Little Miss Princess is guest of honour at a very special street party

Hang out the union jack bunting, roll out the red carpet and sound the trumpets for the arrival of Little Miss Princess and her canine friend at this very British street party.

She made her debut in time for the Royal Wedding last year, now, to coincide with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, she stars in Little Miss Princess and the Very Special Party.

A true Royal at heart, Little Miss Princess, has a golden crown, travels by carriage, sits in a throne and even has her very own corgi!

Little Miss Princess and the Very Special Party is a right royal giggle from start to finish, packed full of all your favourite Mr. Men and Little Miss characters with lots of silly mishaps along the way.

With Little Miss Princess as the guest of honour, Little Miss Helpful realises that she must organise a very special party. A street party! But Little Miss Helpful isn’t as good at organising things as her name would suggest and so it isn’t long before things start to go wrong … especially once Little Miss Naughty gets involved!

See Mr. Tickle use his extraordinarily long arms to put up bunting and find out who ends up sitting next to who according to Little Miss Naughty’s mischievous seating plan!

Adam Hargreaves, author and illustrator of the Mr. Men and Little Miss books, commented: “It’s not the first time a dog has appeared in the Mr. Men and Little Miss books but it is definitely the first appearance of a corgi! I am thrilled that the Mr. Men and Little Misses will be marking the Jubilee in this brand new story and had great fun writing and illustrating it. The Mr. Men love a bit of a bash and what better way to celebrate the Jubilee than with a fun street party!”

David Riley, Managing Director, Egmont Publishing Group said: We do hope this story will amuse … Little Miss Princess & the Very Special Party has been specially written to help mark this Royal occasion. We hope that this new addition to the LMP range will delight adults and children alike.”

Little Miss Princess and the Very Special Party publishes on the 7^th May for £2.99.

Little Miss Princess became book number 34 in the series in March 2011. She was the first new Little Miss addition in eight years, since 2003 when Little Miss Whoops, Little Miss Scary and Little Miss Bad were published. Also published last year was Little Miss Princess and the Very Special Wedding – a special colouring and sticker book to celebrate the Royal Wedding.  

To date, almost two hundred million Mr. Men and Little Miss books have been sold worldwide and over three million Mr. Men and Little Miss books are sold every year in the UK alone.

Egmont is the number one children’s licensed character publisher in the UK.

To win a signed copy of Little Miss Princess and the Very Special Party, just answer the following question.

How many Mr. Men and Little Miss books are sold each year in the UK?

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All correct entries will be put into a draw. All entrants will receive our free newsletter.

This summer, Disney fans will get to see their heroes live on stage at the NIA, Birmingham as part of a special magic show. Disney Live! presents Mickey’s Magic Show will see Mickey, Minnie and a host of their friends perform stunning magic tricks that will wow audiences, and we’re giving you the chance to win a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) to the show.

One lucky winner will get to go to the opening night (25th July) and see some of Disney’s biggest stars as they take to the stage. You’ll see the likes of Donald Duck, Goofy, Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter, as well as Disney Princesses, Jasmine, Belle, Snow White and Cinderella. All of the fantastic characters will appear alongside world-class magicians to perform tricks from legendary Disney films.

The show will see the Fairy Godmother transform Cinderella’s rags into a beautiful ball gown in a split second, in addition to the spectacular levitation of Aladdin’s Princess Jasmine and the enchanted dancing brooms of Fantasia.

If you’d like to give your family the chance to experience some true Disney Magic, simply answer this question

Which Disney Princesses will you be able to see at this show?

To find out more about the show and what you can expect, visit www.thenia.co.uk.

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All correct answers will be put into the draw.  All entrants will receive our free newsletter.

The options for reducing your carbon footprint are always increasing and taking steps to make your home more sustainable and energy efficient can make significant reductions in your home’s carbon emissions and energy bills. World Environment Day is on the 5^th June and designed to raise awareness of energy issues to promote a green economy that is one which is low carbon, resource efficient and socially inclusive.

Safestyle UK have now set the benchmark for high quality, high security, energy efficient double glazing products. Celebrating their 20th anniversary this year, the FENSA registered company provides A-Rated Energy Efficient PVCU windows, doors and composite doors in a range of styles and colours to suit any property and budget.

Safestyles windows are more than twice as energy efficient as standard modern E-rated double glazing. You can reduce the amount of energy lost through your windows by up to 100%. With £1 in £3 spent on household energy being thrown away, you have the potential to save as much as £461 per year.

You may be shocked to find out how much energy is wasted in your household but don’t have the first idea as to where, how and why? An infrared thermal gun can give you a thorough understanding of where your house is losing heat in winter, or gaining it in summer. The more you know about where heat is entering or leaving your home, the more effective you’ll be at controlling energy consumption and waste. With an infrared thermal gun, you just wander around the inside and outside of your home on a hot summer day or a cold winter evening, and take readings at windows, outside doors, walls, or wherever else heat may leak through.

The device helps you get a complete picture of problems with insulation, sealing, or windows in need of replacement. You can use an infrared heat gun for countless other measurements around the house and you are sure to get many hours of use out of it, finding the hotspots and cold spots in your walls, floors and ceilings, your garage, your fridge, freezer, your car engine – anywhere you want to know the surface temperature.

Start making a better tomorrow, today!

For your chance to win a fantastic infrared thermal heat gun just go to Safestyle.co.uk and find the following answer:-

Safestyles amazing technology reduces the amount of energy lost through your windows by 100% – that’s enough energy to make how many extra cups of tea a year?

• 14,000
• 24,000
• 34,000

All correct answers will be put into a draw. All entrants will receive our free newsletter.

It’s a busy year for the Queen – she has lots of important events to attend. Meanwhile, a little girl is wondering what knickers Her Majesty will choose to wear on a school visit! Will they be her ‘at home’ knickers – adorned with corgis – or her ‘garden party’ knickers, or perhaps her woolly Balmoral ones…?

Steve Brown carried out the study, published in the journal Appetite this April, with a sample of children aged 18 – 26 months old to investigate how the avoidance of new food in children (food neophobia) develops, and how it can lead to reduced variety in a child’s diet and anxiety over food.

It was found that putting a favourite food on the same plate as a disliked food could lead to them both being rejected.

Steve said: “We wanted to discover the role of the emotion ‘disgust’ in food neophobia and avoidance. Disgust seems to be a very a strong emotion for infants, and any new parent can tell you it is clear to see by their child’s expression.

“A key aspect of disgusting things is that that they have contaminating properties. If a fly lands on your sandwich for example, it seems contaminated and you no longer want to eat it. This natural reaction is useful as it protects people from consuming contaminated foods that could cause illness or death.”

In this study, Steve, along with Gill Harris from the University of Birmingham, tested whether children believe that food they like can be contaminated by something they believe to be ‘disgusting’ just by sitting next to it on the same plate.

Parents of 18 infants aged 18 – 26 months were asked to identify a food their child had previously rejected, and showed a ‘disgust’ reaction to, and a food the child always liked.

They were then asked to present the disliked food on its own, present the liked food on its own, present the liked food touching a disliked piece of food, and two liked foods touching, and record their child’s reactions.

“We found a significant number of the children rejected the food they usually liked when it was touching a food they didn’t like.  Many of these children continued to refuse the ‘contaminated’ liked food until it had been exchanged for a new piece.

Steve added: “These results support the idea that children as young as 18 months old have a strong contamination response which may reflect feelings of disgust. This was not previously thought to influence food rejection until around seven years of age.

“As food neophobia and restricted eating begins during infancy, ‘contamination’ of liked foods as a result of the strong disgust response could be one of the bases of this reduction in the variety of foods a child will eat.”

In a further study, also to be published in the journal Appetite, Steve and Gill investigated whether young children aged four to six years old showed a contamination response when asked to rate how much they liked certain foods.

A significant contamination effect was found again in this age sample, with 16 out of 30 children not liking a previously liked food after it was presented touching a disliked food.  This effect was significantly stronger in girls than in boys.

Steve said: “Previous studies have found higher levels of disgust in women than in men, and as we found a stronger and more prolonged sensitivity of food contamination in girls than boys in this study, it supports our idea that ‘contamination’ is a result of the disgust mechanism.”

 For more information about studying psychology at the University of Derby visit www.derby.ac.uk/psychology

Background:

Disliked foot acting as a contaminant during infancy. A disgust based motivation, for rejection appears in Appetite, Vol 58, Issue 2 (April 2012).

The University is home to a diverse community of more than 20,000 students from the UK and overseas studying on a wide range of subjects in; arts, design and technology; business, computing and law; education, health and sciences; culinary arts, events management and sport.

Derby achieved University status in 1992, and Professor John Coyne has been the University’s Vice-Chancellor since 2004.

In November 2011 the University won two Times Higher Education (THE) Awards; the Outstanding Employer Engagement Initiative Award for the success of its business-to-business arm, University of Derby Corporate (UDC); and the Outstanding Contribution To The Local Community Award for the work of its Community Relations team.

The University’s Derby Campus includes its Kedleston Road, Markeaton Street and Britannia Mill sites.

The University of Derby Students’ Union (UDSU), research centres and academic schools –including The Derby Business School – are all based at the Kedleston Road site.

Derby’s Markeaton Street site is dedicated to its arts, design and technology programmes. It was opened by Sir Richard Branson in 2007.

Britannia Mill, a restored Victorian mill, houses the University’s School of Social Care and Therapeutic Practice, and some of its nursing students are trained in Chesterfield.

University of Derby Corporate (UDC) is based at the Enterprise Centre, Bridge Street, Derby.

The University also has a Campus in the Peak District spa town of Buxton. The Buxton Campus in the town’s iconic Dome houses the Higher Education School of Culture and Lifestyle, and Buxton College of Further Education. It was officially opened by Their Royal Highnesses Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in 2006.

The two day event takes place on Saturday 26^th and Sunday 27^th May at Riverside Park in Lechlade. With over 40 bands on 2 stages there is something for every musical taste – from rock to reggae, ska to swing, jazz, blues, folk, punk, latin, comedy, country & more!  PLUS Belly Dancing, Burlesque, Real Ales from the Halfpenny Brewery with guest beers & ciders, Hog Roast, Stalls, Rides and a Funfair.

New for 2012 is the introduction of a Student Ticket (13+ with ID), a Seniors discount and onsite Camping.  Not only are children 12 and under FREE but families who camp get a FREE BREAKFAST with every adult breakfast – fabulous value for a great family weekend’s entertainment.

The headline sponsor for this year’s event is Lower Mill Estate – the beautiful 550-acre Cotswold residential nature reserve just twenty minutes from Lechlade at Somerford Keynes. An award-winning community of sustainable vacation homes, Lower Mill Estate offers a unique opportunity to design your own bespoke rural bolt hole: an escape into a verdant wilderness of scenic lakes, rivers and miles of exploration trails.

Commenting on their sponsorship, Red Paxton Sales Director at Lower Mill Estate says: “Lower Mill Estate is a community of families that enjoy spending time in the beautiful Cotswold countryside and playing a part in local life. As The Lechlade Festival is a fantastic family event right on our doorstep, we are delighted to sponsor the 2012 Lechlade Festival and very much look forward to being part of this year’s celebrations.”

Alongside Lower Mill Estate, the Festival will also be supported by Lechlade Garden Centre and Londis, Lechlade.

Tickets available from: www.lechladefestival.co.uk

Get the latest news via Facebook at www.facebook.com/lechladefestival or keep up via Twitter @LechladeFest

About Lower Mill Estate

Lower Mill Estate is an award-winning community of sustainable vacation homes, set within a private, fully managed and secure 550 acre reserve in the Cotswolds.

The Estate was born from a passion to put nature first. The Paxton family established it 16 years ago with a vision to create a residential nature reserve that provides a sense of security and the freedom to escape the demands of urban life, within a community of people who want to build their own beautiful homes and immerse themselves in a natural environment.

Lower Mill Estate is a collection of private picturesque villages committed to ecological best practice, with wonderful facilities, an award-winning family spa and over 550 acres of pure Cotswold countryside. The estate is a place where families can safely live in a vibrant community. This unique 21^st century country retreat offers an idyllic rural vacation lifestyle, yet with a level of style and luxury never seen before in such a deep rural setting.

Those looking to buy at Lower Mill Estate are involved from an early stage in a bespoke design process. From the remarkable lakeside Landmark Homes to the secure, convenient, lock-up-and-go Somerford Reserve apartments, each and every property on the estate has been expertly designed to harmonize people, ecology and award-winning architecture.

Please see www.lmeluxuryholidays.com and www.lowermillestate.com for more details.

To hear the latest news, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lowermillestate or follow us on twitter @LowerMillEstate

Seven nights at La Croix du Vieux Pont – £371 per party (accommodation only)

Easily reached from Paris, Eurocamp’s La Croix du Vieux Pont at Berny Rivière is an action-packed lakeside parc and the perfect haven away from the hustle and bustle of the city. The many activities on-parc include archery, canoeing, cycling and volleyball, while two full size courts offer the ideal opportunity for tennis fans to work on their backhand.

The parc’s beauty therapy centre and gym are perfect for a day of pampering and revitalisation. Out and about, meanwhile, the excitement of Disneyland Resort Paris is just a short coach trip away and the magnificent chateau at Pierrefonds is close at hand.

A seven night break at La Croix du Vieux Pont, arriving 27 May 2012, costs from just £371 per party staying in a 2 bedroom Horizon mobile home (sleeps 7, maximum 4 adults) with decking, accommodation only.

Seven nights at International – £410 per party (accommodation only)

Just a 20 minute train ride from the many attractions of Paris, Eurocamp’s International is a tranquil and relaxing parc which has been completely renovated for 2012.

Activities including table tennis, basket ball and a children’s play area are available on-parc should you want to take a day’s break from sight-seeing. Meanwhile, the town of Maisons Laffitte, with several good restaurants, a supermarket and local shops, is within walking distance, while the Palace of Versailles is only 20 minutes by car.

A seven night break at International, arriving 26 May 2012, costs from just £410 per party staying in a 2 bedroom Horizon mobile home (sleeps 7, maximum 4 adults) with decking, accommodation only.

Ferry crossings and fly-drive packages can be arranged through Eurocamp at a supplement.

For further information on Eurocamp, please call 0844 406 0552 or visit www.eurocamp.co.uk.

With this in mind the team at Cool Camping is launching a new and improved second edition of Cool Camping: Kids (May, £16.95), which has more than 30 new family-friendly discoveries. Released just in time for the summer holidays, this updated edition is set to be the definitive guide to family camping.

Co-author Jonathan Knight commented, “Camping is now becoming the holiday of choice for outdoor-loving Brits. With some of the most beautiful scenery in the world on our doorstep and with the pound sterling worth less and less abroad, people are looking to the UK for their family holidays. Campsite owners continue to tune in to the real needs of today’s campers and we’ve found more sites than ever that focus on the important things such as campfires, woodland pitches, cracking rural locations, caravan-free zones and lots and lots of safe space to run around in. All of these sites have been chosen specifically for their child-friendly appeal and have been given a thumbs-up from the Cool Camping offspring.”

The new design – still glovebox-friendly – makes it easier than ever to choose the perfect pitch, with clearer ‘Campsites at a Glance’ listings, ‘a Mum’s Guide’ with tips on wet weather fun, cutting the clutter and how to get a lie-in, plus a new ‘who’s in?’ section for tents, dogs, groups and campervans.

Here’s a taster of some of the new sites:

• Stoneywish, Sussex – a peaceful meadow adjacent to a nature reserve, sheltered within the folds of the South Downs.

• TheCanoeMan, Norfolk – adventure-loving families can hop into a canoe and paddle down the Norfolk waterways, staying in tipis along the way.

• Naturesbase, Ceredigion – a safe natural playground with plenty of activities for the kids, including regular campfire nights with homemade pizzas cooked in a clay oven.

From Cool Camping: Kids you can expect insightful, entertaining and honest reviews as all the sites have been personally inspected, with only the very best making the cut. In addition, each campsite is illustrated with at least one colour photo –with over 250 full-colour photos altogether.

Practical information includes full details of onsite facilities, things to do locally, how to get there and the best food and drink options in the area.

‘Jim Knight, when he was Minister of State for Schools, said a computer with internet access was now as essential as pen and paper in modern learning,’ says Mr Hiscox, whose company helps schools incorporate new technology into learning strategies.

‘School heads and staff are now, at last, starting to realise that this is right. If they don’t get to grips with this right now are going to have to play catch up very quickly,’ he added.

The IT expert, who has a ten-year background in helping schools to implement new technology, said teaching staff whose computer and tablet skills were inferior to those of their pupils were losing the attention of pupils who were ‘failing to engage.’

‘Teaching styles are having to change as schools embrace new technology. Pupils are using all sorts of devices at home and then they come into school, where teachers do not have the skills that they have, and they get turned off from learning,’ he said.

Hexakis was launched two years ago to help schools raise education standards through new technology. In the past year, working with its support network of school advisors that include Ofsted inspectors, the business has helped 30 schools in the Bristol area to harness the potential of new technology to improve learning. It now plans to expand its services nationwide.

Hexakis partners with Apple, Microsoft, Epson, Toshiba and many other market leaders to enable school heads to have direct access to the big players in the ICT industry and provides training courses and seminars at the Apple Regional Training Centre in Bristol which are free for teaching staff to attend.

‘Our success is not measured by how efficiently the equipment works or the improvements in the skills of the staff that we help, although we do, of course, provide all of this,’ said Mr Hiscox. ‘Our success is measured by the improvements in the standards of the education provided.’

Mr Hiscox said results showed pupils gained huge benefit from learning with the aid of tablets, particularly those with dyslexia and special educational needs.

He added that a recent report revealing that one in five pupils were leaving school with inadequate reading and writing skills showed it was vital that steps are taken to improve results.

‘We believe passionately in the power of technology and how it can be used to create a ‘can do’ learning environment,’ he said. ‘We understand the challenges schools face in getting this right and the cost of getting it wrong so we offer a one-to-one approach to making the new technology work for each individual school, whatever its needs.’

For more information on the services provided by Hexakis, including training courses provided in partnership with Apple’s Bristol Regional Training Centre Programme, contact Hexakis on 0117 2033636, email contact@hexakis.co.uk or visit www.hexakis.co.uk.

Babies usually dribble or drool because their swallowing reflex and tongue movements are immature. Some people believe that dribbling and drooling indicates that babies have started teething. However, the only sure sign is when the emerging teeth can be seen or felt through the gums.

Is chewing a sign of teething?

Babies chew with their gums before they have teeth, but when they start to cut their molar teeth between 10 and 16 months of age, true chewing begins. Before then your baby will chew on just about anything before the first teeth start to emerge.

What are the symptoms of teething?

The gums may appear red and swollen before the emergence of the first tooth. Temporarily pain generally subsides after a few days.

Waking up more frequently at night, daytime restlessness, an increase in finger sucking, ear pulling, drooling, irritability, flushed cheeks and sometimes appetite loss may accompany teething. However these symptoms may also indicate a growth spurt or a bacterial infection, which can occur through the use of teething rings and other things that babies chew on.

If your baby has a temperature, see your GP.

Which teeth appear first?

Tooth buds develop before birth. In fact, some babies may have a tooth at birth or as early as 3 months. Generally, the first tooth appears between 6 and 8 months of age. Premature babies may start teething later than full-term babies.

Evidence suggests that heredity plays a part in teething process. If you were an early or late teether, then your baby could be too.

Teeth generally appear in a certain order. They also tend to make their appearance in pairs (usually one soon after the other), with the bottom 2 central incisors generally arriving before the upper pair. However, some babies may not have their first tooth until they are one-year-old.

The first 4 molars can arrive at any time between 12 – 16 months.

Can I continue to breast feed when my baby has teeth?

If you are both enjoying breastfeeding, continue for as long as you can. If your baby should clamp down on your breast, put them in an upright position.

How can I ease my baby’s teething discomfort?

A clean plastic teething ring that has been chilled in the refrigerator can help to relieve discomfit. However, a teething ring that has been frozen could damage your baby’s gums if it becomes very hard or cold.

A cool drink of water can help to soothe your baby’s gums. A wet flannel placed on your baby’s cheeks can provide comfort and relief from teething.

A gentle gum massage with your index finger or a soft baby toothbrush can provide some relief, but should be discontinued if your baby isn’t enjoying it.

A noisy or musical toy can offer a distraction from the discomfit of teething.

Chewing on soft fruit can ease teething discomfit. Your baby should be sitting upright when eating and fully supervised. Hard foods should be avoided under the age of 6 months since babies are unable to swallow properly.

How can I look after my baby’s teeth?

Take your baby for her first dental visit when the first tooth arrives and floss any teeth that are touching each other.

A soft baby toothbrush can help to keep your baby’s gums healthy and her teeth clean.

Fluoride can help prevent tooth decay, but it is important to give the right amount. Too much can damage your baby’s developing teeth. Check with your dentist first.

Can I use teething gel?

Teething gels are commonly used to relieve the discomfit of teething, but they may contain harmful substances, which can enter your baby’s bloodstream through the gums. Babies are highly sensitive to toxic chemicals due to the immaturity of their immune systems.

Some teething gels contain the preservative phenoxyethanol, which can damage cell DNA and increase the risk of cancer. Phenoxyethanol is stored in the body and it may take several years for its effects to become apparent.

Most teething gels contain the local anaesthetic, benzocaine. Overuse can impair the gag reflex and increase the risk of choking from reflux. Teething gels can be particularly hazardous if used on the gums at night.

Teething gels, which contain aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid), are particularly hazardous. If aspirin is given to babies, it could lead to Reye’s syndrome, a disorder characterized by swelling of the brain and liver.

Teething gel must not be given to babies under five months of age. Medication, even natural remedies, may contain preservatives or parabens, which can lead to a number of health problems in later life.

Safety

Regularly clean teething rings, toys or anything else that your baby chews on to prevent the growth of germs. Use a mild antiseptic solution, or hot water and detergent, and rinse items thoroughly before giving them back to your baby.

Carefully inspect toys every time you give them to your baby. If chewing marks are present, check that the toy is not weak or loose.

If your baby likes to bite, avoid squeaky toys that could become dangerous if damaged.

Celebrate

The emergence of your baby’s first tooth is a cause for celebration. Most parents cannot get enough of those toothy smiles or photographs to share with friends and family.

In a few short years, you will be celebrating the arrival of the Tooth Fairy!

Advisory piece by Dr. Lin Day, founder of Baby Sensory (www.babysensory.com)

British Dental Health Foundation Issues Advice on Teething Safely

Following reports the in the media about the problems with some teething products, oral health charity, the British Dental Health Foundation is offering advice to parents, carers and guardians to help them combat the stress of teething.

The first thing that parents need to be aware of is signs that the baby is starting to teethe.  These will become apparent before the tooth breaks through and in most cases, this will cause the most pain.  Symptoms of teething can vary and include: swollen or red gums where the tooth is coming through, redness on the cheek or the side of the mouth and very often a disturbed sleeping pattern.  Other noticeable signs include dribbling, a desire to bite on objects and for the child to put things in their mouth.

There are many products on the products on the market designed to help children through teething. Dr Nigel Carter Chief Executive of the British Dental Health Foundation, said: “There are a range of safe products available, which can help ease the pain and misery of teething.  These include special teething gels that can be used to help reduce the discomfort and some even contain amild painkiller.  Just apply the gel to the baby’s gums using a finger and gently massage it in.  For even greater relief pop teething rings and gels into the fridge, the cold will help to numb pains.

“As withany medicine or device however people should always check the label and read the instructions.  If they have any doubts it is best to check with a dentist, doctor or health visitor.”

For further information on products accredited by the  Britiish Dental Helath Foundation please got  to: www.dentalhealth.org