Children's Centres Family Fun
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Support for residents
Children’s
Centres
Family Fun
March/April 2021 | 08 edition
Hello everyone! We hope you are all well – there has been so much
your child happening and many changes to catch up on since the last edition.
We’ve celebrated World book day, International Women’s day,
Mother’s day and Easter. We’ve reached a milestone of over 20
million people being vaccinated so far in the UK, we’ve heard about the roadmap
out of lockdown and the steps we’ll be taking to get us back to ‘normality’ and
we’ve finally come to the end of home schooling and children have
returned back to school (yipeee!). The clocks have
sprung forward signalling the start of
spring and we have welcomed the
usual, inevitable April showers!
Whew, what a round up!
With the new road map now
in place, we will be able
to welcome you all back
into our children’s centres
for some much longed for
face to face interaction and
a good old play. We hope
you’ve missed us nearly as
much as we’ve all missed
you! We look forward to
welcoming you back soon
– take care until then.
101899 (3.21)
Speech and Language tip of
the month: Offer Choices
Offering children choices gives
them the opportunity to engage
in language. It helps your child
to choose the right word and
repeat it back to you, rather than
answering “yes” or “no”.
World Book Day
You should always try and offer
World Book Day was celebrated their language and stimulate their
a choice even when you know
on 4 March this year. It is a day imagination skills. Even at a very
what your child wants. This gives
to promote the enjoyment of young age, reading encourages
them the opportunity to hear and
books and reading, especially for babies to look, point and touch. It
learn words. For example, asking
children. The aim is to get children helps with their social development
“do you want to play with the ball
interested in and to develop a and thinking skills. Books improve
or the train?” while holding up or
love of books whatever their age. language by encouraging your
pointing to each object so they
Usually, nursery and school aged child to copy sounds, recognise
are clear which is the ball and
children are invited to attend pictures and learn new words.
which is the train or “would you
school/ nursery dressed as their It’s important to begin reading
like an orange or a banana?”.
favourite book characters. Even to your child from an early age
children’s centres get involved with because the roots of language are Depending on your child’s age or
dressing up too! Unfortunately, developing in a baby’s brain before speech ability, at frst, they may
due to the pandemic and social they can even talk! There are so not respond or they may point.
restrictions we were unable to host many benefts from reading with If this happens, say the name of
our normal events like we usually your child so start enjoying that their choice again to reinforce the
would to celebrate World Book together time and have fun with it! word. For example, “you want
Day this year. the banana, here’s your banana”.
In keeping with the book and story
Gradually encourage your child
Reading aloud to children and theme, why not try making some
to attempt the word before giving
looking at books together is delicious ‘Chicken Licken Goujons’
it to them.
important as it helps to develop following our recipe below.
In April we celebrate Easter which These are sold reasonably cheaply Another fun way to use a paper
is a very important day in the in Pound shops. plate is to make an Easter bunny
Christian calendar. bonnet. In the centre of a paper
Or how about making an Easter
plate draw some bunny ear shapes
Easter signifes new beginnings bunny mask? All you need is a
and colour in the inside of the ears
and is a sign of hope and new life. paper plate, cut out some bunny
with crayons or paint. Then, using
It also means the start of spring ears to stick to the top of the plate.
scissors, carefully cut out the area
and hopefully the start of some Cut out 2 eyes for your child to
between the ears and the inner rim
good sunshine although as we see through and get them to draw
of the plate. Older kids can have a
know, we can never depend on the a nose for their bunny or even
go with scissors, but you may need
English weather! If you are lucky stick a pom pom on the plate to
to get it started for them, by poking
enough to dodge the April showers represent the nose. Stick on some
the scissors through the plate.
and grab some sunshine, why not pipe cleaners for whiskers or just
Make sure you keep the bottom
get the kids outside for an egg draw them on and give the bunny
of the ears attached to the paper
hunt? The eggs don’t have to be a mouth and teeth. If you have
plate, and don’t cut through the
chocolate, how about decorating any spare elastic, use sticky tape
outer rim. Fold out the ears so they
some hard boiled eggs, then hiding either side of the mask to secure
stand up. Your bunny Easter bonnet
them around the garden or even the mask over your child’s face or
is now ready to wear.
around the house. You could also just simply use a lolly stick at the
use plastic, reusable, coloured egg bottom of the mask so the mask
cases and put some treats inside. can be held up over their face.
Lockdown and the impact
on Child Development
The natural optimism of spring,
longer and brighter days,
combined with our preparation
for the end of lockdown has
given sight of the light at the
end of the tunnel.
During this most challenging
period, those of us with babies
and young children will have
found spending more time within
our own homes with our families,
has had both negative and
positive outcomes.
This is a normal response to the
diffculties we have faced and
we have got through it by the
support and understanding of Delicious Chicken Licken Goujons Recipe
our families and friends.
Ingredients the breadcrumbs, making sure
As a community, Lambeth they are coated all over.
• 3 chicken breasts
Children Centres’ have worked
(about 350g skin removed) 3. Grease the baking tray with
hard to support local families,
• 1 egg a little oil and place the chicken
ensuring they are all are aware
• 3tbsp of plain four goujons on the tray. Add some
of available support and those black pepper. Bake in the oven
who needed it were receiving it. • 3 slices of bread crumbled
into breadcrumbs for about 20 minutes until the
As we came together as (see Top Tips) coating is golden and crisp and
a community during the • Ground black pepper the chicken is cooked through.
lockdown, demand for services • 1tbsp of oil Serving suggestions
highlighted the importance
You will need: The goujons can be served
of the psychological support.
• Chopping board with baked potatoes or potato
Available services were identifed
wedges and vegetables or a
through our existing Better Start • Knife
salad. Goujons make great
programme. • 3 bowls fnger food for little ones
As a frst step to meeting this • Fork
• Baking tray Top tips
need, we identifed programmes
that we knew would have the • Make breadcrumbs by using
1. Turn the oven on to gas mark bread at least a day old. Toast
greatest positive impact on
6 (200°C/400°F) so it can heat lightly and then break it up
children and families. Talking up. Cut each chicken breast into into crumbs with your fngers.
Therapies and the REAL (Raising about 4 strips. Children can help with this (allow
Early Achievement in Literacy)
programmes provided the initial 2. Crack the egg into a bowl and the toasted slices to cool frst)
whisk with a fork. Put the four • Children enjoy helping to dip
stage in assessing parents
and breadcrumbs into separate and coat the chicken strips.
requirements.
bowls. Dip the chicken strips into Make sure they wash their hands
A survey, conducted by The the four, the egg and then into well before and after doing this.
Parents-Infants Foundation,
completed by more than For more delicious and healthy family recipe ideas, visit the HENRY
5,000 parents varying from website henry.org.uk/recipes
young parents and infuencers from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities captured the impact COVID-19 was having on all babies and parents from all ages and backgrounds. It indicated that almost seven out of ten parents had found the ability to cope with pregnancy, labour and the care of their baby/child during lockdown had been impacted; due to feelings of anxiety and a desire for more support from either family or friends. Further fndings noted: • Parents felt that babies were clingier and others felt that their babies cried more. • Only one in ten parents of toddler age children maintained face to face contact with a health visitor. • Families from low-income households, under 25 or from ethnic minority communities were particularly affected by the pandemic. Lessons learned during the frst lockdown have informed our provision the most resent lockdown, helping us identify the services that are most in demand to support children and parents during this time. Responding to the long-term impact that the lockdown has had on our babies and young children’s development will require ongoing conversations with families and professionals. The key to having the most positive impact on children’s development is to take individual needs in to account. We are working on developing different ways and strategies, as we strive to continue to provide services and support to our families in a new, unique, practical and COVID safe way. We’re here to help Lambeth children’s centres are opening up and offering one to one and small group sessions such as Stay and Play, Chatterbox and Chat & Play as well as delivering adult learning courses. Due to social distancing, there are limited spaces and all sessions are bookable only. Please contact your local children’s centre for more information on what’s available and how to book. Alternatively, you can call the Lambeth central helpline: 020 7926 2369 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday or fill in this form and someone will get in contact with you. lambeth.gov.uk/childrenscentres
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