Stretch-n-Grow

L’Etape de Tour 2012

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:21:51 +0000

Since we started Stretch-n-Grow nine years ago, we have always tried to do a yearly event that involves raising money for charity. We have held a variety of events from musical evenings,through to a lunch with Annabel karmel. Raising money for great charities from Breast Cancer and Christies through to Unicef and Francis House.
This year we decided that Deno should get back on his bike… and with a small team of guys Steven Allmand Smith, Martin Reeder and Dominic Limbrey raise some money for Macmillan Cancer Suport.
Having a challenge in life is always good and we all face daily challenges, but boy is this a big one! One hundred and forty kilometres. Over 4000 metres of climbing in the French Alps following a stage of the Tour De France. Stage 11 Albertville to La Toussuire-Les Sybelles.
Please go to the following site to donate and don’t forget to leave a message. http;//www.justgiving.com/tanya-davie1

Since embarking on the training, whilst out training, one of the team Steven had a fall breaking his collar bone in several places, so unfortunately will not be able to participate. So now there are three! The pressure really is on now to reach our target, so please help we cannot do it without you.

Parenting courses for the needy?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:10:43 +0000

Here’s another government initiative that I can rant about! Let’s put £100 vouchers in Boots and new mothers can then use them so a suitable trained person can text said new mother and remind her to change her baby’s nappy or that it might be time to put them to bed. Who thought that this would be a good way to use up precious public money in a time of austerity must be seriously lacking in common sense.
Why do I feel so strongly about this? Well the people who need this kind of support are not likely to be typical Boots customers. They might be lucky if they afford to get the bus to the nearest Boots. What are the demographics of the typical people that the government expect to take up these vouchers? Why spend more public money on something that is so fundamentally wrong?
If I was prime minister what would I do? I would look at creating an initiative that I believe would not just address this issue of poor parenting but possibly problems with the education system and even some of the social issues involved in last year’s riots. FAMILY, FAMILY, FAMILY!
Let’s teach our young people what it is like to belong to a caring family that extends into a caring local community. Nanny McPhee 3 portrayed a story based around family life during the war and pulling together, doing our duty and looking after each other were key underlying messages within a fictional family film. But if we were to apply the hardships experienced back then to the modern day many of us would not cope, because we have not grown up with a strong support system. We have made the family appear to be an antiquated surplus part of modern day life. When in reality I would argue that most new Mums would naturally turn to their Mums for help rather than do a web search or call an NHS number.
As parents of the next generation I believe it is our duty to prepare our children for the life ahead though it may not resemble what we know now (my kids find it hilarious that I didn’t have a computer or a mobile phone). However, the fundamental values of kindness, honesty, work ethic and team work are critical within a family and within a community. Let’s stand up and not be afraid to be called old-fashioned because we might just come back into fashion again!

Sink or Swim?

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:07:55 +0000

School swimming – is it sinking?
A third of children in England cannot swim by the time they leave primary school, according to research from the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA). The research showed that around 200,000 children leave primary school unable to swim 25m unaided. Helen Bilton, of University of Reading’s Institute of Education; “Schools are getting the blame, but really they need more support from government. PE is not sufficiently valued as a subject for the resources to be spent on it”.
The ability to swim and water safety awareness are life skills that need to be taught at an early age with drowning being the third most common cause of accidental death of children in England surely this is a no brainer? Yet again the practical subject of Physical Education is negated against the more academic desirable subjects of numeracy and literacy. Even though the development of fundamental motor skills and its contribution to learning is a well documented area. PE and sport are still not given the educational value that they well deserve.
‘Let the children play’, should be the government’s call to arms. We might just end up with a well adjusted, healthy and less stressed future generation if we had the conviction and heart to do it.

Get Scotland Moving !

admin — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:22:09 +0000

Stretch-n-Grow are delighted to be involved in Edinburgh’s Big Dance celebrations!
The Big Dance programme of events is due to be released on Fri 18th May at the Big Dance Schools Pledge event in Festival Square, Lothian Road.
For the event we will be delivering various classes from 9.30am and a presentation/talk to the general public (parents / dancers / children) on how Stretch n Grow will get Scotland’s children moving.
keep a space in your diaries Saturday 30 June at The National Museum Scotland.

May 28 – June 3rd – National Barbecues week

admin — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:57:22 +0000

We have a series of Stretch-n-Grow handouts that cover the massive topic of safety. Not playing around barbecues is discussed. Let’s hope we get the weather to remove the year long protection cover. Funny how good food tastes off a barbecue! Is it the heady mix of eating outdoors, the smell of charcoal cooked food or that you tend to have company when you decide to have a ‘barbie’. Make sure you grab the opportunity when that elusive warm sunny day comes around!

May 21 – 27 British Tomato Week

admin — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:56:17 +0000

There is a great Charlie & Lola book – ‘I will never, not ever eat a tomato’. This gets to the heart of eating vegetables that children perceive to be yuk! Make them invisible in sauces, cut them up attractively and if all else fails bribe the little cherub into eating them! If a child learns that if they taste different foods and really don’t like it then they won’t be forced to eat the particular food, however they will be presented with tge food again on another occasion. Tomatos can be served up in so many different ways there’s bound to be one that they like

May 21 – 27 National Vegetarian Week

admin — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:55:09 +0000

Trying going veggie for a week. Good eating habits are learnt ones. If your children see you trying something different and new they are more likely to be adventurous in their food choices. Studies have shown that mothers are the strongest influencing factor on children’s eating habits. Plan some time into the week so your children can help prepare (and clean up after!) the meal. School age children can be given quite a lot of independance in the kitchen as long as there is supervision for any dangerous elements. They may not be ready to blow torch the top of a creme brule but with care they could do more adventurous meals. The pride on my daughter’s face when I allowed her to take her first swiss roll out if oven by herself at ten years old was worth overiding my maternal instinct of keeping her away from the hot oven. Young children can be involved in the prepping of vegetables and can be encouraged to try some raw and then when cooked. Talk about the difference in taste, texture and appearance. Most important have fun and share a special family event that doesn’t cost both in money terms and in your precious time.

Win a Free block of classes in the NorthWest

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:05:38 +0000

Dear Parents and Carers,
How would you like to win a block of free Stretch-n-Grow lessons? Do you live in the Northwest?
We are currently reviewing the impact of our programme and we need your help! We have six questions that we would like you to answer for us, there are no wrong or right answers or hidden agendas. We just want to know what you think!
Please go to http://www.stretch-n-grow.co.uk/tanya-davie/
Scroll to the bottom of the page and complete the short questionnaire for us and we will enter your details in a draw to win a free block of Stretch-n-Grow lessons at your nursery.
Thank you for your participation.
Tanya Davie
Stretch-n-Grow Ltd

Congratulations Stretch-n-Grow from FranchisingWorks

admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 11:00:08 +0000

Stretch-n-Grow is a newly approved franchisor on the Franchising Works programme.We will be presenting future workshops for FranchisingWorks as well as linking with their social media sites.Watch this space for further news!

Research with Salford University

admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:40:49 +0000

There are many changes ahead for Public Health and Stretch-n-Grow aims to be at the cutting edge of these changes. With this in mind we have begun to foster a relationship with the department of Public Health at Salford University. We have a Masters student beginning a study in May where the focus is on Stretch-N-Grow and the health messages that we get across in our classes. We will be running classes in Langworthy Children’s Centre where we are signing up local families of preschool aged children and offering them a block of lessons. The parents will be involved in focus groups, discussions and questionnaires while the children have fun! We will be assessing the impact of the Stretch-n-Grow methods of driving home healthy issues like dental care, healthy food choices and exercise.
Tanya Davie
Technical Director