.

... we’ve chosen to prepare for what the future may hold.

... we know someone even better than the tooth fairy.

In addition we also offer

S

As parents we have many decisions to make as our children grow, but one of the most important needs to be made before they are even born. It’s the decision as to whether to collect your baby’s stem cells from their umbilical cord or allow them to be thrown away. The latter is unfortunately common practice here in the U.K.

tem cells are the body’s building blocks for life. Their job is to transform and multiply into the cells that make up our blood, bones,

tissues, tendons, organs - in fact everything that makes us physically what we are. They can build new tissues from scratch but can also restore and repair as we grow.

These vital cells are already being used to treat thousands of people for an ever increasing list of medical conditions. In fact the use of stem cells is now standard medical practice in many countries. For families with a history of cancers or many other diseases the availability of stem cells can be a life saving resource. Studies in 1997 indicated that the chances of a use by a child were 1:2700. Today, with the number of applications having increased, the probability of lifetime use is now estimated to be as high as 1:2001. If scientific progress continues at its current pace, the ratio is likely to continue to narrow.

Up until now, the most common source of stem cells has been bone marrow, however the umbilical cord blood and tissue are much richer sources and provide a much simpler and less invasive way to obtain them.

After birth and the delivery of the placenta the cord is simply clamped and the blood is collected along with approximately 15cm of cord tissue if both samples are required. The whole procedure takes less than ten minutes and is completely painless.

One of the disadvantages in the use of bone marrow is the difficulty in finding the perfect match. This is even more of an issue for mixed race, single parent or older parent families. With umbilical cord stem cells you have a 100 per cent match for the baby and a high probability of a match with siblings, parents and perhaps even grandparents and cousins.

Future Health BIOBANK, based in Nottingham and honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2010, is Europe’s first fully accredited cord blood preservation facility and currently store over 50,000 samples for families from some 51 countries around the world. They are also the first cord blood bank in Europe to also store the cord tissue cells. As they hold a Human Tissue Bank licence this means that the samples they hold can be used for the family not just the donor.

So how do you arrange for cord blood/tissue collection? The advice from Future Health is to approach your midwife, consultant or hospital as soon as possible in your pregnancy as not all hospital staff are able to make the collections. The Human Tissue Authority will only allow collections to be made under their licence by suitably trained staff. The difficulty is that a national NHS policy on cord blood collections simply does not exist and each

hospital can set their own rules meaning that a real postcode lottery exists for expectant parents. If the hospital will allow collections then a private cord blood bank should be able to arrange for a fully trained third party to attend the birth. Future Health, for example, employs qualified midwives and phlebotomists to undertake collections.

The cost of saving cord blood varies from company to company but is currently around £1,700 for the collection kit, processing and an initial 25-year storage contract. Including cord tissue, with banks that provide this service, will be an additional cost – for example, £495 with Future Health.

The current options for cord bloodDonate: Only five NHS hospitals currently collect cord blood for the national public cord blood bank where anyone can search the 10,000 or so samples for a match. The Anthony Nolan Trust, which established a national bone marrow register, has recently set up its own public cord blood bank, initially taking donations from Kings College Hospital are expected by 2020, with 30-50% donations being from black and ethnic minority women. Samples that are not suitable for transplantation will be used in cord blood research.

Save: A number of private cord blood banks offer a collection and storage service with up to 25-year storage contracts. The longest established and largest (holding over 50,000 samples from 51 countries) is Future Health which holds a full licence from the Human Tissue Authority and the Medicines and Healthcare regulatory Agency. It will store 100 per cent of a cord blood sample and also provide fully trained health professionals to make the collection if the midwife at the hospital is unable to do this. It is also the first in the UK to offer to store cord tissue alongside cord blood.

Discard: This is currently what happens at the vast majority of UK births as, at the moment, mothers-to-be are not routinely informed about other options for their baby’s umbilical cord.

Cord Blood Collection – a frozen asset for your baby and your family


















Now, a team in Seattle has come up with a way of solving the problem by enriching the blood in the laboratory. Dr Colleen Delaney and her colleagues at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center have managed to increase the concentration of stem cells from 200,000 per kilogram to six million. In research published in the journal Nature Medicine6, they have shown they can make the stem cells multiply before they are transplanted. As a result, it took 14 days for the transplanted cells to engraft against an average of four weeks when non-expanded units of cord blood were used. In terms of outcome, seven of the 10 patients in the trial are still alive with no evidence of disease returning.
















For more information on private cord blood and cord tissue banking you can contact Future Health customer care team on 0800 954 5335 or visit www.fhbb com.

Hopefully your baby will never have to use their sample but if you chose to ‘save’ it, you will have the reassurance of knowing that it is within reach should they or a close relative have need of it.

Stem Cells in the news – the latest developments Stem cells cure HIVA 46 year old man has essentially been cured of HIV at Berlin’s University Hospital, after receiving a stem cell transplant from a person who was genetically resistant to the infection2. Now, doctors are hoping to build on this patient’s success by treating HIV patients using cord blood units that have the same HIV-resistant gene. The CCR5 receptor is the one HIV uses to infect its victims – meaning people who carry the mutation for the gene that encodes the receptor are immune to the disease. Approximately one percent of Europeans carry the mutation.

Recently, a patient in the Netherlands was the second to undergo this potentially revolutionary treatment. The transplant was initially performed to address another disease, but doctors specifically selected a unit of cord blood that contained the HIV-resistant gene in hopes of curing that as well. Another similar surgery is scheduled for a patient in Madrid within the coming month.

Diabetes treatment trial uses cord bloodResearchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago have developed a new type of stem cell treatment for people with type 1 diabetes that appears to help re-educate rogue immune system cells3. The treatment combines a patient’s immune system cells with stem cells from a donor’s cord blood and has been dubbed “Stem Cell Educator Therapy,” because while exposed to the stem cells, the immune cells seem to re-learn how they should behave. This allows cells in the pancreas to start producing insulin again.

The study participants, who were 15 to 41 years old, had type 1 diabetes for an average of nine years. Six had some residual pancreatic cell function and six did not. Both groups were given stem cell educator therapy. Three other people served as the control group. The researchers measured C-peptide, a protein fragment that’s a by-product of insulin production, and found that the educator therapy groups had improved levels of C-peptide at 12 weeks. These levels continued to improve until 24 weeks, and remained stable through the follow-up at 40 weeks. There were no changes in C-peptide in the control group. The treatment even worked in people with long-standing diabetes who were believed to have no insulin-producing ability because the pancreatic islets started to work again.

New Studies Assess Cord Blood Treatment For Cerebral Palsy Whilst past anecdotal reports have claimed improvements in children with cerebral palsy treated with autologous cord blood, no formal or controlled clinical trials have been conducted. Now several new trials are underway to assess how cord blood stems cells help children with the condition. Researchers at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina4 are studying how 150 children with cerebral palsy respond to injections of their own cord blood stem cells. It is known that, in the case of children with genetic brain disease, infused cells go to the brain and can help repair damage there. It is expected to take about a year to discover the

extent of the benefits. However a number of the children have already shown marked

initial improvements. Meanwhile the first FDA-approved stem cell

trial in paediatric cerebral palsy has begun at the

Medical College of Georgia5. Researchers there will study a group of 40 children aged 2-12. Half will receive an infusion of their own cord blood while the other half will receive a placebo. Three months later the children will be

evaluated without physicians knowing which

group received the stem cell infusion.

Cord Blood Breakthrough in Leukemia TreatmentThe properties of haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in umbilical cord blood to combat diseases such as leukemia are already well-known, as is their advantage of lower rejection rates than bone marrow. However, there are fewer cells in cord blood which means that engraftment takes longer and this increases the risk of infection or that the patient will die before the treatment can take effect.

This expansion technique also has significant consequences for autologous transplantation, where stem cells derived from cord blood are used either to treat that person or a close family member. Increasing the number of stem cells in this way means that a single cord would be able to treat an adult patient.

References:

1. Nietfeld JJ, Pasquini MC, Logan BR, Verter F,

Horowitz MM. Lifetime probabilities of hematopoietic

stem cell transplantation in the US. Biol Blood Marrow

Transplant. 2008;14:316-22.

2. www.foxnews.com/health/2012/06/07/doctors-

turn-to-cord-blood-transplants-in-hopes-curing-

patients-with-hiv

3. http://health.usnews.com/health-

news/diet-fitness/diabetes/articles/2012/01/11/novel-

stem-cell-treatment-may-hold-promise-for-type-1-

diabetes, 2012

4.http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/

health&id=7211746

5.www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/178982.php

6.Nature Medicine 16, 232–236 (2010)

For further information, fact sheets and a jpeg photographs please contact:Alison MilesFuture Health Press Office07900 691 116 Email: [email protected]
















Researchers at Duke University Medical

Center in North Carolina4 are studying how 150 children with cerebral palsy respond to injections of their own

cord blood stem cells.


I particularly feel like paying tribute to my grandma. Keep in mind the ones I put forward are not exhaustive, there are so many ways in which one can think of the importance of family.

I encourage you to engage in this exercise for yourselves and to not make my words your last ones on family! Family means... attachment. There is no doubt that early attachments make up a large part of how you approach relationships today. For instance, you may feel quiet when first meeting someone, and may find it hard to trust people. Revealing yourself to someone you don’t know well could be a tricky affair, especially if you will not see them again’. My advice is to trust your gut instincts about how you feel towards people, and find out how you may relax into the fact you know this about yourself. Take time to think about your attachments to family. One of my client’s is working on the absence of attachment to her parents, this week she told me about her attachment to her country of origin, and a re-discovery of her roots as a way nurturing her attachment to her family and history.

Family means... being together. My dad always says – being together is all that matters. I believe he means being there for each other, spending time together, and being in contact (over the phone, in person etc). Mere presence has strong meaning – being there for your family and them for you, in reciprocity and support, are simple ideas that go a long way. Simplicity is not always easy to achieve when presence gets confused with judgment and expectation, e.g, I expect you to live by ‘our’ religion, and send Jane to a religious school. Finding a supportive way to approach difficult questions about beliefs, orientation etc, and nurturing relationships within families ‘is key’ to feelings of safety, and to having good support in place.

Family means... loss. There’s a natural birth and death cycle that one experiences throughout life. Renewing yourself through work, or having children, etc, is common when growing older. I recently became aware with a client that time made for loss, not being able to rewind the clock is sometimes quite painful. The loss of what could have been done is one polarity, the other one being, what you have done instead. Have I waited with the hope that things would get better? Or have I done something active to respond to the events that have happened. Loss is sad, grieving and saying goodbye are an inevitable part of life, at any age. Paradoxically getting in touch with loss can lead to more integration of happiness and joy, and can add a strong sense of humanity into your life. Think about your losses – take time to grieve as a way of thinking about what family truly means to you.

Family means many other things to you, I know. If you have the inkling to talk to me about it, and educate yourself about your own views on family, do come and find me in East Finchley.

You can email me at [email protected], or [email protected] or call me on 0208 444 6831 or 0796 632 0077.

Having a family is a powerful, emotional and physically challenging experience which proves a sense of security and meaning to ones life. I have been thinking about my family

dynamics a lot in these last few weeks and decided I would jot down some of my thoughts.

Dr Julie Goldstein is a Gestalt Therapist and Psychologist, ass Member of the Association of Humanistic Psychology Practitioners (AHPP in conjunction with UKCP) and British Psychological Society (BPS). Dr Julie Goldstein has a private practice, also lectures and convenes an undergraduate psychology course at Goldsmiths University of London, and works as an in-house therapist at a human rights organization.

Dr JulieGoldstein

BSc PhD PGDip


Their carefully crafted story adventures are planned to excite, engage and enthral your child.

Their classes create a positive fun environment for your child to naturally grow and blossom in confidence. Whilst their stories ignite young imaginations helping

your child to bloom as a creative thinker, to problem solve and write creatively at school.


[email protected]

de Andrés & Goldstein ClinicPsychology, Psychotherapy and Wellbeingde Andrés & Goldstein Clinic

Family Parenting RelationshipCultural issues Pregnancy & childbirthAdoption Transitions Trauma therapy

Other services

0208 444 6831 / 0796 632 00770208 444 6831 / 0796 632 0077

Individual and Groups

Postnatal Therapy & Support

FreeInitial

Session

We do our upmost every day to keep our belongings safe. The iPhone has a password; the car is alarmed. And we wouldn’t dream of leaving the house without locking the front door. The cat is tagged, the dog stays on its lead in public places; we even scrawl our details on tiny labels, with a pen that refuses to co-oper-ate, so that airlines know where our clothes have come from and where they will be residing until our return

flight! But we don’t immediately consider ‘tagging’ our most most prized possessions…our children!

Ring-Rings are bright, jelly, identity wristbands for toddlers and small children. Purchased online, and lasered to order with name and number, they are an ideal extra safety measure for those family days out, trips to busy shopping centres and holidays abroad.

Visit www.Ring-Rings.com and fill in your chosen colour, name and telephone number to create a fun and fashionable armband with a very important function. And another thing… Ring-Rings donates 50 cents to childrens charity WarChild for every armband sold!

Functional & Fashionable ID Armbands For Kids.

At dramabuds they specialise in early years drama exclusively for children aged 2 – 7 years.

Plant a seed... Watch it grow...

mum2mum market

nearly new baby and children’s sales

BUY top quality preloved baby and children’s clothes, toys, books and equipment at our pop up indoor markets.

SELL your kids outgrown stuff and keep 100% of the takings. Book your stall online now!

...................................www.mum2mummarket.co.uk

[email protected] www.facebook.com/mum2mummarket




The Parents’ Directories 35

parties

party ideas/themesArt-Work 07930 463 547www.charlottegerrard.com(See ad page XX)

pary venuesFired Treasures 020 8371 6709www.firedtreasures.co.uk143 Dollis Road, Mill Hill, NW7 1J

Gambado - Watford's Premier 01923 892 140Indoor Play & Party Centrewww.gambado.comWoodside Leisure Park, North Orbital Road,Watford, Hertfordshire, WD25 7JZ

councilsEnfield Council 020 8379 1000www.enfield.gov.ukInformed Families - Enfield's FamilyInformation Service - 0800 694 1066 -www.enfield.gov.uk/if.(See ad page 39)

· Pottery Painting for all ages· Fun enamelling, silver clay jewellery & pottery making classes· Workshops throughout the year for adults & kids· We undertake commissions for any occasion· Casting service to preserve those precious little hands and feet

Available in a range of finishes & mounted – a fabulous gift· Delicious coffees & teas and a range of refreshments

143 Dollis Road, Mill Hill, London NW7 1JXTel: 020 8371 6709 [email protected] www.firedtreasures.co.uk

After-school pottery classes- new term starts 2nd March, 4.15pm to 6pm

nwpdsp112.qxp 24/2/11 13:18 Page 35


parties









nwpdsp112.qxp 24/2/11 13:18 Page 35


parties









nwpdsp112.qxp 24/2/11 13:18 Page 35

Pottery Painting for all ages

Fun enamelling, silver clay jewellery & pottery making classes

Workshops throughout the year for adults & kids

We undertake commissions for any occasion

Casting service to preserve those precious little hands and feet

Available in a range of finishes & mounted - fabulous gift

Delicious coffees & teas and a range of refreshments

••

•••

•

•

Pamper

Play

Beanies

PartyShop

Eat

Learn

Pamper

Play

Beanies

PartyShop

Eat

Learn

Pamper

Play

Beanies

PartyShop

Eat

Learn

Pamper

Play

Beanies

PartyShop

Eat

Learn

Pamper

Play

Beanies

PartyShop

Eat

Learn

Pamper

Play

Beanies

PartyShop

Eat

Learn

Beanies Timetable

10am to 10.45am – Musical Bumps (12m to 3 yrs) (£3 in advance / £4 drop-in)

11am to 11.45am – Musical Bumps (0 to 12m) (£3 in advance / £4 drop-in)

Midday to 12.45pm – Musical Bumps (0 to 12m) (£3 in advance / £4 drop-in)

3.50pm to 4.20pm – Martial Arts (2 to 4 yrs) (£3 in advance/£4 drop-in)

4.25pm to 5.10pm – Martial Arts (4 to 7 yrs) (£3 in advance/£4 drop-in)

10.20am to 11am – YogaMobile Babies (contact Injoy Yoga for prices)

10.30am – Mini Meal Makers(£3 in advance/£4 drop-in)

11.30am to 12.30pm – Yoga 4 months to mobile (contact Injoy Yoga for prices)

1pm to 2pm – Yoga Newborns (contact Injoy Yoga for prices)

2.30pm to 4.30pm – Cinema (£3 per child with FREE popcorn)

4.30pm to 5pm – Streetdance (£3 in advance/£4 drop-in)

11am to 1pm – Babes in Arms Cinema (£3 or FREE with lunch)

2.30pm to 3.15pm – Baby Signing (£3 in advance/£4 drop-in)

3.35pm to 4.05pm – Ballet (2 to 4 yrs) (£3 in advance/£4 drop-in)

4.10pm to 4.40pm – Ballet (4 to 7 years) (£3 in advance/£4 drop-in)

9.45am to 10.30am – Baby Massage (£20 for 5 week course)

10.40am to 11.25am – Baby Massage (£20 for 5 week course)

11.40am to 12.10am – Totstars Football (£3 in advance/£4 drop-in)

12.20pm to 1.25pm – Diddi Dance (£3 in advance/£4 drop-in)

1.45pm to 3.45pm – Cinema (£3 per child with FREE popcorn)

9.30am to 11am – Photography for Parents (contact Time for Mums for prices)

11.15am to 12.15am – First Aid for Parents (£20 for 5 week course)

1pm to 4.30pm – Active Beanies (£2 in advance/£4 drop-in)

Subject to change – please check www.beaniescafe.co.uk for most up to date timetable

Book online at: www.bookwhen.com/beaniesworkshops

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Friday

Thursday


1. Fijit Friends Interactive Figure www.argos.co.uk

2. Fireman Sam Village Rescue Playset www.argos.co.uk

3. Xmas Dec Novelty Groupwww.roobubandcustard.co.uk

4. Christmas Rattles Angelwww.roobubandcustard.co.uk

5. Handmade Crochet Soldier and Ballerina www.roobubandcustard.co.uk

6. Mini Moshling Treehouse www.toysrus.co.uk

7. Soft Play Magical Castle www.roobubandcustard.co.uk

8. Fabulous Fairy Cottage www.roobubandcustard.co.uk

9. Green Toy Fire Truckwww.roobubandcustard.co.uk

Getting a head start

1.

4.

7.

8.

6.

3.

5.

2.

9.


LeArning tO rEadWe all know how important it is for our children to learn to read, but, how do we help them do it in the midst of a busy life? And what happens if we don’t actually like reading ourselves? Or, if we do like reading, how do we share that love with our children?


1. Let your child see you reading - he will copy you! My one year old, Theo, often sits on my lap whilst I’m reading and he is picking up so much just by watching me (for example, that pages are turned from left to right).

2. Read to him - but, if you don’t like doing this, don’t feel pressured by everyone else to do it, just because you ‘have’ to. Why not ask a family member or friend who enjoys reading out loud to stand in for you sometimes? They will probably be honoured that you asked.

3. Ensure that your baby is able to access books easily – keep a supply of books at child height and allow them to choose their own books. We keep our children’s books in wheeled containers under their beds.

4. Offer your baby a selection of books to read whilst you are doing your household chores. Whilst I am packing the schoolbags, Theo will often sit in his high chair reading books, throwing books, chewing books or even writing on books. The fact that he’s touching them and getting entertainment from them is the start of a good relationship with books (respect for books will come later)!

In our family, we are all book lovers, apart from my husband, Clyde, who doesn’t even read beyond the first line of a text message if he can avoid it! I genuinely believe that, if our children hadn’t been exposed to the environment we’ve created for them, not all of them would have become addicted to books in the way that they have done. Even though Clyde doesn’t really like reading, he knows the importance of it. We both work really hard – in two completely different ways - to ensure that our children grasp this key skill for life.

So… here’s how you can support…Your 0-2 year old:

5. For babies, choose interactive books with different textures, googly eyes, flaps to lift, puppets attached etc. A book like this will meet your baby’s need for exploration and experimentation – this is a great foundation for your child to believe that books are fun.


This is what I call ‘the latent phase’ of reading. It can be the most discouraging for both you and your child, but the turning point is just around the corner! During the latent phase, you may feel as if you are pouring in lots of effort, but seeing very little impact. Keep going - on that golden day that your child recognises her first word, you will see the fruit being borne from all the little seeds you have been sowing.

1. Play games that will teach your child phonics such as ‘I Spy’. Ask your child to look for things beginning with the phonics alphabet - in-stead of saying the name of the letter ‘S’, make the sound of a snake: ‘sssss’. Phonics is based on the sound of a letter, not its name.

2. Give your child books to read with simple words in it, but don’t expect or request that they read the words, ask them instead to look at the pictures and tell you what is happening. This is crucial in learning to read as, later on, your child will learn to guess how to read a word from looking at what is happening in the pictures.

3. Allow for very long pauses when your child is ‘reading’ – they may spend an inordinately long period of time just looking at one page. It’s a great sign when a child spends a long time staring at a page – they are taking in the details of the pictures and looking at the shapes of the words. Your patience at this point (even if it’s pretend patience!) is demonstrating that books are to be enjoyed and savoured – slowly if need be.

4. As your child begins to read his first words, pick out the tricky words that can’t be ‘sounded out’, such as ‘said’, ‘they’ or ‘your’, then laminate 2 sets of them onto coloured card so you can play ‘Snap’ with your child. I do this with Carl, my 5 year old, in the 5 minutes before we walk to school or, if I’m still frantically packing my briefcase and looking for Carl’s PE kit, I bribe my 8 year old to play Snap with Carl instead!

5. Show your child the role that reading plays in your life so that he grasps the importance of it. A few examples of this:

a. Clyde will often point to road signs and then exaggerate his reading of them to show that, without reading those signs, he couldn’t figure out where he is going.

b. Carl loves baking cupcakes with me, so I often ask him to read the recipe, ‘so that I know what ingredients to use.’ Carl will often protest that he doesn’t know how to read, then I remind him that he is fantastic at interpreting pictures, which is reading. He will often rise to my expectation of him by looking at the photo of flour and eggs and then advising me that I need 4000g of eggs and 12 bags of flour. Does it matter that he’s got the amounts wrong? No.

Does it matter that he feels he has contributed to our fun by reading in the only way he knows how? Yes, yes and yes again!

c. I sometimes write little notes to my children and put them in their school bags. For Carl, I write very simple messages in non-joined up writing. After receiving a note that says, ‘Mama loves Carl’ twenty times, Carl has finally figured out what it says and it boosts his confidence if he feels he can read it. The Star Wars picture that I paste onto the note may be the only thing that persuades him to actually open it, but who cares?

d. When we get into a lift, Clyde often asks our 3 year old, Zachary, to press the button for the Ground floor or to open the doors. Zac is not only learning to read the symbols, Clyde also lavishes Zac with praise along the lines that, if Zac hadn’t recognised the letters and pressed the right buttons, we wouldn’t have got to our destination.

1. Continue to read to her, even if she can read – I still read to my 8 year old daughter, Jemima, but now, I ask her questions about the book she is reading. She loves the fact that she’s ‘teaching’ me and that I’m genuinely interested in her thoughts and ideas on the story. Often, I have absolutely no interest in how The Famous Five solved their mystery, but I am interested in why Jemima chose that particular book.

2. Discuss your own reading books with your child – though this can be somewhat difficult, depending on your reading material!

3. Get your child to fill in their own forms. With four sets of forms to fill in every time I want to register my children for anything, I have dis-

covered that it is far quicker if Jemima fills in her own forms. In doing so, Jemima is forced to read the questions and she also learns that reading can achieve a goal e.g. getting a Trinidadian passport so we can more easily visit our relatives.

4. Encourage your child to take a book with them wherever they go – my children have learned to spend their ‘dead’ time reading.

5. Choose a school for your child that will foster her enjoyment of reading. My daughter’s school has worked wonders in encouraging her to read – bringing in famous authors to read to the children, holding a Book Fair, running sponsored book reading challenges, giving house points for a child who reads every day in a month etc.

As for older children, I can’t yet comment on how to support them - reading is a journey, but, what I’ve discovered is, it’s as much a journey for me as it is for my children…

Isabelle Parasram is the mother of four children aged 1-8. She is also a barrister, a College Assessor of Childcare and Education, an NCT- trained antenatal teacher, the Director of a large children’s day Nursery & Out of School Club in Tower Hill and is a Trustee of a Community Nursery in Shadwell. She would love to answer your questions or to have your comments on her article. Please e-mail her at: [email protected] can also read more about her at www.mydreammaker.co.uk/our-ethos

6. Encourage your child to read the same book over and over again until he can almost recite it – it is all part of building his confidence. If he chooses to read the same book over and over again and it wasn’t a part of your plan to read Mig the Pig three hundred times, remember that repetition builds confidence for your child and console yourself with the fact that your new talent may come in handy at parties someday!

Your 6 - 8 year old:

Your 3-5 year old:



precious little

things

For every Ring-Ring sold we donate 50 cents to WarChild.

To keep up to date with our latest news and o� ers, why not become a friend on Facebook /RoobubandCustard and Twitter @RoobubCustard

www.roobubandcustard.co.uk

We sell original, beautifully cra� ed toys and amazing prints for babies and children from ethical and sustainable sources, that you will not typically � nd on the high street.

Take a peek and shop with con� dence on our secure website

www.roobubandcustard.co.uk




The Gruffalo By Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

A wily woodland mouse manages to escape being eaten by predators by telling them that an imaginary monster is going to appear at any minute. Of course, the mouse doesn’t really expect the monster to put in an appearance!

Father Christmas By Raymond Briggs

Humour arises from the begrudging old chap having to lug himself out of his cosy home to work on his busiest night of the year.

That Rabbit Belongs To Emily BrownBy Cressida Cowell and Neal Layton

Emily gets up to all kinds of imaginary adventures with her cuddly rabbit. However, Queen Gloriana (another little girl) has heard tell of the rabbit and sends all her horses and men to offer riches in exchange for him.

I Will Not Ever Never Eat A TomatoBy Lauren Child Puffin

Lola is a cheeky preschool madam who always has a smart excuse to justify getting her own way. However, older brother Charlie appeals to her sense of fantasy to overcome common childhood issues – such as fussy eating.

Giraffes Can’t DanceBy Giles Andreae and Guy Parker-Rees

Owing to his ungainly physique, Gerald the giraffe can’t dance. However, a friendly cricket reassures him that everyone can dance, they just need the right tune!

Dear Zoo

By Rod Campbell

A narrator asks the zoo to send

him a pet. However, the zoo

keep sending animals which are

completely inappropriate - a

monkey who is too naughty, a

camel who is too grumpy - and

each one has to be sent back.

Finally the zoo get it right and

send our narrator the perfect

pet but what could it be??

Mister Magnolia

By Quentin Blake

Mister Magnolia is a poetic joy in

which our hero possesses lots of

wonderful objects, animals and

even two sisters, but he only has

one boot!

Duck In The Truck By Jez Alborough

There’s something almost

Looney Tunes in the pacing and

the humour of the first Duck

book (Fix-It Duck and Captain

Duck followed). Duck and his

friends end up in a manic,

muddy mess.

The Cat In The Hat

By Dr Seuss

The odor Seuss Geisel wrote

this vibrant linguistic romp as

a primer to help children with

the 225 words that were vital

to ‘new reader’ vocabulary.

The cheeky Cat arrives and

causes mayhem with his

suggested rainy day games

in the home of two young

children, while their mum is out.

Funnybones

By Allan Ahlberg

One night, the two skeletons are

out walking their skeleton dog,

when it bumps into a bench and

ends up as a pile of bones they

have to fit together again.



Mog The Forgetful Cat

By Judith Kerr

Often the moggy is day-

dreaming her way into a

series of adventures, and

in this book, she forgets

she can’t fly when she

chases birds and forgets

that she has a basket

when she sleeps in front

of Mr Thomas’s view of

the television.

Florentine and PigBy Eva Katzler

Meet Florentine and her friend Pig in their very first adventure: Florentine and Pig Have a Very Lovely Picnic. Join in the excitement as they whip up a fantastic feast. But first, where WILL they find the apples they need to make their favourite muffins? Luckily, Pig has a good idea..

A Squash And

A Squeeze

By Julia Donaldson

and Axel Scheffler

“Wise old man, won’t you help

me please? My house is a squash

and a squeeze,” moans an old

lady to a friend. He suggests she

takes in a series of farm animals

to solve her problem. Of course

the little house is made even

more cramped and chaotic. But

when the wise old man then

advises the lady to shoo them all

out again, she realises her house

seems positively palatial after all!

Where, Oh Where, Is Kipper’s Bear?By Mick Inkpen

A playful bedtime story where Mick Inkpen’s dry-witted dog has to go on a hunt for his cuddly toy.

No Matter WhatBy Debi Gliori

A parent fox called Large promises Small, her cub, that whatever happens, she will always be there filling their life with love and cuddles. Small asks lots of questions, but Large is consistent in her reassuring replies.

ElmerBy David McKee

A cheery fellow, Elmer has

appeared in a series of books

about life in the wild: he helps to

sort out the plight of his fellow

elephants in Elmer And The

Hippos and arranges a jungle

jamboree in Elmer’s Concert.

Owl BabiesBy Martin Waddell

Sarah, Percy and Bill wake up one night to find their mother isn’t there. Their loneliness makes them anxious and the fluffy white owls begin to fret, but are overcome with relief and joy when mummy owl comes back.

Is It Bedtime

Wibbly Pig?

By Mick Inkpen

Wibbly Pig wants to do

everything but go to bed.

Splashing in the bath, counting

the stairs… what else can the

little pig do to side-step sleep?

Of course, eventually he has to

give in to slumber – so a happy

ending for all parents

Where’s Spot?

By Eric Hill

Spot remains a timeless

classic. Here, the honey-and-

black puppy has gone missing

at dinner time and mummy

dog, Sally, must find him.

PantsBy Giles Andreae

and Nick Sharratt

Given that poo and potties can

even dominate the conversation

of adults, in a child’s first few

years, it’s no surprise that young

readers delight when their

parents read them a book about

pants. Great fun



Wii Play Motion Go Vacation

Peppa PigTheme Park Fun

Solatorobo

Fruit NinjaSkylandersSpyro’s Adventure

Just Dance 3

Kirby Mass Attack

Wii Play Motion offers a set of games that use the MotionPlus controller. Ranging from stone skimming to ice-cream stacking.

Go Vacation creates not one but four huge holiday resorts to explore with your family.

A well designed Peppa Pig tie-in for very young players. Controls and visuals work well and keep things simple.

Another massive adventure game squeezed into the DS. But this time the focus is as much on the story and Dogtanian-like characters as the action.

The simple premise of slicing up fruit with your hands and feet makes this easy enough for very young players.

The quality of the toys and simplicity of using them to save your progress in the video-game make this ideal.

The varied multiplayer choreography and four player Kinect features make this another big step forward for casual dancers.

This combines stylus controlled platforming action with great puzzles and surprisingly fleshed out minigames. Controlling a herd of little pink Kirbys is simply great fun.

Mario Tennis Open

Child of Eden Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Shadow WarsJoin Mario and his

Mushroom Kingdom friends as they return to the court in this latest instalment of the Mario Tennis franchise.

The combination of music movement and shooting creates an experience perfect for teen and student players.

A game that really plays to Kinect’s theatrics. Control a marionette with one hand and shoot with the other, this game turns the living room into a stage.

As the commander of the Ghosts, your mission is to stop the Russian ultranationalist Yuri Treskayev from coming to power.

The Gunstringer

Perfect for Preschool

Smart forSchool-Age

Awsome for Older Kids

Check out the best, most entertaining, and age-appropriate video games for your kids, all recommended by our readers.

Gaming for all ages



Halloween Spookfest!

Cute CostumesGhoulish GamesSpooky Annabel Karmel Recipes


Lil Devil InfantPrice: £9.99Is your little one a little devil? They can be in this costume, a romper suit with attached soft fabric wings and a headpiece.www.fancydress.com

Lil BatPrice: £9.99This little bat costume is clearly labelled as NOT INTENDED AS SLEEPWEAR, in our experience you will have a bit of a fight getting them out of this! The costume is a romper-siut with a headpiece and the wings are attached to the sleeves.www.fancydress.com

Angry Birds Yellow Bird Infant Costume

Price: £29.99Let your little one speed through the air

with this adorable Angry Birds Yellow Bird Infant Costume. This includes a plush

and comfortable character fleece which is done up by Velcro.

www.escapade.co.uk

Silly SpiderPrice: £15.99Incy Wincy spider climbing up the spout. Down came the rain, and washed poor Incy out, all the same he is so very cute. This costume is a padded body section and a hat.www.escapade.co.uk

Toddler Skelebones Halloween Costume

Price: £17.99It’s hard to find a scary costume for toddlers,

mainly because nature has predisposed them to be impossibly cute. However for the more adventurous

parents why not go for this fantastic Child’s Skelebones Halloween Costume.

www.escapade.co.uk

Halloween

Pumpkin Witch Child CostumePrice: £13.99This adorable Pumpkin Witch Child Costume is a fantastic choice for your little one this Halloween. Your little girl will have all they need for Trick or Treating this spooky season.www.escapade.co.uk

COstumEs 2012



Raptor Child Dinosaur CostumePrice: £23.99This fantastic Raptor Childs Dinosaur Costume will allow your little one to take a bite out of more than just a few sweets come Halloween. The fantastic kids costume includes a plush and comfortable red, brown and yellow jumpsuit with fake scale details. www.escapade.co.uk

Little BurglerPrice: £14.99 Look out! Look Out! Their is a burglar about! This costume contains the striped top, an eye mask, pair of trousers, hat and a little swag-bag. www.fancydress.com

Bobble Head Pumpkin Child CostumePrice: £39.99This evil pumpkin costume features a black robe, pointy fingered gloves, an oversized hood with rope tie and a supersize lightweight pumpkin head with bobble eyes and comfortable interior elastic head support. www.escapade.co.uk

Zombie Doctor Price: £32.99 Even the undead need good health care. The Zombie Doctor is sure to provide it. just look at this costume, the blood and guts are hanging out for all to see...GOR-TASTIC! Costume package consists of a top, trousers, zombie mask, scrub cap, latex gloves and a scrub mask. www.fancydress.com

Mad Hatter Wizard Child CostumePrice: £23.99This fantastic looking costume consists of a robe with an attached foam face and a hat complete with hair in a wizard design. The hat can be taken off leaving the rest of the face and beard on the chest.www.escapade.co.uk

Chucky CostumePrice: £29.99

This Halloween, transform into everyone’s favorite creepy doll with this kids Chucky costume. This

two-piece costume includes a half, replica mask of the child’s doll. The mask has red hair and red cuts over the face. It features slits for the eyes, nostrils

and mouth and is secured to the face with an elastic band that velcros.

www.escapade.co.uk



Witch’s Stew GamePucker up....this game requires skill, speed and raw straw-sucking power.

What you’ll need:StrawsConstruction paperBowl

Cut out several sets of shapes and let the players race head to head.

How to play:Before the party, ask your kids to help you cut ten Halloween shapes, such as ghosts, bats and pumpkins from construction paper. Each shape should be about the size of a silver dollar. Place the shapes in a pile beside a small bowl.

Using the straw as a vacuum, each contestant tries to pick up a shape and place it in the bowl to create the Witch’s Stew. Time the players to see who can get all ten in the bowl the fastest.

Mr. Bones Relay RaceHelp them burn off some of that Halloween candy with this bare-bones relay race.

What you’ll need:Skeleton TemplatePrinter Paper2 Bowls

How to play:Before the party, create the parts for the complete skeleton. Cut out all the parts. You can glue them onto craft foam or just use the paper parts.

At game time, divide players into teams of 2 or more and place each team’s parts in bowls across the room.

At “Go,” team members take turns retrieving 1 part from the bowl to build their skeleton. Players can assemble their skeletons on a flat surface or use double-sided tape to stick them to poster board mounted on a wall. The first team to correctly complete its skeleton wins.

Read the Cursed Text

The people of Grave’s End just discovered that someone -- or

something! -- has messed with the town’s famous historical marker. It might have been bewitched by a legendary pirate

ghost that haunts the village! Oddly, many villagers can still read the sign. Can you?

What’s Going On: Reading hexed text is easier than it looks, right? Language

experts aren’t entirely sure why, but one theory is that we don’t usually read words

letter by letter, we read them as whole units. So keeping the first and last letters of jumbled words in the right positions helps us decode them. Using short words and

predictable language and mixing in words that are spelled correctly are also thought to have an effect. Deos taht mkae snese?

On tihs sopt in 1708, therseidnets of Grave´s End fuoght a btatle agiasnt the

priate Captain E. Ville Dewar and his wckied

cerw. The btatle wnet on for tirheten dyas and edend

Octoebr 31, wehn the ctizeins sank thier sihp. Smoe say the

veengful Captain apaeprs ervey Haloleewn to cuase msicheif in the twon. Msot cizitnes rfesue to bleeive in

the ghsot leegnd, clalnig it “nnonesse.”

Gourd Games

Think pumpkins are just for carving into jack-o’-lanterns and baking into pies? Guess again. After the second helping of pumpkin pie, get up and get moving with this great-for-all-ages game.

They make the most of these roly-poly icons of autumn, whose uneven shapes can result in some erratic itineraries! Be sure to use small to medium-size pumpkins; large ones are too heavy.

How to playPumpkin Bowling: Arrange a triangle of 10 empty plastic 1- or 2-liter bottles. Players take turns gently rolling a pumpkin into the pins, with three chances to knock them all down.

Pumpkin Roll: Determine a starting line and a finish line. Set 2 pumpkins on their sides at the start and have the racers line up behind them. At “Go,” each pair of challengers uses sturdy brooms to propel the pumpkins over the finish line.

GamesGhoulish



Deadman’s Finger Sandwiches

These ghoulish sandwiches look terrific as Halloween Party Food

Method:

Gently flatten the slices of bread with a rolling pin to make them more pliable.

Spread with a little margarine and either some cream cheese or peanut butter.

Roll up the sandwiches and make three indentations with a blunt knife to form the finger joints.

Trim the ends of the fingers into a ‘V’ shape and stick an almond on to each tip with a little cream cheese or peanut butter to form the nails.Now for the gruesome bit - squirt some tomato ketchup over the end of the finger for the blood !

IngredientsThin sliced white

bread, crusts removedSoft margarine

Cream cheese or peanut butter

AlmondsStrawberry jam or tomato ketchup

REciPESSpooky



People traditionally dressed up in scary costumes to ward off Hallowe’en spirits. These ghoulish cakes have the opposite effect for children - they can’t keep away.

Method

Preheat the oven to 180c/350F/Gas Mark 4. Beat together the caster sugar, butter and vanilla essence until light and fluffy. Add one egg at a time with a tablespoon of flour for each egg. Beat well and fold in the remaining flour.

Spoon into 12 greased and floured dariole moulds, place on a baking tray and bake in

a pre-heated oven at 180C for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave to cool. Cut the top of the cakes off to form a flat surface and then turn out onto a board or plate. Leave until completely cold.

Roll out the white icing on a surface dusted with cornflour and cut out 12 circles (can use a saucer as a guide). From the trimmings, use a mini cutter to cut out some tiny oval shapes or roll some tiny balls of white icing into oval shapes. Dampen them with a little water and stick them onto the front of the ghost to make the eyes. Use the black writing icing to make the pupils.

Halloween Cakes - Ghoulish Ghosts

MAKES 18 HALLOWEEN CAKES

Ingredients175g butter

175g caster sugar1 tsp vanilla essence

3 eggs175g self-raising flour

Cornflour 750g ready to roll white icing

black and pink food colouring



Green Slime Lemonade

Homemade lemonade tastes great and it’s easy to prepare. Add a few drops of food colouring to give it a more murky and slimy look...

Method:

To make the syrup. Put the sugar in a heatproof bowl and add the hot water. Stir to dissolve the sugar, then set aside to cool.

Roll the lemons. This helps release the juice. Squeeze the lemons – you need 8 fl oz of juice.

Add the sugar syrup, chilled water and a few drops of food coloring.

Pour the juice into a round glass bowl and decorate with slices of lime, orange and kiwi.

SERVES 6

Ingredients1 cup sugar

Half cup hot water6 large lemons

One and a half pints waterA few drops of green

food colouringSlices of lime, orange

and kiwi



The Perfect MarriageI asked my 10 year old son, Alan, how will you decide who to marry? Well, he said, you got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.

Annabel, Ealing, London

Silly QuestionMummy: Kadon I think you´ve caught the sun today!Kadon: No mummy, my net isnt big enough to fit the sun in!Anna, Croydon

History Lesson“My 3-year-old daughter, Sofie says the funniest things! The latest one: ‘Mummy, did you know that someone found America?’ she asked me as I picked her up from nursery. ‘Oh really, sweetie?’ I replied. She responded, ‘Yes, it was a man called Chris Columbus.’ Then she paused for a few minutes and asked, ‘Mummy, how long was America lost for before that man found it again?’

Marta, Hampstead

Life Cycle Explained

My 5-year-old, Harry, explains the death of his grandfather to my 3-year-old son: ‘Grandpa died. Like Michael Jackson. He’s dead just like Michael Jackson.’”Louise, Brighton

Birds & the BeesMy 8 year old, Tony, was playing outside with his friends for a while when he came in and asked me, what’s that called when two people sleep in the same room and one is on top of the other?

I was a little taken aback, but decided to just tell him the truth.

‘It’s called sexual intercourse, darling’.

Little Tony just said, ‘Oh, okay,’ and went back outside to play.

A few minutes later he came back in and said angrily, ‘Mummy, it isn’t called sexual intercourse. It’s called Bunk Beds. And Jimmy’s mum wants to talk to you.’

Shirley, Kew

Silly GrannyOur 5 year old, Melanie, asked her Granny how old she was. Granny replied she was so old she didn’t

remember any more. Melanie said, ‘If you don’t remember you must look in the back of your panties.

Mine say five to six.’

Frankie, Barnet

Brilliant“Ahhh... I need to relax.” said my 3 year old, Cillian, as he jumps on the sofa. Did I mention he’s 3?Susan, Chelsea

Cute Conversation

Very Clever BottleMy 4 year old daughter, Brittany had an ear ache and wanted a pain killer.. She tried in vain to take the lid off the bottle. Seeing her frustration, I explained it was a child-proof cap and I would have to open it for her. Eyes wide with wonder, she asked: ‘How does it know it’s me?’

Sammy, Guildford

Share with us all the cute and funny things that your child says. Email us at [email protected]

TELL US“ ”


Check out all the latest dates and times for these displays by using the websites provided.

Get in the

groove

for Gun

Powder!

The Richmond DisplayThis year’s Richmond fireworks display will be a traditional affair, boasting a programme of family friendly entertainment. Alongside the fireworks there’ll be mulled wine, a very tasty hog roast, a bonfire and funfair rides for kids. And if it rains then fret not, they have a big covered stand to keep you dry.

Web: www.richmond.com

Fireworks Spooktacular, Legoland Round off your day at Legoland with a spectacular fireworks display in the evening, there’s fun galore and something for everyone!

Web: www.legoland.co.uk

The Enfield Display Put on by the Enfield Scouts and is a great family-friendly affair that continues to be a traditional must for anyone in the area. The whole event kicks off in Enfield Town Park.

Web: www.enfield.gov.uk

Walthamstow Display The Walthamstow fireworks display takesplace at Chestnut Showground (behind Walthamstow Town Hall) Children and families can enjoy fun fair rides and other events.

Web: www.londonevents2012.com

Carshalton DisplayMake the most of the tradition of gazing upwards at the colourful pyrotechnics lighting up the cold autumnal sky and pay a visit to the park’s bonfire if you need to warm up.

Web: www.carshaltonfireworks.org.uk

The Blackheath Display Something special for 2012, one of the most anticipated London fireworks displays each year, a truly dazzling display.

Web: www.lewisham.gov.uk

Ealing Cricket Club DisplayIf you like your firework displays to be dramatic and set to some rousing music, then head to the Ealing Cricket Club for a fantastic night. The fireworks will be accompanied by some very exciting rock music which will no doubt set the colourful displays off a treat.

Web: www.eailingcc.co.uk

Battersea Park DisplayPromising something special for visitors of all ages, lighting up the skies of Battersea Park with a dazzling show. Expect huge crowds on the night in one of London’s biggest and most popular annual events. A licensed bar is also on the premises.

Web: www.wandsworth.gov.uk



Classes

Club Petit PierrotTel: 0207 385 5565

Baby SensoryTel: 0759 437 1664

Baby YogaTel: 0208 968 1900

Baby SensoryTel: 0783 417 0485

Boogie Babies Tel: 0796 049 8208

Bright Sparks Tel: 0203 194 3178

Buzy Beez Tel: 07903 813 618

Catch a Ball Tel: 0208 398 3034

Caterpillar MusicTel: 0208 693 9731

ChatterbabiesTel: 0780 115 1968

Childrens play room Tel: 0207 639 1812

Crafty TalesTel: 0781 059 6342

Culture Kids Tel: 0781 844 0771

Dance StarsTel: 0775 374 8819

Digswell Toddler Group Tel: 0143 871 4893 Discover - Story Making CentreTel: 0208 536 5555

Jo Jingles Tel: 0149 477 8989

Kids@N20Tel: 0208 445 8889

Kids Play Cafe Tel: 0208 655 1583

Latino BambinoTel: 0796 183 8349

Monkey Music Tel: 0208 438 0189

Tumble Tots Tel: 0121 585 7003

Toy Library Tel: 0207 231 3755

Footprints Playgroup Tel: 020 8305 0520

West London Tots Tel: 07939 070 773

Private schools

Ashton House SchoolTel: 0208 560 3902

Bassett House Tel: 0208 969 0313

Channing Junior School Tel: 0208 342 9862

Chepstow House Tel: 0207 243 0243

Devonshire House Prep School Tel: 0207 435 1916

Dallington SchoolTel: 0207 251 2284

Eaton House School Tel: 0207 924 6000

Eaton Square SchoolTel: 0207 931 9469

Falkner HouseTel: 0207 373 4501

Francis Holland SchoolTel: 0207 730 2971

Garden House SchoolTel: 0207 730 1652

Hall SchoolTel: 0207 722 1700

Heathfield School GDST, Pinner Tel: 0208 868 2346

Highgate Pre-Preparatory Tel: 0208 340 9196

Knightsbridge SchoolTel: 0207 590 9000

Lloyd Williamson Schools - Telford RoadTel: 0208 962 0345

La Chouette SchoolTel: 0755 702 9255

L’Ecole Des PetitsTel: 0207 371 8350

London Christian SchoolTel: 0203 130 6430 Notting Hill Prep Tel: 0207 221 0727

The King Alfred Lower SchoolTel: 0208 457 5200

Wetherby SchoolTel: 0207 727 9581

Yesodey Hatorah SchoolTel: 0208 800 8612

Day Nurseries

St Mary Magdalen Montessori Nursery SchoolTel: 0208 878 0756

St Mary’s Summerstown Montessori Nursery SchoolTel: 0208 947 7359

Ackroyd Community Nursery Tel: 0208 291 4933

Asquith Battersea Day Nursery Tel: 0175 320 1122

Blooming Kidz Tel: 0208 695 9959

Blossoms Day Nursery Tel: 0208 760 0540

Blue House Day Nursery and PreschoolTel: 0208 681 7579

Bluebell Nursery Tel: 0208 566 7876

Carlton Hill Community NurseryTel: 0207 624 3814

Dicky Birds - SurbitonTel: 0208 942 5779

Dreammaker Day Nursery Tel: 0207 480 7166

Giggles & Wiggles Tel: 0208 566 4774

Goldstar Montessori Nursery Tel: 0208 364 6876

Green GablesTel: 0207 488 2374

Hillyfields Day nurseyTel: 0208 694 1069

Jackanory Tel: 0784 917 1524

Jelli Tots NurseryTel: 0208 451 5477

Jigsaw Day NurseryTel: 0208 646 6075

Keiki Day Care NurseryTel: 0208 340 3841

Kiddi Caru Day Nursery Tel: 0208 679 4009

Little AngelsTel: 0207 274 8333

Little Elves Montessori Nursery School Tel: 0792 176 1835

Little Leo’s Nursery Tel: 0208 211 3119

Mary Poppins Day NurseryTel: 0170 872 2800

Matilda Day NurseryTel: 0207 480 6396

Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery Tel: 0208 538 3999

Indoor Play

Adventure PlayzoneTel: 0208 539 8343

Bramleys Tel: 0208 960 1515

Eddie Catz Tel: 0845 201 1268

Funky Monkeys Tel: 0208 814 2167

It’s a Kid’s ThingTel: 0208 739 0909

Little Dinosaurs Tel: 0208 444 1338

Toddlers World Tel: 0208 527 5431

Tumble in the Jungle Tel: 0870 626 0710

Parties

Party Magic Box Web: www.partymagicbox.co.ukTel: 0791 316 8323

Boo! Tel: 0207 287 9090

Creative BiscuitTel: 0208 532 2824

Creation StationTel: 0844 854 9085

Fait Maison Tel: 0208 222 8755

Lila’s PartyTel: 0772 232 0862

NuttyTel: 0788 405 0954

Perform PartiesTel: 0845 400 4000

The Action Station Tel: 0870 770 2705

The Little ThingsTel: 0142 487 0398

Tin Pan AnnieTel: 0208 670 0644

Violet and Lily Tel: 0208 946 2353

Directory & Services


Half Term Camps

Active Sport:Tel: 0115 973 1676

Advanturous Muslim Summer CampTel: 0207 252 0509

AllsortsTel: 0208 969 3249

Camp BeaumontTel: 0126 382 3000

Crazee KidsTel: 0208 444 5333

Creative Wiz KidsTel: 0207 794 6797

Cross KeysTel: 0208 371 9686

Hampstead Dyslexia ClinicTel: 0208 455 5107

Fit For Sport LtdTel: 0845 456 3233

F Z YTel: 0208 201 6661

Let Me PlayTel: 0208 735 5379

Jewellery Summer schoolTel: 0203 176 0546

Jonathan Markson TennisTel: 0207 603 2422

Kids Theatre week Tel: 0207 557 6799

Little Actors Summer SchoolTel: 0800 389 6184

Little KickersTel: 0193 242 9602

London Childrens BalletTel: 0208 969 1555

Music MakersTel: 0142 565 4819

Stage Coach Tel: 0193 225 4333

Super CampsTel: 0123 583 2222

React Drama WorkshopsTel: 0208 366 1623

Days Made EasierTel: 0208 201 7072

Allsorts DramaTel: 0208 969 3249

all4kidsTel: 0787 625 4691

Play five asideTel: 0203 432 9584

Photography

AdaTel: 0208 525 1444

Bravo PostTel: 0207 287 7811

Clare Breheny Tel: 0797 375 3636

Garnham PhotographyTel: 0771 194 1208

Little LookersTel: 0779 395 3610

LomographyTel: 0207 434 1466

Magic RainbowTel: 0794 638 0581

Murphy JamesTel: 0207 278 4770

SilverprintTel: 0207 620 0844

White ToddTel: 0207 734 9070

Yoga/Fitness

Beez KneezTel: 0208 354 1583

Egoist Body StudiosTel: 0785 092 7523

Good VibesTel: 0207 240 6111

Light Centre BelgraviaTel: 0207 881 0728

Mama SamboTel: 0208 354 1583

Me and My Baby Clinic Tel: 0207 751 4170

Pregnancy Yoga Tel: 0795 829 6647

The Life CentreTel: 0207 221 4602

TriyogaTel: 0207 483 3344

Yoga & Pilates London Tel: 0207 735 2177

YoganessTel: 0795 668 1796

Yoga4BirthTel: 0208 923 6452

Yoga College of LondonTel: 0207 373 7070

Baby Massage and Yoga Tel: 0758 206 9378

Mum-me-timeTel: 0798 145 6470

Health Centres

Victoria Medical centerTel: 0207 834 2298

Waterloo Health CenterTel: 0207 928 4049

Birdhurst Medical Practice Tel: 0208 686 2070

Bloomsbury Street Surgery Tel: 0207 837 8559

East Barnet health centre Tel: 0208 440 1251

St James Medical center Tel: 0208 684 5353

Killick Street health centre Tel: 0207 833 9939

Mitchison Road surgery Tel: 0207 226 6016

The London General Practice Tel: 0207 935 1000

CityDocTel: 0207 256 8668

Dover House SurgeryTel: 0208 807 1888

Willow House SurgeryTel: 0208 363 0472

The James Wigg PracticeTel: 0203 317 2000

Clein Dr LewisTel: 0207 580 8356

Antenatal

Birthing Babies Tel: 0779 685 0016

Birth Hypnosis Tel: 0774 707 5340

Calm Birth Calm Baby Tel: 0794 976 4105

CupcakeTel: 0208 875 1065

Gas & AirTel: 0797 425 3461

Gilly Keith Antenatal Tel: 0796 856 6396

Inspiring Births Tel: 0777 542 5301

Mybabyclass Tel: 0781 260 4405

The SummitTel: 0208 340 4040

Portland HospitalTel: 0207 580 4400

Shops

Blooming BumpEmail: [email protected]: www.bloomingbump.com

Biff Tel: 0208 299 0911

Blue DaisyTel: 0207 681 4144

BootsTel: 0207 409 2982

Bonpoint Tel: 0207 792 2515

CaramelTel: 0207 589 7001

Early Learning CentreTel: 0207 581 5764

HamleysTel: 0871 704 1977

Easy 2 Name LablesTel: 0163 529 8326

Just Williams ToysTel: 0203 538 6798 ‎

Marie-Chatal Tel: 0207 838 1111

Mush Kids ltdTel: 0208 653 6635

Mimmo Tel: 0207 731 4706

Mother CareTel: 0207 581 5764

Mummy & Little MeTel: 0152 254 8811

Oh Baby London Tel: 0207 247 4949

Pares Footwear Tel: 0208 297 0785

Petite Ange Tel: 0207 235 7737

Pom D Api Tel: 0207 243 0535

Please Mum Tel: 0207 486 1380

Ralph LaurenTel: 0207 590 7990

Roobub&CustardTel: 0779 645 1513

RykielTel: 0207 493 5255

Small PrintTel: 0208 567 7871

The CrossTel: 0207 727 6760



Call us on: 07514852648

Or email us at: [email protected]

Make the most of your business

Half page adverts

only £395

Quarter page adverts

only £225


In our Christmas Edition

Advertise with Us


SLEEP CONSULTANT

BEHAVIOUR AND DISCIPLINE

EATING AND WEANING

07787 821 [email protected]



In our Christmas Edition

















Documents

Rascals Of London 6