Businesses and Services we have worked with:

• Birth and BabyNetwork are a network of professionals providing support and services for expectant and new parents in North Tyneside.
• “My Daddy’s Going Away….” is a new children’s picture book to help children and their families cope with the challenges of temporary paternal separation.
• Cluny Studios is a great recording studio in Byker Newcastle. Piccolo songs have been polished and recorded here for a number of years!
• Linskill Centre is a vibrant and busy Community Centre in the heart of North Shields providing a large and varied programme of activites, courses (it is a Learn Direct Centre) and support, for every age group, including a cafe, and a creche and several groups aimed at pre-school children. Ring 0191 2578000 for details.
• Breastvest.co.uk -a fabulous way to help you feed your baby discreetly, allowing you to wear normal tops, without displaying your wares to all and sundry! Developed by a Piccolo mum, this is a must-have item for anyone who is breastfeeding, or pregnant, and wanting to enjoy wearing their favourite tops over bump, postnatal tummy and while breastfeeding.
• Enjoymuzic is a fab music shop based in the North East of England and on the internet.
• Music for starters – great instruments by mail order, specially for under fives..
• Selling Smiles Fantastic toy shop selling our CDs! …as well as all those old favourites, lovely wooden toys, puppets and great percussion instruments.
• northumberland-cottage.com a family friendly holiday cottage, less than an hour’s drive from Newcastle, on the edge of the National Park.
• Child Friendly Cottages – find a self catering holiday wthout hassle for you and your under fives.
• Rainbow Daycare is a creche and childcare service in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear. Contact Diane on 0191 2893386
• Music Bugs Piccolo has recorded songs for Music Bugs, a company which runs interactive music classes forunder 5s.  Piccolo songs and recordings feature in their classes and parties.
• Rent a Garden Flat in Barcelona www.barcelona-flats.com Contact Rachel Fielding, for a child friendly holiday!
• Letters and Sounds.com is a great website for resources for helping kids in literacy lessons, all free to download
• Sounding Edge from Edgehil university –  is a fantastic web based project to support music education –  boys’ singing and  children’s singing games in particular

Businesses and Services run by people who attend Piccolo sessions:

• The Play Station – fantastic new soft play, sensory room and cafe in Gosforth, just off the high street
• Terry Davis Painter and Decorator – Monkseaton, Whitley Bay ring 0191 2800146 for a great professional job.
• Washables If you are after re-useable nappies and advice and information, demonstrations in your home, on-line ordering and an expert personal service contact Rebecca Seal on 0191 2802522 .
• Joanna Toys is a shop bursting at the seams with good quality second hand toys and baby equipment, as well as new baby equipment. Front Street in Monkseaton, Tyne and Wear. Tel: 0191 2529984
• The Little Pages is a FREE publication listing all the amazing things to do, places to go, shops, services and events for the under 5′s in and around North Tyneside and Newcastle.
• Spelk Puppet Theatre for Children Enchanting visual theatre for young audiences, using puppets, shadows and live music. For information about shows, projects and workshops, ring Alison McGowan on 0191 222 0077 or e-mail her at alisonmcgowan@orange.net
• Eco Naps sells washable nappies including wraps, swim nappies and all accessories

Other Links

• Karl Jeffery THE PUPPET MAN Comedy Ventriloquist and Magician – Children’s Shows and Family Entertainment   animupps@btinternet.com
• Familiesrecommend.co.uk is all about word of mouth – sharing favourite places, events, venues and services in the UK. It’s about all types of family, not just those with children. Find recommendations about great places to go on holiday, day trips , when and where family activities don’t cost the earth .Share your favourite place to eat , or tell others about where to go with or without the kids. It’s all here.
• Mumsmatter.org.uk Mums Matter is a not for profit organisation which is dedicated to supporting Mums and their families who have been unfortunate enough to have been affected by perinatal mental health problems including postnatal depression.It offers peer support, education and advice.
• National Childbirth Trust Provides a great source of information, support and contacts for new parents and parents-to-be.
• Birth Basics provides a range of antenatal classes to meet the different needs of expectant parents in North Tyneside and Newcastle.
• Breastfeeding Support Local contact telephone numbers for use by any breastfeeding mother. 0870 4448708
• Twins UK – information, advice and good quality, practical products for the increasing number of parents of twins and more.
• Zedsaid.co.uk Design and publishing Company based in new premises on the Fish Quay in North Shields, Tyne and Wear, special focus on books for children and writing BY children.
• Monster Productions The number one company for colourful, musical and playful theatre for children. Monster also provide great out of school activities in the holidays and visit schools in the North East.
• Parent Pages….websites for parents !
• CARGO – Childhood Autism Research Group If your child has Autism then you may find this a useful website.It is an online resource for families and health professionals that aims to provide up to date information on research projects for Children and Adolescents with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) within the Newcastle University and the University of Durham. Pre-School Autism Communication Trial – If your child has been diagnosed with Autism then you may be interested in this large scale study of families in the North East.
• Parenting consultant Angela Isles: Are You tired? Frustrated? Thought It would be easier than this? Read the Book? Bought the T-shirt? Watched the television? Realised that the one method fits all does not work for you? Help with all sorts of issues like sleepless nights, discipline etc
• Pushy Mothers Buggy Workouts where new mums can meet, make friends and get back into shape. Meeting in Jesmond and elsewhere on Tyneside.
• Best Bib and Tucker – 37 Spence Terrace,North Shields, NE29 0JE (0191) 270 8343. This shop sells pre-loved baby and maternity clothing and nursery items (prams Moses baskets etc) and small toys. All are in excellent condition and at affordable prices.
• Little Butterfly sell unique, fun, traditional and educational wooden toys and gifts. Our main criteria when selecting products is quality, bright and colourful, safety, non toxic paints, educational, fair trade and the environment.
• Lullababies is the North of England’s only Children’s Sleep Consultancy… “Whatever your child’s sleep problem, the individual techniques developed by Lullababies will solve their problem.”
• Cherished is a new shop at 143 Park View, Whitley Bay, specialising in selling your pre-loved children’s toys and nursery goods, so that you can earn a bit of money!
• Little Kickers runs the UK’s most popular pre-school football programme for children aged 18 months to 7th birthday. Classes introduce real football skills and also enable children to develop agility, co-ordination and balance. Venues nationwide. For rugby fans try Little Rugby – Developed to provide 2-5 year olds with a fun, positive introduction to sport, it imparts the basics of tag rugby through specially developed games which fire children’s imaginations and enables them to develop a wide range of physical and social skills.