Families Thames Valley East November/December 21

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IN THIS ISSUE

What’s on this Christmas Shop Local Education

Issue 117 November/December 2021 familiesonline.co.uk

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Starting 3 November 2021

Stay and Play (Specialist teacher led toddler group)

y d a u d r s i n e g n d t e e r m W y t i r m e e v e 9.30am - 11am

Free of charge!

To book, contact Mrs Helen Phipps on: 01628 327500 1 College Avenue at the top of Castle Hill Maidenhead

www.clairescourt.com

2

Maidenhead Windsor Marlow Ascot Slough Egham

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Contents ...endless ideas for families of young children in Maidenhead • Windsor • Marlow • Ascot • Slough • Egham

In This Issue 4-5 News & information EDUCATION 7 Encouraging your child to become an independent learner 8 Tutoring – getting value for money PARENTING 10 Teaching young children about time 11 Six books to help kids cope with bullying 12 Inspiring faith: An interview with Katie Piper CHRISTMAS 13 Top tips for a more sustainable Christmas 14-15 Shop local 16-17 Gift guide 18-21 WHAT’S ON 22 Surviving a family Christmas 23 BOOK CLUB Families Thames Valley East is part of Families Print Ltd, a franchise company. All Franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence.

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

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From the Editors...

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas and our festive ‘What’s On’ guide found on pages 18-21 is the perfect guide to help you plan some fun family outings in the lead up to the big day.

Last year we set ourselves a challenge to ‘shop local’ as much as possible to help support local businesses and having uncovered some great ideas for gifts, we’ve decided it’s the way forward. Check out this year’s suggestions for gift ideas you’ll love on pages 14-15 and if it’s experiences you’re after, our guide on pages 16-17 has plenty of suggestions to inspire a memorable Christmas too. There’s also a great article on p.22 on surviving a family Christmas from best-selling author of the ‘Why Mummy’ series whose latest book Why Mummy’s Sloshed, published this summer. Plus our education section looks at how to help your child become an independent learner and make tutoring more affordable. This issue’s book club interview on p.23 is with none other than Percy the Park Keeper’s Nick Butterworth. Don’t forget to enter the competition to win a copy of his new book - a perfect read for young children.

However you choose to spend it this year, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas. See you in 2022!

Anna & Rach Editors:

Next Issue:

Rachel Bailey & Anna Collins

Jan/Feb 2022

01628 788058 Editor@FamiliesTVEast.co.uk www.Familiesonline.co.uk

Tel: 01628 788058 Circulation: 16,000 Cover image: depositphotos.com

Home from Home with Chilly Powder Do you prefer winter or summer in the Alps… or both? Francesca, Paul and their three children live in Morzine in France all year round and have a good knowledge of Alpine traditions and the Morzine people. Having adapted their chalet holiday style over the years to suit the tastes of their regular guests, they offer the perfect ski and summer holidays for either families, couples or mixed groups in relaxing luxury, with fantastic food and facilities, with unrivalled inhouse childcare facilities. For many returning guests Chilly Powder is considered a real home from home.

For more about Chilly Powder chalets for summer and winter visit www.chillypowder.com

Singing, dancing and acting classes for 4 - 18 year-olds

ASCOT 01344 206466 ascot@stagecoach.co.uk

Helping children believe they can do anything BRACKNELL NORTH (WARFIELD) 01344 206466 bracknellnorth@stagecoach.co.uk

HIGH WYCOMBE HENLEY AND MARLOW 07968 598227 07968 598227 henleyandmarlow@stagecoach.co.uk highwycombe@stagecoach.co.uk MAIDENHEAD 01628 281128 maidenhead@stagecoach.co.uk

WINDSOR AND LANGLEY 01932 988086 windsor@stagecoach.co.uk Stagecoach Performing Arts is the trading name of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited. Stagecoach Theatre Arts schools are operated under franchise and are independently owned by their Principals. Stagecoach and Creative Courage For Life are registered trademarks of Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited.

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EDUCATION News Newsand & Views Information

Tyler Yamamoto achieves black belt aged 8 with TISKA Karate Tyler Yamamoto is TISKA Karate’s youngest student to attain a Black Belt (1st Dan) at the age of 8. Tyler has trained, along with his parents, since he was 3 years old under TISKA Karate’s Chief Instructor, Shihan Gursharan Sahota, 8th Dan.

Tyler. He and the whole family very much appreciate all that Shihan has done as well as the hard work, discipline and dedication that he shows to all of his students. We are grateful for him both as a personality and as a teacher.”

Tyler has shown huge dedication in his training and now trains alongside his parents. He says that the reason that he has always enjoyed karate so much is that it has taught him discipline and the ability to defend himself and to respect others. He is a very humble little boy, who said that he prefers not to tell his friends about his Black Belt achievement, as he does not want them to think that he is showing off. Tyler hopes to continue to be trained by Shihan personally and that his secret ambition is to one day be invited to compete in karate competitions by Shihan.

Shihan Sahota has said how proud he is of Tyler’s achievement, his dedication and how it has increased his confidence so that Tyler is now able to stand at the front of a class and help teach.

Tyler’s Mother commented, “Shihan has had a huge influence on

Karate teaches children and adults alike, fitness, self awareness, self defence, confidence, etiquette, respect and self discipline.

Classes are run locally at Braywick Leisure Centre.

www.tiska.com office@tiska.com

Open morning at Coworth Flexlands prep school & nursery Inspiring Minds, Nurturing Spirit. A Prep School where happiness gets results!

Coworth Flexlands Prep School and Nursery is an Independent Prep School for girls, with a co-ed Nursery and Pre-Prep. Nursery starts at the age of 2 ½ and is fully immersed in school life.

Nestled in between the villages of Sunningdale, Windlesham and Chobham, you discover a happy, high achieving school where children are inspired and nurtured. This approach brings out the best in the children and the girls move on to top Senior Schools with many gaining scholarships. The boys head off to local Prep Schools, well prepared.

Visit Coworth Flexlands at their next Open Morning on Friday 12 November 2021 at 10am to discover more. www.coworthflexlands.co.uk • 01276 855 707 4

Maidenhead Windsor Marlow Ascot Slough Egham

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News and News Information & Views

The silver lining

- an interview with Tanya Galitzine, Director Wise Owls On 16th March 2020 life as we know it came to a sudden halt. How did that feel for you as the director of a childcare business?

A couple of weeks before lockdown we had no idea what was to come. We had implemented changes in our day nurseries, preschools and clubs like hand sanitiser and deep cleaning but it didn’t really hit me until lockdown that people were getting very ill and that we were facing a grave situation.

Like everyone, we had about two day’s notice and it sent us into a spin. Almost overnight, we received lengthy policy documents containing new regulations and procedures that we had to implement immediately. I’ve run Wise Owls for 20 years and this was the first time I had ever thought - I’m not sure I want to do this anymore. At this stage, I kept reminding myself why it was so important. With NHS staff on the frontline working so hard to keep us all safe, it was critical that I stayed strong for my team so we could continue to work for our local communities and provide an essential service.

What impact has the pandemic had on your business?

I would say, reflecting on it now, the single biggest issue is the impact it has had on my staff. It has damaged people’s confidence and their mental wellbeing and it has left many scars. From that first lockdown in March we were obligated to read and implement so many new rules, our world turned upside down and this took us all into foreign territory. I had some staff who were afraid to go to work and be on the front line. As a boss, you can’t assure them that it will be ok because it wasn’t something I could guarantee.

Financially, of course, our business took a huge hit that we are working hard to recover from. Thanks to the dedication of our team, we are building again - but it has been very tough. Despite losing the majority of our business overnight, we still had our rent, we still had operational costs as we were looking after children of key workers. The government funding, the furlough scheme and an understanding bank became our lifeline. It meant for the foreseeable future, that I could hold onto my team. They mean everything to me and I take my hat off to them for their dedication and resilience.

to come back to childcare. They felt very than a collection of independent nurseries, nervous about exposing their children preschools and clubs, zoom calls have to potential risks without knowing how enabled us to meet as one team, which it might affect them. For others who lost has improved our communication, the their jobs or for those working from home, way we share good practice and most childcare eitherbelow wasn’t a accessible importantly how support each other.

Please find proof oforyour advertisement forwe the necessary.

I’ve also spent quite a lot of time over the January/February 2017 issue (No. 88) of Families TVE. past year on the shop floor, back to where But slowly and surely, as confidence it all began, taking care of children. This grows, we are seeing things return to a hasCORRECT served as a good reminder of how Please CHECK ALLmany INFORMATION IS ‘new’ normal.

Obviously parents challenging and rewarding early years are still working from telephone home, but trying especially dates, numbers and addresses. education is and has bolstered me for the to juggle both work and childcare isn’t a next part of this journey, because what viable option so children are coming in 2-3 we do is essential, not to mention fun and Any achanges need to be made at this T: 01628 days week, instead of five.

Most can see stage.rewarding. the early years education, Anybenefits furtherofamendments will be and charged for.

E: editor after so many months where children had Tanya Galitzine started Wise Owls little exposure to the world beyond theirto amend Childcare 20-years Please contact us by return either or approve yourago and now operates 50 All Sa immediate family, there is a noticeable gap four day nurseries, two preschools, advertisement.

Berkshir in language development, social skills and breakfast, after school and holiday clubs independence. across Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire. Visit www.wiseowlschildcare.co.uk

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I think the silver lining is that Wise Owls has become more of a community. Rather Co-educational Preparatory Day School and Nursery for children aged rising 3 to 11

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Herries Co-Ed Preparatory School & Nursery from 2 - 11 years

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SUMMER FUN Education

Encouraging your child to become an independent learner

By Bradley Busch and Edward Watson As children get older and progress within the education system, how they manage their time and how efficiently and effectively they study by themselves becomes an everincreasing premium skill. So, what does academic research tell us about how parents can help facilitate this?

Let’s look at three different but related techniques.

The first is knowing that developing independent learners goes hand in hand with improving self-reflection. The more self-aware children are, the more likely that they can manage potential distractions. Self-monitoring is a skill that can be developed by encouraging students to ask themselves good questions, such as ‘how can I get better?’ and ‘where do I do my best work?’

Another way to improve independent learning is to help children become better at managing their time. Left to their own devices, people tend to procrastinate. In fact, some studies have found that seventy five per cent of students consider themselves procrastinators, with fifty per cent procrastinating regularly and to a level that is considered problematic. Research suggests that most students are poor at estimating how long a task will take to complete, as they get distracted or face unexpected obstacles along the way. This is called ‘the Planning Fallacy.’

One study found that one of the best ways to overcome the Planning Fallacy is with small, regular deadlines. This was proven to help children manage their time better and perform significantly better in their work, achieving higher grades overall.

Finally, introduce children to effective goal setting. This must include flexibility, short and long-term goals and enough challenge to maintain motivation. Goal setting allows learners to create targets that they would like to work on independently and achieve in a given time frame.

Research has found that when people wrote down their goals, they were thirty three per cent more likely to achieve them than those who kept them in their minds. Encourage children to make a to-do list so that their goals feel more concrete.

Overall, developing independent learners is easy to say but hard to do. It takes time, effort and repetition to ingrain these habits.

But if you persist, your child will reap the benefits for many years to come.

Bradley Busch and Edward Watson are the writers of the book A Parent’s Guide to The Science of Learning: 77 Studies That Every Parent Needs to Know out now in paperback, published

by Routledge, David Fulton.

A sense of purpose

Remove distractions

This is all about getting students to care about what they are doing. If they care about it, they are more invested in it and are more likely to apply themselves.

Research shows that the ability to improve concentration and attention is something that can be developed, even from a very young age. It helps to know that our ability to focus is not fixed and it can change for the better.

One study that illustrated this manipulated the environment that students were taught in. Some students were told that they had to study hard because there would be a test. Others were told that studying hard was simply what was expected of them. A third group of students were told that learning the material would really help them achieve their goals.

The result? Those who had the instruction that learning the topic would be useful to them (i.e those who were given a sense of purpose) rated the material as more important and were more likely to put more effort into it.

A sense of purpose can be encouraged in a number of ways.

Something as simple as completing the sentence ‘doing well at this will help me because…’ is a good starting point here.

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One study found that simply having your phone out, even if it is not being used, can make you perform up to twenty per cent worse in cognitive tests. Encourage learners to leave phones in another room, or at least on silent and out of sight, while they concentrate on the work in hand.

Music can be a big distraction too. Many students report listening to music when independently studying. Try discouraging this with facts: a recent study found that students who worked in silence during their study sessions performed twenty per cent better than those who worked while listening to songs that had lyrics. So, if you want to improve your child’s concentration, before any work is started, ensure that the immediate environment is clear of all potential distractions.

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SUMMER FUN Education

Tutoring – getting value for money

By Kate Hilpern In at least one part of the country - London, not surprisingly hiring a tutor is considered pretty normal. But if children are learning well already, tutors aren’t always necessary and the best tutors will tell you exactly that.

Tuition comes into its own when you want to plug specific gaps.

For example, where a child has missed a lot of school or didn’t learn well during the pandemic lockdowns. Or if your child is preparing for a vital exam or needs a ‘top up’ when a particular topic or set of topics didn’t quite stick first time round.

Beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder when it comes to value for money in tutoring. You might want a tutor who comes with all the bells and whistles – along with rates which reflect demand and their qualifications. But, if not, there are ways to limit the cost of tutoring. You may be asked to pay for screening tests, revision sessions or holiday courses. If you don’t think your child needs them, then say so. Also ask about a reduced rate if you pay for a bunch of lessons upfront.

Online tuition Online tutoring sessions are hugely popular with children, especially teenagers. With great apps and services, even an inexperienced online tutor can now provide slick tuition. During the pandemic lockdowns, many tutors and tutor agencies moved online and you can still find sessions in pretty much any subject and at any level delivered remotely in this way.

Online tuition sessions tend to cost less than face-to-face lessons because there is no travel involved and tutors can work back-to-back sessions. However, if your child already spends all day on screens or has problems concentrating, then in-person

tuition may still be the better option.

Tuition centres These are now quite an established feature on high streets in town centres. If having your own private tutor feels a step too far, you could consider a tuition centre. Significantly cheaper than a visiting tutor or even online tuition, children learn in small groups, working through levels individually and under supervision, either with a worksheet or on a computer.

The economies of scale of this form of tuition make it more affordable for parents, albeit sessions lack the one-to-one, personalised attention which comes with the more traditional forms of tuition.

Kate Hilpern is from The Good Schools Guide, the leading impartial source of information on schools in the UK, helping parents with every aspect of choosing the best education for their children. For more information, visit www. goodschoolsguide.co.uk

Questions to ask What is your educational background? Particularly in the subject they are teaching.

How much tutoring experience do you have? Are they fully up to date with the current curriculum?

How will you tell if you’re suited to tutoring my child? Do they adapt to children who might be very quiet, shy, boisterous, restless?

What tutoring methods do you use? Is the work all done in the tutoring session? Will there be additional homework?

What is your success rate? If they tutor for school or entrance exams, do they achieve consistently good results?

What hours are you available?

Where do you tutor?

How long do you expect the tutoring to last? Do they teach fixed blocks or until everyone agrees the child is ready to ‘go solo?’

What are your fees and are there any hidden costs and terms and conditions? Are materials and textbooks included? What happens if either of you have to cancel a session?

Can you provide references and DBS records?

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Maidenhead Windsor Marlow Ascot Slough Egham

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MENT PROOF

oof of your advertisement for the

o.of 107) of Families ue Families TVE. TVE. Established 1980 Thames Valley East Providing care and education for ages 2-6 years within a nurturing

T 01753 833 771 E mail@cotwmontessori.co.uk ORMATION IS CORRECT especially W cotwmontessori.co.uk

bers and addresses.

Established 1980 Providing care and education for ages 2-6 years within a nurturing environment. environment.

Ofsted Outstanding in all Ofsted Outstanding inareas. all areas.

Education and play from 6 months FREE Montessori Education for funded 2-3 yearfrom made at this stage.

Montessori Montessori EducationEducation for funded 2-3olds year olds T: 07867 514138 / FREE 07753Free 414605 to 5 years old within a caring and will be charged for. can provide 15 andaged 30 hours 2-5 September 2021 forWe children E: editor@familiestveast.co.uk happy environment

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• 2½ - 5 year old classes

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Little People Media, 29 Furrow Way, Montessori summer school across 5also days if required (6 hours a day). available for July/August Maidenhead SL6 3 NY

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St Mark’s Hall, Dedworth Road, Windsor SL4 4JS To arrange a visit telephone: Cheryl or Alexis 01753 833 771

Home Park, Romney Windsor, SL4 Home Park, RomneyLock Lock Road, Road, Windsor SL4 6HX6HX Tel: or 01344 844592 www.windsormontessorischool.co.uk Tel:01753 01753 868399 868399 OR 01344 844592 e.menik@windsor-montessori.com Email: menik@windsor-montessori.com

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Monkey Puzzle Day Nursery

our n y!

located close to Maidenhead train station and town centre.

ADVERTISEMENT PROOF Please find below a proof of your advertisement for the Jan/Feb 2020 issue (No. 106) of Families TVE. Please CHECK ALL INFORMATION IS CORRECT especially dates, telephone numbers and addresses.

Any changes need to be made at this stage.

Any further amendments will be charged for.

Children aged 3 months to 5 years are cared for by our wonderful team of practitioners, carefully hand-picked to offer the highest level of care.

• Open Mon-Fri 51 weeks a year

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We are an Ofsted rated ‘Outstanding’ nursery providing high quality day care for children from three months to five years. Set within bright, modern Windsor Leisure Centre, our setting includes a large toddler room, pre-school room, a new snuggly baby room, and spacious outdoor garden.

Open 51 weeks a year – Accepts 30 hours funding – Highly trained team Come and look around today: Call: 01753 855543 or email: info@theriversidedaynursery.co.uk www.theriversidedaynursery.co.uk familiesonline.co.uk

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SUMMER FUN Parenting

Teaching young children about time

By Tanith Carey If you’re the parent of a young child, you’re likely to be hearing the words: ‘When’s Santa coming?’ more times than you can count in the weeks running up to Christmas. And when your little ones are never satisfied with your answer, no matter how many times you repeat it, it’s easy to feel a little frustrated.

So, at moments like these, it may help to consider how time looks from your child’s point of view, at each stage of their development.

For example, a toddler only really understands what they can touch or feel. Their first understanding of the concept of time is based on knowing that things – like getting up and having breakfast, lunch, dinner, bath time and story time, happen at roughly the same time every day.

For now, they live in the moment. They can’t touch minutes or hours. So, when you say an event they are looking forward to will happen in ‘ten minutes,’ this is still too abstract a concept for them to fully understand. All they know is that there are some experiences which make them feel happy.

But because they want a visit from grandma or a trip to the zoo NOW, that’s when they think it should happen, which is why they keep on asking.

It will take a few years of life experience and more brain wiring, along with some thoughtful guidance from adults, for youngsters to appreciate an event doesn’t happen instantly because they want it to.

By around the age of 4 or 5, children are starting to grasp that time passes in a predictable way, in the same units of seconds, minutes and hours, for everyone. Kids of this age also have enough experience of the world to relate activities to different

times of year. So, they may understand that Christmas happens when it’s cold in winter, while Halloween takes place when the leaves fall off the trees in autumn.

Gradually, as a child’s memory improves, they can refer to events that have occurred as happening ‘last week’ or ‘next week,’ even though they still may not get these descriptions quite right.

A child of this age who says ‘yesterday’ may be talking about an event that happened last week or even a month ago. Even so, children of this age can start to look forward to events, like birthdays, several months in advance.

At around age 6, children can start to understand how time is represented on a clock face. This is partly since children’s frontal lobes are now more efficiently wired up to the rest of their brains, so they are able to view the world in a more logical way.

This allows them a better grasp of what numbers can symbolise, while their working memory now allows them to hold numerical ideas in their heads.

This higher order thinking also allows them to plan more for the future and remember more, so they are now better able to understand the broader concepts of the past, present and future, though you will still get plenty of questions like: ‘Are we there yet?’ if they are on the way to somewhere exciting.

As your child grows, taking a little time to explain the sequences of events, adding in lots of time words like ‘seconds,’ ‘minutes’ and ‘hours’ and applying them accurately, will not only help them make sense of their world but will also make it feel safer and more predictable.

For more insights into how the world looks at every stage for your child, read ‘What’s My Child Thinking?

Practical Child Psychology for Modern Parents by Tanith Carey and clinical psychologist Dr Angharad Rudkin, published by DK and available from www.bookshop.org

Helping little children with time

Avoid overexcitement. Don’t tell toddlers and preschoolers about events too far in advance. Save the news of upcoming events until a few days or hours before.

Explain sequences. Nursery age children are ready to understand concepts like ‘before’ and ‘after,’ so include these words in your day.

Show how time passes. Use visual tools like a big calendar to help your child. Show them how to move a sticker or magnet along each day as it passes and a special day gets nearer.

10

When kids reach ages 4 and 5 Listen to memories. Pay attention when your child talks about the past. Ask what they were feeling at the time to help them put that memory in context.

Notice the weather. Watching the weather can help children understand the concept of ‘yesterday’ or ‘today’ better. Make a chart and mark weather observations.

What time is it. Point out where the hands are on a clock when their favourite things in the day happen, so they start to notice how time passes.

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SUMMER FUN Parenting

Six books to help kids cope with bullying

By Georgina Atwell Sadly, many children experience bullying at school at some point. It can be incredibly worrying for parents but help is at hand.

There are lots of brilliant books out there which can help children open up about bullying and cope with the emotions or anxiety they may be feeling. For Anti-Bullying Week in November, Families asked children’s book expert, Georgina Atwell, to recommend six great books to help.

Elmer and the Big Bird

by David McKee

How to be a Lion

by Ed Vere

The Misadventures of Max Crumbly 1: The Locker Hero

by Rachel Renee Russell

One day, Elmer notices that there are no birds around. How strange! Soon he finds them hiding from the nasty bully bird in a nearby cave. The bully bird is mean and likes to frighten the little birds. Elmer comes up with a plan for the animals to work together to frighten off the bully - and they succeed!

You don’t have to ROAR to be heard! Meet Leonard, a lion like no other. Leonard’s best friend is Marianne, a duck. But lions chomp ducks, don’t they? What will the pair do when their way of life is threatened?

Max has been begging his parents to let him attend South Ridge Middle School after being home-schooled by his grandmother.

He’s starting to question that choice though, with the Doug (aka Thug) Thurston Problem.

Thug keeps stuffing Max in his locker.

A beautifully illustrated book about community, this is ideal for younger children ages 5 to 6.

From the New York Times-bestselling author of Max the Brave, comes a powerful story celebrating daydreamers, individuality, and the quiet courage to be yourself. A witty picture book that can be enjoyed by children ages 2 to 7 (and adults everywhere!).

Cloud Busting

by Malorie Blackman

Wonder

by R. J. Palacio

Gloves Off

by Louisa Reid

Despite his mum’s insistence, Sam doesn’t want to be friends with Davey; he thinks Davey is a first class, grade A, top-of-thedung-heap moron. But one day Davey saves Sam’s life and a bond is formed between them. Sam is still embarrassed to be seen with Davey but little by little he must admit, when it’s just the two of them, Davey is a lot of fun. But then something terrible happens to Davey...

Born with a terrible facial abnormality, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents his whole life. Now, for the first time, he’s being sent to a real school - and he’s dreading it.

Lily is mercilessly bullied at school so one day her Dad introduces her to boxing.

Through it, she finds her own worth. It is a challenge that helps her face her fears and fight back against the bullies. This is a page-turning story of hope and resilience.

It is about breaking through even the most difficult situations. This award-nominated book is perfect for early teen readers.

Told in verse, in first person, this is the touching story of an extraordinary friendship that changes two boys’ lives for ever. An uplifting tale that truly sings out. Perfect for ages 8 to 9. familiesonline.co.uk

All Auggie wants is to be accepted but can he convince his new classmates that he’s just like them, underneath it all?

Wonder is also an Oscar-nominated film starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay. It is funny, frank and astonishingly moving; your kids will remember it long after the final page.

editor@familiestveast.co.uk 01628 788058

If only Max could be like the hero in all the comics he reads, magically escape the locker and defeat Thug. From the number one New York Times-bestselling author of Dork Diaries, comes a delightful new series introducing Max Crumbly, the new Dork on the block! Perfect for older children ages 8+.

Georgina Atwell is the founder of Toppsta, which is the perfect place for parents and children to read book reviews and recommendations for the latest children’s books.

Visit www.toppsta.com Families Thames Valley East

11

SUMMER FUN Celebrity Interview

Inspiring faith: An interview with Katie Piper

By Claire Winter Best-selling author, TV presenter, award-winning podcaster and philanthropist, Katie Piper is described as an ‘icon of her generation.’ Katie first appeared on Channel 4’s Katie: My Beautiful Face, which covered the early stages of her recovery from an acid attack in 2008.

Your new book, A Little Bit of Faith: Hopeful Affirmations For Every Day Of The Year, was inspired by the daily inspirational quotes you published on Instagram during lockdown. What’s your favourite quote?

I was overwhelmed by the thousands of messages telling me what a support my lockdown affirmations were - and that’s when the idea for my new book was born.

A quote that means a lot to me is from Maya Angelou: ‘If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it.’ Mindset is so important.

What advice would you give to anyone finding it hard to find or keep their faith?

Firstly, I would say that the ‘faith’ mentioned in the title encompasses religious faith but also having faith in yourself.

The Katie Piper Foundation is a charity that helps survivors of burns and scars with rehab and recovery. Can you tell us a bit more about its work?

I became a Christian in my twenties and knowing that God has a plan for me has helped me make sense of my life, which is reflected in some of the quotes I’ve chosen in the book.

The foundation is so important to me – I am immensely proud of what it’s achieved. We’ve provided practical and emotional support for thousands of burns survivors now.

However, faith is a very personal thing and you certainly don’t have to have a religious faith to read and enjoy my book! The quotes seek to build a strong sense of belief in yourself and your abilities.

How has the acid attack that happened in 2008 shaped your attitude to life?

Two years ago, we celebrated our tenth anniversary and launched the UK’s first-ever burn’s rehab centre in Liverpool.

I had to go to France for my burns rehab treatment, so I desperately wanted an option for survivors in the UK – that’s a dream I’ve now realised. During the pandemic, it became much harder to fundraise and support our survivors. We’ve made it through but the hard work starts here!

I think being a survivor of any trauma shapes you. You learn a different level of resilience.

You are a mum to Belle, age 7 and Penelope, age 3. What do you love most about being a parent?

I don’t seek validation from anyone now – I have a very strong sense of self. The attack gave me the strength to overcome the impossible and the determination to change things for others, in my case, survivors of burns, scars and domestic abuse.

My family unit is very important to me. My two girls are such characters and a huge light in my life. Nothing makes me happier than seeing them happy. Their energy is amazing seeing life through a child’s eyes is so special and makes you appreciate life so much more.

I’m also in awe of my body, how much it’s been through and how it’s fought to stay alive. I have a huge respect for both body and mind, and, crucially the power of hope, even in the darkest times.

What do you find most difficult to navigate as a parent?

The thing I struggle with most is balance. I wear so many hats – working, being a mum, a wife and running my charity. I always feel that if I’m giving one hundred percent to one area, I’m neglecting other areas completely.

I promised myself that after the pandemic, I wouldn’t go back to doing sixteen hour days. I want to be there for my kids. I don’t think you can have it all and I don’t want other people to think I do. For most of us, life involves a lot of juggling.

You’ve inspired millions of people with your story and campaigning; if there was one message you wanted to share with people, what would it be?

Thank you so much. Wow, I mean one thing… one message…

‘Worry is a total waste of time – all it does is steal your joy and keep you very busy doing nothing at all.’ And also ‘look for the helpers!’

Find out more about Katie’s foundation at www. katiepiperfoundation.org.uk

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Maidenhead Windsor Marlow Ascot Slough Egham

familiesonline.co.uk

Christmas

Top tips for a more sustainable Christmas

By Lucy Todd

We could all work on living a more sustainable lifestyle and at no time is this truer than at Christmas. It’s a season of celebration and indulgence but, for many, also of excess and waste: the gifts, food, decorations, wrapping and packaging - the list goes on…

Give the Gift of Sustainability We don’t need as much stuff.

For adults, think about experiences - spa vouchers, fine dining - or something you KNOW they like - a case of their favourite wine, a coffee subscription...

For the littles in your life, vintage or wooden toys are beautiful choices and if you head to your nearest charity shop, you can frequently pick up a handful of books in mint condition.

Clothes are always a hit. Online site My Little Green Wardrobe www.mylittlegreenwardrobe.com stocks only ethically-made and sustainably-sourced clothing brands.

You can filter clothes according to your own values too.

All these things have a carbon footprint - both Christmas All Wrapped Up in their creation, and in The charity WRAP estimates Britain their disposal. However, throws out around 227,000 miles of paper over the Christmas with forward planning and wrapping period, enough to stretch 90 per cent of some tweaks here and the way to the moon. there, you can improve Plenty of gift wrap can’t be recycled - particularly if it contains plastic, foil, your impact dramatically glitter, or still has sticky tape on it. A rule - while still enjoying the of thumb is that if you can scrunch the paper and it opens out again, then it’s celebrations. not suitable for recycling.

Thankfully, there are now plenty of stockists of recycled and recyclable wrapping paper. Oxfam, among others, does a beautiful line in fair trade wrapping paper that is both made from recycled content and is further recyclable.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

No space for that, how about renting a tree? It’s really a thing - you hire a living tree for the season, and then it’s taken away in January when it’s replanted. You can even have the same tree each year!

Try Reading-based company Festive Tree Hire www.festivetreehire.co.uk which delivers in Berkshire and surrounding areas.

Food For Thought It’s so tempting to buy ALL the cheese, but one of the best ways to help the environment is to cut down on food waste.

If food waste were a country it would be the third worst offender globally when it comes to emissions, behind only the US and China.

Get organised: arrange your main food shop just in time, so fresh fruit and veg don’t go past their best before you get round to using it.

Nail down who’s going to be there on key days, plan your menu and don’t over-order.

The freezer is your best friend: keep sausage rolls, canapes, several rounds of mince pies - and even brandy butter - stashed away for surprise visitors.

Meat Feast If your family are keen meat eaters, no-one is saying you need to cut it out entirely - this is supposed to be a time to celebrate and indulge in the things you love, after all.

Instead, why not switch out the starters to be plant-based or opt for vegetarian canapes when hosting. Equally delicious and no-one is likely to notice.

Forestry England recommends buying a potted tree which can be kept in your garden and used over and over again.

familiesonline.co.uk

editor@familiestveast.co.uk 01628 788058

Families Thames Valley East

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Christmas

Shop Local this

Christmas

Last year we set ourselves a challenge to ‘shop local’ as much as possible to help support local businesses. Having uncovered some great ideas for gifts, we’ve decided it’s the way forward. Not only does this help keep local businesses open, it’s a great way to give a gift with a difference and one that will be gratefully received. You can also bet that these businesses make ethical choices. Here are this year’s top picks of local businesses that can supply you with that unique gift you are seeking out!

Get Whisked Away

Spirit and Grace

Cricketers Gin

www.etsy.com/shop/getwhiskedaway

www.spiritandgracestyle.com

www.cricketersgin.com

We love a Letterbox gift and have sent a few over the last 18 months. With the opportunity to personalise them, these letterbox cookies from Get Whisked Away, make the perfect Christmas gift; what’s more exciting than receiving a box of baked goods through the post!

Whether you are looking for style inspiration, a Christmas gift for someone special, or just a little treat for yourself why not try Spirit and Grace Style.

Born out of a passion for beautiful jewellery and accessories, this boutique is a treasure trove of women’s fashion accessories, gorgeous jewellery and great gift ideas. Based in Holyport, you can also be assured you’ll be supporting a great local business too.

Cricketers Gin is an independent gin company set up by father and daughter founding partners; Rachel & David. The journey began on a relaxed Sunday afternoon, with a refreshing gin and tonic, watching cricket on Pinkneys Green. Surrounded by the stunning countryside, they decided that this quintessential British game deserved a bespoke gin of its own.

Baked by local entrepreneur Hannah, they are one of the good things to have come out of lockdown. Planning to travel in 2020, Hannah had no idea that a global pandemic was looming.

Undeterred, she decided that instead of being ‘whisked away’ to exotic destinations she would be ‘whisked away’ in her kitchen creating tasty treats to post to family and friends. Fast forward a year and she has sent out 2,500 boxes of cookies, having baked 16,000 cookies in her single oven! Boxes have travelled as far north as Shetland and as far south as Penzance. Flavours include festive favourites such as iced gingerbread and the cookies have also been sold at local cafés and markets.

Mixed boxes of 6 and 12 cookies are available to order (standard or vegan) with gift wrapping and greetings cards options. All packaging is eco-friendly.

Order via Hannah’s Etsy store or via social media. www.etsy.com/shop/getwhiskedaway Instagram: @get.whisked.away Facebook: @getwhiskedaway20

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From beautiful leather crossbody bags and stunning interchangeable bag straps, statement costume to delicate sterling silver jewellery, stylish scarves and absolutely fabulous t-shirts & sweats, all at a great price point, there’s something for everyone at Spirit & Grace Style. ‘Curator-In-Chief’, Katie Topping, uses her years of experience and eye for style to curate a range of stunning pieces, all of which are available for online shopping or direct from Katie’s home based boutique in Holyport.

Katie Topping, says, “I love how an outfit can be enhanced or changed simply by adding an amazing piece of jewellery, popping on a gorgeous scarf, or by using a fabulous leather bag!”

Gorgeous accessories for the perfect Christmas gift and much more can be found online or call 07771 884468 to arrange a personal shopping experience. www.spiritandgracestyle.com

Maidenhead Windsor Marlow Ascot Slough Egham

Pinkneys Green in Berkshire is home to three of the local botanicals featured in Cricketers Gin; wild marjoram, milk thistle and blackberries. These unique flavours harmonise with zesty orange, spicy coriander and subtle tones of liquorice to deliver an exquisitely smooth juniper-forward gin.

Cricketers Gin have been awarded a Silver Medal for their London Dry Gin and a Bronze Medal for their Berry Blush Pink Gin in the 2021 International ‘London Spirits Competition’. They were also finalists in the 2020 global Gin Guide Awards. During lockdown, they were ecstatic to win the Theo Paphitis Small Business Awards, following the launch of their miniature gins in order to continue the growth of their new business during a pandemic!

This season Cricketers Gin are excited to offer their 70cl London Dry Gin paired with a gorgeous Fever Tree Balloon Copa Glass, beautifully boxed at the special price of just £45 (stocks limited). Also check out their Gin Heaven Hampers. www.cricketersgin.com

familiesonline.co.uk

Christmas

inspire my soul

Strawberry Grove

My Little Green Wardrobe

www.inspiremysoul.co.uk

www.strawberrygrove.co.uk/delivery

www.mylittlegreenwardrobe.com

Show you care by gifting your loved one a personalised hand-stamped charm necklace or bracelet, full of meaning from inspire my soul. The designs were inspired by founder Karen Rosser, an independent creative jewellery designer from Burchetts Green.

Strawberry Grove has wonderful cafes in Maidenhead, Lane End and Marlow where their ethos is to provide a relaxed and welcoming dining environment that draws inspiration from the very best British delis and farmers markets.

We all love a new outfit and given the rate children grow, new clothes make very popular Christmas gifts. Now you can search for that perfect present with a clear conscience as local online site My Little Green Wardrobe stocks only ethically-made and sustainablysourced clothing brands. This means that as well as seeking to reduce their impact on the environment, ethical fashion brands promote better conditions for their workers, such as fair wages and ensuring health and safety requirements are met.

Founded by local mum Lucy, the idea for the site came about when her eldest child was getting ready to start school.

Faced with a long list of items she needed and a desire to do her bit for the environment, she decided to look for clothes made from recyclable materials.

One long afternoon and only two purchases later, Lucy realised she could bring all these ethical brands together in one easily accessible site.

Choose from three inspirational collections (Love – Celebration – Remembrance), all designed to cherish a poignant life occasion. Meaningful to the wearer and totally unique, these beautiful letterbox pieces are the perfect gift for the loved ones in your life and a way of keeping them close even when apart.

Going on a journey with her clients, Karen helps them to create the perfect charm necklace, taking on board their stories with care and compassion.

Customers find her jewellery consultations therapeutic and poignant.

It is a huge honour for Karen to feel part of their story and she prides herself on remembering the choice of charms and the why. inspire my soul sterling silver charm necklaces and bracelets. Be inspired – how will you wear your story? www.inspiremysoul.co.uk or contact Karen direct at hello@inspiremysoul. co.uk Instagram: www.instagram.com/ inspiremysoul__ A selection of the inspire my soul range is stocked in Maidenhead Gift Emporium 65 St Mark’s Rd SL6 6DP.

familiesonline.co.uk

They also have their online delivery offerings too which have really taken off since the pandemic. Here you can buy lots of amazing produce including market boxes, butchers boxes, fruit, veg, jams, condiments, prosecco, baked breads & cakes, garden plants and much more! There is also an amazing range of afternoon and ‘themed’ teas for seasonal events such as Halloween and Valentines Day, as well as birthday parties. There is even an afternoon tea for children - and all of these can be delivered straight to your home.

We’ve also noticed the perfect Christmas gift. You can have a bespoke hamper made up of a selection of their gorgeous produce (just take your pick of items).

Alternatively look out for the ‘Henley Hamper’ where some wonderful treats have been carefully selected for you.

Vouchers and gift wrapping services are also available, which could really add to the perfect local gift.

Go to their online store to find out more. www.strawberrygrove.co.uk/delivery

editor@familiestveast.co.uk 01628 788058

My Little Green Wardrobe is powered by renewable energy and is committed to using only recycled packaging materials.

Plus, all their leaflets are printed on seeded paper, so as an extra gift you can plant them with your children and enjoy watching them grow together!

Visit: www.mylittlegreenwardrobe.com and enter code FAMILIES15 for 15% off all purchases between now and Christmas.

Instagram and Facebook: @mylittlegreenwardrobe

Families Thames Valley East

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Christmas

The best ‘experience’ Christmas gifts for kids Sometimes experiences make more memorable Christmas gifts than toys and without huge boxes and plastic packaging in sight! Check out our Families gift guide, compiled by Claire Winter, for ideas that will inspire and excite the kids.

Brilliant for bookworms

Perfect for petrol heads

Bee friendly gift

Brave Girls’ Book Club is a book subscription box which pulls together diverse stories and powerful protagonists to empower and inspire young girls! Including two books and a forty page magazine each month, it’s suitable for readers ages 7 to 12.

Subscription for one month £17. £180 annually.

Give the gift of driving lessons with Young Driver. Children ages 10+ can learn to drive a brand new dualcontrolled Vauxhall Corsa with a fully qualified instructor. There are also lessons suitable for children ages 4 to 10. Plus kids can get behind the wheel of a luxurious Bentley, a selection of classic cars or a genuine fire engine.

Lessons from £21.99.

These gorgeous bamboo wildflower kits contain three pots ready to plant with six hundred seeds to attract bees!

Each kit contains everything you need for a blooming marvellous balcony, window box or garden table. £20.

www.youngdriver.com

www.shoppompom.com/products/ potplant

Monthly baking bonanza

PJs with superpowers

Storytelling Experience

A subscription to the Junior Baking Club from Baked In makes the ideal gift for a budding chef. Aimed at minibakers ages 5 to 11, the boxes include a selection of child-friendly, yummy fun-fuelled recipes. From £7.50 a month for an annual subscription.

A new range of pyjamas for adults and kids from Scamp & Dude, with a percentage of donations going to Young Lives vs Cancer. The Smiley PJs include a Superpower Button which offers a boost and comfort when it’s most needed! From £28.

London Dreamtime create bespoke eco-friendly, magical storytelling experiences online. Tales are told by experienced storytellers to suit the age and interests of your child.

The fun sessions are interactive and personalised with the name and location of your child. From £80 to £200.

www.bakedin.co.uk/pages/juniorbaking-club

www.scampanddude.com

www.londondreamtime.com

www.bravegirlsbookclub.com

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Maidenhead Windsor Marlow Ascot Slough Egham

familiesonline.co.uk

Christmas

CHRISTMAS

The best ‘experience’ Christmas gifts for parents If you want to avoid giving Christmas gifts that feel like just ‘more stuff’ that is not really wanted or needed, check out the Families gift guide for parents, compiled by Claire Winter, for something a little more interesting.

Best gift for romantics

Become a wine connoisseur

Festive driving experience

Curate the perfect date night at home. Box 42’s Uncharted Island box is perfect for secret Love Island fans. It’s filled with themed activities and everything you need to set the tropical mood in your own living room (including a Spotify playlist!). One-off boxes £34.99 or subscribe for £31.99 per month. www.thebox42.co.uk

Give the gift of wine knowledge with the highly-regarded Level 1 Award in Wines from WSET. It is perfect for beginners and well-suited to anyone interested in developing their wine knowledge - a great Christmas gift for any wine lover!

The Drive of a Lifetime – get behind the wheel of a single-seater race car or top of the range supercar (or three) at the UK’s only Formula 1 track! The range of Drive Silverstone gift experiences offer amazing bucket list-worthy days to suit all tastes and budgets.

www.wsetglobal.com/where-to-study

www.silverstone.co.uk/drive

Blooming monthly treats

Learn sourdough secrets

Music to my ears

Get letterbox flowers delivered every month by Bloom & Wild to brighten up the day! They have a huge range of bouquets that come ready for your giftee to curate as they wish.

Learn to bake your own delicious fresh bread in the comfort of your own home.

From baguettes to brioche, ciabatta to sourdough and more. Join these relaxed, live, online classes with The Epsom Bakehouse for some baking fun. Gift vouchers available. From £19.99.

Gift guitar lessons from Fender Play.

This legendary guitar brand has an online platform so it’s easy to nail the guitar, bass or ukulele with easy-tofollow lessons.

www.bloomandwild.com

www.theepsombakehouse.co.uk/ learn-to-bake-bread

www.fender.com/play

familiesonline.co.uk

editor@familiestveast.co.uk 01628 788058

Families Thames Valley East

17

What’s On?

All details correct at the time of going to press. Please do remember to check online for up-to-date information and remember that in most cases you will need to book.

If you’re looking for family outings, pantomimes and other ideas to keep the kids entertained and ensure a magical Christmas for everyone this year, our What’s On guide is packed full of suggestions.

November THURSDAYS 4, 18 AND NOVEMBER 25 TODDLER GROUP IN AID OF THE BABY BANK St John’s Beaumont School, Old Windsor SL4 2JN For parents with children aged 12-36 months. Relaxed atmosphere, socialise with like-minded parents as well as getting some early learning advice from EYFS specialists. £5 per session donated to The Baby Bank.

10.15-11.30am. Book at www.sjbwindsor.uk/ parent-wise FRIDAY 5 TO SUNDAY NOVEMBER 7 FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR Legoland Windsor resort SL4 4AY www.legoland.co.uk SATURDAY NOVEMBER 6 AUTUMN OUTDOOR MARKET Norden Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead SL6 4PF 12pm-4pm. Free entry www.norden.farm SATURDAY NOVEMBER 6 JURASSIC WINDSOR FIREWORK NIGHT Windsor Racecourse, Maidenhead Road, Windsor SL4 5JJ Creatures from the pre-historic age take centre stage for this year’s spectacular Jurassic bonfire night. www.windsor-racecourse.co.uk/whats-on/ jurassic-firework-night-6th-november SATURDAY NOV 13 TO FRIDAY DEC 24 4D SLEIGH RIDE Longachres Garden Centre, Bagshot GU19 5JB www.longacres.co.uk SATURDAY NOV 13 TO THURSDAY DEC 23 WADDESDON CHRISTMAS FAIR Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury HP18 0JH

Advance booking required inc National Trust members. Includes winter light trail and Manor illuminations.

House is closed due to social distancing. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/waddesdonmanor SATURDAY NOV 13 TO FRIDAY DEC 24 CHRISTMAS AT 4 KINGDOMS Newbury road, Headley RG19 8JY www.themagicalchristmasadventure.co.uk/ tickets TUESDAY NOV 16 TO WEDNESDAY JAN 5 READING WINTER ON ICE Forbury Gardens RG1 3BB 11am-10pm daily. www.readingwinteronice.co.uk WEDNESDAY NOV 17 TO SUNDAY JAN 9 CHRISTMAS AT KEW Royal Botanic gardens Kew, Richmond TW9 3AB Enter a natural world glittering with a million lights Time slots start between 4.20pm and 8pm.

The Gardens close at 10pm www.christmasatkew.seetickets.com THURSDAY NOVEMBER 18 ETON CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH ON Jubilee Square, Eton 5.30pm THURSDAY NOV 18 TO SUNDAY JAN 9 WINDSOR ILLUMINATED Windsor Great Park Woodland and water at Windsor Great Park come alive with dazzling lights, dancing stars and breath-taking projections. www.windsorilluminated.com FRIDAY NOV 19 TO SUNDAY JAN 2 CHRISTMAS AT BLENHEIM PALACE Blenheim Palace, Woodstock OX20 1PP www.christmasatblenheim.seetickets.com/ raymondgubbay/christmas-at-blenheim

BAYLIS THEATRE, BRAYWICK LEISURE CENTRE, BRAYWICK ROAD, MAIDENHEAD, SL6 1BN

SATURDAY 18 - FRIDAY 24 DECEMBER 2021

FRIDAY NOV 19 TO MONDAY JAN 3 WINTER WONDERLAND Hyde Park, London Nearest train stations Paddington, Victoria and Marylebone.

Circus, Magical Ice Kingdom, Santaland, Christmas market, shows, rides and more Advanced booking essential. Mornings are best for families. www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com SATURDAY 20 TO SUNDAY NOVEMBER 21 ALEXANDER DEVINE’S POP UP CHRISTMAS MARKET The Hub, Unit 15, Grove Park Business Estate, Waltham Road SL6 3LW 10.30am-4pm www.alexanderdevine.org/2021/04/ alexander-devines-pop-up-christmas-market SATURDAY 20 TO SUNDAY NOVEMBER 21 WINDSOR CHRISTMAS GIFT FAIR Royal Windsor Racecourse, Maidenhead Road SL4 5EZ 10am-4pm www.ukcraftfairs.com/craft-events/22562/ windsor-christmas-gift-fair THURSDAY 25 TO SUNDAY NOVEMBER 28 HENLEY CHRISTMAS FAIR Stonor Park, Henley RG9 6HF 10am-4pm www.thecraftshows.co.uk/henley-christmasfair/henley-on-thames-2020 THURSDAY 25 TO SUNDAY NOVEMBER 28 CHRISTMAS FAIR AT ASCOT Ascot Racecourse, High Street, Ascot SL5 7JX 9.30am-4.30pm www.ukgrandsales.co.uk/Christmas-GrandSale.aspx?id=54&Year=2021 FRIDAY 26 NOV TO SUNDAY JAN 2 WINDSOR ON ICE Alexandra Gardens, Barry Avenue, Windsor SL4 3HY www.windsoronice.com

Blossom Ballet For a FREE taster class or for further information please contact Lucy:

07813084283 lucy@blossomballet.com www.blossomballet.com

Photos are of previous cast

BOOKING AGENT: 0333 666 3366 www.maidenheadpanto.co.uk 18

dk

productions

Maidenhead Windsor Marlow Ascot Slough Egham

B l o s s o m Ba l l e t

is about having lots of fun and making new friends.

Classes in Windsor throughout the week and at the weekends

familiesonline.co.uk

What’s On? FRIDAY NOV 26 TO SUNDAY JAN 9 JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Theatre Royal Windsor SL4 1PS Box Office 01753 853 888 www.theatreroyalwindsor.co.uk/ jackandthebeanstalk

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 28 SANTA FUN RUN Dorney Lake Off Court Ln, Lake End Rd, Windsor 10.30am-2pm www.allevents.in/org/alzheimers-dementiasupport/1902603

FRIDAY NOV 26 TO MONDAY JAN 3 CINDERELLA Wilde Theatre, South Hill Park, Bracknell RG12 7PA www.southhillpark.org.uk/whats-on/ pantomime

TUESDAY NOV 30 TO THURSDAY DEC 30

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 27 COOKHAM CHRISTMAS MARKET Pinder Hall, 2 Lower Rd, Cookham SL6 9HF 11.30am-4.30pm £4.50 admission. Kids go free. www.allevents.in/maidenhead/ cookham-christmasmarket/200021587695618 SATURDAY NOV 27 TO MONDAY JAN 3 LEGOLAND AT CHRISTMAS Legoland Windsor resort SL4 4AY www.legoland.co.uk

WEDNESDAY 1 TO FRIDAY DECEMBER 24 ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS Odds Farm Park, Wooburn Common HP10 0LX Festive Fairytales with Father Christmas www.oddsfarm.co.uk/once-upon-achristmas WEDNESDAY 1 TO SUNDAY DECEMBER 12 WINTER WONDERLAND Beckonscot model village, Warwick Rd, Beaconsfield HP9 2PL Advanced booking required www.bekonscot.co.uk/winter-wonderland1st-12th-dec

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 27 FESTIVE MARKET Norden Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead SL6 4PF 12pm-4pm. Free entry www.norden.farm

December

THURSDAY DECEMBER 2 IPPER’S SNOWY DAY K Norden Farm Centre for the Arts, Altwood Rd, Maidenhead SL6 4PF Based on the award winning children’s books about Kipper the Dog by Mick Inkpen. Join this magical world of puppets and mischief, filled with original songs and music. This warm-hearted Christmas show is perfect for children and their families.

It’s snowing! And Kipper is very excited...

Kipper, Tiger, Pig and Arnold go on an adventure in the snow - but can they find their way home?

Suitable for ages 3+ years. www.norden.farm/events/ kipper-s-snowy-day-28

TODDLER GROUP IN AID OF THE BABY BANK St John’s Beaumont School, Old Windsor SL4 2JN For parents with children aged 12-36 months. Relaxed atmosphere, socialise with like-minded parents as well as getting some early learning advice from EYFS specialists. £5 per session donated to The Baby Bank.

10.15-11.30am. Book at www.sjbwindsor.uk/ parent-wise THURSDAY 2 AND FRIDAY DECEMBER 3 TODDLER DAYS The Look Out Discovery Centre, Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell RG12 7QW Themed around Winter Fairy Tales www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/leisureservices/look-out-discovery-centre

H OW OW D E N C H R I ST STMAS F A M I LY LY R AC E DA DAY Y S A T U R DA D AY 18 T H DE C E M B E R BOOK NOW at ascot.co.uk

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Families Thames Valley East

19

What’s On? FRIDAY DECEMBER 3 FESTIVE MARKET Norden Farm, Altwood Road, Maidenhead SL6 4PF 12pm-4pm. Free entry www.norden.farm FRIDAY 3 TO SUNDAY DECEMBER 5 NEWBURY VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS FAYRE 10am-8pm Fri and Sat. 10am-5pm Sun. www.visitnewbury.org.uk/enjoy/events/2 FRIDAY 3 TO FRIDAY DECEMEBER 31 A CHRISTMAS CAROL Reading Rep Theatre, Kings Road RG1 4LY www.readingrep.com/a-christmas-carol-2 SATURDAY 4, 12 & SUNDAY DECEMBER 18 LUNCH WITH SANTA Denham Country park, Denham Court Drive UB9 5PG www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lunch-with-santatickets-179175848787?aff=ebdssbdestsearch SATURDAY 4 TO SUNDAY DECEMBER 5 CHRISTMAS WEEKEND Chiltern Open Air Museum, Chalfont St Giles HP8 4AB Artisan Christmas market www.coam.org.uk SATURDAY 4 TO FRIDAY DECEMBER 31 WOODLAND EXPLORERS FESTIVE TRAIL Burnham Beeches SL2 3TE Download your copy from our website.

Suggested donation £2. Bring a pencil www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/burnhambeeches SATURDAY 4 TO THURSDAY DEC 23 PERCY THE PARK KEEPER’S WINTER WANDER TRAIL Cliveden National Trust Cliveden Rd, Taplow, SL1 8NS Step into Percy’s wellies for the day while he’s busy on site and take on winter tasks, activities and games. There’ll be clues along the way to find and help from his animal friends. £2 per child. Normal admission applies www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cliveden/features/ cliveden-at-christmas

All details correct at the time of going to press. Please do remember to check online for up-to-date information and remember that in most cases you will need to book.

SATURDAY DEC 4 TO MONDAY JAN 3 PERCY THE PARK KEEPER’S WINTER WANDER TRAIL Hughenden Manor National Trust HP14 4LA Step into Percy’s wellies for the day while he’s busy on site and take on winter tasks, activities and games. There’ll be clues along the way to find and help from his animal friends.

Daily 10am-3.30pm. £2 per child. Normal admission applies www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hughenden/ features/christmas-at-hughenden SATURDAY DEC 4 TO MONDAY JAN 3 BEAUTY AND THE BEAST The Hexagon, Queen’s Walk, Reading RG1 7UA www.whatsonreading.com/beauty-andbeast FRIDAY DEC 10 TO SUNDAY JAN 2 PETER PAN Wycombe Swan HP11 2XE High flying Pantomime adventure www.wycombeswan.co.uk

SUNDAY DECEMBER 12 CAROLS AT THE CAFE Burnham Beeches SL2 3TE Carols at 1pm and 2pm and craft activities for children. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/burnhambeeches SUNDAY DECEMBER 12 LUNCH WITH SANTA Bisham Abbey Sports centre, Marlow Rd SL7 1RR 12pm-2.30pm SUNDAY 12 TO TUESDAY DECEMBER 14 DEAR SANTA Old Town Hall, Wycombe Swan HP11 2XE From the author of Dear Zoo, Rod Campbell this live show is an ideal introduction to theatre www.wycombeswan.co.uk SATURDAY DECEMBER 18

THURSDAY 9 TO SUNDAY DEC 12 TREASURE ISLAND Holyport Memorial Hall, Money Row Green SL6 2NA www.maidenhead-drama.org.uk/the-realmaidenhead-pantomime SATURDAY 11 DECEMBER MONKEY PUZZLE NURSERY CHRISTMAS FAIR Ground Floor 59A Grenfell Road, SL6 1ES Local business stalls, food, Carol singers & Santa’s Grotto 10-2pm at the nursery. Contact 01628 637642 www.monkeypuzzlemaidenhead.co.uk SATURDAY 11 TO SUNDAY DECEMBER 12 SANTA WEEKEND Beckonscot model village, Warwick Rd, Beaconsfield HP9 2PL 11.30am-3pm Advanced booking required Tickets to see Santa must be booked online in addition to the standard entry. www.bekonscot.co.uk/winter-wonderland1st-12th-dec

HOWDEN CHRISTMAS FAMILY RACEDAY Kick off the Christmas holidays in style at Ascot’s final raceday of the year. This year’s event promises to be a memorable one for all with a new theme of Christmas around the world. The day is jam-packed with exciting activities for racegoers of all ages including arts and crafts, face painting, fairground rides, meet and greets with Father Christmas and his reindeer, Mrs Christmas’s fireside story telling and candle-lit carol singing.

Adult tickets from £27.00, under 18s go FREE www.ascot.co.uk/horse-races-and-events/ christmas-raceday/saturday

Launching for Beginners Kriya Chakra Energy Healing Yoga Yoga Mindfulness for stress free Living Classes held on zoom Venues soon to be added

Rina Sandhu | 07940 719025 rinaseda@hotmail.co.uk 20

For details on our classes, parties and events contact Bernice at bernice@littlelearnersuk.com or call 07944478517

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What’s On? SATURDAY 18 TO FRIDAY DECEMBER 24

SUNDAY DECEMBER 19

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• We reach over 30,000 engaged readers each issue

ALADDIN Braywick Leisure Centre, Maidenhead SL6 2NA Get ready to roar with laughter as we cheer on our hero Aladdin as he journeys on an adventure of a lifetime. Expect flying carpets, a wish-granting genie and a lampfull of laughs! This family show is packed with all the traditional panto ingredients, including hit songs, belly laughing comedy, plenty of audience interaction and features the larger-than-life dame – Widow Twankey!

Join Aladdin for the flight of your life…

Tickets from £16. www.maidenheadpanto.co.uk

ANTA’S GROTTO & ELVES’ WORKSHOP S The Little Gym Windsor, 31 William St SL4 1BB Magical Santa’s Grotto experience hosted

by Santa and his cheeky Elves.

Join in games and gymnastics with Mrs Claus & the Elves before heading into the Elves Workshop for some festive toy making, treats, a visit from Santa, and a special gift for everyone.

Spaces are strictly limited in small group sessions. Call 01753 968 488 or email windsor@thelittlegym.co.uk for more information & to book. he Little Gym Handy Cross is also T running the event separately on the same day in their Marlow Hill/High Wycombe location. Phone 01494 937 136 and email handycross@thelittlegym.co.uk

• Distribute from schools, tuition centres, leisure attractions & more • We have a high repeat booking rate, so advertising with us works

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Christmas at Norden Farm

The Look Out Discovery Centre

Kipper’s Snowy Day Norden Farm and Slot Machine present

A great family day out whatever the weather!

Based on the Kipper books by Mick Inkpen

W NOPEN O Freshly prepared sandwiches, food boxes and pizzas. Freshly baked cakes. Plus a wide selection of hot and cold drinks. Ice creams.

We look forward to seeing you soon

Tickets from just £11.50

For ages

3+

years

Please check our website/social media for full information and to book.

Tuesday 30 November - Thursday 30 December 2021 www.facebook.com/thelookoutdiscovery @thelookoutbracknell www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/leisure-services/look-out-discovery-centre Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG12 7QW familiesonline.co.uk

Centre for the Arts Maidenhead

editor@familiestveast.co.uk 01628 788058

Box office / 01628 788997 Book online / www.nordenfarm.org Families Thames Valley East

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Christmas

Surviving a family Christmas

By Gill Sims We all know that the key to The Perfect Christmas with your beloved family is organisation, organisation and more organisation.

Who hasn’t read those smugly ‘helpful’ articles suggesting buying Christmas presents in the January sales, thus rendering you both organised AND thrifty and offering tips such as ‘start wrapping presents every night from mid-June on.’ The wrapping paper and tags also having been purchased on sale, obviously.

Clearly, there are people who take this advice because we ALL have That Friend who beams at you in August and asks: ‘Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet?’ - as you whimper in horror that you haven’t even bought the school uniforms, let alone thought about what to get Mildly Racist Great Aunt Mildred or Uncle ‘In My Day’ John for Christmas.

I have tried to be that person though, I really have. One January, I congratulated myself on my great cleverness and economy in buying all the stocking fillers and presents for aged relatives and teachers, plus the ‘emergency presents.’ You know, the ones for those people who gleefully hand you a parcel on Christmas Eve, knowing full well that you are now panic sweating because you weren’t expecting a gift from them and have nothing to give them in return.

Come June, I then got out my carefully chosen and reduced-tofifty-pence wrapping paper with the intention of wrapping the gifts. Could I find ANY of them? Nope. They had all been put Somewhere Safe. So safe, in fact, that I didn’t find them for two years, by which time the children were too old for their presents and Auntie Susan’s bath salts had fused into a solid lump.

sanity intact as we can. The more pressure we put on ourselves to make it Perfect, the more stressed and miserable we become.

And the more we try to please everyone, the less we please anyone, least of all ourselves.

So, maybe it’s time to take a step back and simplify things.

Instead of aiming for a Perfect Christmas. Aim for a Good Enough Christmas.

Every year, more pressure is added to make Christmas magical, from Elves on Shelves to Christmas Eve boxes. But children, who are the only ones who really find Christmas magical, will be just as happy with hanging up stockings, consuming an entire selection box for breakfast, spending time with their family, playing with their presents and possibly even playing games, whether board or electronic. That’s their Happy Memories for years to come. Not the Festive Tableaus or the Perfect Christmas attempts but the relaxed and happy time they spend with us.

Gill Sims is the number 1 best-selling author of the hugely successful Why Mummy series of books. The fourth book in the series, Why Mummy’s Sloshed, published this summer, is available from www.bookshop.org.

Nothing daunted, I tried a handmade, crafty Christmas one year. I decided to make hand stamped wrapping paper (damn you, Pinterest), a ‘wonderful activity for kids.’ Oh, the happy memories we would create! Within fifteen minutes we were all crying, I was mainlining Baileys and the dog had walked through the ink pads and left inky paw prints all over the carpet.

I still have a delightful reindeer stamped on my sofa from where my son hurled a stamp at his sister for mocking his stamping abilities.

And don’t even ask about the year I arranged the presents in an adorable tableau on a vintage style wooden sledge. I was up until 3am on Christmas Eve creating this Festive Vision! And on Christmas morning, my family just looked at me as if I had lost my mind before decimating my Vision in thirty seconds flat.

It was at this point I think I realised that there is no such thing as The Perfect Christmas. The best thing we can do is make it as easy for ourselves as possible and survive it with as much

See the Magic this Christmas Jumper Day! Support Save the Children and enjoy Christmas Jumper Day on 10 December with a great Craft Your Own Christmas Jumper Kit.

Winter Term

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The kit will allow you to upcycle any old jumper, using easy-to-add and easy-to-remove self-adhesive, felt, festive shapes, providing an eco-friendly way to participate this year. The kits have an RRP of £3 and are available from Save the Children charity shops and online.

5 coaching sessions

Save the Children are also releasing a limited edition range of See the Magic Christmas jumpers to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Christmas Jumper Day. The jumpers are printed on one-off vintage sweaters to ensure they are sustainable.

Available from www.savethechildren.org.uk and Mary’s Living and Giving stores at £18 each.

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Book Club As winter rolls around again my favourite place to be is cuddled up on the sofa with a good book and a roaring fire.

The colder weather offers us the perfect excuse to cosy up with a hot chocolate and it’s the ideal time to encourage a love of reading with our children. Books make great Christmas gifts and sharing in those adventures is a great way to enjoy some peaceful family time.

This month Rachel Bailey chats to picture book legend Nick Butterworth whose brand new book A Flying Visit, is the latest in the famed Percy the Park Keeper series and Families have two hardback copies to give away!

Who first inspired your love of books?

Do you have any treasured memories of reading stories growing up?

My mum used to read bedtime stories every night without fail. I add that because she was a very busy mum, as the corner shop I grew up in was open 6am to 7pm six and a half days a week. There was always time for a story, and my gran, who lived nearby often visited and if ever I seemed at a loose end during the day, she’d say (in her northern accent), “Come on chuck, find me a book. Let’s have a story.”

Even though I grew up surrounded by stories, I was slow learning to read. My mum never gave up and read to me longer than most parents would expect to read with their children. So we read longer books together, like Alice in Wonderland, Moby Dick and Kipling’s Just So Stories. I can still hear my mum’s voice in my head as she described, “The great grey-green, greasy Limpopo River, all set about with fever trees…” relishing every word!

Although you are best known for your Percy the Park Keeper stories, you have created many other lovable characters such as Q Pootle 5 and Albert le Blanc.

Do you have a favourite?

It depends what mood I’m in – and to some extent, how long it might be since I revisited one of my own books. If I haven’t read THUD! in a school for some time, I might flick through and come across Ralph the rather timid lion or Humphrey the crocodile with toothache, and these will be at least a temporary favourite. But then, in The Whisperer, I have a soft spot for Old Ginger Tom (I even gave him a guest appearance in the second Albert

familiesonline.co.uk

Le Blanc book Albert Le Blanc to the Rescue). I even like the rat character, The Whisperer himself. That’s probably a bit like actors liking to play villains!

Is it true that Percy has his own picnic spot in a real-life park?

Yes, perfectly true. Raphael Park in Romford, where I used to live, had become quite neglected and run down. It was even in danger of being sold off for development as a leisure centre. Luckily, a group of enterprising residents, formed The Friends of Raphael Park and waged a strong campaign to keep and renovate the park. When they discovered that it was in this park that I’d first had the idea for Percy the Park Keeper, it provided them with an extra reason to keep the place as a park – suddenly, it had Literary Heritage!

The park has now been beautifully spruced-up, the lake is clean, and there are more facilities, lots more planting, and a café. And Percy’s Picnic Spot, complete with carved wooden sculptures of Percy and his animal friends.

My children loved watching One Snowy Night at our local theatre. How did it feel to have your work adapted for theatre as well as animation?

It is immensely gratifying to think that enough people have responded to one of my ideas to make it viable to jump from page to stage or screen. To sit in a theatre with a large family audience all happily responding to a story that came to me one day walking in a frosty park with only our dog for company, is wonderful. Shirley Hughes once told me she had been approached by people wanting to animate one of her stories.

“You’ve had your work animated, Nick,” she said. “What’s it like? Is it beastly?!”

I told her no, but adaptations have to be accommodated for a different treatment.

It’s important to choose the right partners.

editor@familiestveast.co.uk 01628 788058

Do you have any family Christmas traditions?

We do have very strong traditions at Christmas time, mainly carried on from my mum’s side of the family. Like a lot of families, on Christmas Eve, we hang up stockings and leave a glass of sherry and a mince pie for Father Christmas and a carrot for Rudolph near the hearth. Then we’ll have a time of carol singing by firelight, candlelight and the lights of the Christmas tree, always finishing with at least two renditions of ‘Tis Christmas Eve’, a song that goes back to my grandparents’ time, the words of which are written at the front of my book Jingle Bells.

WIN Families have two copies to give away!

For your chance to win, all you have to do is answer the question below and email your answer to competitions@familiestveast.co.uk Which series is A Flying Visit part of?

A Q Pootle 5 B Percy the Park Keeper C Percy the Pilot Closing date for entries is 13 Dec 2021 A Flying Visit is available from Nov 11 in hardback priced £12.99. www.percytheparkkeeper.co.uk Facebook: @officialnickbutterworth Families Thames Valley East

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Every Sunday at 3.00pm Maidenhead Club Braywick Leisure Centre (Main Hall) Braywick Road Maidenhead SL6 1BN Tel: 07885 294418 or 01753 882012 Please call to book your place.

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