Families Hampshire North Mar/Apr 23 PRINT issue

Contact us

Editor Rebecca Carr editor@familieshampshirenorth.co.uk

07789 882467

Sales Claire Clarricoates claire.clarricoates@familiespublishing.co.uk 07812 218331

Next issue: May/June

Booking deadline: 3 April

Readership of over 40,000 local parents, carers and teachers every issue. Published six times a year.

Cover image: Depositphotos.com

November/December competition winners

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

© Families Hampshire North 2023. Families is a registered trademark of LCMB Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of Families Print Ltd. Every care is taken in the preparation of this magazine but Families Print Ltd, its distributors, franchisees and LCMB Ltd cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents, or any consequences thereof.

In this issue

Welcome

The seasons are turning and spring is just around the corner. So it’s time to stop hibernating and re-embrace the big outdoors! To celebrate, we have all the instructions for you and your kids to make a spring bird café to welcome in the new season – and bring some birds to your garden, of course.

Do you remember when you were young, all those blissful and adventure-filled days playing in the local neighbourhood with the other children that lived nearby? We have some interesting information on how you can offer your child the freedom of ‘playing out’. Also in our Health section, we have some top tips from a mum about apps and hacks that can make family life healthier and some great, imaginative and healthy after school snack ideas for the kids.

Of course, Easter is just around the corner and it’s not too soon to start making plans for those all-important egg hunts. See our What’s On guide for some great days out.

Finally, in this issue, we have Smoby Nature Playhouses to giveaway and you can apply inside. By doing so, you’ll also ensure you receive our digital magazine with lots more content and goodies on offer.

Rebecca x

Local news and competitions, plus local clubs, classes and activities to try.

What’s On

We’ve got a round-up of events happening in March and April and some great Easter days out.

Education

How you can help with homework and how to stretch your child’s imagination.

18

What’s new Families brings you the lowdown on exciting free events and new products for 2023.

Families chats with George Webster, the 22-year-old TV presenter, actor, dancer and ambassador for Mencap.

Easter activity

Make a spring bird café and bring some birds to your garden.

Health

Imaginative and healthy after school snack ideas and apps and hacks that can make family life healthier.

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Next issue: May/June

Booking deadline: 3 April

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Early Summer Days Out, Education, Holiday Clubs & Classes, Health, Parenting and much more!

Editor, Families Hampshire North

The importance of your child's first years at school

Often families will invest in their child's education later in their life, but did you know that the first three years at school is a critical time for learning and development?

Research shows that 90% of a child's brain develops by age 5 and that Reception is the year with the greatest impact on a child's education. If you invest in their education early it will help build strong foundations and they will reap lifelong benefits.

Sherfield School’s recent assessment results show that pupils who go through their Reception perform extremely well. So, what sets them apart?

• High staff:pupil ratio means they can offer two times more qualified teacher time;

• Specialist teaching and equipment;

• Strong parent partnerships;

• Regular trips, visits, and plenty of club options;

• Excellent food;

• Outstanding wrap-around care.

To find out more, book onto their Open Morning on 14 March or, visit www.sherfieldschool.co.uk

Spring confidence-building fun with Perform

Spring is the perfect time of year to get those feel-good endorphins pumping and Perform’s new summer term themes will get bodies moving and hearts singing. What’s more, your child can try a class for FREE!

Perform offers a different type of children’s drama class. It doesn’t focus on creating perfect dancers or the next child star. Instead, children’s social development is at the heart of its classes, using a specially formulated mix of drama, dance and singing to bring out every child’s true potential.

Exciting termly themes keep young imaginations buzzing while small class sizes ensure lots of individual attention from experienced, professionally trained actors, dancers and singers. Classes are for children of all abilities and they can join at any point in the term; just be ready to have the best fun of the week!

This term, ages 4-7 will be setting sail on the Jammy Dodger in Mermaids & Pirates, whilst ages 7–12 will take part in The Dream, an hilarious adaptation of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Visit www.perform.org.uk/try, email enquiries@perform. org.uk or call 020 7255 9120 to book a FREE trial class in one of the following 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

British Science Week 2023

British Science Week is a ten day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths which takes place from 10 to 19 March.

This year’s theme is ‘Connection.’ Nearly all innovations in science are built on connections between people and connections occur across all areas of science, including animals, the internet and even between human action and climate change.

People from all over the UK take part in events and activities to develop their skills in these areas at a wide range of venues, such as community groups, cultural centres and museums. A range of FREE activity packs and other resources suitable for all age groups can also be downloaded for fun family activities in the home.

To find a local event, visit www.britishscienceweek.org

Bringing back playing outside

For the majority of today’s parents, the best childhood memories don’t involve expensive toys or organised activities. Instead, they remember the simple pleasures of playing and running around outside with their friends. Their strongest and fondest memories recall a magical sense of freedom and possibility.

There have been many studies into the benefits of free, unstructured outside play. Children playing together use their creativity and imagination to create games and invent rules; they learn how to collaborate, share, negotiate and resolve conflicts. They build resilience, independence and social confidence as they learn to navigate the world without adult interference. All valuable experiences as they grow into young adults.

Playing outside is also the natural, joyful way that children are physically active and develop running, balancing, skipping, climbing, jumping and even ball skills at their own pace. You don’t have to ‘make’ children do this; just look at a school playground at breaktime!

In the past, playing outside was the easy, free way that children got all these vital health and wellbeing benefits, every day. All it needed was safe spaces close to home: streets, patches of land, small parks children could get to. It didn’t need money, a car or an adult to take them.

Today things are very different. While screens and ‘lazy’ children or parents often get blamed, one of the biggest barriers is traffic. UK traffic volume has doubled since the 1980s and roads are now seen as ‘just for cars.’ Parental fears are justified, as the numbers of children being killed or injured on our roads is shocking and should be unacceptable in any society.

Getting started with play streets

There are four steps involved with setting up a play street: Consult your neighbours. It’s clearly got to be something that they will either actively embrace or, at the very least, find acceptable.

Apply to your council for permission. Not all councils have policies to support play streets but they can often be persuaded if they can see that there is demand from residents. In these areas, why not start with a street party (for the Coronation perhaps), focus on low key space for play and then take it from there?

Effectively communicate what is happening to everyone on the street.

Release your kids to play out. On the day, volunteer stewards supervise the road closure so that residents who need to can still drive in and out and the disruption to neighbours is minimal. All the information and support you need to take this further is at www.playingout.net

So what can parents do?

Gardens are safe but not everyone has one. Organised activities are great but not always possible and don’t replace the benefits of unstructured play.

Play streets are one way to reclaim some of the freedom children have lost. By temporarily stopping through traffic on a residential street, neighbours can open up a safe space for children to play together on their doorsteps.

In 2009, a group of Bristol parents closed their street to through traffic for a few hours to give their children some of the freedom they grew up with. Their council then agreed that this could happen every week. The idea began to spread and they set up Playing Out to support other parents and residents do the same.

Playing Out brings more play and freedom into children’s lives in an easy, affordable way. Look into setting up your own space at www.playingout.net

Stretching your child’s imagination

By Jemma Z Smith

Imagination is the ability to create mental images, thoughts or ideas. It helps us to generate new ideas, to think creatively and to consider possibilities that may not be rooted in current reality. Imagination can be a powerful tool for problem-solving and innovation.

Imagination is often associated with childhood and is an important aspect of child development. Children use their imaginations to create stories, games and other forms of play in which they explore their environment and learn about the world.

However, imagination isn’t only important in childhood. There are many jobs that rely on imagination and creative thinking. For example, imagination is used by the following professionals in the following ways:

Painters, sculptors, photographers - to create works of art; Novelists, screenwriters and other writers - to create stories and characters;

Actors - to portray characters and bring stories to life;

Architects - to design buildings and other structures; Graphic designers - to create visual designs for websites, advertisements and other media;

Musicians - to compose music and create new sounds; Game designers - to create interactive games and virtual worlds;

Marketers - to come up with creative marketing campaigns and advertisements;

Teachers - to create engaging lesson plans and activities for their students;

Engineers - to design and build new products and systems.

Imagination takes many forms, including visual imagination to create mental images or pictures, verbal imagination in stories or ideas using words and musical imagination creating melodies and harmonies. It can also involve the use of all five senses, such as when someone imagines the taste, smell, or texture of a food they have never experienced.

By providing opportunities for children to use their imagination and encouraging them to be creative, parents can develop their creative thinking skills.

All imaginative play starts with an understanding of the world around us, so to help a child to use their imagination we must first introduce them to different experiences, from sensory experiences such as discovering new foods or smells, to listening to different accents and instruments. This exposure to the world allows your child to have a large mental ‘dressing up box’ to use when creating characters and scenarios for their imaginative play.

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

Activities to develop imagination

Encourage open-ended play. Playing with certain toys allows for open-ended exploration and creativity. Blocks, dolls and dressing-up clothes can all be used in a variety of ways, led by a child’s imagination.

Encourage storytelling. Parents can encourage children to create their own stories and characters, either through verbal storytelling, drawing or writing.

Encourage experimentation. Children use their imagination and creativity when trying new things and experimenting with different materials. For example, parents can provide children with art supplies, such as paint, clay or markers and encourage them to create their own projects.

Read together. Reading with children stretches their imagination and exposes them to new ideas and concepts. Encourage them to ask questions and make predictions while reading, to help stimulate their imagination.

Encourage role play. Role play is a fun way to use imagination, for instance, pretending to be a doctor with dolls and soft toys or pretending to be a chef while cooking dinner.

What to do when your child says ‘I’m bored’

Leaving a child to be bored can actually be a good thing; it can help them to develop their imagination and creativity.

When children are not constantly entertained or stimulated by screens or other external sources, they are more likely to turn inward and develop their imagination to create their own fun and entertainment.

It is important therefore to make sure that children have access to a variety of age-appropriate materials and resources that they can dip into anytime to engage their imagination and creativity. Keep a box of ‘prompts’ nearby full of open-ended materials such as art supplies, dressing-up clothes, pieces of old board games, pictures, story books and materials such as pinecones collected on a walk.

By directing your child towards this box of goodies, they will find something to spark their imagination, without being constrained by an existing game, story or role play. This allows them to discover their imaginative process on their own, without input from you.

Homework: how you can help

By Zuzu Jordan

Homework is an important part of the learning process but many parents find it difficult to help their children with this for a number of reasons. Sometimes it’s difficult to juggle work and find the optimum time when your child is most productive. Frequently parents feel that ‘the way they teach now’ isn’t how they were taught when they were school age.

Nevertheless, we all want to feel that we have done all we can to steer our children’s education in the right direction.

So what is homework?

Homework covers activities set by the class teacher, which vary from preparing for an upcoming topic, consolidating a lesson already taught or revising for a test. Your role at home is to help your child learn how to work independently, rather than endeavouring to ensure they get full marks.

Consider some of these techniques as a starting point towards a happier homework environment:

Ensure the space helps your child concentrate. A quiet room in the house with a table or desk is preferable. If this isn’t possible, libraries offer quiet spaces and most schools run a homework club. If you don’t have access to a computer or tablet, these are valuable free services.

Establish a routine. If your child works better in the morning when they are more alert, then consider doing some homework before school. This may require a complete change to your morning routine.

Devising a timetable with your child that shows the times for homework across the week can help them see what is expected each day.

All the kit at their fingertips. This is key to ensuring a smooth transition into getting the homework started. Searching for a pencil for half an hour will not help your child stay on track.

Technology can be a great tool. It helps with research and can also be used to revise a concept with which your child may be struggling. More and more schools are setting homework online and expecting children to use a unique login.

Teachers appreciate your input so do ask them for advice if homework is proving a sticking point.

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

Calling parents living in Hampshire!

Are you looking for a new opportunity?*

Would you like to try your hand at magazine publishing?

Do you think you can grow a business?

Are you interested in media and marketing?

Would you like to work from home around your family and do something you love?

*Capital is required.

Meet George Webster

Families chats with George Webster, the 22-year-old TV presenter, actor, dancer and ambassador for Mencap. George was catapulted into the public eye when he spoke about Down syndrome in his myth-busting video for BBC Bitesize. A trailblazer, he is now the first ever CBeebies presenter to have Down syndrome. In November 2022, George won a BAFTA (Children and Young People Awards) for Best Presenter.

Congratulations on winning your BAFTA! How do you feel about that achievement?

I feel really proud and really honoured to achieve the award for presenter. I work with so many brilliant people at CBeebies and I feel like things are starting to improve for people like me in the media industry.

Tell us about your journey to become a presenter on CBeebies.

I always loved acting, dancing and performing at school and since then one thing has led to another. While volunteering at Parkrun, Sky filmed me for a documentary and I then became a Mencap ambassador. When my BBC Bitesize video busting the five myths of Down syndrome got five million hits, CBeebies got in touch inviting me to be a

guest presenter and now I’m a regular!

Who has been most supportive in helping you achieve your success?

My parents have been really supportive throughout my life and they always keep telling me ‘just be yourself.’ I always am and I want to say thank you to them for their love and support. Also, my support teachers at school, my friends, the NHS and local charities.

What advice would you give to encourage other youngsters who are facing challenges and want to pursue similar careers?

Be yourself and dream big. We can all dream big so don’t let anyone else decide for you as it’s your life. Get involved with local performing arts groups too.

GIVEAWAY!

Five signed copies of This is ME! picture book

Families has teamed up with BAFTA award-winning TV presenter, George Webster, CBeebies’ first presenter with Down syndrome, to o er five lucky children copies of George’s new book, This is ME!

This is ME! is a heartfelt and uplifting story that follows a little boy called George as he tells the reader all about who he is, his life and his experiences. George knows that having Down syndrome is an important part of him but it does not define him.

Featuring George’s real-life friends and family as well as a joyful cast of characters reflective of society and with bright and bold illustrations by best-selling illustrator, Tim Budgen, This is ME! celebrates uniqueness, being ourselves and how our di erences make us special.

Scan the QR code to apply or visit familiesmag.co.uk/go

Closing date: 21 April

T&Cs at https://bit.ly/gwbookgiveaway

What do you enjoy most about presenting?

I love everything about presenting at CBeebies! I’ve met loads of brilliant people and now we’re great friends. I also enjoy showing the viewers at home that people like me can be represented within the media and that ‘difference’ can inspire their kids’ lives. Their kids can have many role models, no matter who and what they are.

You’ve now written a picture book called This is ME! Tell us more.

This is ME! is about me, my friends and family when I was younger. It’s about celebrating differences no matter what we look like and who we are. It’s also about each person having their own glow inside that we all need to see.

The book illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to your rhyming words. How did the partnership come together?

My publisher, Scholastic Children’s Books, paired me with the wonderful illustrator, Tim Budgen. Working with him and my co-author, Claire Taylor, has been brilliant and a real collaborative effort.

What has been the best moment of your career so far?

There are so many! Working with CBeebies, writing a book, winning a BAFTA, being on Casualty, going to the premiere of S.A.M and dancing on stage with Talent Hub. Plus going to UDance National Finals to represent

Yorkshire as the first inclusive dance group with Meshdance and watching my appearance on Strictly Come Dancing back on Christmas Day.

You are ambassador for the charity Mencap, which works to improve the life of young people with learning difficulties. Tell us what this work means to you.

It means a lot to me as I have many friends with a learning disability and they’re all brilliant. People like us exist and working with Mencap means our voices get heard. I want people to understand us more rather than be scared of us.

Where would you like to see your career heading in the future?

I’d love to do more presenting and acting work. I would love to be in Death in Paradise, EastEnders and Doctor Who. Or I could be the new James Bond - why not! Also, I’d love to compete on the main show of Strictly Come Dancing.

If you had to bust one myth about having Down syndrome, what would it be?

‘People with Down syndrome are always happy.’ This just isn’t true! We have a range of emotions like every living person has.

What do you do to relax?

I love going to the theatre or cinema, watching films and tv and listening to music. Oh, and thrashing my dad at FIFA!

interoception

By Usha Patel

‘My child is in the 99th percentile for reading but he is not able to tell me when he is hungry or thirsty.’

Traditionally, our mainstream education system tells us that a child is successful when they achieve at curriculum subjects such as reading and writing. We rarely associate academically bright children with learning difficulties or other cognitive issues, so these can often go overlooked in an academically achieving child.

These days, we are more aware of dyslexia and ADHD and how they can affect us but other more subtle difficulties can be difficult to understand. For example, I recently spoke to a parent of an 8-year-old boy who is a very fast learner and enjoys reading, of which his mother is, of course, very proud. However, he struggles a great deal with other things. Every week, there is a near accident in the toilet department; he doesn’t seem to know when he is hungry, cold or thirsty and his teachers report that he is socially aloof. So what could be going on here?

This is a problem with something called interoception and it can be worked on and improved by an experienced and qualified therapist.

What is interoception?

Interoception is better known as our body’s ability to understand messages from our internal organs. This includes the sense that we feel hungry or thirsty. Ignoring or not understanding these feelings can cause all sorts of problems. For example, not understanding when your bladder is full can lead to accidents.

As children grow, they learn to interpret the signals their bodies give them. However, sometimes interoception can be a difficult skill to acquire. Many children and even adults need help to develop this internal intelligence, which is distinct and separate from academic skills such as reading and writing. It is not uncommon for internal intelligence and academic skills to be out of synch.

Developing mindfulness can be very beneficial to us all in understanding how our interoception works. It can be a topdown way to deliver awareness and improve our understanding of our bodies. Giving ourselves the ability to better understand our body’s signals naturally leads to better interoception.

What happens when we can’t tap into our feelings?

Interoception is part of something larger called neuroception, which is our response to all sensory triggers, both internal and external. As it includes our body’s signals and those around us, such as different sensations and noises, it plays a huge part in how we understand if we are safe or not. For example, neuroception is responsible for how we interpret the tones of others’ voices: whether they seem gentle and friendly, or angry and threatening.

Of course, these skills don’t just affect us physically, they also affect how we interpret our emotional state and how we decide to act on our emotions. If we can’t understand our own emotions, we can’t understand those of others either. This leads to awkward social interaction, which is where that sense of aloofness from a person with poor neuroception often comes from, as well as their apparent lack of empathy.

Not feeling safe because we don’t understand how to read the environment and those around us can lead to a poor sense of self and be linked to mental health problems. It’s fortunate that there are ways to help children with this issue.

Usha Patel is a neurocognitive therapist who runs Raviv Practice London (www.ravivpracticelondon.co.uk).

Improving mindfulness

Here is a simple exercise your child can try at home. Sit in a favourite chair with both feet flat on the floor. Have one hand on the navel and the other on the chest. Be still in this position for ten to twenty seconds.

Experience the rise and fall of the tummy and the beating of the heart. Ignore the outside world and enjoy this moment. This is easy to say but not always easy to do. Practice makes perfect!

Healthy after-school snack ideas

By Sarah Alder

It’s a familiar scene across the country at school pick up time. Children come running out of the classroom to greet you and instead of ‘hello’, it’s: ‘can I have a snack?’. So how do we satisfy their ravenous after-school hunger with healthy foods?

It’s good to have some quick and easy ideas to hand to avoid spending a fortune on packaged snacks.

Savoury

Fun bites

Fruity

Celery sticks filled with peanut butter and raisins or cream cheese and tomato are really yummy and can even be presented as a stack to make a Gruffalo log pile house!

Vegetable sticks (carrot, cucumber, pepper etc) are easy to prepare and work well with houmous. Or, for something a bit different, try bread sticks with a yoghurt-based dip or guacamole.

I’m a great fan of savoury muffins. These can be batch cooked and frozen. For a great courgette, spinach and cheese muffin recipe, head to https://bit.ly/ ktsavourymuffin

To ramp up the novelty factor, you can make a simple but tasty savoury mix and keep it in an airtight container for the kids to snack on throughout the week. There’s one at https://bit.ly/kttrailmix you can try. Or you can mix together some dried fruit and seeds if you don’t have much prep time.

Don’t forget healthy cereals which make a great snack especially if paired with some fruit and milk or yoghurt - think popped rice, Shreddies, Shredded Wheat or Cheerios. And then there’s the fun favourite – popcorn! Try popping your own and experimenting with flavours (think cinnamon, smoked paprika, Marmite butter…)

Top Tip

Think of snacks as mini meals which should ideally include a small amount of foods from different food groups to ensure your kids stay fuller for longer. This will reduce the demand for more snacks!

Not always a firm favourite with kids but fruit can be offered in different ways to keep it interesting. Think fruit salad, fruit kebabs, chopped apple, banana and grapes, berries and natural yoghurt (you can use frozen berries to save some money and to offer them all year round).

Fruit smoothies are really tasty and go down well with kids, whilst home-made fruit muffins don’t even feel like fruit! See https://bit.ly/ktsmoothie for recipe.

Carb Filled

Think oatcake with peanut butter or cheese, toasted fruit bread or even a fruity, low sugar flapjack - there’s a great recipe at https://bit.ly/ktflapjacks

You can also serve cheese with crackers or plain scones with cheese. Great for days when the kids really need to get their teeth into something….

Images, top row from left to right: celery sticks with peanut butter and raisins, savoury mix, fruit kebabs and natural yoghurt. Bottom row from left to right: courgette, spinach and cheese muffins, popcorn, fruity, low sugar flapjack.

Sarah Alder of Kitchen Titbits (www.kitchentitbits.co.uk) is a meal planning and family mealtimes mentor who works with parents to support fussy eaters. Visit her site for lots of tips and advice and to find out about her courses and workshops.

Apps and hacks to keep the family healthy

By Ellie Malt

We can’t be the only family to have been swerving the doctor’s surgery for a while. But ignoring health problems won’t help anyone so I’ve finally booked some overdue appointments. Prevention is always better than cure of course, so I’ve been inspired to look into self-help more closely. Like a kind of digital chicken soup, this basic but hearty recipe is my prescription for the whole family. Take one a day if you like!

Go social

Online communities based around health make it easier to suss out what is working for others. Sometimes you need more than just a prescription and deeper research can either put your mind at rest or offer more information. Facebook is a great place to start and many reputable medical charities, like Young Minds now have groups, often moderated by experts or clinicians and offering helplines.

Register with your GP’s online service

Clearly, I should have done this years ago. If you haven’t yet, go for it because it’s so worth the initial hassle. Once registered, you can book appointments with a few clicks instead of waiting in line on the phone. Also, you can see all available times immediately and re-order repeat prescriptions in mere seconds.

Club living room

Going to an actual sports club seems like a luxury. But joining a class from my own living room is a solid option and certainly beats doing nothing. Things have moved on since Joe Wicks kicked off the pandemic; there are alternatives for every possible taste on The TruFit app (www. trufit.com) and it’s waaaay cheaper than gym membership.

Women’s health apps

Subscribe not prescribe

Getting the best healthcare, even from the NHS, can depend on knowing your options. Keeping up to date with the latest treatments can be as simple as signing up and letting the experts drop into your inbox. For every health problem there will be podcasts, webinars and newsletters.

We mothers are notorious for putting ourselves last and for tolerating the health issues once assumed to be a woman’s fate. A new wave of women’s health apps is banishing or improving monthly aches and pains and menopausal symptoms. Flow (https://flo.health) now has more than 200 million women using it to track their ovulation or periods. Can you imagine the man in your life suffering in silence? Neither should you.

Back to basics

While there are lots of online courses about individual conditions, there is perhaps no better way to be ready for emergencies than doing a general first aid course. I can remember some of the basics but wouldn’t be confident in every situation. First Aid for Free (www. firstaidforfree.com) has a paediatric course online.

Menu update

Wearables

There’s a lot of hype but choose carefully and there will probably be a ‘wearable’ for you. From Fitbits to sleep trackers, physically attaching to something means there is no bunking off from your new healthy ritual. My kids respond well to a low-tech reminders like stickers and postits but it’s fun to experiment.

New health food products pop up all the time - quite literally on my social media feed. I’ve been browsing for gut-friendly alternatives and am experimenting by trying one new product every other week. I’m using gluten-free self-raising flour from Doves (www.dovesfarm.co.uk) in our weekend pancakes. None of us have noticed the difference yet. I’m hoping the kids will get used to trying new things; even better if they get involved and help me choose.

What's On

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

All listings correct at the time of going to print.

Every Tue Construction Club

Chineham Library, Basingstoke, RG24 8BQ

If you enjoy making things with LEGO® or Duplo® bricks, come along and enjoy the Construction Club. Parents and carers must remain with their children during the session. No need to book, just come along. FREE.

Every Tue Board Games Morning

Basingstoke Discovery Centre Festival Place, RG21 7LS

Free drop-in every Tuesday, 10am12noon. Games supplied but feel free to bring your own!

Every Wed in Mar Easter Cookery

Bramley Village Hall, The Street, RG26 5BP www.hants.gov.uk

Make delicious Easter recipes with your child and learn how to develop your child’s maths skills. The course is for parents/carers who would like to have fun and cook with their child aged 2-5 years. 1-2.30pm.

Every Fri Storytime

Basingstoke Discovery Centre Festival Place, RG21 7LS

Storytime for children aged 0-5 years. 10.30am. FREE.

Throughout Mar & Apr Treasure Trails in North Hampshire

Alton, Basingstoke, Odiham, Petersfield, Selborne, Whitchurch www.treasuretrails.co.uk

A self-guided spy mission walking trail or treasure hunt inspired walk. The trails are 2 to 2.5 miles and takes approximately two hours to complete at your own pace. Learn more about where you live or explore somewhere new. Print a trail map at home or buy online. Suitable for ages 6+.

Throughout Mar & Apr ZOG™ Trail

Alice Holt Forest, GU10 4LS

Everyone’s favourite dragon is at Alice Holt Forest this year with a brand-new family activity trail and app! Get ready to join Zog™ on his latest forest adventure to collect golden stars as your little dragons learn how they help care for the forest and how the forests can care for them. Plus, explore trails and discover different play areas before treating yourself in the lovely café.

Sat 4 to Wed 15 Apr

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Trail Festival Park, Basingstoke, RG21 7BA www.festivalplace.co.uk/ theveryhungrycaterpillartrail

Festival Place will be feeding the imaginations of book lovers as they invite them to take part in an exciting interactive trail in celebration of World Book Day. Pick up a trail map and begin your journey.

Wed 8 Mar & Wed 12 Apr

StoryMakers

Basingstoke Discovery Centre Festival Place, RG21 7LS

A fun creative writing club for ages 8-13. Runs every second Wednesday of the month from 3.45-4.45pm. Free.

Sat 11 Mar

Creative Saturday: Rubbish Rockets

Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery, GU32 3HX

www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk

Explore stories, collections and exhibitions. 10am-4pm.

Sat 11 Mar

I Spy With My Little Eye: The Party

The Haymarket, Basingstoke, RG21 7NW www.anvilarts.org.uk

Molly and Bingo the puppy are having a birthday party, full of games, a treasure hunt and singalong songs. 60 minutes of fun and laughter for all. Ages 2+.

Thu 16 Mar

Science Explained: The Science of Star Wars

Winchester Science Centre, SO21 1HZ

www.winchestersciencecentre.org

Movie fans have been wowed by spaceships, super-weapons and visions of the future for decades. But how much of the famous movie world is rooted in a science reality? Jon Chase will explore the physics of the classic movie series.

Sat 18 Mar to Mon 17 Apr

Boom & Bloom

Winchester Science Centre, SO21 1HZ

www.winchestersciencecentre.org

Spring into a new season of exciting science fun at Boom & Bloom. Outside, things are beginning to bloom and inside, experiments are set to go boom. As well as the usual Science Centre fun, there will be even more on offer to excite all ages. On weekends and school holidays.

Sun 19 Mar

Mother's Day Lunch Chawton House, Alton GU34 1SJ www.chawtonhouse.org

Relax in the historic surrounding of Chawton House’s Old Kitchen this Mother’s Day and treat Mum to a delicious two-course lunch. 12pm or 1.30pm. Adults £25, child £12.

Sat 25 Mar

Sing-along Encanto Corn Exchange Newbury, RG14 5BD

www.cornexchangenew.com

Gather la Familia and prepare to sing your heart out as you enjoy Disney's Encanto, with lyrics on screen so everyone can join in! 1pm & 5pm.

Wed 29 Mar to Tue 4 Apr

Inclusive Sensory Trail

The Vyne, Basingstoke RG24 9HL

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ hampshire

Developed in partnership with Tadley Court School, eight sensory experiences invite you to smell, touch, look and listen to natural surroundings in The Vyne’s gardens. Free trail map available from Visitor Reception. 10am-4pm.

Sat 1 Apr

Easter Eggstravaganza

Wellington Country Park, Riseley, Berkshire, RG7 1SP

www.wellingtoncountrypark.co.uk

Back for its biggest year yet, join in for an action-packed Easter Holiday at Welly Park. 9.30am-5.30pm.

Sat 1 Apr

The Big Basing Easter Egg Hunt Basing House, Basingstoke RG24 8AE

www.hampshireculture.org.uk

Join the hunt for hundreds of eggs hidden across our 14-acre site! Every egg handed in will enter you into our prize draw, so the more eggs you find, the higher your chance of winning a very special Easter prize!

Sat 1 Apr

Easter Fair

Alton Community Centre, Alton, GU34 1HN

Craft stalls, children's activities, Easter raffle and more. Free. 10am2pm.

Sat 1 & Sun 2 Apr

Room on the Broom Corn Exchange Newbury, RG14 5BD

www.cornexchangenew.com

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s much-loved story is live on stage. 1.30pm & 4.30pm. Ages 3+.

The Amazing Bubble Man at The Haymarket

Sat 1 to Sat 15 Apr

School Holiday Trail: Spring

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

Explore the Museum and Art Gallery in a new light with our fun, selfguided trails. 10am-5pm. All ages.

Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr

Festival of Arts & Crafts

The Corn Exchange, Greenham, Newbury, RG19 6HN www.cornexchangenew.com

Celebrate the Festival of Arts & Crafts featuring a vibrant fair, creative taster workshops and a stunning festival of art exhibition featuring local artists work.

Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr

Cinderella Trail

Willis Museum, Basingstoke, RG21 7QD www.hampshireculture.org.uk

Help The Fairy Godmother and Cinderella find all the things needed to let Cinders go to the ball. Ages 4+. Free.

Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr

Bun & Ted’s Eggscellent

Adventure!

Milestones Museum, Basingstoke, RG22 6PG www.hampshireculture.org.uk

Step onto the streets of Milestones and help Bun and Ted save Easter and hunt the missing eggs that have been hidden through time. £2.50 per trail. 10am-4.45pm. Ages 4+.

Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr

Spring into Nature Trail

Hinton Ampner, SO24 0LA www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ hampshire

Ready, Set, Hop! Complete a set of Easter challenges and work together to show us your best hopping, leaping and running to win a chocolate prize whilst taking in the beautiful spring gardens. £3 per trail sheet plus prize. 10am-4pm.

Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr

Easter Adventures at The Vyne

The Vyne, Basingstoke RG24 9HL www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ hampshire

From spotting wacky wellies hidden in trees, to a bit of nifty ‘nature bingo’ and hopscotch by the lake, come out and play this spring in The Vyne’s gardens. Trail sheet available at Visitor Reception. Pre-book parking on 0344 249 1895. £3 per trail sheet plus prize. 10am-4pm.

Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr

Easter Egg Hunt (with a difference)

Gilbert White's House, Selborne, GU34 3JH www.gilbertwhiteshouse.org.uk/ easter-egg-hunt-with-a-difference

It’s not only birds that lay eggs! Can you find 10 eggs hidden in the garden and use clues to work out which creature laid them? From reptiles to mini beasts, you’ll be surprised by the number of egg laying creatures which live around us all the time. Spot the odd one out and claim a chocolate egg as your prize! £3 per child with museum entry.

Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr

Mottisfont Easter Fete Mottisfont, Romsey SO51 0LP www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ hampshire

With all the feel of a classic village fete, Mottisfont’s Easter egg trail is packed with traditional springtime activities, set in acres of glorious

garden. Look out for wooden egg rolling and other energetic games, alongside spring-themed crafts such as daffodil pinwheel-making. There’s a seasonal ‘art gallery’, where kids can display their drawings for everyone to enjoy. £3 per trail sheet plus prize. 10am-4.30pm.

Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr

Hoppy Easter Paultons Park, Ower, SO51 6AL www.paultonspark.co.uk

Meet Bobtail Bunny and Betty Bunny at Paultons this Easter. Guests will be able to meet the cute characters at the main entrance plaza. The Park entrance will also be festooned for Easter with colourful giant Easter eggs and bunnies at every turn.

Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr

Easter Egg-splorers Trail Uppark House & Gardens, Petersfield GU31 5QR www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ hampshire

Uppark’s Easter trail is jam-packed with activities for fun family challenges. Can you jump as far as a deer on the lawn, or hula hoop for thirty seconds in the scented garden? Who’s best at racing just like a rabbit, or playing Bug Bingo in the woods? £3 per trail sheet plus prize. 10am-3.30pm.

Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr

Easter Science Fun

Winchester Science Centre, SO21 1HZ

www.winchestersciencecentre.org

Families are invited to join in with an oviparity egg hunt during Boom & Bloom. An oviparity egg hunt means visitors will be looking for eggs laid by animals that hatch rather than brightly coloured Easter eggs. What birds will be found? Will there be a creepy crawly or two? And will there be a few surprise species that hatch? The hunt is a picture trail and once children spot all the eggs, they’ll be in for a delicious Easter treat. 9.30am to 5pm. Pre-book online.

Sat 1 to Sun 16 Apr

Easter Family Trail

Basing House, Basingstoke RG24 8AE www.hampshireculture.org.uk

Enjoy spending time outdoors exploring the grounds of Basing House this Easter. Learn about Easter traditions from days gone by and receive a special Easter reward! Join in with some free Easter crafts. Normal admission + £2.50 per trail.

Tue 4 Apr

Rapunzel: Easter Panto

The Anvil, Basingstoke, RG21 7QR www.anvilarts.org.uk

Don’t miss another fun-filled Easter pantomime with impressive music, energetic dance routines as well as plenty of jokes, slapstick and heaps of audience participation! Starring Bobby Davro, Britain’s Got Talent Winner – Collabro’s Matt Pagan and funny-man Karen the Mam’s Lewis Denny. All ages.

Wed 5 Apr

Wild and Wonderful Family Day

Whitchurch Silk Mill, Whitchurch, RG28 7AL

www.whitchurchsilkmill.org.uk

Join local animal and nature charities in the Mill gardens for a second Wild and Wonderful Family Day! Take part in activities to learn all about the wildlife of Hampshire, try river dipping with for Watercress and Winterbournes project to see what you can find in the River Test, 10.30am-3pm.

Thu 6 to Thu 13 Apr

Spring Suncatcher Workshop

Willis Museum, Basingstoke, RG21 7QD

www.hampshireculture.org.uk

Whilst the days get longer, as spring takes hold, create a suncatcher and make the most of the sunshine. £3. 11am, 2pm. Ages 5+.

Thu 6 Apr

The Amazing Bubble Man

The Haymarket, Basingstoke, RG21 7NW www.anvilarts.org.uk

Louis Pearl has been thrilling audiences around the world for over 30 years with the art, magic, science and fun of bubbles. Louis explores the breath-taking dynamics of bubbles, combining comedy and artistry with audience participation and enough spellbinding bubble tricks to keep everyone mesmerized. 2pm.

Sun 9 Apr

The Mega Egg Hunt

Wellington Country Park, Riseley, Berkshire, RG7 1SP www.wellingtoncountrypark.co.uk 9.30am-4.30pm

Fri 14 Apr

Flower Windmills Workshop Willis Museum, RG21 7QD www.hampshireculture.org.uk

Using templates and origami make a hand-held windmill with a floral theme. £3 per child. 11am, 2pm. Ages 5+.

Sat 15 Apr

Easter Family Fun Day Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery, GU32 3HX www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk

Enjoy an eggcellent day of Easter activities! From the Easter Hop

Disco and seasonal crafts to our Easter hunt trail, there is fun for all the family. There might also be the opportunity to meet the Easter Rabbit! 11am to 4pm.

Wed 12 & Thu 13 Apr

The Singing Mermaid

The Haymarket, Basingstoke, RG21 7NW www.anvilarts.org.uk

The Singing Mermaid is tempted away to join a travelling circus, with the promise of a life of excitement (and her own swimming pool!). The audiences love her singing, but we soon find out she's been tricked. Will she ever escape? And who will help her along the way? Ages 3-8.

Sun 16 Apr

Mark Thompsons Spectacular Science Show

The Haymarket, Basingstoke, RG21 7NW www.anvilarts.org.uk

Think science is boring? Think again. This show explores the strange and magical properties of matter, with exploding elephant's toothpaste, vortex-generating dustbins, and even howling jelly babies! 2pm. All ages.

Mon 17 to Mon 24 Apr

Mischief Makers

Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery, GU32 3HX

www.petersfieldmuseum.co.uk

Join with your little ones for a unique opportunity to explore the Museum and Art Gallery in a new, interactive, sensory and sometimes messy way. 10-11am.

Don't forget to say you saw these in Families Hampshire North Magazine

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is coming to Festival Place

Festival Place will be feeding the imaginations of book lovers as they invite them to take part in an exciting interactive trail in celebration of World Book Day.

The trail will recreate the storyline of Eric Carle’s best-selling children’s book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, with a series of larger-than-life 3D installations. Visitors to the centre can pick up a trail map from the Customer Lounge and begin their journey on the upper level.

Following the caterpillar’s footsteps, children can wind their way through the giant apple and pear archways, climb through the plum tunnels, grab selfies with the beautiful butterfly and finish the trail in Porchester Square where they’ll be greeted by a giant picnic basket, craft activities and lots of cushions for children to get comfy and listen to a story.

The interactive adventure will be brought to life every Saturday between 4 Mar to 15 Apr. Visitors will also be encouraged to take part in a variety of activities such as story telling and craft sessions in Porchester Square.

www.festivalplace.co.uk/theveryhungrycaterpillartrail

Easter family fun at Basingstoke Leisure Park

Head to Basingstoke Leisure Park this Easter and enjoy a day of excitement with family and friends.

Stroll the cobbled streets exploring shops and vehicles of yesteryear at Milestones Museum. Dive into three pools at Basingstoke Aquadrome, including the Lagoon Pool featuring rapids, flumes, and water features.

Settle in for a film at the Odeon cinema, wrap up warm for ice skating at Planet Ice, bowl a few frames at Hollywood Bowl or try for a hole in one at Knights Realm Adventure Golf. And, thrill seekers will love iFLY Indoor Skydiving. Many of the venues serve food and drink but you will also find McDonalds, KFC and The Spruce Goose if you want a bite to eat. There is ample free parking. Use RG22 6PG in your satnav.

Discover more at www.basingstokeleisurepark.co.uk

Explore the outdoors as a family this Easter with the National Trust

Visit egg-cellent Easter trails at Mottisfont, Hinton Ampner, The Vyne and Uppark House & Garden this spring.

Discover beautiful landscapes, gardens and woodlands whilst completing a set of 10 unique challenges in order to win a chocolate prize. These Easter trails will have you hopping like a bunny, leaping like a rabbit and running like a hare to triumph and celebrate Easter with the whole family. This is a chance for both children and adults to experience these unique sites, whilst celebrating the joys of spring. The daffodils and tulips are out and they've combined the awesome power of nature with active family fun to leave you with memories of a great day out together!

Share your images with the hashtag #NTEaster and tag each place you visit.

Find out more at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hampshire

Spring into exciting science fun at Winchester Science Centre

Outside things are beginning to bloom and inside the experiments are set to go boom at Boom & Bloom, the second in a series of six brand-new school holiday seasons in 2023.

Scan here to see all our Spring Events! Selborne

Use this ad for one free child admission to the house and gardens during March & April '23!

Between Sat 18 Mar and Sun 17 Apr, including every day in the Easter school holidays, there’ll be all the usual Science Centre fun, plus even more to excite all ages, all included with admission.

Join in with an eggs-travaganza Easter egg hunt where you’ll be looking for pictures of eggs laid by animals that hatch before getting a delicious Easter treat. Head off on a pollination exploration in Flower Power a free live science show. Help plant the Boom & Bloom garden in Bio:Space and get hands-on with bubble-fun in Science Live. Plus there’s two floors of interactive exhibits and the awesome Planetarium.

Find out more and book at www.winchestersciencecentre.org

Family fun at Anvil Arts this Spring

Anvil Arts has some great shows for all the family this Easter. Enjoy the annual Easter Panto from Enchanted Productions, Rapunzel, starring comedian Bobby Davro, Britain’s Got Talent winner Collabro’s Matt Pagan and funny-man Lewis Denny (Karen The Mam). The fun-filled pantomime has great music, exciting dance routines, plenty of jokes, slapstick and heaps of audience participation.

At The Haymarket, see The Amazing Bubble Man (6 Apr) who’ll conjure shrieks of laughter and gasps of amazement with his bubble-making dynamics and Julia Donaldson’s story of The Singing Mermaid (12-13 Apr) adapted for stage with enchanting puppets, music and songs, plus Mark Thompson’s Spectacular Science Show (16 Apr). If you can’t wait that long, then don’t miss I Spy With My Little Eye (11 Mar), based on the picture book by Steve Lee.

Find out more and book at www.anvilarts.co.uk

Find the names of your favourite outdoor toys in the grid. Then read the remaining unused letters down the columns from left to right to find a hidden message!

Easter family fun at Wellington Country Park

Come and visit Wellington Country Park in Odiham this Easter. Beautifully rural yet easily accessible award-winning destination is the best place to spend your holiday for a funfilled day during our Easter Eggstravaganza.

All Easter events at Welly Park are included in your admission fee. From the Mega Egg Hunt to Circus Wellingtonia, Circus Skills to Crafts with Junk Jodie there is so much to do, you are sure to have an egg-citing day out!

Perfect for children up to the age of 8 years old, spend family time together and make unforgettable memories.

Find out more and book at www.wellingtoncountrypark.co.uk

EASTER MAZE

The Easter bunny has lost her eggs. Venture into the maze to help her find them!

What’s new or free in 2023

By Claire Winter

To help you and your family get the best out of the year ahead, Families brings you the lowdown on exciting free events and new products for 2023.

The Young V&A (formerly the Museum of Childhood) will re-open in Bethnal Green, London this summer as a new national museum and creative powerhouse for children and young teens.

www.vam.ac.uk/young

Manchester Museum has undergone an incredible £15m transformation project. The Golden Mummies of Egypt promises to be an exciting exhibition featuring more than a hundred objects including eight mummies. www. museum.manchester.ac.uk

Go on a night-time adventure to look at constellations and galaxies at one of England’s growing range of dark sky experiences and festivals. 2023 marks the tenth anniversary of Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, the UK’s largest and first International Dark Sky Park, which spans nearly 1,500 square km of Northumberland National Park and Kielder Water and Forest Park. https://bit.ly/northdarkskies

Explore the North Downs Art Trail on foot or bicycle to enjoy stunning views between Dover in Kent and Farnham in Surrey, where a series of sculptures work as benches or shelters. Choose from a range of downloadable, self-guided walking or cycling routes. https://bit.ly/ndownsarttrail

Check out the all-British and all-electric Firefly Sports car for kids. It’s hoped the car will help educate youngsters about road safety and how future motor vehicles can be an environmental force for good. Try driving the Firefly Sport at Young Driver’s UK venues for £20. Book a lesson at www.youngdriver.com

All eyes will be on London with the Coronation of King Charles III on Saturday 6 May. Plus, we get a new bank holiday on Monday 8 May to continue the celebrations. Expect lots of free royal-themed events, exhibitions and celebrations across the UK. www.royal.uk

LEGO Friends® releases five new sets this year with diverse characters that better represent children. The new sets will be inclusive of various ethnicities, disabilities and neurodivergence and will feature characters with limb difference, Downs syndrome, anxiety, vitiligo and even pets with disabilities, including a blind dog and a dog with a wheelchair. https://bit.ly/friendsdiverse

The new car sunshade from Shady® is the only car sunshade that allows you to wind down your car window. The sunshade blocks nearly all harmful UV rays and sticks firmly to the glass of the window. It’s perfect for any age and if you have a newborn, it has been specifically developed to nurture and stimulate vision and the optic nerves by incorporating high contrast, black-and-white, fun images whilst providing protection from direct sunlight. www.sunshady.co.uk

Baboodle is the first baby equipment subscription platform, renting baby essentials to parents for as much time as they need. There are huge discounts on baby equipment and the scheme reduces the waste associated with baby equipment. Sign up and start saving at www.baboodle.co.uk

NEW

Funky T-Shirts from BonBonBon will brighten up any day. Designed by mother and daughter duo Nat and Bonnie, they give ten percent of every sale to Place2Be, a charity dedicated to improving children’s mental health. https://bit.ly/bonbonfunky

andCutout Keep

Let’s make a spring bird café!

Celebrate the arrival of spring by making this funky spring bird café from our friends at Wonderbly. It’s great for small fans of nature and you get to feed the local bird population at the same time.

You will need:

• Milk carton

• Paper plate

• Pencil

• Ruler

• Scissors or Stanley knife (for adults only)

• Paint (use acrylic paint if you want your bird café to go outside but make sure you wear an overall or apron as it doesn’t wash out!)

• Decorative tape (optional)

• Bobbins and mini umbrellas

• Dowel or BBQ sticks

• Yummy seeds

• Flappy customers!

Step 1:

Grab your (empty) milk carton. Take your ruler and get your child assistant to measure and trace two flaps for awnings and a hole for the birds. Then cut the holes.

Step 5:

Instructions: &

While you’re doing the fiddly bits, let your child make their café’s sign with some cardboard and paint. Leave to dry and then help the café owner write their name with a marker before you cut and glue it.

Step 2:

Paint the milk carton and paper plate to make your building and outdoor area. For sharper colour, give your milk carton two coats.

Step 6:

Almost time for the grand opening. Get the kids to stock the café with seeds. Birds especially love sunflower seeds and peanuts.

Step 3:

Tile your roof by painting tiles on with the brush and adorn your awnings. We used decorative tape but you can paint or colour in with pens and pencils.

Step 4:

Make some bunting using thread and decorative tape. You can even make a window plant box by folding up some paper and gluing it underneath one of the awnings.

Wonderbly creates beautiful, personalised children’s books that inspire courage, curiosity, and kindness in children all over the world. A treat for any curious little mind.

www.wonderbly.com

Step 7:

Nearly ready! Grown-ups, make a little ‘X’ with the Stanley knife below the seed hole and push a piece of dowel or a cocktail stick through. Finally, pop some tables and parasols outside for your first customers. Bobbins and mini umbrellas are perfect for this, or you could use corks and leaves if you want more plants.