Page 18 - link magazine

18 swindonlink.com • March 2011
Make Golden Time with the kids

From Monday to Wednesday Diane Etheridge works as a Year 3 teach-
ing assistant at St Francis Primary School in Taw Hill, the rest of her
week is spent running www.goldenttimetoys.co.uk, specialising in
entertaining educational games for all ages and abilities.
“I set up the business because
I found it very hard to source
educational games for children,”
said Diane. “I’ve now collated all
the information to provide a one
stop shop for fun games that help
children learn without realising it.”
GoldenTime Toys offers a broad
range of games that support Na-
tional Curriculum targets, and
which help children with specific
needs such as those with dyslexia,
dyspraxia, discalcula, autism, As-
pergers and ADHD.
She added, “I run an after-school
club and games nights where chil- tional, but they are very insular
dren and adults can test out the and don’t offer the same level of
games and give feedback. Each interaction and communication that
game must be entertaining, as this board games do.
Close to M4 junction 16, just a short drive from West Swindon is the best way to learn.” “We learn a lot from each other;
GoldenTime’s brainteaser range playing games with family and our
For children 3 months to five years helps build critical, lateral and peers helps increase bonds.”
strategic thinking skills, and is Diane will be demonstrating and
Open all year from 8am to 6pm also appropriate for the elderly selling games at two spring fairs:
Extensive outdoor play & gardens and stroke victims to rebuild their 19 March - Even Swindon Primary
mental capacities. School;
Easy access and safe parking Diane is adamant that there is still 27 March - Haydonleigh Primary
For information call: 01793 851495 an important place for board games School.
in providing education and leisure See www.goldentimetoys.co.uk
www.thedaynursery.com to children. “Computer games can for a catalogue and details on how to
Brinkworth Road, Wootton Bassett, Swindon SN4 8DS be both entertaining and educa- raise money for a school or charity.

Giving kids confidence
to become masters of the kitchen

Splat Cooking is the new way in Swindon of getting kids passionate
about food, by encouraging them to get stuck in and make delicious
recipes using local, seasonal products.
Business woman and mum of two
Steph Gattenby of Lydiard Millicent
has always loved baking, and want-
ed to share her passion with adults
A high quality day nursery situated in West Swindon and children alike. She’s given up
at Windmill Hill Business Park, close to the M4 her corporate world and created a
Junction 16, offering a happy, sociable environment family kitchen cookery school in her
where every child is treated as an individual. home where she offers workshops
Come and OPen DAy see us! and cookery skills classes in a safe
and fun environment.
“I wanted to do something that
Friday 18th March involves children and adults in
creating simple, quick and non-faffy
recipes,” said Steph. “Our Saturday
morning workshops are for children
aged 4 to 14 years and run from 10am Steph Gattenby and her children
• For children aged 6 weeks to For more information to 11.15am. When children cook “Children are much more capable
5 years please contact us: together in a group they are much in the kitchen than we think, but
• Open from 7.30am to Windmill Hill Day Nursery more willing to try new things.” we tend not to involve them in
6.00pm, 52 weeks per year Whitehill Way A big hit in time for Chinese New preparing meals because we worry
(except public holidays) Swindon Year were Chinese ‘steggy’ dump- about the mess. At Splat that doesn’t
• Full time and part time places Wiltshire lings, using homemade dumpling matter – and we even teach them
SN5 6NX dough, and a mouth-watering fill- to clean up afterwards.”
• Large garden for all ages ing of minced pork, spinach, spring On 2 April Splat has a cup cake
• Fully inclusive, including all Tel: 01793 877646 onion, carrot, ginger and soy sauce. bouquet workshop in time for
meals, baby milk Email: [email protected] “The final products had a look of Mothers’ Day, and on 15 April there
and nappies www.childbase.com stegosauruses – hence the name,” is an Easter baking workshop.
• CCTV throughout said Steph, who also offers chil- See the advert on page 14 and a
the nursery dren’s cookery parties, including recipe on www.swindonlink.com
a mini Come Dine with Me style www.splatcooking.net/network/
party for teenagers. swindon

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