Wednesday, 22 February 2012

Posters available from Fathers Plus

Click below to order

http://www.fathersplus.org/catalog/posters

Lollibop Childrens Festival August 2012

Please click on link below for the dates for this year's Lollibop Festival in August

http://www.eventmagazine.co.uk/news/1112318/Lollibop-festival-announces-2012-dates/

Thursday, 16 February 2012

Dads Outdoors Project

If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise!

A jogger, on his weekly run through the woods at the CS Lewis Nature Reserve, was stopped in his tracks on a mild December morning. Had he stumbled across a Teddy Bear’s Picnic? Spotted the notorious Gruffalo? Or worse still, the Big Bad Mouse? In actual fact, the jogger had come across a band of little explorers and their fathers from the Roundabout Children’s Centre, Headington. 13 fathers and 23 children had ventured down to the CS Lewis Nature Reserve in Risinghurst to take part in the Centre’s first Dads Outdoors session.

Dads Outdoors is a project involving 9 Children’s Centre’s across Oxfordshire. The project aims to enable fathers and their children to make better use of their local environment on a regular basis and to build local networks of support and collaboration. The Roundabout Centre’s first Dads Outdoors event made the usually tranquil forest come alive with activity as the children and fathers explored their surroundings, looking for creatures, and made Christmas decorations. It was a big surprise to the jogger who runs that route every weekend and rarely encounters another person.

Despite living within minutes of the Nature Reserve, many of the group had never been their before. However, after spending the morning in the woods, all the dads vowed to come back again with the whole family. One father commented ‘I experienced a different aspect of play with my child…the forest side. The centre had planned to use the pond at the Nature Reserve to go pond dipping, but had to make some last minute rearrangements after discovering that pond dipping in winter can damage the pond life’s habitat. Instead, with a little bit of wire, the dads got creative and made Christmas stars, wreaths and even a forest crown in the woodland next to the pond. The children used magnifying glasses and small pots to search and collect minibeasts that ranged from earthworms to millipedes.

Over the coming months, the Roundabout centre will be organising monthly outdoor events. They will be coming back to the CS Lewis in the warmer months to carry out their pond dipping event as well as exploring other local locations with a different focus for each event. Oxfordshire has some fantastic outdoor spaces and through the Dads Outdoors project, local families will be finding out about places to go and things to do in their area. To find out more, please contact the Roundabout Centre (01865 764952).

Some comments from the dads:-

· I will take my children (to the CS Lewis Nature Reserve) more regularly

· We enjoyed collecting worms and making a star out of twigs

· I shall visit the pond with my wife and family

· We loved the fresh air and adventure: feeding ducks, finding bugs and playing in an adventurous environment

· I shall go out next weekend with the children, just like today

· Fresh air, good mix of dads, friendly, fun in the woods…it was great!

The other centres involved in the Dads Outdoors project are The East Street Centre and Britannia Road Children’s Centre (Banbury), Witney Children’s Centre, Elms Road Children’s Centre, Marston Northway Children’s Centre (Oxford), North Abingdon Children’s Centre, South Abingdon Children’s Centre and Wantage Children’s Centre. To find out about their programme of activities, please contact the appropriate children’s centre.

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

"My Daddy and Me" - New book available

For more information about Kid Premiership www.kidpremiership.com

		FOR MORE INFO, CONTACT DAVID HARBAN ON: 01484 668008
	www.kidpremiershop.com	or email: davidharban@kidpremiership.com


	Research shows that children whose fathers are actively involved in their lives are happier, more confident individuals who achieve more.
	It is for this reason, that Kid Premiership work actively with dads to support their role and encourage them to develop a positive relationship with their children from day one. ‘My Daddy and Me’ is a delightful first early years book for dads to enjoy with their children. It highlights the importance of everyday activities that will enrich not only their children’s lives, but dad’s life too. From changing nappies to reading stories and splashing in puddles, sharing this book will help to reinforce that special father/ child bond. Special half price offer available for two weeks only click here for more details or email davidharban@kidpremiership.com to request your FREE e-sample.

DaddyNatal - advice and tips on becoming a Dad !!

For a great website with advice for ante natal Dads check out -

www.daddynatal.co.uk

Practical, memorable and enjoyable antenatal education for men, by men.

DaddyNatal was created by Dean Beaumont in response to his experiences becoming a father for the first time. He says:

"I felt I was prepared for the birth of my son, had read the books and been to the childbirth classes, but after the birth of my son, I realised I had not been prepared, and felt I had let my partner down. What I realised is that childbirth education is tailored to women, and actually, that there was very little information for men, tailored for men, as they prepare for their role in birth and beyond. The birth partner has a massive influence on labour, and can affect how long it lasts, how painful it is, and whether interventions are needed or used."

DaddyNatal was created to support Dads to be the best birth partners they can be, and to be the best dads that they can be. We recognise becoming a dad starts before birth, and continues for life, and so we offer both DaddyNatal antenatal classes (for men only) and New Dads classes (for Dads & Baby only) for when baby has arrived.

We also host Study Days for any professionals working with fathers and DaddyNatal teacher training, please see the tabs above for more information.

DaddyNatal – proud to be working in partnership with Peterborough Hospital to improve services for fathers. Please see our Partnership page for details of how we can also support you.

Dads Literature Book Available

32 page A5 illustrated information book
Suitable for all dads and dads-to-be
ISBN: 978-1-906036-47-8

'Dads Make a Difference' explains to fathers why their role is so important for the successful development and positive well-being of their children. It provides the help and support needed for dads to develop relationships that will enrich not only the lives of their children, but also their own lives too.

Chapters include:
Bonding
Breast is Best
Male Postnatal Depression
Child Safety
Healthy Eating
Your relationships with your children
Relationships between Parents
Separation
Step Families
Family Problems and Domestic Abuse
Money Issues
Unemployment / Work Problems
Stress
Support & Contacts.

A free e sample of the complete book is available by contacting David Harban.
Tel: 01484 668008 Email: davidharban@kidpremiership.com