Page 27 - link magazine

See us on the net @ www.swindonlink.com The Link Magazine • February 1999 27
Pre-school needs in West & North Swindon Under 5s Activity
Mornings
The December Link included a ents to register their children as used on a more ad hoc basis.
questionnaire on what parents early as possible to ensure places. It was generally felt that there is Lower Shaw Farm, Old Shaw Lane
want for pre-school children. Ninety per cent of respondents much good provision in West
10 Feb, 10 March, 14 April,
From the limited response, it is value the traditional toddler group, Swindon but worries that ther is
clear that a local information book- so long as it has a structured envi- not enough in the northern devel- 5 May, 16 June, 14 July
let is urgently needed by first time ronment with organised activities opment areas. 10am - 12.30pm, but stay for a
mums or those new to the area. or a combination of structured and Above all, what seems to be picnic lunch if you want
Needs vary enormously across unstructured sessions. Most were needed is accessible information
West and North Swindon. As pre- prepared to pay up to £2 per ses- as to what is available. Feed the hens and collect the eggs
viously reported, in more estab- sion, with many willing to travel The Link is currently working Visit and feed the four ba ba black sheep
lished areas like Too thill and Fresh- up to 5 miles for the right group. with the West Swindon Family & Watch frogs and other pond life
brook, numbers are dwindling at Classes such as Tumble Tots, Community Project to update the Sow seeds in the garden
toddler and playgroups. dancing, swimming and 'Music helpful 'Toddler out West' booklet Paint, draw or model what you've seen
In others, like Sparcells and Ab- With Mummy' are popular. In- produced by Link Centre commu- Cost £5 per family. Places limited.
bey Meads, there are long waiting door play facilities at leisure cen- nity suite staff before they lost their Call 771080 to book
lists. It is still important for par- tres or themed pubs seem to be jobs.

Mum across a generation gap

Denise Hofgartner, who lives in West Swindon, is experiencing motherhood a second time around. She now has a teenager and a toddler.
Here she describes the changes in attitude, over the years, towards motherhood and the development of facilities for parents.
"Deuce, deuce!"It's2.14am! The was only five weeks old when I It's quite nice to have a 'blue for dishes, washing etc,etc,.
shouts shatter my momentary returned to work in 1981. It was print' with the first one. It gives My grandmother had a 15 year
sleep. Max, my two year old son, necessary to pay the mortgage, me confidence to know I got it gap between her two children, she
wants his juice. bills, etc; my husband was out of right with Kirsty, even if I did too was 37 when my aunt was
The thoughts of 'whose idea was work and I had no choice, if we muddle through a lot of the time. born, 46 years ago.
this?' are long gone. At 1.40pm on wanted to keep our home. It's right that child care has im- I sit and wonder what changes
27 December 1996, I had a son. Now, itseems, it is expected that proved and that women can go she would have seen and would
To keep his sister company? No. you should 'go back' when there is back to work knowing there are they have been in such contrast as
She will be 18 in April and is about someone very able to look after good and safe places to leave their today? Perhaps so.
to join the R.A.F. There is a 15 year your offspring. Of course, as with children. Things you think of at 3am. I've
age gap between them, a second my self in those early days, there It is good that we have our lives finished my cocoa and hope Max
family and the best contraceptive are many working mums who made easierby disposable this, that will sleep on until at least 4.30am.
you could give a teenager! would love to stay at home with and the other; with our automatics Some things never change!
What a difference a generation their children, but have to work.
makes. I recall recently sitting in a It's the attitude that has changed.
superstore baby changing room
and feeling very secure in the Giving Your Child
knowledge that it was there. I re-
member queuing up in good old The Best
McIlroy's loo in 1981 feeling very
inferior as there was nowhere else In Quality Education
to do such things.
Indeed it was a nightmare going Ridgeway Pre-School
into town with a toddler,as there ' P oved and Le " Inverary Road, Wroughton
f L
ar
were no child friendly places, let
alone the luxury of equipped,
sometimes stocked, baby change Quality education and childcare
units for Dads as well as for Mum.
Whilst recently in one of these My own attitude to motherhood for 24 months to 5 years
rooms, I had a conversation with has also changed, in as much as
another mother. She could see I'm more confident and relaxed Open 50 weeks a year, 8am-6pm
that I was an 'older Mum' and was about the whole thing. The fact
gobb-smacked to learn the gap be- that Max is a 'night-owl' just like
tween my two children. his sister,and indeed myself as a Full range of schedules available
"I'm only having this one," she child, does not worry me. I know
said. "I go back to work next week. he'll grow out of it ......eventually. Qualified teachers following the
I've got him into a child care cen- I have taken advice from the
tre; they take them from 7.30am to good woman at West Swindon nursery outcomes
6pm. When do you go back?," she Health Centre - Tracy Gingall -
asked. who runs the sleep clinic there. for learning
"This time I'm not," was my re- This was something new to me
ply. "I had to work with my first and it has been a great help to
and want to stay at home until know you are not the only one or Please contact
Max goes to school, or perhaps do that you have got it wrong.
some part time work next year." Same with their eating, they will Mrs G Simonds
I immediately noticed the dif- eat, they won't eat. They'll eat their on(01793)845572 . .
ference in attitude. She was obvi- meals when they are hungry. But
ously bemused as to why I should at 23,1 thought it was me,not baby, (Mrs Simonds is a
want to stay at home out of choice. that was doing something wrong! trained nursery
I remember being made to feel Now, I know that it's baby; and inspector)
very guilty at going back to work I am God and do all that is right.
with such a young child. Kirsty Joke!