February 2013

WELCOME TO FEBRUARY’S IN:FORM!

This edition is full of information about what’s going on in and around the Centre – I hope you will find it useful.

If you haven’t signed up to receive it electronically, then just complete the ‘Email updates’ form in the ‘Contact’ section of our website – www.theredoak.org.uk – or ‘like us’ at www.facebook.com/theredoak

We hope to see you at The Red Oak soon.

Duane Kirkland, Centre Manager.

‘Like us’ @/theredoak

All children attending Shining Stars and Playtime @ Playlink on

Thursday 7th March are invited to dress up as their favourite book

character. Grown ups are welcome to dress up too! There will book

themed activities at Playlink so come along and join in the fun!

Shining Stars will be holding a competition to design a World Book

Day book mark. The winning design will be printed and distributed

to all our Shining Stars children and across all our services!

We will be holding a pre school book swap after school on 7th. Books

can be donated from Monday 4th and for every book donated you

will receive a token to redeem against a book at the swap.

Any books that are left over will be donated to Welcare for their big

book sale on Saturday 23rd March.

A 6 week course for children aged 3- 6 years to enjoy, explore and learn about nature and wildlife.

There will activities such as pond dipping, nature crafts and camp making. The next course starts on Thursday 28th February from 3.30pm- 5pm.

PLEASE NOTE THE START DATE HAS CHANGED FROM PREVIOUSLY ADVERTISED.

£10 per child for the course.

Places are limited and are not confirmed until payment is received. Priority will be given to children who have not attended the course before.

The same course will also run again in the summer term.

For more information or to book a place please contact the Centre.

….is a new series of activity sheets for toddlers. They are a great tool for you to use to help your toddler develop their communication and language skills.

There is an activity for every month of the year with tips and an activity idea. You can download the activity sheet from our website, www.theredoak.org.uk where it can be found under ‘activities and events’, or scan the QR code with your mobile.

February’s activity is about playing shopping games. Why not take a look and see what fun you can have together!

February’s activities:

Advice & Info

Drop in and see us if you have a question or need help on anything to do with raising a family, or if you need help with completing paperwork.

Free

baby baby

A small, friendly and open session for parents to drop in with their under 1s. Join us for coffee, chat & play.

50p per family

Well Baby Clinic

Drop-in to have your baby weighed or to see the health visiting team... then stay for a while and have a drink while your little one plays.

Free

Baby Massage

A 5-week course to teach you all you need to know about baby massage. It’s great for relaxation, bonding and communication. Call to book.

To be confirmed

Dad’s Club

An opportunity for dad’s to bring their children to a session of play and activities. Open to children under 7, and their superheroes!

50p per family

Introducing Family Foods

Is your baby around 4 months old and showing an interest in food? Come along for advice and information about feeding and weaning your baby. Run by the Merstham 0- 19 Public Health Nursing Team.

Free

Little Sports Stars

A drop-in active session with ‘Little Sports Stars’ – the specialists in children’s multi-sports and activities. Open to children aged 2-5

£1.50 per child

Fox Cubs

A group for children (aged 3-6) to enjoy, explore and learn about nature, the environment & wildlife. Run with Surrey Wildlife Trust & Furzefield Primary School. See web site for more information.

£10 per child per 6 week course.

Playlink

A popular drop-in stay and play session run jointly by Merstham Playlink (Welcare in East Surrey) and us. Runs at Age Concern, Weldon Way, Merstham

50p per family

Post Natal Group

A 4-week course for new mums introducing a wide range of topics including Baby Massage, First Aid, Feeding and more.

Free

SPLAT!

Come, stay, play & learn all together! Use all our facilities and equipment, meet others, take part in organised activities… There’s LOTS to do! SPLAT (hbc) – for home-based child carers – is on Mondays @ The Red Oak.

HBC-£1.50 per child/ £2.00 during holidays (if not on subscription).

Splodgers!

A chance to come and do all the arty, crafty and MESSY things you want to do with your children, but without the stress of doing it at home!

£2 for first child, then £1 each

Calendar

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

28 Jan 29 30 31 1 Feb 2

0930- 1130 Parenting Puzzle (3)

1000-1200 Post Natal (3)

1300-1500 baby baby

1000-1200 Playlink

1230-1415 Well Baby Clinic

0930-1100 Splodgers!

1430-1500 Little Sports Stars

4 5 6 7 8 9

0930-1100 SPLAT! (HBC)

1000-1200 Playlink

0930- 1130 Parenting Puzzle (4)

1000-1200 Post Natal (4)

1300-1500 baby baby

1000-1200 Playlink

1230-1415 Well Baby Clinic

0930-1100 Splodgers!

1430-1500 Little Sports Stars

11 12 13 14 15 16

0930-1100 SPLAT! (HBC)

1000-1200 Playlink

0930- 1130 Parenting Puzzle (5)

1300-1500 baby baby

1000-1200 Playlink

1230-1415 Well Baby Clinic

0930-1100 Splodgers!

1430-1500 Little Sports Stars

18 19 20 21 22 23

HALF TERM SHINING STARS CLOSED HALF TERM SHINING STARS CLOSED HALF TERM SHINING STARS CLOSED

0930-1100 SPLAT! (HBC)

1000-1200 Playlink

1000-1200 Introducing Family Foods

1300-1500 baby baby

1000-1200 Playlink

1230-1415 Well Baby Clinic

0930-1100 Splodgers!

1430-1500 Little Sports Stars

1000- 1200

Dad’s Club

25 26 27 28 1 March

0930-1100 SPLAT! (HBC)

1000-1200 Playlink

0930- 1130 Parenting Puzzle (6)

1000-1200 Post Natal (1)

1300-1500 baby baby

1000-1200 Playlink

1230-1415 Well Baby Clinic

0930-1100 Splodgers!

1430-1500 Little Sports Stars

These are the activities provided by the Children’s Centre (or by our partners) that are open to all our families with children aged 0-5. In addition, we host or run some groups or activities that are only open to some families, or which need an

appointment to attend. These do not appear on the calendar, so don’t worry if you are coming to an appointment that isn’t showing! We reserve the right to change the programme at short notice and recommend you check before attending.

Many of the courses we run at the Children’s Centre are free and although some activities have a suggested donation these are not intended to prohibit families from attending. Fees may be charged for the services we provide for other

professionals and for courses and activities run by external companies.

Don’t forget…

SHINING STARS is closed

Monday 18th – Friday 22nd February for half term.

Other services will run as usual.

Is your baby around 4 months old?

Are they starting to show an interest in food?

Come along to a free session on

Introducing Family Foods

for advice and information about feeding and weaning your baby.

The next sessions at The Red Oak are:

Tuesday, 19th February

10am – 12 noon

(Please note the change in time for this session)

&

Tuesday 19th March

12.30pm- 2.30pm

Run by the Merstham 0- 19 Public Health Nursing Team.

Please call to reserve your place.

Fridays 2.30- 3pm

£1.50 per child

Multi sports and exercise for children aged 2- 5 years

No need to book, just come

along and join in the fun!

Exercise helps develop hand eye coordination, agility, and teamwork

as well as improving physical behaviour and mental function.

What’s On

Under 1’s stay and play

Wednesdays from 1pm- 3pm

Baby baby is open to all parents and carers with children under the

age of 1.

Come for a coffee and chat while your baby plays.

March’s edition will be available on

Tuesday 26th February

Please recycle me when you pick up the next edition of in:form!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Preparation time 15 – 20 minutes Ingredients 100g/4oz softened butter/margarine 100g/4oz soft brown sugar 1 tbsp golden syrup or honey 150g/6oz self raising flour 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional) 50g/2oz chocolate chips or Smarties

Method 1. Preheat the oven to 170°C/160°C fan/Gas 3.

2. Beat the butter, sugar and syrup together until soft and creamy.

3. Mix in the flour, vanilla extract and add the chocolate chips.

4. Divide the mixture into about 15 pieces and roll into balls using your hands.

5. Place well apart on greased baking sheets. Do not flatten them.

6. Bake for about 10 mins until a pale golden colour (don't cook any longer or they'll go crispy!)

7. Leave to cool on the tray for a few minutes and then remove from the tray and finish cooling on a wire rack.

ALLERGY ALERT

Please can we ask you not to bring nuts into the Centre, as we have children in our pre-school suffering from severe allergies.

Thank you for your understanding and co-operation.