Message from Surestart Coordinator – Pauline Wilson

Welcome to our Surestart Ards webpage.  We have been so looking forward to going live with our website and I had hoped for a more exciting launch.  However with this ongoing crisis , it is essential that we are able to link with you and share details of the great services we are still able to offer you.

The SureSart services that are still available are as follows –

The main phone lines in both areas are available Monday – Friday 9am – 4pm.  This is for any queries about your family or if you need anything that we can help you with .  If the phone is not answered immediately please leave a message and someone will contact you.

Family support – we are providing a telephone service for families requiring ongoing guidance and support at this challenging time.

Early Years – staff will be contacting the families with children attending Dakota Tots, Country Tots, Little Buddies, Little Blossoms and Peer interaction programmes to maintain links with the children.

Health visitor – support is still available for any antenatal mums, new mums and those requiring breastfeeding support or guidance.

We will be offering video links on this site for activities such as Rhythm, rhyme and story time, arts and crafts etc. so please have a look and join in with your children.

If there is anything else that you think we can offer please contact us –

Maxwells Courtyard, Kircubbin –  Tel. 02842739322

Dakota Avenue, Newtownards – Tel 02891819722

In the meantime, stay safe, wash your hands and stay at home.  We look forward to seeing you when this is all over. Pauline Wilson

Please scroll down for more information

Something for the New Year – Sing Talk Play Zoom 4 week session

For information on Promoting Mental Health Well Being click on link below

Action Pack (full version inc training resource):  https://view.pagetiger.com/cfvaiep/1

Online Training resource:  https://view.pagetiger.com/cwxyhdo

Pre-school and Primary one online admissions portal opens 7th January 2021

Please click on link for more information on Mental Health and Money Toolk

https://www.mentalhealthandmoneyadvice.org/ni/

This booklet is intended to offer helpful suggestions and recourses for families to support parents, children and adolescents deal with stress and strengthen meaningful connections together.  Please click on the link below picture

http://surestartards.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/What-just-happened-booklet-final.pdf

Dealing with Worry in Difficult Times

Dealing with worry in difficult times  is a booklet from Health Development on dealing with worry and uncertainty.  It gives practical suggestions for reducing worry in these challenging times, promote wellbeing and provides links to resources that people have found helpful.

Please click on this link to view a video version of this booklet

https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FdIYhhhqf9Gc

Weaning Advice

If you would like some information around weaning please click on the links below

https://www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/services/infant-nutrition/weaning/

this link is from NHS Lanarkshire, it contains several videos that link in well with the content of ‘solid start’- e.g. discussing buying shop bought baby food vs homemade, they discuss when babies are ready for weaning and have short videos on making weaning foods.

There are also useful videos on Public Health England’s Start for life page

https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/weaning/

First steps nutrition have good photo resources-

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/59f75004f09ca48694070f3b/t/5ceed06a15fcc07f8822270b/1559154825802/Eating_well_first_year_April19_for_web.pdf

Wire Me Happy Information

Parenting can be challenging at any time and just when you think you have mastered it another challenge arises.  Parenting NI have a range of one hour online sessions offering support with a range of topics including parenting in a pandemic, managing challenging behaviour and managing transitions.

Children and Young Peoples Resource Pack

This resource pack was collated in April and has recently been updated. Clink on the link below to find out information from 50 simple activities to do with your child to coping with mental health and well being to printable colouring in sheets and a section on resources and activities for children and young people with a disability (pge 7-10).

http://www.cypsp.hscni.net/download/documents/CYPSP-Resource-Pack-2020.pdf

BookTrust

BookTrust have launched a new digital hub , BookTrust Home Time which it packed with reading advice, ideas, activities and resources.  Their recent addition – the Northern Ireland page will feature local authors, illustrators and initiatives. This portal highlights amazing local talent and shares what other organisations are doing to support families across Northern Ireland.  Each week there will be a new video or interview – kicking things off Malachy Doyle reads his book Molly and the Whale.  Please cllick on the link to make use of this resource https://www.booktrust.org.uk/books-and-reading/have-some-fun/ni/  

The BookTrust NI facebook page is www.facebook.com/booktrustni

Something for the older children

Libraries Ni is delighted to announce details of Silly Squad, Summer Reading Challenge 2020 produced by The Reading Agency and delivered by Libraries.  The Silly Squad , Summer Reading Challenge is free, exciting way to keep young people aged 4 – 11 years reading through the summer months.  Due to the current circumstances in relation to COVID-19 and with school life disrupted, this years Silly Squad Summer Reading Challenge will be even more beneficial in helping parents and carers to find fun, family-friendly activities to support children in maintaining and developing their reading levels. Click on www.librariesni.org.uk to sign up for free.

Rhythm Rhyme and Storytime

Deirdre is back!!! Click below to enjoy another Rhythm, Rhyme and Storytime session

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oPE_k7a4cyrx0aMDjjW6bmoYt9mthRmf/view?usp=sharing

Remember ‘What is in the bag today?‘ Please click on the link below to learn how a simple activity can bring great opportunities for communication development with your child. https://www.facebook.com/308606839264367/posts/2017590515032649/

Learn how you can help to develop your child’s understanding of words through play.  Click on the link to find out more

Help Kids Talk

January Message of the Month

January Newsletter

Its never too early to introduce children to books and it is important to include access to books throughout the day for your little ones.  Books help with vocabulary and language development.  Babies love books.  Use them any time during the day – getting babies to holding books an sharing stories at a young age helps prepare them for reading as they get older.  It also helps them learn new words, as they see the picture at the same time as they hear the word.  Check out the libraries NI rub a dub hub website for ideas

https://www.librariesni.org.uk/sites/radh/Pages/default.aspx

Please click on Advice page for Speech and language useful links

While We Can’t Hug

If your child is starting one of our Two Year Old Programmes or leaving us to start a new nursery here is a book that can help explain this transition and to help understand physical distancing.  The book form will be available in August but for now click on the link below

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2PnnFrPaRgY

Staff News (for a bit of light relief!!!)

So remember during lockdown 1 Sharon aka Dr Doolittle befriended a pheasant and had it eating out of her hand?  Well here she is again this time making friends with some wild kittens – how cute are they and look at their lovely fur.  I can see a new career in the horizon Sharon!!

Congratulations to Cheryl and Kurits on their recent engagement.  Cheryl’s beloved dog Harley played a very important role on the day by retrieving a ball on the beach saying ‘will you marry me’.  How romantic.  Wishing you both every happiness.  2020 not such a bad year Cheryl!

The beautiful ring

And the other handsome male in Cheryl’s life

Also congratulations to the new Mr and Mrs Moore

Amy and Daniel were married in August literally between 2 lockdowns

A fabulous day was had by all and what an unusual situation for Amy to be working with both her mum and mother in law – good luck Amy!!

Hello Lockdown 3!!!!  As a way of keeping in touch with our families we have been encouraging  everyone to send in photographs of how they are spending their time while at home.  Thanks to everyone who have participated so far

Hello Matthew Brown – love your lego creation -keep up the good work

Look how busy Sarah Hawthorne is – Sarah attends our SureStart group in Dakota – well done Sarah keep up the good work

Look at the end result – Jessica made a bird feeder while in lockdown.  Well done for looking after our wildlife

Here is Hunter McCann -he is very busy drawing a lovely picture.  What a great smile you have Hunter

Here is our wee snowman Odin enjoying fun in the snow!!

Oliver is very busy making musical instruments with plastic bottles filled with rice/pasta/peas.  Well done Oliver I hope you are making lots of noise in your house!!

Here is Oliver Hagan enjoying his new toy which he received  for being a very brave boy after hurting his elbow

Sarah I just love your pink scooter – wonder if I could get one in my size!!

I wonder what Jessica Savage is making?  Look at those scissor skills

Here is Logan Orr showing off his masterpiece.  Well done Logan you have done a super job!

Maisie Colgan getting very creative with ‘The Three Little Pigs’.  What a great job you are doing Maisie.  Nice to see Mum getting her picture taken as well.  Keep up the good work 

Hi to Sarah Hughes showing off her talents – lovely to see your wee face Sarah.  

Lacey tells Mum that she is doing her ‘homework’!!

Recipes to make

Yoghurt Buns

100g yoghurt (any flavour) the pot can then be used to measure out the following

3/4 of the pot for sunflower oil

1 yoghurt pot of caster sugar

3 yoghurt pots of self raising flour

1 yoghurt pot of dried fruit

1 yoghurt pot of choc chips

1 egg

1/2 yoghurt pot milk

1 tsp baking powder

Method

Pre heat oven to 180 c 

Empty yougurt into mixing bowl and keep pot for measuring

Add oil and egg – mix together

Add sugar and mix

Add baking powder, dried fruit and choc chips

Add flour and fold together ( don’t over mix)

Spoon into muffin cases and bake in over for 12-15 mins until springy to the toucjh

*** remember you can use different flavours of yoghurt and different dry ingredients ***

Store Cupboard and Freezer Ideas                  

Our NHS 

Here at SureStart Ards we would like to extend our support and gratitude to our colleagues in the NHS. We have watched day by day, hour by hour how this situation is changing and how they are doing their utmost to help us, our family and our community.  Please support this by staying at home, stay safe and protect our NHS.  Staff at SureStart Ards are still working to support families – some are working from home while others this week will be working in First Steps Day Nursery in Lagan Valley Hospital and Ulster Hospital and First Steps Afterschool in Down Hospital Downpatrick.  Support has also been given to the Family Support Hub Trustwide* in offering telephone services to families requiring additional support.

• for referral send to familysupporthubs@setrust.hscni.net
• or telephone Karen Otley Tel no. 02892501357