Families Solent East May/June 23 PRINT issue

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Congratulations to all our winners. You can find a list at https://bit.ly/JFrecipients

© Families Solent East 2023.

Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Print Ltd. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine but Families Print Ltd, its distributors, franchisees and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequences thereof.

There are a lot of opportunities for early summer fun over the next couple of months with the Coronation of King Charles III and the half term break at the end of May.

Now the weather is getting better and the evenings longer, the garden and outdoor spaces beckon and you can get the kids outside to play. We’ve provided a selection of outdoor toy ideas that will help keep them busy.

If you are planning travel with extended family, check out our tips for holidaying with grandparents and, whilst looking forward to the months to come, it’s the perfect time to think about booking your child into a summer day camp or workshop – the long summer holidays will be here before you know it!

Look out for our Orchard Toy game giveaway – we have loads of Little Shopping Lotto games on offer! Perfect for your kids to take away on a holiday, weekend away or just while on the move. Apply inside and you’ll also ensure you receive our digital magazine with lots more content and goodies on offer.

For your school, nursery, café, shop, club or class - just ask! Email us for more details editor@familiessolenteast.co.uk

Distribution: Throughout East Hampshire and West Sussex including: Whiteley, Fareham, Gosport, Portsmouth, Waterlooville, Southsea, Emsworth, Chichester and more.

Next issue: July/August

Booking deadline: 2 June

Copy deadline: 6 June

Summer Days Out,

Holiday Clubs & Classes, Health, Parenting and much more!

Family fun with National Children’s Gardening Week

This summer, why not get involved in National Children’s Gardening week?

Happening from 27 May to 4 June, in the 'warm' half term at the end of May means that pretty much throughout the UK children can plant all their favourite plants with less fear of weather damage or the need for complicated protective growing.

As well as simply good outdoor fun, gardening has been shown to have many benefits to health and wellbeing including being more physically active and feeling happier and more connected with the natural world.

There are many ways to get involved with National Children’s Gardening Week from DIY activities at home, to attending an event at local garden centres.

More info at www.childrensgardeningweek.co.uk

Government to expand free childcare

Free childcare for working parents in England will be expanded to cover all children under five by September 2025, the government has announced as part of a wider program to get people back in work. The new help for parents will be introduced in stages.

• Eligible working parents of two-year-olds will get 15 hours of free childcare per week from April 2024.

• Children between nine months and two years old will get 15 hours of free childcare from September 2024.

• All eligible under 5s will get 30 hours of free childcare from September 2025.

• The rising cost of childcare has been widely seen as a deterrent for some parents to go back to work or work full time.

Childcare in the UK is among the most expensive in the world and the government has been under pressure to provide more help for parents.

More info at https://bit.ly/GovChildcare

Reduce your meat intake to help the planet

Join in Walk to School Week

A generation ago, seventy percent of us walked to school –now it’s less than half. So Walk to School Week was started to encourage more kids to get out of the car and walk to school.

Walk to School Week is held from 15 to 19 May and is organised by the UK charity Living Streets to celebrate the health and wellbeing benefits of walking.

Families will be encouraged to walk, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ to see the big differences that can come from small steps - from healthier and happier children to fewer cars outside the school gates.

Free interactive wall charts and stickers are available to download. Schools can also obtain classroom packs to help teach children about the benefits of being active, with daily reward stickers and special rewards for those who travelled actively every day.

More info at www.livingstreets.org.uk/walk-to-school

National Vegetarian Week takes place from 15 to 21 May and will highlight how switching to vegetarian meals can reduce your carbon footprint and benefit the planet.

The National Food Strategy says the UK should eat thirty percent less meat by 2030. For people who eat meat every day, this can be achieved by going meat-free on just two days a week.

Evidence shows that plant-based food is better for the planet, has far less carbon emissions than meat and for households on tight budgets it can also be a cheaper, healthier choice.

During the week, you will be able to download a FREE digital book ‘Make Meals Better by Miles’ featuring recipes from famous chefs including Deliciously Ella, Miguel Barclay, Kwoklyn Wan, Jackie Kearney and Max La Manna.

More info at www.nationalvegetarianweek.org

Book a FREE summer term class with Perform

Summer term is here and there’s no better time for your child to try Perform. Packed with self-esteem boosting activities, Perform weekly classes round off the academic year with a fun and relaxed focus on developing confidence, communication, coordination and concentration. Using a mix of drama, dance and singing, these high-energy classes for all abilities are designed to allow even the most reticent children to shine.

This term, 4-7s will be setting sail on the Jammy Dodger for an adventure with the Mermaids & Pirates. Meanwhile, 7-12s will enjoy a laugh-out-loud adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream in The Dream. The curriculum has an emphasis on fun with free apps and videos to watch at home.

Classes are for all abilities and every child is welcome to try a FREE class in the following venues. To book, just visit www.perform.org.uk/try

Chichester: St Michael’s Church Hall, PO19 6PN

Fareham: Catisfield Memorial Hall, PO15 5NN

Petersfield: Salvation Army Hall, GU32 3AD

Southsea: St Simon’s Church Hall, PO5 2PW

Waterlooville: Merchistoun Hall, Horndean, PO8 9LJ

Perform fun continues into the summer holidays - don’t miss the Perform in the Park summer festival of children's theatre, see more on page 13. Visit www.performinthepark.uk to book.

Reduce your meat intake to help the planet

National Vegetarian Week takes place from 15 to 21 May and will highlight how switching to vegetarian meals can reduce your carbon footprint and benefit the planet.

The National Food Strategy says the UK should eat thirty percent less meat by 2030. For people who eat meat every day, this can be achieved by going meat-free on just two days a week.

Evidence shows that plant-based food is better for the planet, has far less carbon emissions than meat and for households on tight budgets it can also be a cheaper, healthier choice.

During the week, you will be able to download a FREE digital book ‘Make Meals Better by Miles’ featuring recipes from famous chefs including Deliciously Ella, Miguel Barclay, Kwoklyn Wan, Jackie Kearney and Max La Manna.

More info at www.nationalvegetarianweek.org

How handwriting affects self-esteem

By Catherine Loble and Lisa Wander

It is known that children who have good handwriting do better in school and enjoy it more. And the opposite is also true: those who struggle with handwriting are often at a disadvantage in the high-paced classroom setting. According to the Dyspraxia Foundation, children with poor handwriting are usually aware of their difficulty and their untidy handwriting can make them feel uncomfortable and isolated. Commonly, children feel depressed and frustrated as a direct result of poor writing skills.

Handwriting activates a specific part of the brain which helps establish and build the neural patterns needed for learning and memory. Studies show that children who spend time working on handwriting produce clearer and more coherent communication, along with better thought and organisation skills.

As the majority of our examinations are still handwritten, handwriting forms an integral part of our education system. Students who are unable to write legibly and articulately find themselves at a severe disadvantage. Once these skills are taught there is an enormous difference in confidence and selfesteem.

With at least ten to fifteen percent of children in the classroom suffering from poor self-confidence, teachers need to watch out for early problems with their pupils’ handwriting. Simply having their writing labelled as messy or lazy by adults can contribute to a child’s low self-esteem and anxiety. This may lead children to believe that they are unintelligent and incapable of writing correctly and discourage them, continuing the downward spiral.

Unfortunately, the problem of anxiety-related handwriting problems cannot simply be overcome by using a computer. As a child grows older, there will always be everyday circumstances in which handwriting is needed. Furthermore, handwriting helps the flow of ideas and thoughts in a way which keyboarding doesn’t, so it is fundamental that children are taught to write legibly.

Although handwriting is an integral requirement of the National Curriculum, many schools are unable to dedicate to it the time required due to the huge demand of core subjects. In addition, there are many different styles and programmes being used with too many confusing elements.

With the correct time and teaching, children can master handwriting, thereby raising their confidence and self-esteem and embedding it into adulthood.

Catherine and Lisa are co-founders of Emparenting (www.emparenting.co.uk), supporting children, parents and families with insights, skills and tools to nurture the development and well-being of the next generation.

Motor skills to support handwriting

Essential for handwriting, motor development is divided into gross and fine motor skills. Gross skills involve large muscle movements such as crawling, walking, running and swimming. Fine motor skills require smaller muscles: grasping, object manipulation and drawing.

Well-developed gross and fine motor skills are essential to a child’s readiness to write. Early years activities prepare them for the dexterity and co-ordination they will need in the classroom and it’s never too soon to start the journey.

Practising gross motor skills is the first step towards two-handed tasks such as holding down paper with one hand while writing with the other. Fun activities teach small bodies! Examples include monkey bars, hopscotch, throwing and catching balls, dancing, running and swimming.

Fine motor skills are necessary for handwriting so a child can control the pencil in forming letters and use the correct pressure on the pen and the paper. This is where hand and finger activities come in. Consider these: threading beads, cutting paper, construction play, baking, finger painting and playdough.

The seven stages of handwriting

Handwriting requirements are part of the statutory assessments for writing at the end of Key Stages 1 and 2.

Young children move through a series of stages as they are learning to write. These reflect a child’s growing knowledge of the conventions of literacy, including letters, sounds and spacing of words within sentences:

Pre-writing - gross and fine motor movements; Pencil grip and posture; Lower case cursive letter formation; Upper case (capital) letter formation; Joining letters together; Refining letter positioning and spacing; Fluency and speed.

It should be noted that although these are the National Curriculum requirements, very few schools include regular handwriting as part of the curriculum. Supporting your child’s handwriting at home will give their skills and confidence a big boost that they will take with them into the classroom.

Developing independent learning

By Zuzu Jordan

It’s time for celebration when our children display independence, right from when they take their first steps on their own or ride a bike without stabilisers. These are big family moments; the child delights in their achievements and parents are proud to be part of these milestone developments.

So what is independence?

Being independent means not needing support and becoming self-sufficient. A certain amount of independence comes naturally with age and experience; however, as adults there is plenty we can do to facilitate this growth along the way.

Returning to the example of babies taking their first steps, we tend to support them by holding their hand first and then a finger, before they try a few steps on their own. Clearing any potential dangerous items out of their way first, of course! We celebrate when they manage to walk alone and give them bundles of praise.

Helping your child to be independent with learning isn’t dissimilar to helping them walk unaided. We need to offer support, gently reduce that support and praise them for going it alone. This doesn’t mean stopping helping your child; instead it’s about nurturing an independent attitude and growth mindset. Our input will be age dependent and will need to be adapted accordingly.

Try some of these tips to help your child approach their learning with an independent attitude:

Establish a routine for starting homework. For example, for the first five minutes, your child works on their own or, in reverse, you work with them just for the first five minutes to get them started. Depending on the homework and age of the child, you could also consider helping out with every other question or section, then slowly building up the time between support periods.

Give them three tokens. They can use each token to ask for help. Once they have used up their tokens, they then have to continue working alone, trying to work things out themselves.

For written assignments, put a tiny mark on the page and ask your child to write up to that target before you read through it.

Use the BBBB approach - ask your Brain, Book, Buddy before you ask the Boss (you!)

For online homework, make sure that any websites or apps are saved with your child’s passwords so they can go straight to what they need without your input.

When the homework involves questions, suggest your child start with whichever one they can tackle independently, then come back to the questions they need help with.

Encourage independent thinking so children feel comfortable expressing their own thoughts and opinions about their homework assignments. Talk with them about what they think worked well and what didn’t. Keep the dialogue about independence transparent. Maybe ask your child what they would like to be independent in and what support they will need to achieve this.

A growth mindset is probably the most important ingredient in achieving independence. A fixed mindset (eg ‘I can’t spell well’) can prevent growth while a growth mindset (‘I can’t spell well yet’) embraces the learning journey; at the same time encouraging other traits including resilience and persistence.

Zuzu Jordan is a Mastery for Maths specialist who has taught primary aged children for sixteen years and is interested in early years and home learning. For free homework and home learning resources, find the Facebook page Edumateuk.

Independent thinking

Independent thinking means not taking things at face value. Ian Gilbert from Independent Thinking (www. independentthinking.co.uk) explains it as literally coming up with your own ideas and making new connections.

Philosophy for Children (www.p4c.com) offers helpful springboards to unlocking independent thinking, giving children permission to push back on existing ideologies and concepts. Questions to ignite creative thinking are sometimes called Thunk questions. For example, if I read a newspaper in a shop without buying it, is that actually stealing?

Growth mindset

Historically, intelligence was seen as something we were gifted from birth and our levels were finite. Nowadays, research shows that mindset significantly influences how we learn and achieve. A fixed mindset person may use phrases like ‘I was never good at maths’ whereas a growth mindset person says ‘I can’t do this problem YET’ and bans the word ‘can’t’ from their vocabulary altogether.

Helping your child change their inner dialogue around facing challenges can make their learning more positive and successful.

What is the CPA approach in maths?

By Jemma Z Smith

CPA (concrete, pictorial, abstract) is a maths teaching approach that has grown in popularity in recent years. It involves using tangible objects for children to add, subtract, multiply or divide. They then progress to using pictorial representations of the objects and ultimately, abstract symbols. This way of learning is one of the foundations of Singaporean maths, now being adopted in the UK.

Concrete

The tangible, ‘handling’ stage uses physical objects to solve problems. For example:

There are four buttons in the pot. Stanley has two buttons in his hand. How many buttons are there altogether?

In this problem, the children might first count out actual buttons before moving on to non-related objects such as counters to represent the buttons. Of course, almost anything can be used to help a child master this stage from pencils to plastic pots, to counting beans and coins. You don’t need to spend money on concrete resources to support learning at home.

Pictorial

Next, learners move on to making their own representations. Returning to the example in the paragraph above, the buttons could be drawn as four circles on one part of the paper and two more on another part, representing the pot and the hand. Children can then count each small circle and get the same answer as they would have done with the buttons.

Building or drawing a model makes it easier for children to grasp

more difficult concepts, particularly when working with fractions. It enables learners to see how much of a ‘whole one’ has been shaded in and visualise the problem more clearly.

Abstract

This is where children use abstract symbols to solve maths problems.

Brooke has ten sweets and Millie has twelve sweets. How many sweets do they have altogether?

Children at the abstract stage would be able to solve the problem by writing it out as 10 + 12 = 22.

Before moving onto this stage, children need a secure understanding of mathematical vocabulary; eg ‘altogether’, ‘add’ and ‘plus’ all mean that the numbers are increasing.

Although CPA has three distinct stages, it is always useful to revisit the previous stages to ensure that learners have a full grasp of each concept.

Jemma Z Smith is Director of The Education Hotel (www.educationhotel.co.uk)

Why is CPA maths helpful for children?

Education methods have changed a lot since we were at school. For many adults today, classroom teaching involved having methods drummed into us that we didn’t necessarily understand and which were promptly forgotten. Could you explain why we ‘put a zero’ in the ones column when multiplying by a tens number? Why we ‘knock on the next number’s door and borrow a 1’ when exchanging in column subtraction? How long division really works?

Using physical ‘concrete’ counters show us the mechanics behind these methods and gives children an understanding of what maths is, rather than rote learning for an exam and forgetting the learning when moving on to the next concept. The learning will stick for longer and be more beneficial to them as they progress to the next stage of their education.

With CPA, maths is seen by teachers as a house or a pyramid. Without a strong understanding of the foundations, more complex topics such as algebra or percentages will be a struggle.

What if my Year 6 child still uses props for maths?

Should you be concerned? The answer is that the use of concrete and pictorial resources is not only for very young children or children who find new concepts tricky.

While running a SATs booster class, I used the bar model, a way of visualising addition, subtraction, multiplication and division using blocks, with a group of Year 6 children. They had to work out how much of one type of liquid was used in a ratio word problem. The lightbulb moments started to happen: what a privilege to witness!

Once learners understand the mechanics of problems, they can apply their knowledge from the concrete and pictorial stages into the abstract final answer and, if they are really secure, even teach it to someone else as well, demonstrating true mastery of the concept.

So no, parents shouldn’t be concerned if their children are still using props. They are using them to their advantage and building a solid base of understanding that will see them through into later years.

How playgrounds benefit your child

As a parent or carer of young children, you’ve no doubt spent many hours sitting or standing in a playground watching your child play or pushing them on a swing. As well as being great for getting kids playing outside, playgrounds also have a range of developmental benefits - not just physical and social but cognitive and emotional too.

Unexpected physical benefits

Playgrounds provide children with the opportunity to develop their complete physical selves:

Swings and climbing frames develop advanced balancing skills and improve their equilibrium for surer footedness.

Climbing and running benefit muscle development and weight management.

Exposing children to daylight helps stabilise their circadian rhythms which can improve sleep patterns.

Playing outside exposes youngsters to more organic bacteria and microbes, which can help build a more robust immune system and an advanced microbiome.

The emotional and cognitive benefits

Anxiety, self-esteem and introversion are all common issues faced by children. A playground gives them a safe space in which to confront those feelings without judgement or expectation.

They can choose to play with the other kids in the castle or observe and learn how they can socialise before taking the first brave steps. Similarly, they can play by themselves on the swings

or slides to reduce their anxiety as they don’t need any help from others to accomplish that (though the kit is designed to encourage engagement and communication). Finally, they can give their self-esteem a boost by being brave enough to try a new piece of equipment or by making a new friend.

The playground gives them options. They don’t have to do anything they don’t want to but if they choose to act, it’s almost certain they will experience a benefit.

Playground play is also great for developing problem-solving skills, increasing creativity and encouraging critical thinking. Do too many children want to play in the castle? They can work together to create a game and solve the problem. Does everyone want to go on the slide? Well, they can queue and wait their turn, right?

Family Corner (www.familycorner.co.uk) is the family arm of the Early Years Alliance (www.eyalliance.org.uk). The charity provides expert-written articles on all aspects of child development including health, behaviour, communication and fun activities.

Which equipment is best for learning?

When deciding which kit is best for learning, it all depends on what you want the child to learn. Some children need social development while others need physicality, so here are some options:

For improved physicality. Climbing frames, rope bridges and adventure or obstacle-based trim trails all get under-used body parts moving.

For improved education. Check out the activity panels at the playground such as noughts and crosses, chalkboards, map boards and more. Often large-scale, they encourage fun learning outside the classroom. Outdoor classrooms and reading corners are an option for this kind of learning too.

For improved creativity. In pieces like castles, forts and multiplay kits, children naturally come up with the scenarios to make the equipment more exciting and come to life. This equipment also helps boost co-operation and communication between kids.

At the end of the day, every piece of playground equipment can help a child develop and learn something in some way.

Social and educational benefits of playgrounds

When your child is new to a setting or you’re on holiday and want your kids to make new friends quickly, you encourage them to visit the playground, right? This is because playgrounds are designed to encourage engagement and collaboration and to facilitate independent play.

For example, the castle and climbing frames result in children making up imaginative role-play games together where the setting becomes a fantasy world. Competition often breaks out on the swings to see who can go the highest and kids also take turns on the slide and wait patiently for the next go. They need a buddy to sit on the other end of the seesaw. Before they know it, they have a new friend.

As for the educational benefits of playgrounds, it’s all about learning to be brave and patient and experiencing things like excitement, fear and nervousness for the first time. Many play parks also have pieces of kit specifically designed for educational purposes like big magnifiers, storybook corners and sensory play kits.

Helping children find their autistic identity

By Rebecca Duffus

When a young person gets a diagnosis of autism, it does not always come with the opportunity to explore their personal autistic identity. Research shows that having a positive understanding of this is an indicator of higher self-esteem and wellbeing as an adult. Thankfully, with the right knowledge and tools, parents can initiate important conversations and support their child’s journey.

So often, autistic young people are told to stop their repetitive physical movements, taught neurotypical social skills and even disciplined purely because of their autistic behaviours. Yet we need to be actively promoting autistic pride and creating communities in which autistic youngsters can understand their strengths and have their needs catered for.

It is important that young autistic people gain a sense of their own unique story and understand feelings of difference and what difference means to them. It helps if they can also learn from the role modelling of other autistic individuals.

Giving children space and time to explore and embrace their autistic identity, in a way that is positive and empowering, is essential for their sense of self and belonging. Here are a few ideas:

Highlight differences in a positive way in everyday life. For example, apples and oranges, pens and pencils, different roles within a sports team. Each share similarities and differences and are equally good and valid. Use these examples to explain the concept of neurodiversity: how some people’s brains simply work differently.

Use visuals to explore autism characteristics and what your child’s unique autistic identity looks like. For example, show pictures related to sensory differences to prompt discussions around over-reactivity and under-reactivity to different senses. The Autism, Identity and Me Workbook (AIM) includes a range of visual prompts and space to personalise each section, so the book becomes truly theirs.

Help them develop a diary or workbook in which they can reflect on their identity. Consider buying personalised notebooks or help them to set up their own system for processing information on an ongoing basis. This could be recording voice notes, videos or typing into a document.

Explore accounts from other autistic individuals, particularly those your child has something in common with, so that they feel represented.

Develop an ‘Autism Identity Statement’ together which your child can use to explain to others what autism means to them.

Continue the conversation and not always verbally: use links, articles and videos. If appropriate for your child’s age, encourage them to watch or follow autism advocates such as The Aspie World, Purple Ella and Chloe Hayden.

For parents, Chris Packham’s recent Inside Our Autistic Minds, available on iPlayer, is an illuminating and informative insight into the minds of young autistic adults.

Follow their lead. You want to develop your child’s autistic pride but it is very important to respect their communication preferences. Do they want to share their Autism Identity Statement with other family members and friends or just with specific people?

Rebecca Duffus is an Advisory Teacher working with students and educators in mainstream and specialist schools, plus local council and education services.

She has created Autism, Identity and Me (AIM) personalised workbooks for young people, with an accompanying guidebook for parents. Together they help autistic young people establish and reflect upon their own unique story. Order from https://bit.ly/AIMbook

The neurodiversity pencil case

Featured in the AIM workbooks, this analogy can help with understanding difference. Sometimes people feel different from everyone else. Imagine a neurodivergent person is a pen within a classroom where the neurotypical pupils are pencils. They might feel like the only pen.

Both the pens and pencils are good at what they do. The neurodivergent people may be different from the neurotypical people but they all share similarities. They are not the only pen…. about one in seven people are neurodivergent!

Create an Autism Identity Statement

Your child can choose who they talk to about autism and what they say but it can help if they have a set phrase to explain what autism means to them. This statement is liable to change over time as they develop their understanding of their autistic identity. Try:

I’m really good at...

I sometimes find it harder to...

When I feel stressed it helps me to...

My superpowers are...

The benefits of summer camps

By Andrew Campbell

Summer day camps provide fun, safe and nurturing spaces for children. Not just useful childcare for working parents, there are many benefits for children too. Consider these:

Learning new skills

Summer camps offer a variety of activities that allow children to explore new interests and develop talents they didn’t know they had or take an existing talent to a new level.

Promoting physical activity

Many day camps provide a wide range of physical activities including sports, outdoor activities and games. This helps to promote a healthy lifestyle and develop a lifelong love of physical activity.

Developing independence and self-confidence

Being in a setting that isn’t home or school and where there are no parents can give children a sense of independence. They learn how to take care of themselves, make their own decisions and solve problems on their own.

Taking on new challenges and trying new things gives them confidence in their abilities.

Fostering creativity

Creative juices flow when children experience theatre arts, dance, music, writing, arts and crafts. These all help to stimulate their imagination and expressive thinking.

Leaving technology behind

As fantastic as the online world can be, it is always great to expose children to the joys of a good old-fashioned kick about and team games in the fresh air. Who knows, they may even enjoy it MORE than gazing at a screen!

Building social skills

In a whole new supervised peer group, children learn to work together, communicate effectively and develop a sense of community.

There’s much to be gained too if they are learning and playing alongside children from different backgrounds, cultures or abilities from their usual circles, as this is an opportunity to appreciate difference. Kids will also build friendships outside their established school network.

How safe will your child be?

Ofsted registration

While most childcare services have to be registered with Ofsted, holiday clubs are often exempt so you need to check.

If there isn’t an Ofsted report, you may want to ask what policies are in place to ensure children’s safety, such as safeguarding procedures, health and safety procedures, food handling, staff to child ratios and public liability insurance.

Staff qualifications

All staff and frequent volunteers at a holiday club must have enhanced DBS checks. Ofsted registered holiday camps will be required to have staff with training in first aid, safeguarding and if applicable, food handling. It is no longer a requirement for out-of-school club staff to hold a formal qualification. However, many providers will be required to have qualified staff to get childcare insurance.

Check the website or make enquiries.

Enjoying the outdoors

Climbing trees, changing a bike wheel or building an outdoor camp can give your child a whole new set of skills while enjoying adventures they might not otherwise experience.

Nurturing leadership and teamwork

By encouraging teamwork, co-operation, empathy and selfconfidence, summer day camps will help your child develop emotional intelligence.

Holiday camps and the law

What can you do if a holiday camp is cancelled? You should get a refund but the terms of the booking may exclude refunds for cancellations for reasons beyond the camp’s control.

Can you get a refund if your child refuses to go to the camp? If the holiday camp doesn’t live up to expectations, getting a refund maybe difficult. Try talking to the manager.

Can you get a refund or partial refund if your child is absent due to sickness? This will depend on the terms of the booking.

What should you do if your child is injured at a holiday camp? If the camp is Ofsted registered, you could report the incident and you may be able to get a refund. In a more serious case, you may want to seek legal advice.

Are holiday camps obliged to accept children with special needs? Holiday camps must ensure that there is full inclusion and make the necessary reasonable adjustments to accommodate each child’s needs.

What's On

To promote your local event in the next issue, email: editor@familiessolenteast.co.uk. Don’t forget to sign up for our digital magazine for more interactive content at familiesmagazine.co.uk/go

All listings correct at the time of going to print.

ONGOING

Every Mon Card Making Club Bridgemary Library, Gosport, PO13 0LA www.hants.gov.uk/ librariesandarchives/library/ events

Enjoy the pleasure of making your own personalised cards, share ideas, learn something new and create beautiful handmade cards.

Every Mon Makaton Friendly Storytime Bridgemary Library, Gosport, PO13 0LA www.hants.gov.uk/ librariesandarchives/library/ events

Come along and join in for stories, rhymes and colouring every Monday. Free, no need to book, just come along!

Every Wed & Fri Baby Stay and Play Gosport Discovery Centre, PO12 1BT www.hants.gov.uk/ librariesandarchives/library/ events

Come along to a fun play session for babies up to pre-crawlers. Session includes activities to help your child’s early communication and support attachment. £1 per child. 10.30-11.30am.

Every Wed Needlecraft Club Waterlooville Library, PO7 7DT www.hants.gov.uk

Join for needlecraft, every Wednesday 10.30am-12.30pm.

Every Thu Baby Rhymetime

Portchester Library, PO16 9TX www.hants.gov.uk

Handclapping, toe-tapping fun for babies. A great way for you and your baby to discover rhymes and make new friends. Suitable for children and families. 10-10.30am.

Every Fri Toddler Rhymetime

Fareham Library, PO16 7EN www.hants.gov.uk

Sing the old favourites, learn some new rhymes for toddlers under 5. Free to join, parent/carers must remain with their children during the session.

Every Sat Family Saturdays

Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth, PO1 3BF www.aspex.org.uk

A different creative activity and fun workshop each week, from painting to model making. FREE.

Every Sat Construction Club

Bridgemary Library, Gosport, PO13 0LA www.hants.gov.uk/ librariesandarchives/library/ events

Come along to this free construction club and unleash your creativity. No need to book, just come along. 10am-1pm.

Every Sat Board Games

Bridgemary Library, Gosport, PO13 0LA www.hants.gov.uk

Have fun playing board games with family or friends. All ages.

Last Sat of the Month Book Bugs Club

Waterlooville Library, PO7 7DT www.hants.gov.uk/ librariesandarchives/library/ events

Come along and join for stories, fourth Saturday of every month, 10-10.30am.

Every Sun SEN Session

Flip Out Portsmouth, PO6 4BQ www.flipout.co.uk

A quiet session wtih no music playing and the team are sensitive to the participants differing needs. 9-10am. £8.50.

DIARY DATES

Sat 13 May

Creative Saturday: A World in Colour Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery, GU32 3HX www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk

Creative Saturdays are fun, handson activity days. Explore stories, collections and exhibitions together as a family. 11am-1pm.

Sat 13 May to 5 Jun

Mysteries & Mayhem

Winchester Science Centre, SO21 1HZ

www.winchestersciencecentre.org

There’s been a crime committed at Winchester Science Centre! They need volunteers to join the Chemistry Crime Squad live science show and help use science to solve the mystery of the missing lunch. Watch as awesome experiments, intriguing demos and chemical reactions reveal the clues to help solve the mystery. Enjoy this event as well as all the usual Science Centre fun.

Sat 20 & Sun 21 May

Battle for Britannia

Butser Ancient Farm, PO8 0BG www.butserancientfarm.co.uk

Hear old stories and gaze at the crackling fire, while visiting a truly unique setting. 4pm-6pm.

Sun 21 May

Madagascar The Muscial Kings Theatre, Portsmouth, PO5 2QJ

www.kingsportsmouth.co.uk

Join Alex, Marty, Melman and Gloria as they bound out of the zoo and onto the stage in this live musical spectacular. Ages 3+. 3pm.

Fri 26 May

Saxon Kings and Ice Age Magic: Tales of Ancient Treasures

Butser Ancient Farm, PO8 0BG www.butserancientfarm.co.uk

Enjoy a unique show of archaeology-inspired storytelling by award-winning storyteller Jason Buck and TV presenter Mary-Ann Ochota in a unique setting with a truly special atmosphere. 4-6pm.

Sat 27 May

Journey to the Stars

Portsmouth Guildhall, Portsmouth, PO1 2AB

www.portsmouthguildhall.org.uk

Journey to the Stars! is a marvellous blend of puppetry, storytelling, live music and comedy, sprinkled with astounding science and astronomy facts, and all contained within an accessible, funny and unique family show. Ages 4+. Adult & Child £6. 1pm.

Sat 27 May

Goldilocks and the Three Bears New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth, PO1 2DD

www.newtheatreroyal.com

Roll up! Roll up! Join in for The Greatest Show On Earth as KD Theatre Productions & Harlow Playhouse present their brand new production Goldilocks and the Three Bears. 2pm or 6pm.

Sat 27 May to Sat 3 Jun

School Holiday Trail: Mini Museum Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery, GU32 3HX

www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk

Explore the Museum and Art Gallery in a new light with our fun, self-guided trails for the whole family. Follow the clues, find the hidden objects and take part in a series of exciting challenges in exchange for a mystery prize! 10am-5pm.

Sat 27 May to Sun 4 Jun

Half Term Fun: Gods & Monsters

Butser Ancient Farm, PO8 0BG

www.butserancientfarm.co.uk

Discover the gods and monsters of ancient mythology this May half term! An action-packed week filled with a themed trail, hands-on activities, ancient skills demonstrations, and more. 10am-4pm.

Sat 27 May to Sun 4 Jun

Half Term Activities

Weald & Download Living Museum, Chichester, PO18 0EU www.wealddown.co.uk

Get buzzy this May half term as we learn all about bees and why we need them. With hands on activities, you can explore the 40acre site and follow our Busy Bees Trail around the historic gardens. 10.30am-6.30pm.

Sat 27 May to 30 Sep

Elmer’s Art Parade at Petworth Petworth House, West Sussex, GU28 9LR

www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Explore the gardens and discover ten individually designed Elmer sculptures, inspired by the work of well-known artists from across the world, including Yayoi Kusama, William Morris and JMW Turner, along with the original patchwork Elmer by David McKee. Collect your free map at reception and follow the winding paths around the garden to search for Elmer on this creative and colourful sculpture trail. 10am-5pm.

Sun 28 May

Starlight Cinema: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial - Screening Winchester Science Centre, SO21 1HZ

www.winchestersciencecentre.org

When the Science Centre doors close, the cinema screen will be rolling! Grab a seat, sit back and enjoy one of Hollywood’s biggest blockbusters, E.T. The ExtraTerrestrial. 5pm. Child £4, Adult £8.

Sun 28 May

Family Fun Day

Fontwell Racecourse, BN18 0SY

www.fontwellpark.co.uk

Head to Fontwell Park to enjoy an action-packed afternoon of jumps racing and a host of FREE entertainment to keep the kids entertained including: fun fair, face painting, inflatables and more.

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW - EARLY BIRD PRICING AVAILABLE STANSTEDPARK CO UK/WHATSON

Mon 29 May & Sun 25 Jun

Relaxed Open Morning

Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth, PO1 SPY

www.maryrose.org

Relaxed open morning from 10am-12pm, where the lights in the museum will be at a higher level, and sound effects will be turned down. Suitable for SEN children.

Tue 30 May

Kids Club

Port Solent, Portsmouth, PO6 4TP www.portsolent.com

Soar your way into half-term with a brilliant Birds of Prey Flying show. 12pm and 3pm.

Fri 2 Jun

Slippery Slime Making

Westbury Manor Museum, Fareham PO16 0JJ www.hampshireculture.org.uk/ events

Westbury Manor Museum is hosting Creation Station Fareham who will be delivering craft session. Make an individual pot of slime to take home. Ages 4+.

Sat 3 & Sun 4 Jun

Portsmouth Comic Con Portsmouth Guildhall, PO1 2AB

www.portsmouthguildhall.org.uk International Festival of Comics. Presenting the best in comic, film, TV and pop culture entertainment, Portsmouth Comic Con is the biggest family-friendly Comic Con of its kind.

Thu 8 Jun to Thu 13 Jul

Stop Motion Animation

Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham, PO16 7DX www.ashcroft.org.uk

Come along to this fun and inspiring six week short course

and learn stop-frame animation movie making techniques used in TV favourites such Wallace and Gromit, Morph, Pingu and Shaun the Sheep. £60. Ages 7-11. 4.30-6pm.

Fri 9 to Sun 11 Jun

The Garden Show

Stansted House, Rowlands Castle, PO9 6DX

www.stanstedpark.co.uk

Browse an incredible variety of plants, artisan stalls and get expert advice for your garden.

Sat 10 Jun

Creative Saturday: Musical Melodies

Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery, GU32 3HX www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk

A fun, hands-on activity day. Explore stories, collections and exhibitions together as a family. Take part in a musical workshop between 11am and 1pm.

Sun 11 Jun

Family Day

Goodwood, Chichester, PO18 0PX www.goodwood.com

The perfect day out for all the family. From free fairground rides and live music to exhilarating racing, everyone is guaranteed to have a smile on their face. Under 18s are free.

Wed 14 to Sat 24 Jun

Alice in Wonderland

The Oak Theatre, PO14 4BG www.titchfieldfestivaltheatre.com

Join in for this journey down the Rabbit Hole in an all new family musical adventure for all ages. 7.30pm.

Coronation Anagram

Unscramble the letters to discover what you will see on Coronation Day

Thu 15 Jun

A Midsummer Night’s Dream Chawton House, Alton, GU34 1SJ www.chawtonhouse.org

Join the HandleBards at Chawton House for a hilarious, high-octane production of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This is an outdoor production, bring your own chair or blanket, a picnic and dress for the weather! 6pm.

Fri 16 to Sun 18 Jun

The Snail and the Whale New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth, PO1 2DD www.newtheatreroyal.com

Join an adventurous young girl and her seafaring father as they reimagine the story of a tiny snail’s incredible trip around the world, inspired by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved picture book. Ages 4+. Relaxed performance on Fri 16 Jun, 4.30pm.

Sat 17 Jun

Mrs Blossom Makes: Wild Flower Seed Bombs Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham, PO16 7DX www.ashcroft.org.uk

Bring your garden or an outside green space to life with flowers and insects this summer by creating natural seed bombs, recycled seedling pots and markers to take home. 10am, 11.15am, 1.30pm or 2.45pm. All ages.

Sat 17 Jun

Father’s Day Drop in Workshop Westbury Manor Museum, Fareham, PO16 0JJ www.hampshireculture.org.uk Creation Station Fareham will be delivering drop-in craft sessions for children on site in the museum library. 10am-4pm.

Fri 23 Jun

Outdoor Theatre: ‘Bad Dad’ Stansted House, Rowlands Castle, PO9 6DX www.stanstedpark.co.uk

Enjoy an evening of entertainment for the whole family with a fun and lively outdoor performance in the beautiful walled garden.

Sat 1 Jul

Open Day Andrew Simpson Watersports Centre, Portsmouth, PO3 5LY www.andrewsimpsoncentres.org/ event/asc-portsmouth-open-day Come along and enjoy a taster day with the family and try some watersports. 10am-4pm.

EVENTS FOR SUMMER

Sat 15 to Sun 16 Jul

Stansted Summer Festival Stansted House, Rowlands Castle, PO9 6Dx www.stanstedpark.co.uk

A highly popular weekend of family fun, activities and entertainment. Discounts for families and early bird pricing available now for a limited time only. £10 per adult, £27 for a family of four. Book online.

22 Jul to 28 Aug

Perform in the Park Coram’s Fields WC1N 1DN www.performinthepark.uk

A magical festival of children’s theatre in the heart of London. Four fantastic musicals for children aged 2-14 plus evening events for teens. Set in a pop-up tent in Coram’s Fields WC1N 1DN, families can also enjoy the park with wide lawns and wonderful play areas. Bring a picnic or enjoy the charming all-day café. Tickets start at £14.50. Pre-book.

Stansted Summer Festival is back this July

Stansted Summer Festival is back! Join in for the highly popular third annual weekend of family fun and entertainment and immerse yourself in the life of a country estate.

Unscramble the circled letters to spell the name of someone else who will be crowned on Coronation Day

Answers: 1. Crown 2. Westminster Abbey 3. King Charles 4. Throne 5. Royal carriage

Featuring the Napoleonic Association: mock battles, musketry, cannons and cavalry charges. Plus, amazing live music, batala drummers, archery, rural crafts, incredible food, craft beers and gin, Punch and Judy, mini golf, laser clay pigeon shooting, Forest School, traditional garden games, magicians, Stansted Park Light Railway, yew maze and so much more. Come along for a day or enjoy a whole weekend!

Discounts for families and early bird pricing available now for a limited time only. £10 per adult, £27 for a family of four.

Find out more or buy tickets at www.stanstedpark.co.uk

1.

Happy holidays with grandparents

By Ellie Malt

There is nothing quite like a holiday spent with grandparents to create surprising and special memories that will last a lifetime. Who knows what we will all discover along the way? Will granny get the hang of TikTok? Maybe the kids will find out what a ‘real’ camera looks like or perhaps we’ll all just learn more about each other. The most important thing though is to have fun and enjoy spending time together. Here are some ways to make it happen:

Choose flexible accommodation

Are you thinking about a villa, apartment or hotel? Small or big resort? Grandparents may not want to spend all their time with the grandchildren and vice-versa so some degree of separate space might be a wise idea. You should also consider access; somewhere with lots of steps neither suits buggies nor anyone who is a bit wobbly on their feet.

Plan together

Involve everyone in the planning by asking for their input and ideas. They’ll appreciate the opportunity to share their experiences and knowledge. Sure, there’ll be compromises along the way but sharing the planning helps set expectations and ensures everyone feels more involved in the holiday.

Eating together

If you are self-catering, who will shop, cook and wash up? Are other options available? It’s worth thinking ahead about fussy eaters, as well as people who need to eat dinner earlier or get up late for breakfast. Planning now can save a lot of awkward negotiation when you’re there.

Make activities age-appropriate

Choose some ideas that will suit everyone’s interests and abilities. A water park might be the best day ever for the kids, while exploring the nearby town or drinking rum cocktails at the beach might be more appealing to parents and grandparents. If you have something special in mind that works for everyone, it might be worth choosing your holiday destination around it.

Sharing the kids

With more adults around, child-free date nights or even days out may be possible but don’t assume this will just happen. Discuss expectations around this. And if the grandparents are left in charge for a few hours, accept that their style may not match your own exactly - it’s their holiday too. Rather than setting rigid ground rules, let them do it their own way; after all, you didn’t turn out so badly!

‘Yes, we did it!’

Plan an adventure day; take a scenic hike or cycle ride or perhaps a kayak. Trying something new is all part of a holiday. If you choose carefully, even with different physical abilities and interests, it can work for everyone. Building in an element of challenge and heading out of your comfort zone together can create a sense of shared purpose and provide a real highlight.

Quiet time

It’s important that everyone is able to have some alone time during the holiday so think about the possibility of me-time for each person. Not everyone feels social all the time so consider the needs of the introverts in the group. Expectations and excitement may run high ahead of the holiday so talking to your kids about quiet-time or afternoon siestas before you go can help things run more smoothly.

Take photos

Document your holiday; everyone can get involved in this. Remember photos weren’t always just for posting on social media! Maybe you can create a photobook or even go old school and frame some group shots. It will give everyone something to look back on in the years to come and help keep those memories alive.

Best outdoor toys for summer 2023

Ah summertime! The days are longer, the weather is warmer and we have more opportunities to head outside into the fresh air. We asked our friends at The Good Play Guide (www.goodplayguide.com) to recommend a range of top toys and activities that will provide hours of entertainment. Different toys develop different skills through play and these are broken into four key categories to inspire you: Active, Nature & Discovery, Arty and Educational.

Educational

Waterwall

For a splashtastic time, look no further than the Waterwall for hours of fun. Perfect for long summer days in the garden, your child will love designing a pathway for the water to successfully run through the tubes. They may not succeed straight away but the fun is in the trying! RRP £99.99.

Paint Pop Face Paint Sticks

Face painting is made easier with Paint Pop Face Paints. The silky-smooth paint is inside the stick; simply twist and you’re ready to paint! You can enjoy super-clean, messfree and convenient creative fun when at home or out and about on your travels. Each set includes twelve bright, vibrant colours for greater creativity. RRP £9.99.

Gazillion Bubbles Giant Power Wand

Sometimes it’s the simplest things in life that are the most fun. Kids and grown-ups will love the giant bubbles that whoosh out at the touch of a button. Great for an active summer afternoon in the garden or for entertaining children at a birthday party, this is sure to be a big hit. RRP £12.

Xootz Bubble-GoScooter

The Xootz Bubble-Go Scooter is a three-wheeled scooter that blows bubbles as you ride, cleverly combining two popular children’s pastimes in one. With its wide footplate and sturdy three-wheeled style, younger riders will find it a breeze to use and will be the envy of their friends as they ride a scooter while blowing bubbles out behind them. RRP £49.99.

Nature & Discovery

GALT Travel Activity Case

This set contains four books of educational travel activities that will keep children occupied on journeys, as well as during downtime or on a rainy day. The fun, mess-free activities include puzzles, word searches, dotto-dots, stickers and colouring, getting the brain whirring as children indulge their language skills, dexterity and creativity. RRP £12.99.

River Rock Paint Kit

Rock painting is a fun activity for kids that can be enjoyed indoors or outdoors. With fifteen smooth river rocks to paint, plus a full complement of art supplies, kids can create decorative stones to tell stories with or showcase in your home or garden, proudly displaying their artistic imagination. RRP £19.99.

Geosafari® JR. Kidnoculars® Extreme™

Magnify nature with these 3x no-focus binoculars and built-in microphone - they are the perfect tool to encourage children to engage with and learn about nature. Looking and listening to their surroundings teaches kids observation skills and promotes the learning of new vocabulary centred around nature. RRP £26.50.

Flower Growing Garden Kit

This flower garden kit makes it easy for children to plant, decorate and watch their very own garden grow beautiful cosmos, nasturtium and zinnia flowers. This is a great way to introduce children to the excitement and reward of watching their very own flowers grow. RRP £24.99.