78% of families in the UK with disabled children or children with terminal conditions are kept in the dark for a year or more about what support is available to them.

A survey by new disabled children’s charity Sky Badger shows that only 9% of families are told about disability support within four weeks of diagnosis and a shocking 34% are never told about the help available to them at all.

With cuts to benefits and services, many families of seriously ill and disabled children are struggling to cope, even though help is available, because they just don’t know it’s there.

Sky Badger will help parents get respite care, so they can have a night of unbroken sleep or just a couple of hours’ break; it will help them find out about ‘make a wish’ charities, funders who will help them pay for mobility equipment, specialist insurance and counselling services.

But Sky Badger will do even more than that. It will show families where they can take their disabled child ice-skating, or rock climbing or on safari. Sky Badger exists to show disabled kids that great adventures are possible.

Sky Badger patrons include Professor Stephen Hawking, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, Master of the Rolls Lord Neuberger and Gerald Scarfe.

Gerald Scarfe told us: “My childhood asthma meant I spent a lot of time in bed and in hospital, and not much time with friends. I felt isolated and afraid. Drawing was my way of coping. I drew constantly, putting my fears down on paper. This was the beginning of my creative life. I believe that personal difficulties can push you to do great things, that’s why I am a patron of Sky Badger.”

Four mothers founded Sky Badger. Between their 11 children, three are disabled and two have life-limiting conditions. The trustees include Celia Patterson, who worked at So Television, an independent production company that makes the Graham Norton Show.

Posted by Clare Kersey

Look out – Paddington’s back in town!
In celebration of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year and the London 2012 Olympics, Paddington returns to DVD with these two fantastic titles!

Paddington in London features one of Britain’s most-loved icons on a tour of the capital as he visits some of London’s famous landmarks in twelve timeless animated adventures.
Includes the classic episodes ‘Paddington goes underground’, ‘Trouble at the waxworks’, ‘Paddington at the Tower’ and many more!

Paddington Bear Special Edition Complete DVD Collection features all 56 classic episodes plus three feature-length specials, beautifully packaged in a four disc boxed set. An ideal gift for fans young and old!

DVD OUT NOW, or you can enter our competition. We have 2 of the special edition boxed sets to give away and 5 Paddington in London DVDs.

Posted by Clare Kersey

The nominations for the prestigious JOHNSON’S® Baby Mums’ Midwife of the Year Award has opened,  the only award that allows new mums to nominate their deserving midwives as a special ‘thank you’ for all their support before, during and after birth.

Part of the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) Annual Midwifery Awards and sponsored by the JOHNSON’S® Baby brand, the JOHNSON’S® Baby Mums’ Midwife of the Year Award celebrates midwives who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. The award offers recognition for midwives who have supported mums through a difficult pregnancy or labour or have gone the extra mile to make the birth of a child a truly amazing experience to cherish forever.

Nominations are open from now until Monday 3rd September 2012 and mums can nominate their midwife by simply logging on to www.johnsonsbaby.co.uk/midwifeoftheyear and explaining why they feel their midwife deserves this award.

Last year’s winner of the JOHNSON’S® Baby Mums’ Midwife of the Year, Debbie Oram, was nominated by mum Olwen Mayes for her role in the birth of baby Huw. She said: “Winning the award last year truly stunned me. As a midwife, I find it so rewarding to guide each mother through the journey in their own individual way, so to be recognised for this is a dream come true! I’m incredibly humbled to have been involved and to share this experience with Olwen and the other deserving finalists.”

A carefully selected panel of mums and midwives will choose six regional winners who’ll be invited to accept their trophy at the prestigious Royal College of Midwives Annual Midwifery Awards in London, where the overall JOHNSON’S® Baby Mums’ Midwife of the Year will be announced. And what’s more, all the mums who nominated the winners can attend the awards too! The Awards event is a unique opportunity for midwives to learn about innovative and exemplary projects in fields that promote normal birth, excellence in research and addressing inequalities in health. It is also a chance for them to meet leading members of the midwifery profession and senior health officials. It promises to be a really magical day, with a gourmet meal and special guests in attendance.

Posted by Clare Kersey

Come and visit the Kids’ Uni!

Come along to an exciting day of lectures and activities for 7 to 11 year olds and find out what happens at the University of Essex!

The day of lectures and activities will run from 10am until 4pm on Saturday 26th May 2012 at the firstsite gallery in Colchester. And the best bit is, the whole day is absolutely free!

What’s happening?

Eight exciting and interactive mini lectures, between 20 and 30 minutes long. Loads of activities including seeing your brain waves on a computer, looking at live sea creatures through a microscope, having a go at acting and filming and being on a mock jury, plus quizzes and colouring. The chance to get a Kids’ Uni certificate and have your graduation photo taken.

The event will be taking place in the fantastic new firstsite gallery in the heart of Colchester. You will get to experience what a real University lecture may be like in the 190 seater auditorium, plus get to wander round the exciting selection of stalls in this stunning art gallery building.

The event will be taking place in the fantastic new firstsite gallery in the heart of Colchester. You will get to experience what a real University lecture may be like in the 190 seater auditorium, plus get to wander round an exciting selection of stalls in this stunning art gallery building.

Children’s University

The event has been validated by the Children’s University, which is a national organisation that enhances young children’s lives with exciting and innovative activities and experiences. If your child is already involved in the Children’s University, you can bring along your passport to be stamped on the day.

The event has been organised by seven members of staff through the University’s Essex Futures programme. For more information on the day, or if you would like to know more about the University or Essex Futures visit the Kids Uni website.

Although this event is free you do need to book a place.

Posted by Clare Kersey

Currently on our competitions page you could win:

• 3 Pairs of tickets to the Great Blake House Maze.
• One of six Morphsuits.
• Two weeks of food delivered from Get Fresh for a family of 4.
• A family ticket for The Tiger Who Came to Tea.
• 2 family tickets for Peter Pan.
• A Jubilee themed prize bundle (including a Scuttlebug).
• 8 different book titles.
• An Olympic themed book bundle.

It is really easy to enter, just follow this link.  Good Luck!

Posted Clare Kersey

British children are more familiar with being strapped into a car seat than putting on a pair of trainers and going for a walk, according to national charity Living Streets at the launch of Walk to School Week (21-25 May).  Parents are risking the health and well-being of their kids by relying on the car rather than taking to their feet.

Research shows that the number of children travelling to school by car over the past 20 years has doubled, with the proportion of children walking to school reaching its lowest level ever.  Just 47% of primary school-aged kids now walk to school, with the figure falling to a paltry 36% amongst secondary school pupils.

It’s unsurprising therefore that the Government’s Chief Medical Officers state that 68% of boys and 76% of girls aged between 2 years and 15 years do not meet the minimum recommendation of an hour of moderate physical activity per day, resulting in exposure to health risks such as obesity, weak bones and future heart disease.  Anecdotal research also suggests that many children are no longer taught basic life skills such as how to cross the road safely.

Living Streets wants national Walk to School Week to highlight the benefits that walking can have for young people and their parents by increasing physical activity, improving life and social skills, reducing congestion around the school gate and saving on fuel costs.

Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said:

“Walking to school is a brilliant way to get exercise and some fresh air into a child’s day. When children are bundled from front door to car door, they miss out on the opportunity to socialise with friends, get to know their community, and burn off some energy before getting their heads down in the books.

“We’re urging families up and down the country to give it a go during Walk to School Week this year. We think you’ll be amazed at what a difference a short blast of fresh air can do for you. It’s free, green and easy and above all it works. Schools that have adopted our own Walk Once a Week scheme have recorded higher incidence of walking than the national average. We need to encourage children to get walking now and set healthy habits for the future.”

Living Streets has developed some fantastic resources to help you promote walking in your school or local authority. Log on to www.walktoschool.org.uk <http://www.walktoschool.org.uk/>  for classroom challenge packs, information about setting up park and stride schemes and even free lesson plans!

Posted by Clare Kersey

Easton William

After a tough year for the Suffolk horse in 2011 where there was a decrease in the number of foals born, Easton Farm Park are delighted to announce the birth of Easton William, a Suffolk Punch foal born to bring in May Day and already strutting his stuff with his mother Mary on the farm.  The Suffolk Punch horse is rarer than the Giant Panda and each foal born is a cause for celebration.

As well as Easton William, there is a new hairy Mangalitsa pig at Easton Farm Park and lots of lambs, kid goats, bunnies, chicks and ducklings.

This is a unique opportunity to meet the newest arrival on the farm, Easton William, as well as the farm’s other Suffolk Punch horses and all our other animals.  Easton Farm Park is open every day from 10:30am.

For more details please visit www.eastonfarmpark.co.uk

Posted by Clare Kersey

From the much loved children’s CBeebies series, Little Charley Bear uses his imagination to go on adventures and discover new things about himself and the world around him.  The contemporary show inspires creativity, discovery and imagination amongst pre-schoolers.

Up, Up & Away Little Charley Bear – Cuddly Little Charley Bear is dressed as a pilot and sits in his bright red plane so you can fly him around and listen to the plane sounds as he goes!

You can also visit Charley on his Facebook page.

If you would like the chance to win an Up, Up and away Little Charley Bear or some of our other fantastic prizes then visit the KidAround Competition page

Posted by Clare Kersey

Idioma means language.  The company name has been chosen very carefully with languages in mind.  The products designed by Idioma are quintessentially language and design focused.  Idioma is a merging of two talented freelancers:  language specialist and designer.  Our objective is to focus on promoting world languages through eye-catching contemporary design.  A first product, our A3 language mats encapsulate the company message.  Creative, colourful, modern and dynamic, the Idiomats present an exciting noisy backcloth of new sounds for children, young people and families alike. Offering a choice of 5 different languages: French, German, Italian, Spanish and English, each Idiomat offers English and the foreign language equivalent on either side.  What better way than to get a youngster started on a new world language?  Such a spirited, and practical hands-on task, cannot fail to enthral your youngster, all for a small cost. The reverse of the mat in English is designed to allow a child independently to lay a place setting at a table.  Left and right for laying out the fork and knife cannot be confused providing the child has our Idiomat in front of them.  National speakers – children – pronounce all the words displayed on the mats. Pronunciation for these 5 language options can be found on the blogging area of the website at:  www.idioma.eu.com

Idioma launched in October 2011 at the Language Show, Olympia, London.  They received a warm reception from a curious audience comprising primary and high school teachers, enthusiastic language-orientated parents, academics and companies of all shapes and sizes.  There has been great support for a useful hands-on activity product such as the Idiomat.  Associated with the mat are many role playing activities.  Delegating table-setting to your child is going to yield a much needed responsibility.  Fulfilling this task in a world language, or in English, will give the child a sense of importance, confidence and theatricality.  It may well engender a curiosity about differently formed words and sounds.  As a parent, you may find yourself being drawn into this world of sounds.  Maybe you yourself start to take an interest in Spanish, or reflect on where you parted company with German, as a young person.  The Idiomats are designed to cater for different language skills/levels.

Scenarios:  Imagine role-playing with the family at mealtimes …. or with grandparents coming to Sunday lunch.  Maybe Dad wants the Italian mat, and so does Mum.  Well, one of them will have to go with German this time, and then, oh dear, the youngest one wants the French mat.  Simple, make a rota, and let the kids organise it, using the languages available.  Using the numbers on the right of each mat, kids can count the potatoes on their plate, or how many strawberries there are in their bowl.  And with colours featured too, strawberries become rouge, rot, rosso, rojo, or red.  Why not make up a quiz about where in the world these languages are spoken?

Last but not least, learning a language can create a zest for building communication skills.  Individual and family dynamics may develop exponentially.  Likewise, confidence and self-awareness are bolt-ons.

Yours to win a pack of Idiomats, and they would love your feedback.  If you aren’t lucky enough to win, then visit the website and place an order with Idioma Ltd.

Good luck! – Bonne chance! – Viel Glück! – Buona fortuna! – ¡Suerte!

To stand a chance of winning a Idiomat or one of our other prizes visit our competition page.

Posted by Clare Kersey

Swaddling designed for Baby

The Star Wrap is swaddling at its best, both for baby and parents. Wrapped loosely in the Star Wrap, Baby can move easily but still feel secure and comfortable, the unique shape provides a modern twist on the everyday blanket by ensuring that baby’s legs stay in the Wrap and cannot kick themselves free.

The Star Wrap has been designed specifically without a hood in order to prevent over heating and a cotton lined inside keeps Baby cool. When it is time to move Baby, the Star Wrap aids convenience allowing Parents to put Baby in a car seat or stroller, fitting the harness around the Star Wrap without the need to wake or unsettle a sleeping child.

By going to the Tippitoes website you can find out more about these lovely items, and read the reviews from happy customers.

To enter visit the competition section of our magazine for this and other great prizes.

Posted by Clare Kersey