April 2013

WELCOME TO APRIL’S IN:FORM!

Happy Easter to you all from everyone at The Red Oak!

If you would like to receive our newsletters electronically, then just complete the ‘Email updates’ form in the ‘Contact’ section of our website – www.theredoak.org.uk – or ‘like us’ at www.facebook.com/theredoak

We hope to see you at The Red Oak soon.

Duane Kirkland, Centre Manager.

‘Like us’ @/theredoak

Stefan is a 2 year old boy from Merstham whose family regularly uses The Red Oak.

On 31st January 2013, Stefan was rushed to East Surrey hospital where doctors initially suspected he had meningitis. However the next day he was transferred to St George’s hospital and diagnosed with a grade 3 Ependymoma brain tumour. (Stage 4 is terminal). On 2nd February Stefan underwent surgery following a life threatening seizure. Doctors gave him a 10% chance of survival, yet against the odds Stefan pulled through.

Stefan needs to go to America for at least 3 months so he can have radiation treatment to prevent the tumour from returning. He may also need chemotherapy afterwards.

We are supporting the family to raise the money they need so his 2 siblings can travel with him, as well as his Mum and Dad.

We would like to raise £750 through the Children's Centre. Can you help us!?

Our first fundraising event will take place on Wednesday 10th April. See the poster on page 7 for more details!

….is a new series of activity sheets for toddlers. They are a great tool for you to use to help your toddler develop their communication and language skills.

April’s activity is about making and using puppets!

You can download the activity sheet from our website, www.theredoak.org.uk where it can be found under ‘activities and events’, or scan the QR code with your mobile.

Why not take a look and see what fun you can have together!

The Red Oak Children’s

Centre is pleased to support

the Earlswood

Wednesdays 10.00 am-

12.00 noon (term time)

YMCA Princes Road,

Redhill, RH1 6JJ

Breastfeeding support and

information for pregnant and

breastfeeding women.

* Specially trained staff * Partners

welcome * Toddler play area *

* Refreshments*

Cooking and Shopping on a Budget

Come along to enjoy these lively, informative, FREE tutor led workshops on how you can economise when shopping and provide nutritious economical meals. Gain a range of recipe ideas to try out at home.

At Merstham Community Facility 44 Portland Drive, Merstham

Tuesdays 23rd & 30th April 2- 4pm

To book please call Carol on 01737 763156 or email carol@rbcvs.org.uk

Early booking is advised.

Activities:

Advice & Info

Drop in and see us if you have a question or need help on anything to do with raising a family, or if you need help with completing paperwork.

Free

baby baby

A small, friendly session for parents to drop in with their under 1s. Join us for coffee, chat & play.

50p per family

Baby Café

Term time drop-in breast feeding support & information for pregnant & breast feeding women. Partners welcome. @ YMCA Princes Road, Redhill.

Free

Baby Massage

A 5-week course to teach you all you need to know about baby massage. It’s great for relaxation, bonding and communication. Call to book.

£15 per child per 5 week course

Dad’s Club

An opportunity for dad’s to bring their children to a session of play and activities. Open to children under 5, and their superheroes!

50p per family

Introducing Family Foods

Is your baby around 4 months old & showing an interest in food? Come along for information & advice about feeding and weaning your baby. Run by the Merstham 0- 19 Public Health Nursing Team.

Free

Little Sports Stars

A drop-in active session with ‘Little Sports Stars’ – the specialists in children’s multi-sports and activities. Open to children aged 2-5

£1.50 per child

Fox Cubs

For children (aged 3-6) to enjoy, explore & learn about nature, the environment & wildlife. Run with Surrey Wildlife Trust & Furzefield Primary School.

£10 per child per 6 week course.

Playlink

A popular drop-in stay and play session run jointly by Merstham Playlink (Welcare in East Surrey) and us. Runs at Age Concern, Weldon Way, Merstham

50p per family

Post Natal Group

A 4-week course for new mums introducing a wide range of topics including Baby Massage, First Aid, Feeding and more.

Free

SPLAT!

Stay, play & learn all together! Use all our facilities & equipment, meet others, and take part in organised activities… There’s LOTS to do! SPLAT (HBC) is only for home-based child carers.

HBC-£1.50 per child/ £2.00 during holidays

Splodgers!

A chance to come and do all the arty, crafty and MESSY things you want to do with your children, but without the stress of doing it at home!

£2 for first child, then £1 each

Well Baby Clinic

Drop-in to have your baby weighed or to see the health visiting team... then stay for a while and have a drink while your little one plays.

Free

Calendar

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

26 March 27 28 29 30

0930- 1130 Parenting Puzzle (10)

1000- 1200 Earlswood Baby Cafe

1300-1500 baby baby

1000-1200 Playlink

1230-1415 Well Baby Clinic

1530- 1700 Fox Cubs (5)

GOOD FRIDAY

CENTRE CLOSED

1 April 2 3 4 5 6

SHINING STARS CLOSED FOR EASTER HOLIDAYS

EASTER

MONDAY

CENTRE CLOSED

1300-1500 baby baby

1000-1200 Playlink

1230-1415 Well Baby Clinic

1530- 1700 Fox Cubs (6)

0930-1100 Splodgers!

1430-1500 Little Sports Stars

8 9 10 11 12 13

SHINING STARS CLOSED FOR EASTER HOLIDAYS

0930-1100 SPLAT! (HBC)

1000-1200 Playlink

1000- 1300 ACTIVE 8

1300-1500

baby baby

1000-1200 Playlink

1230-1415 Well Baby Clinic

0930-1100 Splodgers!

1430-1500 Little Sports Stars

15 16 17 18 19 20

0930-1100 SPLAT! (HBC)

1000-1200 Playlink

1230- 1430 Introducing Family Foods

1000- 1200 Earlswood Baby Cafe

1300-1500 baby baby

1000-1200 Playlink

1230-1415 Well Baby Clinic

0930-1100 Splodgers!

1430-1500 Little Sports Stars

22 23 24 25 26 27

0930-1100 SPLAT! (HBC)

1000-1200 Playlink

1300-1430 Baby Massage (1)

1000- 1200 Post Natal (1)

1000-1200 Earlswood Baby Cafe

1300-1500 baby baby

1000-1200 Playlink

1230-1415 Well Baby Clinic

0930-1100 Splodgers!

1430-1500 Little Sports Stars

1000- 1200

Dad’s Club

29 30

0930-1100 SPLAT! (HBC)

1000-1200 Playlink

1300-1430 Baby Massage (2)

These are the activities provided by the Children’s Centre (or by our partners) that are open to all our families with children aged 0-5. In addition, we host or run some groups or activities that are only open to some families, or which need an

appointment to attend. These do not appear on the calendar, so don’t worry if you are coming to an appointment that isn’t showing! We reserve the right to change the programme at short notice and recommend you check before attending.

Many of the courses we run at the Children’s Centre are free and although some activities have a suggested donation these are not intended to prohibit families from attending. Fees may be charged for the services we provide for other

professionals and for courses and activities run by external companies.

Is your baby around 4 months old?

Are they starting to show an interest in food?

Come along to a free session on

Introducing Family Foods

for advice and information about feeding and weaning your baby.

The next session at The Red Oak is:

Tuesday 16th April

12.30pm- 2.30pm

Run by the Merstham 0- 19 Public Health Nursing Team.

Please call to reserve your place.

Tuesday’s 1.00pm- 2.30pm

Course 1 runs 23rd April- 21st May Course 2 runs 4th June- 2nd July

£15 for the 5 week course

Suitable for babies over 8 weeks old until they can crawl!

Key benefits of baby massage are:

Improves relaxation, encouraging longer sleep duration

Helps to relieve the effects of colic, teething, constipation & wind

Stimulates all of a baby’s major systems, immune system, co-ordination, respiration, digestion, learning ability, language development…

What’s On

Dad’s Club

Saturday 27th April

10am- 12noon

Toys, craft and snacks for the children and bacon

sandwiches for the dads!

For children aged 0-5 and their superheroes!

Post Natal Group

Free 4 week course starting

Wednesday 24th April 10am- 12noon

Giving new Mums the chance to make new friends and cover a wide range of topics including Baby Massage, First

Aid, Feeding and more.

Baby Massage

May’s edition will be available on

Tuesday 30th April

Please recycle me when you pick up the next edition of in:form!

1 cup plain flour

½ cup salt

2 tablespoons cream of tartar

2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 cup water with food colouring added

Put all the ingredients into a large saucepan, and stir over a

medium heat until the dough forms into a ball. Allow to cool, and then knead until smooth.

Store in an airtight container.

We are now collecting Sainsbury’s Active Kids Vouchers. Please bring them to the centre and pop them in the box in reception. Thank you.