Sunday 21 June 2015

Happy Father's Day !

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY HAPPY FATHER'S DAY FROM OXONDADS

Friday 19 June 2015

Fathers Reading Every Day - FRED !

Give the gift of story time with dad this Father's Day

Watch our Fathers Reading Every Day appeal by Sir Tony Robinson

Please support our FRED crowdfunding campaign

We want to bring FRED to 3,000 children and their dads in the UK this year – which means marketing it to schools before the holidays start.

With no government funding for this groundbreaking programme, we're crowdfunding to raise £5,000 for a big marketing push. Please head over toour crowdfunding page to find out more and make your pledge now.

You can donate in your name, in your child’s name, or to salute a loved father - and choose from a range of fantastic rewards. Why not celebrate this Father’s Day by investing in a present that really makes a difference: the gift of story time with dad.

For too many of our children, story time with dad is just not happening. One UK father in three reads to his young child no more often than once a month.

FRED is the only family reading programme targeted specifically at dads: it gets them into the reading habit and results in stunning outcomes.

Our pilot study found that FRED children were four times more likely to exceed their school achievement targets than their peers. Their vocabulary widens, their reading improves and so do their behaviour and their maths! A very high number of boys take part and disadvantaged children make the greatest progress.

Help us bring FRED to 3,000 more children: pledge now.

Copyright © 2015 Fatherhood Institute, All rights reserved.

This article is taken from The Fatherhood Institute

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Friday 5 June 2015

05th June 2015 - Things To Do Over The Weekend, In & Around Oxfordshire

To find out what is on over the weekend via "Daily Info, Oxford" please click HERE

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Family Holiday Suggestions to Save Money

Taking children on a family holiday for quality time and creating positive memories is something all parents look forward to but, despite a UK economy in recovery, over half of parents (53 per cent) struggle to afford one.

A survey of over 2,000 parents by award-winning insurer for campervans, motorhomes and caravans, comfort-insurance.co.uk, found over half (54 per cent) think their financial situation isn’t back to the same state it was pre-recession. Holidays are one of the top three things which suffer when families feel stretched. Almost two-thirds of parents (64 per cent) say cost is the biggest factor when planning a family holiday, with 5 in 10 admitting they’ve avoided booking a holiday due to cost. Almost three-quarters of parents (70 per cent) seek value for money above anything else.

Leisure vehicle holiday could provide the cost effective solution – saving £1,000!

With the increase in popularity of VW campervans over the recent years and the potential to save over £1,000* compared to a standard family package holiday, leisure vehicles are a serious holiday contender. Over 68 per cent of parents say their children would enjoy the freedom and flexibility of a motorhome, campervan or caravan holiday. Of course, this would also mean children could also bring their pet along with them – one of the top three things children would most love to bring on holiday, according to comfort-insurance.co.uk findings.

“Leisure vehicle holidays have the potential to save families thousands over the years, which could really benefit parents whilst they are still feeling the pinch. They’re a great investment, hold their value, last for years and even allow you to take the dog with you to join in on the fun!” says Pete Cue, founder and director of Comfort Insurance.

Top Tips

Peter Cue, shares some of his knowledge, experience and expertise from his twenty-five years in the business to give you some top tips on how to make your family’s leisure vehicle holiday as cost-effective as possible.

Time of year

Travelling during certain times of the year will vary in cost. The peak season (between June and August) will be generally cost more in comparison to May and September because most families plan to get away during the school holidays. Avoid these higher costs by planning your holiday during the low season.

Plan your route

Where you go can affect the overall cost of a holiday, for example, it will be more expensive to visit a popular beach resort during the summer months instead of driving to a less well-known place. Therefore, it is important to plan your route and locations so that you can maximise the cost-effective places to explore.

Create an itinerary

Plan what you’re going to do each day of your holiday so you can allocate your spending budget accordingly. The cost of entry to local attractions, souvenirs, food and drink for the day and any other extras, can really add up! Therefore, planning what activities your family will be doing in advance will give you an idea of how much money you’ll spend.

Save on fuel

Selecting where you fill up is vital. Generally, supermarket fuel stations offer the cheapest prices. However, large chains are reacting and becoming more competitive with their pricing strategy.

Buying fuel at motorway services will no doubt be more expensive than any other fuel station – mainly because drivers will have little choice to stop there to refill, therefore you should avoid these places.

Look after you vehicle

Keep your motorhome, campervan or caravan well maintained and looked after (e.g. oil level, water level & tyre pressure). This will help to avoid any damages whilst on holiday which could ultimately save you having to claim on your insurance.

Cook family meals in your leisure vehicle

Aim to cook a few family meals in your leisure vehicle to avoid pricey meals out. Buying food from the supermarket could save you a lot of pennies!

*Saving of over £1,000 based on below calculations for family of four for one week (seven days):

Motorhome or campervan holiday = £308.38
London to Dorset (301.8 miles round trip)
Newlands Holiday Park (newlandsholidays.co.uk) mid-season (grass with electric hook-up) – 1-5 May, 27 May-23 July, 31 August-12 Sept and 24-31 October (newlandsholidays.co.uk/Tariff/Camping-and-Touring.aspx) = £23 per day/£161 in total
Fuel = £100
Gas = £10 (will last a month)
Cost of motorhome/Campervan based on
Second-hand Swift Escape 664 diesel motorhome
If sold after 3 years loses approximate value of £5,000
1 week = £32
Fully comprehensive insurance, inc breakdown cover with www.comfort-insurance.co.uk (1 week – based on £280 for 1 year) = £5.38
Average package holiday = £1,516 (inc travel insurance £1,564)
London Gatwick to Tenerife (inc flight, transfers, 15kg luggage each & resort service)
Mid-season 1^st-8^th September
Family Garden Compostela Beach hotel (self-catering 1 bedroom apartment)
ATOL protection
Priced on 16/02/2015 – http://bit.ly/1zZHxGJ
Holiday travel insurance (standard travel cover from the Post Office) = £48

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This article is taken from Dadzclub.com

Advice for dads to be

Bringing a baby into your life is going to mean major changes to your routine and your energy levels. From now on, you will have to put your baby’s wants and needs first. Going out and about will need a lot more organising than just grabbing your wallet and keys. You will have to plan everything around your baby'ss needs, and if you want a night off, you’ll have to arrange childcare. In Dr Sarah Brewer’s book ‘I Want to Have a Baby?’ she says: ‘Being a father will certainly affect your social life – a new baby is very trying and also tiring. You may find that lack of sleep means you don’t feel like going out even when you have the opportunity.’

Worries and doubts

You may be worried about how your new baby is going to affect your time, sleep and your social life. You may also feel inadequately prepared for such a huge responsibility. This baby will depend entirely on you, and you may be unsure about his or her everyday needs, such as feeding, burping, bathing, changing nappies, or even the correct way to carry your child. When Colin Joseph became a father, he took paternity leave and decided to work more regular hours. He says: ‘Looking after your baby is all new to begin with.

The first things you need to do can be quite daunting, such as bathing, changing nappies and feeding, but you do get used to it. It becomes routine and natural.’ The more time you spend caring for your child, the easier these things become. It may seem as if your child’s mother has all the answers – after all, she has spent nine months carrying the baby with her – but she is new to this as well, and she needs your help.

According to Rob Williams, Chief Executive of The Fatherhood Institute, dads should get as involved as possible when the baby arrives. ‘Do as much as you can – housework, cooking, nappy changing, holding the baby. Fathers are great at everything except breastfeeding. If a father sees this responsibility as part of his role as well as his partner’s they are more likely to end up with a shared approach to parenting.’

Sharing responsibilities

Even if you have gone back to work while your partner has stayed at home, you will need to take on a share of the household chores. Rob Williams says: ‘The biggest cause of relationship tension is where responsibilities for parenting and housework are unequally divided. Evidence shows that sharing these responsibilities more equally strengthens relationships and helps to get through this difficult transition. Fathers need to think carefully about whether they can spend less time at work. And if they can't they can still do a great deal of work at home to let the mother know that she is not expected to do it all on their own.’ Dr. Carol Cooper agrees: ‘Even if you can't be (at home) a lot, try to reassure your partner that you accept it's a shared responsibility and try to do what you can when you're around. Right now the baby is a priority and you both need the chance to bond with her.’

How your life will change

Life will never be the same again. It may be a whole lot better and more rewarding, but it’s also going to be tiring, stressful and challenging. Preparing yourself for this is the first part of becoming a new parent. Your routine will ultimately have to change, particularly your sleeping patterns. From now on, you will have to use the time when your baby is asleep to sleep yourself. Your baby will not know the difference between day and night, and will sleep irregularly. Dr. Cooper says: ‘Prioritise activities. There's no point doing the housework in the only two hours out of 24 in which your baby chooses to sleep!’

Another major change will be your relationship with your partner. According to Rob Williams, most new parents don’t expect their relationships to change very much, although this is inevitable. ‘Most couples see a drop in their satisfaction with their relationship after they become parents. They have less time to spend with each other, it's more difficult to go out, and there is another person in the family who grabs most of their attention.’ According to Dr. Cooper it will take time to adjust but there are things you can do to appreciate each other. ‘Reassure your partner that you still love each other even if there's not much romance at the moment. Try to make time to spend together, perhaps just watching a video, when your baby allows.’

Top tips for Dads

This is the time to ask for extra support from family and friends willing to give it! This could be babysitting or just being on the other end of the phone when you need to let off steam.
If you live with your baby’s mum, make sure you take it in turns to see to the baby at night, so you both get some sleep and all the responsibility isn’t on one of you.
Be as hands-on as you can be – change nappies, read stories, play games – so you get to have that bonding time with your baby.
When the baby’s been settled for the night or taking a nap, is usually the time parents are rushing about trying to do all the cleaning up and getting things ready for the next day. Try to use some of this time to just be together doing the things you did when it was just the two of you – from watching TV to having a chat (or a moan…)
Even if you’re back at work, try to take on a share of the housework to give your partner a break.
The sooner you have a go at the everyday things – changing nappies, bathing, cuddling at ‘crying time’ – the less intimidating they will be. Know that your partner is new to this too – don’t assume she has all the answers.
Let your partner know that you want to share the responsibilities with her, to reassure her that you care.
Prioritise activities – if your baby is keeping you up all night, make sure you rest when you get a chance.
Take one step at a time – you can’t know everything and you won’t get everything right the first time. Being a new parent is one of the biggest challenges anyone can go though, take your time and keep trying.

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This article was taken from familylives.org

How dads affect newborn babies

Some fathers assume their role only really kicks in when their babies are weaned, but new research shows you can make a major positive impact right from the start. Find out how to give your baby a flying start.

Q: When can babies first recognise their dads?

In the womb – at about week 22. Deeper male voices are easier to hear than female voices. So, when that bump starts growing, time to get acquainted.

The dad pregnancy timeline

Q: Do dads and mums respond differently to their newborns?

No - not fundamentally. For example, there’s ample research showing that a crying or smiling baby raises the heart rate and blood pressure of a dad in exactly the same way as a mum.

Q: Do babies respond differently to their dads?

Breastfeeding obviously makes a difference, and there are other ways the newborn baby starts to distinguish dad from mum - larger hands, different smell, feel and voice, facial hair.

The biggest myths about dads

Q: How can a father strengthen his relationship with his newborn?

More touching, cuddling, talking, eye contact – and, basically, more time. In one study, a group of fathers of one month-old babies were given training in baby massage, and encouraged to apply it; another group was not. Two months on, the massaged babies greeted their dads with more eye contact, smiling, cooing and reaching and showed fewer avoidance behaviours than the control group.

Baby's home: what's next?

Q: What impact does this have on babies?

When fathers are highly involved, their babies interact equally with both parents and more easily with strangers. For example, one study showed that babies of 12 to 14 months who had fathers who played an active, independent and consistent role in childcare were more sociable than babies with more distant fathers – both with their own parents and with outsiders.

Q: What impact does this have on fathers?

Just as you’d expect: when dads cuddle, touch and talk to their newborns, they want more. For example, one study of premature babies found that the sooner the fathers held them, the sooner they reported feelings of warmth and love.

Q: What is the longer-term impact?

A strong father-baby relationship makes for a better adapted, more confident, more sociable and brighter child…

Several studies suggest the quality and quantity of baby-father contact has a direct impact on how secure children feel growing up. There is also research showing that toddlers and young children who spend more time playing with their dads, are more likely to be sociable when starting nursery school.
Babies with strong attachments to their dads tend to have fewer behavioural problems later on. In fact, some studies suggest this relationship might have an even greater impact on the behaviour of pre-teen children than the mother-baby attachment.
Substantial father involvement from at least the first month after birth promotes better language development and better cognition skills (suggested by higher IQ scores) among toddlers and young children.

Boost baby brain development

This article is taken from Dad.info