Families Hampshire North May/June 22 PRINT issue

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IN THIS ISSUE

Summer camps What’s On Education Activities

Issue 50 May/June 2022 May/June 2022

familiesonline.co.uk Families Hampshire North

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Calling parents living in Hampshire!

CONTENTS

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IN THIS

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May/June 2022 FamilieNove son

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CONTENTS

Welcome Warm sunny days are on the horizon and with two bank holidays (one of them is extra-long - yay!) it’s time to start planning some local family adventures as well as exploring the outdoors closer to home with our Adventures at Home feature.

Issue 50 I May/June 2022

Editor Rebecca Carr editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk 07789 882 467 Advertising Claire Clarricoates claire.clarricoates@familiespublishing.co.uk 07812 218 331 Printed by Buxton Press Ltd Next issue July/August Booking deadline 3 June Published 6 times per year. If you would like free copies contact us.

The long summer break is also just around the corner so take a look at our summer camps feature for some ideas on how to manage school holiday childcare, as well as giving your child some great experiences.

If you have a little one who starts school in September or a child transitioning to secondary school, now is also the time to start thinking about preparation. Find tips and advice in our Education section.

Finally, in this issue, we have cute and cuddly Care Bears to give away! Apply for these colourful companions for your child to fall in love with at familiesmag. co.uk/go. By doing so, you’ll also ensure you receive our digital magazine straight to your inbox with lots more content and goodies on offer.

Rebeccca Editor, Families Hampshire North

Cover image Depositphotos.com Advertise your business in our next issue, book by 3 June.

Summer camps Education Places to go Summer fun Parenting Early years and much more... © Families Hampshire North Magazine 2022.

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.

In this issue 4. Local news 5. Education news 6. Education 8. Early years 10. Summer camps

11.

Local clubs & classes directory

12.

What’s on

14.

Activities

15.

Gardening & home

ASK ABOUT OUR TWO WEEK TRIAL

May/June 2022

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

Families Hampshire North

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LOCAL NEWS

Enjoy a family day out at the Basingstoke Canal this summer with Galleon Marine Galleon Marine Boatyard is a family run business based in Odiham on the beautiful Basingstoke Canal. Since taking over the business in August 2014, they have focused attention on the quality of their 4 holiday narrowboats to ensure a welcoming atmosphere and a comfortable holiday.

As endorsed by several TV celebrities, narrowboating is a relaxing but active way to enjoy the countryside and see the world from a different perspective.

It is a perfect holiday for families, couples and small groups.

Their boats are furnished to a high standard including newly decorated bathrooms and updated equipment in the kitchens.

You can also enjoy a great family day out on the canal. You can hire a narrowboat for the day, which is perfect for a family get-together with a difference, featuring a lovely under cover seating area at the front with windows that can be rolled up to make the most of the view and the fresh air.

The colourful canal-side garden area is also popular for picnics with Hettie their Horsebox Espresso Bar offering fabulous fresh coffee, hot and cold drinks, cake and paninis.

Plus, why not encourage your family members to be more active leave their screens and give kayaking or rowing a try?

There’s no need to book, just turn up!

Open 6 days a week from 10.30am to 5pm (closed on Wednesday). To find out more call 01256 703691 or visit www.galleonmarine.co.uk

Smile this summer with a FREE Perform class

Special £40 discou

nt!

Use code HN310522

Summer term is here and there’s no better time for your child to try a Perform class. Packed with selfesteem boosting activities, Perform weekly classes will round off the academic year with a fun and relaxed focus on developing confidence, communication, coordination and concentration.

Using a mix of drama, dance and singing, these high-energy classes for all abilities are designed to allow even the most reticent children to shine.

The curriculum has an emphasis on fun, making friends and lots of laughter plus children can enjoy bespoke apps, downloads and videos at home. Small classes ensure plenty of individual attention and each child receives a progress report every 10 weeks. This term, 4-7s will be bringing out the super in themselves as they become Superheroes on a mission to save the world. Meanwhile, 7-12s will enjoy red carpet glamour in Jack and the Wonderbeans.

If you think your child may benefit from Perform but are not sure if they’ll like it, you can book a free trial class at www.perform. org.uk/try. Families readers receive a special £40 discount when booking before 31 May, just quote HN310522.

Local class venues: Andover: Andover Leisure Centre, SP10 1QP Basingstoke: Beggarwood Community Centre, RG22 4AQ Bramley: Clift Meadow Pavillion, RG26 5BH Fleet: Zebon Community Centre, GU52 0ZE Hartley Whitney: Victoria Halls, RG27 8RQ To book a no-obligation FREE trial at a local class, visit www.perform.org.uk/try or call 020 7255 9120.

Get the best out of family life!

Win a Great British WIN! Map of Wonders Let the adventures begin!

SIGN UP NOW at familiesmag.co.uk/go to receive every issue IT’S FREE!

There are so many amazing adventure-filled things to do here in Britain, that it’s hard to take them all in without a ginormous map! For children ages 6+, this map includes 1000 of the most fun things to do and places to visit around Britain, with great games to play, boxes to tick, notes to fill in and a huge colouring map. Find and explore amazing animals, awesome activities, brilliant beaches, thrilling quests, super-fun festivals, funny place names and legendary places. For more information, visit www.marvellousmaps.com

Magazine

Families has teamed up with ST&G to offer ten lucky readers their very own Great British Map of Wonders.

To enter, visit familiesmag.co.uk/go Closing date: 20 June. T&Cs at https://bit.ly/MapofWonders

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Families Hampshire North

May/June 2022

EDUCATION NEWS

Is your child starting school this September?

New BookTrust Writer in Residence

The early years pass so quickly. The personal, social and emotional skills they learn at this early stage of their development are the building blocks that will allow them to engage with more formal learning as they get older.

One of the nation’s favourite children’s authors and poets, Michael Rosen, has been appointed as the new Writer in Residence at BookTrust, the UK’s largest children’s reading charity.

Alton School prioritise getting to know the child and create open ended opportunities for learning. Their Reception class is free flowing into a dedicated play area and they regularly head for a woodland walk or den building in the beautiful grounds.

The author of more than two hundred books for children and adults including We’re Going on Bear Hunt, plans to use the residency to promote the importance of reading and rhyming with children in their early years.

They know that children need to get lost in their imagination, try new things and find spaces to be themselves. Above all it’s about giving your child the most brilliant experience.

Michael said: ‘We know that helping children start life playing with words, poems and songs is the perfect way to become a confident speaker and writer. Under-5s soak up language and we can help make that happen by sharing books with them.’

You can come and see the School in action at their forthcoming open days. The Reception to Sixth Form Open Event is on Saturday 14 May at 10am. Reception Class 2022 Taster Mornings run throughout June and a Reception Class 2023 Taster Morning is on Tuesday 24 May.

The BookTrust provides millions of children across the UK with books, resources and support to develop a love of reading.

More info at www.booktrust.org.uk

Register or find out more at www.altonschool.co.uk

Walk to School Week Thousands of children across the UK will celebrate the health and wellbeing benefits of walking during National Walk to School Week from 16 to 20 May. Families will be encouraged to walk, cycle, scoot or ‘Park and Stride’ for the whole week to see the big differences that can come from small steps - from healthier and happier children to fewer cars outside the school gates.

Free Family Walk to School Kits and interactive wall charts and stickers are available to download.

Schools can obtain Walk to School classroom packs to help teach children about the benefits of being active, with daily reward stickers and special rewards badges at the end of the week for those who travelled actively every day.

More info: www.livingstreets.org.uk/walk-to-school May/June 2022

Free kids’ app that saves the planet Earth Cubs is a new app for children ages 3 to 7 that educates kids about the planet and sustainability. The free app is filled with games, puzzles, quizzes and comics - all teacher-written and approved, as well as resources for projects and outdoor activities to inspire kids to get out into nature.

Children create their Earth Cub avatar in their likeness and journey across the world, visiting different environments around the globe, such as the Amazon rainforest and the Arctic.

Each environment brings an environmental issue to life in a vibrant and positive way, empowering kids to make a real difference as they interact with the Earth Cubs world and characters. They even earn badges that plant real trees in the real world.

More info at www.earthcubs.com Families Hampshire North

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EDUCATION

Lessons to learn before you’re 10

By Gail Hugman We live in a world where it’s easy to become overwhelmed. So teaching young children to make good use of their working memory, exercise self-control and get organised will really help them develop the skills they need to succeed in life.

These key skills underpin everything we do in life and it takes just a few minutes a day to boost them so your child learns more effectively and confidently. What’s more, growing these skills can be fun!

Developed by experts who understand how children’s brains develop and form, try these starter activities to set your child off on the right path.

school, your brain will remember it better if you sort the information first. You’ll be able to remember names, countries, lists, linked facts and even do magic tricks by remembering a bunch of playing cards in order - how cool is that?’

Working memory

Self-control

Play Kim’s Game.

Ask your child to tell you really quietly what colour socks they are wearing. Then ask them to tell you again as LOUDLY as possible (it may not be such fun for you, but they will love it!)

Each time they whisper or shout, give feedback to their brain by telling them ‘that’s great whispering, can it be quieter?’ or ‘excellent LOUD voice, is that the loudest you’ve got?’

To set up, gather ten objects together on a tray. Give your child one to two timed minutes to look at the objects, then cover them up. Depending on age and ability, ask them to tell, draw or write which ones they remember. As they progress, add more objects or give them less time to remember them.

There are ways help brains recall objects; the trick is to make links and spot patterns.

Give them these tips: To start with, count how many objects you’ll have to remember.

Look to see if any can be linked together, by colour or by material, such as all plastic or all wood, by shape or by use; eg knife and fork go together, tools together, toys together.

Do this exercise a few times and congratulate your child on their self-control. Tell them that taking charge from the inside is a very grown up thing to do.

Decide one thing you’d like your child to get under control. For example, it may be to resist the impulse to call out in class. Or leave their desk when they should be sitting quietly. Make it a positive.

Older children ages 7+ might be able to order the objects in a sequence or a story.

Explain to your child that you’d like them to focus on this one thing every day for a week. Remind them each day, ask how they got on and praise their progress. In this way, you’ll support their effort to control their impulses.

The more children play the game, the better they will get at recalling the objects. Why not see for yourself and play along too! Keep a tally so they can track their improvement and praise them for being clever. Explain that this is more than just a fun challenge, it’s all about teaching their brain to have a really good memory.

Gail Hugman is the bestselling author of 100 Things to Learn Before You’re 10. A children’s life coach, she owns and runs Human at Core (www.humanatcore.com), which helps parents motivate and engage their children in developing a bright future and provides science-based online personal development courses for children and parents.

You can say: ‘When your teacher shows you something in

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Time management

Organisation

Organising time is a great skill, but children first need to grasp how long things actually take. Our ‘just a minute’ might take five or ten minutes and young brains may understandably be fooled into thinking only a minute has passed.

Have fun using a timer to count how many of the following things they can do in one minute: hops, writing their name neatly, reading words out loud, starting a colouring-in page.

Show them a timetable of their day with blocks of playtime in which they can plan their own fun.

Good habits created early on pay dividends in later life!

Help your child put together a homework kit so all the stationery they need is at hand before they start working.

Teach your child to get ready the night before, setting out tomorrow’s clothes and any extra kit they will need.

Time homework. If it’s supposed to be thirty minutes, don’t spend longer on it. If your child is not finishing on time, either the teacher needs to know or they need to focus more effectively.

Families Hampshire North

May/June 2022

EDUCATION

A parent’s guide to secondary school transition

By Lisa Wander and Catherine Loble

The move from primary to secondary school is a major change for children. Most see this as an exciting next stage in their school journey but, for some, the change can make them feel anxious and uncertain. And all this at an age when children are already going through many physical and emotional changes ahead of adolescence.

Bringing up children is a slow, staggered process of detachment, from the moment they learn to crawl to the moment they finally leave home. When a child starts secondary school, with a mobile phone and travel card, it’s easy to see impending adulthood in the paraphernalia of independence as the detachment process begins.

Our role is to give our children roots and wings. Roots to know where home is and wings to fly away. The roots begin to form during early years education; secondary school is the place where children start to grow their wings.

Whilst most children will have a positive secondary school start and will embrace the new experiences on offer, research has found that the shift to secondary school can be stressful for about one in four children and that nearly three quarters of parents are anxious themselves.

Our input at this stage is crucial and our role as parents is to be our child’s sounding board, establishing an open relationship in which they feel valued, respected and connected. By adopting this non-judgemental response, our children are more likely to

keep talking to us as they get older.

Finally, while we may no longer be at the school gates, our involvement continues to be crucial to both our children’s emotional wellbeing and academic success. There are still many opportunities to stay involved: by joining the PTA, becoming part of a class WhatsApp group and getting to know the school and what support it offers.

Talk to your children about their day but possibly not the moment they walk through the door - a snack and a drink often help to ease the way into a pleasant chat.

The key to a healthy ongoing relationship is to keep the communication going. Remember that you are your child’s emotional coach.

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

Nurture

Before your child starts Exploring Recognise and talk about their primary school highlights and achievements - and things they may miss.

Find out what they are looking forward to at their new school, addressing worries and concerns.

Connecting Look at the new school website with your child and take part in any induction events.

Help your child think about how to approach new people and start conversations.

Find other children on the new school route to travel with.

Empower your child Encourage your child to take more responsibility at home to build their confidence and independence.

Support steps towards independence: allow them to walk home alone in their final term (if practical), meet a friend locally or run an errand for you.

Notice when your child does something well and praise them.

Organisation is key to success Help your child plan out their journey and do a few trial runs together.

Make sure you have all the uniform and equipment ready in time.

Plan a suitable space and time for daily homework.

May/June 2022

Opportunity

Growth

Maisie Story Writer Musician Swimmer Baker

Come and join our family school Open Mornings Friday 20th May Friday 24th June

admissions@yateleymanor.com

Yateley Manor www.yateleymanor.com Families Hampshire North

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EARLY YEARS

Developing humour as an infant

By Dr Elena Hoicka As a research team, we have always been fascinated by humour in children and so we set out to discover the types of humour that are present in early development and the ages at which different types of humour emerge. To do this, we mapped young children’s understanding of jokes for the first time using data from a new study involving nearly seven hundred children ages 0 to 47 months.1 Incredibly, we identified twenty one types of humour. Children under one year appreciated physical, visual and auditory humour. This included hide and reveal games like peekaboo, tickling, funny voices and noises. In the first year, children are learning to process sensory information, such as what things look, sound and feel like and their humour reflects this. So once they know what a voice should sound like, they notice when someone’s voice sounds strange and find it funny.

One-year-olds appreciated humour that involved getting a reaction from others. This included teasing, for example, offering and withdrawing objects, scaring others and taboo topics, for instance, toilet humour. They also found it funny to act like something else, such as an animal. Interestingly, it is around the age of 1 that children start to understand other people’s minds.

Their understanding and appreciation of humour reflects this.

Two-year-olds’ humour reflected language development, including mislabelling (for instance, calling a duck a cow), playing with concept (for example, saying: ‘dogs say moo’) and nonsense words such as ‘moogly boo.’ They also demonstrated a mean streak as they appreciated making fun of others. As most children start to speak by the age 2, humour reflects this, showing children enjoying playing with language. Our findings

Finally, 3-year-olds played with social rules, for example, saying naughty words to be funny and showing the beginnings of understanding tricks and puns. This reflects the way in which children’s understanding of language and the social world keep developing and are simultaneously reflected in their humour.

Dr Elena Hoicka is an Associate Professor at the School of Education, University of Bristol.

Want to participate in future research? Sign up at www.babylovesscience.com 1 ‘The Early Humor Survey (EHS): A Reliable Parent-Report Measure of Humor Development for 1- to 47-Month-Olds’ by E Hoicka et al in Behavior Research Methods.

When to expect humour in your child

How to joke with your child

Some parents reported that their children appreciated humour as early as 1 month old and produced humour as early as 4 months old! But this wasn’t typical. Our research estimated that fifty percent of children appreciate humour by 2 months old and produce humour by 11 months old but that means fifty percent of children don’t appreciate humour until 3 months old or later and don’t produce humour until 12 months old or later.

Parents are very good at joking with their young children.

You can start looking for humour in your child’s first year but don’t worry if it doesn’t happen as early as you expect. Every child is different and some may understand different types of humour earlier and other types later. For instance, a very verbally precocious 1-year-old might understand mislabelling jokes earlier than expected, whereas a child who has just started speaking at 2 years may understand this joke type later.

Remember, joking isn’t a race, it’s about having a positive, social experience with your child that allows you to bond and enjoy a joke together.

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also suggest that perhaps 2-year-olds are starting to understand that other people’s feelings can be hurt too. While many parents won’t be too happy to see their children laugh at someone’s expense, this may signal that a child is understanding other people in more complex ways.

Families Hampshire North

Professor Gina Mireault, from Northern Vermont University, found that when parents joke around with little ones ages 3 to 6 months, they smile and laugh, letting their baby know they are joking. Professor Vasu Reddy, from the University of Portsmouth, found that when parents laughed at their 7 to 12 month-olds’ jokes, their babies often repeated them.

In my research, we found that parents smile more when joking with their toddlers and make more eye contact. Furthermore, parents explain they are joking. They often express jokes like a question, for instance: ‘The ducks say moo?’ which highlights they are not being serious. After joking, they often explain what they did wrong. For instance, saying: ‘Ducks don’t say moo!

They say quack!’. In response, children smile and laugh at their parents’ jokes, make eye contact and copy the jokes.

So, when you joke with your child, make sure you smile, laugh, make eye contact and even explain your jokes!

May/June 2022

EARLY YEARS

The importance of routines for young children

By Claire Burgess

Routine is important for all of us. It provides safe, comfortable boundaries and keeps our lives on track. But it also means different things to different people and needs to fit each individual family, adjusting as children grow.

Some families benefit from more structure, while others work well with more flexible routines. There is no right or wrong in a routine, other than when it doesn’t work for your children or for you!

Why do babies and children need routine?

As humans, every day of our lives is made up of various mini routines. These are the little routines which we have perfected over time and repeat daily, all of which help us to manage our day, many times without even really thinking about it.

Routine is also another word for security. By having a routine it helps our children (and us) to feel secure and we are at our best when we feel safe and secure. This is when we are able to concentrate, co-operate, negotiate, listen and ultimately learn.

Being able to tell the time gives adults the ability to develop routines but babies and young children don’t have this luxury. So they are relying on us to help them understand how their day is going to be structured.

It’s worth being aware that if this timing changes day to day, your child will be constantly unsure of what is happening next. In turn, this may lead to them displaying challenging behaviours, their

eating habits fluctuating and their sleep being disturbed.

How do I keep my child on track?

It is all about watching for the signals. These can be subtle and can sometimes be easily missed; observation of your child is key.

Look for those little indicators such as wandering off around the house and not being able to focus on things, becoming clingy when they were happily playing, staring into space, getting cross, frustrated or fidgeting, upset or boisterous.

These behaviours can all be indicators that your child is feeling out of kilter and needs you to help them find the way back into their routine.

Once you have recognised this, you can put a plan into action.

Claire Burgess is a director and family consultant at Bespoke Family (www.bespokefamily.co.uk), which offers tailored support from newborns to teens.

Top tips Make the routine fit your family. Every family is unique and has their own way of structuring their day; what works for your friend might not work for you.

Don’t make it too rigid. But do have two key times of the day: the time your children get up in the morning and the time they go to bed. If you aim for and stick to these two points of the day, it will help to regulate your child’s sleep hormones at night and ‘get up and go’ hormones in the morning.

Between getting up time and bed time you should schedule regular mealtimes (and snacks dependent on the activity of the day) and possibly naps.

These focal points provide a constant structure which will give both you and your children the security and safety to approach each day with confidence.

Go for consistency. For something to become a habit it needs to be consistent. When implementing a new routine or an adjustment, it can take at least two weeks to stick, so persevere!

May/June 2022

Families Hampshire North

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SUMMER CAMPS

The lowdown on school holiday camps and workshops

By Andrew Campbell

Summer holiday camps, schools and workshops are not only an ideal way to fill in childcare gaps during the long summer break but offer the opportunity for your child to discover a new hobby or take their existing passion to a new level.

Multi-activity day camps Offering a varied daily programme of sports and creative activities, with each session lasting between 1 and 1.5 hours, multi-activity camps are ideal for children who have a range of interests or have not yet found their ‘thing.’ Some camps offer an astounding range of sports, arts and crafts, outdoor exploration, games and challenges. Generally, camps can be booked for single days, half days and full weeks, including extended hours and multi-week discounts.

Sport/single activity camps or workshops These intensely focused summer schools offer specialisation.

Think a specific sport such as football, gymnastics and cricket, one creative activity such as painting, photography and cooking, a single performing art like drama, musical theatre or dance or an area of STEM such as computer coding, robotics and game design.

Generally operating for two to five hours per day and running for just one day or as a progressive course from a few days to two weeks, these camps or workshops often cater for all ages of children and culminate in staging a performance, playing a competitive game or demonstrating a completed project.

For children who have an established interest, single activity camps or workshops offer a valuable opportunity to receive elite coaching and tuition, often from highly qualified or experienced instructors which can result in a significant boost to their existing skill level, confidence and enthusiasm in their chosen endeavour.

For a child curious about an activity, single activity camps or workshops are a great opportunity for an immersive experience which will test their interest and aptitude and for gaining an appreciation of what a regular commitment to weekly term time classes, often run by the same organisation, could offer.

For children who may struggle to find school friends who share their ‘passion,’ activity camps or workshops are a great way to meet ‘like-minded’ peers in their local area.

And for you? A patchwork of activity camps and/or workshops can be expensive but there is a distinct advantage in that they offer some mainstays of childcare across the summer that simultaneously allow your child to be doing something enjoyable, fulfilling, exciting or unique.

What to take to a camp/ workshop

Residential camps – the benefits

A refillable water bottle – there should be drinking water available but remind your child to stay hydrated during the day.

A residential summer camp may feel daunting for both parents and children but there are significant benefits in having time away from home.

For outside activities, make sure your child has sun cream already applied. Ask them to re-apply it every four hours. Ensure they have a sun hat.

Choose well-worn, weather-appropriate practical clothing and comfortable footwear. Layers are good if the weather is unpredictable. Avoid flip-flops which can cause health and safety issues.

Remember swimming costume and towel or apron/old shirt for creative activities.

Packed lunch, plus additional snacks for break times/extended hours.

Rucksack (to carry everything).

Leave mobile phones at home – they are often prohibited by camp organisers anyway.

10 Families Hampshire North

Acquire new life skills. Whatever the type of camp, your child will learn new life skills based on their experiences. They may discover a sport or hobby they have not considered before.

Gain more independence. From choosing what to wear, to ensuring they eat well and keep their area tidy, your child will gain a sense of independence and responsibility that can only come from being away from you.

Experience a sense of belonging and make new friends.

Having fun with peers can foster a sense of belonging. Kids bond with their teammates on tasks and feel included in the activities taking place, not to mention making new friends.

Character development. With more responsibility and freedom comes newly gained confidence which could see your child becoming better organised, making better choices and achieving more in the future.

May/June 2022

CLUBS & CLASSES

Local classes & holiday clubs CONFIDENCE BUILDING FUN Perform drama, dance and singing classes

SINGING, DANCING AND ACTIVING CLASSES FOR 4 TO 18 YEAR OLDS HOLIDAY FUN FOR 7-11 YEAR OLDS Queen Mary’s College, Basingstoke provides great value and quality sessions

Confidence building weekly drama, dance and singing classes for 4-7s and 7-12s. Classes are designed to boost confidence, communication, concentration and coordination.

Local classes available in Basingstoke & Fleet 07825 587943 Camberley and Yateley 0208 979 5276

Use code HN310522 to receive £40 discount by 31 May.

Visit www.perform.org.uk/try to book a FREE class.

Youth Options has been providing breakfast, after school and holiday clubs for Andover families for 27 years. The Scott Centre in Andover, offer’s a range of activities such as sports, arts and crafts, social time, computer activities, a homework area, a quiet area and outside play.

All settings are registered with OFSTED and all Youth Options staff work within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guidelines.

scottcentre@youthoptions.org.uk www.youthoptions.org.uk

www.qmc.ac.uk/sports.centre

Hampshire North

Would you like to promote your club, class or holiday club in our next issue and reach 1,000’s of local parent?

Email us for more information

www.stagecoach.co.uk

Jubilee Jets is an action-packed holiday club for primary school children based in Padworth, West Berkshire.

Activities include: Team Games I Sports I Baking Arts & Crafts I Body Art Construction I Toys & Games Farm Trips & Seasonal Activities

Variety of session types available Call 0118 983 4018 to book.

editor@familieshamsphirenorth.co.uk www.jubileejets.co.uk

Unusual class and club ideas

By Andrew Campbell Whether your child is bored with the usual options or simply not interested in the usual after school activities, you might be able to entice them to develop a new interest and meet like-minded friends by considering some of these less common activities.

Chess. For children who are naturally quiet or physically small, chess clubs offer a chance to make friends outside of school and improve self-esteem. Schools and libraries can run clubs but there are junior chess clubs throughout the UK. Check www.chessinschools.co.uk/junior-clubs

Trampolining. All kids love bouncing!

Making this a great option for kids who don’t like organised sports. The combination of risk and exhilaration will keep them coming back. Clubs can be found at schools, leisure centres and at trampoline centres.

Rock climbing. For the more adventurous young one, rock climbing offers a chance for some healthy, action-packed fun. See www.thebmc.co.uk

Cooking. If you have an aspiring chef or young ‘foodie’, cooking classes are great fun and will teach basic life skills and healthy eating. In-person and online options are available.

Fencing. An Olympic sport, fencing is ideal option for children who struggle with team sports. As well as improving fitness, it develops mental agility and personal responsibility. www.britishfencing.com

May/June 2022

Creative writing. Whether your child is a budding storyteller or has trouble expressing themselves on paper, creative writing will tap into their imaginations

and ideas and turn them into something special, whilst developing important critical thinking and creative skills.

Parkour. Kids instinctively love to jump and throw themselves around. Parkour (Freerunning) classes harness this exuberance and teach kids to interact creatively and safely with the physical world around them. Visit www.parkour.uk Archery. Kids love trying this sport at local fetes and fairs. If your child lacks the speed or strength for traditional sports, then archery may be an option. As well as improving concentration, it’s physically demanding and very social. To find a local club visit www.startarchery.co.uk

Families Hampshire North 11

CHILDREN’S THEATRE

What's On

listings for all the family

To promote your local event, coffee morning, nearly new sale, parenting courses or community group in the next What’s On listing. Email editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk.

Listings in this section are FREE for most non-commercial ventures. Please check details of the events before setting off in case anything has changed since going to print.

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Until Sun 8 May Planet Protectors Winchester Science Centre, SO21 1HZ Celebrate 20 years of science at WSC with fun facts and explosive demos on how fashion can affect the climate.

Throughout May & June Superworm Trail Alice Holt Forest, Farnham, GU10 4LS Discover the small but mighty creatures in the much-loved story and learn about the everyday heroic feats of minibeasts in the forest.

The self-led trail features brightly illustrated panels and a trail pack full of fun activities, including your very own mask.

Ages 3-9. £3.50.

Throughout May & June Gruffalo Sculptures Alice Holt Forest, Farnham, GU10 4LS If you venture into the deep dark wood you may bump into the Gruffalo and other characters from Julia Donaldson’s fantastic story! Each sculpture has been carved in a different position unique to Alice Holt Forest, and they bring this much-loved story to life in the forest.

Celebrate National Mills Weekend at Winchester City Mill

Sun 1 to Mon 2 May The Pop Up Play Village Wellington Country Park, Riseley, RG7 1SP Make a clay hedgehog, try your hand at stick whitling a woodland person and lots more!

Sat 7 to Sun 8 May National Mills Weekend Winchester City Mill Winchester SO23 0EJ Every May across the UK, more than 300 windmills and watermills open to the public to celebrate our milling heritage.

Visit Winchester City Mill to see the millers in action, learn about the mill machinery and talk to

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the farmers who supply them with their grain.

Sat 14 May to Sun 3 July Lights, Camera, Science!

Winchester Science Centre, SO21 1HZ Explore how science, not CGI, can be used in films to create magical light effects in a free live show. Their Inspirers will use some explosive experiments to recreate famous moments from the movies. There will also be some ‘illuminating’ audience participation along the way.

Runs on weekends and May half term.

Sun 15 May Nature Day Gilbert White’s House, Selborne, GU34 3JH Our natural world has never been more important to care for and understand. Join in with the annual Nature Day to meet local organisations helping to conserve nature, learn about the natural world with great walks and activities and find new ways to help protect it with the ecofair section featuring sustainable products and crafts. Adults £8 Children go free! (includes admission to house and garden).

Sat 28 to Sun29 May The Gingerbread Man Corn Exchange Newbury, Newbury, RG14 5BD Come and see the adventure of the deliciously smelling Gingerbread Man who finds his feet fast and sets off on the journey of a lifetime! From £11 Sat 28 May to Sun 5 Jun 1940’s Week Milestones Museum, Basingstoke, RG22 6PG Step back in time to the 1940s and take part in the fun activities for all ages. Enjoy reenactments, make do and mend demonstrations and food tasting

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12 Families Hampshire North

Nature Day 15th May

GU34 3JH www.gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk

Stall holders & Activities from nature & conservation organisations and an eco-produce fair!

May/June 2022

WHAT’S ON of the era. Enjoy music and dancing 4-5 June. 10am-5pm.

Sat 28 May to Sun 5 Jun Spring into Summer Trail The Vyne, Basingstoke, RG24 9HL This May half-term, families can spot delicate cherry blossom bursting into bloom in the wild garden. In the walled garden, next to fragrant rows of sweet peas, you’ll find a wildflower meadow coming into bud.

Thur 2 to Sun 5 June Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations Hinton Ampner, Alresford SO24 0LA Join Hinton Ampner to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee with lawn games and fun activities across the weekend. On Saturday 4 June, they will be joined by renowned jazz band ‘Jazz Magic’ from 12pm–3pm Fri 3 Jun Fifties Fete - Jubilee Event Whitchurch Silk Mill, Whitchurch, RG28 7AL Take a step back into the 1950s at the Mill with live music, games and entertainment.

Historic reenactors and interpreters, Pedlars and Petticoats will be bringing it all to life performing in character throughout the afternoon and there will be lots more to enjoy besides. Free entry to this fun community event. 12-4pm.

Wed 15 Jun Outdoor Theatre: The HandleBards- Twelfth Night Chawton House, Alton GU34 1SJ Join The HandleBards at Chawton House for a bicyclepowered, laugh-out-loud production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Doors open 6pm.

Sun 19 Jun London Rhymes Corn Exchange Newbury, Newbury, RG14 5BD An eclectic, high energy musical experience for families with children aged 0 to 5 led by Rosie and a band of amazing live musicians. £6.50. 10:30am Sun 19 Jun Father’s Day Classic Car Rally Hinton Ampner, Alresford SO24 0LA From 12pm onwards, we’ll be joined by members of the Morgan Car Group, with a range of classic cars parked outside the mansion house. Owners will be on hand to answer any questions. The perfect Father’s Day outing!

Tue 21 Jun to Sun 14 Aug Exhibition: From The Margins Gilbert White’s House, Selborne, GU34 3JH From barn owls and brown hares, to harvest mice and hairstreak butterflies, this exhibition takes you on a journey of discovery to meet iconic farmland species. Visit www.gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk for more information.

Sat 18 to Sun 19 June Father’s Day Milestones Museum, Basingstoke, RG22 6PG Treat dad to a beer this weekend at our very own pub The Baverstock Arms, and challenge him to some of the vintage arcade games on the pier!

Fri 24 Jun to Sunday 10 Jul Basingstoke Festival Various Annual arts and culture festival in Basingstoke. See the website for full details and events at www.basingstokefestival.co.uk

Low-cost ideas for the family to enjoy outdoors

By Harrison Thorne With the sun shining, the kids off school and a beautiful clear blue sky, you’re no doubt itching to get out and enjoy some local activities that will keep the whole family entertained.

Here are a few ideas for fun low-cost outdoor activities that the whole family can enjoy.

Nature walks What’s better than spending the whole day on a walk in the countryside when it’s sunny?

Hampshire has some great locations full of beautiful wildlife, colourful plants and sweeping vistas that will take your breath away. The New Forest National Park is always a great choice for a day out as you’ll find an abundance of quiet picnic spots and long trails through tall trees and dense forest or why not visit your local National Trust such as The Vyne, Basingstoke or Hinton Ampner, Nr Winchester for some lovely nature trails or Gilbert White’s House, Selborne. This summer you can also enjoy a Superworm trail at Alice Holt Forest, Farnham.

Visit the beach A walk along the 230 miles of coastline of Hampshire is the perfect family day out. The county has several beaches which offer fantastic walks at any time of the year. Discover the beaches of Calshot, Southsea, Lepe Country Park, Hayling Island and Milford-on-Sea. Get the kids gardening

The perfect place to enjoy the Basingstoke Canal

Grow your kids’ green thumb by getting them into the garden and planting seeds that will grow into stunning flowers, or grow some yummy vegetables. Early summer is the perfect season for growing primrose’s, snowdrops, and lavender and is also the perfect season for growing radishes, spinach and rhubarb that will go great in a variety of meals.

See more in our gardening feature on page 15.

Bluebell walks Right now, is the perfect time for spotting bluebell’s and seeing them bloom.

Espresso&Bar, Cold drinks, Narrowboat Holidays Refreshments Picnic Area Paninis and Ice Creams Narrowboat Day Hire Opening Times 10am to 6pm fromto10.30am to 5pm Kayaks, Canoes & 7 Days,Open March October Row Boat Hire 6 days a week I Closed on Wednesdays Galleon Marine, ColtRG29 Hill, Odiham, Hants, RG29 1AL Colt Hill, Odiham, 1AL

We’re so lucky to have the most incredible number of bluebell woods in Hampshire. You can see some of the beautiful purple flowers at local treasures like Upperford Copse, Nr Wickham, Micheldever Woods, Winchester, Hinton Ampner, nr Winchester, The Vyne, nr Basingstoke, Zebon Copse, Church Crookham and Hollycombe, Liphook.

Opposite the Waterwitch Pub May/June 2022

Families Hampshire North 13

ACTIVITIES

Adventures at home

By Zoe Lake I’m a big fan of planning fun-filled family adventures at home for weekends and holidays. Here are some of our favourites, which can be easily adjusted if the weather does not behave. All the activities can be tailored to children and adults of all ages, adding a little magic to precious family time.

Garden music festival Dig out your tent, drag out your blankets and cushions, power up the radio and set up camp. Spend the day listening to music in the comfort of your own garden.

Homemade ribbon wristbands and VIP lanyards allow unlimited access to the snack cupboard, fruity mocktails and ultimately, the lavatory - without needing to queue!

Twenty four hours without electricity Challenging the family to go without electricity is great fun. Not only does it encourage you to get creative with your time, it also opens up the broader topic of eco-living and which small changes can be made at home. Activities for the day might include painting, poetry, games, bird watching, cooking over an open flame and sleeping outside.

Stargazing Our favourite way to stargaze is in an old inflatable pool, patched with duct tape and filled with duvets! It keeps the chill out whilst we snuggle down and watch for the first star to appear amidst the myths and legends. Look out for the Big Bear, the Pegasus and Draco the dragon, which snakes across our sky.

Garden fete

Mini Olympics

Wildlife hunting

Village fetes are often a washout but you can schedule yours when there’s glorious sunshine! String up your bunting, bake some scones, set up a raffle and a lucky dip (from old goody bag items), provide an (unplugged) microphone for announcements, hold a pet show, even set up a Pimms’ tent (no judgement here).

Our annual garden Olympics is one of our favourite days of the year. Open with a (tissue paper) Olympic flame and homemade hanging flags, followed by competitive rounds of egg and spoon, sack races, hula hooping, bean bag throwing and swing ball. Keep score on a chalkboard and finish with salt dough medals at an elaborate award ceremony.

Find out who you share your garden with, using a nature guide to help with identification. Or encourage a few new residents with a log pile house for insects, hanging feeders for birds, a compost heap for worms, upturned pots for frogs and a colourful flowerbed for bees and butterflies. Keep an illustrated journal of what you all see.

Family heritage

Reading nook

Spend a bit of time asking relatives about their own adventures, jotting them down as you go. If the weather is a bit rubbish, this is the perfect excuse to scour old family albums full of photos of when they were young. And if the weather is kind, ask them to take you around their old haunts, perhaps to where they grew up.

A reading nook is a wonderful place to spend a lazy afternoon. Set up a den or a teepee and make it cosy inside. Fill a basket with books and make the most of little ones curled up in your lap for story time. Or even have a go at writing your own story together.

14 Families Hampshire North

Zoe Lake’s book Adventures at Home (Pimpernel Press) is available at all good book shops and at www.zoe-lake.co.uk May/June 2022

HOME

Garden time

By Jo Behari Ah, the summer breeze is in the air! Looking forward to spending more time in the garden? Maybe not, if your garden is like mine and covered in green moss and winter dredge. So, it’s time to make it shine!

Pressure washing is your friend when it comes to sprucing up your garden after the winter. You can hire a pressure washer from a tool rental company for around £40 for the weekend. Or invest in one if there’s space to store it. Use the brush tool on the pressure washer to lift any green moss. Treat the areas with a disinfectant like Jeyes fluid beforehand, scrubbing them with a stiff bristled brush.

What about rust on metal furniture or BBQ’s? Most rust spots can be cleaned and treated easily by soaking them with white vinegar. Scrub the vinegar off with a stiff brush or even a light sand with sandpaper for stubborn spots. For some metals you can even use WD-40 to lift off rust but test this on a small area before treating larger spaces.

Think outside the box and bring some interesting non-plant features into your garden. Mirrors are a brilliant way to add a quirky element to your garden. Hang them from fences or trees to create a secret garden feel. Light up your entire garden with solar powered lights that can be hung from trees and bushes on fence panels or even staked into the ground.

Now the garden’s looking better - apart from the graveyard of discarded toys on the lawn. How can you get that Insta-garden feel whilst still making sure the kids have plenty of space and toys to play with?

And don’t be afraid to use old, discarded items as planters or garden features to make your garden feel that bit more characterful. For example, old tyres make great herb planters, hanging plants can be suspended from pallets and old wooden ladders look great with plants trailing on them.

Everyone knows the importance of good storage in a family home and that’s true outside as well as inside. For a multifunctional garden, storage that doubles up as furniture is a great idea. Look for garden benches that have in built storage or footrest/storage boxes. Plastic garden storage solutions don’t always look great but are functional. Get quirky and creative and use old chest of drawers or cupboards outside.

If you get the entire family involved in coming up with creative ideas, it won’t be long before your garden feels unique to you and a place you really want to spend time this summer.

Jo Behari is an entrepreneur, DIY expert and TV presenter www.jobehari.co.uk

How to bring colour into your garden

Creating a kids play area on a budget

Obviously, plants and flowers provide colour but this may only last a few months of the year.

Kids garden toys can be pricey so start by using what you already have.

Another way of introducing colour and vibrancy which will last all year is to paint fences and furniture. You can choose any colours you like from pastels to vibrant shades. Cuprinol do a great range of outdoor paints but if you are looking for something more environmentally friendly, Graphenstone paints remove CO2 from the atmosphere, so make a great eco choice.

Hang pipes, old bottles, funnels and tubes to the fence to create a water run for young kids who love water play.

Use soft furnishings like brightly coloured cushions and throws to bring in colour too. Just make sure you have a decent place to store them, so they don’t get ruined by being left out overnight.

As we all know, it generally rains plenty during a UK summer!

Invest in an outdoor rug for your seating area. This can be left out overnight and all year round and makes a great addition to any garden seating area, offering additional colour as well as pattern.

May/June 2022

Put two washing up bowls side by side, one containing mud and one containing water. Add a few old kitchen utensils and some plastic bowls and you have yourself a mud kitchen!

Use old wellie boots as planters so kids can look after their own plants. These are great for strawberries and small flowers.

String some old tins and pots to the fence and with an old wooden spoon let little ones bang out a tune. Paint them some fun colours to make them really bright and appealing for younger children.

Old tyres can be picked up cheaply and can be used to create an obstacle course for older kids. These are also easy to paint so another great way to bring colour into the garden.

Families Hampshire North 15

Little stars to bright sparks

School Open Event 14 May Nursery Farm Event 26 May register here: altonschool.co.uk

Educating boys and girls from six months to Sixth Form

Care and share with Care Bears Bean Plush!

Apply for a FREE Bean Plush 22cm Care Bear now* Perfect company for your child’s adventures, big or small.

Magazine 16 Families Hampshire North

Apply at familiesmag.co.uk/go *while stocks last T&Cs apply May/June 2022