On Essex Mums this month
Click to skip to: 
*  BACK TO SCHOOL  *  CLASSES AND GROUPS  *
* NEW: BABY NAMES SECTION  *  TESTIMONIALS  * 
*  THINGS TO DO AD OFFER   *  EVENTS  * 
*  NEW CLASSES & GROUPS  * 
*  UPDATED CHILDREN'S CENTRE TIMETABLES  *
 *  COMPETITIONS  *  PRODUCT REVIEWS  *  
*  PREGNANCY AND PARENTING ARTICLES  *

 

Back to school again! I don't know about you but this summer has flown by for us and I can't believe we're another school year on! I do hope you all had an enjoyable August and found lots of great things to do. 

Please feel free to use the buttons below to add your own event, business etc:

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Do you know anybody who went to antenatal classes “just to make friends”? Or were your experiences of classes more of a let down than inspiring? Parentskool is a modern approach to antenatal classes – people make friends and learn so much valuable information too! Our award-winning business is seeking mums to train with us and support thousands of parents across the UK. All you need to be is a mum: we provide training and support to get classes running in your area. We pay good hourly rates too! If you want to be involved in this exciting new company then go to www.parentskool.co.uk/jobs

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Back to School
Whether your kids are starting nursery, infants, juniors, senior school or even university, you can come and chat about it on the forum and are sure to find other parents experiencing the same thing. Come and chat about what's going on with you in our 'What's happening this year?' thread or if you have a specific issue you would like to discuss, please feel free to start your own topic in our Education section. It can be a daunting time for your kids but also for you to be starting something completely new and it can definitely help to speak to people who have been there too, or are going through the same thing.

If you want some professional advice about school, you can post in our 'Ask the Teacher' section where we have a range of teachers from nursery up to secondary who are happy to give their advice and opinion about any educational issues that are bothering you.

A lot of schools now have facebook pages and groups for parents to communicate with one another and I have been starting to get a list together here. If your school does this I would really appreciate you letting me know the link so that I can add it to our list and make it easy for parents to find the relevant group for them. If your school doesn't have a group you are welcome to post on the forum to find out if anyone else knows where one is, or start one on there yourself!

If you're looking for a bit of back to school shopping, check out the 'School' section of the Shopping Guide for some fantastic shops or if you're looking for a bargain, check out the School Uniform Shop where you can buy and sell used uniform.
 

Classes and Groups
Those of you with pre-school children may well be looking for something fun to do, and will be pleased to know that all the term-time classes and groups will be starting up again. There is such an amazing range of activities for little ones, and you can find listings of them all in our Things to Do section. Within each area you can find sections for Parent and Toddler Groups, Classes, Sports and more. The Classes for Kids section of the Directory also has some great information about a few of the classes. If you're overwhelmed by the choice and would like some ideas as to what is worth giving a go, make sure you come and ask on the forum as you'll get some great feedback from other parents who have already tried them.

I am currently updating these so if you run a group yourself that needs some changes made, please let me know on louise@essexmums.org. Likewise, if you would like one of our review panel to attend one of your classes and write a review, do let me know!

 

Do you have a local business? How would you like your logo to appear every time someone looks for events in your area?  I'm now offering half-price ads in the Things to Do section. You can get ads on the Things to Do page itself for just £20 per month, on a main area page, such as this one for £10, on an area subpage for £5, or even have full run of a whole area for just £25! Snap them up while they're still available!

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• Foundation Course - An 8 class course for beginners
• Open class - A dynamic class, building strength, stamina and flexibility
• Soft Flow - Take time for yourself with this gentle stretching restorative class

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Events
Lots going on this month! You can find full listings on the Things to Do section but hopefully this will give you a few ideas about what's on near you and across the county.
 

Barking and Dagenham
2^nd: Build a Bird Feeder, Oval Road North
3^rd: Minibeast Madness, Barking Park
7^th: Second World War Day, Eastbury Manor House
8^th: Local Go Sky Ride, Barking Park
13^th: Babe the Sheep-Pig, Barking Broadway
14^th: History in the Baking, Eastbury Manor House
14^th, 21^st, 28^th: Green Shoes Arts, Dagenham Library
22nd: The Elves and the Shoemaker, Barking Broadway
28^th: Harvest Festival Fun, Valence House
 
Basildon
7^th: Titan the Robot, Festival Leisure Park
8^th: Help for Heroes Family Fun Day, Action Park
10^th: Hatchlings Club, Hanningfield Reservoir
11^th: RSPB Little Owls, Wat Tyler Country Park
13^th: Inflatable Fun, Grange Primary School
14^th & 15^th: Essex Country Show, Barleylands Farm
15^th: Kite Festival, Wick Country Park
19^th: Caterpillar Club, Hanningfield Reservoir
21^st  & 22nd: The Fayre Times Festival, Barleylands Farm
22^nd: The Essex Natural History Show, Wat Tyler Country Park
27^th: After School Disco, Stay and Play
29^th: One Wild Day, Wallasea Island
 
Braintree
Until 15^th: The Original Great Maze, Blake House Craft Centre
7^th & 8th: Lawnmower Racing Championships, Blake House Craft Centre
8^th: Harvest and Medieval Bread Day, Alderford Mill
14^th: Discovery Centre Stargazing, Great Notley
14^th: Witham Puppet Festival, Witham
20^th: The Time Travelling Magicians, Braintree Arts Theatre
21^st: Great Bardfield Primary Inflatable Day
28^th: Lauren Child Presents Ruby Redfort, Braintree Arts Theatre
 
Brentwood
4^th: Caterpillar Club, Thorndon Country Park
7^th: Baby and Toddler Fair, Bishops Hall
13^th: Bat Walk, Weald Country Park
15^th: Punch and Judy Show, Old MacDonald’s Farm
15^th: Hopefield Animal Sanctuary Funday
28^th & 29^th: The Weald Park Game and Country Show


Castle Point
6^th: Walk in the Dark, Hadleigh Country Park
7^th: Saturday Kids Art & Nature Club - Paper Flowers, Rayleigh View Nursery
8^th: Family Cycle Ride, Hadleigh Country Park
14^th: Saturday Kids Art & Nature Club - Mixed Media Painting, Rayleigh View Nursery
15^th: The big event! Inspired By The Games Sports Festival, Waterside Farm Leisure Centre
22nd: Roundhouse Open Day, Hadleigh Country Park
25^th: Westwood Academy Open Morning for Prospective Parents
28^th: Saturday Kids Art & Nature Club - Mixed Media Painting, Rayleigh View Nursery
 
Chelmsford
Every Saturday & Sunday: Fun on the Farm, Marsh Farm
3^rd: Harold Finds a Voice Stories and Craft Session, Just Imagine Story Centre
4^th: Little Acorns Pre-School Gardening Club, RHS Hyde Hall
7^th: Inflatable Fun Day, Busy Bees Nursery
10^th: Hatchlings Club, Hanningfield Reservoir
14^th: Langham Mother Baby Toddler & Kids Autumn Exhibition, Langham Community Centre
17^th: The Snail and the Whale Stories and craft session, Just Imagine Story Centre
18^th: Pregnancy Information Evening, Chetwood CC
19^th & 20^th: The Snail and the Whale, Civic & Cramphorn Theatres
21^st: Bushcraft for Beginners, Hanningfield Reservoir
22^nd: 21st Birthday History and Craft Fair, Essex Police Museum
24^th: Charlie and Lola  Stories and craft session, Just Imagine Story Centre
27^th: Ofsted Outstanding Celebration Party, Kiddi Caru Day Nursery Writtle
28^th: Sensation – Festival of the Senses, Chelmsford
29^th: 27th Annual Grand Motorbilia Day 2013, Battlesbridge
 
Colchester
Until 8^th: Stand Tall Farewell Tour, Colchester Zoo
2nd: Meet Mickey and Minnie, Jungle Adventure
3^rd – 14^th: The Butterfly Lion, Mercury Theatre
5th: Meet Peppa Pig, Jungle Adventure
7^th & 21st: Starlight Safari Trail, Colchester Zoo
8^th: Tower Tours, Layer Marney Tower
10th: Fairytale Day, Jungle Adventure
14^th: Apple Day, High Woods Country Park
15^th: Babe The Sheep-Pig, The Minories
17th: Jungle Safari Day, Jungle Adventure
20^th: Let’s Get Outdoors Wild Games Day, Fingringhoe Wick
21^st: Copy ‘n’ Paste, firstsite
22^nd: Prettygate Infant School Mega Inflatables Day
27^th: Fingringhoe Fledglings, Fingringhoe Wick
28^th: Robin Hood, Colchester Arts Centre
29th: Charity Day, Layer Marney Tower
 
Epping Forest
2^nd: Pretty Pink Cupcake Class for children aged 11- 18 years, Boutique Cake Centre
5^th: North Weald Teddy Bear’s Picnic, North Weald Library
6^th: Chilming in the Woods – The Jungle Book, Risden Park
7^th: Baby and Children’s Nearly New Sale, St. John’s Church Hall
8^th: Trains and Planes Funday, Epping Ongar Railway
14^th: Jubilee Nature Reserve Country Fayre
15^th: Lambourne End Open Day
21^st: Open House Extra: The Queen Elizabeth’s Hunting Lodge
22nd: Open House Extra: The Temple
24^th: Good Sleep Practices for Children with Autism, Wanstead Library
26^th: Special Time Charity Event, Mooro’s
28^th: Lila Jam kids craft workshop, St John’s Church Hall
28^{th & 29th}: Behind the Scenes Weekend, Epping Ongar Railway
 
Harlow
6^th – 8^th: Woodfest, Hatfield Forest
7^th & 8^th: Den Building Competition, Parndon Woods
9^{th, 17th & 21st}: FREE Experience Session,Kiddi Caru Day Nursery Harlow
14^th: Summer Fete - Upwards with Downs Fundraiser, Church Gate Street
15^th: Autumn Changes at Nature Reserve, Parndon Woods
21^st: 1st Great Parndon Scouts Fun Day, Snow Farm
28^th: Postman Pat, Harlow Playhouse
29^th: Apple Day, The Gibbered Garden
 
Havering
6^{th &}  20th: Bedfords Nature Rangers, Bedfords Park
7^th: Story Play, Queen’s Theatre
8^th: Display of animals from Wellgate Community Farm, Mill Field
15^th: Children’s Craft Workshop, Upminster Library
21^st: Kids’ Birdwatching Club, RSPB Rainham Marshes
21^st: Baby and Toddler Fair, Hornchurch
22^nd: Animal Tracks and Signs, Bedfords Park
25^th: Cupcake Animals, Collier Row Library
26^th: Card Making Class, Havering Museum
28^th & 29^th: The Liberty Fashion Show Weekend, Romford
 
Maldon
7^th & 8^th: New Hall Vineyards 41st ANNUAL English Wine Festival & Open Day
8^th: Man Powered Rail! Mangapps Railway
14^th: Heritage Weekend, Museum of Power
21^st: Maldon Regatta
22^nd: St Lawrence Family Fun Day
28^th: Burnham Carnival
28^th & 29^th: Maldon Art Trail
 
Redbridge
Until 7^th: Make Your Own Mini-Garden, Redbridge Museum
3rd: Mini Wild Things Exhibition, Redbridge Museum
3^rd & 4^th: Summer Kids’ Tennis Camps, Wanstead
10^th: Rhyme Time for Under 5s, Valentine’s Mansion
11^{th -}  13th: Monkey Music Open Day, South Woodford Library
14^th: Mum 2 Mum Market, Ilford
24^th: Explore, Make and Do – Vegetable Animals, Valentine’s Mansion
25^th: Healthy Eating Workshop, Christchurch Children’s Centre
28^th: The Elephant Bride, Kenneth More Theatre
 
Rochford
7^th: Fire Station Open Day, Hawkwell Fire Station
8^th: Village Fete, Canewdon Village Hall
12^th – 15^th: Rayleigh Arts Festival, Rayleigh Windmill Museum
18^th: Special Needs Fun House, Rayleigh Megacentre
 
Southend
Every Saturday: Big Saturday Nights Out, Adventure Island
7^th: NCT Nearly New Sale, St Thomas More School
12^th  & 26th: Squirrel Squad, Belfairs Woods
14^th: Fire Station Open Day, Leigh Fire Station
14^th: Party in the Park, Eastwood
15^th: Postman Pat, Cliffs Pavilion
21^{st & 22nd}: Leigh Regatta, Old Leigh
21^st: Fire Station Open Day, Shoeburyness Fire Station
25^th: Supporting Speech and Language in Under 5's, Blenheim CC
27^th: Club Teen, Kids Kingdom
 
Tendring
Until 8^th: The Napoleonic Home Front, Jaywick Martello Tower
4^th: Free Music Movers Sessions, Robbie Rascals
5^{th – 7th}: Little Shop of Horrors, Princes Theatre
8^th: Vintage Day, Carpenter's Farm
14^th: Fossil Hunts with the Nazeman, Walton on the Naze
14^th Wiz Fayre
22^nd: The 'GREAT' Little Clacton Classic Car Show, Parish Fields
29^th: Mills Open Day, Thorrington Tide Mill
 
Thurrock
7^th: The Orsett Show, Orsett Showground
14^th: Wildlife Explorers Club, RSPB Rainham Marshes
21st: Kids’ Birdwatching Club , RSPB Rainham Marshes
28^th: Film Festival – Muppets Treasure Island, Thameside Theatre
29^th: Open Day, Coalhouse Fort
 
Uttlesford
Until 11^th: State of Bewilderment, Church St Gallery
7^th 8^th, 15^th & 16^th: Bringing Audley End to Life, Audley End House and Gardens
7^th: Berden Village Edwardian Fête
14^th: Saffron Walden Castle Bailey - Medieval Open Day, Saffron Walden Museum
15^th: Dunmow Carnival
22^nd: Messy Church, Newport
28^th & 29^th: Apple Weekend, Audley End House and Gardens

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Carry & Care - Prenatal Yoga

Yoga during pregnancy offers an abundance of benefits!  Using specific breathing (emotional balance), sound (creating communication between mother & baby) & postures (healthy body/mind) practices, Carry & Care serves to support you and your child during each trimester.

Abi Adams has been a practitioner of Yoga for over 13 years, having studied in India for 2 months with the founder of the Bodhi Tree Yoga Centre, Canada on pre and postnatal Yoga as a therapy to create a wonderfully supportive practice as well as an environment of safety.

Carry & Care Yoga is held every Friday at 10am in Woodford.  Please contact Abi on aadams@loveoolongtime.com /07951 101 049.

This practice is much more than stretching and wearing out a mat.  It is about creating valuable time for you to breathe, relax and connect with yourself, your baby and other mothers to be. 
http://www.loveoolongtime.com/home

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New Classes and Groups
A selection of new information about classes and groups added this month.  Some are brand new to the site, some just have updates about new venues, details etc.Take a look at the Things to Do section for complete listings.

• Antenatal FitBack&Bumps 
• Baby and Mummy Massage 
• Basking Babies Baby Massage, Brentwood 
• Beginners Belly Dance Classes 
• Caterpillar Music Classes 
• Chameleon Theatre Arts, Rayleigh 
• Cheeky Chimps Music Classes 
• Diddidance Essex 
• Dinky Dragons - karate-based fun, music and movement 
• Ducktails Swim School 
• The Ellen Jane School of Dance 
• Ignite Dance Company Disco/Street Classes Clacton/Colchester 
• Jesters Theatre Academy 
• Kindermusik 
• Learn the Lingo 
• Legs, bums and tums for Mums 
• Little Squigglers Arts & Crafts
• Monkey Music South Woodford and Chingford 
• Musikate - Music and Movement Colchester 
• My Gym, Billericay 
• Prosports Sport Coaching 
• Sing and Sign - Billericay, Brentwood and Havering 
• Sit and Fidget Arts - Workshops in Southend - 7-16yr olds 
• Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy for School Chlldren 
• Stagecoach Classes 
• Stave House 
• Talking Tots 
• Teddy Toes Dance Classes 
• Toddler Sense 
• Tots Tales: The baby and Toddler Book Club 
• Thurrock Hockey Club 
• Tumble Tots 
• Yogapops, 3-5years 
• Young Handler Classes for 7 - 16 year olds - Alicia's Dog Training 

 
Updated Children’s Centres Timetables

• Acorn Children's Centre Timetable 
• Blenheim Children's Centre Timetables 
• Chelmsford Children's Centres 
• Christchurch Children’s Centre 
• Friars Children’s Centre Activity Timetable 
• Hamstel Children and Family Centre Programme 
• Highcliffe Children's Centre 
• Leigh Children & Family Centre 
• Little Acorns Children’s Centre Timetable
• Little Handprints Children’s Centre Timetable
• Little Lions Children’s Centre Timetable 
• Little Tewkes Children’s Centre Timetable
• Rainbow Children’s Centre Timetable 
• Silver End Children's Centre 
• Shoebury Children's Centre Activity Timetable 
• Summercourt Children's Centre 
• Thameside Children's Centre Timetables 2013 

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Genesis Pram Travel  Bags are made to measure bags designed to assist you to take your pram on holiday or simply for pram storage. Designed and made in England to the highest attainable standards they offer exceptional value for money. Regardless of which pram system you have, Genesis can create a travel bag to meet your exact requirements.   Tailored to meet your own needs you can also request additional carry handles, padding, extra pockets etc. With prices starting at an incredible £29.99 and yet to exceed £45.00 for the largest of prams the Genesis Pram Travel Bags are fantastic products at realistic prices.
 
Holiday travel and beyond.  Genesis Bags extend their life way beyond pram travel days and come in handy for days out on the beach or picnics in the park.  A large utility bag has may uses.

Find out more on https://www.facebook.com/Genesis.Footmuffs or Google Genesis Pram Travel Bag

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Competitions
Things to win! Check out the great competitions we currently have running. If you would like to run a competition yourself please let me know - it's a great way to advertise for free and also give something lovely to parents in Essex!

 

Product Reviews
Here's a list of what's been added this month! You can see a bit about each of our reviewers here, or can go straight to the reviews here.

• Danbury Big Garden Festival
• Kids’Fest at Marsh Farm
• Luca Bocelli Regatta Blue Leather Organiser Bag
• Snugg iPad 4 Case Cover and Flip Stand in Red Leather

Pregnancy & Parenting Articles
Some great articles added by our writers this month - take a look!

• Blood Spot Test 
• Nutrition for Mums after Baby
• Tiredness in Pregnancy
• Top ten tips for helping your child’s language development

Everything else
As always, please send any events, feedback, ideas etc. to me at louise@essexmums.org. I love hearing how people use the site and ways I can improve it. 

I hope you have a lovely month and that I'll get to see you at a meet-up soon.

Kind regards
Louise





 

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