Page 85 - Phonebox Magazine September 2014

The School Run
Time to head back to school
Samantha Smeraglia
Music and movement for budding performers
Jo Jingles Music Group
(3 months to 5 years old, classes split by age)
Mon and Thurs, 9.30, 10.30 and 11.30am at The Olney Centre. To book the right class for your child’s age, call Charlotte on 07968 207442 or go to bedford.jojingles.com/classes.asp
Little Songbirds (under 5s)
Music and movement, refreshments included. Weds ,10-11am at St Lukes Church, Newport Pagnell, or Fri 10-11am at the Olney Youth Club (East Street). Go to little-songbirds-music- group.co.uk
Rag Dolly Anna (from birth to 5 year olds)
Music and play sessions. Tues, 10am and 11am at the Olney Youth Club. Booking required, just call 07901 854894 or go to ragdollyannas.com
Toddler Time Music and Movement (under 5s)
Lively music and movement session. Weds 1.45-2.30pm Green Park Community Centre, Newport Pagnell. Pay as you go. Call Annette on 01908 647405 or visit www.toddlertimemk.co.uk
Religious themed activities and story telling
Church Mice (birth to under 5s)
Informal, welcoming group with religious themed activities, including craft, music and stories. Thurs at 10.30am. St. Peters & St. Pauls Church, Church Street, Olney. Donation as you go. Call Claire on 01234 713308.
First Steps (birth to 4 year olds)
Bible themed mums and toddler group, including play time, crafts, baby area, snacks, Bible story and songs. Weds 10- 11.30am Sutcliffe Baptist Church, Olney (opposite the market square). Donation as you go. Call Siobhan on 01234 713282.
Sport activities, crafts and messy play for all
Mini Strikers (2 to 4 year olds)
Action-packed fun, games and sport sessions. Tues at Lavendon School, Thurs (1.45-2.30pm) at the Tickford Centre, Newport Pagnell and Thurs (3.15-4pm) at Olney Youth Club. Call 01525 403981 or go to ministrikers.co.uk
Mum & Co Soft Play (birth to 5 years old)
Mon (10am-12pm) at Olney Youth Club. Friendly, lively toddler playgroup, including ride-on toys and a baby zone for younger siblings. Call Ana-Maria on 01234 241837.
Splatter Cats (birth to under 4s)
Craft and messy play with a weekly theme. Weds (10-11.30am) at St John’s Ambulance Hall. For more information go to
facebook.com/SplatterCats.
The summer holidays are over and it’s time to pick the loom bands out of your hair, off the floor and out of the car. The fun of the sunshine is coming to a close, and the annual battle for school uniforms and shoes that fit has been fought.
September is a big month for families and schools, and for some it means their children starting school for the first time. Others will be sending their youngest off for their first day, bringing the end of one particular parenthood chapter. Either way, there are often tears but thankfully not from the teachers, who are used to helping children and parents make the tricky transition from toddler to pupil.
Some children will be joining pre-school, while others will be starting a new school year or moving to others. The younger ones at primary school will be enjoying free school meals, and new routines will be made for after school clubs. But what about those children not old enough for school? Whether babies, toddlers or preschoolers, there are still plenty of local activities for younger children and their parents/guardians.
You can find details on weekly play groups in every village in the area, from Wollaston to Hanslope, or Stagsden to Great Linford. Libraries have a childrens’ books section, and many run a free weekly story-time with songs (for under 5s) during term time. Go to milton-keynes.gov.uk/libraries for more information. Newport Pagnell’s Middleton swimming pool offers parent and baby/toddler sessions from 9.30-11.30am in the week too. Just call (01908) 610477 for details.
Woodlands Childrens’ Centre on 01234 241837 and NCT (nct.org.uk/ branches) both have a wealth of local knowledge and support for mums-to- be and new parents with young babies. Information on everything from drop-in clinics, post-natal talks and breastfeeding groups are available in the area. Here are a couple more suggestions for those who have little ones to amuse in school hours:
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