Guided play sessions Jan/Feb 2011

Welcome back and a happy new year to everyone.

We are back in full swing at the toy library. Our guided play theme for this term is recycling. The children are enjoying sorting the recycleable items into our skip, and making musical instruments from plastic bottles.

Sessions will run on Weds 19th Jan, Fri 21st, Weds 26th, Thurs 27th,
Fri 4th Feb, Weds 9th, Fri 11th, Mon 14th and Fri 18th.

We look forward to seeing you.

Local knowledge quiz answers

In December we ran a local knowledge quiz. This proved very popular and raised £31 for the toy library. Thank you to all who bought a quiz sheet.

The quiz was won by H Middleton.

The answers are:


1. Where is the National Gas Museum located? - Leicester


2. What links agricultural breeding methods, package holidays and diets? Pioneered by people born in Leicestershire


3. From the Market Place in Shepshed which is closest: Market Street Leicester, Nottingham or Derby? Leics 19.64 m, Nottm 20.53m, Derby 21.01m


4. How many different locations are featured in the Shepshed Heritage trail? 22


5. Where was the biggest bell in England cast? - Loughborough

and where does it hang? - St Pauls

6. Which of the following sheep are long wooled? Leicester, Border Leicester, Cotswold and Oxford Down? - All of them

7. How has Leicester famously been referred to: The Faithful City, The Metropolis of Dissent, The Toyshop of Europe or The City of Three Spires? - The Metropolis of Dissent

8. Who invented the a) spinning frame – Richard Arkwright

b) spinning Jenny – James Hargraves

c) spinning mule – Samuel Crompton

9. Where was the home of Lady Jane Grey? - Bradgate Park

and how long was she queen for? – 9 days

10. Which of the following roman sites does Leicester now occupy? Glevum, Ratae, Corinium, Aquae, Uriconium. - Ratae

11. What links Gopsall Hall (near Twycross) and Handel? He wrote part of the Messaiah there.

12. How many bells does the Loughborough Carillon have? – 47

13. What is known at the playground of Leicestershire – Charnwood Forest

14. Just down the road from Loughborough is East Midlands Airport. It was formerly known as Nottingham East Midlands, but has a Derby postcode. Which county is it actually situated in? Leics

15. Loughborough University is world renowned for its sporting facilities, including an International Athletics stadium and the National Cricket Centre. When was the Technical Institute, from which it grew, established 1881, 1862, 1909 or 1931? - 1909

16. 2007 saw a number of sightings of which unusual animal in the Loughborough area? - Black panther

17. The picturesque Great Central Railway's platforms and steam engines have provided the backdrop to many films. Which of these movies didn't use it as a location: a) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, b) Enigma, c) The Hours, d) Shadowlands? - H Potter

18. What crime busting technique was developed at Leicester University: a) finger prints, b) photo identikit, c) lie detector, d) DNA testing? - DNA testing

19. Name the three people who are referred to in question 2 - Robert Bakewell, Thomas Cook, Rosemary Conley.

20. In what year did Shepshed High School move to its new purpose built accommodation? - 2007

Story Sacks

Have you tried one of our story sacks? A great resource for families and schools - each story or themed sack enables in depth exploration of a topic or story and contains books, toys and props to illustrate the theme and a CD or Video.

We are planning to review and update our comprehensive range of story sacks throughout 2011 - we will post details of updated sacks on this website. The story sacks will feature in our guided play sessions from January.

We are very grateful to Shepshed Lions and Loughborough University for the recent funding they have awarded us which will support us in this project.

Christmas opening times

Please note that our last day of opening this year will be Friday 17th December, and we will re-open on Monday 10th January 2011. We'll send out another reminder nearer the time!

Our Christmas party will be held on Monday 13th and Wednesday 15th December 11:30-12:30. There are just 8 tickets left, so come and buy one soon if you would like to join in the party fun.

Songs, games, craft and a picnic lunch. £2.50 per child.

Christmas Family Fun

Why not borrow a game this Christmas and enjoy some family fun? Remember Twister, Frustration, Don't Panic, Boggle, Pictionary, HeadBanz, Build a Beetle? We have lots of games to choose from.

Toy Safety Christmas Shopping advice

Please see this very important advice about choosing toys with safety in mind from the Child Action Prevention Trust

Toy safety – Christmas shopping special

Of all the risks to children’s safety, the very things that are designed and produced especially for them, to make them happy, stimulate them and help their development should be the least of a parent’s worries.

However, some toys and play equipment bought in good faith by children’s parents, relatives and friends can pose a risk.Most toys in the UK are actually very safe - there is extensive legislation governing the manufacture of toys in the UK and the rest of Europe. But there are cheap, illegal imports available, so as parents start to think about Christmas shopping, now is a good time to spread the message.

Before we get started on shopping, it’s worth remembering that a big risk factor is younger children getting hold of toys which aren’t appropriate to their age. We’re not talking about something like Resident Evil on the X Box, but only a small age difference can be critical – for example, a suitable toy for a child of seven might be harmful for their toddler sibling. Sometimes larger toys may have smaller components which can pose a choking risk, that might not be immediately apparent.

Also, the other main risk toys pose is a trip hazard for children and adults, so it’s a pain, but it is important to keep floors tidy and to ensure that stairs are kept free of toys and other clutter.

These seem like obvious precautions to take, but it’s worth reminding parents to take extra care around Christmas when there are lots of new and unfamiliar toys in the house.

When shopping for Christmas presents, there are three golden rules.

1. Always head to reputable retailers, who take care about the products they stock year-round and where you can return toys if they have a fault. Markets, car boot sales or temporary shops often sell illegally imported toys that are unlikely to conform to strict toy safety requirements. Counterfeit goods may have low prices but are illegal, are not made to proper standards and can be dangerous for children. Trading standards have seized illegal toys that quickly fall apart, revealing sharp metal spikes and nails, and others with cords and balls that could easily choke a young child to death.
2. If you’re shopping online, head to the websites of well-known retailers and brand names. Unfortunately, internet auction sites can also be prime sources of counterfeits. Be wary of ‘too good to be true’ bargains. If it costs less than half the normal price, it is likely to be a fake.
3. Make sure that the toys you give are appropriate for the child’s age, as babies and toddlers can choke on small parts or swallow harmful components.

Safety marks

The Lion Mark is a good indicator of a toy’s safety.Toys with this mark have been made to a high standard of safety and quality, as the mark is used by members of the British Toy and Hobby Association.
Toys that are not intended for children under 36 months are clearly marked with an age warning symbol.
In addition, you will also see the ‘CE’ mark. This is required by law on any toy sold within the EU. However, it is only the manufacturer’s claim of compliance with European legislation and is not intended as a guide for consumers.

Though do remember that counterfeiters may copy not just the toy but the packaging too! So, by itself, a safety mark is no guarantee of a toy’s safety.

Christmas Party Tickets

Tickets are now on sale for our Christmas Party. Songs, games, craft, play and a picnic lunch!

In order to avoid overcrowding we are holding our party on 2 days: Monday 13th December and Wednesday 15th December 11:30-12:30. Tickets are £2.50 per child and numbers are strictly limited on each day, so buy yours now to avoid disappointment.