March 2013

WELCOME TO MARCH’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

Dress up as a book character…

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 the fun!

BOOK SWAP!

We will be holding a pre- school book swap after

school on Thursday 7th March. 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.

Congratulations to William Fish for winning the design a book mark

competition!

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 0 – 5yrs, 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).

Calendar

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

26 Feb 27 28 1 March 2

0930- 1130 Parenting Puzzle (6)

1000-1200 Post Natal (2)

1300-1500 baby baby

1000-1200 Playlink

1230-1415 Well Baby Clinic

1530- 1700 Fox Cubs (1)

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 (7)

1000-1200 Post Natal (3)

1300-1500 baby baby

WORLD BOOK DAY

1000-1200 Playlink

1230-1415 Well Baby Clinic

1515 Book Swap

1530- 1700 Fox Cubs (2)

THERE IS NO SPLODGERS TODAY

1430-1500 Little Sports Stars

11 12 13 14 15 16

0930-1100 SPLAT! (HBC)

1000-1200 Playlink

0930- 1130 Parenting Puzzle (8)

1000-1200 Post Natal (4)

1300-1500

baby baby

1000-1200 Playlink

1230-1415 Well Baby Clinic

1530- 1700 Fox Cubs (3)

0930-1100 Splodgers!

1430-1500 Little Sports Stars

18 19 20 21 22 23

0930-1100 SPLAT! (HBC)

1000-1200 Playlink

0930- 1130 Parenting Puzzle (9)

1230- 1430 Introducing Family Foods

1300-1500 baby baby

1000-1200 Playlink

1230-1415 Well Baby Clinic

1530- 1700 Fox Cubs (4)

0930-1100 Splodgers!

1430-1500 Little Sports Stars

1000- 1200

Dad’s Club

25 26 27 28 29 30

0930-1100 SPLAT! (HBC)

1000-1200 Playlink

0930- 1130 Parenting Puzzle (10)

1300-1500 baby baby

1000-1200 Playlink

1230-1415 Well Baby Clinic

1530- 1700 Fox Cubs (5)

GOOD FRIDAY

CENTRE CLOSED

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.

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 session at The Red Oak is:

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

Dad’s Club

Saturday 23rd March

10am- 12noon

Toys, craft and snacks for the children and bacon

sandwiches for the dads!

For children aged 0-5 and their superheroes!

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.

April’s edition will be available on

Tuesday 26th March

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

….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.

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

TREASURE

BASKETS

If you’ve ever wondered why children prefer the box or

wrapping paper to that shiny new toy, it’s most probably

because it feels better to touch, looks more interesting

and makes a more exciting sound when they move it.

Babies love things that appeal to their senses which is

why baskets of carefully chosen everyday objects provide

a wonderful way for them to explore different sensory

experiences.

For more information and ideas on how to create a

treasure basket for your baby, take a look at the notice

board in the Centre or pick up a leaflet.