Welcome to the Twenty First Edition of our Children's Centres' Newsletter!
Welcome to the the latest edition of our newsletter. It has been good to see so many of our families attending our Jubilee events - with some attending for the first time.
As you will see, we now have our new timetables for the summer term and have added on some new sessions. Before long we will be planning our timetables for July and August and as usual, we will be including some activities in the local parks. If you have a favourite park (that doesn't charge for admission), please could you let us know in the feedback section below, as we can try to include it in our plans for the summer holidays.
Online Weaning Workshop
on Friday 1 July, we are running an online workshop covering the basics of weaning. This includes:
- When you should start
- Portion sizes
- Suitable foods
- Baby led versus ‘traditional weaning’.
This workshop is taking place at 12.45 - 1.30pm. There will also be an opportunity during this workshop for parents and carers to ask questions. For further information or to book, please call 020 8583 5762 between10.30am - 2pm, Monday - Friday.
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Baby Massage
Brentford and Bedfont Children's Centres are running weekly, Baby massage sessions. For further information, please visit the 'What's on' section of the Children's Centre pages, on the Family Services Directory.
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Special Events, Celebrations and Themes in June
- 2nd June – Spring Bank Holiday
- 3rd June – Queen’s Platinum Jubilee
- 3rd June – Duanwu/Dragon Boat Festival (Chinese)
- 4th June – Chokor (Buddhist)
- 5th June – Pentecost/Whit Sunday (Christian)
- 5th – 6th June – Shavuot/The Feast of Weeks (Jewish)
- 12th June – Pentecost/Trinity Sunday (Orthodox Christian)
- 14th June – Saka Dawa (Buddhist)
- 19th June – Father’s Day
- 21st June – Midsummer Day (Longest Day of the Year)
- 22nd June – Windrush Day
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Follow us on Facebook
The London Borough of Hounslow has got a Children and Families Information Facebook Page!
We post videos of different activities including song time, story time and activities for you to try at home.
If you would like to follow this page, search 'London Borough of Hounslow - Children and Families Information'.
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Get Involved!
You Said We Did...
Thank you to all families that gave us feedback on our services, last month. This helps us to know what we are doing well and what we could be doing better.
Here is some feedback we have received:
Online Weaning Workshop - 'Very informative workshop. Learned a lot. I am glad that I was able to do the workshop.'
Elsa's Gardening Club - '..This was very impressive for me to develop more active sessions together with my Child. Elsa was really keen to inspire the children and very welcoming. Also the gloves, variety of plants were very satisfying. Different kind of plants stimulated the curiosity.'
Have you attended any of our sessions or online workshops? Do you have any suggestions or ideas on our future services? If yes, please complete our online feedback form.
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Quote of the Month
"Act as if what you do makes a difference.
It does.”
- William James
Monthly Mindfulness Activity
Do the doodle or colour in…
Creating a feeling of calm and relaxation, these activities will teach your child helpful ways to return to a calm feeling state whenever they may need to.
Try it together
Get busy with paper and crayons to doodle to your heart's content.
How it works
Doodling can help relieve stress by giving your brain a rest, and it can also spark creativity. Pablo uses his doodles and subsequent trips to the Art World to solve the real-world issues thrown up by his autism.
For more activities please visit: CBeebies - Seven Techniques for helping kids keep calm.
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Recipe of the Month
Vegetarian Sausage Rolls
Ingredients
- 200g chestnut mushrooms
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 leeks, finely chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 tbsp sage, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp brown rice miso
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 30g chestnuts, very finely chopped
- 60g mature cheddar, grated
- 70g fresh white breadcrumbs
- 1 x 320g sheet ready rolled all butter puff pastry
- 1 medium egg, light beaten to glaze
Method
1.Put the mushrooms in a food processor and pulse until they're very finely chopped.
2.Put half the olive oil in a large frying pan and add the leeks along with a pinch of salt. Fry gently for 15 mins or until softened and golden brown. Scrape the leeks out of the pan and into a bowl. Heat the remaining oil in the pan and fry the mushrooms for 10 mins over a medium heat. Add the garlic, sage, miso and mustard and fry for another minute, then leave to cool slightly.
3.Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Combine the mushroom mixture with the leeks in a bowl, add the chestnuts, cheese and breadcrumbs. Season lightly to taste (the miso and leeks will add salt, so don’t add too much) and work everything together until you have a slightly stodgy mixture.
4.Unravel the puff pastry on a floured surface, then roll out so one side measures about 40cm. Push the mushroom mixture down the centre of the pastry. Bring the pastry around the mixture and seal the edges with a fork, then cut into 8 pieces. Lay on a lined baking sheet and brush each one with the beaten egg. Bake in the oven for 25-30 mins until deep, golden brown. Allow to cool a little before eating.
Do you have a favourite or special recipe you would like to share? Please email it to Minal.Shah@hounslow.gov.uk for it be featured as the 'Recipe of the Month'.
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Perinatal Mental Health Service
Becoming a parent and your mental health
Having a baby and becoming a parent can bring up emotions you’re not expecting.
It’s normal to have a mixture of emotions when you find out that you’re pregnant and when you have a baby. You might feel excitement and joy, or worry and anxiety about not feeling ‘ready’ to be a parent or about ‘getting it wrong’
If you have a mental health problem, such as depression or anxiety, this can affect how you feel about your baby. You may also be more negative and judge yourself as a parent more than you would do when you are well.
Taking action will help
Lots of women who have mental health problems are very frightened that their baby will be taken away by social services if they tell people they are struggling with their mental health. In fact, getting help and treatment for your mental health shows you’re trying to do the best for your children – and people will want to help you do this.
Most women with mental health problems are never referred to Children’s Social Care (social services). However, if you are referred you will need to understand why this has happened and how the process works.
Visit the Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCP) website to understand more about Children’s Social Services and Safeguarding.
When to ask for help
Symptoms of mental illness can affect how you feel about your baby. It might affect the way you bond with your baby, or reduce your ability to safely care for your children in the way that you would when you’re well.
If you’re worried about any feelings and thoughts you have about your baby or being a parent, it’s important to talk to one of the professionals you’re seeing.
Talk to them if your symptoms are getting worse too. You may need some extra help until you recover.
For further information, please visit: Perinatal mental health: West London NHS Trust
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Thinking about childcare and early education for your 2 year old child in September 2022?
You may be able to get free/funded childcare for your 2 year old child apply here and find out if you are eligible straight away.
Don’t leave it too late, start planning now as many pre-schools will close over the summer, nurseries and childminder may have closures too.
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Tax-Free Childcare provides help with childcare costs for working parents.
It can be used to pay for registered childcare for children under the age of 12
For every £8 a parent pays into their Tax-Free Childcare account the Government will add an extra £2, up to a maximum of £2,000 per child per year.
For disabled children the maximum is £4,000 per year.
Watch this step by step guide on what you will need and how to apply.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=W-TMvTHUCdM&fbclid=IwAR21cQ3Eu28_Rlz-RK2fEbYkGr0q2JOPXmM2gmQOgIfshh1ogn54WxXqevE
Get Boosted Now
Anyone aged 16+ can get their booster 3 months after their second vaccine dose.
How: You can book appointments online and attend a walk-in clinic.
For more information on when and how to get your booster jab, please go to the London Borough of Hounslow's dedicated web pages
First and Second Doses - Get Vaccinated Now
If you have not had your vaccine yet, you're still eligible and can book anytime. How you get a COVID vaccine and how many doses you receive depends on your age and the following conditions:
People aged 12 and over can get a 1st and 2nd dose of a vaccine.
Children aged 5 and over will soon be offered a first dose of the vaccine.
People aged 16 and over
If you're aged 16 or over you can:
- book appointments online.
- attend a walk-in clinic to get a vaccine without an appointment
Children aged 12 to 15
Most children aged 12 to 15 can:
- get their COVID-19 vaccine at school
- book appointments online
- attend a specific 12-15 year old walk in clinic.
People with a weakened immune system
A third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine is being offered to people aged 12 and over who had a weakened immune system when they had their first two doses.
How: If you're eligible for a third dose, the NHS will let you know when and where to have the vaccine.
Information: A third dose is different from the booster as this is administered with a shorter gap (min. 8 weeks post second dose) to give a better immune response from those who are immunocompromised.
Salopian Seedlings - Springtime Gardening with your under 5's
Cultivate London are running a Spring programme suitable for families with under 5's, taking place once monthly, from 9:30 - 12:00 on the following dates:
Plant seeds, watch them grow, eat the plants and have fun in the garden!
Call Sally on 07805 658934 to book your place or email: sally@cultivatelondon.org
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