Mini-Kin Spring 2015

Securing the future
Photograph: iStock I Cover Photo: Shutterstock
The first few years of a child’s life are of fundamental importance. How a baby or
very young child is treated can make a dramatic difference to how that child will
grow up. Young brains are plastic and neuroscience can show evidence of varying
brain changes following child support and child neglect, following learning
stimulation and learning neglect, following the giving and the withholding of love. If these
circumstances persist as the child grows the brain changes can become more fixed and
attitudes and behaviour become harder to change.
This matters to the individual child, of course, but it also matters greatly to society as a
whole. The society we get - and society is real and fundamental, contrary to tendentious
claims that there is no such thing - is intimately dependent on the way we treat our
children in the early years of their lives. It follows that one of the most foolish mistakes a
society can make is to skimp on public funding by limiting early years support, whether
that’s in the areas of health, education, nursery care provision, or in social areas such as
housing, food, childcare and general social support. This is the sadly fashionable pennywise
pound-foolish economics of ignorance which will cost dearly in the future.
The present young generation, adults in their later teens through to their mid twenties,
reflect how our now degraded society has failed them. Approaching one in five young
people are neither in work nor education and many more are grossly underemployed.
Workfare and zero hours contracts have become the norm. Renting has become precarious
and buying a house is an impossible aspiration. Attending university is only feasible if
you rack up debt in the tens of thousands of pounds. The UK totters along on debt and
parasitic financial services rather than on sustainable production, heading for the cliff.
It’s critically important to recognise these past failures and so avoid perpetuating their
malign effects.
Interesting stories
This magazine brings together a range of organisations concerned to work with and
support young and very young children and their parents and carers. There are articles
from charities and commercial organisations large, small and tiny, all with interesting
stories to tell.
Most of these relate to health and nutrition, separate but closely intertwined. You can
read about the impact on family life of a young child with type 1 diabetes and about the
charity working to find a cure and to support those with the condition. We learn also
about an innovative NHS Foundation Trust which developed and is now marketing an
excellent skincare cream to bring in much needed income to help support patient care.
Fish and fruit are both important parts of a healthy diet: one feature explains something
of the nutritious and tasty products that come from the icy waters around Alaska
while another says that the only added ingredient in its nutritious dried fruits is the
California sun. Interestingly this company, the world’s largest raisin producer, is a
grower’s cooperative.
A major producer of a well-loved soft cheese explains that rather than enriching its
managers or directors it uses its profits to support charitable causes by helping to make
them sustainable. For another well-known company its feature’s aim is to alert parents
and those professionally involved with young children to the vital importance of good
nutrition during the first 1,000 days of existence. This initiative links well with the
approach of another, much smaller, company which has battled to overcome inappropriate
regulatory barriers to bring to market an infant formula based on goat’s milk.
Nutritious drinks
You can read also about innovative small companies producing nutritious and enjoyable
drinks from natural products - coconut water enhanced and blended with a range of herbs,
spices, fruits and other ingredients in one case and with a base of ginseng to which has
been added teas and fruits in the other, each resulting in products which are great to drink
and give sustained energy rather than the spiky rush of sugary liquids. Also offering a low
sugar product, this time jams and spreads in squeezy bottles to appeal to young children, is
another well-known company.
Vacuuming and cleaning might seem to have little to do directly with young children
or with health but here an innovative supplier of robotic household products makes the
link explicitly.
Nor is education overlooked. You can learn how helping young children to learn to
balance and to ride on wheels is not only important for cognitive development but gets
them used to the importance and excitement of exercise. Another feature explains how
learning to hold pens and crayons and using them to colour or draw shapes is a key
learning skill to develop not only dexterity but also creativity and personal expression.
And what if it all goes wrong and parents feel they have to separate The really
important point then is to consider the children. Solicitors aren’t there primarily to
litigate, this family law solicitor insists, but rather to help families with advice and support
to enable them to act in the best interests of their children and, indeed, of themselves.
Enjoy the magazine!
Murdoch Mactaggart
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CONTRIbUTORS
Murdoch Mactaggart
Managing Editor
Murdoch Mactaggart
has been a freelance
writer, journalist, editor
and presenter for over
twenty years covering
technology, business,
social affairs and
health for a range of
national, international and specialist
publications. A former antiquarian
book and print dealer, publisher,
business consultant and software
developer he also plays tennis, cooks
and teaches Argentine tango.
Kate Bell
Kate Bell is a journalist
with long experience
writing for a wide
range of technical,
consumer affairs, and
business publications
who combines writing
with enjoying outdoor pursuits with
her family and pets.
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contents
06 4 key nutrients your child
could be missing…
They’re not discussed as much as
vitamin C, but these vitamins and
supplements are just as important…
07 Just grapes and
California sun
The world’s largest processor of
raisins and dried fruits - just what
goes into its products to make them
so healthy and nutricious
08 Charity begins with cheese
When you buy Primula cheese, you
get more than just a tasty snack,
you also contribute to good causes
10 Feeding the fussy eaters
Toddlers are notoriously fussy
eaters, with many parents assume
there is something wrong if their
child loses interest in food
11 A treat that’s fun and fruity
What do your kids spread on their
toast
12 Have Healthy Happy Kids
Giving your child a nutritious, tasty
diet needn’t be difficult with these
handy tips – and the earlier you start
the better.
13 Where the wild things are
Alaska’s pioneering sustainable
fishing practices and of how good
eating wild fish is for health
14 Sugar-coated kids
It’s no secret that childhood obesity
and type 2 diabetes are on the rise,
and the main culprit
15 A drink with zing
Soft drinks don’t have to be tedious
or high in sugar, Kate Bell finds
16 Critical Start
School meals and childhood obesity
are high on the media and political
agenda, but are we missing a crucial
piece of the puzzle
18 How to be a fit and healthy
mum to be
Follow our seven-step plan for a
feel-good pregnancy
19 The Fascinating Coconut
There’s a lot more to a coconut than
meets the eye, Kate Bell hears.
20 Your baby’s first year
Baby development, generally, follows
a set sequence
21 Hit the bottle
Breastfeeding is an ideal start
for your baby for many reasons,
however not all new mums manage it.
22 nannycare wins - in the end!
Twenty year journey before baby
milk formula based on goat milk
could be sold in the UK, Kate Bell
discovers
24 Weaning: Seven common
myths
Weaning your baby from milk to
solids is an exciting time and a big
step for both of you, but it can still
seem daunting
26 Clean ‘em up!
Now you have kids, your previously
spotless house is a disaster area!
Fear not, here are some useful tips
on containing the mess!
28 The future is robotics
Innovative approaches to managing
those tedious and time consuming
household chores
30 Hygiene in the home
It’s vital that parents ensure the
house is clean and hygienic, whether
you’re bringing baby home for the
first time or just happen to have a
house of crawling kids!
31 Kids and colds:10 facts you
should know
Every baby and child will catch a cold
from time to time - don’t be alarmed,
just know the facts.
32 Save their skin!
Babies are susceptible to developing
skin conditions, so it’s important to
ensure you’re doing everything you
can to prevent them doing so:
33 Natural Skincare
Healthy skin is important for
everyone from toddlers to the
elderly.
34 Department of Education
announces new ofsted
regime for pre-school
teachers
36 get your kids moving
How to get our tech savvy children
to swap video games for sports
38 Homework help
How well your child does at school
will depend on the support available
at home
39 Capturing Creativity
Moving from colouring to writing
is a lot more important to a child’s
development than you might think
40 The Gift of Charms
Julia Suzuki
Children’s author, Julia Suzuki, on
her award winning series the
‘Land of Dragor.’
42 Break with tradition
Jane Evans
Jane Evens talks about why it’s
absolutely vital we change the way
we’re raising our children
43 More than a schooter
How can you ensure your kids get
enough physical activity and enjoy
doing it Kate Bell asks
44 Not just talking
Sioban Boyce
Communication goes far beyond
the spoken word. Sioban Boyce
discusses the significance of
non-verbal communication
46 Say goodbye to Smoking
Smoking is the single greatest cause
of illness and premature death in
the UK, with 2 million children being
regularly exposed to secondhand
smoke
48 Be #ShareAware
Help your child stay safe on social
networks
50 Department of Education
announces new ofsted
regime for pre-school
teachers
52 the EXternal pancreas
What happens when part of the
body’s complex management system
breaks down
54 Teaching your child about
money
A child’s attitude towards money
begins to shape as young as
seven. And you are already a huge
influence on how they will spend
money when they are older.
55 Do Children Matter
Modern law increasingly emphasises
collaborative working and mediation.
56 Choosing the right savings
account for your child
58 Holiday Help
If you were to ask for advice on
taking children on holiday, the
response is most likely to be: don’t
do it!
60 Tasty Treats for your tots
Quick, simple and delicious treats
62 cherish childhood
Let’s hold onto childhood, at least
for today

4
key nutrients
your child could
be missing…
They‘re not discussed as much as vitamin C, but these
vitamins and supplements are just as important…
Fibre
Fibre or roughage is crucial for your child’s diet. It ensures their bowels keep moving
and prevents bouts of constipation. Wholemeal bread and cereals are a great source
of fibre, as are brown rice and pasta – so swap white varieties for those with a higher
fibre content.
• When making toast, sandwiches, wraps, choose whole-grain breads, bagels, or
tortillas as opposed to the white variety.
• Pick cereals that list whole wheat or oats at the top of the ingredient list and
contain at least three grams of fibre per serving. If your child eats only sugarsweetened
cereal, mix it with a little high-fibre cereal and top it off with high-fibre
fruit like raisins, raspberries, or mango. Gradually increase the amount of fibre-rich
cereal you add to the bowl.
• Skip regular french fries and serve oven-baked potato wedges with the skins on.
Extra ketchup may persuade your child to give it a try.
Vitamin D
Vital for healthy bones, Vitamin D boosts the immune system. It’s created by the
body in response to sunlight, but poor weather and sun health warnings mean
many children can be Vitamin D-deficient. A lack of the vitamin can result in
various health problems in young children, so it’s wise to use a supplement to
support a child’s health. Foods with a high concentration of Vitamin D include:
• Milk
• Cereal
• Salmon
• Eggs
• Orange Juice
Calcium
Well known for keeping teeth and bones healthy and strong, calcium is a must
for kids, especially as they grow. And it’s not only milk that’s a good source:
other dairy products such as cheese and yogurt are packed with it, as are green
vegetables. The best sources of calcium for your child include:
• Cheese
• Yoghurt
• Milk
• Fortified foods such as cereal
• Juice
• Soy milk
• Enriched breads, grains and waffles.
Omega-3
Often known as fatty acids, these are vital for kids as they have an anti-inflammatory
property which can fight asthma and diabetes. Fish is the most common source of
fatty acids but as health experts point out, many children may not like the taste, so it
may be wise to give a supplement that has no fishy aftertaste.
• These healthy fats are the good stuff in breast milk and fortified baby formulas.
They are crucial to brain and eye development, and they help stabilize mood.
• Salmon, shrimp, scallops, walnuts, flaxseed, and omega-3 enriched eggs
and yogurt.
• Serve salmon fillets for dinner or put salmon salad (you can prepare it as you would
prepare tuna salad) on whole-grain bread or tucked inside a pita pocket for lunch.
For older toddlers (who are not nut-allergic), you can make a brain-boosting trail
mix with walnut pieces, dry whole-grain cereal (like Cheerios), and some dried fruits
like blueberries and cranberries — perfect for snack time.
Photograph: iStock
06 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

Just grapes and California sun
Murdoch Mactaggart learns from the world’s largest processor of raisins and dried fruits
just what goes into its products to make them high quality, healthy and nutritious snacks.
Fruits such as grapes, apricots, figs and more have been dried for
thousands of years as a way of preserving them and of producing
an enjoyable, energy-rich food which is convenient to carry and
store. Raisins - the word derives from the French - are grapes of various
kinds dried in different ways. Around 80% of the world’s production
of around 1.2 million tonnes comes from Turkey and the US with
California the location for almost the entire US crop.
Most grapes grown for drying in the US are the sweet, white
Thompson seedless variety but the industry also grows some Flame
grapes, a hybrid of the Thompson grape, as well as small, black Corinth
grapes. In Europe and Commonwealth countries the dried grapes are
divided by name into raisins proper, sultanas (seedless grapes dried in a
different manner) and currants, the last being from Corinth grapes.
“Sun-Maid is the world’s largest processor of raisins and dried fruit”
says the Sun-Maid girl, the company’s century-old icon featured on all
packaging, “and people might assume that we’re a major corporation.
In reality we’re a grower co-operative, which means that the 750 family
farmers who grow the raisins also own the company and, through the
elected board of directors, help to set its mission and vision. I love it
that this 100 year old company is owned by the people who grow and
harvest the grapes, in some cases from farms that have been owned by
the same families for generations, and most of them within a 60 mile
radius of our processing plant.”
“Raisins are great to put in your child’s
lunch box for school but they’re also great
for using in baking for the whole family”
Strict quality control
Sun-Maid prides itself on strict quality control and conformity to
relevant certification standards. Since its beginnings in 1912, then
known as the California Associated Raisin Company, it also focused on
high quality processing capabilities and quickly became the processor of
choice for Californian growers. In 1964 Sun-Maid built a state of the
art factory just north of the small town of Kingsburg in the San Joaquin
Valley, around 20 miles south of Fresno and so almost in the centre of
the state.
“When you look at a box of Sun-Maid raisins you’ll see that only two
ingredients are listed - grapes and sunshine!” adds the Sun-Maid girl.
“In the case of what we call ‘golden raisins’ we do use sulphur dioxide to
maintain the colour but otherwise there’s nothing added and nothing
taken away, except water of course. Some of our growers choose to grow
organic raisins, eliminating the use of synthetic fertilisers and chemicals,
and they have to follow that approach for three years before they can be
certified organic and packed in our range of organic raisins.”
Traditional approach
The drying process that Sun-Maid uses is the traditional, centuries-old
approach. When the grapes have ripened by August they’re picked and
laid on paper trays beside the vines. The hot California sun not only
dries the grapes direct but also bakes the soil and helps to caramelise the
natural sugars present in the fruit, helping to impart the distinctive taste
and colour. In two to three weeks the green Thompson seedless grapes,
or other varieties used, have mainly turned into the familiar dark brown
raisins and these are then picked over carefully for quality, washed and
dried, and packed into the familiar red boxes and cartons before being
exported to over fifty countries.
“Sun-Maid raisins are distinctive in being 100% natural, with no
oils or glazing agents added.” explains the Sun-Maid girl. “Raisins
have very high sugar content but these sugars, fructose and glucose,
are natural sugars, good for energy and so a staple food for centuries.
What’s also very important is that raisins contain fibre, nutrients such as
potassium, which helps to maintain healthy blood pressure and reduce
the risk of strokes, and health-protective bioactive compounds known
as phytonutrients, increasingly recognised as vital for good health. These
health benefits, coupled with the natural sweetness that raisins have,
make them great as a snack food and far better for you than processed
fast food snacks such as crisps, sweets or chocolates.”
“I love it that this 100 year old
company is owned by the people
who grow and harvest the
grapes, sometimes from farms
that have been in the same
family for generations”
Great for lunch and baking
Indeed research presented at the American College of Cardiology 2012
conference suggests that routine consumption of raisins may significantly
lower blood pressure and some doctors recommend that people possibly at
risk make sure that they take three servings of raisins daily.
“Sun-Maid raisins are fat-free and cholesterol-free, have no added sugar,
salt or preservatives (they just don’t need them!) and so are 100% fruit with
all the benefits that fruit brings to a healthy diet.” adds the Sun-Maid girl.
“Raisins are great to put in your child’s lunch box for school but they’re also
great for using in baking for the whole family - have a look at the recipes
for oatmeal biscuits or breakfast bars or what we at Sun-Maid call muffins,
these and more on our web site at www.sunmaid.co.uk/recipes.”
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 07

Charity begins with cheese
When you buy Primula cheese, you get more than just a tasty snack, you
also contribute to good causes, Kate Bell is told
Many of us were brought up
in kitchens where the fridge
contained a squeezy tube of
Primula cheese but while
you may be familiar with the taste and
the cheery smile of the Norwegian dairy
maid on the front, did you know the
company behind Primula is a charitable
trust that uses the profits from sales of
Primula for good causes No, nor did I.
The head company behind Primula
is the Kavli Group and it is different to
most other businesses because its sole
purpose is to generate funds that can be
used to support good causes; profits from
the Kavli Group go to further research,
cultural activities and humanitarian
work. Kavli UK is part of the larger
Kavli Group which operates in 20
countries including Norway, Sweden,
Denmark and Finland with the sole
purpose of generating funds for the
Kavli Trust. Here in the UK, the
company consists of Primula Ltd
producing Primula cheese and dips in
Gateshead, Castle MacLellan Foods
making pâté in Kirkcudbright,
Dumfries and Galloway; and St Helens
Farm producing goat’s milk, yogurt and
cheese in Yorkshire.
Paul Lewney, managing director of
Primula UK, said the charitable work of
the company isn’t that well known - yet:
“Our customers have always known why
they love and buy Primula, but only a
“Ultimately, we’re here to create
value for good causes; it’s our
reason for being, and everything
we do is centred around that
core cause.”
Paul Lewney, Managing Director
small percentage know that we belong
to a charitable trust and that our profits
go to good causes.” The company’s head
office based in Norway (hence the
Norwegian dairy maid on the Primula
label) and was established in 1924,
making squeezy cheese in the UK
since 1936.
Kavli wasn’t always a charity – it
was established by Olav Kavli with his
son Knut Kavli taking over before he
created the Kavli Trust (O. Kavli og
Knut Kavlis Allmennyttige fond – the
Trust’s Norwegian name) in the 60s.
Some money from company profits is
reinvested to ensure the company stays
healthy, but the rest is passed on to the
Kavli Trust and donated to good causes.
“We currently donate around £5million
a year, and we want to increase that over
coming years,” adds Lewney.
Sustainability is key
The key to the projects supported by the
Kavli Trust is sustainability, according
to Lewney: “The Trust provides grants
to projects focuses on three key areas
- humanitarian, cultural and research.
The humanitarian arm supports people
in deprived or difficult situations in the
countries in which we operate as well as
in African and Asian nations. For example,
in Malawi and Bangladesh we’ve
provided support for farming families to
buy facilities and machinery, and to get
training to gain knowledge. We don’t
just give money away, we want to
help people to be able to help
themselves; the idea is that local
projects become self-sustaining.”
On the cultural front Kavli supports a
number of projects, one such example of
which is the Big Sing which takes place
annually at The Sage concert venue and
centre for musical education in
Gateshead. Primula supported the event
in 2014 which involved sponsoring
teachers who helped 2,700 local children
learn songs and to learn through music.
The culmination is the Big Sing, where
the children attend The Sage and take
part in a mass sing in.
Without Primula’s sponsorship the
Big Sing project couldn’t afford to put
the teachers on the road. Lisa Thornton,
Head of marketing at Primula UK, says
that the charitable work isn’t about
getting a high profile: “We don’t make a
big song and dance about our
sponsorship, it’s not about the profile.
However, it is great when customers are
aware because then they know that their
purchase helps us support good causes
locally, nationally and across the world.”
Local causes
Keeping things local is important to
Kavli and its employees are able to
allocate some of the available funds to
local good causes each year. “We have
“Obviously, the first reason to
choose Primula is because it’s the
right product and tastes good, but
supporting good causes is a
secondary advantage”
Lisa Thornton, Head of Marketing
08 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

a committee of employees who decide
which causes should be awarded funds
for that particular year,” said Lewney.
“Anybody working in the company can
nominate a good cause, so long as it
meets our criteria, and once the
committee has decided which causes are
most deserving, the funds are handed
over at some point over the year.” Recent
awards have seen a local school for
children with learning difficulties
benefitting from a minibus and play
equipment. In another case,
employees spent time at a school for
children with severe multiple learning
difficulties to find out what would best
help, resulting in the building of a
sensory room where pupils can
experiment and develop in a safe
environment. Another recent donation
was awarded to Fighting All Cancers
Together (FACT), the UK’s first cancer
support and education centre. The
£100,000 donation from the Kalvi Trust
brings the charity closer to completing
its new £2m Gateshead-based facility
which will provide a range of services
and support to people with cancer and
their family and friends.
A riding centre for the disabled was
another beneficiary, with Kavli taking
its preferred route of contributing things
rather than money. In this case stables
were constructed, which now bring in
additional funds to the centre which
is able to rent them out for livery. The
group also purchased a horse for the
disabled riders, which has been
named Primula!
The funding of research is the third
arm of the Kavli giving, and so far the
trust has focussed mainly on research
into Dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Thornton points out that “degenerative
diseases are a growing concern as the
population ages and lives longer, and it’s
likely to become an ever higher
priority, so the trust feels it’s a great area
to support.”
Individual input
Employees are encouraged to join in the
charitable side of Kavli by joining the
internal committee, but also by doing
additional charity work. Every employee
is awarded one day a year which can be
used to work for any approved charity.
Says Thornton: “We don’t stipulate what
type of charity, or what sort of work, so
long as the charity has been approved
by the trust, anything is possible. For
example, we’ve had people helping clear
rubbish at a local wildlife trust while
others help in charity shops - we have a
broad spectrum of options.” This
attitude has benefits for employee
satisfaction, according to Lewney: “We
have an external survey carried out each
year to find out how our employees feel
about working for the Kavli Trust, and
the charity aspect is one area where
feedback shows our employees feel
particularly motivated.”
The ethos of the Kavli Group as a
whole is to ensure it maintains an ethical
background, says Lewney: “Any
company that’s part of the group has to
support our values. For example, in the
UK our sister company, St Helens Farm
produces goat’s milk, yogurt and cheese,
and is part of the Red Tractor logo
scheme showing it farms responsibly.
Members of the group also need to be
responsible employers providing
long-term, secure jobs for employees.
Things like that are important to us
because all parts of the company have to
dovetail with the underlying ethicality of
the business.”
Personally, I’d never realised the
Primula range of products were owned
by a charitable trust, despite the
product label giving this information,
and this is quite common among
customers says Thornton. In an attempt
to keep customers informed, the
company decided a couple of years ago
to add information stating Primula’s
charitable status directly onto its tubes.
Primula for kids
Alongside the different flavours
in the standard Primula cheese
tubes (Chives, Ham, Prawn,
Original and Light), Primula also
offers a blend aimed specifically
at kids. The kids’ tube was
introduced last year and the
cheese within it is aimed at
children between three and
ten years old. To suit the needs
of this market, the spread has
added calcium, reduced salt, no
preservatives or artificial
colours. It also has a milder
flavour. “The kids tube is smaller
so better for smaller hands, and
has a fun star shaped nozzle to
encourage kids to squeeze their
own cheese onto toast or bread.
The fact it has no sugar and
added calcium makes it a great
healthy breakfast or teatime
snack,” comments Thornton.
She adds: “I think people do
know the tubes mean the
product is convenient and easy to
use, and great for storage,
and our long history means
customers know it’s a brand they
can trust. The Primula taste is
unique because we blend
Cheddar and Gouda cheese to
produce a very creamy taste, and
people buy our products both for
that great taste and the
convenience. Our products have
to deliver on the format and the
taste before the charitable side
comes into the equation, but
when they do buy Primula, they’re
buying into something great. It’s
a product our customers want to
have in their fridge.”
The tube format is what most
people think of when you
mention Primula, and that format
is ideal for families. The tube
means much less waste because
the contents come out clean
every time. Being able to put the
cap back on so the contents stay
clean makes it ideal for
kids – nobody wants to waste
food. The fact it’s made of all
natural ingredients is another
thing parents tell Primula they like.
“It’s a way to use the packaging
constructively, and to give customers an
informed choice when they’re choosing
products,” said Thornton. “We’re famous
for our cheese tubes but not everyone
knows about our charitable status, or
even our Norwegian origins, despite the
Norwegian dairy maid being on
the packaging.”
Of course, if people buy more Primula
– for whatever reason – the team is
going to be happy, says Lewney: “We’re
always keen to increase our sales because
it means we have more money to donate!
Ultimately, we’re here to create value for
good causes; it’s our reason for being and
everything we do is centred around that
core cause.”
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 09

Feeding the
fussy eaters
Toddlers are notoriously fussy eaters, and many parents assume there is something
wrong if their child loses interest in food, but there are ways around it….
Toddlers often use food as a way of demonstrating
their growing independence. They might love to
feed themselves at the table, begin to develop their
particular preferences for food, or simply refuse point
blank to touch a thing on their plate – even if it took you
absolutely ages to prepare!
So, whether you’re dealing with a fussy eater, or are worried
that your little one might be eating too much, it’s helpful to get
clarity on the diet your toddler now needs to grow up healthy
and happy. Find out how to enjoy mealtimes with your child
and give them decent, healthy eating habits to last for the rest
of their life.
Do you know how much your toddler should be
eating
If you’re a bit confused about portion sizes, then you’re not
alone. A recent Diet and Nutrition Survey of Infants and Young
Children, found that only 16% of parents got a question on
toddler portion sizes right. Over three quarters of mums and
dads also said that they’d never been given clear information
about toddler portions.
Why is portion size such a big problem
One in five children are now overweight – or worse still, obese
– when they start their primary school education. And being
overweight as a small child can pose risks to long-term health,
too. Obesity is linked to Type 2 diabetes, which kids as young
as 10 can suffer from. Worryingly, obesity is also linked to
both heart disease and high blood pressure.
As you may expect, an overweight child is more likely to
grow up to be an overweight adult, too. Experts believe that
the longer a child has weight problems – the greater the risk
they’ll remain that way for good.
So, it’s clear that if you can help your child develop healthy
eating habits while they’re young, you will be doing them a
favour in future years when they reach adulthood.
10 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com
How often should my toddler eat
Generally, young children need to eat frequently in order to
sustain their high energy levels – with three smallish meals
and two to three well-spaced snacks in between.
Eating little and often gives your toddler the chance to
take in all the calories and nutrients he needs across the day.
Because toddler tummies are so small, they aren’t able to take
in huge amounts at any one meal. And, if you leave long gaps
without food, this can make them both grumpy and lethargic
– indeed, it might even contribute to them refusing to eat food
at the next meal.
As a general guide, your toddler’s portion size should be
the size of his fist. However, all toddlers are different – and
very active ones will need more food than those who are less
active. So, aim for small portions of nutrient-dense foods, for
example lean meat, fish, chicken, eggs, or dairy products,
alongside some starchy carbohydrate like rice, pasta or
potatoes, and fruit and vegetables.
What about milk
As you know, milk was crucial to your child’s development in
his first 12 months, and although it is still very important, a
balanced diet needs to become the main priority. After a year,
children need three servings of dairy a day, which includes
milk, yogurt or cheese. One serving is equivalent to 3-4oz of
milk. You’ll find that most toddlers have more than three of
these a day, meaning they fill up quickly on that food group
and so don’t feel hungry to try new things.
Milk and dairy products are high in calcium for healthy
bones and teeth, and other vitamins and minerals. However,
they don’t contain iron, which is vital for a growing child.
Snacks for happy eaters
Try to mix sweet and savoury foods. The last thing
you want is for your toddler’s tastebuds to get used
to having a sweet snack every single time. Sugar
makes the mouth produce mild acid, which attacks
toddlers’ teeth, meaning it’s best to stick to sweet
foods at mealtimes
• Bite-sized portions of fruit or a pack of raisins
• Sticks of carrot, cucumber, pepper or courgette
• Pieces of cheese
• Breadsticks with humous and cream cheese
• Fruit bread or malt loaf with strawberries or berries
• Unsalted plain popcorn
• Low-salt rice cakes or crackers spread with
peanut butter
Photograph: iStock

A treat that’s fun
and fruity
What do your kids spread on their toast
Reduced sugar jam in Fruit Shoot flavours
is proving a hit for Kate Bell
A
nice piece of toast is the quintessential treat on
a gloomy winter’s day, but what do you offer
your kids to put on it If you avoid jam because
your kids don’t like the ‘bits’ or you’re
concerned about the amount of sugar, there’s
an alternative in the shape of Robinsons Fruit Shoot jams.
As the name suggests, these are jams in similar flavours to
the popular drinks. The jams are smooth, come in squeezy
bottles, and are made with less sugar and more fruit. They
also contain no artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners.
James Minnette of Streamline (who make the jams), says
that by taking a brand that kids know and love, Robinsons
Fruit Shoot, kids already know from the name that the jams
are going to taste good, so they’re willing to try them. The
higher fruit content means that unlike a lot of ‘better for you’
products, the taste isn’t inferior: “We haven’t compromised
on the taste at all, we’ve just gone for a higher fruit content
with less sugar so the overall impression is the fruity flavour.”
“We haven’t compromised on the
taste at all, we’ve just gone for
a higher fruit content with less
sugar so the overall impression
is the fruity flavour”
James Minnette
As Minnette points out,
other countries such as
the Scandinavian nations
traditionally use less sugar
in their jams than we do
in the UK, and the Fruit
Shoot range is closer to
those in terms of the sugar
content: “The
Scandinavians have got this
right. Their standard jams
have the same amount of
sugar as our reduced sugar
jam in the UK.” The
historical reason for
adding so much sugar was
to ensure jam could be
stored for months or years,
but that’s no longer
a requirement.
The jams use 30% less
sugar than standard jams,
and naturally contain
almost no fat. By contrast,
the leading chocolate
spread on the market has
more than 56% sugar and
31% fat, while peanut
butters typically have around 50% fat.
Fruity fun
While the fruity
flavours of the jams
should make them
popular at the kitchen
table, the containers
offer another
advantage. Once the
jam is finished the
bottles can be rinsed
out and converted into
mini water squirters or
paint containers. Filled
with water they’re
great fun for running
around getting wet in
the garden or having
fun in the bath. They’re
also ideal for filling
with thick poster paint
mix to encourage your
own mini artists to
create their own
abstract paintings –
Jackson Pollock eat
your heart out!
There are three flavours in the range, each mirroring a
flavour in the popular Fruit Shoot drinks - Strawberry &
Summer Fruits, Apple & Blackcurrant, and Orange. If you’re
thinking marmalade for the Orange flavour, don’t worry, this
is a sweet orange closer to an eating orange or orange juice
than the stalwart of the breakfast table.
While the fruitiness and lower sugar is important to
parents, other aspects of the jams are designed very much
with kids in mind. The jams are completely smooth (so
avoiding those arguments about the ‘bits’), and the jam
comes in squeezable plastic containers. This means kids can
squeeze the jam onto their toast, yoghurt or porridge in fun
patterns such as smiley faces or their own names. This can
be a real advantage as even small children can gain some
independence and feel involved in preparing their own food.
The fact you squeeze out the jam avoids the ‘sticky spoon
abandoned in the jar’ problem, and also means the jam
keeps its quality. Another advantage is the fact the bottles
are plastic so less breakable than glass jars, meaning they’re
safe for even small children to use on their own. Of course, a
certain level of supervision is probably a good idea – kids and
jam being a tempting combination! The jams are also ideal
as a special treat for topping puddings and ice cream as an
alternative to toppings without fruit.
The jams are suitable for vegetarians, vegans and coeliacs.
The jams are available in ASDA, Budgens, Londis, Ocado
and Tesco, with an RSP of £1.59 for a 300g bottle. They can
also be purchased via Amazon.
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 11

Have Healthy
Happy Kids
Giving your child a nutritious, tasty diet needn’t be difficult
with these handy tips – and the earlier you start the better.
The first 12 years of a child’s life are vital in terms of
healthy growth and development. It’s during this period
that their bones, muscles and brain all develop at a
rapid rate which, of course, requires lots of energy and
nutrients. If your little one is fussy when it comes to mealtimes,
it can make ensuring they’re getting vitamins and minerals, all
the more challenging.
The good stuff
By teaching your child good eating habits now, you will be
giving him the best chance of staying healthy into adulthood.
There are four main food groups your child should be eating,
plus the occasional fifth.
Starchy carbohydrates
Carbohydrates provide the major source of energy that we
need to live, grow and thrive. Every part of our body uses
it for energy; without it, we couldn’t survive. Carbohydrates
should provide 50-60% of the energy a child needs from food.
There are two kinds of carbohydrates; simple and complex.
Simple carbohydrates are single sugar molecules and they
are found in milk and fruit. These include wholemeal bread,
rice, potatoes, pasta and wholegrain cereals, all of which can
really boost energy levels. Try making mini minestrone with
tiny chunks of carrot and courgette, vegetable stock and very
small pasta shapes, and finish with a scattering of tasty grated
cheese. Kids love noodles or eating long pasta – try tossing
egg noodles or spaghetti with a little cooked chicken breast,
finely chopped red pepper and sweetcorn.
It is best to get simple carbohydrates from milk and fruit
because with these foods you also get fibre and a host of
other great nutrients. With refined sugar, which is found in
sweets, white table sugar and other junk foods, there is not
much present but the sugar. Complex carbohydrates are
also called starches and they are found in grain products,
such as bread, crackers, pasta, and rice. As with simple
carbohydrates, there are healthy options and not so healthy
options.
Fruit and vegetables
It’s really important to get children interested in as many fruit
and vegetables as you can at an early age and to encourage
them to eat their ‘five-a-day’. Offer five small servings a day
and make sure they get a good variety – different fruit and
vegetables contain different vitamins and nutrients, so be
adventurous. One small apple, one small banana, a slice of
melon, one kiwi or a glass of fresh fruit juice all measure up
to one serving. As for vegetables, approximately two dessert
spoons equal one serving. Potatoes do not count as one of
your five-a-day as they belong to the starchy group.
Milk and dairy
This group of products is a good source of protein and
calcium and is essential for the development of strong bones
and teeth. Scrambled eggs or boiled dippy eggs are good
served with sesame bread sticks or toast fingers with
Marmite. Smoothies are a good way of providing a
calcium-enriched drink.
Lean red meat, chicken and all types of fish
These are all good sources of protein, necessary for healthy
growth and the maintenance of healthy cells. Oily fish such as
salmon, mackerel and sardines are a good source of essential
omega-3 oils. Make mini salmon fish cakes with mashed
potato and canned, flaked, or cooked salmon, first making
sure to remove all the bones.
Fatty and sugary foods
These foods should only be offered in moderation. Try serving
mini pots of chocolate sauce with sliced fruits for dunking, or
make an ice cream milkshake with soft fruit as an occasional
treat which also incorporates essential vitamins and minerals.
Keep snacks healthy
Limit between-meal snacks – they fill up your toddler, making
him less likely to eat well at meal times. If he does have a
small snack, try healthy options rather than the obvious
biscuits, sweets or crisps. For instance, a drink of milk and
a small cracker with a slice of cheese; a plain yogurt with a
banana sliced into it. Drinks can also be tummy-fillers, so
don’t give them a drink just before mealtime.
Lunch box filler
It’s a constant challenge to find healthy foods that your little
one will eat at school…
‘I’m always looking for tasty lunchbox snacks for my
four year old daughter Millie’ says Michelle 39. ‘I recently
discovered that she enjoys cheese sandwiches, and found
a squeezy kid’s cheese which had no added colours or
preservatives and added calcium. My daughter asked for
second helpings – which rarely happens! She started school in
September, so it’s always on my shopping list when I’m buying
ingredients for her lunch!’
Let them eat greens
Sneaky ways to get your kids to enjoy their vegetables
• Try roasting vegetables such as carrots, parsnips and
potatoes and toss in a little olive oil and runny honey for a
quick sticky glaze that’s sweet and satisfying.
• Make homemade beef burgers and add a little finely
grated carrot and courgette to the mixture. Not only does
this add to their
five-a-day but also keeps the burgers deliciously moist –
unlike some over-processed types.
• Soups are a brilliant way of disguising an assortment of
vegetables all in one go. Blend sweet butternut squash
and red lentils for a creamy, tasty soup.
• Add another vegetable when cooking mashed potatoes
– try broccoli and potato mash or root vegetable mash
with parsnip, carrot and potato. Delicious served with
sausages, it’s a healthy and nutritious winter warmer.
• Chunky pasta sauces or blended pasta sauces can
disguise even more veggies or how about a pasta and
vegetable bake, just make sure it’s tomato-based,
not cream.
Photograph: iStock
12 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

Where the wild
things are
Murdoch Mactaggart learns of
Alaska’s pioneering sustainable
fishing practices and of how good
eating wild fish is for health
Eating fish is claimed good for health, the benefits
coming partly from essential fatty acids such as
EPA and DHA, members of the omega-3 group
and found widely in fish and particularly in cold
water oily fish. All higher animals, fish included,
get such fatty acids through their diet - hence the qualifier
‘essential’ - and although EPA and DHA can also be got
from plants the animal version appears to bring more benefit.
Fish-based omega-3 fatty acids seem particular good
in protecting against cardiovascular problems, including
strokes, may bring anti-inflammatory benefit, reduce risk
of dementia and may help in relieving rheumatoid arthritis
pain. DHA appears also to be important for eye and brain
development and mothers eating a high fish diet have higher
levels of DHA in their milk to pass on to their children.
Major economic driver
“America is important in world fish supplies.” says Jon
Harman, UK trade representative for the Alaska Seafood
Marketing Institute. “The US supplies around 4.2 million
tonnes annually, about 5% of the world’s catch and over
half of that total is from Alaska and all of it wild caught.
That’s a major economic driver for the state and supports
about 80,000 jobs. The most important fish is the pollock, a
member of the cod family, and they fish around 1.3 tonnes
of that annually. Next to that is salmon, around 0.4 million
tonnes annually. Alaska also has large quantities of crab and
other species of whitefish such as flat fish.”
The Alaskan pollock, the world’s second most important
species by catch, is milder and whiter fleshed than the
familiar European or Atlantic pollock (also known as
pollack, coley, or saithe or lythe depending on species).
The Alaska pollock, from a different genus, is also widely
available in Europe, including in the UK. Nor are all salmon
the same - in Alaska there are five different species, all of
them with different tastes and textures.
“Fish is stuffed with omega-3 and
all those natural vitamins, minerals
and benefits”
Jon Harman
Sustainability and health
“Alaska’s sustainability record is good.” adds Harman “Since
1976 there’s been very strong focus on eliminating over
fishing and now 91% of Alaskan fisheries are not over fished,
over twice as high as in Europe. Pollock is caught using a
trawl running above the seabed so the environmental impact
there is low - in fact US Federal regulations prohibit ‘bottom
trawling’ for pollock in the Bering Sea. With salmon, some
fisheries use seine netting, that’s nets set from a boat in a
circle around the fish and which can be drawn closed at the
bottom; others use gill nets, vertically set nets with carefully
controlled mesh sizes, and yet others use low impact troll
lines again run from small boats.”
“Fish tastes good but also brings health benefits. Get
children used to consuming seafood before they’re about
eight years old because like and dislikes can get set by
then. Fish is easy and quick to cook from frozen. And don’t
overlook tinned wild Alaska salmon. What you get in the
tin is ready cooked and contains the same health benefits
as what you would find in the wild - healthy fish stuffed
with omega-3 and all those natural vitamins, minerals
and benefits.. And it’s really versatile - make it into fish
cakes, stir through pasta, mix it with other foods to make it
attractive to children. If you want to get some ideas for fish
have a look at the recipes on www.wildalaskaseafood.com.
It’s really an amazing product.”
Salmon is salmon, isn’t it
Well, no, it’s not. What we’re perhaps most familiar
with in Europe, whether wild caught or from a
fish farm, is what’s known as the Atlantic salmon
a fish, as its name suggests, found mainly in the
north Atlantic. But there’s also the group known as
Pacific salmon, of which five are found in Alaska.
The largest and most robust of the Alaskan
salmon is the King Salmon, usually around 70cm in
length. It’s particularly high in omega-3 fatty acids
and has a rich, robust flavour which responds
well to roasting or grilling. Similar in length and
also a popular sport fish is the Coho salmon.
Less oily than the King salmon and with a more
delicate flavour it also responds well to grilling
and roasting and many consider it particularly
desirable for eating.
The Chum or Keta salmon and the Sockeye are
each commonly around 60cm with the Sockeye
the lighter weight of the two. Chum have a low oil
content with a mild flavour and firm, pink flesh and
are often smoked. In contrast, Sockeye have a rich
flavour and a distinctive red flesh, are particularly
high in trace minerals and are a good source of
high quality protein.
The last of Alaska’s five species is the smallest,
the most common and the most delicate in flavour,
the Pink salmon, typically around 50cm in length.
Pink salmon is widely available in the UK with
Sockeye and Keta also found. Between these
three there’s a good range of flavour and
textures and so a good opportunity to try
different cooking approaches.
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 13

Sugar-coated
kids
It’s no secret that childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes are on
the rise, and the main culprit Research points to hidden and
highly-processed, refined white sugar in our daily drinks and food.
Serving children processed food full of refined
sugar may be cheap for now, but creates very
significant long-term costs in treating obesity
and diabetes. As a parent it can be difficult
to monitor what your kids are eating when you’re not
around, but there are various steps you can take to
ensure they’re getting the right kind of food at home.
As parents, it is our responsibility to teach our children
about making the right food choices.
How to satisfy a sweet tootH :
Smoothy central
If you’re craving something
rich and creamy like a
milkshake, a smoothie
makes a healthier option.
To give fruit smoothies a
more creamy consistency,
add yoghurt.
All-day breakfast
Pancakes and waffles don’t
have to be reserved for
breakfast time. If your kids
are craving something like a
cupcake, turn to recipes like
fruit-covered French toast or
whole wheat sweet potato
pancakes topped with honey
nut yogurt instead. Make a
big batch and keep a few
in the freezer for when
cravings strike.
Preparation is key
Don’t allow your kids to get hungry in a place where
they’re surrounded by temptation. Ensure they are
well-fed before taking them out, and even so, it’s a
good idea to carry a few healthy snacks with you.
Suggestions for Healthy Kids’ Snacks:
• Any fruits
• Cereal without sugar
• Edamame – boiled soybeans in the pod
• Whole grain, low-salt snacks
• Bean dips
• Cottage cheese with fruit pieces
• Any vegetables: Baby carrots, cherry tomatoes,
sugar snap peas, avocados, etc.
• Mini rice cakes—unsalted
14 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com
Warm it up
If a cold snack isn’t what
they’re after, then why not
skip the buttery crust and
warm some apples, raisins
and pears, add a small
teaspoon of maple syrup and
some sugar-free cereal.
Ice-cream alternatives
If frozen fruit just won’t
cut it, and you know ice
cream is too high in fat and
calories, frozen yogurt is a
great substitute. Because of
the specific use of milk as
opposed to the cream in icecream,
frozen yogurt is better
for your body. It is seen as a
low-fat alternative or even a
fat-free option. You can also
add your own toppings!
Make the swap!
• When you’re shopping, look for breakfast
cereals that have wholegrains and that are
lower in sugar (and check the salt and fat
levels too.
• If you’re having a little trouble swapping
to plain cereal, you could start by mixing
a little sugary cereal with the plain and
increase the plain a little each day until
you’ve totally swapped - and no one will
probably notice!
• When serving up the new plain cereal,
try adding different fruit - like
raspberries or blueberries and low-fat,
lower-sugar yoghurt.
• Here’s a great way to start a Saturday or
Sunday - wholewheat soft tortillas wrapped
around a tomato and fresh pepper
omelette. It could soon become a top family
breakfast treat!
Sugary drinks are a favourite among most
children, but they can be highly addictive
and once they’re hooked it can be difficult to
wean them! Around a quarter of the added
sugar in kids’ diets comes from sugary drinks!
• As well as buying smaller sized bottles try
swapping some of more sugary drinks to a
sugar free or no added sugar variety.
• Instead of sugary, fizzy drinks, why not try
lower-fat milks for a change Fresh and
ice-cold from the fridge, not only does it
taste great, it’s a source of calcium, which
helps keep our bones and teeth strong too.
• When kids want a fizzy drink, try sparkling
water poured over lots of ice and served
with a wedge of lime or lemon. Add a
couple of straws and it should go down
refreshingly well!
• For something tasty and healthy, why not
blend a banana with some ice cubes and
cold semi-skimmed milk.
Photograph: iStock

A drink with zing
Soft drinks don’t have to be
tedious or high in sugar,
Kate Bell finds
When you’re looking for a drink to give you a lift, it’s
a good idea to find one that isn’t packed with sugar
and additives. Drinks company Little Miracles has
developed drinks that give you a natural
pick-me-up by blending tea and organic juice mixed with ginseng.
Kate Harding, International marketing manager at Little Miracles,
says that “They’re not like energy based beverages that cause a spike
in energy levels followed by a sugar crash, instead they give you
a sustained level of energy.” The drinks aren’t high calorie either;
they have fewer than 90 calories, contain no additives, flavourings
or colours, and are sweetened with agave syrup rather than white
sugar. There are currently four products in the range - black tea
and peach; green tea and pomegranate; white tea and cherry; and a
naturally caffeine free option of lemongrass, orange and ginger.
A grown-up alternative
The idea behind Little Miracles was developed by the company’s
Danish founder. He was intrigued when travelling in China to be
told of a traditional ginseng formula that allegedly enabled farmers
to double their efforts at harvest time. He decided to develop
drinks that would offer a more grown-up alternative to other soft
drinks, basing his recipe on teas, ginseng, and fruits. The ginseng
used in the drinks might not go so far as to letting you work twice
as hard, says Harding, but you do feel a boost lift: “We use panax
ginseng, but while the ginseng is potent, it’s included in the drinks
at the level of giving you a natural zing rather than a caffeine high.
The drinks really give you a lift, but you don’t get the shaky
coffee-high followed by the crash. It’s definitely a great way to keep
going. But you don’t have to take my word on how nice the drinks
are; the judges in last year’s quality food awards think so too.”
The award in question won by Little Miracles was the best cold
beverage category in the Quality Food Awards. These are judged
by a panel of food and drink professionals and retailers who look
at a number of features of the product. Marks are awarded for the
packaging, labelling, and ingredients, but the taste and quality form
the major part of the decision making.
Cutting down on sugar
“One reason our drinks appeal to young, busy people is that they
want to avoid traditional soft drinks because of concerns about
the sugar content,” Harding comments. Agave syrup was chosen
to sweeten the drinks rather than sugar to avoid the calories and
sugar spike. The company considered using stevia extract, but found
around half of people can detect a very specific aniseed like taste
that interfered with the clean taste of the product. “Agave lets us
hit the sweet spot and keep the calories low”, says Harding. The
company is launching a new elderberry, ginger and rooibus tea that
will contain brewed stevia, says Harding: “Brewing the stevia leaves
allows us to sweeten an even lower calorie blend”.
“The drinks really give you a
lift, but you don’t get the shaky
coffee-high followed by the
crash. It’s definitely a great way
to keep going”
Kate Harding
Harding says she’s found that
people who are
interested in their health are
lowering their consumption
of not just carbonated drinks,
but cutting down on the
number of juices and
smoothies they’re drinking per
day to minimize their sugar
and calorie intake. “Once
people try our teas, they’re
converts. There isn’t a culture
of iced tea drinking in the
UK, so some people are unsure
about trying the product, but
those that do try it fall in love
with it. I spent the whole of
last summer out and about
at different festivals such as
London Pride and the Isle
of Wight festival, and I’d say
hand on heart that 99.9% of
people who tried it loved it.”
This next year the company
is focussing on fashion. “We’re
going to be the 2015 handbag
must have; our bottles are so
beautiful – the design is
Danish, Scandinavian chic.
You’re not just getting a drink
that’s good for you, it looks
good too.”
Fair trade too
The ingredients in the
Little Miracle range
are all organic,
because the company
was keen to maximise
the fact they have a
healthier brand. They
want it to be a
sustainable brand too,
so the next stage is a
move to Fair Trade for
the full range. The first
to be fully Fair Trade
will be the forthcoming
elderberry, rooibus
and ginger drink.
“There are lots of
drinks out there, but
not that many branded
fairtrade drinks. We’re
firm believers in
sustainability and being
fair, and we want to
encourage our
customers to try us
and to buy from us
because they know
we’re different.
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 15

Critical
start
School meals and childhood obesity are high on the media and political
agenda, but are we missing a crucial piece of the puzzle James Murdoch
looks at the campaign to raise awareness of early life nutrition
“A
third of British children
now considered overweight,
according to study.”
“Health campaigners call
for stricter rules on junk
food TV adverts.” “New rules for healthy
school dinners”.
Childhood nutrition is officially a hot
topic, as these headlines from the past few
weeks confirm. There is a saturation of media
coverage on how and why our kids are getting
fatter and less healthy, and everyone seems
to have an opinion on what should be done
about it. Politicians have responded to public
concern with official guidelines on what
children should eat and new standards for
school meals. Plus, at a time when the NHS
is under unprecedented strain, the importance
and cost-effectiveness of preventative health
campaigns like this is only going to grow.
“It’s much harder to cook well and
healthily on low incomes - you
need more skill to do so. That’s
where more training is needed”
Claudia Wood
But there’s a problem. When we talk about
childhood nutrition we tend to think about
school age children, and that is where
policy-makers and the media have focused
their attention to date. But according to a
growing body of expert opinion, the public
debate often overlooks the most crucial
window of opportunity to secure good long
term health outcomes in children.
Recent studies suggest that environmental
factors in the very earliest stages of life, the
first 1,000 days from conception through to
a child’s second birthday, are more influential
than genetics in determining long term
health outcomes – including growth and
development and the risk of obesity, diabetes,
heart problems and food allergies. And, for
parents, one of the factors they can influence
is nutrition.
“A growing body of evidence demonstrates
the importance of a healthy and balanced diet
to infants’ and children’s early development
and later life outcomes … However, despite
this growing knowledge-base, early childhood
nutrition still does not occupy a central role
in the early intervention policy agenda,”
says Louise Bazalgette, in the report ‘For
Starters’ by the think tank Demos, which
is among several organisations advocating
for change in the way we perceive and make
policy for childhood nutrition, including the
introduction of official guidance.
”Policymakers have been less engaged
in children’s nutritional needs during the
early years, focusing instead on supporting
young children’s educational and social
development. Where policy has sought to
improve early nutrition, efforts have centred
primarily on early education settings, thereby
missing parents’ vital role in establishing their
“Early years is the area we have
to invest in”
Dr Eunice Lumsden
16 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

“We need a very clear focus on a joined-up
approach from government on nutritional advice”
James Mayer
children’s taste preferences and eating patterns
in the pre-school years.”
Social and economic drivers play a role
in whether children are getting the right
nutrition in early life, and children raised in
disadvantaged environments are statistically
less likely to experience good health
outcomes in later life. Claudia Wood,
Demos’s CEO, chaired a recent Labour
Party event on the subject.
“There was discussion around cooking skills
and the correlation between that and income.
Skills tend to be less in lower income groups
but also it’s much harder to cook well and
healthily on low incomes and so you need
more skills there and that’s where change
is needed. We also talked about nudging
parents towards good nutritional practice and
about the lack of information and guidance
available.” says Wood.
Aware of this knowledge gap, Danone
Nutricia Early Life Nutrition wanted to
identify the barriers to knowledge about
nutrition for children’s first 1,000 days. Part
of the international Danone Group, with 400
scientists worldwide dedicated to research
in early life nutrition, as well as a team of
nutritionists and other healthcare professionals
in the UK, the company provides products,
support and advice to thousands of parents
every year.
The company held an event called “The Big
Conversation,” bringing together 60 parents,
carers and child nutrition professionals to
share their experiences.
”We learned some very useful things,”
explains managing director James Mayer.
“Firstly, there’s a huge amount of conflicting
information available on this topic, and that
makes it hard for parents to decide what’s
best. Not only is there simply too much
information to retain and make sense of, most
of it focuses on ‘what’ to do rather than ‘why’
and ‘how’ to do it, which causes parents to lose
heart and look to informal, unofficial sources
of advice which may not always be correct.”
”Parents can also feel there is a struggle
between affordable food choices and ones that
are absolutely right for their kids’ nutrition.
There are a few different things playing into
this. Disposable incomes have been down,
childcare costs are up, and there is a perception
– largely inaccurate – that healthy ingredients
are more expensive.”
According to official statistics from
DEFRA, since 2007, when food began to rise
in price, those on the lowest wages bought
25% less fruit and 15% fewer vegetables. In
the same period, the amount of processed
food they bought dropped by just 1%. For
the population as a whole, more than 40%
of people cited price as their top deciding
factor, against just 8% who said health was
the most important.
Time is another factor, says Mayer. “People
have busy lives and that makes it hard for
both parents and carers to make time for
proper meal planning and preparation, and
cooking skills suffer as a result. We have
reduced the time spent cooking a meal by, on
average, almost a minute a year – from a full
hour in 1980 to 34 minutes today.
Sandwiches have become the most
commonly eaten meal, followed by
ready meals.”
Last but not least is lifestyle. “We have
more and more households where both
parents are working, more multi-generational
households as a result of high property
prices, which means more ‘gatekeepers’
involved in the nutrition of each child.
This makes it very hard to ensure a
consistent nutritional experience.”
So what’s the solution
“One is clearer and simpler information for
parents on nutrition in early life coming
from health authorities and other public
bodies.” says Mayer. “And we also need
more nutritional training for carers - there’s
an absence of knowledge about the right
nutrition for infants and toddlers and
what impact that will have if you don’t get
it right. This will all be helped by having
an overarching, coherent framework for
early life nutrition championed by
government – something we will explore
with a new administration following the
general election.”
HEY!
HEY! (Healthy Eating for Young
Children) is a free seven-week
programme providing practical
advice on healthy eating and related
life skills in disadvantaged areas
of the community. Topics include
nutritional understanding, budgeting
and shopping, with language, literacy
and numeracy skills embedded in the
programme. There are also activities
to increase parents’ confidence in
making positive, healthy choices.
A joint initiative of Danone Nutricia,
4 Children, Wiltshire Council and
the Community Health Learning
Foundation, the long term aims of
the programme are to improve the
health outcomes and life chances
of children aged one to three, and
to help to change the way families
deal with the constraints of time and
money when it comes to accessing
good nutrition. Recognising the
importance of this, the programme
has achieved accreditation from the
Royal Society of Public Health. 460
families across the UK have taken
part so far.
THE WHOLE CHILD
Dr Eunice Lumsden is Head of
Early Years at the University of
Northampton and a recognised
authority on early childhood studies.
”The focus of our work is on holistic
development from zero to eight and
so we’re looking with our students
at education, health, social care and
inclusion.” says Lumsden.
“The well-being of the child is
impacted upon by their health, which
is impacted upon by their diet, which
is impacted upon by their family
experiences, which is impacted upon
by the quality of the early years
settings they’re going into. Our aim is
that students understand the whole
child and are able to appreciate how
health, early learning and their care
are interrelated.”
A key focus according to Lumsden
is to raise awareness of the vital
importance to the future health and
well-being of young children of their
earliest experiences, including the
quality of food provided.
”What seems very clear when you
look at the data is that those families
who struggle financially aren’t always
able to afford the most nutritious
food. However, poverty does not
equate to poor parenting but is
far more complex and our earliest
experiences last with us
a lifetime.”
“A child’s future health is likely to be more
impacted by environmental factors than by
inherited genes”
James Mayer
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 17

How to be a fit and
healthy mum-to-be
Follow our seven-step plan for a feel-good pregnancy
While being pregnant brings its fair share of joys and delights, these typically come hand-in-hand with
the less-appealing prospects of emotional fragility, general swelling and crippling fatigue. So making sure
you and your baby are feeling good as these nine months will be critical for keeping you relaxed and
prepared, and baby happy, healthy and ready for the world.
1
Tender
loving care
Taking a break to indulge
in some ‘me’ time as a
mother-to-be should not be
underestimated. This
nine-month period can transform
the most relaxed of women into
a ‘worry pot’, and taking some
time out to pamper yourself
(especially if you’re feeling a
2
Get moving
While morphing into a gym
bunny is not recommended,
attending gentle exercise
classes during your
pregnancy will help keep you fit,
counteract added baby weight
and also give you a chance to
meet other expectant mothers,
too. You should consult your
doctor or midwife before taking
on a new class. Some gyms even
offer dedicated pregnancy fitness
classes, so ask at your local
venue. In addition, exercising your
pelvic floor muscles (the group
little self-conscious about weight
gain or swollen feet) will give
you a much needed break. Try
and book a weekend away, too,
before you have your baby to
spend time with your partner and
give your mind and body time to
chill out and prepare for the next
exciting stage.
of muscles that you constrict
if you really need a wee!) will
prepare them for the strain of
pregnancy and childbirth. Weak
pelvic floor muscles may result in
stress incontinence (leaking urine
when you do things like coughing,
sneezing or exercise) – this is a
normal part of pregnancy but
you can strengthen your pelvic
muscles quite easily through
tensing and releasing them over a
10-second period, doing eight tight
squeezes, three times a day in the
weeks before birth.
4
Teething problems
Pregnancy can cause sensitive teeth, bleeding
gums and increased plaque due to the hormones
flying around your system, so looking after your
gnashers correctly is crucial during this time. It is
vital that you brush regularly, at least twice a day, use
floss every time you brush and keep an eye on your
sugar intake to make sure you avoid any problems.
5Feel-good food
Although the old adage ‘eating for two’ should
not be adopted in terms of meal portions, it does
still apply to the nutrients you’re taking in through
your food, which are fed to your baby through
the umbilical cord. A protein-filled diet, with plenty of
carbohydrates and some fats (you shouldn’t rule out all
fats when pregnant) will ensure you and your baby are
sufficiently sustained. When it comes to alcohol, women
are advised to avoid drinking during pregnancy, or drink
a maximum of one unit of alcohol a week.
3Vital vitamins
Eating well during
pregnancy is, of course,
essential but your body
will require a helping
hand to make sure it gets all
the goodies it needs during this
nine-month period. Folic acid is
a pregnancy must-have, as it
prevents against neural tube
defects (conditions that affect
your baby’s brain and spine) such
as spina bifada. The Department
of Health recommends women
should take a 400 microgram
(mcg) folic acid tablet each
day until you have reached 12
weeks of pregnancy. It is also
recommended that you start
taking folic acid as soon as you
stop using contraception. Equally,
vitamin D is a pregnancy feelgood
booster. By taking 10mcg of
it each day in the first trimester
of your pregnancy (weeks one
to 12), this ensures that your
baby’s teeth and bones grow
strong – as vitamin D regulates
calcium in your body. You can
find it in foods but the sources
are limited - fortified breakfast
cereals and oily fish – so boost
your vitamin D by getting regular
sunlight on your skin. Don’t forget
to up your calcium intake, too.
Pregnant women require 1,000 mg
of calcium a day.
6
Partner up
Hormonal and physical changes, and the
overwhelming nature of pregnancy can, at times,
leave you weary and your partner feeling out of
the loop. This is an experience to share, but be
sure to allocate time for just the two of you, ‘baby talk’
free. Enjoy a meal at your favourite restaurant or go to
the cinema to see something you’ll both enjoy.
7Ready, steady, push!
Home birth or hospital birth Birth partner:
husband or mother There are lots of decisions
to make in the lead-up to your birth-day. Be sure
to attend every antenatal check-up, so that the
midwife can keep a close eye on your health, and that
of your baby’s. She can also talk through a birthing plan
and pain relief options. Remember: have your overnight
bag at the ready from week 34 onwards if you’re having
a hospital birth – your little one might arrive early!
Photograph: iStock
18 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

The
Fascinating
Coconut
There’s a lot more to a coconut than
meets the eye, Kate Bell hears.
Photograph: iStock
Most Europeans know of the coconut only as
a target at funfairs or an item in occasional
greengrocer shops. However, that’s only the
inner part of the fruit, the central pit or stone
which contains and protects the seed. Despite its name the
coconut is not a nut at all but a drupe, or stone fruit, exactly
like an olive or almond or the common temperate fruits such
as plums, cherries or peaches. Importantly, this means that
eating a coconut or drinking the water or milk won’t be a
problem for someone with a nut allergy. Immature coconuts
contain a large amount of water which protects and
nourishes the developing seed and which contains proteins,
carbohydrates, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and is
widely taken as a refreshing drink where coconuts grow in
the topics .
”There’s a lot more to the coconut than meets the eye”,
says Tricia McNeilly of CocoMojo “and they inspired me
to develop a range of drinks that are nutritionally wellbalanced,
refreshing, fun, healthy … and a little bit coconuts!
I’ve had a lifelong interest in food and nutrition and whilst
studying for a diploma in nutrition I became fascinated by
the incredible health-giving properties of the coconut.”
McNeilly attributes her love of healthy nutrition to her
childhood in the country: “We grew up drinking spring
water, taken from a well, that tasted amazing and I suppose
I’ve been looking for something that tasted that good ever
since.” McNeilly was also captivated by coconuts as a child,
and that attraction has continued, to the point where she’s
now writing a book all about the tree and its fruit. “I find
everything about coconuts interesting: they have an exciting
lifecycle and history, and from a nutritional viewpoint they’re
great, an alignment of health and energy that’s missing from
many modern diets.”
Healthy ingredients
Having created a great tasting base of coconut water
McNeilly then experimented with adding exotic ingredients
from around the world: “I chose ingredients that have been
used to promote health, such as fresh turmeric, which has
been used in India for centuries to combat many ailments.
Turmeric is now rightly recognised as a super food. It is a
terrific anti-inflammatory, high in iron, vitamin B6, vitamin
C and magnesium.”
“Our other core ingredients also have the properties I was
looking for - galangal, kaffir lime, lemongrass, coconut water,
coconut milk, basil, Siberian ginseng, pineapple and mango,
a host of flavours just bursting with health,” says McNeilly.
She set up tasting sessions with neighbours, friends and
family, and when they liked the drink, determined to take it
further. After much research and years of development and
investment, the result is CocoMojo. “The name CocoMojo
sums up what the product is all about, the alignment of
Coco for health and Mojo for energy. We live in a world of
www.drinkcocomojo.com
modern ills, many of them largely
attributed to our modern diet
and rushed lifestyles - we need
energy to cope but we also need
a more natural approach and
CocoMojo is perfect on both
counts“, McNeilly explains.
The drinks are also caffeine and
gluten free and have neither added
sugar nor preservatives. “They’re a
great way to put the mojo back into
your step, whether you’re tired out
from having fun in the playground,
or are a busy professional facing an afternoon of meetings.
The drinks are ideal for school lunchboxes and the sports
kitbag, and our award winning 100% recyclable ‘card can’
makes them environmentally friendly too,” says McNeilly.
There are three flavours currently available, each identified
with its own fun cartoon character on the packaging,
based on a different aspect of the coconut. CocoSoul
is a combination of coconut milk and coconut water
with botanical herbs, fruits and spices, and its cartoon
representation is smooth, sprightly and soulful. CocoPassion
is a blend of coconut water with passion fruit and botanical
herbs. Its personality, according to McNeill, “brings the
tropics to your taste buds and gets you dancing to the music,
even if there isn’t any playing”. There’s also a drink that’s
pure coconut water with invigorating botanical herbs and a
generous twist of lime, CocoPure. The cartoon character for
CocoPure is described as “light on his feet and always up for
trying new things”.
The refreshing quality of the drinks has been recognized in
a variety of awards. CocoPassion was highly commended at
the 2014 Quality Food Awards and CocoSoul was a finalist,
being also the official coconut water drink of the 2013
British Comedy Awards. The overall range was also outright
winner of best rebrand in the UK Packaging Awards, 2014.
“Successfully balancing a busy, healthy lifestyle is becoming
an increasingly difficult task, and it’s even harder for parents
keeping up with young children. CocoMojo is designed to
provide a sustaining boost to your mind, body and mojo
when you’re on the go. Mojo is that healthy, happy feeling
that comes from within and radiates on the outside, and
that’s what our drinks are all about.”
“Our drinks are nutritionally
well-balanced, refreshing,
fun, healthy… and a little
bit coconuts!”
Tricia McNeilly
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 19

Your baby’s
first year
Baby development, generally, follows a set sequence – a baby will sit before
crawling, crawl (usually) before walking, babble before talking. However, during a
baby’s first year, although development is usually continuous, in terms of speed,
no two babies are the same.
During the first month, a baby will begin to recognise his mother,
making sounds, turning his head and adjusting his own behaviour
– distressed if mum is speaking loudly, quietening if spoken to
softly. He will gain limited strength in his neck muscles while at
the same time, his strong grasp reflex fades.
2 months
Month two will see many changes. Physically, he will be able
to hold his head up while in a sitting or standing position,
although not for long. He will be smiling, showing interest
in his surroundings and turning to the direction of sounds.
By the end of the third month, your baby will be much more
self-aware, understanding his own body, looking at and
moving his fingers at will and expressing pleasure by kicking
legs, waving arms and smiling. His grasp reflex will have
disappeared but instead will hold items such as rattles if
given even for a few minutes. He can now support his head
constantly if sitting or lying prone.
4 - 5 months
During months four and five, baby development and strength
moves on rapidly – full head control is gained and he will love to
sit up and look around even if with your support sometimes. His
curiousity will be obvious, taking interest in and being excited
by new toys, new sounds and his regular bottle or breast feed!
He may however become shy of unfamiliar people so always
introduce him to visitors.
6 month
At six months, your baby’s vocalisations will be growing, playing
with sounds, repeating and listening to them. Watch out for
lots of bubble blowing! Physically, his strengthening muscles
mean he can sit supported in a highchair and bear his weight
on his forearms. His fine motor skills have developed too - he
can happily transfer an object from hand to hand. And by seven
months, his movements have refined further so that he can
tear up paper. He will be sitting without support and bearing
his own weight on straight knees when held up. He will now
know his own name and initiate conversations, sometimes with
recognisable sounds and happily joining in games.
8 - 9 months
During months eight and nine, your baby knows what he likes/
dislikes, turning away from a face wash yet holding out hands
for cleaning. He will laugh at appropriate moments (in rhymes)
and understand the word ‘no’. Watch out – your baby might be
trying to move, stretching out for toys, rocking back and forth
or even crawling. By ten months, you baby will be completely
mobile (usually) and by one year walking round furniture or by
holding one hand. He will be understanding simple concepts/
instructions and saying his first words. Touchingly, he will be
developing emotionally too, sharing jokes yet getting angry if a
toy is withdrawn.
Photograph: iStock
20 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

Bottle babies
Breastfeeding is an ideal start for your baby for many reasons, however not all
new mums manage it. But don’t worry – you can feed your child in the knowledge
that bottle-feeding does have its advantages…
The message that ‘breast is best’ is often drummed
into all new mums, meaning that those who choose to
bottle-feed often feel guilty about their decision. This
should not be the case. It’s important to remember
that it is entirely personal and it’s up to individuals to make
the right choice for themselves and their baby.
If you’ve chosen to bottle-feeding your little one, there are
several reasons your baby will thrive on formula milk.
• One advantage of bottle-feeding is that your partner will be
able to help. This is especially useful at night, when you can
have more of a well-earned rest.
• Bottle-feeding your baby will require more equipment
than if you breastfeed and it’s vital that it is all properly
sterilised so there’s no risk of infection.
• You will need to wash and sterilise the teats and bottles
every time you use them. There are three types of
steriliser – steam, microwave or sterilising solution –
or you can boil the bottles and teats in a saucepan
for 10 minutes before you use them.
Preparation
You will need to use formula milk and it’s important that you
follow the instructions on the packet carefully. Use boiled
water which has been left to cool for no longer than half an
hour. Fill the bottle to the marked level, then measure the
milk powder with the scoop provided. Use a knife to level
off the scoop, but avoid packing the powder down. Add
this to the water in the bottle. Put the teat and cover on a
nd then shake well.
The Department of Health advises that feeds are made
fresh. If you do need to prepare a feed for later, they suggest
that freshly boiled water is kept in a sealed flask and fresh
formula milk is made up when required.
Be comfortable
Watch your baby while she is feeding and if she is making lots
of noise, she may be taking in too much air, which will make
her windy. Hold your baby at a 45º angle and tilt the bottle so
that the teat and neck are always filled with formula. Always
sit with your baby when feeding her to prevent choking.
How much
In the early weeks, it’s important to guide your baby, but she
should establish her own feeding pattern after a couple of
months. Offer her the bottle every two to three hours at first,
or when she seems hungry. Until your baby reaches about
4.5kg, she’ll probably take 30-90ml per feeding. Talk to your
health visitor if you’re worried about your baby’s weight or
think she’s not getting enough formula or having too much.
What you’ll need:
• at least six bottles
• at least six teats
• formula milk (powdered cow’s milk)
• sterilising equipment
• bottle and teat brush.
Photograph: iStock
Bottles and hygiene
There are a bewildering number available and many mums
will try a few before they find one that their baby is happy
with. It’s worth experimenting if you have a fussy feeder. Make
sure your bottles are washed properly by cleaning them with
a bottle brush after use. It’ll prevent milk deposits, which
harbour bacteria, from being left on the bottle.
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 21

Formula brands are generally
based on skimmed cow’s milk
with added whey powder
NANNYcare is different.
It has a whole goat milk
base and no added whey
A new choice in Follow on and Growing up milk
From 6 months*
From 1-3 years**
Because NANNYcare is made simply from gentle whole goat milk...
It requires less processing, providing a mild and creamy milk your baby will enjoy
NANNYcare helps to provide...
• Calcium and a rich source of Vitamin D for normal growth and development of bones in children
• Vitamin C for normal psychological function
It forms soft curds in your baby’s delicate tummy 1
Like all follow on milks, NANNYcare meets all nutritional requirements as required by law. NANNYcare
is also supported by two clinical trials 2,3 . These studies were instrumental in the amendment of EU
Directive 2006/141/EC to include goat milk.
• Vitamins A & C which contribute to the normal function of the immune system
• Iron which contributes to normal cognitive function
Available at these stockists, and also nationwide from selected health food stores and your local pharmacy, by
order if not in stock. Simply quote ‘Alliance’ to your pharmacist for delivery within 24 hours.
Need help finding NANNYcare, call 0800 328 5826, email enquiry@nannycare.co.uk or visit nannycare.co.uk
IMPORTANT NOTICE: *NANNYcare ® Follow on milk is only suitable for babies from 6 months, to complement breastfeeding or the start of weaning, as part of a varied and balanced diet. It is not
intended as a breast milk substitute and is not suitable for babies under 6 months. It is recommended that NANNYcare Follow on milk is used only on the advice of a doctor, midwife, health visitor,
public health nurse, dietitian, pharmacist, or other professional responsible for maternal and child care, based on your baby’s individual needs. **NANNYcare Growing up milk is for young children
between 1-3 years as part of a healthy balanced diet. Goat milk follow on formula is not suitable for infants with a cow’s milk protein allergy unless directed by a healthcare professional.
REF: 1. PARK YW et al (2007). Physico-chemical characteristics of goat and sheep milk. Small Ruminant Research, 68: 88-1134. 2. ZHOU et al (2011). How does goat milk infant formula compare to cow milk formula A randomised controlled
trial Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition, 52, E208. 3. GRANT, et al (2005). Randomized, double-blind comparison of growth in infants receiving goat milk formula versus cow milk infant formula. J Paediatr Child Health, 41, 564-8.

NANNYcare
WINS!
in the end
One omission by the EU led to
a twenty year journey before
baby milk formula based on
goat milk could be sold in the
UK, Kate Bell discovers
The battle started in the 1990s, when Claire Magee of
NANNYcare discovered a baby milk formula based on
goat’s milk that was proving a success in New Zealand. The
idea of importing it to the UK seemed a great opportunity
but no sooner had the decision been made than the company hit a
major hurdle; the EU directive on infant milk had already been drawn
up and, crucially, since goat’s milk formula had not existed in Europe
it wasn’t included. This was nothing to do with goat’s milk having been
considered unsuitable in any way. The problem lay on the fact the word
‘goat’ wasn’t mentioned in the list of milk bases.
Although the product was not able to be sold as an infant formula,
general EU legislation did allow sales under the title of Goat Milk
Nutrition. Even under these limitations the formula developed a
market on a limited basis, says Magee: “It kept growing mainly by
word of mouth – many parents who needed it somehow managed to
find it. In the background we were always trying to get the problem
rectified with the wording of the EU directive.”
While the situation was difficult in the EU, many regions outside
Europe use the World Health Organisation as the reference for
legislation. The WHO Codex Standard for infant formula does
include formula based on the milk of animals other than cows, so the
same goat’s milk formula was, in contrast, readily available to parents in
New Zealand, Australia, and around 20 other countries.
A less determined person might have given up at this point, but
Magee is made of sterner stuff. In an attempt to decide whether the
battle was worth the effort, Magee did some research and talked to
healthcare professionals and to existing customers. Feedback indicated
that she was dealing with something special, and the battle worth
fighting: “I remember talking to one mother who had an eight month
old baby who, for months, had not been sleeping, and had been crying
most of the time. As a last resort, her healthcare professional suggested
she tried NANNYcare. The baby stopped crying and started sleeping.
The formulas based on cow’s milk didn’t suit the baby, but the one
based on goat’s milk did. The mother begged us not to give up. That
sort of response is something special. It was feedback like this that kept
us going over all the years.”
More trials
In order to change the EU ruling, a trial to show the product was
suitable would be needed, but there were no guidelines as to what
“Goat’s milk forms soft curds in
the baby’s stomach while cow’s
milk forms a tougher, more
rubbery curd”
Claire Magee
constituted a suitable trial. One
was devised and NANNYcare
submitted the results.
Unfortunately, in the meantime
the EU had created guidelines
for how the trial should be
carried out, and the company
trial didn’t quite conform to
the new rules, says Magee: “We
hadn’t quite enough babies
on our trial and the EU also
said we should have had a
breastfeeding reference group.”
The company devised a new
trial with advice from eminent
research paediatricians. When
the results were submitted,
NANNYcare finally achieved
success. The EU member states
were instructed to change
their local regulations within
six months, and the goat’s
milk based formula was finally
cleared for sale as baby milk
formula in the UK in
February 2014.
When mothers think of
formula milk, they do not
necessarily associate it as having
an animal milk base says Magee.
“However, mainstream formulas
are all based on cow’s milk
which historically has been the
most widely available source.
The main difference between
goat’s milk and cow’s milk is
that goat’s milk forms soft
Breast is best
Magee is clear that
breastfeeding is the
still the best choice.
“Unequivocally, breast
is the obvious best
choice, but in those
circumstances where a
baby is being bottle fed,
then our formula does
provide an alternative
to traditional formulas
which are all made
from cow’s milk and are
essentially very similar.
It is simply the case that
goat’s milk formula suits
some babies better than
cow’s milk formula.”
Magee says it’s been a
long battle, but worth it
in the end: “We’ve finally
got there. What was
so frustrating was that
no-one at the EU ever
claimed the formula
was unsuitable for
use; goat’s milk wasn’t
specifically mentioned in
the directive. Because of
that omission, we’ve had
this major battle.”
curds in the baby’s stomach while cow’s milk forms a tougher, more
rubbery curd.”
Magee points out that: “It is important to state that FSA advice
is that goat’s milk formula is not suitable for babies with cow’s milk
protein allergy unless directed by a healthcare professional. As such we
make no allergy claims”.
Magee says that over years the fact that goat’s milk was not included
in the EU regulations has resulted in a variety of rumours and
misinformation about the reasons. “All sorts of unsubstantiated things
have been said over the years, so it’s now very pleasing to finally have
the record put straight and have the formula’s nutritional suitability
unquestionably demonstrated by double-blind clinical trials.”
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 23

Seven common myTHs
Weaning your baby from milk to solids is an exciting time and a big
step for both of you, but it can still seem daunting…
Weaning your baby from milk to solids is an exciting time and a big step for both of you,
but it can still seem daunting…
Weaning your baby is a sign that she is growing up and every parent wants to
make this an enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, as soon as new parents consult
books, websites, friends, or even doctors for guidance, excitement turns into
anxiety. They hear: don’t give solids before six months, start with bland foods, avoid
alleged allergens… and they fear that feeding a baby is dangerously complicated.
Understandably, they become excessively cautious and feed their child a bland,
limited diet or boring, processed food – and babies miss out on a precious opportunity
to develop their tastebuds… and at the very age when they are most receptive to
flavours. This is one of the main reasons kids turn into picky and reluctant eaters. Here
we look at some myths and truths of weaning.
Photograph: iStock
24 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

1
You should breastfeed exclusively
for six months
This is a very common misconception
among new mothers. The Department
of Health guidelines in the UK state that
babies should not begin weaning until
they are six months and should be exclusively
fed milk until then. In an ideal world this would be
absolutely fine – breast milk gives your baby a very
good start in life. However, the fact of the matter
is that only a small percentage of mothers in the
UK are still breastfeeding at this six-month stage.
Besides, most health professionals recognise that
many babies show signs they’re ready for weaning
at an earlier age (but not before 17 weeks). If there
is a history of allergy in the family or atopic illness
– such as eczema, hay fever or asthma – then it
really is best to try to breastfeed exclusively for six
months and delay introducing solids. Babies who
suffer from bad cases of eczema are much more
likely to develop a food allergy.
However, every baby is different and it’s
important to follow your instincts as a mother.
Sometimes a baby may need solids a little earlier
– at around five months – because she may no
longer be satisfied by her usual milk feed or
she may wake during the night when previously
she slept through, or she may not be thriving
on milk alone. Also, waiting until six months to
introduce solids means delaying the introduction
of important foods like meat, which provide much
needed iron – important for physical and mental
development. The introduction of lumpy foods
also gets delayed, which may affect your baby’s
speech development as the muscles she uses to
chew are the same ones she uses for speech.
2
You can follow the same healthyeating
guidelines for adults when
feeding babies
The needs of babies and toddlers are
different from an adult’s – a low-fat,
high-fibre diet is good for adults but not
appropriate for babies or young children because
they are going to need more fat and concentrated
sources of calories and nutrients to fuel their rapid
growth. Babies shouldn’t be given too much fibre
either, as it tends to be bulky in their system and
can fill them up before they get all the nutrients
they need for proper growth and development.
Excess fibre can also remove valuable minerals
and can cause other problems such as diarrhoea.
Babies should eat a wide variety of fruit and
vegetables to make sure they have plenty of
vitamins and minerals in their diet. After the first
few weeks of weaning, make sure that as well
as fruit and vegetable purées, you give foods
that are higher in calories to build their strength –
mashed avocado, fruit mixed with Greek yogurt or
vegetables in a cheese sauce, for instance.
3You should feed your baby only
bland foods
This is not true and, since you cannot add
salt to baby food, it’s a good idea to add
garlic, herbs, cheese and so forth to add
flavour. In my experience, babies enjoy
food that tastes good – just as you do. Combining
fruit with savoury dishes is also a good idea.
4You should use only fresh
vegetables when making purées
for your baby
Vegetables are frozen within hours
of being picked, thus locking in vital
nutrients. In some cases, frozen
vegetables are fresher than those straight from
the ground. Normally once a food is frozen, it
shouldn’t be defrosted and re frozen. However, this
doesn’t apply to vegetables. So if, for instance,
you make a purée from frozen peas, it can be refrozen
and reheated.
5
You should not feed your baby
any eggs
Egg allergies are less common than
most people think. Like any potentially
allergenic food, an egg can cause a
reaction but, if it does, the effect is
immediate and striking and will warn you to keep
your offspring away from eggs – at least for a
while. But experience has taught me that, with
the exception of babies who have a close relative
with severe allergies, a whole egg is perfectly
healthy for them as early as six months. Eggs
are an important source of protein. Providing you
make sure the yolk and white are cooked until
solid, scrambled egg or a mini omelette is fine.
Alternatively, you could mash a boiled egg into a
cheese sauce with some vegetables. Don’t forget
that eggs can assist growth, brain development,
eyesight and the advancing nervous system.
If your baby does prove to be allergic to eggs,
delaying when you introduce them won’t make any
difference. An allergy is an allergy – at six months
or six years.
6You should avoid giving fish as this
can cause allergies
Babies should be given fish from around
seven months unless, again, there is a
history of allergies in the family. Oily fish
such as salmon are particularly beneficial
to both brain and visual development, and a
baby’s brain triples in size in the first year.
7
You should start your baby on
plain rice
What’s the point in serving bland,
tasteless food when, instead, you could
be introducing your baby to healthy, fresh
fruit and vegetables Root vegetables
like sweet potato or carrot make ideal first foods
when puréed due to their naturally sweet flavour
and smooth texture. What’s more, they are rich
in beta-carotene. Cooked apple or pear make
excellent first foods. Apples and pears are a gentle
first weaning food with an extremely low likelihood
of intolerance and they contain pectin, which helps
little bowels to start processing solids efficiently.
They also contain vitamin C to boost your little
one’s immune system.
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 25

Kids are notoriously mucky pups: when they’re not
leaving their bedrooms in a mess, they’re adding to
their growing collection of grass-stained trousers, and
so finding ways to keep both the house - and them
- clean and tidy can prove difficult. But with a bit of coercion,
some gold stickers and a can of 1001 Spot Stain Remover,
your cleaning worries could be a thing of the past.
A place to call their own
Children need to understand that their bedroom is their own
space, and while it is somewhere they sleep, play and store
their you, it’s also somewhere they’re responsible for.
So if their room needs a lick of paint, or a bit of an update,
get them involved. Let them brush the first stroke of pink
paint onto the walls, or organise their books onto those
new shelves.
Squeaky clean
Keeping things neat and tidy doesn’t only apply to the kids’
rooms. Learning to keep themselves clean and have good
personal hygiene at an early age will stand them in good stead
for later in life. Brushing their teeth and washing their hands
properly cannot be overlooked - and thee habits need to be
enforced (and reinforced) sooner rather than later.
Children should brush their teeth for two minutes, twice
a day, to keep their milk (baby) teeth healthy. Tooth decay
is the most common chronic childhood disease, and kids
are notorious for trying to wriggle their way out of their daily
brushings!
Make sure they hit the required two-minute mar by using a
novelty timer to encourage them.
All washed up!
Dinner time can be a messy affair in many households, and
so having the children help out can not only lend you a hand,
but should discourage them from making such a mess in the
future. Even if they’re young, making sure they carry their cup
and plate to mum and dad when they’ve finished their food
will soon become and ordinary part of dinner time.
Stain-proof
Dirty marks are a nuisance, but with the right products you
can stop them in their tracks
Of course, you cannot prevent all stains in the home, but
there are products that can help keen them at bay. Spray-on
protectors are available for sofas and furniture which will help
repel or minimise the appearance of stains. There are also
household items that come already mark repellent.
Clean
‘em up!
Now you have kids, your previously
spotless house is a disaster area!
Fear not, here are some useful tips
on containing the mess!
TOP STAIN-FREE REMOVING TIPS
Kids are well-known for leaving their marks in one
way or another, so follow our guide to rid your home
of those pesky blemishes, from grass marks to felt-tip
pens to spilled sauce down their tops
BlOOd
Cuts and grazes are all part of the child’s play, but
they’re not any fun for the parent who has to clean
up afterwards. The key thing to remember is do not
use hot water as this will set the stain. Instead, after
blotting the fabric, sponge the stain with a mixture of
detergent and hydrogen peroxide using cool water.
GRASS
The classic grass stain, most commonly seen in the
summer months, can be one that appears again and
again on your children\s trousers. Try applying some
washing up liquid onto the stain with cole water or
instead use a diluted rubbing alcohol solution to get
rid of those troublesome mucky marks.
BIRO ANd FElt-TIP PEN
Pen marks can prove really tricky to get out of kids’
clothes, but there are some measures you can try.
As ink is alcohol-based, try applying methylated
spirits on the stained area using a damp cloth.
Alternatively, before you put the kids’ ink-stained
garments in the wash, rub in some biological gel
onto the troublesome areas.
TOMATO PASTA SAuce
With spaghetti Bolognese a firm family favourite, the
dreaded tomato-based pasta sauce splatting its way
on to the kids’ white tops is inevitable. If an oily sauce
makes its way onto their clothes, Apply biological
liquid and rub gently. Wash as normal. Alternatively,
Rinse the garment in cold water, dampen the stain
with white vinegar diluted to 50% in water and leave
for a couple of minutes then rinse again. If stain
persists, soak for two hours in undiluted vinegar
or hot milk. Proceed with a normal wash. Before
cleaning the stain, check the label for care details of
the stained garment, and always conduct a test on a
hidden area of fabric.
Photograph: iStock
26 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

top tip
For optimum cleaning results every
time, run your machine at a high
temperature (90°c) wash at least once
a month with a recommended
cleaning product. This should be
performed when the machine is
empty to allow removal of germs,
bacteria and build-up of
odours in the machine.
TOUGH
STAINS
SOFT ON
SKIN.
ON
Muvo is a new super concentrated laundry detergent. Tough on stains but not your little one’s
sensitive skin; it will rival brand leaders on performance without the premium price tag. Muvo
tackles the most stubborn stains including grass, mud, ink and every day messes, even on
economy programmes and short cycles. And with all the fragrance ingredients coming from
natural sources, it not only smells great, it’s kind to your skin too so you can be sure that you
really do get more with Muvo.
For further information plus further cleaning tips, visit muvo.co.uk
GET MORE WITH

The future
is robotics
Murdoch Mactaggart learns of innovative approaches to managing
those tedious and time consuming household chores
Shirley Conran once remarked that life’s
too short to stuff a mushroom. She and
other women - and it’s mainly women
who do this sort of work - might
have added that life’s too short to be forever
pushing a vacuum cleaner around the house.
There are, of course, plenty of houses where
vacuuming and cleaning doesn’t get done with
any degree of regularity because people are just
too busy working late, juggling two or three
jobs, commuting, collecting children from
here and ferrying them there, doing any of the
myriad time-consuming tasks which seem to
have become such a feature of modern life.
Making the choice that vacuuming carpets
and floors is not a priority is also perfectly
reasonable and it’s understandable that busy
people should make a decision to do this
work, say, only at weekends. However dust,
comprising human and animal debris, soil
and grit, airborne pollution and, importantly,
dust mites - microscopic invertebrates that
live on sloughed-off human skin cells - is
always present to some degree everywhere.
Dust is a fact of life and getting neurotic
about eliminating every trace is not helpful
to anyone. That said, for someone with
a respiratory condition dust mites can
be a serious problem and for others they
may trigger allergic reactions. Dust can
also interfere with machinery, computers
particularly, perhaps by blocking airflow
routes, leading to overheating and damage.
The issue, then, is how to control dust and
dirt without becoming a slave to cleaning.
Sensible automation
“Every single household needs to vacuum and
to clean.” says Bo Simonsen, Market manager
of Witt UK and Ireland Limited. “We now
rarely wash clothes by hand, instead using
automatic washing machines. With a big
family that could easily mean washing piles
of clothes daily. Similarly we need to keep
on top of dust and keep the house clean. The
difference there is that although we might use
a machine, a vacuum cleaner, it still has to
be pushed around and that takes time and
needs attention.”
You could always try the Huck Finn
approach on your children, pointing out how
responsible and difficult, not to mention
exciting, vacuuming is until they plead to
be allowed to do it. But the chances of that
working are slim and bullying and bribing
aren’t likely to be very effective either. Really
what’s wanted is something which, as with
a modern washing machine, will do the
tedious work for you and which requires
minimal attention. It’s this, a robotic vacuum
cleaner and a small family of other robotic
machines for house cleaning, that Simonsen is
enthusiastic about.
Dynamic pathways
“Our most popular product is the iRobot
range of vacuum cleaners, the Roomba.”
explains Simonsen. “Unlike other robot
devices which map rooms and so can run
into difficulties if the configuration changes,
perhaps just because a chair has been moved
or a book left on the floor, the Roomba uses
an advanced dynamic approach called iAdapt.
This lets it move through the room as it
actually is when it’s cleaning and when it’s
finished return automatically to its docking
station for recharging and switch itself
off. It’s designed to follow walls but it also
covers every part of the area three times at a
minimum, approaching from different angles.
If it meets an obstruction such as a toy or a
pet it immediately navigates around the it and
similarly it senses stairs and again changes
direction.”
“Your grandmother used to hang the
carpets on a line and beat them hard because
dust and dirt gets deep into the fibres. You
can’t do that nowadays with fitted carpets but
the Roomba uses a three stage deep cleaning
technique to beat and tease the carpet, which
frees dirt from the fibres which is then sucked
into the machine.”
The Roomba has a brushless design with a
high efficiency suction and will run for around
an hour before it needs to be recharged. It can
be programmed to particular schedules for up
to a week at a time. Because it’s only around
three inches high the device can easily clean
under sideboards and many sofas and because
it implements anti-tangle technology it can
avoid problems which cords or cables lying
on the floor might otherwise bring. Areas can
easily be excluded using a “virtual wall” an
infrared beam acting as a barrier.
“Most parents will
have experienced
treading painfully in
bare feet on a piece
of Lego lying on
the floor”
Bo Simonsen
28 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

“Every single household needs to vacuum and to clean”
Bo Simonsen
“Most parents will have had the experience
of getting up in the middle of the night to
comfort a child, being half-asleep and walking
in bare feet into their room only to tread
painfully on a piece of Lego lying on the
floor.” says Simonsen. “The Roomba actually
solved that problem for us because it just
sucked the pieces up and after the children
had had to root around in the dust container
to find their missing small toys a few times
they learned not to leave them lying around.”
Scrubbing and mopping
The company also supplies a similar robotic
device for scrubbing hard floors, known as
the Scooba. This uses the same tracking
technology as the Roomba and has a three
stage cleaning process - firstly it sweeps up
loose dirt and applies a pre-soak cleaning
fluid; it then scrubs the floor at 600rpm and
sucks the water into a container; then finally
it again clears off residual water and dries
the surface.
“Unlike with a mop or hand cloth, the
Scooba never reuses dirty water but always
clean water from its reservoir.” says Simonsen.
“It makes multiple passes over the floor so that
it gets it really, really clean. Like the Roomba
it has soft, light-touch bumpers so nothing’s
going to get damaged and again like the robot
vacuum cleaner it cleans right up the wall so
none of the surface gets missed.”
There’s also a simpler mopping device
called the Braava which can be set to mop a
floor using a dry or a damp cloth in
one-time or renewable versions. The devices
returns home and switches itself off when the
mopping cycle is finished. Lastly, there’s also
the Looj, a robotic device for cleaning gutters.
The gutter problem
“Blocked gutters bring all sorts of problems”
says Simonsen “and so they have to be
cleaned of leaves and other muck. That’s
not a great job, going up a ladder, shifting it
frequently a few feet and too often stretching
out dangerously. The Looj has a detachable
handle which lets you control it remotely
and you can set it to automatic, when it will
steadily work along the whole length of a
gutter, or manually when you control and
advance or reverse yourself. It’s only about
two inches high and it’s three inches wide so
it easily goes along gutters and passes safely
over down pipe openings. The brush auger
breaks up clogged debris and whirls it out of
the gutter in the direction you specify, easy
to brush up at ground level. And it’s fast - it
would take you five times as long, maybe even
longer, to clean the same gutters by hand. The
Looj is waterproof so to clean it you just hose
it down.”
“Keeping on top of household dust is
critical.” says Simonsen. “Your carpet may
not look particularly dusty but it’s certainly
there and it means that when anyone walks
Polishing the moon
iRobot was founded in 1990 as
a spin-off from Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) work
on robotics in MIT’s renowned
artificial intelligence lab. It’s based
in Bedford, MA, and its focus is
on advanced and innovative
technology. Its initial focus was
on space exploration and it’s still
strongly involved in
defence-related work such as
bomb and mine disposal and
exploration work in difficult
terrains, but also in locations such
as the Fukushima nuclear disaster
sites and deep underwater.
The company’s various
products, domestic as well as
industrial, share many common
features and the company
has added to its range what’s
basically a naked robot device,
the iRobot Create, which can
carry and connect to different
objects such as cameras or
lasers and which, because the
robots workings are intentionally
accessible through an open
interface, can be programmed
easily. The Create is now used
widely in research, including for
teaching on some university
courses, and generally by those
interested in playing with and
developing their own robots.
However, there’s no truth in
the rumour that it’s a specially
programmed iRobot Roomba or
a modified Create that keeps the
moon shining so brightly.
on it they’ll release dust into the air which will
then settle on surfaces like tables, bookcases
or the television. So vacuuming daily actually
helps to keep the whole house clean. And who
wants to push a cleaner around each evening
after everyone’s in bed That’s why the
Roomba is such a great help to anyone trying
to keep a house neat and clean.”
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 29

Hygiene in
the home
Babies and children under the age of five years are
more at risk of infection because their immune systems
are not yet fully developed. They will also have weak
cough reflexes and chest muscles that put them at
risk of chest infections. So it’s vital that parents
ensure the house is clean and hygienic, whether
you’re bringing baby home for the first time or
just happen to have a house of crawling kids!
When your child starts to crawl the
importance of home hygiene is
paramount, as crawling infants move
around and pick up items that could be
home to millions of species of bacteria. These items
can include child specific toys and games as well
as other household gadgets, all of which should be
thoroughly cleaned, limiting the growth and
spread of dangerous germs.
However, keeping on top of the housework is not
an easy feat for many parents! Key areas to focus on
are floors, bed linen, toilets, toys and fridge’s when
storing bottles and baby food.
In the case of young babies, everyday activities
such as nappy changing can result in the dangerous
transmission of infection. This occurs mainly through
hand contact with faecal contamination, on cloths and
sponges where organisms grow in abundance, as well
as through germs spread accidentally onto kitchen
surfaces and food.
In order to prevent infection, it is recommended that
disposable nappies be sealed in plastic and placed
in a waste container. Reusable nappies should be
disinfected within a nappy bucket, with the contents
of this bucket poured down the toilet rather than the
sink after use. As the risk of the spread of infection
through nappies is so high, all surfaces touched
during this procedure need to be cleaned and
disinfected afterwards.
Gradual exposure to small numbers of a wide range
of microbes is also important for priming the immune
system. Even with the most rigorous hygiene, babies
will inevitably be exposed to the micro-organisms of
other family members and of their home environment
(including some germs). Some of these organisms
will gradually become established as the “normal”
bacteria in their own gut and on their skin.
Parents should really focus on protecting infants
against exposure to “infectious doses” of harmful
organisms which their immune systems are not yet
equipped to deal with.
While the importance of hygiene surrounding
nappies may seem an obvious thing to watch, there
are several less obvious points to also keep an eye
on. Having pets within the home can be risky as they
spread infections, parasites and worms. But also
dust carrying bacteria and viruses can live in the
atmosphere so that is important to monitor. There
is also the risk that if a home is damp, children may
develop croup and bronchitis.
Mini-Kin’s Top Tips
If you have babies/toddlers around
Look for an antibacterial cleaning product that is safe
to use on all baby equipment (highchairs, potties,
changing mats, toys) and use it regularly.
As babies and toddlers begin to make their own way
around don’t forget to ensure the floor is particularly
clean and germ-free and get down to their level once
in a while to see what else might need a clean that
little inquisitive fingers can get to.
Take antibacterial wipes and hand gels with you
when you go out so that all of your good work at
home isn’t compromised when you go out.
30 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com
In the kitchen
Look for antibacterial cleaning products that leave no
taint or odour. A reduced chemical formula means you
can use it in food preparation areas, as well other on
tables and high chairs.
Use hot water to wash up or a hot setting on the
dishwasher to help kill any germs and don’t forget
to wipe down less obvious surfaces too – not
just worktops and tables but chopping boards,
refrigerators and microwaves
In the bathroom
Regularly use an antibacterial cleaning product to
target baths, washbasins, toilet seats and shower
curtains. For ‘in between’ cleans, keep a pack of
antibacterial wipes to hands
Don’t forget to wipe down door knobs, toilet flush
handles, taps and shower handles.
Photograph: iStock

Kids and colds:
10 facts you should know
Every baby and child will catch a cold
from time to time - don’t be alarmed,
just know the facts.
Photograph: iStock
1
A
2
Adults will have on
cold is a contagious
viral disease that infects
the soft lining (mucous
membrane) of the nose.
average two to four colds
a year, while children can
catch as many as seven
to 10.
3
There are more than 200
different viruses that can
result in a cold.
4
The main symptom is a
runny nose, starting as
a watery secretion and
gradually becoming
thicker and more yellow.
5
Symptoms are normally
worse during the first two
to three days, and then
ease off over the next
few days as the immune system
clears the virus. An irritating
cough may linger for up to two
to four weeks after the other
symptoms have gone.
When it’s more serious!
Seek medical advice if your child…
• Has a persistent high temperature or, in
the case of a baby less than three months
old, develops a fever higher than 38°C.
• Has prolonged drowsiness.
• Is unusually irritable or cries persistently.
• Isn’t taking feeds (in the case of a baby).
• Has a rash.
• Complains of chest pains.
• Is finding it difficult to breathe – wheezing
or breathing quickly or noisily.
6
The peak season for colds
is during winter months.
This is not only because
of the colder weather, but
because central heating dries out
the moist mucous membrane in
the nose –which is an important
defence against invading viruses.
7
Antibiotics won’t cure a
cold, because a cold is
caused by a virus, and
only bacterial infections
respond to antibiotics.
8
Colds are passed on by
coughing and sneezing
the virus into the air, but
the most common way
they spread is through direct
contact. For instance, an infected
child touches his nose or coughs
onto his hand, leaving thousands
of microscopic virus particles on
his skin. When he then touches
an object such as a door handle
or book, he leaves the virus
behind. The next child to touch
the object takes the virus with
him. When he touches his own
nose or eyes, he deposits it in a
warm, moist environment where
it can thrive.
9
It takes just eight to 12
hours from the arrival of
the virus in your body
to the release of new
virus particles. Then symptoms
develop quickly – within about
10 hours. So in less than a day
of contact with a person with
a cold, your child can have
symptoms.
10
Treatment
ideally water.
for a
normal cold is rest
and plenty of fluids,
• Has a cough lasting longer than three
weeks.
• Seems to be getting worse, not better,
after five days of a cold.
• Has any symptom you can’t explain.
• Is coughing up green, yellow or brown
sputum, or has severe or prolonged pain
in the nasal passages, ears or throat – this
could be a sign of a bacterial infection that
requires antibiotics.
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 31

Save
their
skin!
Your child’s skin is different to your own so it’s extremely important to use products which have been
specifically formulated for use on delicate toddler skin. When it comes to choosing the best products,
for many parents, organic doesn’t always win the vote.
Babies and toddlers are especially susceptible to developing skin conditions, so it’s important to
ensure you’re doing everything you can to prevent them doing so:
Eczema
Eczema, also called atopic dermatitis,
is a common rash that affects one in 20
children. Certain factors, such as cow’s
milk and stress, can make it worse.
Eczema typially comes and goes and
isn\t contagious, but can be very itchy.
Symptoms
A dry, red, itchy rash may become, scaly
and cracked, ooze yellowish fluid and
form crusts. In babies and toddlers it
tends to affect the face, scalp, legs and
forearms. In older children, the rash
usually appears on the inside of the
elbow and knee joints.
How do I prevent it
Using creams or ointments, advised by
your GP, either applied to the skin or
added to the bath, will help to keep their
skin as supple as possible and so avoid
cracks developing. Steroid creams may
also be used to calm inflammation and
itchiness, but care must be taken
with their long-term use. Other
medications, such as antihistamines,
may also be used.
Avoid bathing your baby
too frequently. Bathing your
1 baby more than three times
a week during their first year,
may remove the natural oils
that protect their skin. This
leaves baby’s skin vulnerable,
which means it will reacts
to any potential allergen
-- triggering a reaction like
eczema. Limit your use
of baby skin products. If
necessary, use only a small
amount of lotion on dry skin
areas. Make sure baby wears
only soft clothing
Nappy Rash
Babies often develop nappy rash
when the area around the their nappy
becomes irritated. This usually occurs
though exposure to urine or faeces.
Symptoms
The skin appears red and inflamed
where it’s been in close contact with the
nappy.The rash will probably affect her
genitals, the outer skin on the folds of
her thighs, and her bottom. The affected
areas can appear either dry or moist. It
may sometimes look shiny or pimply
How do I prevent it
Keep your baby clean and dry by
changing her nappy frequently. Try to do
it as soon as possible after she’s wet or
filled her nappy.
Clean your baby’s bottom using
fragrance-free and alcohol-free baby
wipes (Pamper’s, Seventh Generation,
Earth’s, Bambino’s) or a mild,
moisturising soap. Rinse in plain water
and pat her skin dry. Give your baby as
much nappy-free time as possible, to
allow the air to aid healing.
In between sponge baths
two or three times a
2 week, simply clean baby’s
mouth and diaper area with a
little water or cleanser.
Once-a-week sponge
baths (or even less) are best
for newborns with darker skin
tones (like African-American).
These infants tend to have
dryer skin and have a higher
risk of skin problems such
as eczema.
Don’t overuse baby
products in the early
3 months. The immune
system is still developing.
If you have a family history
of skin problems, allergies,
or asthma, it’s especially
important to protect your
baby’s immune system -
and protect baby from
irritating allergens.
Wash baby’s clothing
before it’s worn. Use only
baby laundry detergents that
are fragrance - and dye-free.
Wash baby clothes, bedding,
and blankets separately from
the family’s laundry.
Cradle Cap
Cradle cap can look like a very bad
case of dandruff and is very common
in babies under eight months. It is most
likely to appear in your baby’s first two
months and can stay for weeks and
sometimes months. Older babies and
toddlers can also develop cradle cap,
and although it looks unsightly, it is not
sore or itchy and shouldn’t cause your
baby any kind of discomfort.
Symptoms
The affected area of skin appears red.
scales and flakes on the scalp. yellow
crusts on the scalp.
How do I prevent it
Regularly wash your baby’s hair with
a baby shampoo, and then loosen the
flakes using a soft brush.
Rub a mild baby oil, olive oil, or
almond oil into your baby’s scalp.
If you want to, you can leave the oil
on overnight, and then brush off the
softened flakes in the morning. Clean
the remaining oil off by shampooing with
mild baby shampoo
Top tips on baby skincare:
4
You can also keep your
baby’s skin protected by
dressing her in loosefitting
clothing, to prevent
chafing. Protect your baby’s
skin from all direct sun
exposure with a hat and other
forms of shade. Wearing
organic may also offer direct
health benefits for sensitive
babies. With two to nine
applications of insecticides
sprayed on a typical
conventional cotton crop
every season, organic clothing
and bedding may help reduce
irritation on your baby’s skin
and help eczema.
Photograph: iStock
32 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

Natural
Skincare
Keeping skin supple and healthy is important for everyone from toddlers to the elderly.
Murdoch Mactaggart learns of an imaginative skincare initiative by an NHS hospital
and which helps to fund local healthcare for all.
The body’s largest organ is the
skin, vitally important as a
waterproof and protective
layer to the tissues and
organs underneath. Its permeability is
low, thus helping to protect underlying
tissues from toxins and guarding
against infection. However, if the skin
becomes damaged - whether through
cuts or abrasions or perhaps from
burning by heat or sun - permeability
can increase, hence keeping the skin in
good condition is important.
New moisturiser
“Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust runs a regional plastics and burns
service for people in south central England” says Malcolm Cassells,
deputy CEO of the Trust. “In the past there weren’t really any good
products available which we could offer to patients to help them
with regard to softening scar tissue and helping wounds to heal. So
more than 25 years ago a pharmacist and a clinical scientist in our
skin research facility looked into making a suitable moisturiser and
developed what turned out to be a really excellent product which we
then began to use across the hospital. Because it was so good the
staff and patients began to ask if they could buy it and so we started
selling it.”
Although there was no marketing of the product a mention by
Esther Rantzen on “That’s Life” led to a sales spurt and sales kept
growing through word of mouth.
“Then over the last two or three years our governors as well as
members of the public started demanding that we make it more easily
available. We decided to commercialise it and make it into an attractive
product that would be great to use and so we launched the My Trusty
Little Sunflower Cream in April 2013, the brand name chosen by the
hospital staff. With the steadily worsening financial squeeze that the
NHS is under we also wanted to look at ethically sound ways to raise
more money to support patient care.”
Natural product
Although most hospital trusts have some involvement in commercial
activities Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust is particularly
entrepreneurial. It’s an associate in a 3D printing company, for
instance, and has a commercial subsidiary, Odstock Medical Limited,
which provides functional electrical stimulation devices to patients to
help them walk after a stroke. Salisbury is unique among NHS trusts
“We’re very open to talking with
major retailers who share our
values and would therefore be
interested in partnering with us”
Rob Webb
in its setting up of a commercial brand to produce and market skincare
products. This has brought a huge amount of publicity in the national
press, on radio and on television and during the first year brought
in £130,000 in sales, all of it ploughed back into further research,
development and product marketing.
“Our board thought about it all very carefully.” adds Cassells. “We
have to make the best use of public money and we’re only doing this
to support the hospital. There are no shareholders and no one takes
profits out of it so it all benefits patient care. If the products weren’t
excellent we wouldn’t do it as we couldn’t risk our good name. All the
sunflower cream products are at least 98% natural and include pure
sunflower oil, rich in essential fatty acids. There’s no parabens, lanolin
or colouring in any of the products and they’re non-greasy and easily
absorbed. They’re great for keeping people’s skin hydrated and
looking healthy.”
Following the sunflower cream, the Trust has now added a body
butter and a face and body oil, 99% natural in composition. The body
butter won the silver award from Pure Beauty magazine last autumn
and has now been shortlisted in the Mum’s Hero Beauty category of
the Prima Baby Awards 2015.
Partnership opportunities
“We’ve outsourced production and we work with a nearby specialist
company, Hampshire Cosmetics, with which we have a very good
relationship.” says Rob Webb, associate director of procurement
and commercial services. “We get a great deal of positive feedback,
testimonials from users on our website and stories on Facebook, about
how much people like the product and the benefits they’ve gained,
many of them reporting how good the cream is on dry, itchy or
sensitive skin. It’s also good for skin prone to eczema and hence My
Trusty is listed with Skinsmatter.com.”
“We have new products in mind for launch during 2015 and we’re
also looking to market overseas, with TV advertising shortly to be
launched in the US and with an international director in the Far East
looking to sell into places like Vietnam and China. Of course we’re
already selling very well through a number of other hospitals and retail
outlets but what would really ramp up sales is if we partnered with
a major retailer. We want to make sure that we work with the right
partners, however, but we’re very open to talking with major retailers
who share our values and would therefore be interested in partnering
with us.”
“In the meantime” adds Cassells “it’s really exciting getting these
products out, knowing how much people like and benefit from them
and at the same time knowing we’re generating revenue to contribute
towards patient care.”
“There are no shareholders and
no one takes profits out of it so
it all benefits patient care”
Malcolm Cassells
www.mytrusty.co.uk
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 33

Department of Education
announces new OFSTED
regime for pre-school teachers
Parents looking to ensure
their little ones get the best
possible start on the educational
pathway – and who isn’t –
received a welcome boost at
the start of the year with the
news that teaching standards
watchdog Ofsted is to begin
inspecting early years initial
teacher training providers, as
part of its ongoing drive to raise
standards in nurseries and other
pre-school establishments.
Early years teachers are, in
Ofsted’s words, “graduates who
provide leadership in nurseries
and a range of other early years
settings”. It’s a role given that
official status in September
2013, but while early years
teachers – effectively those
working with children under the
age of five, with some exceptions
-have to meet the same entry
requirements as those looking to
become primary or first school
teachers, until now their training
facilities have not faced the same
degree of rigour when it comes
to inspections. As of the current
school year that will change, and
the approximately 40 accredited
providers across the country
which produce early years
professionals will now come
Photograph: iStock
34 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

under the Ofsted microscope for
the first time.
The inspection process will
mirror Ofsted’s current approach
to primary school teacher
training: inspectors will visit
establishments in the summer
term for an initial assessment
of both training quality and
the teaching prowess of the
trainees, before carrying out a
second stage of checks in the
subsequent autumn term to see
how successfully (or not) early
years teachers were performing
in a working environment, and
thus assessing the degree
to which their training has
enabled them to teach in a
range of early years settings.
Ofsted is currently updating its
Initial Teacher Education (ITE)
inspection handbook prior to
beginning its first inspections
in April.
The move reflects both the
increased professionalisation
of early years teaching and the
growing reliance of parents on
nurseries and other pre-school
establlishments as not simply
childcare facilities but as genuine
and effective preparation for the
move to ‘big school’.
“Early years teachers
have a very important role,”
said Jo Morgan, Ofsted’s
National Director for Initial
Teacher Education upon the
announcement of the move.
“They help to create a culture
in which young children can
learn through play, and begin
to get used to a structured day.
This means they will be more
ready to learn when they begin
primary school.
“As Ofsted’s early years
annual report identified, young
children’s progress depends on
the quality of early education
and childcare they receive. It
is crucial then that early years
teacher training is of the highest
quality possible. I am confident
that these inspections will help
to enhance the quality of training
for early years teachers. In turn
this will help ensure young
children get the best start in life.”
The announcement has
met with broad approval from
both within and outside the
profession. One Birminghambased
primary school teacher
Mini-kin spoke with said that,
while generally the calibre of
nurseries in the UK is high,
there is of course always room
for improvement.
“Anything which improves
standards is always to be
welcomed, wherever it may
be felt,” the 28-year-old said,
“but I’m especially keen on
anything which will increase
the consistency of teaching
quality as we tend to see quite
a diversity of attainment levels
amongst the children starting
their school lives with us,
depending on where – or indeed
if – they have attended nursery.
If training for pre-school
teachers is to be assessed in
the same way as ours is, that
can only help.”
While most parents,
meanwhile, may have missed
what was a relatively low-key
announcement, those informed
about it seem to view it as a
positive development.
“To be honest I wasn’t aware
that nursery teachers weren’t
assessed in that way at the
moment,” admitted father-of-one
Jamie, whose daughter currently
attends nursery in London, “but
it makes sense to do so and I
think this is a step in the right
direction. Choosing the right
nursery was a huge priority for
us and we didn’t get it right the
first time: the first place she went
to just weren’t up to scratch,
partly because we didn’t feel
she was getting the right
preparation for school proper.
It’s reassuring that nursery
teachers will be brought into
the system in this way.”
The move comes at a time
when early years teaching has
come under sharpened scrutiny
at Parliament level following
a report by the All-Party
Parliamentary Group for Maths
and Numeracy calling for
better numeracy training for
pre-school teachers.
Caroline Dinenage, the MP
co-chairing the group, said: “We
need a greater focus on maths
and numeracy in the early years.
If we can provide children with
a good grounding at a young
age then we will set them up to
succeed in their later studies and
their future careers.”
Tightening the inspection
structure for early years initial
teacher training providers can
only help in this, and many
other areas.
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 35

GET YOUR
KIDS
MOVING
How to get our tech savvy children to
swap video games for sports:
With the UK seeing a rapid rise in childhood
obesity, it’s more important now than ever to
get our kids moving. Nowadays there are so
many distractions around such as television,
internet and video games. Studies have
shown that, as well as educating
children about food, just 30 minutes
of exercise a day can make all
the difference to their health
and well-being. If, like
many parents, you’re
struggling to get
them excited, here
are a few simple
and effective
things to try.
Ditch the wheels
Do your best to walk wherever and whenever
you can. Even if it’s just 30 minutes of extra
walking a day, you’d be surprised how good
it will do both you and your little ones. You
already do it, so just do more of it!
Set an example
Children often emulate the behaviour of their
parents, so if they see that you’re doing very
little in the way of exercise, then they’ll have
no desire to get active.
Mix it up
By turning it into a boring routine, kids are
likely to lose interest. Introduce a new form
of exercise every week, but don’t make it a
chore, this will only make them more reluctant
to take part.
Make it fun
Kids need to learn from a young age that
fitness can be fun, so don’t limit yourself to
traditional sports such as jogging, they’re
not adults, if it’s not fun you’ll struggle to
get them excited. Take advantage of local
spaces such as a trip to the park. A game of
‘Stuck-in-the-mud’ will guarantee a much more
enthusiastic response. Dancing is another
fun and effective way to get your children on
their feet.
Photograph: iStock
36 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

1
Physical time
The benefits of a bit of rough and tumble are
numerous. While exercise and socialisation
are key factors, games that have rules
encourage kids to understand the concept
that life has laws they’re going to have to obey in
everyday life. Games such as Follow The Leader,
Duck-Duck-Goose and Simon Says are based on
group participation and rule following. For games
to hit their full developmental potential for kids,
they should incorporate problem solving as well
as interaction with others. Bowling is a really great
example of this. Just make sure you outline the fact
it’s the taking part that counts in order to
avoid competitiveness.
Motivating children to play
sports is straightforward
for some families but a small
nightmare for others. The
desire to play is a natural
part of childhood and getting
young children into the right
environment - whether
that’s the local playground, a
friend’s back garden, or out
walking in the woods - will
encourage them to interact
with the world around them.
It’s not the exercise alone
that’s great for their health.
Encouraging your kids to
step outside into the fresh
air after they’ve spent hours
in their bedroom on the Xbox
is absolutely vital. Getting a
big breath of fresh air and
feeling the warm glow of
the sun on their skin can be
rejuvenating. What you may
not know is that exposure
to sunlight and fresh air
actually offers the body
health benefits that can last
a lifetime.
2Get Friends Together
Children will be much more interested
in playing sports when their friends are
there too, but they probably won’t take
the initiative to organise this on their own.
Collaborate with other parents and arrange some
kind of sporting activity. This can be as small scale
as signing your child and their best friend up for
weekend lessons together, or as large as starting up
your own local football team and entering a league.
3
Praise Kids for Being Active
Children thrive on positive reinforcement,
so praise your kids for getting involved in
sports. That doesn’t mean pushing them to
be the best shooter on the basketball team,
as long as they are participating and showing good
sportsmanship then they deserve praise. Rewards
are also a good way to keep them motivated. Set
small goals, like making sure they pass the ball to
three different friends or learning a new sportsrelated
skill, and reward them with fun, active
days out.
4Outdoor fun
As everybody knows, fresh air will do you
good, which is why – if the weather’s nice
– you should encourage your children to
play outside. Outdoor play helps kids to
develop physically, improving your child’s
immediate spacial awareness, core strength,
balance and fitness.
Outdoor play from an early age also encourages
children to be active and healthy throughout
their lives. While at times their imagination alone
can provide hours of fun, it’s also a good idea to
enhance your kids’ outdoor play time with toys that
are fun, safe and sturdy.
Little ones love to make believe in Wendy houses,
drive around the garden in miniature vehicles such
as ride-ons and trikes, create sandcastles and slip
down slides. Little Tikes toys are especially good for
this purpose as they are built to last through years
of fun and games, meaning you can pass them
down to siblings, family friends and neighbours –
and one day, your little one’s little ones!
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 37

Homework help
How well your child does
at school will depend on
the support available
at home. The best
teacher your child will
ever have is you, so
here’s how to ensure
you make the grade!
Children are amazing students
they’re programmed to learn
from birth. They begin by
imitating us and can, early on,
distinguish between languages. By
two a child can make himself
understood (and knows far more than
he’s letting on!). And by five, a child can
be fluently bilingual, without confusion.
The potential to learn is huge. And
the best possible place for your child
to learn isn’t a good school with fancy
techniques. It’s in the safe and secure
environment of your own home. And
you, his parents, are the best teachers.
Most of us stimulate our babies
naturally, but once they’ve grown up
and started school, it’s tempting to
let the teachers get on with it. But
your input is more invaluable than
ever. Studies show that children do
much better at school and in exams if
both parents take an interest and are
supportive with homework.
It shouldn’t just fall to Mum either.
Research has shown that children
whose fathers are involved and
interested in their schoolwork, who
read to them regularly and take them
on outings, achieve more academically
by the age of 20. Invest time while your
child is young and it will pay dividends.
You don’t have to have formal ‘lessons’.
If it’s fun and relaxed, a child absorbs
more that goes for babies too.
Helping your toddler/pre-schooler
boost memory skills
Cover a variety of objects with a blanket,
remove one object, and remove the
cover to reveal what’s left. See if your
child can work out what you’ve taken
away. For an early maths lesson, allow
your toddler to sort jigsaws from other
puzzles, soft toys from hard ones or to
create pairs with socks and shoes. Let
your child mess around with paints, a
sand tray or a lump of dough it’s a great
way to learn about colours, textures and
shapes. Is it full or empty Does it float
or sink A tray of water, beakers and
other objects provide an early science
lesson. It’s fun to do this in the bath.
Every young child should have a book
collection to encourage literacy skills
early. You can pick up good books
at great prices from library sales, for
example. Invite a friend over who’s got a
child of the same age and go to toddler
groups. Encouraging social skills early
on will help your toddler interact when
it’s time to start school.
The do’s and dont’s
of boosting learning
at home
• Don’t get cross if your child’s
not meeting your standards or
concentrating.
• Don’t pressurise your child.
• Don’t label your child as weak
in any subject. If you make them
believe they’re not up to scratch
in some area they may end up
living up to that label.
• Do lavish heaps of praise on
your child.
• Do let them know that you have
high (but not insurmountable!)
expectations, and they will
expect to do well.
Pre-school education
By law, your child doesn’t have to attend
any formal pre-school education, but it
may help him to prepare for school by
socialising with others the same age
and experiencing some group structure.
Many toddlers, between the ages of two
and three, start with one or two half-day
sessions, extending to four or five halfday
sessions in the run-up to starting
school. Some funding for these sessions
is usually available when your child
reaches the age of four. Options include
state, voluntary and private nurseries,
child-minders and playgroups, available
to children between the ages of two and
five. They have Government-set early
learning goals which they follow, and are
inspected regularly by Ofsted.
Mini-Kin’s five handy
homework hints
for parents
• Always be positive about
homework. Have a routine.
• Create a comfortable area
with no distractions. And set
a time limit.
• Pick a time when your child’s
fresh after tea is probably too
late. Monitor, but don’t do your
child’s homework.
• Encourage them to do their
best, but don’t bully them into
being perfect.
• If they’re struggling, or if there
seems too much work, have a
word with the teacher.
Helping your school-age child
Allow your child to handle money, to
buy sweets and comics, and to count
the change. Let your child see you
writing and enjoying books. Encourage
them to write thank-you letters and
keep a journal. Ask them to read signs
and symbols when you’re out and
about as a way of improving reading
skills. Don’t scorn activities that seem
girlish (cooking) or boyish (climbing).
Encourage your child to be open to
any new experiences. Try ten minutes
of ‘paired reading’ a day. Read
alongside your child unless they want
to read alone. If they hesitate over a
word, say it to them and get them to
repeat it. Take an interest in your
child’s homework.
Photograph: iStock
38 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

Capturing
Creativity
Moving from colouring to writing is a lot more important to
a child’s development than you might think, Kate Bell is told
When you see your child happily colouring in a
drawing, you might just be happy that they’re
occupied doing something quiet for once.
However, the activity is a lot more important than
you realise, according to Mishka Smith of BIC UK: “Research
shows that the progression from colouring to writing helps
children express themselves, recognise colours, develop
co-ordination and motor skills.”
While some aspects of this – learning the names of colours, and
how different colours mix to form others - are self-evident, other
elements are less so. Staying inside the lines when colouring is
a massive help with handwriting, for example, and the grip and
control of the crayon or pencil is equally important. The children
are also developing fine motor skills which help not just with
handwriting but with other tasks such as opening lunch boxes,
tying shoelaces, buttoning shirts and opening bottles.
Another thing that’s important, according to Smith, is the
interactions that children get with other children and the adults
around them as a result of colouring and drawing: “Most of us
remember the feeling of pride we got when our parents praised a
drawing we’d done, and today’s children still get that same buzz.
Children also interact with each other; we run a colouring and
drawing competition, and it’s often interesting if you compare
entries from a whole class to work out who sat next to each other.
The children will have put their own stamp on their entry but
some elements will be similar where the kids have talked to each
other about what they’re doing.”
Appropriate tools
“Early colouring can help with handwriting, especially if the kids
are using appropriate colouring tools,” says Smith. BIC’s range for
toddlers is triangular in shape, making the crayons easier to hold;
and the felt tip pens range has wider, stronger nibs so it’s easier
to get bright colours on the page without the nib collapsing. She
adds: “the shape and length of the writing implement matters a
lot, whether the child is colouring or writing; if the pen or crayon
is too long it won’t be balanced with the size of hand.”
Learning through drawing
Smith says colouring and drawing doesn’t just help with
co-ordination: “Watch your child while they’re drawing or
colouring; they’re focussing so hard, and that’s a key skill for
general learning. Often you’ll see a child begin by drawing lines,
then circles, and then the classic stick person. The amount of
focus needed to create those elements is amazing, and it’s a
great start for the more formal learning at school. Colouring in
drawings also teaches the child about staying within boundaries
– how far should their colour go A child who can colour within
a shape will find it easier to stay between the lines when they’re
beginning to write.”
“The progression from colouring
to writing helps children express
themselves, recognise colours,
develop co-ordination and
motor skills”
Mishka Smith
Many parents like ‘traditional’ colouring and
drawing activities precisely because they are
traditional, non-digital activities, but online
activities don’t have to be passive, as Smith
points out: “You can select websites online that
encourage active creativity. You can make
use of applications on tablets where kids can
draw, colour or even do maths exercises! If you
want more offline activity, find online colouring
sheets that can be printed out for use away
from the computer, bringing activities from the
online world to normal life. “ Smith is talking
from experience, as the Bic website BicKids has
been designed to provide safe, fun experiences
that are designed for the age and gender of
your child. There are colouring, drawing and
handwriting activities, masks to colour in and cut
out, and games to play, not just for in the house,
but outside too. The site also has activity books
organised by age and topic, so your children
could choose a book about pirates, or fairy
tales, or dinosaurs, for example. “The activity
books aren’t just about colouring in; they’ve got
counting and shape creation too,” Smith explains.
Research by BIC shows that handwriting as a skill is a major
concern of parents, says Smith: “Parents do worry about their
children’s handwriting, but there are ways they can help, including
getting the right pen. The parent’s area on our BicKids site has
hints and tips to help you help your kids learn, along with advice
on common handwriting problems, and activity books that you
can use as a family to help your child practice handwriting. Smith
says the range of pens BIC has for children learning handwriting
have been designed to ensure the child’s fingers are in the correct
positions, to work for both right and left-handed writers, and to
be affordable: “We worked hard to create a quality pen that’s not
a large investment, so you can be happy sending it off to school
with your child without worrying- it isn’t
the end of the world if they lose it!”
Even in today’s digital world, the ability
(or lack of ability) to write well and easily
is something that can shape the life of a
child, and working towards that stage using
colouring and drawing means they can
enjoy the process too.
www.bickids.co.uk
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 39

The Gift of Charms
Julia Suzuki
Children’s author, Julia Suzuki. is widely praised throughout the media, in the
UK and internationally. for her award winning series the ‘Land of Dragor.’
Encouraging children to read is
a huge part of the Mini-Kin
ethos, which is why having
Julia Suzuki as our Ambassador
of Reading and Literature is such a
fitting partnership. The Dragor series
contains many subtle yet powerful
messages for readers to take to heart;
raising the importance of kindness,
promoting tolerance and awareness
about how to deal with bullying; all of
which are important in the development
and education of children of all ages.
The adventure books have universal
appeal, thus, are perfect for reading
out loud to infants, are easy for
children between seven and 14 to
comprehend, and are equally loved
by parents themselves.
“Literature, as well as other forms of
media, is a hugely influential medium;
books can help teach children by
introducing them to a difficult situation
and showing them a way to deal with it.
My aim is to do this through my books
in a way that inspired and entertains”.
says Julia.
To that end, Julia often visits schools
throughout the UK to talk about her
40 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com
stories. She loves engaging with children
and seeing them get lost in the mystical
world of Dragor - where children and
dragons unite.
It was Julia’s upbringing, and
previous career, that inspired her to
become an author. She grew up in
Staffordshire, listening to the magical
sounds of fair rides and animals from
a theme park across the stream at the
bottom of her garden. After working
with a Disney licensing company and
later with entrepreneur David Lloyd in
an international resorts business, Julia
visited many beautiful places, inspiring
some of the settings for her literature.
Her love of reading, nature and the
outdoors fed her colourful imagination.
“Ideas often come to me in dreams,
and sometimes hit like a bolt of energy
- the creative process is a wonderful
experience and to be able to make the
readers happy is the greatest feeling.
In my series I created a land that I felt
everyone would love to visit: bursting
with nature’s wonderful plants and
animals with lots of exciting activities.”
Royal Commentator and Sunday
Express Journalist Phil Dampier
describes it as a “mythical, magical
fable in the tradition of Tolkein and
JK Rowling”. Full of rich description,
beautiful landscapes and fascinating
characters, The Gift of Charms is the
perfect place to lose yourself. And who
doesn’t love dragons
In a secret land, far away from the
habitation of man, dwell the world’s
remaining dragons, hoping the dragsaur
beasts have vanished forever. Here, they
try to go about their busy daily lives,
but all is not well and their talents are
fading. Things change, however, when,
from a strange egg, Yoshiko is born – a
dragon with a unique destiny. Great
adventure lies ahead for him, as many
challenges must be overcome, leading to
a dangerous mission to the human world
in attempt to return to the clans their
missing magic! Can Yoshiko make it
in time
Julia Suzuki will be featuring regularly
on the Mini-Kin website offering
her tips and views and special Dragor
book news.
You can read more about her at
www.juliasuzuki.com

Mini-Kin
Reader Offer
Julia’s books can be purchased on AMAZON but we are offering
signed copies of the limited edition hardback copy of
THE GIFT OF CHARMS
the prequel to the Land of Dragor Series
for £9.97 at the following website bit.ly/DragorBookOffer

Break with tradition
Jane Evens talks about why it’s absolutely vital
we change the way we’re raising our children
Why there is no
time to lose to
fundamentally
change how we raise
children today. Why, oh
why, is it taking so long for
us to change how we raise
our children, what are we
all resistant to or waiting
for, I wonder There is
so much evidence from
research now which shows
how young children’s brains
develop in an optimum way
within caring connected
relationships and that more
‘traditional parenting’ does
not hold this at its core. Why Because ‘traditional parenting’
focuses upon raising ‘well-behaved’ individuals who respect
others and are good citizens. All of which sounds great, until
you look at how that’s panning out for children, and their parents.
A recent article by Diana Divecha, Americans are obsessed
with parenting advice. So why are our kids so miserable,
brought it all very much into focus and made me feel
deeply saddened and more determined to say things have
to change. Divecha looked back at the history of childhood
and children and talked about the levels of violence children
are experiencing in the 21st century in America, yet it would
be easy to see the mirror image of this for many children
and young people in the UK. Divecha, a Developmental
Psychologist writes,
“Quantitative measures show that American children
are among the most miserable in the developed world,
and there’s a growing gap between our kids and those in
other nations. America’s teens “trail much of the world
on measures of school achievement, but are among the
world leaders in violence, unwanted pregnancy, STDs,
abortion, binge drinking, marijuana use, obesity, and
unhappiness,” according to adolescence scholar Larry
Steinberg.
The reality in America and in the UK is that everyday
children grow up in households either in the midst of
domestic or family-based violence, and/or, are directly hit
and physically hurt themselves in the name of ‘discipline’.
This is not OK! I am fed up of reading articles and research
which says ‘exposure to domestic violence harms children’s
development’, of course it does, how couldn’t it It makes me
crazy! Anyone who is around others who are unpredictable
and often hurt or scare us would be harmed by it, becoming
stressed, anxious and ill. For a child who depends entirely on
the adults around them for all of their needs this is much,
worse as it shapes their vulnerable developing brain so will
have far reaching effects.
Brain imaging shows us what such repetitive trauma
does to a child’s developing brain. It is very apparent from
attachment theory that when a baby does not get that back
and forth from a main carer from birth, it proves to be
stressful and traumatic for them. So why, oh why, do we
need more evidence of the harm unpredictability in home
life and the parent-child relationship, not to mention threats
of violence, does to a developing child It’s all in now and
most of it is unsurprising, although deeply disturbing. The
time has well and truly come to find the biggest marker
pen there is to join up the dots. After all, our prisons and
streets are full of people who experienced some kind of
childhood trauma,as are the psychiatric wards, mental health
outpatients, obesity clinics, smoking clinics, sexual health
clinics and addictions services
Our pre-schools and schools are excluding more and more
children, a recent article on research into early years ADHD
showed that more pre-school children are being diagnosed
and medicated for it, self-harm and other mental illness
levels are rising in our children at a time when support
services are being reduced. The ground-breaking Adverse
Childhood Experiences Study involving over 17,000 people
to date, gives clear evidence of poor physical and mental
health outcomes for those with the most number of adverse
childhood experiences. So maybe, just maybe we have to do
something pretty big and very amazing, rather than doing
nothing, or doing it in pockets.
How we treat and raise children must change to match
the findings which show the benefits of using a more
emotionally aware and connected approach which does not
rely upon rewards and consequences. Teaching children
about empathy, behaviour and social expectations can be
done with 100% kindness and by being emotionally present
in a child’s life. In fact it’s imperative as it has better long
term outcomes for any child in any circumstances.
Children need to be emotionally connected to several
caregivers who are there to help them learn about,
understand and manage their feelings and those of others, on
a daily basis so they do not become overwhelmed by them as
that can lead to mental distress and ultimately illness. They
do not need to be defined by good or bad behaviour and
given what equates to dog training to ensure they conform.
We do know better so we have to do better. It’s so bloody
obvious I may need to rant and swear some more so do
please excuse me...
Jane Evans
Trauma Parenting Specialist, International Speaker, Freelance Trainer
Web: www.parentingposttrauma.co.uk
email: janeevans61@hotmail.co.uk
Photograph: iStock
42 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

More than a
scooter
How can you ensure your kids get enough physical activity
and enjoy doing it Kate Bell asks
Many of us have started the new year with resolutions
about getting fitter, going for a run three times a
week, losing a little weight. Have you included your
children in your list of those who need to up their
amount of exercise, though If not, it may be that you should have
put them onto the list too. The average pre-school child in the
UK spends 120-150 minutes a day in physical activity, and needs
to add between 30 and 60 minutes more each day to get to the
amount recommended by the government. School age children
need the exercise just as much, according to the guidelines, which
recommend that all children should engage in moderate to vigorous
intensity physical activity for at least 60 minutes every day to
improve cardiovascular health, to maintain a healthy weight, and to
improve self-confidence.
So what can you do to increase the amount of exercise
Walking to school is obviously one thing to put on the list if at
all practicable, but that doesn’t work for everyone, and may not
be much fun. What’s needed are more ways for kids to have fun
outdoors, and to turn journeys that could be a chore into something
the kids enjoy. For example, instead of walking to school riding
there on a bike or scooter would cut down on time and increase the
fun quotient.
Recommended exercise
Bike riding is one of the exercises recommended in the guidelines,
but put a younger child on to a bike and the difficulties of balancing
and pedalling are just too much. The solution, according to Thomas
O’Connell of Yvolution, is to drop the pedals and choose a balance
bike. A balance bike is essentially like a bike without pedals,
according to O’Connell: “At its simplest the child pushes the bike
along by moving their feet along the floor, and the stability means
they can start using the balance bike a lot earlier than a pedal bike.”
Another model from Yvolution (the YGlider scooter) starts off
as a ride-on balance bike and converts to a scooter as the child
gets older, says O’Connell: “When the child is a toddler, they get a
secure seat for riding and pushing along; as they grow, the parents
can remove the seat and let their child start to scoot along using the
stable wide riding platform and lower handlebar setting. In stage
three parents can fully extend the handlebar height and watch their
child scoot off.” O’Connell says the YGlider is ideal for school runs
as it provides both a faster trip and fun on the way.
“Children can start using a balance bike a
lot earlier than a pedal bike”
Thomas O’Connell
Out and active
It’s all about getting kids out and active says O’Connell:
“Developing balance in early life has real benefits later on, quite
apart from the obvious benefits of getting kids moving.” Of course,
you can put stabilizers on a standard bike but O’Connell says that’s
not as beneficial for improving the child’s balance: “Our balance
bikes offer something different, and something that’s a lot more
fun! Getting that earlier start is great for the child, not only in the
physical act of learning to balance but also in gaining confidence.
They learn to steer and control the balance bike, and that means
they can move on quicker to using a pedal bike without the need
for stabilisers.” O’Connell points out that balancing is a complex
action, accepting signals from our eyes, inner ear, and even our skin:
“As adults we’ve learned to balance ourselves, but children need
time to develop their reactions and to let their sense of balance
mature. Expecting a child to learn to pedal at the same time as
learning to balance is too much.”
More than a scooter
While the balance bikes are ideal for younger children,
Yvolution has another card up its sleeve for older
children in the form of its Fliker range. Flikers are
the product that the company is best known for, and
are sort of like scooters, but more fun, according to
O’Connell. The range is hugely popular in the U.S.A, and
has won over 30 different awards. If you remember
scooters from when you were young, you essentially
put one foot on the footplate, held on to the handlebars
and pushed along. Flikers are quite different. They
have a Y shaped base plate with two platforms to stand
on. Riders put one foot on each arm of the Y and use
a whole body motion something like skating or cross
country skiing to move the Fliker. The kids push from
the hips and knees, and can build up impressive speeds.
“The Fliker gives a better movement and is more fun
than a regular scooter.” says O’Connell. “You use your
bodyweight to get the scooter up and running, and
it’s all based on a self-propelled motion so it’s great
cardiovascular exercise. The kids move their hips and
legs from side to side to start and continue moving, and
once they’ve got the hang of the basics, they can do
turns, wheelies, and accelerate faster than they could
on a standard scooter. Riding the Fliker can burn up to
700 calories an hour and exercise all the core muscle
groups but is great fun as well.”
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 43

Not just talking
Sioban Boyce
Working as a speech and language therapist
during the 1980s and 90s, I noticed
that children were learning how to
talk competently but were increasingly
presenting with signs of behavioural, social and emotional
problems. I set out to find the answer to this conundrum. As
a speech and language therapist, I thought that as long as a
child had good understanding of language then all would be
well. How wrong I was!
Research demonstrates that very soon after birth babies
were born with a drive to look for faces. This is the first step
towards acquiring vital non-verbal communication skills.
Any successful conversation comprises 60-90% non-verbal
information. Failure to develop these skills from an early age
can lead to frustration and isolation which in turn are the
cause of social, emotional and behavioural difficulties later
in life.
Non-verbal conversational skills enable us to understand:
• What to say
• How to say it
• When to say it
• Whether to say it
• How to behave
Communication goes far beyond the spoken word. Sioban Boyce discusses
the significance of non-verbal communication and why failure to
develop such skills during the early stages could lead to behavioural issues
later in life.
What has changed
Changes in the way we live day to day have unexpectedly
caused a big problem in the development of non-verbal
understanding in our children, by making it harder for
children to acquire essential communication skills.
These changes include:
• A reduction in the number of family meals from, say,
three times a day to once a week in some families
• Having a TV present at meal times – children can’t pick
up non-verbal signals from the television
• The forward facing buggy fails to develop babies’
interest in watching conversations. Also parents are
modelling that you do not need to look at people when
speaking to them.
• Children don’t spend as much time playing outside with
their friends as they used to. Playing with peers helps
develop understanding of complex non-verbal skills,
including how to recognise complex body language and
being able to deal with conflict effectively.
44 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

What effect does this have on children
Children who have poor non-verbal understanding are
mostly able to talk but have no idea that we:
• Use non-verbal clues from the people present and the
situation
• Relate these to our past experience
• Combine all this with information from the prosodic
clues (such as stress, rhythm, intonation and volume) to
make good sense of the words.
Even adults don’t realise they are doing this until it is
pointed out, because it happens in our subconscious.
These children listen to every word we say and as a result
sometimes make sense of what is being said but, in a new or
slightly different situation, are unable to process non-verbal
information effectively and suddenly things start to happen
that they don’t expect. Another difficulty that compounds
their confusion is that they cannot predict well either.
It is also easier for such children to talk about a subject
they know about. The vocabulary and level of interest
around this preferred topic grows and grows so that soon
they are able to make sure they can dominate a conversation
about the topic they choose – giving them confidence. This
performs another function – it stops others from asking
awkward questions that the child can’t answer.
Some situations make sense to these children – the
familiar situations that they have experienced over and over
again. But when it goes wrong, the child has no idea what
is going on. It doesn’t matter how many times parents or
teachers tell them how to behave better, the message doesn’t
get through because it is usually given when the child is
stressed. Try listening to important information when you
are stressed and see how well you can remember it, e.g. when
getting bad news from a doctor.
Throughout their childhood, these children have many
negative experiences of communication which sap their
confidence in their own ability. If your confidence is taken
away, it is hard to communicate and you are more than likely
to opt-out of the conversation – for children who are still
learning how to communicate, the impact is even greater.
Here is what you will see in children as a result of their
inability to make sense of non-verbal information; they may
do some or all of the following:
• Not look at you while speaking or listening, or only
do so occasionally
• Be happy to give information, as long as it is a topic
of interest to them
• Give little information in free conversation. You have
to work hard to extract relevant information from them
• Have a monotonous or limited intonation pattern
• Use bland and/or exaggerated facial expressions and
body language.
They may also resort to one or more of the following
strategies to get out of a conversational situation:
• dominating conversations
• opting out of conversation (shutting down), eg they
might pull their hood over their face to stop people
talking to them. Others might be diagnosed as selective
or elective mutes
• distracting others
• using verbal abuse or being very verbally aggressive in
style and language
• being physically aggressive – damaging objects or
hurting people
• fleeing from situations. They will run away with no fear
or concern about safety.
As will be apparent, particularly if they adopt the
penultimate strategy (and many do), these children are at
risk of exclusion from school, rejection by their peers or
family conflict.
What you can do
Learning non-verbal skills is a life long process. If
children haven’t developed the basic skills in their
early years then they will be disadvantaged for the rest
of their lives. As parents you are well-placed to help
your child get the best start in life. ‘Not Just Talking:
Help your child communicate – from day one’ (ISBN
9780956370907, Not Just Talking June 2014) is a guide
written specially to help parents prevent problems
later in their child’s life. This new book contains
many practical tips and ideas to promote non-verbal
communication skills. Early years workers will also find
this invaluable in helping discover whether a child is
only learning language skills but has inadequate
non-verbal understanding.
There is also a Not Just Talking intervention
programme, designed to give children essential
non-verbal understanding if they have only learned
how to talk. The programme has proved so successful
that one Hampshire psychiatrist is currently having a
team of people trained in the method. This will allow
him to treat a significant number of children with
behaviour problems without the use of medication,
simply by developing their non-verbal communication
skills. ‘Not Just Talking: Help your child communicate
– from day one’ is available from www.notjusttalking.
co.uk/for parents for only £14 plus p&p.
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 45

Say goodbye to
smoking
Smoking is the single greatest cause of illness and premature death in the
UK, with recent reports having found that an estimated 2 million children
are being regularly exposed to secondhand smoke, with the home being the
main source of exposure.
Children are particularly vulnerable
to the effects of smoke
exposure, which has been linked
to an increased risk of a range of
illnesses including lower respiratory tract
infections, asthma, wheezing, and middle
ear infections.
More than 80% of secondhand smoke
is invisible and odourless, so no matter
how careful you think you are, your family
still breathe in harmful poisons.
What Is Secondhand Smoke
It can come from a cigarette, cigar, or
pipe. Tobacco smoke has more than
4,000 chemical compounds, at least 250
are known to cause disease.
Secondhand smoke makes you more
likely to suffer from heart disease and
many other types of cancer.
Stub it out
Recent studies have found that it takes
the average smoker seven attempts,
five years, a health scare and noticeable
signs of ageing to finally say goodbye to
cigarettes. But if you want to bid farewell
to the fags for good, there’s another way
to help you lead a smoke-free life.
Create a diversion
When you feel a craving coming on, try
distracting yourself. The feeling won’t
last long, so do a short activity until the
moment passes, like fetching a glass
of water or tidying a desk. Not only will
drinking some water take your mind off
cigarettes long enough for the craving to
pass, it will help flush toxins out of your
system, and the quicker they leave your
body, the better you will feel! Another
suggestion is to keep healthy snacks at
the ready, so you can munch on some
carrots sticks or pieces of fruit whenever
you feel the urge to light up.
Spread the word
Once you have made the decision to
quit, it’s a good idea to let your family,
friends and colleagues know about it –
that way they can support your decision
by not inviting you outside for a smoke.
Another good reason for telling others,
is that as you battle the nicotine
cravings, you will naturally become
more irritable. Giving people a
heads-up as to why you’re in a
bad mood will help circumvent any
strained relations. Making your mission
official also makes it harder to slip up.
If you do, you will be forced to publicly
admit defeat!
Dirty cash
Work out how much cash you usually
spend a day on cigarettes (the NHS
website has a handy cost calculator) –
www.smokefree.nhs.uk – and put that
amount in a jar after each successful
smoke-free day. Keep doing this for 12
months. Even if you are a light smoker,
you should have a tidy sum when that
time is up. Why not use it to treat yourself
to something special to mark your
achievement, like a weekend away
Increase exercise
A number of scientific studies have cited
exercise as a way of cutting cravings.
Even a small amount, like a 10-minute
walk, can produce anti-craving chemicals
to help you on your way. It will also
help you to appreciate your improved
breathing and fitness levels.
smoking ALTERNATIVES
E-Cigarettes
E-cigarettes have not been around long
enough for us to establish the effects that
“vaping” has on the body. However, for
the time being, e-cigarettes pose no real
threat to our health, and do seem to have
solved the smoking problem for many.
These devices keep your hand busy, are
refillable and only contain small doses
of nicotine vapour. Most will come with
details on how many refills you should
be using per day, and there are different
flavours available.
Passive smoking can damage your
body because secondhand smoke
contains more than 4,000 chemicals,
many of which are irritants and toxins, and
some of which are known to cause cancer.
Unlike nicotine, which many mistakenly
believe to be the cause of illness.
Nicotine replacement treatment
(NRT)
This doubles your success rate over cold
turkey alone, and involves getting nicotine
into your system minus the harmful
chemicals found in all cigarettes. Options
include skin patches, lozenges, gum,
nasal sprays and inhalers. The nicotine
skin patches are a popular choice. They
are discreet, and you can slowly reduce
the amount of nicotine released into your
system, weaning you off nicotine slowly.
The main problem with NRT is that quitters
don’t use enough of it or don’t use it for
long enough (at least 12 weeks).
Medicine
Zyban (Bupropion) is licensed to
help smoking cessation. Champix
(varenicline), a medicine that mimics the
effect of nicotine in the body, reduces
the urge to smoke while minimising
withdrawal symptoms.
Acupuncture
This method is used as a tool to counter
a desire to smoke. Needles are put
in different areas of the body which
work towards reducing the tobacco
addiction, they don’t produce any side
effects. www.acupuncture.org.uk for
professional advice on this method.
Hypnosis
Found to be effective in removing the
smoking habit entirely, with no side
effects. Through hypnosis, the body and
mind is tuned to eradicate the smoking
habit altogether. www.cityhypnosis.com
is just one hypnosis specialist.
Get a quitting buddy
The odds of stopping are significantly
improved if you quit at the same time
as a friend or relative, according to a
study in The New England Journal of
Medicine. External support can also
make a huge -difference – try speaking to
a trained expert adviser on the free NHS
Smokefree helpline on 0800 022 4332
or visit www.nhs.uk/smokefree for help
and advice.
Photograph: iStock
After 24 hours
Your lungs start
to clear
Quitting timeline Your health will improve from the moment you give up the habit:
Two days
Your sense of
taste and smell
start to improve
46 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com
Three days
You can breathe
more easily,
and your energy
increases
2 to 12 weeks
Your blood
circulation
improves
3 to 9 months
Coughs, wheezing
and breathing
improves
One year
Your heart attack
risk is half that
of a smoker’s
Ten years
Your lung cancer
risk is 50% lower
than that of a
smoker’s.

Be #ShareAware
Help your child
stay safe on
social networks
Peter Wanless spent more than 10
years as the chief executive of Big
Lottery Fund doing great work for
organisations across the UK, but says
he always felt he was one step removed
from the frontline.
“The chance to lead a society like
the NSPCC which has such focus and
determination on giving every child the start
in life they deserve, is a great opportunity
for me. I went from having a job where
I was giving away lots of money to great
community groups, to one where I could
suddenly start raising a lot of it.”
Peter was appointed Chief Executive of
the NSPCC in 2013, at a time when child
abuse allegations were all over the media.
For years, it has been a battle for people
involved with the NSPCC, to try and get
people to face up to the prevalence and the
seriousness of abuse, neglect and crimes
against children.
“It is very disturbing that we read and hear
so much about these issues.” says Peter.
“Although they are far better out there
than being swept under the carpet, the
real responsibility at the NSPCC now is to
demonstrate that it really doesn’t have to be
this way for children. Everything we’re doing,
whether it be through our direct services,
our 40 service centres, or lending round the
clock support to children through Childline,
is all about making things better for
children. It is really quite energising for
people who are passionate about this cause
to be able to say “Yes, there is a problem
and people are facing up to it, and together
we can all play a part in making a change.”
As long as we protect people from feeling
fatalistic when reading these stories day
after day, by illustrating what’s possible and
what part they can play in keeping children
safe then I think we can make a really huge
difference in improving things for children in
the short to medium term.”
Keeping children safe online is one of the
biggest child protection challenges of our
generation. With the introduction of new
apps almost every day, the online world can
be a terrifying place for adults as well as
children. Abusers have preyed on vulnerable
children through the ages, and the internet
gives them new techniques and new
opportunities to exploit young people.
“The internet is an incredibly wonderful
resource in many ways and offers all sorts
of benefits to young people, so we were
very conscious about what young people
were telling ChildLine and wanted to
embrace and take advantage of the
many good things that the internet gives
them. The online world is real life these
days, but we also need to face up to the
risks it poses.”
Call The NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000, Email us: help@NSPCC.org.uk or visit www.NSPCC.org.uk
48 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

The NSPCC’s 1 minute “I Saw Your Willy” awareness film
has been viewed over 983,000 times on YouTube.
Be #ShareAware
The NSPCC wants to play a positive role in
helping parents to keep their children safe.
So what action has been taken
“Through our #ShareAware campaign,
we have been developing simple tools,
techniques and rules to remind parents of
the opportunity and responsibility they have
in this territory, and to help them feel less
fearful about having a conversation with
their children about appropriate boundaries
on the internet.
“At the same time, we have also
recognised there are some weaknesses
in the law, which meant adults were free
to send messages to young people to
encourage sexually explicit responses. We
feel it’s vital we bring the modern legal book
in line with the realty of life.”
The campaign focusses heavily on 8-12
year olds and the parents of 8-12 year olds
to try and encourage discussions within
their families about when it’s appropriate
and when it’s not appropriate to share
information online. It aims to bring the law
up to date with the online world, and seeks
to create the confidence and understanding
in every family about how to approach the
subject of keeping children safe online.
As a charity working across the UK the
NSPCC was aware of changes taking place
in Scotland, and in a bid to move things
forward, decided to confront the government
on such issues. An online petition for the
cause was set up and in no time at all,
received over 50,000 signatures. The
government was passed this petition in
December 2014.
With no paid promotion at all so far, the
NSPCC’s hard-hitting Lucy and the Boy
video has received 132,000 views on
YouTube while their 1 minute “I Saw Your
Willy” film has been viewed over 983,000
times in total.
“With young children getting access to
mobile phones and tablets earlier in their
life, this is an opportunity for them to
establish boundaries during a time where
it’s a bit easier to have those conversations
before they grow up and begin exercising
their independence.”
“We’re looking to find out what sort of
social media sites young people of that
age are tempted to take a look at and have
discussions in the family about whether
these are safe or not. Active engagement
and conversations between parents and
children are key, and must decide together
whether a site is appropriate for them, if
it’s safe or not, and what can be done to
make it safer, without ruining that kind of
excitement and interconnectivity the online
world brings.
everY ChilDhooD IS worTH FighTING For
© NSPCC 2014. Registered charity England and Wales 216401. Scotland SC037717.
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 49

New child review scheme aims
for efficiency and effectiveness
One of the complaints most frequently
levelled against governments the world
over is that of inadequate internal
communication and collaboration: different
government departments not working together
efficiently. This is especially egregious when
it affects society’s youngest members, who
are both vulnerable and unable to negotiate
bureaucratic labyrinths themselves.
However, one encouraging step was taken
recently in the form of an announcement by
Health Minister Dr Dan Poulter and Childcare
and Education Minister Sam Gyimah that, as
of September this year, two hitherto-separate
check-ups of children will be combined into
one review: the healthy child programme
review, normally carried out at two to twoand-a-half,
and the early years progress
check, usually conducted at age two, will be
integrated.
The move follows a two-year pilot
programme of integrated reviews, covering
Photograph: iStock
50 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

the period 2013-14, commissioned by the
Department for Education in collaboration
with the Department of Health and led by the
National Children’s Bureau’s
Research Centre. The key finding of the
report was that – perhaps unsurprisingly –
parents prefer the integrated approach and,
as a result, take-up increased.
“This report shows that integrating health
and early years reviews is better for children
and their parents - giving a more complete
picture of their child’s development and
supporting children to the best start in life,”
enthused Dr Poulter.
The two reviews cover a point in a child’s
development where issues such as delayed
speech and behavioural disorders may
emerge, and combining them can improve
both the chances of identifying any problems
which may be present and assessing what if
any may be the physical causes thereof. The
ability of health and early years professionals
to collaborate – potentially conducting the
reviews together –
and to share information will enable them to
present parents with a fuller picture of their
child’s development.
“The early years count and this new
approach will reassure parents they have the
information they need to support their children
when they are growing up to give them the
best possible start in life. This is a fantastic
example of government departments working
together to improve the services on offer to
parents,” said Mr Gyimah.
The new combined review has the following
aims (as established by the Integrated Review
Development Group when it drew up the
framework for the pilot study):
• To identify the child’s progress, strengths
and needs at this age in order to promote
positive outcomes in health and wellbeing,
learning and behaviour.
• To facilitate appropriate intervention and
support for children and their families,
especially those for whom progress is less
than expected.
• To generate information which can be
used to plan services and contribute to
the reduction of inequalities in children’s
outcomes.
One of the most pressing problems which
combining the reviews will eliminate is the
issue (relatively uncommon but nevertheless
significant) of parents receiving conflicting
reports and/or advice from each of the two
previously separate reviews – especially
challenging for “those for whom progress is
less than expected” or those with difficulties,
either physical or behavioural, which may
have emerged particularly recently. As any
parent will testify, problems with one’s child’s
health or development are hard enough to
deal with at the best of times, but the added
stress of confusing or conflicting expert
advice can prove particularly damaging and
can give rise to more problems at home.
However, it is not just problems originating
with the children in question themselves
which those behind the new move seek to
tackle. Certain circumstances – including,
for example, familial break-up or successive
relocations (particularly those crossing district
or even national boundaries) – have been
identified as potentially leading to difficulties
down the line if they take place between the
two distinct reviews; such problems will now,
it is hoped, become a thing of the past.
In the words of the report on the pilot
project: “By drawing on the complementary
skills and experiences of health and early
education practitioners and parents’
perspectives, it is expected that a more
complete and holistic picture of the child’s
progress will be gathered, compared with the
previous system, and that this should facilitate
earlier identification of any developmental
needs and the timely offer of appropriate
support or interventions.”
Mini-Kin asked a number of our readers for
their thoughts on the move to combine the
reviews; the consensus was that anything
which improves the authorities’ ability to assist
mums and dads with any challenges they may
face can only be a good thing – especially
if it simultaneously reduces the impact on
parents’ personal or work schedules.
“Seems like common sense to me!” said
mum-of-three Linda, 31. “We’ve got enough
on our hands as it is and if the government
can make it even a little bit easier for us, great.
It’s hard enough to fit appointments in what
with work and everything so good on them for
being that little bit more efficient.”
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 51

The external pancreas
What happens when part of the body’s complex management system breaks down Murdoch
Mactaggart learns of an initiative to advise carers, teachers and other children and parents
about type 1 diabetes and how to support the children affected.
Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases known for
at least 3,500 years, the name deriving through
Latin from the ancient Greek for ‘siphon’, referring
to the characteristic excessive urination.
The two main types of diabetes are now called type 1
and type 2 and are quite distinct although both are chronic
conditions with no known cures. Type 1 occurs mostly in
children, has sudden onset, accounts for around 10% of
diabetes cases world wide, and has nothing to do with obesity
or lifestyle. Essentially it’s an autoimmune condition resulting
in insulin’s not being produced and so leading to the body’s
being unable to regulate the uptake of blood glucose by the
body’s cells to provide energy. Insulin is a protein, specifically
a hormone produced by specialised pancreas cells, and those
with type 1 diabetes need multiple daily doses of insulin in
order to survive. Before insulin was identified and prepared
from non-human sources anyone with diabetes would
invariably die within a few weeks or months of developing
the condition.
Although insulin plays a part in type 2 diabetes it does so
differently and those with type 2 diabetes can sometimes
manage their condition through diet and exercise alone.
Further, type 2 diabetes develops gradually and occurs mainly
in adults, accounts for around 90% of worldwide cases of
diabetes, and is associated strongly with excess weight.
Serious and challenging
“Type 1 diabetes is a serious and challenging condition.”
explains Michael Connellan, senior media manager in the
UK for JDRF, a global charity dedicated to finding the cure
for type 1 diabetes as well as supporting those affected by the
condition today. “You can no longer produce your own insulin
and so to stay alive you have to take insulin, either by injection
or via an insulin pump, every single day.”
“It’s also a condition which is frequently misunderstood and
has nothing to do with lifestyle or diet. Nothing which the
child has done or its parents have done will have led to the
condition. It develops mainly in childhood, it’s on the rise and
the greatest increase in incidence has been in the under fives.”
Around 400,000 people in the UK are thought to have type
1 diabetes and of those around 29,000 are under eighteen. For
some reason which is not understood the UK has the fifth
highest levels of type 1 diabetes in the world although the
Nordic countries are also high in the list. The overwhelming
majority of young people with diabetes have type 1 but
because the incidence in the whole population is relatively rare
compared with type 2 diabetes people too often confuse the
two and often don’t realise action can be needed urgently to
deal with blood glucose imbalances.
“Misunderstandings like these can make life very much
harder for those living with type 1 diabetes and for their
families” adds Connellan “and that’s why JDRF produced
packs called Talking T1 for primary schools. We put these
together with parents, teachers and health professionals as a
useful resource and people find them very useful, very valuable
indeed. We were supported through a partnership with the
pharmaceutical company Lilly and we’re very grateful for its
backing of this initiative.”
“Type 1 diabetes is a serious and
challenging condition”
Michael Connellan
Frightening time
The expression and management of endocrine hormones such
as insulin is a complex feedback loop which a healthy person
takes for granted. But for someone with type 1 diabetes the
process is essentially one of taking over part of the work of
the pancreas and managing a difficult balancing act trying to
keep the level of blood glucose within a fairly narrow band. If
the glucose level rises, perhaps as a result of too little insulin
being given or eating too much carbohydrate, the result
is hyperglycaemia (a ‘hyper’), a toxic state which can have
serious long-term health consequences. If the glucose level
52 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com
www.jdrf.org.uk - www.lilly.co.uk

drops, perhaps as a result of something
as simple as a delayed meal or excessive
exercise or even an infection, the
reverse condition, hypoglycaemia (a
‘hypo’), occurs and if not treated within
minutes can also have immediate serious
consequences including, in extreme
cases, even coma and death.
“It’s a frightening time for parents of
children with the condition when it’s
time for them to enter the education
system.” says Connellan. “Managing the
condition is really demanding. It’s about
self-management and as a parent you
can’t always have a doctor beside you so
you need to learn quickly what to do.
But it’s also important that other adults,
“Managing type 1 diabetes
is 24/7, is something you
monitor all day long, all
through the night as well,
and I don’t think that really
gets through to people”
Cheryl Edwards
Caspar Edwards-Hussein is now four
years old and in the years since he
was diagnosed at eighteen months
his mother Cheryl Edwards has
had a crash course in what living with type
1 diabetes entails. Like many others Cheryl
recognised the name of the condition but
had no real idea what caring for a child with
diabetes would involve.
“It felt as if my whole world had been turned
upside down when I learned what was wrong
with Caspar” says Cheryl “I knew the word, of
course, but until I started living with it I’d no
idea it involved that much.”
It was a mother’s intuition which led to the
discovery. Caspar seemed always to be thirsty,
as well as urinating excessively and just not
right but initially her GP had been dismissive,
suggesting that it was just how toddlers were
and that the boy looked healthy enough.
“If I picked him up and put him on my
hip I’d get soaked” she adds. “And he was
always crying for any drinks that were around.
We were out for dinner one night and he
was crying for the water in the flower vase,
wanting that to drink. It just wasn’t normal, we
thought, and it was sad to watch him like that
so the next day we took him to the doctor’s.”
teachers and carers for instance, take on
the responsibility to support children
with the condition and help them
participate fully in educational life.”
And Ian Dane, senior director, Lilly
UK, adds “ It’s challenging for everyone,
The world turned upside down
Code UKCPR00173 January 2015
“With type 1 diabetes you
need to learn quickly what
to do” Michael Connellan
Urgent action
The family were about to go off to Scotland
for the August bank holiday weekend but
as Caspar had given a urine sample Cheryl
persuaded a nurse at the surgery to test it and
when she returned later for the results Caspar
was whisked off to King’s College Hospital
and put on a drip for a week of tests and
stabilisation treatment to get his insulin levels
adjusted and corrected. Missing their Scottish
weekend was bad enough but at that point
Cheryl was heavily pregnant with her third
child and only starting to grasp how much
their lives were about to change.
“My parents were amazing and I think they
both could empathise with how much work
I’d have to do. My mum and dad were brilliant
and although they couldn’t give any hands-on
help if it hadn’t been for them I’d probably
have gone under.”
There’s a lack of good public understanding
about just how demanding looking after a
challenging for teachers, challenging
for the children and for the families
and that’s where this pack can really
help. At Lilly we’re really pleased to
have partnered with JDRF to make this
pack possible.”
child with diabetes is, perhaps because such
children generally look, act and behave like
any other child of that age. This is where
the charity JDRF does valuable work, says
Cheryl, explaining to adults such as teachers
and other carers and parents something of
what the child and his parents go through.
Cheryl’s experience of the first school Caspar
attended was not good but the second was
much better, helped by the fact that the family
funds a young woman, Emma, who attends as
a teaching assistant but who also has a prime
responsibility to monitor and support Caspar.
“I test Caspar’s blood glucose levels eight
to ten times a day. I test him before he goes
to bed. I test him around midnight when
I’m going to bed. Then I wake up and test
him around three to four in the morning. It’s
always me because my husband works but
now I don’t. But it’s just what has to be done.
It’s Caspar’s life now and it’s my life. Your
body adapts. But it’s 24/7, it’s something you
monitor all day long, all through the night as
well, and I don’t think that really gets through
to other people.”
The tests are done by pricking a finger to
draw blood, not the most welcome activity for
a child of four. And although Caspar now has
a pump to deliver insulin through a cannula
he would earlier have had to have several
subcutaneous injections each day, after every
meal or snack and perhaps also on other
occasions when the balance had gone wrong.
Normality
But if other parents don’t grasp the full extent
of what’s needed Caspar’s elder sister, now six,
does and helps by sometimes testing Caspar
herself and running to Cheryl with the results
or telling Cheryl she’s seen Caspar eating
something. She also constantly asks questions,
thinking about what’s happening.
“Caspar is smaller than his sister was at
that age” says Cheryl” “and although he’s
not behind in class he was definitely later in
talking. But probably the greatest difference
is the lack of freedom he has, the lack of
normality compared with the others. Although
I try to take the burden of it he definitely
doesn’t have the same life as my daughter at
the same age.”
This article has been supported financially by Lilly
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 53

Teaching your
child about money
A child’s attitude towards money begins to shape as young as seven. You are
already a huge influence on how they will spend money when they are older,
whether you choose to give them pocket money or not. Financial skills are vital in
life, and it’s rather surprising that financial education is not taught in schools.
Though there are no right or wrong answers when it comes to teaching your child
about money, there are a few common questions that parents tend to ask quite often:
Why should I give my child
pocket money
At what age should I start
giving my children pocket
money
By the age of seven most
children have grasped how to
recognise the value of money
and to count it out. By this age
they will also have come to
understand that money can be
exchanged for goods and so
seven or eight appears to be a
good time to start giving children
their own money regularly. But
children are aware of money
much before this and experts
also acknowledge that giving
money to children as young
as four or five helps them to
begin learning about money
management.
How do you teach
children to save
Pocket money is a great
opportunity for children to learn
the basics of managing money
– a skill they’ll need for life. By
letting them have pocket money
you’re offering them some
independence and responsibility
over their own money. This gives
them the experience of being
able to choose how to use it
and make their own decisions.
One of the more important
ideas to get across to is to
save before you spend so they
get used to a cycle of earning,
saving and then spending.
This is the point in financial
education where you start to
teach your children that just
because they have a stash
of money, they don’t have to
immediately dispose of it. They
can actually choose to save
some of it and watch it turn into
more money. Suggest to your
children that when they are given
money – be it gifts or payments
for chores – the first thing they
do is put some away for saving,
usually around 10% of what they
have been given. This enables
them to get used to the idea
of putting some aside without
making them feel they are
being deprived.
Photograph: iStock
54 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

Do
children
matter
Modern law increasingly emphasises collaborative working and mediation.
Murdoch Mactaggart learns how things have changed and how the main concern
for family lawyers is what’s best for any children concerned.
Separating or divorcing is a hugely stressful event. It can
come apparently from nowhere but more usually it’s the
culmination of months, even years, of growing estrangement
and so the time to the break can be hard as well.
But what about the children In the heat of anger or sadness
parents can get caught up in their own emotions and overlook the
effects on children. For children of whatever age it’s a bewildering
and painful time. If one partner moves out the child will feel a great
sense of confusion and loss. The familiar home life has broken up
and the future become clouded.
“You have to put children first”
Nina Hansen
Children first
“The relationship that a child has with their parents during their
minority will affect them for the rest of their lives. For this reason
it is vitally important that separating parents remember that
whatever their feelings of animosity towards each other children
generally love both parents.” says Nina Hansen, head of the family
law department of Freemans Solicitors. “It’s very important for
parents to stop thinking about each other as a disintegrating couple
and think about what arrangements are best to ensure that their
children retain a good quality relationship with each of them. You
have to put children first.”
Freemans is a London firm of solicitors with a number
of specialist departments, the family law department being
particularly well regarded. This team practices in both domestic
and international law and its specialities include handling complex
issues such as cross border abduction by one parent or being
appointed by a court as a child’s guardian or litigation friend.
Hansen explains that law practice has moved away from its
traditional adversarial or litigious approach and that most family
law solicitors try to negotiate realistic outcomes which are fair
to both parties and take particular account of children’s needs.
Freemans also offers mediation services to clients.
“Our guiding principle is to act in our client’s best interests,to
help them understand what they really want to achieve and to move
forward in a healthy way. One person might want to take the other
to court, to teach them a lesson maybe, but litigating with that aim
is an expensive exercise and the only people who might do well out
of it are certainly not the children involved. Often in the midst of
a separation parents may lose sight of what is really important,
what is realistically achievable and what is the best way of
addressing the situation. We try to help them through this and
crystallise the issues.”
Reduced access to justice
Recently the government has been pruning public funding costs
wildly. Legal aid, for instance, has been viewed as an extravagance
rather than a necessary element of access to justice and has been cut
significantly both in scope and in amounts paid.
“It’s absolutely appalling the cuts in legal aid,” says Hansen
“particularly in relation to disputes about contact and residence,
where legal aid is only available to certain victims of domestic abuse
who are able to produce prescribed evidence of the abuse they have
suffered. A parent who has had allegations made against them that
might impact on their relationship with their child is extremely
unlikely to get legal aid even if they have no income or capital. And
that’s appalling because quite irrespective of where the allegations
are true or not they need to be explored properly so that we can
move forward for the sake of the child.”
“With allegations of domestic violence or even rape the victim
will be represented but the perpetrator most likely will not be and
so will need to represent himself. The courts therefore face the
spectre of unrepresented alleged abusers cross examining alleged
victims. So not only does a person accused of a serious crime have
reduced access to specialist help, and so to justice, but the alleged
victim can be put into a very vulnerable and emotional position
through cross examining by the person she’s accused of abuse and
that’s absolutely awful. This is not allowed in a criminal court so
why in a family court”
Legal aid, according to Hansen, has been cut so much that
solicitors’ income has been cut to half what it was perhaps twenty
years earlier. “Apart from the obvious injustices mentioned a
wider problem is that pro bono work is consequently becoming
unaffordable and many law practices handling legal aid work are
being forced to close as unviable. Access to justice should not be
contingent on wealth or being adept at working the system.”
“Perhaps the central benefit of using a solicitor is getting proper,
professional advice in a timely fashion and so avoiding making
what might be very costly mistakes.” says Hansen. “In family law
our role really is to identify and advise on the reality and within
that to get the best results for the family and particularly for the
children ensuring, for instance, that one partner doesn’t end up
losing contact.”
“The central benefit is getting
proper, professional advice in a
timely fashion and so avoiding
costly mistakes”
Nina Hansen
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 55

Choosing the right
savings account
for your child
Photograph: iStock
56 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

Regular savings aCCount
Regular savings accounts require you
to pay in a minimum set amount each
month, typically from £10 to £20, for a
period of 12 months. They tend to pay
even better interest rates than fixed rate
accounts. However, you cannot access
the money during the 12-month term, and
you will need to find a new account after
that time.
Age requirements
You can set up an account with a bank
or building society on behalf of a child of
any age. However, for the account to be
in the child’s name they will need to be at
least seven.
What is a Junior ISA
Junior ISAs (JISA) are tax-free savings
accounts that six million under-18s can
save or invest up to £4,000 in this tax
year. They then remain tax-free until their
18th birthday, and often beyond. The idea
is to let them build up a nest egg to help
in adult life.
If you think they’ll save more than
£15,000 (the current ISA limit) in their f
irst 18 years, then it’s worth getting a
Junior ISA, as these convert to full cash
ISAs when your child turns 18. The
other consideration for whether you
should choose a normal kids’ savings
account or a Junior ISA is how much
you’ll give them. Because if they’ll earn
more than £100 interest a year from
money given from each parent, that cash
will be taxed at your rate, unless it’s in a
tax-free Junior ISA.
Do they have to pay tax
There’s a common myth that children
don’t pay tax - that’s simply not true. In
fact, they’re taxed in exactly the same
way as adults. Each child can, in the
2014-15 tax year, earn up to £10,000 taxfree
from salary, savings or investments.
The difference is, unlike most adults,
most children don’t use up their
allowance, so their savings interest is taxfree.
Assuming your child won’t earn more
than £10,000, ensure any interest is paid
without tax being automatically deducted
by filling out HM Revenue & Customs’
R85 form (the bank should give you one
of these). If you’ve already overpaid,
you’ll need to fill out an R40form to get it
back. Special rules apply for money that
is given to the child from their parents,
and they will only be able to take control
of the account when they’re 16, but can’t
withdraw the money until they turn 18.
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 57

Holiday
Help
If you were to ask for advice on taking children on holiday, the
response is most likely to be: don’t do it! The problem of course
is, that for many parents this just isn’t an option: and besides, you
wouldn’t want to leave your little ones behind, though many may
have contemplated it at times! If you want to make sure your decision
doesn’t prove to be too great a millstone around your neck; you have
to bite the bullet and be brave. In which case, it’s vital you ensure
that you make it as easy for yourself as possible.
Photograph: iStock
58 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

To help you along your way, here are a few handy hints
which you’ll no doubt forget next time you set off on the
journey of a lifetime (so called because it will feel like one
before you can relax once more).
HealTH
Travelling
On THe plane
• Insurance is not just a
nice-to-have. Kids have
a phenomenal ability to
injure, maim and sometimes
mutilate themselves in the
most unlikely of settings, and
if they pull off one of these
tricks abroad, it may well end
up costing you a figurative
arm and a leg to treat them.
Anyone who’s had to deal
with even a minor accident in
the US, for example, where
an ambulance trip alone can
cost a high three-figure sum,
will testify to this. Before
breaking down completely.
• If the tap water isn’t safe
to drink, you’ll need to boil,
filter or sterilise your own,
or buy bottled water. If
you plan to use bottled
water to make up formula
feeds, aim to get the
lowest mineral content
you can. Make sure the
children don’t drink from
taps, including when
brushing teeth. Keeping
a bottle of drinking
water by the sink is a
helpful reminder.
• Walking along the street in
the Andalusian sun, the last
thing you’ll want to be doing
is carrying an exhausted
child in each arm. Having a
buggy and a pram on holiday
can be useful on holiday
even if your child is walking,
serving as a place for them
to rest during day trips, a
makeshift bed when out in
restaurants and something to
help with carrying the bags.
If your destination is unlikely
to have paved paths, it may
be worth investing in an
all-terrain version.
• Don’t go anywhere without a
change of clothes - that goes
for yours too. Remember
the golden rule: no child is
too old to throw up on you,
and if you’re stuck with a
lap full of that morning’s
breakfast, even the shortest
journey will feel extremely
long indeed. One complete
change (yes, including socks)
is an absolute must: if you’re
flying, remember to pack
this in a carry-on alongside
your sedatives.
• The low humidity of cabin
air can cause mild
dehydration as well as dry
and irritated nostrils, so it’s
important to get kids to
drink regularly. If anyone
gets a streaming nose (also
a factor of low humidity), wet
the insides of their nostrils
with a finger dipped in water
- this often works like magic.
Flying can also prompt air
expansion in the middle ear
and sinuses, which can be
painful for babies and
infants because of their
smaller ear passages.
• If you’d like to be met at
check-in and helped with
the children and the bags
all the way to your plane,
ask for ‘meet and assist’
services when booking
your flight. This is
generally provided by the
airport and not the airline,
and whether or not you get
it depends on the availability
of staff - but if you’re
travelling as a single parent
with more than one child,
you’ll be given priority.
• Whether they’re out of
routine, jet-lagged, or
eating less healthily, kids
always seem to get ill on
holiday. Dampen the impact
of broken nights, frayed
temperaments and fevers
by packing an easy-toswallow
medicine such
as Calpol in the UK. Other
basic ingredients in your
first aid kit should include
antiseptic wipes, plasters,
sting treatment, and a
thermometer.
• In each new place, don’t
forget to designate a meeting
point in case anyone gets
separated from the group.
If it’s likely you’ll be in really
dense crowds, promising a
reward for staying together
works as a good incentive.
• If your child is on bottles,
bring what you need to make
up fresh ones along the
way; to save space, fill spare
bottles with water, then add
milk powder and top up with
boiling water when you need
them.
...and remember to have fun!
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 59

Tasty treats
for your tots
If your kids are always looking for tasty snacks but you’re reluctant
to give in to the ease of handing over a chocolate bar, why not whip
up some of these quick, simple and delicious treats instead
Snickerdoodle Biscuits
Preparation Time - 15 minutes
Cooking Time - 10 minutes
Makes 20
60 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com
• 300g plain flour
• 240g unsalted butter
(melted)
• 180g soft brown sugar
• 100g caster sugar
(plus extra for rolling)
• 1 egg
• 1tsp vanilla extract
• 50g Sun-Maid raisins
• 1/2tsp cinnamon
(plus a little extra for rolling)
• 1/2tsp allspice
(plus a little extra for rolling)
• 1/2tsp baking soda
• 1/2tsp cream of tartar
• A pinch of salt
1. Preheat the oven to 160°C/325°F/Gas Mark 3 and grease a large baking tray.
2. Melt the butter and add the sugars. Beat the egg well, then stir into the butter and
sugar mixture.
3. Add the vanilla, cinnamon, baking soda, raisins, cream of tartar, allspice and salt.
Mix well. Add the flour gradually, mixing well each time.
4. In another bowl, mix some extra cinnamon with some extra caster sugar –
approximately 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to one tablespoon of sugar. Form the
cookie dough into small balls about the size of a walnut and roll in the cinnamon/
sugar mix before placing on the prepared baking tray. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or
until golden.
5. Remove from the oven, leave to cool on the baking tray for two minutes, then
transfer to a wire rack to cool properly.
Photograph: iStock

Honey Nut
Cereal Bars
Preparation Time – 15 minutes
Cooking Time – 30 minutes
Makes 12
• 100g butter plus extra for greasing
• 200g porridge oats
• 100g sunflower seeds
• 50g sesame seeds
• 50g chopped walnuts
• 3tbsp honey
• 100g light muscovado sugar
• 1tsp ground cinnamon
• 50g Sun-Maid raisins
• 50g dried cherries
1. Preheat the oven to 160°C/325°F/
Gas Mark 3. Grease and line the base
of an 18 x 25cm baking tin. Mix the
oats, seeds and nuts in a separate
roasting tin, then put in the oven for 5
to 10 minutes to toast.
2. Meanwhile, warm the butter, honey
and sugar in a pan, stirring until the
butter has melted and the sugar
has mostly dissolved. Add the oats,
cinnamon and dried fruit, then mix
until everything is completely coated.
3. Tip into the prepared tin, press down
lightly, then bake for 30 minutes.
4. Cool in the tin before cutting into
12 bars.
White Chocolate and
Raisin Fudge
Preparation Time - 5 minutes
Cooking Time – 20 minutes
Makes 15 to 20 pieces
• 500g golden caster sugar
• 500ml double cream
• 3 tbsp liquid glucose
• 140g white chocolate
(roughly chopped)
• 100g Sun-Maid raisins
1. Line a 22cm square non-stick tin with
baking parchment.
2. Put the caster sugar, double cream
and liquid glucose in a pan. Heat
slowly, stirring continually, until the
sugar melts.
3. Now turn up the heat and fast boil
the mixture until a small amount
dropped into a glass of cold water sets
into a ball.
4. Turn off the heat and keep stirring for
5 minutes or until the mixture starts
to thicken. Sprinkle in the white
chocolate and raisins and very briefly
swirl through the mixture.
5. Pour into a tin and leave to set
overnight, then turn out and cut
into squares.
Provided by Sun-Maid Growers of California - Website: www.sunmaid.co.uk
www.mini-kin.com - Spring 2015 I 61

Cherish Childhood
Let’s hold onto childhood, at least for today
by Susannah Sloman
Managing Director, Gymboree UK
Life can sometimes feel like a treadmill the moment
you decide that you want a baby. How long will
it take to get pregnant And when you are trying
to get pregnant, all you see are pregnant people
around you and babies in buggies everywhere. I’m
not one known for my patience. Each month that ticked past
was another month lost, and the anxiety of when this baby was
going to be conceived was all consuming. It felt like an age but
in the end it was only 3 months!
It’s typical for most mums and dads, to be desperate for their
baby to reach the next milestone. We yearn for our baby to
make their first smile and question, was it a real smile or just
wind We’re desperate for them to sit unaided because we feel
this will free us ever so slightly from the demands for our new
born baby.
As the months go by, we look enviously at those babies who
can crawl while our baby is frustrated by only being able to sit
up. Some of us question how many years it will be until we get
an uninterrupted night’s sleep. Then our baby crawls and we
want him to walk. Our toddler starts to toddle and we want
him to be able to run. We want our toddler’s speech to develop
so we can understand what’s wrong when he cries so we can
understand him better. That will make our life easier won’t it
Then the pre-school years beckon and if we have been at
home all this time with our child, we are desperate for a few
hours each day to ourselves. Then we realise that these three
precious hours vanish faster than ice cream in front of a 2-
year-old and we long for the school years so we get double the
time to ourselves during the day. Suddenly, our baby is dressed
in their school uniform and we are kissing them goodbye at the
classroom door and that’s when it struck me - school routine for
the next 14 years!
That’s when I took the conscious decision to stop focusing
on the next milestone and to cherish the right here, right now.
I don’t beat myself up for wishing those years away, I found
the first four years incredibly difficult and find myself a much
happier mum now that I am not with them 24/7. I do however,
look back and wish I’d not been so milestone focused, easier said
than done when you have been sleep deprived for years!
Now I tell my children not to be in such a hurry to grow up
and I urge myself to cherish every single minute. Right now
they are the perfect ages, six and eight, and I wish time would
stand still. At the moment, they are young enough to still be
dependent on me for emotional support and cuddles, yet old
enough to sleep through the night, dress and feed themselves
and play fairly independently.
I asked my 16-year-old stepson what’s the best thing about
being a “child”. His reply, “not having to pay bills”. That wasn’t
the answer I was expecting! Let’s Cherish Childhood today
because the reality of the real world will kick in soon enough.
As Gymboree Teachers, we help magical moments happen
every day at Gymboree and love sharing them with parents. We
see children crawl for the first time, walk for the first time and
disappear into a world of imagination. We want children to be
children, and we know how important those first few years are.
That’s why we are launching Cherish Childhood.
Throughout 2015, a series of Cherish Childhood events will
be taking place at Gymborees across the UK. We want Mums
and Dads to take a moment out of their busy schedules and
come and be in the moment, cherishing their child at sessions
led by our trained Gymboree teachers.
From March onwards at Gymboree, little ones and their
carers will be able to come and have tea with the fairies, tame
a dragon, get messy with art activities or hang out with their
Daddy at special Cherish Daddy Events. Gymboree is working
with the NSPCC to help less fortunate children too through
donation buckets at their events. Come along and join in the
fun. Let’s hold onto childhood, at least for today.
Gymboree is working with the NSPCC to help less
fortunate children too through donation buckets at
their events. Come along and join in the fun. Let’s hold
onto childhood, at least for today. Gymboree run
classes for 0-5 yrs olds in Play & Learn, Music and Art.
For more information about Gymboree, to book a free
trial class or our Cherish Childhood events then visit
www.gymboree-uk.com. #cherishchildhooduk
62 I Spring 2015 - www.mini-kin.com

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