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September/October 2021
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STOCKPORT GRAMMAR SCHOOL An independent school for ages 3-18 years
Assistance with fees available at 11+ and 16+ (means tested), academic and music scholarships FOUNDED IN 1487
Book online for Open Events
Senior School Open Mornings Saturday 18th September Saturday 13th November Junior School Open Morning Saturday 18th September Sixth Form Open Evening Tuesday 12th October
School Day Tours and Virtual Visits Extensive school bus routes including Sale, Altrincham and Hale
SGS Inspires Tel: 0161 456 9000 2 September/October
Highest Inspection Rating of “Excellent”
www.stockportgrammar.co.uk Familiesonline.co.uk
CONTENTS
In this issue
Welcome
4 12
Back to school already! Our Education feature will help ease the transition and provides helpful tips and support.
14 16 19 21 23 24 25 27
Education Scavenger hunt downloadable Activities Autumn activities Halloween Family life Bonfire Night Early years Black History Month Toys
Get in touch Competition winners from our May/June issue. 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.
Autumn is a beautiful season and a great time for getting outside with the family. Hunt down some autumn trees in our downloadable Scavenger Hunt, enjoy some Autumn crafts and get organised early for Halloween with our great costume and decoration ideas. Get prepared for Ride to School Week with our family cycling feature and challenge your kids with our Black History Month quiz. How many faces can they match to names? Whether you’re an existing subscriber to this magazine or haven’t signed up yet, take advantage of our fabulous free gifts for you in this issue!
Make Christmas Magical Take your family on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to meet Santa in Lapland and enjoy an experience you’ll never forget!
Limited availability for 2021 Visit SantasLapland.com
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09/08/2021 13:57 3 September/October
EDUCATION
Tips for a positive Parents’ Evening By Annabel Gray Despite the sore throat and spinning head by the end, as a teacher, I used to love parents’ evenings. Those ten minutes can make all the difference to a child’s experience and outcomes at school. So, to make the most of them:
What do you want to know? Their level? Their test results? How they interact with others? How confident they are? What the homework is about? How to do long division? This is your chance! Don’t waste it!
Work these top tips into your parents’ evening and you’ll feel positive, productive and informed by the end of it. Want other tips to support your child’s learning? READ MORE
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Holiday act ivities Summer Lea rning Health Family food
Free gifts for existing sub new and scribers
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Celebrate their work. Pandemicpermitting, let your child show you their work on display and their books. Most parents are surprised at the quality of the work their children do at school.
Be proud. Your kids are amazing! Tell them that!
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Come armed with questions. The most productive meetings are when a parent brings all the queries they have to the meeting so they can be ironed out quickly.
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Smile. The teacher you are meeting spends just as much time as you do with your child and will know them very well. Make them feel at ease and create a positive vibe from the outset.
Focus on solutions. If there are tricky issues to tackle, from either side of the desk, focus on solutions rather than blame. Like you, teachers want the best for your child. If an issue can’t be resolved, book a further meeting.
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Attend. Obvious maybe – but vital if you want to show your child that you value their learning.
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July/August 2021
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EDUCATION
Sixth Form Open Evening Wednesday 29 September
Whole School Open Day Saturday 9 October • Stunning new £60m, 80-acre campus in Prestbury • State-of-the-art facilities for girls & boys age 3–18 • Excellent GCSE & A-Level results • Unrivalled extra-curricular programme The King’s School in Macclesfield www.kingsmac.co.uk | 01625 260000
Charity No. 1137204
Charity No. 1137204
11+ & Sixth Form Bursaries & Scholarships available
October Open Events • LOWER SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE Friday 1 Oct
• SENIOR SCHOOL OPEN MORNING Saturday 9 Oct
• SIXTH FORM OPEN EVENING Tuesday 19 Oct
Register online today thequeensschool.co.uk/open-events AN OUTSTANDING INDEPENDENT SCHOOL for girls aged 4-18 in the heart of Chester. Small enough that we get to know every girl personally, and big enough to provide a wealth of opportunities that go well beyond the classroom, challenging your daughter along the way to ensure a successful and happy future. 180-130.indd 1 Familiesonline.co.uk
Igniting her potential 13/07/2021 14:05 5 September/October
EDUCATION
Join the Grange School at its upcoming Open Days The Grange School is delighted to be able to welcome parents and children into school again for its upcoming Open Days. This independent school, set in the heart of Cheshire, offers a warm and welcoming environment for children ages 4 to 18, priding itself on its academic achievement and enrichment opportunities. The School’s learning environment fully immerses students in their school experience, allowing them to ‘live’ their education. It’s hard-working, learner-focused teachers, outstanding facilities and broad enrichment opportunities ensure that every child receives an education that prepares them for life as ambitious, respectful and confident adults. Come and tour the School and see its facilities in action. Senior School Open Day will be held on Saturday 25 September and Junior School on Saturday 13 November. Places are limited, so register your interest today and the School will be in touch to arrange a timeslot. Registration and further information here.
An Independent school for children aged 4-18 in the heart of Cheshire
6 September/October
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Spring 2021
September/October 7
EDUCATION
Stockport Grammar students impress in Industrial Project Lower Sixth students from SGS utilised problem solving and engineering skills as part of this year’s Industrial Cadets Gold Project.
Tackling a challenge set by Network Rail – namely ‘Light and power supply monitoring in low voltage distribution cubicles,’ the team set about finding a remote way of determining when the power in these cubicles, positioned trackside, is interrupted. They investigated and discovered how to supply automatic lighting when the cubicle was opened for maintenance or repair, homing in on a Raspberry Pi controlled monitoring system using a PIR detector to switch a light source on when this happens. The Industry Assessor praised the group’s ‘enthusiasm,’ ‘project management skills’ and ‘well-rehearsed presentation’ alongside their collective effort and strong leadership. Read more about Stockport Grammar School.
Open Events 25 September 2021 Senior School 9.30am - 12.30pm Infant and Junior School 11am - 2pm
13 October 2021
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EDUCATION
Dealing with back to school anxiety By Lisa Wander and Catherine Loble For most children, back to school anxiety fades quickly. But how do we support our children when it lingers? Prevent common worries from becoming deep-rooted by establishing good practice and routines. For children whose worries persist, this simple five step programme can to our children is that they don’t help. need to worry. Take care of the basics. Ensure a Not sure how to be an ‘active good sleep routine, healthy snacks listener?’ and regular exercise. Provide empathy. Find READ MORE uninterrupted opportunities to listen to your child’s worries, expectations and fears. Car journeys, bath time and walks are ideal. Listen actively, withholding judgement and advice. Validate their feelings. Ages Problem solve. Discuss coping Art Lab 6+ strategies, ideally led by your child. Pouring Showing confidence in their own Art problem solving abilities nurtures Studio greater resilience. Highlight the positives. Encourage 3 your child to recognise the fun available elements of school and not fixate on the negatives. Use questions like: ‘What was your favourite thing for Let budding artists lunch?’ and ‘What was the funniest explore colour & design thing that happened today?’ Be mindful of your own emotions T&Cs apply and reactions. They can create APPLY HERE learnt behaviour. By staying calm Magazine and seeming positive, the message
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September/October 9
EDUCATION
Ride to school safely It’s Ride to School Week starting 27 September! To get your family riding to school (and beyond) safely, check out our great videos and articles.
Teaching your child to ride a bike
Cycling as a family By Catherine Ellis
There’s no better time than the Autumn to start cycling: it’s generally mild but not too warm, it’s a beautiful season and cycling is a great way to see it unfold. But preparation is key to ensuring you get the best out of the experience and take an appropriate route. READ MORE 10 September/October
Safety-checking your child’s bike
Transporting children by bike
It can be difficult to know how to best transport your growing family by bike. What if you have a baby? What if you also have a toddler? What if you have an older child too? Cycling UK explains how to make the best cycling choices for your family. READ MORE Familiesonline.co.uk
EDUCATION
Top questions to ask on a school visit By Emma Lewry Choosing a school for your child is a big decision that can feel charged with pressure and uncertainty. As a teacher, former head teacher and a mum, I’ve been through the process from both sides of the classroom door, so here’s my simple advice to make the most of your visits. Firstly, read my tips on preparation for your visit here: So what should you ask at the school? • What’s the best thing about your school? • What are you working on to improve as a school currently? • What do the children say about your school? (or ask a child if you can!) • How are your classes organised? Are the mixed ages and abilities? • How do you deal with behaviour incidents and bullying? • About any logistics that are important to you; Do you offer a breakfast club? Do you teach
Watch Emma’s top school visit tips
particular sports or musical instruments? What time does the school day start? Looking for more essentials to get the most out of a school visit? READ MORE
Ages Free gift 5+ for our subscribers!*
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September/October 11
Autumn tree Scavenger Hunt
Get outdoors and go on a treasure hunt with your kids, matching leaves to their trees and trees to their fruit. Download this activity and instructions.
DOWNLOAD FOR YOUR KIDS HERE
12 September/October
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TWEEN
The best foods for pre-teens By Katie O’Connell We have a running joke in our family. If it’s not burger-shaped, my son won’t eat it. Finding out what we should be feeding our tweens is one challenge, working out what they will actually eat is another! Teen and pre-teen experts at wearetwixt offered us this advice from Katie, nutritionist and gut health expert.
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Chuck a handful of prawns into a stir fry/pasta sauce with some chilli and lime. Mackerel has a mild flavour that works well mashed into a dip with a squeeze of lemon and garlic. Add pesto or cherry tomatoes to baked salmon steaks; serve with potato wedges. Try salty anchovies in pasta sauce or on pizza. They taste great amongst other complicated flavours. Spread nut butters - peanut, almond or hazelnut- onto toast. Slice apple wedges for dipping in a small bowl of peanut butter.
For What’s On near you, pick up your local print magazine!
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Fishy and nutty food ideas
Katie O’Connell is an experienced nutritionist offering consultations to parents and children. Find out more.
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Healthy fats are probably the most important food group for growing tweens and are vital to healthy brain development. The best sources are fish, nuts and seeds. I recommend oily fish twice a week - salmon, sardines, mackerel, tuna (fresh not tinned), herrings, prawns and whitebait – and a handful of nuts a day.
Sprinkle mixed seeds over breakfast cereal, salads, in sandwiches and stir fries.
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Magazine September/October 13
ACTIVITIES
Find your fit with Brio Leisure Brio Leisure has some fantastic offers to help keep you and your little ones happy and active this Autumn! This September, juniors can join Brio Leisure for just £10 per month for September, October and November! From casual swim sessions to offpeak racquet sports, there are loads of activities to keep the kids entertained at your local centre. Adults can also enjoy this offer for just £20 per month. From swimming to fitness classes, there’s something for everyone. Join and benefit from this offer by visiting your local centre or clicking here. T&Cs apply. There’s entertainment on offer at Brio too. At Northwich Memorial Court on 26 September, you can catch The (Steve) Royale Variety Performance at 7:30pm or a classic for all the family, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show on 13 November at 1pm and 3pm. Tickets here or call 0333 666 3366.
The Grange Theatre puts on the Greatest Pantomime of them all… Join The Grange Theatre in Northwich this Christmas for the Greatest Pantomime of them all ‘CINDERELLA.’ Cinderella longs for a happier and more exciting life away from her wicked stepsisters. Thankfully, her loveable companion, Buttons, is there to look after her. When dashing Prince Charming decides to hold a ball to find a wife, this may be the chance Cinderella has been waiting for. Can the Fairy Godmother help Cinderella get to the ball? With the help of some mice and a pumpkin – anything is possible! This jam-packed pantomime will sparkle with an exciting blend of live music, quality, professional performers, stunning sets, lavish costumes and bags of comedy. Running from 11 December to 2 January. Click here for more information and booking or call 01606 539040. 14 September/October
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September/October 15
AUTUMN
Best Autumn crafts for all ages Celebrate the season and get creative with these colourful and rewarding activities.
Autumn garland
Apple stamping
Hanging leaves
Pine cone peanut butter bird feeder
Leaf people
Paper plate flappy owl
Pine cone people
Nature ‘tic tac toe’ game
Nature wand
16 September/October
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AUTUMN
Autumn outside It’s a great season to be outside with the kids and here’s how to keep them happy and busy enjoying nature.
Track local wildlife
Create a journey stick
Spider web safari
Geocaching
Make a leaf stack
Build a den
Discover a wood near you
Make a mini garden
Build a hedgehog home
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September/October 17
ENVIRONMENT
Growing oak trees from acorns According to the Woodland Trust, trees are our most powerful weapon in the fight against climate change. Join Luke Cook and The Acorn Project to give nature a helping hand in encouraging acorns to grow into trees. 1
2
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Here’s what to do. 1. Start looking for green or brown acorns around mid-September. Make sure they have no insect damage or holes/cracks from falling. 2. Take the caps off your acorns. Fill a clear container up with water and drop in the acorns. Fertile acorns will sink. Non-fertile ones can be put outside for birds and squirrels (but out of reach of dogs, as acorns are poisonous for them). 3. Keep your fertile acorns in a cool, dark place until they sprout. When the roots appear, fill a small
18 September/October
container with compost and some gravel. A yoghurt pot or plastic bottle cut in half, with drainage holes at the bottom works well. Make a hole and plant the acorn (about an inch below the surface). Cover with compost and put outside/in a dark spot until shoots appear (usually in the spring). 4. Look around your local area to see where trees could be planted. Council-owned parks, schools and hospitals are likely to be grateful for your saplings!
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HALLOWEEN
DIY Halloween costumes Does your heart sink when your child asks if you can make them a costume for Halloween? If so, check out this great but simple ideas.
No sew spider
Luna Lovegood
No sew ghost
Zombie
Mummy
Pirate
Duct tape skeleton
Velcro vampire
Halloween face painting - step by step
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September/October 19
HALLOWEEN
Halloween decoration ideas Get into the spirit of the Halloween season with these fabulous decoration ideas.
Milk carton ghosts
Halloween shadow puppet activity
Easy jar lantern
Witches cauldrons
Pumpkin paper plates
Puffy ghosts
Conker spider
Mini broomstick
Flapping bat
20 September/October
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FAMILY LIFE
The benefits of family pets
Kids’ books that promote diversity
By Caroline Wilkinson
By Tamsy Ashman
While raising kids can feel like enough of a job without the added responsibility of pets, bringing animals into your family home can be incredibly beneficial. A pet can provide huge confidence-boosting opportunities for children and can also reduce anxiety levels. READ MORE
As conversations about race continue to dominate the headlines, it’s the perfect time to explore books featuring people from different racial backgrounds with your child.
Saving tips for families
Giveaway!
By Clare Francis
Over the last tumultuous eighteen months, families have realised the importance of having a financial safety net. Financially supporting the various stages of your child’s life requires planning and the earlier you start to save, the less you will feel the impact on your day-today budget. READ MORE Familiesonline.co.uk
Here’s some recommendations. READ MORE
Turn your child’s life adventures into personalised tales with a Tales of Me book 5 of each book available APPLY HERE Magazine
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September/October 21
FAMILY LIFE
Is it really over?
Journaling for kids
All relationships have ups and downs but when the balance has tipped very much in favour of downs, you may be wondering whether your marriage can be saved or whether divorce could be the right decision.
Journaling is an excellent activity for kids. It creates an outlet for thoughts and feelings and a safe space for children of all ages to explore their emotions.
By Rhiannon Ford
You may have talked to your spouse about your unhappiness and not received a satisfactory response? Or feel you’ve done everything you can to improve your relationship and it’s just not working? Find out what to do next.
By Stacie Swift
Journaling can foster greater self-awareness, self-belief and help with decision making. It’s also a great tool for encouraging gratitude, kindness and positivity. Check out my five starter activities for children. READ MORE
Dozens of family activities! Check out the FREE resources at Only Mums & OnlyDads and find out about 101 Questions Answered About Separating With Children, an invaluable resource for parents in the early days of separation. 22 September/October
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BONFIRE NIGHT
Staying safe on Bonfire Night Animals and children (particularly younger ones) often find fireworks scary. Help them relax and stay safe using a few simple tips. Indoor pets Keep your pets in the house whenever you think there will be fireworks; Walk dogs during daylight hours; Shut windows and doors, close blinds and curtains; Put on some music or television to mask the firework sounds; Create a quiet space or hiding places where your pet can feel secure; Make sure your pet can’t escape if startled by a sudden noise.
Outside pets Partly cover outside cages, hutches and pens with blankets. Provide extra bedding inside cages and hutches so small animals can burrow in. Consider bringing outside pets indoors – this may need to be done gradually so plan ahead. More at RSPCA
Enjoy fireworks with kids
Bonfire Night safety tips
Invest in a pair of earmuffs to protect their sensitive hearing;
Don’t build a bonfire too high;
Sparklers offer fizz and glow without the bang but never give them to a child under 5;
Keep a bucket of water nearby; Only buy fireworks with the CE mark;
Decorate the garden with fairy lights;
Never go near a firework that has been lit;
Hide glow sticks in the garden for a treasure hunt in the dark;
Never give sparklers to a child under 5;
Let off some party poppers;
Light fireworks at arms length;
Invest in torches tinted with cellophane;
When a sparkler is finished, put it in a bucket of cold water;
Giant bubbles are easy to make and are great fun at night.
Follow ROSPA’s sparkler safety advice.
Familiesonline.co.uk
September/October 23
EARLY YEARS
Bonfire Night for under 5s It’s a fun night for older kids but little ones can sometimes get overwhelmed by the loud bangs and noise. So here are some ideas to help them celebrate more quietly!
Firecracker pull string pinata
Firework star hat
Sparkly fireworks picture
Fork stamped fireworks
Edible sparklers
Shaving foam fireworks
Toilet roll rocket
Pretend bonfire
Firework cookies
24 September/October
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BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Black History Month ‘Who’s Who’ Quiz Look at these photos and clues with your kids and match them to the list of important figures from black history on the next page. How many do you know?
His art is displayed in galleries all around the world.
Famous for her books for young adults, including Noughts and Crosses.
First black driver to win a Formula One championship.
Born a slave in Maryland, She paid her own way to the Crimean War, setting USA, she led military campaigns to free slaves. up a hotel for soldiers.
He served twenty seven years in prison and was finally freed in 1990.
She was a ‘human computer’ making the calculations required for space flight.
He campaigned for laws to end racial segregation and discrimination in the USA.
He served two terms as president, leaving office with a sixty percent approval rate. Familiesonline.co.uk
September/October 25
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
What do you know about Black History Month? October marks Black History Month (BHM) in the United Kingdom. The event was first officially recognised by the US government in 1976 and was first celebrated in the UK in 1987. Events celebrating African and Caribbean cultures will take place across the UK until October 31. People from African and Caribbean backgrounds have been a fundamental part of British history for centuries. However, many have highlighted that their value and contribution to society is often overlooked, ignored, or distorted. Many schools still teach a history curriculum which focuses on traditional events and the achievements of white figures. BHM gives everyone the chance to
share, celebrate and learn about the impact of black heritage and culture – something we should, of course, be doing all year round. BHM also goes further than the traditional concentration on slavery and segregation in the history of African and Caribbean people, giving us the chance to uplift figures previously disregarded in British and world history. www.blackhistorymonth.org.uk
Answers. Left to right Row 1: 1. Chris Ofili 2. Malorie Blackman 3. Lewis Hamilton Row 2: Harriet Tubman, Mary Seacole, Nelson Mandela Row 3: Barack Obama, Katherine Johnson, Martin Luther-King Jr.
Who’s Who Quiz names Barack Obama Chris Ofili Harriet Tubman Katherine Johnson Lewis Hamilton Malorie Blackman Martin Luther King Jr Mary Seacole Nelson Mandela 26 September/October
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SPONSORED CONTENT
Time to get tough with Tonka! Find out about the new additions to their range. Tonka has been a favourite with kids for more than seventy years! Built Tonka-tough and designed to look just like the real thing, these terrific toys from Basic Fun remain a staple fixture in every child’s toy box. Year on year the Tonka selection has grown and a new generation of Tonka fans are created every day. Top of the picks are the Tonka Steel Classic vehicles that are instantly recognisable and are ready for super tough play whether indoors or out!
other trucks have issues on site, the Tow Truck comes into its own and is built to take on the toughest vehicle rescue jobs.
Already firm favourites, you can choose from a Mighty Dump Truck, Bull Dozer, Front Loader and the epic Toughest Mighty Dump that is built to last and withstand even the toughest Tonka Kids!
If you love Tonka as much as we do and have a kid that’s ready to get tough, you can find the collection at John Lewis.
New for this autumn are the Tonka Crane and Tow Truck. Kids will have hours of pretend play with the beast of a crane which stands almost 2 feet tall with its long stretching moveable arm, working winch and grabber. Or, for when the
We have a bumper Tonka Steel competition prize worth £100 for one lucky reader! Simply go to the Tonka competition page here to enter. Full terms and conditions on the page. Closing date is 1 October 2021.
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Enter the Tonka competition! WIN
September/October 27
TOYS
The must-have family game! Get playing this Autumn With the summer holidays now behind us and children back to school, ToyMonster introduces the BEST family card game ever: Kids Against Maturity! This is the perfect game for unwinding after a day at school; an ideal way to spend a rainy weekend and a brilliant surprise to have up your sleeve for play time and family time over the October half term… and, dare we say it – the Christmas holidays, too! It’s impossible not to love this award-winning, fill-in-theblank game. Its age-appropriate toilet humour and witty innuendos for adults, make Kids Against Maturity enjoyable for players of all ages from ages 8 and up. Easy to learn, simple to play, and absolutely hilarious, this game is a staple for every family home.
The player with the highest number of most amusing responses wins the game. Each game set includes six hundred cards – a mix of question and answer cards – from which players can create over forty thousand combinations of answers. Kids Against Maturity is available now from Smyths Toys Superstores, RRP £19.99.
Best enjoyed with 4+ players, all you need is to ‘be the worst to be the best.’ Each player gets ten white answer cards and takes turns asking the blue question cards. Everyone answers each question with their funniest white card choice and places it face down. The question reader chooses what they think is the funniest answer and the player who placed down that card wins the hand. 28 September/October
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TOYS
Toys for girls AND boys Break down gender stereotypes with these toys all tested by children and endorsed by The Good Toy Guide.
Baking Set from Galt
The Genius Square
Pillowfight Warriors® Medieval Range
Smartibot Building Kit
Get budding little bakers started in the kitchen. £12.99. 3-5 years.
Pretend fight and play. £11.99. 3-8 years.
Pepper Mint Great Treehouse Engineering Adventure £35. 8+ years.
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Race opponents to complete in this great game. £16.99. 7-9 years.
Build an A.I. Bot, Teabot or Unicorn from cardboard. £55. 11+ years.
Little Brian’s Face Painting Sticks
A fun, clean and messfree way of face painting! £19.99. 3-8 years.
Magicube Full Color
Enchant children with this magnetic construction system. £18-£35. 18-36 months.
Geosafari® Jr. Kidnoculars® Extreme™
See and hear the birds up close. £22.50. 3-8 years.
Discovery Adventures Digital Walkie Talkies £24.99. 6-8 years.
September/October 29