Making Story Time Special

Top tips on the art of reading to your child.

Every parent understands the importance of reading to their child but exactly when should you start? According to new research more then three quarters of parents begin reading to their child before their first birthday and over a fifth introduce their kids to the world of books before they are 3 months old!

With studies showing kids who are read to at a young age do better in school it comes as no surprise that that a massive two thirds of parents read to their child on a daily basis. A further 85% agree that it’s a great bonding activity according to new research by Fairy.

Wendy Cooling, children’s literature expert, says: “It is never too soon to read to your baby. Book sharing is a pleasure for child and adult alike and there are benefits for babies too as they learn to look, point, touch, listen, talk and concentrate. An expressive reader can also help communication and emotional development. Babies soon imitate sounds and repeated words and so develop an ear for language - a real help later as they learn to read.”

Watch Wendy reveal her top tips on how you can teach your child the magical benefits of reading...

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Parents not sure about salt intake for kids

Research reveals parents are unaware of the real risks of a high salt diet.

Although most parents know that a high salt diet is linked to high blood pressure, few are aware of just how seriously an excess of salt can affect them and their children.  Research reveals that only a quarter are aware that high salt intake is linked with conditions as serious as stomach cancer. Less than 1 in 5 realise that too much salt can lead to osteoporosis.  Only 19% are aware that a salt excess in their child's diet can aggravate the symptoms of asthma.  These statistics are troubling and suggest that this is an area that parents really need more guidance on.

This research conducted by the Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) and Netmums is particularly worrying because a high salt diet can be damaging to children's health.  Trials conducted as part of the research show that eating a high salt diet in childhood pushes blood pressure up.  Children who eat more salt were also shown to have a higher blood pressure than children who eat less salt, which could lead to health difficulties as they get older.

The key to keeping your child on a low salt diet is to make sure that they stay well under the maximum daily limit for salt.  The 6g a day figure has been pushed quite strongly in the media, but it is important to remember that this is the maximum daily limit for adults.  Children should actually be eating much less than this.  A 4-6 year old, for instance should not be eating more than 3g a day, and a 2-3 year old should eat no more than 2g a day.  Considering a single slice of bread can contain 0.5g of salt and a bowl of cereal with milk contains 0.7g of salt it is easy to see how the daily limit can be reached very quickly.  

If you're unsure how to stick below this limit and for more information on how keeping your child's salt intake low visit watch this video

mms://groovyg.edgestreams.net/groovyg/clients/Markettiers4dc/
webchats/11746/11746_salt_awareness_vidfeat2webchats_278kbps001.wmv

Could you save your baby’s life?

Free life-saving skills for local parents

• 27% of parents have had to cope with a choking incident - yet 60% did not feel confident in dealing with the situation.
• Parents feel less confident about dealing with incidents involving chemical ingestion, yet nearly 16,000 children are taken to hospital each year following suspected poisoning by liquid.
• An overwhelming 76% of mums say that parenthood is more worrying than they thought, with the highest response from those with 0-6 month year olds.

If your baby or child started choking, if they scalded themselves or were suffering from meningitis, would you know what to do in order to save their life? Recent research suggests that almost six out of ten parents (57%) would not have a clue.

These startling statistics have led The Royal Lifesaving Society UK to join forces with Tesco Baby & Toddler Club to create a BabySafe Road Show offering parents basic facts and hands-on experience at FREE workshops around the country – backed by The Meningitis Research Foundation, Britax and TV’s Dr Hilary Jones

Run by The Royal Lifesaving Society UK these two hour workshops have been especially designed to help parents cope with babies and young children in an emergency. The subjects covered include teaching basic resuscitation techniques, the recovery position, what to do if a child is drowning, choking, bleeding, burns, scalds, knowing about meningitis and what to look for, and basic car-safety tips.

The Seminars are open to everyone. Simply log onto www.tesco.com/babyclub and go to the ‘events’ section, to book a place. Alternatively, call the registration hotline on 01733 385 174.

Everyone who attends will also receive a FREE goody bag containing a selection of the latest baby and toddler products, and a really useful DVD that covers lifesaving information by the RLSS, safety in the home tips from ROSPA, information by the Meningitis Research Foundation and Britax car seat safety.

The 2008 workshops will be held in the following locations:

Helping with the homework

Attend our master class with parenting expert Pat Spungin

Chat date: Monday 17th December
Chat time: 15:00

Do you sometimes feel you can’t help the kids with their homework as much as you’d like to? Do you find they always turn to the internet for answers before they turn to you? If so, come and join our webchat for a master class lead by Parenting Expert Pat Spungin who’ll be talking about what you can do to swat up on the subject of schoolwork.

Topics will include why your kids prefer the internet as a learning tool, how to become internet savvy yourself, and why it’s important to take an interest in your children’s homework and curriculum. Anyone wanting to be top of the class when it comes to encouraging their kids to learn should definitely attend. It will also be useful for those who don’t feel that technology is their strongest subject - we can’t all be good at everything but there are things you can do to improve.

Full marks will be given to anyone who arrives to class on time and if you ask a question you’ll definitely be in line for a gold star, don’t be shy, it’s important to share your questions with the whole class so everyone can learn together.

Parenting expert Pat Spungin, and Talk Talk’s Marketing Director Dominic Stinton, joins us live online at www.webchats.co.uk/webchat.php?ID=472 on Monday 17th December 2007 at 15:00 to discuss helping kids with their homework.

Click here to submit questions before the chat.

For more information visit www.talktalk.co.uk.

Bond with your baby

Expert advice on how to build a relationship with newborns

All parents want to get the most of those precious first few months with their baby, but for some extra advice from other mums make sure you download this great new podcast. It offers indispensable advice on some simple everyday activities that will help mums and dads build a relationship with the latest addition to the family. The podcast is part of the Fairy and BLISS ‘Support 1 in 8 campaign’ which has commissioned research into different techniques that enable parents to bond better with their babies right from the start.

1 in 8 babies in the UK are born premature or sick and the campaign has been set up to help empower parents to support them in becoming more confident to care for their special care baby. BLISS - the premature baby charity, with Fairy's help, has commissioned innovative research into different techniques that enable all mums and dads to become closer to their babies, right from when they’re in the unit to when they go home.

The tips will fit easily into your every day routine and include things such as making the most of bath time, singing to your baby, how to give skin-to-skin care and the benefits of giving your baby a relaxing massage. Each one of the steps are designed to be fun for both you and your baby and will give you the one on one time you need with them to create a special relationship in their early years and beyond.

Andrea Catherwood who hosts the podcast said: “The best bit of being a mum is having the opportunity to enjoy all those everyday loving moments with your baby that you’ve been imagining throughout your pregnancy. From personal experience, I know that unexpected circumstances can mean that those opportunities can sometimes be limited and that mums may need extra support and help to do even the ordinary things that most parents take for granted.”

Listen to the podcast here:
mms://groovyg.edgestreams.net/groovyg/clients/
Markettiers4dc/sound/podcast_s1216_v2.mp3

For more information on the Fairy and BLISS ‘Support 1 in 8’ campaign visit www.softeningyourworld.com/fairy_mums.htm