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Easter is upon us so just a thought to think about snacks and portion sizes and the number of calories in those yummy chocolatey extras that surround us at this time.
Did you know that there are usually at least 400 kilocalories in a small Easter egg and many, many more in a larger one.
For a 4-5 year old this is around a quarter of their daily kilocalorie intake (and that's if they stop after one!)
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 The Easter break is a great time for children to take a breather and have some fun. It can also be a good time to check in with your staff or other childcare professionals you know so ask about how they’re feeling. The uncertainty of the past two years and the numerous changes we have had to accommodate can have an impact on their emotional wellbeing.
April is stress awareness month. There are some useful tools on the NHS website about stress and some tips and techniques to help overcome it. The NHS every mind matters website has some easy useful resources including a quiz to help develop your mind plan with tips to help you deal with stress and boost your mood as well as lots of other resources.
If you are concerned for your own or another adult’s mental health, there is help available as well. Get help and advice for your mental wellbeing here.
 A self-soothe box is a collection of things that make you feel more relaxed and help to reduce symptoms of panic, anxiety or low mood. It can't help fix every situation but can help to focus people's thoughts if they are feeling anxious or overwhelmed. They are suitable for both children and adults and should contain things specific to them rather than a generic set of contents but could include things like postcards or photos of your favourite places, pictures, cards or notes from your favourite people. For more details see here.
 Last week QA hospital declared a significant incident as they were at risk of being overwhelmed. To ensure that you seek medical care in the most appropriate place see below:
 If you have a life-threatening or serious emergency, it's okay to call 999 or attend ED, however anyone attending the emergency department at QA without a serious, life-threatening emergency will be directed to another, more appropriate service for their needs.
(Life-threatening emergencies include severe chest pain, breathing difficulties, stroke, loss of consciousness or heavy bleeding that cannot be stopped).
 Spend time in the fresh air this spring. With the warmer temperatures upon us, why not get out and take advantage of our local parks and seafront? You are not only exercising but banking treasured memories with your children which they will cherish for years to come.
 Try some gardening together - all you need are some eggs, cress seeds, a little cotton wool and colouring pens/googly eyes.
- Boil the eggs for about 10 minutes then allow them to cool
- Remove the top of the egg (about 1cm from the top)
- Carefully scoop out the egg white and yolk (you can eat this separately)
- Draw/stick eyes and a face on the shell (the open end is going to be the top)
- Dampen a small piece of cotton wool and place inside the egg shell
- Sprinkle cress seeds on it
- Water each day to ensure it is moist (but not too wet)
- Watch your cress "hair" grow (it's edible so you can cut it and eat it later)
Your child is learning whilst having fun as sprinkling the seeds and drawing on the eggs all help develop the muscles associated with their fine motor movements.
 The BBC Good Food website has lots of recipes for families including these healthy Easter bunny pancakes.
- 50g self-raising flour
- 50g wholemeal flour
- 2 small eggs, separated
- 150ml milk
- A little oil (for frying)
- A few raisins for bunny paws, to serve (optional)
- 30g banana , sliced into rounds for the tails
- Extra chopped fruit, to serve
- Put both the flours into a large bowl and whisk to break up any lumps. Add the egg yolks and a little of the milk, whisking to a thick paste. Add the remaining milk, a splash at a time, to loosen the batter.
- In a separate bowl and using a clean whisk, whisk the egg whites until they hold stiff peaks. Gently fold the egg whites into the batter with a spatula, trying to keep in as much air as possible.
- Heat a large non-stick pan over a medium heat and carefully wipe it with some oiled kitchen paper. Using a large spoon, add a generous dollop of batter to the pan in a round, for the bunny body. Add a smaller round for the head, two small ovals for feet, and two long thin strips for ears. Fit all the bunny components into the pan, or cook them in batches.
- Flip the pancakes after a minute or two, once the edges are set, the base is golden brown and bubbles start to pop on the surface. Cook for another minute until golden brown.
- Put the bunny body in the middle of the plate. Position the head, ears and feet just overlapping to look like the back of a bunny. Add a banana slice for the tail, and raisins (if using) for the feet pads.
- Repeat with the remaining batter. Decorate with extra chopped fruit, if you like.
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