Hoops of fun for your school!

Professional Hula Hooper John the “Hoop Guy” aged 62, and with 12 Grandchildren, has an infectious passion for all things hoop shaped, yet more than that he has a passion for helping the young people of today to get fit and active whilst having fun. Having picked up his first hoop in the 1950s and struggling somewhat, he was shocked when he decided to have another go aged 53 and loved it. “I started out juggling and after founding a juggling club in my local town I met a member who was also a Hula Hooper, she showed me some tricks and that was it! I was hooked on hooping and I have hardly put it down since.” Pretty soon he was sourcing and selling high-quality hoops for adults online, performing routines set to music to entertain and hosting children’s parties which included an array of skilled hoop action, juggling and much more besides.

Not wanting to stop here though, John started to visit schools for special one-off day experiences, armed with hoops for all, plenty of music and an itinerary, he led workshops for students which got them learning to hoop, do tricks, build hoop structures and have heaps of fun which all got them active, taught them fine motor skills, numeracy skills and got them working in teams. Needless to say, schools and students have been thrilled at the workshops and John is now working up and down the country bringing hoop fun and smiles to schools everywhere.

If you would like to see the many benefits that a workshop with Hoop Guy can bring to your students visit www.hooping4schools.org.uk or call 07946 413 452 for more info.

Progressing from a Baby Sleeping Bag

Over 95% of parents in the UK now choose to put their baby to bed in a sleeping bag. Parents recognise the benefits of their baby feeling secure, comforted and remaining at a constant temperature. By simply putting your baby into his sleep sack he is ready for bed without all the fuss of conventional blankets and sheets.
 
However once your child starts to develop into a toddler (from about 1yrs old) and the move from their cot into a first bed comes ever closer parents can find themselves back at square one with disrupted sleep patterns all over again. Not only do children pick up on their parent’s anxiety, they are developing and learning new things every day. Toddlers often display a fearsome strength of character and are keen to become ‘big boys or girls’. They may be learning to walk, to talk, and begin potty training and therefore the transition into a big bed can play a major role in this development. Some children do struggle with a change of environment and like familiarity and many children are reluctant to give up the comfort of their sleeping bag, but no longer want to be treated as, or viewed as a baby. Toddlers can be very wriggly sleepers so conventional bedding ends up on the floor, and your child will wake up cold. By using a specialist toddler sleeping bag, like the toddler Snuggle Sac, your little one can be rewarded with something wonderfully cosy, comforting yet different to a baby sleeping bag.
 
Toddler Snuggle Sacs are the sleeping bag recommended by The Children’s Sleep Charity, to follow on from a baby sleep sack as they combine the appeal of a favourite teddy bear, the security of a sleeping bag and the cosiness of a comfort blanket. The designs are deliberately taken from the older child size Snuggle Sacs to help the toddler feel more independent and grown up. However the toddler size Sacs are designed to fit onto a cot bed size mattress (160cm x 50cm) and with their lovely soft 100% cotton linings they will provide just the right familiarity to your young child.
 
Many children older than three love sleeping in a sleeping bag, so Snuggle Sacs (next size up) are the recommended choice. The designs are really fun, they come with a free tote bag and your child won’t be embarrassed to take them anywhere. There are even adult size Snuggle Sacs now too!

www.snugglesac.com 

Whitestep boutique for baby products to love

For cool, sophisticated and innovative baby products Whitestep is the online boutique for you. With a commitment to help parents find non toxic products which are free from harmful chemicals,their exciting and carefully selected range of baby essentials features stylish products from across the globe.

Their selection of Babyzen pushchairs and its accessories are the ultimate in practical, stylish travel for you and your tot helping you both get from A to B with ease. Check out the YOYO and ZEN models for a small, instant and easy fold, compact style that they will love from 6 months up.

Of course the pushchair is one of the biggest purchases you will make for the little one in the early years, but there are also plenty of other things that you will need to help make the bringing up baby thing a whole lot easier and Whitestep have a great deal of what you need. You can find plenty of innovative designs from Simply Good with a range of baby carriers and nursing pillows to playmats and educational toys, Simply Good designs are wonderfully bold in both how their product looks and how they work.

Their range of exciting and modern products are refreshing in a market of products which are often so similar to each other in design. Whitestep choose items which offer something different in a world where so many things look the same, and hurrah for that fact alone! Shop the range at www.whitestep.co.uk and fill your baby's world with designs both of you will love.

Anna Kennedy...and Three Men and a Little Lady

Anna Kennedy Online is celebrating fathers living with autism this Father’s Day. Adeptly titled ‘Three Men and a Little Lady’, the charity has created a film focusing on the father’s perspective of autism. Featuring three interviews from dads, and an open and honest discussion led by charity founder Anna Kennedy OBE. This never before seen candid footage offers an emotional perspective of a father’s love and dedication.

“There is so much focus on mum’s and how they cope with autism, we wanted to share the father’s point of view. These interviews are rare and the difference in their responses to their female counterparts provide interesting and straightforward reactions.” – Anna Kennedy OBE, Founder of Anna Kennedy Online.

The film, which was filmed at Amba Hotel, London by AKO young patron Ryan Wiggins, focuses on everyday life with children with autism. The dads featured are Sanjay Thapar, Andrew Holmes and Mick Cordwell, all who have had to make huge changes to their lifestyles and careers.

“A father’s love is as important as a mother’s, and we wanted to celebrate the sacrifices and compromises that each man has made for his family. These achievements are not recognised enough and deserve positive attention, and this is what the video is doing.” Anna continues.

Anna Kennedy OBE works closely with families who live with autism to help shine a positive light and help their situations. Anna has helped hundreds of families throughout the UK and globally. This film is a series of events created by the charity to help the public understand the real faces of autism, good and bad.

“Our video is helping to spread an honest message about living with autism. It is allowing us to expand out outreach, raise awareness and continue to support more and more families on a global scale.” – Anna Kennedy OBE concludes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6I0SmR7iIs

Tough Furniture launch new improved website

A specialist design studio has won multiple awards for its forward-thinking advances in special educational needs furniture for the home and the classroom. Tough Furniture specialise in creating funky, functional fixtures and fittings. Each and every product, from mid-sleeper den beds to fish tanks, can be customised to your specific family needs. Their extensive range of strong durable units are designed and manufactured with hidden strengths for the particular requirements of their individual customers. This approach is often how new products first see the light of day!

Commercial Director, Nigel Reaney said: “We’ve always aimed to be, not just a quality specialist supplier, but also the company who will really listen to your needs and can offer standard or bespoke problem-solving furniture at a sensible price.”

Over 70% of their business comes from repeat custom and their products go into a wide and diverse range of environments where many kinds of challenging behaviour can pose a variety of problems.

Deciphering how to effectively manage difficulties encountered in bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms and any other place where children with learning and behavioural difficulties spend their time, is a challenge the Tough Furniture team wholeheartedly take part in.

Investing heavily in CAD and responsive machine technology means the problem-solvers can talk with the customer and assess each case, confident in the knowledge that they can deliver highly specialised solutions.

A longstanding interaction with a wide spectrum of care providers gives the pioneering group consistent opportunities to solve practical problems.

In your own home, the customisation process begins with one of Tough Furniture’s experienced, hands-on designers who can guide you through the elements of developing a safe environment.

The smallest and most simple changes can be made to their existing products but the innovative team enthusiastically welcome change and new ideas. Pairing their knowledge with your experience, you can lead new designs and create a detailed plan to suit your lifestyle.

Whatever your situation may be, there is a Tough Furniture solution and with the new and improved site it all just got even easier! Now you can add your products to basket and the team will email you back with a formal quote. Just like that! An improved search function and extensive product information as well as easier access from your mobile and tablet device make shopping with Tough Furniture a breeze.

Call: 01588 674 340 or Email: design@toughfurniture.com

www.toughfurniture.com

Autism Hero Awards Announced for October 2016

Anna Kennedy Online are one of the most prolific campaigners in Europe for Autism. Their campaigning is tireless in raising awareness of autism, raising funds and raising spirits within the community whilst providing a support network for anyone affected by autism. 2016 has proven to be a busy year so far with the Expo which featured many speakers from all over the country, it has been Autism awareness month, Autism’s Got Talent was bigger than ever before in May and the Autism Hero Awards is now set for October too. Their campaigning is tireless in raising awareness of autism, raising funds and raising spirits within the community.

This year Anna Kennedy Online are hosting the Autism Hero Awards in October 2016. This event provides a wonderful opportunity to recognise individuals and organisations within the autism and SEN community. A night of entertainment and celebration is planned and will include hosts OBE Anna Kennedy, EastEnders star Jake Wood and much more. The awards are all about celebrating YOU, so, if you know of a special person who you think should be nominated then get in touch with Anna Kennedy online to submit your nomination!

“The Autism Hero Awards have been created so that we can showcase and celebrate the excellence taking place in the world of Autism. We hope that the awards will also celebrate the achievements and enhance Autism awareness and acceptance within society.” Anna told us.

Nominations for the different categories are between the 7th May 2016 and 30th June 2016 and the finalists will be announced on the 16th July 2016. This fantastic celebration will be taking place at the prestigious Amba Marble Arch– Bryanston Street, London, W1H 7EH on Saturday 1st October 2016.

Doors open at 6.30pm and the ticket prices are £50 each or £450 for a table of 10, for this fantastic evening. The evening will start with red carpet, welcome drink on arrival, a delicious three-course meal, DJ, entertainment. Carriages at 12.30. Proceeds for the evening will be donated to the Anna Kennedy Online charity to continue its dynamic work in raising Autism awareness within society. Black tie is optional.

Find out more at www.annakennedyonline.com

Carrobears...a gift for life

The craft of making teddy bears is a pretty incredible one and is a skill that requires a great deal of time and passion. Caroline of Carrobears is one such creative. Caroline started Carrobears at a time in her life where teddy bears became not just a hobby, but a kind of saviour too. Based in Sweden, we caught up with her by telephone to find out more…

How did you first come to start making teddy bears?

“Well, I was in London visiting family at the time and fell in love with a bear I discovered in Harrods. From here, I started looking into the teddy bear world and taught myself how to make my own from existing patterns. Then, I started to design my own patterns and that is where we are with things today!”

Wow, so it really started as a hobby?

“Yes initially, then I discovered that people in the UK really liked my designs, I love coming to the big shows in the UK and attend a few a year! Teddy Bears have really changed my life, they came at a time when my illness started which left me finding many things very difficult to do. I could create my teddy bears in a workshop from home and they really became how I spent my time!”

What is the design process like for you?

“It is continuous really. I am always thinking of new bears to create and get inspiration from everywhere at all times, even in the middle of the night! I have a book to jot my ideas in so there is method to my design process as it could easily get out of control. I am one for starting projects all at once, they do get done so it is a process which works for me at least!”

Is it hard parting with a bear?

“I never see it that way, of course each one takes a lot of time and love, but I really enjoy the concept that my bears get new homes where they are appreciated and loved. Each one is unique and therefore very special, but the people who buy from me realise that and treat them with that in mind. Both collectors and people buying bears as gifts seemed to really enjoy them and that’s all I can ask for really!”

How can we buy from your collection?

“You can contact me via my facebook page or email me and I will be more than happy to match you with a bear!”

Caroline's bears make the perfect gift to others and yourself, so visit www.facebook.com/CarroBears or email ackermann@telia.com.

Hello

Hello lovely Achieve readers! Welcome to our brand new blog. For those of you who don't know a great deal about our magazine, let us tell you a little more... if you do know about us...feel free to just skip right on past this bit!

Achieve Magazine is a full-size Glossy parent and child quarterly publication targeting Parents, Foster Carers, Schools & SEN Coordinators across the UK. Our quarterly publication covers a vast array of topics that are of enormous interest, the latest news and some fabulous competitions including regular features on SEN, Autism, Baby Essentials, Travel , fashion and family living. We’re available online and in hard copy at carefully selected hospitals, schools, boutiques and more throughout the West Midlands and London; we try and make it easy for you to enjoy our fantastic features and competitions wherever you are, no matter how busy you may be.

This blog space is a portal for us to share our latest finds, whether that be companies providing fab products and services or our latest recipes and kids craft projects. So, stay tuned and be sure to check back as we gather lots of regular fun and interesting updates from the world of parenting and Achieve.

Pregnancy isn’t an excuse to put your feet up!

Health experts agree that staying active during pregnancy has many positive benefits for you and your baby. 

We all know that exercise is good for us but many women are unsure about how much exercise they can and should do when they’re pregnant. Maternity fitness experts FittaMamma are committed to inspiring women that exercise during pregnancy is not only safe but beneficial. They say, ‘Maintaining fitness whilst you’re pregnant helps both physically and psychologically, helping to reduce many common complaints such as tiredness, backache and swollen ankles.'
 
Regular exercise during pregnancy will release those feel-good endorphins, lift your mood and make it easier to sleep, reducing stress, anxiety and depression. Giving birth is a very physical process - increasing your strength and fitness levels can make all the difference when it comes to labour and it will help with your recovery period afterwards as well.  Let’s face it, no-one would enter a marathon without any training! Most mums who carry on exercising during their pregnancy regain their pre-baby figure much more quickly. Staying fit during pregnancy is good for your baby too.  Research has shown that babies born to active mothers have a healthier birth weight, learn more quickly and are less prone to childhood obesity.  What’s more, if you’re feeling good about yourself, you’ll have more energy for your baby too – it’s win-win all round!
 
It’s a view backed by The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists who recommend that ‘Healthy pregnant women should engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most if not all days of the week’.  The NHS agrees, stating, ‘Being active during pregnancy means you're likely to maintain a healthier weight and be able to cope better with the physical demands of pregnancy and labour. It also reduces the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, birth defects and diabetes.’ 
 
You don’t need to invest in an expensive gym membership, or commit to regular classes, it can be easy to incorporate exercise into your daily routine. Even walking for half an hour a day will help to raise your heart beat. There’s no reason why pregnant women shouldn’t enjoy a whole range of activities such as running, cycling, swimming, yoga and Pilates or working out at home or in the gym. If you’re not sure where to start the FittaMamma website (www.fittamamma.com)  has been developed to offer a useful free resource for health, well-being and exercise in pregnancy. Working closely with pre and post-natal fitness advisors the site offers extensive information about exercise during pregnancy,  including guidelines about safe exercise and pregnancy workouts that can easily be incorporated into a busy lifestyle without the need for special equipment. There are also simple exercise routines to help you regain your shape after the birth. 
 
FittaMamma’s guidelines for safe pregnancy exercise

• Make sure you warm up before you start and cool down when you finish

• Listen to your body – if your workout feels too intense slow down or stop.   Don’t overdo it, if you haven’t trained before build up slowly, maybe 15-20 minutes a day to begin with.

• Carry on talking!  If you’re exercising so hard you can’t easily continue a conversation - ease up!

• Pregnancy isn’t a good time to join a netball team or sign up for your first marathon – but that doesn’t mean you can’t start walking regularly or join a yoga or prenatal exercise class.

• Remember to stay hydrated – keep a water bottle handy.

• Stay cool!  Pregnant women can overheat quite easily so exercise outdoors if possible and choose clothes with a ‘CoolDry’ content to draw moisture away from your body.

• Dress comfortably.  Stretchy well-fitting exercise clothes that support your bump, back and breasts - such as the FittaMamma range - are ideal.

• Avoid exercises that involve you lying on your front after the first trimester and avoid lying on your back after 12 weeks.

• Stay fuelled – don’t exercise on an empty stomach and keep a few energy snacks handy -  a banana, dried fruit or nuts are ideal.

• Ask your doctor or midwife before you start any regular exercise routines or if you have any concerns about your health or your pregnancy

• Stop exercising if you feel any pain, dizziness, excessive weakness or fatigue, or bleeding 

 Check out www.fittamamma.com for free exercise information, prenatal yoga  and pregnancy Pilates routines,  useful nutritional advice and  recipes as well as the FittaMamma range of clothes.