Buggy Pitstop Continues In It’s Innovative Success

April 17, 2013 By sonia Leave a Comment

In 2012 Flying Start took a look at Buggy Pitstop, a relatively young business that was providing an innovative service for all pushchair and buggy owners. Instead of having to look for an expensive new buggy when parents were expecting their next child, Buggy Pitstop is able to renovate and service their original stroller to as new standards. We’ve been back to Buggy Pitstop, and owner Aziz Tayabali, to see how they have fared in the intervening 12 months.

Buggy Pitstop’s Success

First impressions are extremely positive. Buggy Pitstop has moved into new premises in Wembley, just off the Hangar Lane roundabout and have also built a completely new web site (www.buggypitstop.co.uk)

Last year, Aziz spoke to us about his plan for a nationwide expansion and the new London service centre is the first stage of his ambitious drive.

Buggy Pitstop is built on high levels of customer service and their pledge is to provide customers with service that meets their expectations.

“We will give serious consideration to your needs. We will give you accurate costs, precise information and solid advice. We will deliver on our promises and resolve any problems or issues that may arise. All with the highest level of professionalism”

With a network of 14 Pitstop Locations around London, it’s easy for parents to drop off and collect their pushchairs, strollers, buggies or car seats. It’s a simple and straightforward system. The item will be collected from the ‘Pitstop’ and be brought to the Service Centre. When received, Buggy Pitstop will call the customer with a quotation and after they have received the go ahead, they will complete the job and email out an invoice. When payment is received, the item will be returned back to the ‘Pitstop’ for collection the following week.

Buggy Pitstop have also developed their Express Delivery service, something that Aziz was in the process of introducing a year ago. So that the service is not just limited to the London Pitstops, Buggy Pitstop will collect and return your pushchair from anywhere in mainland UK for just £15 (£7.50 Half price offer currently running until April 30^th).

Latest Innovations

Buggy Pitstop haven’t stopped there either. They now have a number of other services that are sure to be winners with their customers. The Express Service offers an agreed date and time for customers to bring in their buggy and have a renovate-while-you-wait same day repair/service that is guaranteed and another innovation is the Bugaboo recycling facility now available. Customers who no longer have any need for their Bugaboo buggy can recycle it to Buggy Pitstop for cash so that they can use the parts for repairs on other pushchairs.

The all-new Steam Clean Service ensures clean and hygienic surfaces for all children’s nursery equipment and covers Car Seats, Pushchairs, Highchairs, Baby Bouncers and Travel Cots

Buggy Pitstop’s cleaning process involves a number of stages to ensure a buggy is brought back to life in an almost as good as new state. They firstly strip the buggy down to its component parts; give the fabric an overnight soak before applying a non-toxic cleaning solution before a thorough scrubbing.

The chassis then gets a jet wash and the wheels are removed to lubricate the bearings and any faults found are repaired before a clean and polish shines the chassis and a coat of paint ensures the wheels are in tip top order before everything is re-assembled. As Aziz says, “We’ll save you the time and effort by delivering a germ and bacteria free, odour free, sparklingly clean and shiny pushchair or car seat, restoring your child’s pushchair or car seat to “like new” condition – quickly, safely and hygienically. And, as with everything we do, you’ll know we’ll treat your buggy or car seat with extraordinary care. Using the right combination of skills, equipment, processes and cleaning products.”

Buggy Pitstop are authorised service agents for Maclaren and they repair and stock parts for many other makes from Baby Jogger to Stokke and Jane meaning that they can offer a service for Silver Cross prams to Phil n Ted Strollers and many more besides.

Testimonials and Contact Details

Many happy customers have left testimonials that can be seen on the testimonials page of the new Buggy Pitstop web site at www.buggypitstop.co.uk

You can find out much more about Buggy Pitstop on the web site and contact them by either the online form or by email on sales@buggypitstop.co.uk for parts and sales enquiries and on service@buggypitstop.co.uk for all service enquiries. They also provide 4 telephone numbers for your personal calls and can be reached on 0208 6017 154, 0208 166 5744 and mobile numbers 07921 480574 and 07403 391791.

Parenting Magazine Flying Start
USA online@flyingstartmagazine.co.uk

Filed Under: Featured, Flying Start News, Parenting

Flying Start Catches Up With Debbie Hepplewhite, Her Expertise and Impressive Phonics International

April 9, 2013 By sonia Leave a Comment

A constant problem for both primary and secondary school staff has been the number of pupils unable to reach a satisfactory standard in reading before leaving junior school for the start of their secondary education.

The knock on effect means that a significant number of students, leaving to take up placement in the workforce, transfer this low standard and are unable to work effectively. A study carried out by the Programme for International Student Assessment in 2009 showed that after seven years of primary education, one in six 11 year olds still struggles to read. The 2011 tests for children leaving primary school also reveal that one in 10 boys aged 11 read no better than a seven year old.

In recent years evidence has suggested that teaching reading by use of phonics has been much more successful in allowing pupils to reach the level of reading demanded for their key stage year. To this effect the government has promised a funding match for primary schools buying materials for the teaching of phonics to the value of £3000.

Phonics aims to teach the letter sounds and then builds up to blending these sounds together to achieve full pronunciation of whole words. Convinced that the synthetic phonics system of teaching children to read is the way in which greater numbers could attain higher standards, Debbie Hepplewhite put her broad primary teaching and teacher-training experience to very good use when designing the Phonics International programme.

Debbie told Flying Start that Phonics International (PI) is a highly-organised, systematic and yet flexible synthetic phonics programme (program) especially designed for all ages and needs and suitable for anyone who wants to learn to read and spell – perfect for schools, tutoring and homeschooling and that teachers, teaching assistants, tutors, learners and learners’ parents will all find the resources very supportive and effective. Student-teachers and teacher-trainers will also find great benefit from using the Phonics International programme for training purposes.

Phonics International is not just for primary school staff and pupils however. There appears to have been a belief that secondary school teachers would not be required to teach reading per se as this was the primary school’s responsibility. In recent times this myth has been dispelled and secondary education plays a large part in remedial work in many subjects. However, relatively few secondary schools may be using systematic synthetic phonics teaching as part of their teaching of reading.

This is borne out by the 2011 Ofsted Report Removing Barriers to Literacy which states,

‘Inspectors saw few instances of systematic phonics teaching in the secondary schools, colleges and other providers of adult education and training, despite the fact that for learners without a grasp of the link between sounds and letters, this knowledge is necessary to develop their literacy’

Debbie has designed Phonics International to be just as easy to use in secondary education and has had glowing feedback on it’s success (http://www.phonicsinternational.com/Secondary_Phonics_write_up.pdf ). With the backing for the phonics system in primary schools, more and more secondary schools will be encouraged to take up the system in their remedial work and Debbie’s passion will be acknowledged to an even higher level than it has been so far. Debbie’s expertise and her impressive Phonics International body of work has seen her invited to be the phonics consultant for the ‘Oxford Reading Tree Floppy’s Phonics Sounds and Letters programme’ (Oxford University Press). Both phonics programmes and the training provision have been recognised by the British government as fulfilling the official ‘Core Criteria’ for ‘Systematic Synthetic Phonics’. They are therefore listed in the national ESPO catalogue (government match funding for schools in England only).

In 2012, Debbie was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List for services to education.

Debbie has recently launched a new course for the teaching of handwriting which can be seen online at http://www.debbiehepplewhitehandwriting.com/

You can contact Debbie at

Phonics International Limited                          By phone on 01635 800033
Walnut House
Floreat Gardens                                   By email on debbie@phonicsinternational.com
Newbury
Berkshire                                            Skype – debbiehepp
RG14 6AW
United Kingdom

Or through the Phonics International web site click here

Filed Under: Education, Family Matters, Featured, Learning & Development, Parenting

Harry’s Department Store Serving Shetland for Over 50 Years

April 2, 2013 By sonia Leave a Comment

There’s a sign at Sumburgh airport that reads “London has Harrods, Lerwick has Harry’s” and it sums up exactly what Harry’s Department Store signifies to the inhabitants of a part of the Scotland that isn’t as easily accessible as some and receives some of the harshest weather in the UK throughout the year.

Harry Jamieson is the archetypal self-made man. Having left school at 15, he was able to find a job training to be a barber while the majority of his school mates were forced to leave the islands for work on mainland Scotland and further afield.

His first business move was to acquire the Cozy Corner Café in the 1960’s, which gave him the room to expand the barbershop to include selling masks to celebrate the annual Up Helly Aa festivities.

Slowly buying adjacent properties eventually gave Harry the chance to diversify and Harry’s Department Store opened in the 1970’s as Harry moved into cosmetics and gifts, linens and household goods. As with all fledgling companies, life was far from easy for Harry in making the company a success but with the discovery of oil, his business was given the major boost it required as the workforce from Sullom Voe brought a need for a variety of goods.

Harry’s Department Store is as synonymous with Shetland’s main town as its perhaps more famous counterpart is with the capital of England. In the 50 years of its existence, Harry’s has grown from small beginnings as a barber’s shop into a multi-storey treasure trove selling everything from jigsaw puzzles to kitchen implements, and greetings cards to light bulbs.

Over the years the shop has grown to fill four floors, but the philosophy remains the same, quality well known brands at great prices with good service. Their Toymaster toyshop is a real traditional toyshop as you used to remember them.

An entire floor has been given over to a huge range of toys, games, stocking fillers, crafts and collectables for all ages from birth to 90.

Harry’s also has an extensive Nursery department stocking prams, strollers, cots, cot beds, mattresses and all the other nursery essentials.

In the Household section styled exactly like a traditional high street department store, they hold a large stock, not only of Denby, Horwood and Gaggia, but also of Brabantia, Le Creuset, T&G, Typhoon, Kenwood and Morphy Richards to name a few.

If it’s celebration time then Harry’s Department Store will have just the thing with a host of themed accessories for weddings, anniversaries and birthdays and if the party involves fancy dress then you’ve struck it lucky as Harry’s stocks a massive selection of costumes, wigs and accessories.

Harry’s Department Store prides itself in being a real shop where they aim to stock all the items displayed on the web site. When you contact them you will speak to someone in the shop who can see the actual stock and your order could be at the Post Office within the hour! Shopping at Harry’s is a refreshing change from anonymous call centres and on-line retailers who carry no physical stock themselves.

To see what Harry’s Department Store have to offer you, take a look at their web site at www.harrysdepartmentstore.co.uk

To contact Harry’s Department Store you can complete the online enquiry form or call them on

01595 693097

Filed Under: Featured, Learning & Development, Parenting

…The Perfect Family Day Out

March 14, 2013 By sonia Leave a Comment

Located in Monks Eleigh, one of Suffolk’s prettiest villages, Bridge Farm Barns is a collection of unique, independent retail businesses and a tea room, each offering the visitor an unparalleled selection of distinctive products and good service. Bridge Farm Barns began life as ‘Corn Craft’ in 1970 and is a family concern that has grown from a small Corn Dolly making business to the collection of businesses that you see today

Established in 1990, the Corn Craft Gift Shop & Tea Room offers an extensive range of unusual cards & gifts and delicious home cooked food. Situated in a restored granary, the shop is an Aladdin’s cave of distinctive products including jewellery, ceramics, stationary, preserves, local prints, and so much more! The selection of greeting cards is second to none and our friendly staff are very happy to help visitors with their purchases.

Visitors can also find a wonderful selection of Corn Dollies, the product upon which Corn Craft began its life back in 1970. Although Corn Dollies are no longer the main focus of the business, visitors can still see the largest collection of these unique crafts that you will find anywhere in the country.

Black Barn Toys & Games offers a wide selection of affordable, traditional out-of-the-ordinary toys and games for children. Educational toys, wooden toys, puzzles, soft toys, pocket money toys and baby gifts are just some of the ranges you will find in this unique toy shop.

We try to source products from smaller suppliers that you won’t necessarily find on the major high streets, to help you find that “something a little different”. A warm welcome awaits children and adults in our friendly shop, where we have a play table to keep the little ones amused whilst the grown-ups have a browse around.

A new “Craft Corner” opened in April 2012 at the toyshop where children and adults can have a go at pottery painting or Decopatch craft. A great activity to keep younger, and older, ones amused!

Bridge Farm Plants is a new, independent, family run nursery. The majority of our stock is grown on our sister site, Katie’s Garden in Newbourne, east Suffolk, so we can be confident that the plants we sell are strong and healthy and should thrive with the right care.

Whether gardening is your passion, or you just want something simple and easy to brighten up the patio, we have the plants for you. Our carefully selected range includes perennials, roses, lavenders, bedding, herbs, alpines, grasses, shrubs, ferns and conservatory plants as well as vegetables, bulbs and more, depending on the season.

We can plant up your tubs and hanging baskets to order and will usually have pre-planted pots and baskets available to buy – perfect for gifts, or if you don’t have the time or inclination to do your own.

Unlike garden centres, our focus is purely on the plants. Our experienced staff offer a friendly, helpful service and our quality plants are sold at a competitive price.

To cap off your day at Bridge Farm Barns why not treat yourself to something from the Tea Room. Specialising in home made food, our Restaurant & Tea Room welcomes visitors for breakfast, morning coffee, lunches and afternoon teas.

The Tea Room is open from 9.30am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 5pm on Sundays. Breakfasts are served from opening until 11.30am and hot meals between 11am and 4pm with sandwiches available at anytime. On Sundays we also offer a delicious home cooked roast lunch served from 12.30pm.

From an English Cheddar Cheese sandwich to Thai Green curry, our menu is extensive and varied – we like to think we offer something for everyone!

Families are very welcome with high chairs and a children’s menu provided.

Reservations can be made up to 12.30pm after which we operate on a first come first served basis.

Corn Craft Gift Shop & Tea Room, Black Barn Toys & Games and Bridge Farm Plants and are located at

Bridge Farm Barns, Hadleigh Road, Monks Eleigh, Ipswich, Suffolk IP7 7AY

Further information go to www.bridgefarmbarns.co.uk

An on-line shop will be launching in April 2013!

To contact Bridge Farm Barns you can email on corncraft@btconnect.com or call them on 01449 740456

Filed Under: Featured, Flying Start News, Parenting, Summer

Prevention is better than a cure. JJG Training tells Flying Start about the importance of safeguarding our children in Nurseries

March 12, 2013 By sonia Leave a Comment

“Prevention is better than a cure”. We all know the old adage and would hazard a guess that nobody would disagree with it. In nurseries, there are many areas to which this saying might apply and it pays to have staff trained to the best possible standards to make sure children are protected from harm.

JJG Training are an excellent example of a company offering those high levels, making nursery and pre-school staff aware of the possible pitfalls and how to deal with those events when they can’t be prevented.

Specialising in Paediatric First Aid as well as Health & Safety, Fire Safety, First Aid and Food Safety, JJG Training offer experience and professionalism in delivering courses that allow participants to be aware of potential problems, take action to prevent them happening and gain the knowledge to react quickly with the correct course of action if a problem does occur.

Having Affiliation and Membership to ten different training and health bodies, JJG Training have a wealth of experience having been founded in 2004 by directors Vic & Jo Gregory. Vic has over twenty years experience in H&S Management, having graduated from Warwickshire University with the Diploma in Health & Safety Law and Management and from Nottingham Trent University with the Post Graduate Diploma in Health and Safety Risk Management. He was a former H&S Manager for a national blue chip company and then a Fire Officer with a Metropolitan Fire Authority. He also worked for the NHS as a health, safety and fire risk advisor. Jo Gregory brings 25 years experience of management and administration to provide a friendly and reassuring customer service.

The tragic death of Millie Thompson in October of 2012, served to highlight the need for all nurseries, pre-schools and child-minders to be fully capable of dealing with incidents when children in their care, have accidents and will potentially come to some harm unless prompt and correct action is taken. All registered child care facilities and nurseries must have Health and Safety policies in place before being granted a licence and these are rigorously checked by Ofsted.

When we think of any form of training in the workplace, First Aid is usually the one that springs to mind and JJG Training have an excellent pedigree in this area. Covering First Aid at Work, Emergency First Aid at Work, refresher courses and Paediatric First Aid, they offer an extensive training syllabus that covers Accidents and illness, Using a first aid kit, Simple record keeping, Treatment of an unconscious casualty, heart attacks and resuscitation for the beginner all the way to dealing with choking and breathing difficulties.

All the courses that JJG Training run are developed to comply with all present statutory training requirements in the UK and are continually revised in line with current legislation. All JJG trainers hold teaching qualifications and are specialised in their subject areas, giving a friendly, professional and personalised service.

First Aid is not the only area of training that nurseries need to be compliant with, however, as many supply children with their lunches and snacks and so must be aware of food safety and nutrition. Meeting the statutory regulations is only the first step in providing safety for children and JJG are equally adept at ensuring best practice is recognised and developed in Food Safety.

A level 2 course offers a syllabus that includes modules on food safety, bacteriology, storage & temperature control, legislation, HACCP, personal hygiene, food contamination, prevention of contamination, pest control, food premises design and cleaning processes. All fundamentals in providing meals for children that are as safe as possible whilst providing healthy products. These courses are augmented by diet and nutrition courses that can be tailor made to suit the pre-school environment looking at nutrients, vitamins and minerals, proteins, fats and carbohydrates, preparation and presentation of food as well as best practice guidance.

Fire Safety is a pre-requisite throughout any establishment. A variety of training modules are available to enhance protection from fire and smoke, from the training required by fire marshals to evacuation procedures, fire prevention to the correct use of extinguishers and their safe usage. Comprehensive training that gives the best possible chance of avoiding casualties in the event of a fire.

For more information about how JJG Training Ltd can provide the courses you need to ensure your staff are trained to the very highest level, access their web site at www.jjgtraining.co.uk or you can contact them using mail@jjgtraining.co.uk or telephone 01246 221867.

JJG Training Ltd is located at

4 Rosedale Avenue, Off Derby Road, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S40 2UY

Filed Under: Family Matters, Featured, Flying Start News, Parenting

Easter in London – Things to Do, Places to See

March 6, 2013 By sonia Leave a Comment

No sooner have we finished with Christmas than Easter appears on the horizon and another two weeks of keeping the kids happy. We’ve taken a look at what’s on in the capital this Easter to delight all ages if you can make it.

Easter Egg Hunts in London promise family fun and Easter chocolate at venues across the city. There are plenty of attractions that will be holding egg hunts from museums to stately homes and we’ve listed just a few to check out.

Kew Gardens – Easter Sunday itself is the day of the Easter egg hunt at Kew. Kids can search around the gardens and collect tokens to be exchanged for an Easter chocolate treat, or head to the Temple of Imagination for a storytelling session. The Easter egg hunt takes place on Sunday 31st March 2013 Call 020 8332 5655 for more infoirmation.

Museum of Childhood – get the chance to win fantastic prizes by solving clues and joining the hunt for the Easter Bunny’s hidden chocolate goodies. You will also get the chance to craft some seasonal treats of your own, such Easter egg baskets and if that’s not enough, why not try your hand at a spot of egg painting. Easter at Museum of Childhood will take place between Friday 29th March 2013 – Monday 1st April 2013 between 11am and 4pm. Admission is free to all workshops. For more information please call 020 8983 5200.

Lauderdale House – The little ones will love spending Easter at Lauderdale House this year as they can get involved in the Great Egg Role race and search for chocolate in the treasure hunt. There will even be an egg painting workshop so kids can decorate their own eggs to take home with them. This is a real rough and tumble event, so make sure all children are wearing suitable clothing. Easter at Lauderdale House takes place on Sunday 31st March 2013 from 10.30am – 1pm. Tickets for the children’s event cost £6.50 per child and are allocated on a first come, first serve basis with a maximum limit of 100 people. For more information, please call 020 8348 8716.

Lindt Easter egg hunt
In addition to the chocolate Easter egg hunts taking place across London over the Easter bank holiday weekend, there’s also the decidedly more arty Big Easter Egg hunt, led by Lindt. Go on a trail around the UK and see how many of the 101 giant Easter eggs you can find, and if that seems a little too much effort, you can just wait for them to return to Covent Garden where they will be on display over Easter.

The giant Easter eggs will be hidden in cities across the UK as part of The Lindt Big Egg Hunt, and all funds raised will go to Action for Children. The two and-a-half-foot fibreglass eggs feature some of the UK’s best-loved children’s characters including Peter Rabbit, Peppa Pig, Moshi Monsters, SpongeBob SquarePants, Thomas the Tank Engine and Ben 10.

This year, the eggs will tour the UK from London to Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow before returning to London in time for Easter. Lindt will also reward hunters by giving out thousands of Lindt Gold Bunnies and Lindor truffles. The hunt captured people’s imaginations last year when it landed in London for six weeks, setting two Guinness World Records, raising more than £1 million for charity and involving more than one million people.

For more information about the hunt, visit The Lindt Big Egg Hunt website or follow on Twitter @BigEggHuntUK. Egg Hunters are also invited to text the word EGG to 70123 to donate £3 to Action for Children.

Wallace and Gromit

Take your kids to a musical extravaganza with Wallace and Gromit at Hammersmith Apollo. The lively duo performs a wonderful family show that takes audiences behind the scenes of some of the best loved British animated characters. Wallace and Gromit at Hammersmith Apollo takes place Sunday 31st March – Monday 1st April 2013. Showings take place at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets cost £15.00 – £40.00. For more information or to buy tickets, please call 0844 249 1000.

The Hop and Hunt – Take part in the Hop and Hunt at Duke of York Square challenge this Easter and enjoy a seasonal treat all the family can enjoy. Children will be encouraged to find hidden riddles dotted around the square and unscramble the clues to reach the Easter Bunny and win a prize.

The Hop and Hunt at Duke of York Square event will see each clue lead on to the next, and when they are all solved, families will then need to go online to discover a unique Duke of York Square web site that will provide them with a key word. The Hop and Hunt at Duke of York Square event takes place on Saturday 30th March 2013. The event is going on all day and is free to enter.

The Chocolate Festival at Southbank – Just in time for Easter, the chocolate festival at Southbank Centre is a must for lovers of all the wonderful products derived from the cocoa bean. Free to attend and with a dizzying range of chocolatey products on offer, the festival should give you some fresh ideas on how to celebrate Easter. With chocolate making workshops, demonstrations and master chocolatiers displaying their talents, the chocolate festival at Southbank Centre should feel like seventh heaven to chocoholics. The chocolate festival at the Southbank Centre runs from Friday 22nd March – Sunday 24th March 2013. Opening hours are 11am – 8pm Friday and Saturday, and 12pm – 6pm on Sunday. The event is free to attend.

The Royal Air Force Museum – Do something a little different this year and take your children to spend Easter at Royal Air Force Museum where they can see some amazing birds of prey up close. The RAF has long held these impressive birds in high regard, with images of them depicted on their official badge and even naming aircraft after them. You can be sure that the event will be going ahead, no matter the weather this Easter at Royal Air Force Museum. In the event of heavy rain and storms, the displays and handling sessions will take place inside the museum’s Dermot Boyle Wing. So why not head down to the museum, admire the stunning aircraft on display and the even more impressive birds that inspired them. The Easter at Royal Air Force Museum event takes place from Saturday 6th – Friday 12th April 2013. Displays take place at 11.30pm, 1.30pm and 3.30pm. Admission is free.

Passion in the Square – Trafalgar Square is hosting a special adaptation of a traditional Easter play on Good Friday with Passion in the Square, giving you the chance to reconnect with the story at the heart of the Christian festival. Although Passion in the Square recounts a story set in ancient Rome, there’ll be plenty of state of the art technology in place to make sure that everyone in Trafalgar Square can follow all the events as they unfold. Radio microphones will make sure that you can hear what’s going on, and there will also be large screens to make sure that nobody misses out on any of the drama. Passion in the Square takes place at Trafalgar Square from 12pm and 3.15pm, Friday 29th March 2013. The event is free to attend.

Filed Under: Parenting, Summer

Parental Discipline

February 20, 2013 By sonia Leave a Comment

All children need discipline. As parents, we need to set limits so our children are safe and happy. But even more important, it is our duty to teach our children the values and self-discipline that will help them become successful adults. Think of your child as a student, and you are the teacher. Good discipline means that parents expect and reward appropriate behaviour, and calmly and matter-of-factly assign consequences for inappropriate behaviour.

Often it can seem like your day is filled with endless reprimands for your children. While there is no one right method to deal with whining, back talk, or bad behaviour, the approach you take can shape a child in subtle ways.

There are three main styles of discipline parents practice: authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive; and experts say each can have far-reaching impact, even after childhood is a distant memory. It’s up to the parent to decide which discipline style gels with their personality, but “a sense of connectedness between the parent and child is what parents should be focusing on.

The 3 Types of Parents:

Authoritarian
In an authoritarian parenting style, the parent is the boss. A child is meant to listen without questioning, simply because the parent is the authority. If a parent tells a child to pick up her toys and the child asks why, an authoritarian parent would say something along the lines of, “Because I’m the grown-up and I make the rules.” There may be an immediate benefit –- the child heeds the instruction and then does what she is told in order to please the parent. But the repercussion could be a fear of the parent from an early age and in turn, a fear of other authority figures.

Authoritarian parenting may yield obedient children, but it also may yield kids who are aggressive, have difficulty building healthy peer relationships, or become withdrawn from activities if they have the possibility of bringing rejection.

Authoritative
The second discipline style sounds a lot like the first. But although the names are similar, the approaches are quite different. An authoritative parent sets limits and makes rules, but not without explaining why they exist. Then when the rules are enforced, the child has a basis for understanding why his actions led to any disciplinary result. For example, if a child hits, an authoritative parent may say, “Hitting is not okay,” but then, once they’d laid down the law, they’d explain that “hitting hurts others… when you hit him you made him cry.” This allows a child to see the consequences of his actions. The parent might then have their child apologise if he’s old enough to understand that concept.

Permissive
Permissive parents are the polar opposites of authoritarian ones, believing that a child should have the right to find his own way in the world. Permissive parents let children set their own limits. Some refer to this as “laid-back” parenting. And often other parents observe this style and think: “Maybe I’m too uptight with my kids. I should be more mellow.” While letting a child “figure it out” is a championed strategy, a lack of guidance from the parent can have ramifications. Too much leniency early on can actually create a child unable to trust grown-ups later. These children may never respect authority or learn how to make their own choices.

Whether you are clearly one style of disciplinarian or another, or a little bit of each, find a way to discipline that works for you, and for your child as well. No pressure, but as parents, you are pretty much their whole world. They are going to look to you for direction – and that’s the way it should be.

Punishment is part of discipline, but is only a small part. It is more productive to think more in terms of “consequences” rather than “punishment.” You are responsible for punishment, but your child is responsible for consequences. The goal is to be so good at discipline that consequences are rarely necessary.

DO’S:

Do accept your child’s choices if you give options.
Do accept feelings, because they are valid
Do earn respect by being kind, firm and consistent.
Do enforce the rules you set.
Do earn affection by showing your love.
Do act fast when it’s necessary; but Do think about it later.
Do realize there are reasons why children can’t or won’t express why they did something.
Do give children responsibility. If you give them a job and they fail, don’t take it away from them. Give them another chance to learn how to do it right.
Do learn what is reasonable to expect from a child.
Do remember that children learn more from what they see than what they are told.

DONT’S:

Don’t give children a choice unless you are willing to accept their decision.
Don’t deny a child’s feelings.
Don’t demand respect.
Don’t demand a behaviour you can’t or won’t intend to enforce.
Don’t try to buy a child’s affection.
Don’t be afraid to make a mistake.
Don’t always expect children to tell you why they did something.
Don’t teach children to be responsible by taking responsibility away from them.
Don’t expect children to behave like adults.
Don’t forget that as a parent, you must model self-discipline in order for your child to take you seriously.

If a child does not learn from the consequences, then it’s just punishment.

Filed Under: Parenting

Flying Start catches up with one of the country’s leading suppliers of Adhesive Labels

February 19, 2013 By sonia Leave a Comment

Celebrating their 10^th anniversary in 2013, Label Planet is one of the country’s leading suppliers of adhesive labels on A4 sheets. Based in Nantwich in Cheshire, Label Planet is an online company using the web site www.labelplanet.co.uk to fulfil orders from individuals, companies and other organisations for sheet labels for inkjet and laser printers. As sheet labels are a speciality for Label Planet, they stock a vast array and offer the choice of over 40 different sizes in 30 different materials and can cope rapidly with orders up to 20,000 A4 Sheets on most of their products.

There are three main reasons why Label Planet’s owner, David Worgan, believes that Label Planet have moved on in leaps and bounds from their starting point a decade ago, a comprehensive product list, a dedicated but easy to use web site and same day despatch for smaller orders and next day despatch for large quantities.

With straightforward search options enabling the customer to find labels by either searching categories or alternatively by an alphabetical list, it couldn’t be easier to find the right label quickly and Label Planet’s range includes Coloured labels, Round labels, Gold labels, Silver labels, Gloss labels, Transparent labels, Removable labels and Waterproof labels. With so many choices you can narrow down the results by using the search facility that offers the opportunity to locate the right label by No. Per Sheet, Height, Width, Shape or Material Type.

Label Planet can also take orders by phone and our customer service is open from 9.00am to 5.00 pm weekdays. If you already buy sheets of A4 labels, or need labels for a new product or new application or new business then give Label Planet a try, we are always pleased to help by offering advice on the correct label for your requirement.

Soon after Label Planet’s inception, they developed and offered the Stikins set of name labels and tens of thousands of UK parents have been re-ordering Stikins® year after year since 2004! Until Stikins®, people used to have to either sew in labels or iron on name labels. Stikins® Original clothing labels combined a unique label material, adhesive and shape to ensure that they stayed attached to the garment’s wash-care label.Stikins labels simply stick into clothes so no sewing in or ironing on is needed.

In 2010, New Stikins labels were introduced. New Stikins® are the result of a breakthrough in the adhesive and label material manufacturing industry. The adhesive bond is washer-proof, and the unique vinyl material is so soft and pliable that it won’t cause any irritation or discomfort. This advanced vinyl brought greater versatility to the use of labels. The label must be stuck onto the wash-care label of clothes, and the same label can also be used on shoes, dishwasher items and general school items so no longer does the customer have to order different labels for different purposes.

Stikins New Name Labels have been successfully tested by an independent laboratory using BS EN ISO6330 wash test procedure for 30 washes at 40 degrees.

For more information on Label Planet and Stikins you can check out the following web sites,

www.labelplanet.co.uk and www.name-labels.com

To contact Label Planet you can email them on info@labelplanet.co.uk or call 01270 668076

Label Planet is located at:-

Wilbraham House, Unit 2 Alvaston Business Park, Middlewich Road, Nantwich, CW5 6PF

Filed Under: Fashion & Lifestyle, Featured, Flying Start News, Parenting

Flying Start Catches up with one of the leading providers of Activity Day Camps

February 4, 2013 By sonia Leave a Comment

When the school holidays come around, many parents find they have the problem of keeping their children occupied through those long weeks out of the classroom. When both parents are working, they encounter a further problem of supervision and care for their kids that usually involves expensive day care unless they are lucky enough to be able to call on Grandma and Grandad. However, an alternative for at least part of the holiday break is the Day Camp and Barracudas Activity Day Camps are one of the leading providers in their field (pardon the pun).

At the day camps children can try new activities, make new friends and most of all have lots of fun! Barracudas provide activity holidays that are Ofsted registered, giving parents peace of mind, whilst ensuring maximum fun for kids – and the bonus is that the cost of a Day Camp with Barracudas is often substantially less than standard child care. They offer activity day camps in England for children aged between 4½ to 16 years.

Barracudas give busy working parents the chance to take advantage of extended hours with their Early and Late Clubs which extends the day from 8am to 6pm.. Normal drop off time is between 8.30 – 9.30am and collection between 4.30 – 5.30pm. With their Early Club parents can drop off from 8am and with the Late Club collect right up until 6pm. This extra time can provides greater flexibility and a guarantee that kids are having a great time too.There’s always a choice of things for them to do so mum and dad can sort out all the other stuff and know that they’re always safe, happy and just as busy as their parents are!

Barracudas Activity Day Camps have 18 locations offering Easter camps and 29 offering summer camps but camps are not just sports camps. Barracudas offer multi-activity day camps with a wide range of activities to suit all ages and interests. Camp activites for children vary from sports to the arts and offer a great opportunity for children to try out new activities in a safe environment, surrounded by supportive and experienced staff.

Apart from the regular activities, Barracudas offer Skill Builder courses to combine excitement and expertise, and are a fantastic way for kids to develop special skills!

Swimming is one of the most important skills every young person needs to learn and Barracudas Swim School is perfect for beginners looking to make a big splash or for those in the early stages of learning. Whether just starting or improving, instructors will develop your child’s self-belief and ability, building vital skills and water confidence. All sessions are closely supervised by our qualified lifeguards.

If swimming isn’t flavour of the month why not get the kids on the Lab Rat course, learning to love science. Whether it’s making kites, building techno kits or creating a foaming volcano, Lab Rats is bursting with FUN scientific experiments for kids – whatever their age. This course is bound to capture and stretch their imagination with five sessions packed full of new ideas and crazy experiments. It’s entertaining, educational and exciting, but most of all, because it’s Barracudas, it’s FUN!

If they’re mad about motors they’ll love Motor Mania! Whether tearing across tarmac or gliding across the grass, children’s skills will be put to the test on quad bikes and go-karts. They’ll also learn about safety, signals and the basic mechanics during the five course sessions. They’ll wear safety gear and have cut-off switches on all machines.

The Barracudas Activity Day Camps range of activities includes football, archery, trampoline, motor sports, basketball, ultimate frisbee, lab rats fun science, video making, kin-ball, arts & crafts, tennis, face painting, fencing, circus skills, dance, drama, bouncy castles plus much, much more! There really is something for everyone. (Where we have indoor pools, swimming will also be available at Easter.)

Always popular at Barracudas Activity Camps are the fab team challenges such as Sandstorm Challenge, Ski Pole Challenge and Minesweeper Challenge, plus new challenges for 2013. The roaming activities will also be visiting the Easter activity camps and include high adrenaline inflatable assault courses, criss cross zorbing, interactive dance mats, under pressure, rodeo bull, demolition ball and climbing wall!

For more information on where the Barracudas Activity Day Camps are situated and to see just what’s on offer, go to www.barracudas.co.uk or contact them by email on fun@barracudas.co.uk or by phone on 0845 123 5299.

Filed Under: Featured, Flying Start News, Learning & Development, Parenting, Summer

Flying Start catches up with one of the leading brands for Baby Products in the UK

January 30, 2013 By sonia Leave a Comment

With almost 100 years of history behind them, Hauck Group have become one of the leading brands for baby products in the UK. Their reputation is immense and their product range features tried and tested items at fair prices. Flying Start talked to Marketing Manager, Sue Griffiths, to find out more about the Hauck Group and, in particular, Hauck Fun For Kids.

Probably best known for their range of pushchairs and buggies, Hauck have evolved over the decades from basket makers to manufacturer and supplier of many nursery items.

Founded by Felix Hauck in 1921, the company was later guided by his daughter Paula Feyler through the 1950’s and for a further two decades. In that time the product range came to encompass children’s clothing and other products until in 1970, Klaus and Anette Feyler took over. This resulted in a total revamp of the company’s products and as well as clothing and baby products, toys and doll’s pushchairs became a feature range.

The early part of the new millenium saw Hauck enlarge its portfolio of brands with such names as i’coo and TRAXX and Mini Traxx coming under the Hauck Group wing, thus enabling a vast expansion in the range of buggies and pushchairs being offered to families with young children.

Until 2001, Hauck had no UK base. This was rectified with a new head office in North Wales at Wrexham, Hauck Fun For Kids. This presence meant that all distribution to the UK mainland could be handled from a domestic base with a further distributor being set up to cover both Northern Ireland and Eire.

Hauck Fun For Kids benefits from a presence in numerous countries that Hauck Group control and thus have a variety of products that other competitors are unable to better. For a number of years Hauck have licenced other named products including the world famous Disney brand. There are now many items in the Hauck range bearing the faces of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse as well as Pixar Cars and the Disney Princess.

With the increase in sales via both supermarkets and the internet, Hauck have had to adjust their position in the market and have done so with some success. Their innovative Sit ‘n’ Relax baby seat and high chair won two awards from Right Start magazine in 2012 and was a showpiece in several of the exhibitions throughout the year alongside the many pushchair models that were on display.

New ranges launched in 2012 and to be launched in 2013 are Child Safety Gates and Car seats respectively and it is Hauck Fun For Kids’ intention to continue to provide support to parents in every aspect of day-to-day living with their award winning products, that will suit all tastes and all budgets.

If you wish to find out more about Hauck Fun For Kids and their products, ranging from pushchairs, buggies, car seats, safety gates, high chairs, changing bags, travel and baby cots and accessories then go to their web site www.hauckuk.com

If you would like further information you can contact them via email: info@hauckuk.com