Happy Days Newsletter
Issue no: 24 Summer 2007

‘Sometimes I wonder what I’m a gonna do, but there ain’t no cure for the Summertime blues’…Yes it summer time and the livin'’ is sneezy! Our sympathies if the pollen gets too much for those who suffer from the dreaded hayfever at this time of year, but summer is the season of fun. After all where else can you have all those barbeques in the rain? Whatever you are doing this summer make it fun and enjoy yourselves. There’s tons of fun things going on at all our nurseries – just have a look at all the children’s displays!

SQUARE EYES!

‘Children under three should not watch any TV and older children should have their TV viewing rationed to a recommended daily allowance’. So says a top behavioural scientist, Dr Aric Sigman, who is advising a cross party group of MP’s on public health matters.
He quotes medical studies that have linked excessive TV watching to difficulties in sleeping, obesity and behaviour amongst older children. Not surprisingly, Dr Sigman argues that children should not have TV’s in their bedrooms and that all parents should be made aware of the detrimental effects of watching too much TV.
So, how much is too much? Dr Sigman says no more than 1 hour per day between ages 3 and 7 rising up to a maximum of 2 hours per day for children aged 16 and over.
What do you think?

In the news recently...

A 2 year old boy had to be rescued by firefighters after he got a toilet seat stuck on his head. The boy’s mother took him to the Braintree fire station in Essex with the wedged-on potty trainer. Firefighter Chris Cox said, ‘We put dishwashing liquid on his head and ears and it slid off nice as pie.’

A survey by Pizza Express chain found that eight out of ten people think children’s table manners are getting worse. Around 85% of the people polled wished that children would switch off games and iPods at the table as well as being nice to waiters and refraining from running around the restaurant. (see our article on parents guide to shared mealtimes).

Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell has announced plans to write children’s books with characters including Posh Vatoria and Uncle Gordon (the latter being apparently inspired by Ramsey and not Brown).

Children are being asked by police to spy on their parents in the car reported the Daily Express. Cleveland police are recruiting children to be ‘seat belt sheriffs’ and shame drivers into wearing their seat belts and not using their mobile phones.

Recent auditions for the revival of the Sound of Music led to over 2,000 children queuing for hours to try and secure a part as one of the von Trapp family.

The narrator of Trumpton and Camberwick Green is the best-loved voice from British children’s television according to a poll from the BBC. Brian Cant, now 73, beat Bagpuss and Ivor the Engine narrator Oliver Postgate into second place. Goes to show that the oldies are still the best!

~NEWS FROM OUR NURSERIES~

Parents Reminders…

Please keep us up to date with any changes to your contact details, especially mobile telephone numbers! If we need to contact you in a hurry it helps to have the right number on which to reach you.
If you are starting to use childcare vouchers please let us know so that we can get the account set up with your voucher provider as soon as possible.
Please label your child’s clothes so that they do not become lost and remember to periodically check our lost property boxes in case you’re wondering what happened to that top / fleece / anorak / trainers, etc.

Ten Year Childcare Strategy ‘down the drain’…

The much publicised Labour childcare strategy has been widely judged to be a futile and pointless exercise. Professor of Early Childhood Studies, Helen Penn dismisses it as being a ‘sorry record of muddle and missed opportunities culminating in a shocking number of young children still living in poverty’. The strategy coupled with the childcare tax credits were intended to encourage mothers back into work. However, figures from the NAO show that the number of mothers in employment has barely changed in the last ten years. So another Government initiative has failed to deliver? Well, no change there then.

Taxing times…

A two-tier childcare tax credit should be introduced to bring free early years provision to the families that need it the most, according to a new report. Currently, middle-income working families are winning out most while non-working families benefit the least from Government funding for childcare. This is the conclusion of the report entitled ‘Early Years Education and Life Chances’ published by the think tank Centre Forum.

The report argues that Government should pay the credits at two levels – a higher rate for working families and a lower rate for nonworking families. The Government’s child poverty chief, Lisa Harker, says that, ‘the proposals are worth close consideration.’

What our children say…

Zak was lying on the cushions in the quiet area and Kerry asked him if he was tired.
‘No’, he replied, ‘I’m just chilling!’

Preschool were playing with the medical set and torch. Liam looked up Janice’s nose with the torch and announced, ‘I can see hairs and worms up there!’
Meanwhile, Damien shone the torch into Kerry’s ear and said ‘I can’t see your baby in there!’

James was talking about his new house to pre-school and said ‘you can all stay at my new house because it’s massive and I have even got two spare bedrooms!’

When Ellie had finished on the toilet, she was asked to wipe herself and she replied, ‘I can’t, my arms are too short!’

Reeve told us his mummy was having a baby. When asked if it was going to be a boy or a girl he said he didn’t know but that it was going to come out in September!

Layla pretended she was going to McDonalds. She was going to buy chips for her friends and said with a sigh, ‘Mummy will have to have 20 chicken nuggets again!’

Thomas was asked if he was going to nursery to play with his friends and he replied, ‘No, I’m going to work with my friends!’

Tweenies were having their lunch and a member of the staff had said to them that the veg was a bit hot, to which Katie announced ‘My mummy is hot!’

Pre-school were deciding what name to give to their newly hatched chick. Debbie asked for any suggestions and Thomas put his hand up and said, ‘I know, let’s call it Roast!’

Debbie and Tracey were sorting out some paper and pencils for preschool and Debbie said she could still see the children as she had got eyes in the back of her head. Lucy said, ‘Hmm, my mummy’s got them too!’

Liam had been off sick and his Mum had asked him if he’d lost his voice. ‘Yes, he whispered, ‘you find it for me please!’

Pre-school were being served strawberry cheesecake for dessert when they decided they didn’t like the idea. Rachel tried to
convince them saying that it wasn’t really cheese, to which Matthew asked, ‘If it’s not really cheese, why is it called cheesecake then?’

Pre-school were going outside and Anthony said he now had bigger sunglasses because ‘my ears have grown!’

James said he had to be a vegetarian because ‘Christine didn’t buy organic sausages!’

Whilst enjoying his lunch, Daniel asked, ‘Can I have some more gravy?’ Barbara reminded him to say ‘please’ and Daniel laughed and said, ‘it’s not called please, it’s called gravy!’

Songs to sing…

Editors favourite – Little Peter Rabbit – will have all the Mums and Dads singing away with their children on the way home in the care! Altogether now… Little Peter Rabbit’s got a fly upon his nose (repeat x 3); So he flipped it and he flopped it and the fly flew away! Powder puffs and curly whiskers (repeat x 3); So he flipped it and he flopped it and the fly flew away! Clever, clever Peter Rabbit (repeat x 3); So he flipped it and he flopped it and the fly flew away!

School Progress Report (from our Parents)…

We receive lots of nice comments and letters from parents and here’s a couple that caught our eye…

“To everyone at Happy Jays nursery…a very big thank-you for looking after Joseph so well in the baby room, Tweenies and Preschool. He has had a great time in all the rooms and talks about his friends at nursery all the time. All the staff have been wonderful with Joseph and very friendly. We will all miss you very much”
– from Juliet and Ben.

“Dear Margaret, I am writing to give notice that Toby will be leaving at the end of August to join his big sister at school from September. It is hard to put into words our thanks to you and your wonderful staff at Happy Jays. You know only too well how much trust we as parents put in you to care for our little ones. From day one I need not have worried – the caring nature of all
the staff really shines through and I know from the bonds that Toby has built up with staff that he is truly happy and content when I leave him at Happy Jays on a morning. I would particularly like to mention some very special people – firstly Jackie who from day one forged a very special relationship with Toby (and judging by the amount of kisses they share, it is totally reciprocated!) – she truly cares about his well-being – she is a star. I will miss her almost as much as Toby will. The there is Christine who not only
feeds all the children so well, but on the weepy, tearful mornings (be they mine or Toby’s!) she is fabulous with her nononsense
attitude and I leave knowing everything is OK. The other girls have obviously played a big part in Toby’s happiness at Happy
Jays including Nardeanne, Kristina, Angela and Michelle to whom I also say a big thank-you. Thanks also to Tony and Jacqui who have made such a wonderful impact on Carlinghow since they took over. The investment in facilities and staff makes Happy Jays a nursery I will highly recommend to others. Finally to you Margaret – thank you for the two years you cared so well for
Sophie, I will never forget that either, you too are a star. Our very best to all at Happy Jays and another BIG THANK YOU! ”
- from Fiona and Peter.’

Well done everyone and thank you to all parents for your kind comments – they make us feel very proud.
There’s lots more at each of the nurseries in the Parents Information file – feel free to ask to see them at anytime.

Advice Corner A parents guide to “Shared Mealtimes”

We all know that hectic lifestyles have taken their toll on family mealtimes. Nowadays a quarter of all British household do not even own a dining table. An average meal is now eaten in less than 15 minutes – less than half the time spent eating two decades ago. A recent survey showed some eight out of 10 children regularly eat in front of the TV or a computer screen. There are, however, important links both social and psychological in sharing mealtimes together with your children and allowing
family members to bond, talk and plan together.

At nursery we emphasise table manners with the children. Mealtimes are a time for children to enjoy and learn about their food as well as learning how to eat it properly. Several nursery groups seem to think that this is something new, but we know that it is just plain old good practice.

Tips for successful shared mealtimes

• If it is not possible to eat together every day, try to allocate a night or two a week when you eat together as a family. Think of the recent TV advert for Bisto with the characters pledging a ‘proper food with proper gravy’ night.

• Involve your children in the meal preparation and setting the table.

• Keep the food simple – it does not have to be a three course gourmet meal.

• Turn off the television. If you need some background noise then play some light music instead.

• Keep the conversation light – engaging in serious matters can make children rebel against sitting down at the table as well as giving everyone indigestion!

• Don’t turn mealtimes into battlegrounds by forcing children to eat new foods. Keep trying - it can take many attempts before a child’s palate adjusts to a new taste.

• Be patient and remember that children are messy eaters – set a good example with your own table manners and compliment children when they do something well.

• If you don’t have a dining table then share an indoor picnic instead – it’s the sharing that is the important factor.

Debbie’s Farmyard Biscuits…

Try these for a tasty tea time treat: You will need: 350g plain flour 2 teaspoons ground ginger 100g butter 1 egg 175g light brown sugar 4 tablespoons of golden syrup 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda Large farm animal cookie cutters

1. Grease two baking sheets with margarine. 2. Sift the flour, ginger & bicarbonate of soda into a mixing bowl. Cut the butter into chunks and add it to the bowl. 3. Rub the butter into the flour with your fingers until the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs. Then stir in the sugar. 4. Break the egg into a small bowl and add the syrup and beat together well with a fork. 5. Sit the egg mixture into the flour and mix everything together into a soft dough. 6. Sprinkle a clean work surface with flour and knead the dough. 7. Cut the dough in half and roll out to about 1/4 inch thick. 8. Use cookie cutters to cut out lots of shapes and lift the shapes onto the baking sheets with a fish slice. 9. Cook in oven on 180 degrees, gas mark 4 for 15 minutes or until golden brown. 10. Cool on a wire rack and serve for tea!

AND FINALLY OUR PICTURE FILE

The following snaps caught our attention and we hope you like them…

Sarah and Lauren having fun in the sand tray!	Check out our Easter bonnets at York!	Cuddles time for Matthew and Sophia!
Happy Birthday Annabelle!	Arifa lends a helping hand in the garden!	Harry, Esther and Aya having fun at the park!