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New school year!
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Yes, the new school year has well and truely started. My little girl, Alice, is now a big girl in year 1!I have got quite used to later starts and spending time together. But it is good to get back into our routine again. I'm sure many of your feel the same no matter what age your children as the little ones classes have  all restarted too!At What's On 4 we've been helping a lot of the activity leaders get ready for the new term with new classes and groups.
We do hear of classes closing in these difficult times but we also hear of many new ones (Alice and I loved Bopping Babies disco last week!) so please support your local activities as much as you can. We've also been testing and reviewing loads of products for all the family. Thank you to our marvellous Mums' Network and their children for poking, prodding and putting these products through their paces!
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4 the whole family |
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Mums 4 Mums! We've been working really hard with our Mums' Network to review all different sorts of products for you and your family. As well as toys there are products for family health, education, clothes, home and garden, parenting and holidays.
So if you are looking for ideas and real opinions from real Mums just like you then visit our Mums 4 Mums pages...
For products for little ones take a look here and for older children go here. | |
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Lots of new jobs on mumandworking
It's all go on mumandworking at the moment with lots of new jobs with flexible family-friendly employers now recruiting again after the summer break.
Even if you're not looking for a new job you will find lots of help and advice for working Mums. Put a question to our career agony aunt or use our new forum for advice from fellow mums or seek inspiration by reading our working mum's blog!
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4 Little Ones |
Meet Melody Bear... at a dancing school near you!
 Who is Melody Bear®?
She is the focal point of the Melody Movement® early learning dance and
movement program for children aged 2 to 4 years, created by Jill Bridger, Royal
Academy of Dance ballet teacher based in Cambridge. Melody Bear's
action songs, stories and unique picture cards lead girls and boys through a
journey of imaginative dance and play. She is full of surprises
and her favorite dances include a magical flight on a swan, swirling autumn
leaves, birthday ballerinas, her cheerleading song and the story of Cinderella
to name just a few!
There
are over 350 dance teachers using the exciting Melody Movement syllabus in their
ballet schools and you can find a class near you by visiting www.melodymovement.com. In addition to introducing children to dance using the
natural movements of the body such as running, walking and jumping, classes
focus on fundamental curriculum learning skills such as counting, colour and
shape recognition, vocabulary and language skills. The strength of
the system is that learning is achieved through creative movement which is
enjoyable and fun.
Jill
says, "Melody Movement instills a love of dance making it a positive element of
children's early lives which stays with them. They learn from a
young age how music, movement, dance and the imagination can be combined to tell
a story and convey emotions."
The fast growth of Melody Bear's popularity since her creation in
2005 has resulted in Melody Movement teachers also offering Jill's
'First Ballet with Melody Bear' as the step-up class and Tip Tap Toe with Melody
Bear' for tap dancing for the under 5s. And the fun
doesn't just stop with classes. Melody Bear has her own story
books and CDs so everyone can dance at home to the memorable Melody Bear songs
and tunes!
To
find out more about Melody Movement and Melody Bear, visit www.melodymovement.com
and www.melodybear.com. Telephone enquiries to 01480 469711.
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Go Totally Tots!
Totally Tots
is run by two local business mums, Emma and Shelley, who are working
very hard to make a difference for local communities.
The
Oxfordshire Baby and Child Fair is being held on 26th
September at The Oxford Belfry Hotel, Milton Common. Situated on the
A40, just off
the M40, the venue is readily accessible to Oxford city centre, High
Wycombe, Marlow, Henley, Aylesbury, Banbury, Abingdon, Bicester and
all the (many) places in between.
The
Fair is a first for South Oxfordshire and its going to be a fun,
informative day out, with lots of local businesses involved providing
products, services and activities aimed at the maternity to five
market. The fair is in support of the Oxfordshire Playbus, who are
looking to raise £300,000 to provide a new sensory bus for the area.
The Playbus does an invaluable job and funds will be raised in a
Grand Prize Draw on the day.
- Have
your portrait taken with the Capture Images team.
- Jump
aboard the Playbus for lots of FREE fun
- FREE
Goody bags for the first 500 visitors.
- FREE
demonstration sessions.
- Creative
play with Craft-Ed
- WIN
in the Playbus charity Prize Draw.
- Facepainting...hair
braiding... pottery painting...silverprint jewellery and more
- Meet
Bertie Bear of Perfect Party Solutions.
- Leave
your dad in the Daddies Creche sponsored by Scally Rally.
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Win tickets to PETER PAN at Theatre Royal Brighton
This Christmas Theatre Royal
Brighton brings PETER PAN to life
in a fabulous new musical production.
 This magical adventure whisks the
audience away over the rooftops of London to an enchanted land of Lost Boys,
beautiful mermaids, swashbuckling pirates and a very large crocodile.
Children of all ages (and adults who never grew up) will marvel at the
swashbuckling antics of Captain Hook, the flying feats of Peter and the playful
cheekiness of Tinkerbell! Spectacular sets and costumes, stunning special
effects, a live band and a company of first-class musical theatre performers
turn this classic tale into a perfect Christmas treat that everyone will
enjoy.
Think happy thoughts, sprinkle on some fairy dust, enter our
competition and you could be flying off to Theatre Royal Brighton to join Peter,
Wendy, John & Michael!
Win a family ticket (four tickets, min 2
children) for a performance of PETER
PAN, and a goody bag full of Peter Pan treats worth over £100! To enter answer the short question here
PETER PAN 4 December 2009 - 3 January 2010
Box Office 08448 717 650 (bkg fee)
Group discounts 08448 717 617 www.ambassadortickets.com/brighton
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Walk to School with Pom-Bear
 According to research sponsored by Pom-Bear, 41%
of children over 7 currently don't walk to school. Of those parents who do walk
their children to school, the main benefit of doing so was exercise (50%), with
the walk to and from school ensuring kids get enough physical exercise each day.
Following exercise, enabling kids to learn about road safety awareness was given
as the next main benefit for kids walking to school (by 23% of parents
surveyed).
Pom-Bear recognises the many benefits for kids of walking to
school and offers the following safety advice for parents supporting Walk to
School month this October.
Pom-Bear's safe walking tips
- Teach
your children the Green Cross Code and ensure they put this into practice every
time they're out walking. Children should not walk to school alone until they
have learnt and confidently practice the code
- Where
possible, walk on pavements, keeping well away from the curb, and always walk
between your children and the traffic
- Make
sure they can be seen at all times by using reflective and high visibility
clothing. This is especially important at night and as the mornings and early
evenings become darker during winter
- Hold
their hands firmly at all times
- Teach
them to pay attention when walking and never listen to personal stereo systems,
use mobile phones or hand-held games
Pom-Bear is a
fun teddy-bear shaped potato snack that children love. Deliciously crisp and
light they melt in the mouth to give a unique taste. Pom-Bear is also one snack
that you won't mind them having. Each pack is made from the best quality
potatoes and cooked with 100% Pure Sunflower oil making them an even lighter eat
by further reducing saturated fat. Pom-Bear is also suitable for vegetarians and
contains no 'nasties'.
WIN Follow the Bear safe walking
kits!
Visit www.pom-bear.co.uk for more information, a fun safety quiz
for your children and a chance to win a Follow the Bear safe walking kit
including high visibility sports cap and book bag, plus a multipack of Pom-Bear
potato snacks for your kids to enjoy as a treat.
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Our Party Guru Tracey Benton...
 Photo-tastic! Another great birthday party idea!
"Wouldn't you know it - the sun's out (well it was at the time of writing
this!) and to make the most of the last few rays of summer here's a lovely
simple activity to share with a group of kids either as Birthday Party activity
or as the conclusion to a wonderful walk through the local park. Even better it
combines art, science and fun all in one easy project and the materials cost
less than a fiver."
Click here to visit Tracey's website for all the details.
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Real Parties
Tell us about your children's birthday parties, every story we feature wins a special gift!
Email your story in 300 words or less, tell us how you planned the party, what happened on the day, a photo and include any tips for other parents!
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4 Next month...
- Halloween and Half Term
- Meet La Jolie Ronde
- Win a Dodo Pad Calender
- Win with "Tarrant lets the kids loose!!
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