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Summer is here - keep it fun not fatal

National charity and leader in lifesaving and lifeguarding training across the UK and Ireland, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), is urging people to get summer ready by brushing up on their water safety skills and knowledge.  With over 400 people dying each year in the UK and Ireland from accidental drowning, it’s clear that it’s a topic that needs more attention. 

Lee Heard, Charity Director at RLSS UK said: “With June, July, and August proving to be the months with the most fatalities, it is vitally important that everyone has an understanding of water safety, especially during the summer months. 

“We have seen a rise in the number of drownings over the last few years, with peaks during the summer. In July 2021, there were 49 accidental drowning fatalities in the space of just two weeks in the UK, and we know that with the right water safety knowledge, accidental drownings are avoidable. 

“We want to ensure that everyone can enjoy their summer break and enjoy being in or around water but be safe in the knowledge that they, and their children, have the skills and understanding about water safety, which could potentially save a life.  Every life is worth saving.”

Drowning is not just a topic that needs attention for those who take part in water-based activities either, evidence shows that one in two people who accidentally drown never intended to enter the water and in 2020 evidence from the National Water Safety Forum showed that 45% of accidental drownings took place when people were taking part in everyday activities.

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) has a range of free educational resources available on their website for children, young people and parents

“In a recent survey, over 55% of parents said they would not be confident their child would know what to do if they fell into open water; this is something we want to change. 

With many families opting for staycations and heading to the coastlines and waterways for holidays in recent times, having an understanding of what to do if you find yourself or someone else in trouble in the water is more important than ever. 

Lee Heard added: “If you or someone else finds themselves in difficulty in the water, it’s vital to remember the Water Safety Code: whenever you are around water you should stop and think to assess your surroundings and look for any dangers; stay together when around water and always go with family and friends; in an emergency call 999 and ask for the Fire and Rescue service when inland and the Coastguard if at the coast; and finally float to live, if you fall in or become tired, stay calm, float on your back and call for help, or if you see someone in the water, throw something that floats to them and resist temptation to go in.”

Looking for something to do with children in West London this December?

Pinocchio at the Orange Tree is a fun morning out which lets your kids take part in Pinocchio’s story like never before. A perfect activity for rainy days over the festive period.

Hugo is bored, lonely and needs a friend, so his mum makes him his very own Pinocchio, setting them both on an adventure to the top of a snowy mountain, out to pleasure island and into the belly of a wiggly whale!

With puppetry and original music, use your imagination to help Hugo on his magical journey with friends new and old this winter.

A fun, interactive show for anyone aged 3 to 103 (babies and younger children welcome!) about the adventures we can have when we pretend, created by OT Community director Liam Shea.

The Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond have reopened and are putting on their annual family show this December. Pinocchio is a fun festive adventure playing from 14 December to 31 December. 

The Orange Tree Theatre is only 2 minutes’ walk from Richmond Station (district line and overground) with bus connections to Surrey, Kingston, Twickenham, and further afield.

Previous praise for the Orange Tree’s work for children:

“The proof is on the children’s faces, so clearly visible in this in-the-round space….Do it wrong and a play can put children off theatre for life. This one gets them dreaming in the best possible way.” The Guardian

★★★★ “Magically brought to life” The Stage

“Enchanting... live music, laughter and plenty of audience participation” Essential Surrey

Please note: The Orange Tree has socially-distanced seating and an advanced air ventilation system. Masks should be worn by adults unless medically exempt.

You can book with confidence with exchanges possible up to 24 hours before a performance, and if a show is postponed or cancelled, we will offer you credit for a future performance or a refund.

Tickets are extremely limited and demand is high, so book soon to make sure you don’t miss out!

https://orangetreetheatre.co.uk/whats-on/pinocchio/about

Top 12 toys for Christmas revealed 2021

The biggest licences from film and TV are driving the must-have toy wish lists this Christmas – with Star Wars, Pokemon, Jurassic World and Paw Patrol making the Top 12 Toys list, alongside perennial favourites like Barbie, Hot Wheels and L.O.L. The Top 12 Toys list, issued by the Toy Retailers Association, is the most authoritative predictive list of what will be hot this Christmas, selected by an independent panel of retailers and industry experts.

The complete Top 12 list is (in alphabetical order – please note the top 12 is not selected in any particular order). All prices RRP:

Barbie Dreamtopia Colour Change Mermaid (Mattel) £27.99

This Barbie Dreamtopia Rainbow Magic Mermaid doll features a colour-change transformation that lets imaginations dive into their most colourful fairytales yet. Barbie mermaid doll features a neon-bright fantasy look with a tiara in her rainbow hair, a vibrant multi-coloured tail and a bodice with sea-inspired accents.

Bluey Family Home Playset (Moose Toys) £39.99

Recreate some of the most memorable moments from the show in the Bluey Family Home playset!

Cocomelon Deluxe JJ Interactive Doll - Bandai - £39.99

Bring CoComelon nursery rhymes to life with the Interactive Deluxe JJ Doll! This adorable 12"doll  is inspired by JJ, a popular character from the educational CoComelon YouTube series!

Gassy Gus - John Adams - £22.99

The gut-busting game, that’s a hoot when you toot! It’s dinner time and Gassy Gus loves to eat. There’s just one BIG problem, most things Gus eats give him gas! Take turns to feed Gus all sorts of food, and watch his belly bulge, but if Gus passes gas on your turn, you have to take extra food cards. Be the first to feed Gus all your food cards to win.

Hot Wheels Massive Loop Mayhem - Mattel - £62.99

The Hot Wheels® Massive Loop Mayhem™ track set includes a 28-inch wide track loop around which multiple cars race and avoid near misses. One Hot Wheels® vehicle is included, but the challenge lies in how many cars kids can have flying around the track at one time before there’s an awesome crash

Jurassic World Scorpios Rex - Mattel - £31.99

The Slash ‘N Battle Jurassic World Scorpios Rex action figure is based on the animated series, Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous and inspired by the fast, dangerous and unpredictable dinosaur with terrifying poisonous quills! This larger-scale dinosaur action figure features a dynamic claw slashing feature, a chomp and roar plus a mighty tail whip attack!

L.O.L. Surprise Movie Magic Doll - MGA Entertainment - £10.99

Unbox 10 Surprises with LOL Surprise Movie Magic dolls, including movie props, film scenes and 3D glasses! Each doll comes with a cue card and its own unique surprise Movie Scene! Plus, Movie Scenes can be combined with each other.

Little Live Pets My Pig Piggly - Character Options - £24.99

With over 25 sounds & reactions, Little Live Pets My Pig Piggly makes the cutest pet! She moves and sounds just like a real pig! Feed her with her bottle and give her a cuddle as she reacts to your touch. Piggly is a great little mover; walk her on the lead or watch her ‘bust a move’ on the dancefloor to her own tunes!

Magic Mixies Cauldron - Moose Toys - £69.99

So adorable and so interactive, your Magic Mixies Cauldron reacts to you touch and responds to your wand. They love to perform spells with you and may even grant you  a wish as their gem lights up!

Paw Patrol Chase’s Deluxe Transforming Vehicle - Spin Master Toys - £44.99

Paw Patrol Chase’s Deluxe Transforming sleek city police car features silver metallic paint, authentic movie details and graphics, and an exciting transformation straight from Paw Patrol: The Movie. 

Pokemon 8” Plush Pikachu - Character Options - £13.99

Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Pokémon with this special collection of Pokémon 8 Inch Anniversary Silver Plush! Assortment includes Pikachu, Squirtle, Bulbasaur and Charmander – 4 of the most popular Pokémon ever!

Star Wars Boba Fett’s Starship - LEGO - £44.99

The Mandalorian fans can play out bounty-hunting missions and battles with this brilliant LEGO® brick version of Star Wars Boba Fett’s Starship. This premium-quality set also includes Boba Fett and The Mandalorian LEGO minifigures with weapons, plus a Carbonite brick that fits in a compartment of the starship.

Families can now make the most of the best-in-class cooling technology to preserve fresh food for twice as long

Haier, the No.1 brand in the world for the 12^th consecutive year in Major appliances develops state-of-the-art technology in their refrigeration products, so now families can preserve fresh vegetables, meat, and frozen foods for up to two times longer with the same flavour as the first day. Haier’s products, built with premium materials by highly skilled engineers, contain the very latest innovations in technology that have been designed to make them easy to use and efficient.

Storing fresh food at home for longer has become more of a priority for families than ever before and the Humidity Zone in the Haier Cube range of cooling products helps do just that!

What does the Humidity Zone do?

Milo Cheney, Product Manager for refrigeration at Haier UK explains; “Haier’s Moist Zone keeps the humidity within the compartment at an optimum 90%, maintaining the compartment at the optimum humidity, provides perfect storage conditions for fruit and vegetables. Allowing cool air to circulate freely, this is the next level in food preservation technology not only allowing you to store your groceries for longer, but also helping to maintain their nutritional content. This feature has certainly become more of a priority for families than ever before given the pandemic. Thanks to the technologies created and developed by Haier, you preserve fresh vegetables, meat, and frozen foods for up to two times longer with the same flavour as the first day”.

Trusted, Tested and Certified

The claim is fully certified and tested by The VDE Testing and Certification Institute who are independent and impartial.

The VDE test laboratory for refrigerators and freezers has special test room conditions that are precisely tailored to the special design of refrigerators. The VDE marks are synonymous with safety and to be recognised as products you can trust.

How does the technology work?

Haier developed the Humidity Zone, a special transparent drawer with a HCS filter that guarantees to keep the correct level of humidity inside the drawer. The filter is placed above the drawer held by the shelf. 

HCS (Humidity Control System) Technology is a plant fiber membrane that can keep moisture at 90%  and automatically manages the right humidity. This avoids any condensed water inside the drawer. 

The plant fibre is composed by multiple kinds of different plants fibre (an effect similar to a sponge, including a sponge DNA)

This membrane has a porous texture. It enlarges its pores when there is a high level of humidity inside the drawer; the water vapour goes out and the porous texture goes back to its initial size and the cycle starts again keeping the level of humidity constantly at 90% .

Price and Availability:

Click link for more information on the Haier range of Cube products

A brief guide to DNA Home Testing Kits

Home DNA testing kits are getting popular with the passage of time. It is amazing for gaining more information about the history of your family or ancestry. If you feel curious about your family history or you have the enthusiasm within you to dig deeper into your ancestry, then a home DNA test kit will certainly help you out. These user-friendly and affordable kits, help you gain the data you want about your family histories and also gain data about genealogical health background. This further helps you in addressing a lot of potential healthcare concerns. 

Functions of DNA Home Testing Kits

A home DNA test kit works to offer you a bundle of information regarding your heritage, health care and a lot of factors that you might have interest in. These kits provide information in the form of charts and maps. You can track the data through these maps. The results vary based on the company. The outcomes aren’t widely different but they will slightly vary. 

How do at home testing DNA kits work?

First things first, read through the instructions displayed on the kits carefully. The package has all the data present on it. Every kit comes with their own specific regulations, as each kit is manufactured differently. Just like one size doesn't fit all; a kit wouldn’t work similar for everyone. 

Each DNA home test kit will have different instructions and it is important that you follow them individually. Some kits will require an online registration before usage as it makes data collection more secure and fast. Therefore, read through the package manual before you proceed. 

Once you have read through the instructions, you will have to collect the sample and send it to the company of your own choice. There are two ways to collect a sample: 

• Saliva sampling

• Swabbing the cheek 

You will have a container, provided in the kit. Secure your sample in it and box it with the items that are provided to you. Then you have to ship the sample to the lab for testing and wait patiently for the results. 

How much time do the results take?

The results are expected to come in 6-8 weeks. Some companies are really cooperative and they come with a tracking system too. This means that you are not left in the dark regarding your results and you can keep an eye on them whether they are under process or not. Kits usually give access to an online portal to the users. This enhances user-friendliness for the users and ensures that their data is kept private and secure and they can reach out to it, whenever required. The online portal system will also vary from one provider to another. 

Are these kits safe to use at home?

It is generally a very safe practice. Using at home DNA test kits haven’t ever reported any hazardous results. These companies use standard security practices to ensure that these kits can be used at home. Likewise, they keep the user’s privacy intact as well. Thus, there isn’t much to worry about when it comes to getting your DNA tests done at home with these really helpful kits. 

Summary

There are various DNA home testing kits but you need to pick the one that is most suitable for uncovering the data that you are looking forward to. Lastly, keep your budget in mind while choosing the kit and the ease of use that it is offering.

A short guide to conducting your own online fitness classes

Lockdown has been hard on all of us in one way or of another and some people have turned to online fitness classes to keep in shape and in good spirits. Others have taken to conducting the classes, either to make money or, just like their audience, to keep spirits up and help people stay in shape as the nation battles through the Coronavirus crisis. If you’re one of those looking to do a little good and offer some fitness classes online, here are some tips on how to put on a successful online class.

Ensure your fitness equipment is good quality

If you’re going to take people through a weights workout or any other type of workout, make sure your equipment is in good condition and looks the part. Weights that slide off the end of the dumbbell because a dodgy clip on them keeps coming loose will ruin the session (and your credibility).

Note that ‘second hand’ doesn’t necessarily mean a depreciation in quality. If you’ve had to buy bulkier equipment, such as a weights bench or an exercise bike, to conduct your classes, you may be able to buy perfectly good equipment second hand and then arrange for it to be delivered. Hiring a man with a van is cheap and spares you and the seller a lot of hassle when it comes to getting the bike from one home to the other.

Invest in a tripod and microphone

Buy yourself a good tripod. Sure, you can prop your phone up or camera up against something else, but you never know when it might collapse. You’ll have to interrupt your own workout and everyone else’s to reposition it if it does. 

How far back should you position it? A distance of 12 feet between you and your camera would be good so you can see your whole body while you move. The camera should be at eye level.

You’ll likely be playing music, too, so purchase a microphone. The class participants will enjoy the session more if they can hear your instructions properly and you’re not yelling above the music just to be heard. If you’re wearing a clip-on microphone, make sure it can’t catch on any hair or jewellery. 

Create a public playlist

Playing other people’s music can land you in legal hot water if you’re not careful. To avoid letters from the lawyers of angry record labels, encourage participants to create their own playlists to use during the workout or you can set up a public playlist, link to it and let the participants play it during the workout from their homes.

Check your engagement early

This isn’t about admiring how many likes you’re getting on Instagram or Facebook; it’s about confirming everything is running smoothly at your audience’s end. If they can’t see you properly, can’t hear you or are experiencing some other technical difficulty during the class, you can rectify it early on. You don’t want to blast through the class only to find a technical glitch has prevented everyone from following you.

Offer form cues

Although you can’t see your audience, you should try to make sure they’re working out safely. Anticipate any movements that people have a habit of performing incorrectly. For each movement, prepare a form cue to help people complete the movement correctly, a progression to make the exercise more difficult and a modification to make the exercise easier.

Show personality

The workout room doesn’t have to be void of personality. Inflect it with a few personal touches to warm it up. Just as importantly, have fun and show some personality when leading your workouts, so that the classes are engaging for your audience. Providing workout classes online is a unique way of teaching and you should display enthusiasm and enjoyment.

Note that when you conduct your classes, you're the leader and can run them how you wish. Enjoy the freedom to get creative and do something different so that your classes are inspiring and engaging. Just remember that they must always be safe and be effective, too. That must come before engagement. Always.

Nine spring activities to make you feel good

Spring is here! Whether you feel that it starts on the 1^st March (meteorological start of spring) or 20^th March (astronomical start of spring), put a spring back into your step and spend more time outside or in your garden. The warmer weather is uplifting and the sights and sounds of nature will engage all your senses and make you feel good.

Squire’s Garden Centres suggest nine outdoor activities to make you feel good this spring – and none of them have to cost you anything at all.

Feel clarity with a garden clean up – Have a spring clean in the garden. Rake up fallen leaves, prune back hedges and shrubs, tidy your shed and clean garden tools and garden furniture so that they are all ready to use.

Smell the sweet fragrance of flowers in bloom – Whether it’s smelling the scent of flowers in your garden or those in parks and outdoor spaces, engage your sense of smell and enjoy the beautiful fragrance of tulips, daffodils, irises, hyacinths or magnolia.

Spot your first bumblebee searching for nectar – The lifecycle of a bumblebee begins in spring, when rising temperatures awaken a queen bumblebee that has been hibernating alone in the soil. She’ll feed on flowers, drinking nectar to gain energy and collecting pollen to bring back to the nest. There are 24 different species of bumblebee in the UK. They love plants such as dahlias, buddleia, lavender, clematis, foxglove, hosta and wildflowers.

Feel the freshness of the earth and air – Reconnect with nature. Dig the garden soil, perhaps in order to plant, or hoe to remove weeds as they start to grow, and breath in the fresh spring air. The more fresh air you get the more oxygen you will breathe, which increases the amount of serotonin (the happy hormone) you inhale, consequently making you happier!

Look out for a glimpse of wildlife waking up – Hedgehogs normally come out of hibernation in mid-March to early-April depending how warm the weather is. Their first priority is water, so help them by leaving out a small bowl of fresh water in your garden. Special hedgehog food is available to buy if you wish. Hedgehogs are nocturnal so your best chance of seeing them is at night. They like dry spaces such as under garden sheds, near compost heaps or hedges, or in an untidy bit of your garden.

Sense new life and optimism in every scene – Wonder at the power of nature. See the bulbs emerging from the soil, pale green leaves appearing on trees, flower buds starting to open and the sight of beautiful blossom everywhere.

Wander through swathes of beautiful bluebells – Carpets of bluebells are one of the greatest sights of spring. Bluebells usefully flower from late March through to May. The best places to spot them are in old and ancient woods, along hedgerows, or in fields and gardens. Native bluebells have a strong and sweet scent, so the stronger the smell the more likely you’ve found a native specimen.

Listen to the lullaby of birds returning – A large number of birds migrate to the UK every spring including Swallows, Warblers, Martins, Swifts and Cuckoos. Get up early and enjoy listening to the ‘dawn chorus’ as birds defend their territories and sing to attract a mate. Birds begin to sing about an hour before sunrise. It’s best to pick a day with fine weather and little wind. The first songsters of the season are residents such as Robins and Great Tits, followed by migrants such as the Chiffchaff or Blackcap Warbler.

Smell the scent of freshly cut grass – March is generally the time to start mowing the lawn. Put the blades on their highest level and gradually reduce the level until your reach your desired height by the end of April. Freshly cut grass smells so good as it reminds us of summer and weekends, which makes us feel good and boosts our mood.

Is your family truly ready for a dog?

If your children have been nagging you for years to get a dog, you might be starting to give in. A dog can be a great addition to a family; they can make for great companions and could also help protect your household. However, if this is your first time around, there's no way to tell if you're going to be able to handle the responsibilities. You also have to make sure that your children are ready for the commitment. Let's take a look at a few things you'll need to look at to make sure that your family is ready to welcome a dog home.

Are your children comfortable around animals?

The last thing you want is to have a scared child around the dog. You want to make sure that all your children are truly comfortable with them first. If you want to know how they'll react, a good idea would be to bring them with you to a shelter. See how they interact with dogs. You could also let them play with some of your friends’ pets. This will give you a better idea of how they behave when there's a dog around. 

We would also suggest that you consider older. Shelters have plenty of senior dogs who need love, and they tend to be much less aggressive. One thing you'll have to watch out for, however, is health issues, especially when it comes to joints and bones. Thankfully, many products provide natural joint care for dogs. You can buy joint care for your dog from suppliers such as YuMOVE, for instance. They have a formula that is perfect for adult dogs and could help them retain their mobility. Their formula can help reduce joint stiffness and support joint structure by protecting the joints and providing them with the nutrients needed to stay strong and healthy.

Are they respectful of pets in general?

Another thing you want to pay very special attention to is how respectful your children are of dogs, or animals in general. Some children will be aggressive and downright cruel to animals. They might not have the empathy necessary to take care of one, and you should never put a dog in that type of situation.

One thing we would recommend is that you get them a small pet first, like a rabbit or a hamster. You will then be able to see if they treat them with love and respect as well as how responsible they are. If they can’t manage to keep the cage clean or make sure that they always have food and water, you can’t expect them to do better with a dog. This is a great way to test their discipline and see if they’re truly serious about wanting to take care of one.

Are your children good with chores?

What is your children's attitude towards doing work around the house? If they absolutely hate chores or don't have any, you might be in trouble once a dog is added into the mix. Not only will there be chores associated with the dog, but the house will need more maintenance as well. This means much more work than they have right now, so if they can't handle simple chores, they can't handle a dog, it’s as simple as that.

You should also take a look at some of their daily habits. Do you have to fight them so they take a shower or brush their teeth before they go to bed at night? If you do, then it might be a sign that they're not mature enough yet. 

If the child is going to be the one mainly responsible for the dog, then it's usually a better idea to wait until their pre-teens before getting one. If you decide to get one before that, you can't expect them to take the dog on walks and train them. So, you'll have to be ready to take on those responsibilities.

How energetic is your child?

When children say that they want a dog, they usually mean it in a theoretical sense. They don’t really know what owning a dog is like and what it entails. One thing that will be particularly important for the dog is that they get enough activity. If they don’t, they can become destructive and dangerous. If you want to keep the dog active, your children have to be as well. If your child spends half of their day playing video games or on their tablet, you can’t expect them to become active overnight. This is probably who they are. They might act like they love going on walks at 6 in the morning at first, but they will eventually go back to their old ways. They might stop going on walks or cheat a little. So, make sure that they are ready for the physical challenge of owning a dog.

These are all things that should allow you to get a better idea of whether your children are truly ready for a dog or are simply saying so. Everyone needs to be on board for the sake of your household and the pet.

Surrey Mummy is loving...the Glow Art light-up drawing board

Glow Art is the original light up drawing board that can take a kid’s imagination anywhere and to a whole new level! The toy is simple, just four fluorescent markets can be used to create fantastic neon-like works of art. 36 selectable modes use multi-coloured LEDs to flash and light up the board in different ways, transforming and bringing their art to life.

The see-through screen means they can use it as a tracing board as well, so all their favourite pictures can be drawn by them. This is ideal for pre-schoolers as well. Kids can play games on the board for extra fun. It’s also a great educational tool as letters, numbers and shapes can be traced. Even maths homework can become more fun! As children get older their creations advance. If you need any more inspiration just visit the Glow art website for cool examples of what you can do with the light-up drawing board.

 Our very own Surrey Mummy reviewer had this to say about the board she tried out:

“Glow Art is great because it’s good for all ages and it has cool neon effects and it lights up after you’ve drawn. It has four different colours with good effects on the drawing board. You can draw whatever you want, anything you can think of! You can keep changing your creations and can use it for hours. I’ve created a Christmas scene and left it up for my family to see. I know I will use this Glow Art again and again”.

For more info visit the Glow Art website.