Families SE London Easter 2016 issue 176 by Families Magazine

ESTABLISHED 1996

ISSUE NO. 176

EASTER 2016

southeast london familiesse.co.uk

WHERE’S THE BUNNY? Easter egg hunts IT’S TWINS! A bookful of tips from a local mother WHAT’S ON Where to go, what to do, what to see in April

online edition g

with workin website links

IT’S ALL BONNETS and bunnies this month as we count down to the Easter holidays. With the clocks going forward - hurray more daylight - it’s the perfect time to jump on a bus and go see what London has to offer its younger residents. That, and chocolate eggs are in season in the shops. After a chilly start to the year, things are looking up. Robina Cowan, editor

email your news to editor@familiesse.co.uk

Under 1 Roof in Woolwich

IN THIS ISSUE 2-3 Local News and Views A new family centre opens in Woolwich, win theatre tickets, Twist & Pulse visit southeast London, East Dulwich has a new nanny agency, and baking for charity

l l l l 4-5 Education News

Literacy and numeracy at home, a cafe club in a school, women who Think Big, and safe cycling

6 Easter Workshops and Daycamps Childcare, activities and workshops to brighten up the holidays

7 Great Easter Egg Hunts How to organise your own - and chocolatey events in and around southeast London

8 It’s a Nutty Life!

Nutty’s Children’s Parties will be ten years old this year - we chat to founder Danny Nutt - plus goody bags to be won

9 It’s Twins - Now What? Local author (and mother of twins) Jessica Bomford on life with twins

LocalNews

10 The Book Page

Justine Crow’s review of new books for children and parents, for spring

11-15 What’s On

Wonderful family events, shows and creative workshops to enjoy in April

Leap year 2016 will be a memorable one for Under 1 Roof Kids as it opened its doors in Woolwich at the end of February. A concept yet to be found elsewhere in the UK for 0-11 year olds, the centre boasts (take a deep breath): a children’s theatre, large play café, 84-place nursery, London themed retail village, sensory room, children’s well-being and therapy room, music room, conference room, co-working space and networking room, children’s-only hair salon, preschool soft play studio and a messy play room - phew! Providing services for all the family and minimising the shuttling between classes and events that many parents give their time to, there will be a full schedule of activities seven days a week with themed events and children’s shows every weekend. An extensive education programme is in place for schools to come and use the facilities and Under 1 Roof will host its own Kids Council once a month to make sure the really important people are involved in key decisions. The nursery children have access to all of the bespoke provision on site ensuring no two days at nursery will be the same! The centre welcomes families of all shapes, sizes and origin. It was important to the founders that Under 1 Roof was set up in Woolwich. Many family services are centred in south west London and as southeast Londoners, they wanted to fill a gap locally. With the closure of Sure Start Centres and threats to the library services, the need for high-quality children’s services is increasing. Woolwich itself is a vibrant, mixed and ever-developing community, which fits perfectly with the centre’s ethos. Unlike other large family attractions, Under 1 Roof strives to be innovative and offer unique, high-quality provision at affordable prices ensuring that everyone feels welcome. It’s free to come in to enjoy the community and events and then choose how you spend your money in the shops, café and scheduled sessions. Under 1 Roof was founded by three close friends, all of whom already run their own established children’s businesses. Anne-Marie Martin the owner of diddi dance, preschool dance specialists, now owns 41 franchises across the UK. She is mum to Bobby and Lily and sits on the board of many advisory panels into franchising and children’s activity standards. Laura Sydonie runs Theatre tots, early years drama specialists, with branches in the UK, USA and China. Laura has three boys, Jack, Tobias and Sidney and also works as an educational consultant and writer - she is currently working on a commission for Shakespeare 400 for The National Archives of Great Britain. Matt Milchard is the director of Pyramid and has a martial arts gym onsite at Under 1 Roof, which will

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families south east - april 2016

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run classes for parents and children. He is dad to Oliver and India and also runs Just Kids Parties, whose clients includes Bank of America, Mattel and Variety Club Children’s charity. Anne-Marie told Families: “Under 1 Roof will be a unique centre for families and children based in southeast London. Time is precious and parents can often have to spend time going from one place to next to cater for the needs of their child. We understand those needs and have created an environment ideal for children, which will take the strain away for parents.” Under 1 Roof opened its doors at Royal Arsenal Riverside in Woolwich on 27 February. Find out more at www.under1roofkids.com.

Meet Tony Bradman On Shakespeare’s birthday the great Tony Bradman will be visiting the Bookseller Crow at 50 Westow Street, Crystal Palace. A very chuffed Justine told us: “He will be at the Bookseller Crow on the Hill from 11am onwards on Saturday 23 April, signing & reading The Boy and the Globe, (Barrington Stoke, £5.99), his novel for youngsters set during Shakespeare’s time at the famous theatre in London, and all day long there will be tragedy & comedy mask making and other thespy art activities with our shop artist-in-residence, David Vallade.” Check www.booksellercrow.co.uk for details. The Bookseller’s Association will be running a The Bard is My Bag campaign too with brilliant special edition tote-bags to win and take home with every purchase.

Abbeville Nannies comes to East Dulwich Abbeville Nannies have opened a new office in East Dulwich, in response to increasing demand for nannies and mothers’ helps in the SE London area. Established in 2001, the agency offers a professional and friendly service for families based in south west and south east London. This includes nannies, mother’s helps, maternity nurses and nannies, night nannies, temporary nannies and evening babysitters. The agency helps with all types of childcare including full-time, part-time, permanent, temporary, daily and live-in. The new office is at 17-19 Blackwater Street SE22 8SD. For more information, see www.abbevillenannies.co.uk or telephone 020 7720 1144.

WIN tickets to see James and the Giant Peach at Greenwich Theatre Roald Dahl’s classic James and the Giant Peach is coming to Greenwich Theatre from 21-24 April prior to a worldwide tour - and you could win tickets for you and your family. Produced by Sell A Door Theatre Company, James and the Giant Peach tells of an English orphan boy called James Henry Trotter who enters a gigantic, magical peach and has a wild, surreal cross-world adventure with seven magically-altered garden bugs he meets along the way. This is a show about an ordinary boy on one extraordinary adventure, and is perfect for all the family. Morning, afternoon and evening performances available, tickets from £15. For bookings, call 020 8858 7755 or book online at www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk. For your chance to win a family ticket for four, click ‘competitions’ on our website www.familiesse.co.uk before the 31 March dealine - good luck!

BGT runners-up visit SE London theatre school Freedom Academy students aged 7 to 18 were given fantastic guest workshops from Britain’s Got Talent runners-up Twist and Pulse. The duo ran two street style workshops at Freedom Academy’s East Dulwich venue which incorporated their unique and challenging moves. Principal Katherine Henry said: “Twist & Pulse visited us as part of our Spring technique term. The guys were a real inspiration to our students and having gained places at Brit School where many of our students also go on to train, they were full of advice for our budding performers, and fantastic role models.” For more information on Freedom Academy’s performing arts classes, visit www.freedomacademy.co.uk.

Bake & Brew for the Children’s Society Easter is a great time to head to the kitchen, bake Easter treats with your children, and raise money for a great cause at the same time. That’s what young pupils at London-based J’s Dance Factory are doing to show their support for a national children’s charity. A group of young dancers have rolled up their sleeves to support The Children’s Society’s baking campaign. ‘Bake & Brew’ encourages children and parents to bake together and raise money for vulnerable children during the school holidays. Six-year-old dance student Dylan from Lewisham, was new to the kitchen, but loved making chocolate nests: “Runny chocolate is really yummy. But the best bit was licking the spoon. The Easter biscuits looked so good - my mum loved them.” Company founder Jessica Elliott is enthusiastic about the project. She commented: “J’s Dance Factory was founded on my desire to make a social contribution and help children from all backgrounds have the same chance to succeed.” The Children’s Society’s resident baker Owain has shared some of his tips, and simple recipes for Simnel Cake, Easter Nests and Easter Biscuits. For these and everything you need to organise your own fundraising event, see www.childrenssociety.org.uk/bake.

OW SH E LIV

THU 21 APRIL – SUN 24TH APRIL 020 8858 4447 | greenwichtheatre.org.uk familiesse.co.uk

17-19 Blackwater Street East Dulwich SE22 8SD

020 7720 1144 april 2016 - families south east

l l l l l l l l education news How to boost your child’s literacy and numeracy By Liat Hughes Joshi Literacy and numeracy are central to your child’s learning in primary school and will underpin many of the subjects they’ll cover during their secondary education. They are of course crucial to later life too. Whether they’re already acing their algebra or still struggling with basic sums, here are some ideas on how to give these key skills a boost. A little extra learning at home can work wonders... but don’t go overboard! Realistically, it isn’t always possible for teaching staff in busy classrooms of 30 pupils to provide the one-on-one attention children benefit from - perhaps looking at improving handwriting or listening to reading daily. By sitting with your child and working on specific areas, you can make a huge difference to their attainment. Keep it sensible though - even just ten or fifteen minutes a day for Key Stage 1 children can have an impact, yet still leaves hours and hours for Lego building, climbing trees or playing with friends. Find out about the methods their school uses to ensure consistency If you want to do some work at home, it will help your son or daughter greatly if the methods you use are consistent with those they’re being taught at school - otherwise you can do more harm than good by confusing them.

Big Pedal 2016 The 2016 Big Pedal runs from 18-29 April. Run by Sustrans, this year the charity is looking to parents to be involved as well. The competition is the UK’s largest inter-school cycling and scooting competition - last year’s participants travelled over three million miles on their bikes and scooters; equivalent to 15 trips to the moon. Big Pedal aims to help parents and teachers plan their journeys to school on bikes and scooters and beyond. Felix Hilton, Sustrans’ senior project officer has worked in schools promoting cycling for over ten years. He said: “Cycling with your children can be incredibly rewarding, not only for you but for them as well. They will pick up on your enthusiasm and your confidence helps to build theirs. It’s also incredibly fun and great exercise, and by introducing your children to the excitement of cycling you’re providing them with an invaluable life skill.”

Reading and aspects of numeracy are both typically taught quite differently from when most of us were children, so do attend any curriculum information evenings the school holds, or ask their teacher for more information about methods. Employ tech to your advantage There are some brilliant educational apps and websites out there with masses of kid appeal. Try to find ones which align with the National Curriculum (or at least use British English to avoid conflict with what’s done at school). Many of the best apps have an inbuilt system of rewards and some even provide parents with progress reports. Find some recommendations at http://bit.ly/1MCPkSu. Liat Hughes Joshi is a parenting journalist and the author of four books including New Old-fashioned Parenting and How to Unplug Your Child (both published by Summersdale) and Raising Children: The Primary Years (Pearson). Top tips to get your child walking or cycling to school: • Plan your route together in advance, finding quieter roads and cycle paths wherever possible • Practise the journey at the weekend when the roads are likely to be quieter • Make sure your child’s bike fits and that all your bikes are roadworthy • If you’re on the road with children, take up a position behind them as you’re likely to be more visible to anyone approaching. If there are two adults in your group, it’s a good idea to have one at the back and one in front of the children • Look into local cycle training schemes to help children develop skills and increase their confidence on the roads. Sustrans runs the Big Pedal to encourage children and parents to travel to school in ways that are healthy, better for the environment and that help reduce congestion at the school gates. Visit www.sustrans.org.uk/bigpedal for more information on cycling with children - such as what to look for when buying a bike, and safety tips.

Inspiring tuition - free trial session Explore Learning centres provide maths and English tuition for 5 to 14 year olds of all abilities, and are open seven days a week to fit into busy family life. As Explore members, children work with tutors who are great educational role models, enthusiastic about learning and fantastic motivators. Each child has an individualised learning programme, and all Explore courses map to the National Curriculum. There are Explore Learning centres in Greenwich, New Cross Gate, Sydenham and Brixton. To find out how your child can benefit from membership, read more and book a free trial at www.explorelearning.co.uk.

Think Big launches in south London Think Big is a new voluntary project run by a community of female business owners in and around East Dulwich. Think Big held its launch at the beginning of March at Elm Green School in Tulse Hill, where entrepreneurial project volunteers encouraged sixth formers to think about what young women can achieve. Drawing on their own experiences, the speakers discussed how young women today can empower themselves to create their own work by being adaptable and spotting opportunities. Clare Empson, founder of Think Big Project said, “I know so many women who are running their own successful businesses, some after working for larger organisations, and the Think Big Project is looking to inspire the next generation of female entrepreneurs by sharing our paths to where we are now. We’d like to show them that life may take them in all sorts of positive directions they may not have thought about if they are willing to take the opportunities out there.” Read more at www.thinkbigproject.uk or on Twitter @inspirethinkbig. Think Big Project is a not for profit organisation, supported by Daisy Lets.

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families south east - april 2016

familiesse.co.uk

l l l l l l l l The “private school effect”

Saturday café shop & drop Charlton Manor primary school has set up a Saturday café club where local parents can drop off their children for a few hours to play and enjoy a healthy lunch while they shop or tackle their weekend tasks. The club is run by Blessing Mayomi, who runs the school’s crèche and after-school club. Headteacher Tim Baker told Families: “We’re giving the children activities while they are here and will also provide a cheap healthy lunch.” Charlton Manor is an award-winning primary school for 3 - 11 year olds. The school’s innovative curriculum includes a child-led school bank, a ‘history street’ comparing different periods of history up to the present day, and a child-led news team, radio station, YouTube channel and newspaper. The school is passionate about gardening and outdoor learning, involving all pupils in the outdoor environment and especially in their multi-award winning secret garden where pupils have the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the outside world, prepare for events such as the Chelsea Flower Show, learn bee-keeping skills and care for chickens. Cooking, healthy eating and making healthy choices are part of the curriculum and all pupils are inspired to make healthy choices and all learn to cook in the state-of-the-art teaching kitchen, led and supported by two teaching chefs. Charlton Manor has been awarded the International School Award by the British Council for its impressive partnerships with other schools around the world and the way in which they bring the outside world into the classroom and we can see why. The café is open from 10am to 2pm every Saturday at the school in Indus Road where a child’s healthy lunch is £8. For more information, call the school on 020 8856 6525 or see www.charltonmanorprimary.co.uk.

Attending an independent school in England puts pupils ahead academically at the age of four, eight, 10 and 16, according to newly-published research. The ‘academic value added’ report by the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring (CEM) at Durham University, is the first of its type. It looks at the differences in attainment between pupils who are educated in independent and state schools from junior or prep school through to GCSE, controlling for differences such as prior ability, socio-economic status and gender. Professor Robert Coe, one of the researchers at CEM at Durham University who contributed to the study, said: “It is always difficult to unpick the causes of any differences, and we think it is unlikely to be purely an effect of better teaching in independent schools, but we find a clear and significant difference in the GCSEs achieved that is not explained by any of the factors we can account for.” To read more on the report, go to www.isc.co.uk. It is estimated that around one in 10 London pupils attend independent schools, many of which offer scholarships and bursaries to make the fees more affordable. For southeast London contacts, admissions criteria and open day dates, go to http://bit.ly/1RCRgtJ.

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april 2016 - families south east

l l l l l l l l Easter Holiday workshops and daycamps

Tiny Tots age 2.5-3

Little Aces Junior Champs Grand Slammers age 3-4

age 5-7

age 8-11

fun filled tennis games and activities indoors with sponge balls and mini tennis rackets

FREE introductory session phone

07877 391005

www.tennis-4-kids.com email: gordon@tennis-4-kids.com

SPARK4KIDS CODING WORKSHOPS

TENNIS-4-KIDS

Easter Holiday coding workshops in DULWICH, 020 8090 1444, www.spark4kids.com Spark4Kids holiday workshops are designed to teach robotics, coding, electronics, games development, touch-typing as well as Minecraft in a fun, engaging environment. Ages 5-7 and 8+. Term-time classes are also available - see website for details.

29 March - 1 April and 4-7 April in EAST DULWICH, 07877 391005, www.tennis-4-kids.com Rally round for a smashing time learning to play tennis with other children. Tennis-4-Kids run mini sessions giving children lots of fun learning basic to advanced skills. The friendly coaches run small groups for 3-11 year-olds from beginners to Grandslammers, with all equipment provided. Term times sessions available too.

DOWNHAM HEALTH & LEISURE CENTRE

FUNKY MONKEY KEYBOARD’S ‘ONE HIT WONDER’ HOLIDAY WORKSHOPS

7-9 Moorside Road, Bromley BR1 5EP, 020 8461 9200, www.1life.co.uk or find Downham at www.fitforsport.co.uk ACTIVITY CAMP. Fit for Sport’s Ofsted-registered holiday childcare activity camps are designed to engage and educate children through activity, with swimming, ballgames, active challenges and arts and crafts based on seasonal themes. Ages 4-12 years, standard 9.30am-4.30pm days can be extended from 8.30am-5.30pm. For full details and bookings, see www.fitforsport.co.uk or call 0845 456 3233. FOOTBALL CAMP. Crystal Palace Football Club host football camps at Downham Health & Leisure Centre during the school holidays for 5-12 year olds. Learn football skills and techniques as well as playing games and tournaments. The days run from 10-3pm, you can book daily or as a week. For more information email HPADownham@1life.co.uk or to book call 020 8461 9200. SWIMMING LESSON CRASH COURSES. During the school holidays children can improve their swimming skills by taking part in intensive week-long courses for half an hour each day. For more information email swim.downham@1life.co.uk or call 020 8461 9200. SWIMMING POOL INFLATABLE SESSIONS. Throughout the school holidays, and every weekend the giant pool inflatable is available for children from 8-15 year olds for only £2.90 per session.

SUPER CAMPS 29 March - 8 April, Various venues including Blackheath High School in BLACKHEATH, St Dunstan’s School in CATFORD and Dunraven School in STREATHAM, 01235 467300, www.supercamps.co.uk Super Camps run multi-activity, Ofsted-registered daycamps designed to offer holiday childcare to parents while appealing to children of all types and ages. Each child explores and experiences a daily schedule of different activities with others their own age, under the guidance of superbly-trained staff. The venues offer sports, outdoor and indoor games, arts and crafts activities. Ages 4-14 years, 8am-6pm, bookings available by day from £37.60 or £188 for a week days.

INTENSIVE TOUCH TYPING School holidays and termtime classes in SYDENHAM, 020 7515 1707, www.yes-tuitionandtraining.co.uk Learn a new skill with a touch typing courses run by YES. Children find them fun, and they work - most children are tapping away proficiently in just ten hours. Sessions can be booked to fit around other holiday commitments so children can progress at their own pace.

d idd i d a nce

THE HIVE OUTDOOR MISSIONS

classes ool dance funky presch boys for girls and

parties classes

fun and relaxed

l origina music

nurseries

16 dance styles

classes across South East London SE1 - SE18 call Anne-Marie: 07973 982790 SE19 - SE27 call Nicola: 07832 913282

w w w. d i d d i d a n ce. c o m

families south east - april 2016

21 -29 March at ELTHAM COLLEGE, 020 3435 6848, www.thehive-kids.com Sign up for a week of amazing outdoor missions, with not one but five to choose from! Explore habitats, conservation and biology to defeat an eco-hating scientist group; Learn to make cosmetics, dyes and magic potions by mixing science with herbs, flowers and essential oils; Follow a pirate map to find lost jewels; Build amazing dens, go on quests, light fires, and make your own adventures into amazing stories; or Design and craft your very own bow and arrows like a traditional archer, then them with a mix of target and distance practice! Ages 5 1⁄2 to 11 years, bookable by day or full week.

4-8 April in Beckenham, Herne Hill & Sydenham, 0800 107 7949, www.funkymonkey.info Learn how to read, write and play notes C-A and try some famous tunes in small groups of up to 10 children. Introduction to theory, keyboard games, quizzes and art activities all based around music. 10am-12.30pm, ages 5-9 years. £110 for the week (£105 siblings) includes all equipment, mid morning snack and workbook to take home.

MAGPIE DANCE EASTER SCHOOL 6-8 April, CHURCHILL THEATRE, High Street, Bromley BR1 1HA, 020 8290 6633, www.magpiedance.org.uk/easter-school Magpie’s annual Easter School enables young people with learning disabilities to explore creative movement and related arts in a supportive, safe and stimulating atmosphere. All Magpie Dance Youth Group activities are carried out in a clear, understandable, open and fair way, with the young people fully involved in their planning, execution and evaluation. These creative sessions are fun, a way to make friends and no previous dance experience is necessary! Ages 9-15 and 16-25 years, £20 per day.

FIRST HAND EXPERIENCES ‘WAKE UP!’ EASTER HOLIDAY DAY CAMPS 29 March - 1 April and 4-8 April, GREENWICH STEINER SCHOOL, Woodlands, 90 Mycenae Road SE3 7SE, 01843 652 833, email contact@firsthandexperiences.co.uk, www.firsthandexperiences.co.uk First Hand Experiences’ children’s camps, parties, clubs and sleep away adventures explore seasonal, nature based themes that celebrate the natural world. Camps run from 9am-3.30pm each day, from £140 for a full week, sibling discounts and half days for 4 year-olds available. OUTDOOR ADVENTURE Celebrate the coming of Spring with trips to London’s wild green spaces, forests and local working farms. HEALTHY WHOLE FOOD Freshly prepared picnic lunches, gardening and cooking. ART & CRAFT Back at the base, revive traditional arts & crafts with a modern twist MUSIC, GAMES & THEATRE Original songs, immersive theatre, games and laughter!

SOUTH EAST LONDON TENNIS EASTER TENNIS CAMPS 29 March - 1 April and 5-8 April in CATFORD, 0773 993 6999, email chris@southeastlondontennis.com, www.southeastlondontennis.com Four-day group activities with professional coaches in weekly blocks. Each session includes tennis coaching, games and other team events, with a mini tournament at the end of each week. Facilities are available for wet-weather activities if necessary. Beginners and improvers welcome. 4 to 6 year olds, Catford Wanderers Tennis Club, 9.30am- 11.30am, £30 for a four day course or £10 per day. 7 to 10 year olds, Prendergast Playing Fields SE6, 9am-12pm, £45 for a 4 day course or £15 per day. 11 to 15 year olds, Catford Wanderers Tennis Club, 1-4pm, £45 for a 4 day course or £15 per day.

iPREP TUITION: COMPREHENSION AND CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOPS 4-6 April in DULWICH, 020 7733 1416, www.ipreptutoringuk.com iPrep Tutoring holiday workshops are designed to provide children with the opportunity to hone their exam techniques whilst improving their comprehension and creative writing skills. This workshop is suitable for children in years 4, 5 and 6 as well as for those preparing for 11+examinations. The three day workshop runs from 10am-1pm each day and costs £135 per child. Term time workshops are also available. See website for more details.

familiesse.co.uk

l l l l l l l l The Great Easter Egg Hunt

Some ground rules So that the children all feel they have been treated fairly and for safety, it’s important to have some rules: • When they have collected three eggs, they must come back to ‘base’ before going off again • Give the kids clear boundaries that they must not stray outside. If you’re outdoors, place small kids with grown-ups or older children for safety • Help kids get a fair share by collecting different colour eggs each - wrap them in coloured paper. Make those for the small kids easier to spot • Get older children to help younger ones • Don’t allow the kids to eat the eggs as they find them - they have to bring them all back to base • Once the game is over, allow them to eat one or two and then the rest should be taken home.

By Sally J. Hall

Easter means different things to different people. But for the kids it is quite simple; it means time off school and plenty of Easter eggs! So why not organise an Easter Egg Hunt with your children and their friends? Here’s how to make this year’s Easter’s egg hunt one that will be talked about for years to come. What is an Easter Egg Hunt? The day before Easter Sunday, the grown-ups hide eggs and other treats around the house. Then the kids have to find them on Easter morning. For many parents, the planning is almost as much fun as watching the kids finding the eggs and you can make it as simple or as complex as you like. First, the shopping list • Buy a few eggs per child. Look for packs that are cheaper than individual eggs • Find holders for the children to collect the eggs in such as paper bags, baskets plastic bowls or flower pots • Perhaps buy some small gifts as well as eggs books or colouring pens • Make a list of where you have hidden all the eggs.

Some nice ideas to do the day before, especially if it’s raining Get the children to decorate the holders they will collect the eggs in. Decorate paper bags, line baskets with straw and tie on a ribbon and add a label with the child’s name on it to the pots. Where can you do an Easter Egg hunt? At home, inside the house. Great if the weather’s bad. Lock rooms that you don’t want the children in. In the garden. If it’s fine, this is ideal. Put the eggs out in the morning. Why not make bunny footprints from flour or talc near each hidden egg? Make it better Make it more fun with activities along the way. Tell an Easter themed story, or play some games.

Sally J. Hall is a writer and editor who has written for all the main parenting titles as well as The Independent and The Mail. She is author of Eco Baby and contributing author to Watch My Baby Grow (Dorling Kindersley).

Give us a clue Add an extra dimension with clues. You could also make a treasure map for them to follow. Think of a theme; numbered pictures of bunnies, pirates looking for buried treasure, fairies looking for magic eggs.

LONDON WETLAND CENTRE

Hunting out and about You don’t need to go far to find where the Easter Bunny has planned trails and Easter Egg hunts - here are some favourites. For plenty more around southeast London and Kent, see our web listings at www.familiesse.co.uk. LONDON WETLAND CENTRE

EASTER BONNET PARADE

HORNIMAN MUSEUM AND GARDENS

26 March, SYDENHAM HIGH STREET SE26 The fun starts at Here For Good community centre, 17 Sydenham Road, where under 10s can make an Easter bonnet from 12noon and 2pm. This will be followed by a parade along the high street with participating stores offering mini Easter eggs to the children until 3pm.

30 March - 10 April, HORNIMAN MUSEUM and gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill SE23, 020 8699 1872, www.horniman.ac.uk EASTER FAIR, 26 + 27 March. Hop around the gardens with the Horniman Bunny, go on an Easter Egg trail, take part in craft activities, discover what’s in the arts and crafts market, and enjoy food and drink, and more. 10.30am-4.30pm. Free and fabulous craft activities inspired by springtime and Easter. Different activities each day include Easter Bunny Messengers, Pecking Hens, Bee Headdresses and Leafy Plant Masks. FAMILY ART FUN: 28 March - 8 April except Wednesdays and weekends. Easter holiday craft activities inspired by the Dinosaurs: Monster Families exhibition, and the beginning of Spring. 11am-2.45pm, free ticketed event. EGGSTRAVAGANZA, 30 March. A day of activities about eggs and egg-laying animals. Decorate your own egg, see extraordinary eggs from the museum’s handling collection, take part in an egg Camps and spoon race and enjoy Easter themed folk dancing. 11am-3.30pm.

GREENWICH MARKET GREENWICH MARKET SE10 9HZ, 020 8269 5096, www.greenwichmarketlondon.com Discover London’s only historic market set within a World Heritage site where you’re sure to find something different. Enjoy a relaxing day out with a great choice of take away food from the market and a range of cafes, restaurants, gastro pubs and wine bars within an easy stroll. Open 10am-5.30pm Tuesdays to Sundays, with many market shops and pubs open all week. EGGSTRAORDINARY FUN, 25 -29 March. Decorate your own chocolate Easter Eggs, shop for hot cross buns, Simnel cakes and ethically sourced, sugar free eggs by Blowing Dandelion. Open 10.30am-5pm. BLACKHEATH MORRIS MEN, 28 March. Enjoy a display of traditional Morris dancing in the afternoon including the annual Easter lifting event when the dancers raise a girl in the chair.

EASTER ABOARD THE CUTTY SARK 25-28 April, CUTTY SARK, King William Walk , Greenwich, London SE10 9HT, 020 8858 442, www.rmg.co.uk Cutty Sark’s chickens have been laying their eggs in some strange places, how many can you spot around the ship? Join in the hunt for a chance to win a family ticket to Camp Bestival! Included in Cutty Sark admission price.

BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM: EASTER ADVENTURE 19 March - 8 April, BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM, Threadneedle Street, London EC2R, 020 7601 5545, www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum Follow the trail to find the chicks and egg hidden in the museum - there is a chocolate egg for every child. Then colour in an Easter animal mask to take home. 10am-4.30pm.

THE LONDON EYE 5-21 April, LONDON EYE, County Hall, South Bank SE1 7BP, 0871 781 3000, www.londoneye.com Pick up an activity pack bursting with fun tasks and help Edwin the Easter Bunny find his bunny pals (and tasty Lindt chocolate treats). Ages 4-9.

25 March - 10 April, Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Barnes SW13 9WT, 020 8409 4400, www.wwt.org.uk/wetland-centres/london Spring is a wonderful time to visit WWT London Wetland Centre as new life is bursting out all around with babies, bugs and buds in abundance. Open from 9.30am. Family tickets £32.94 online, valid for up to 6 months. GIANT EASTER DUCK HUNT, 25 March - 10 April. Some giant rubber ducks are playing hide-and-seek at the WWT Wetland Centre this Easter can you find them all? Pick up an activity sheet and set off to find these rubbery yellow visitors. There are prizes and yummy treats to be won, as well as a certificate for taking part. Trail £1. While you’re there, why not make your own Lego brick duckling to take home as a fantastic souvenir; £5.

FULHAM PALACE EASTER TRAIL 27+28 March, FULHAM PALACE, Bishops Avenue, Fulham SW6 6EA, 020 7736 3233, www.fulhampalace.org Search around the museum and garden for clues that will lead you to a chocolate prize. 1-3.30pm, no booking necessary, suitable for ages 2+, £2 per child.

- Clubs - Sleep Away Adventures

KEW: CHOCOLATE SENSATIONS 21 March - 10 April, ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS, Brentford Gate, Kew, London TW9 3AB, 020 8332 5655, www.kew.org This Easter, activities at Kew will be all about chocolate, exploring the journey from cacao tree to our favourite sweet treat. Chocolate Sensations runs in collaboration with Lindt. Open daily from 10am, entry included with day admission.

EASTER EGG HUNT AT SEVERNDROOG 3 April, SEVERNDROOG CASTLE, Castle Wood, Shooters Hill, SE18 3RT, www.severndroogcastle.org.uk A hunt plus storytelling and crafts. 12.30-4.30pm

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Celebrating the Natural World ! HealthyWhole Food - Art and Craft Music, Games & Theatre - Outdoor Adventure Fulham -Wembley Park - Greenwich

www.firsthandexperiences.co.uk contact@firsthandexperiences.co.uk T. 01843 652 833 april 2016 - families south east

It’s a Nutty Life! Southeast London’s Danny Nutt is a seasoned actor, voice-over artist, DJ and children’s party entertainer with his own 8 and 6 year-old children: how fun must playdates be when his children’s friends come home for tea - we suspect a lot! Danny owns and runs Nutty’s Children’s Parties, which offer a variety of fun-packed Adventure Parties, discos, drama workshop parties, football parties and holiday workshops for 3-11 year-olds. All parties are run by experienced, professional actors and most themes can be catered for. Their huge roster of themes and original characters include: Pirate Dan’s Treasure Hunt, The Princess Adventure (for fans of Frozen) Danijel The Space Warrior (for fans of Star Wars), Wizard Dee (for fans of Harry Potter) plus many more. With Nutty’s Parties turning 10 years old this summer, Families caught up with Danny to discuss how he feels about reaching this milestone. What inspired you to set up Nutty’s Children’s Parties in the first place? DN: I used to work for a couple of kids’ parties companies on an ad hoc basis in between acting jobs. I really enjoyed it and realised at that point that I loved working with children. After landing a lovely theatre role in faraway Plymouth, I had to pull out of a couple of bookings I had lined up and when I returned, there was no work for me. My mum one day said, ‘why don’t you set up a children’s parties company on your own?’ After careful thought about the pitfalls, lack of security and control within the acting profession, I decided to give it a go. After a year of doing a few parties here and there, I was about to be a father myself and thought - I can’t go off doing theatre tours for long periods of time on low pay and miss my child growing up - so I spent more time on building up the business and the rest is history...

families south east - april 2016

COMPETITION: Win one of 3 x Nutty’s goody bags! Items include: a Nutty’s CD filled with 9 original party songs, a pirate eyepatch, Nutty’s stickers and a super hero treasure hunt pack that they use for their party bags. To win one, simply answer the following question: “What are the names of the two spin-off Adventure Party themes for popular Nutty’s character, Explorer Dan?” (Need help? Sneak a peak at www.nuttyschildrensparties.co.uk). Email your answers to danny@nuttyschildrensparties.co.uk. The first three correct winners picked at random on Friday 15 April will win.

Do you enjoy running your own business and why? DN: Yes, definitely. Despite dealing with all the bookings, creating new characters, doing the marketing, sourcing costumes and props, having regular rehearsals with my team, meetings, running parties myself, etc (apart from a part time assistant) - I love it as I have complete creative control. This is really important to me. As an actor alone, it can be really frustrating, going for auditions, constant rejection, waiting for the phone to ring from your agent - you really don’t have any control. I think actors are being more and more self-motivated to do other things nowadays and using their creativity in different ways. Fun never goes out of fashion, but have you seen big changes in party theme requests since 2006? DN: At Nutty’s we pride ourselves on our original characters and stories. It really seems to help capture the kids’ imaginations more effectively. However, we’re also aware that there are some rather popular films out there which we can’t ignore!

So yes, I’ve definitely noticed a surge in interest of our Princess Adventure, for example, as a result of the hit Disney film, Frozen. Also, Danijel The Space Warrior - our Star Wars friendly theme. The latter has been particularly popular recently since the release of The Force Awakens. Which is great as I love Star Wars and so do most of the guys who work for me! Acting professional, party supremo and holiday workshops for children - what are your plans for the next 10 years? DN: The main thing with regards to Nutty’s is to keep children happy, build our client base and have a great time. We cover the whole of London (and also have a small team in Newcastle Upon Tyne). We also want to build on more of the extras we offer - like party bags - and take the concept to other areas of the UK - such as Manchester and Bristol. We will also run more holiday workshops to focus on the drama aspects of what we offer. From a personal level, I want to have more control over the acting work I do and I definitely want to make more short films. (Danny recently wrote, co-directed and starred in a short film called ‘Forward To The Past’ which is due to hit the festival circuit this year). I’ve also always loved singing and songwriting and, apart from the original songs I perform at parties and on the CD, I would love to do more ‘grown-up’ songwriting and record an album one day. I’m 40 now, but as I always say to myself- ‘it’s never too late’... Ultimately, I want to continue to be my own boss, as I absolutely love it.

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l l l l l l l l family life Family life

How to parent twins by Jessica Bomford

Twins attract an immense amount of interest from strangers, friends and family alike. As their parents, it is a great privilege to watch their relationship develop and to see their personalities blossom. But behind the cuteness is a lot of hard work - from coping with the double demands of two newborn babies to ensuring that your lovely twins are happy individuals too. How to parent twins is a never-ending question, but here are a few starter suggestions:

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Be flexible Caring for newborn twins is exhausting. Don’t beat yourself up if things haven’t worked out as you imagined. Your birth plan may have been abandoned, or you may not be feeding your babies in the way that you’d planned. This does not mean you’re a failure, it just shows the need to be flexible in the face of reality. If you are giving your babies love, milk, lots of cuddles and a regular change of nappy then you are doing a brilliant job and deserve a pat on the back. Be confident in the choices you’ve made. This is a special time of bonding with your twins, try not to let guilt or regret muscle in on the act.

Find twin buddies Having twins is a very special parental privilege, but it can sometimes feel a bit lonely. Often, family and friends don’t really get how different caring for twins can be and, with two babies to organise, it can be difficult simply to get out of the house. Finding other parents of twins can be a life saver. Try local groups such as Dulwich and District Twins Club, which organises park meet ups, a playgroup and regular nearly new sales; or the weekly playgroup hosted by SE23 Twins. Here you will find like-minded parents who not only make you feel normal for a while, and can also give you invaluable advice and reassurance.

Treat your twins as individuals Although many people will not be able to tell your children apart (and even non-identical twins can have this problem), your twins are different people with their own personalities. The more you recognise and nurture this, the more others will follow your lead. It is really hard to chisel out one-on-one time with each twin, but try to maximise the chances you get for eye contact and “chats” at nappy changing and feeding times.

Write down the details As your twins get older, they will love to hear anecdotes about themselves as babies. So make sure you have a few special, individual stories to tell them. Keep a notebook to jot down a few funny things or milestone moments that each child says and does - the memory of those early years blurs very quickly. Make sure you label your photos too, particularly if your twins are identical.

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Dealing with celebrity status For most of their lives, twins will be asked about their relationship by curious strangers and friends. Parents field most of these questions initially, but as they get older your twins will become aware of the attention. Some observations can be insensitive (“I can tell them apart! He’s got a fatter face.”) or plain annoying (“Are they telepathic?”). As they get older, talk to your children about some of the things strangers say and help them understand why people are so interested in twins. Remind each child that they have so much more to offer than simply being twins.

Twins are special - and so are you When you are having a bad day, the last thing you feel like doing is to stop and give a cheesy thumbs up to the two tiny tyrants who are depriving you of sleep and sanity. Parenting twins may be the hardest and most rewarding job you will ever do, so make sure you take a step back every now and then to remind yourself of the good bits and of how far you’ve all come.

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About the author Jessica Bomford lives in Forest Hill and is a journalist, author and mother of three boys, two of whom are identical twins. Based on first hand experience, her book It’s Twins! Now What? rrp £9.99 is newly published by Summersdale and is available from independent bookshops including Kirkdale Bookshop in Sydenham. READER OFFER: We have two copies of Jessica’s book to give away to readers. Email editor@familiesse.co.uk with ‘Twins’ in the subject line before 31 March 2016, when we will pull two names out of our Easter bonnet.

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april 2016 - families south east

The Bookseller Crow

is a fantastic, volume stuffed shop run by some of the most knowledgeable bookworms in the business. Call in for the feel of a real bookshop, or if you’re too busy, pick up the phone or point your mouse at their website for a fast mailorder service. Justine Crow recommends this month’s best titles. I know it is hard for you to believe that I have a child at university now - how can someone who looks so young etc etc? Personally, I still can’t get my head around the fact that my hippy genes actually produced a real student. Most of my close family the exception being one of my sisters who managed to go to polytechnic - including me, missed the further education bus completely. But while I’m thrilled that First Born is getting the very most out of her course (thus she is blissfully aware of the anvil of debt that will dangle over her subsequently enriched mind for the rest of her life) and enjoying campus life, nothing quite prepared me for her announcement that she had successfully secured an allotment too. “Wha?” was my thoughtless response. “Muuuum, can’t you just be pleased for me?” she begged. DIY GARDEN PROJECTS by Mat Pember - Hardie Grant rrp £20. Secretly, I was pleased. We Crows may not be the brainiest birds on the planet but we are pretty good at NOT killing green things, albeit in an uninformed manner. But the honeymoon period didn’t last long. “Who’s going to look after it while you are studying?” I asked. “Who is going to feed it and love it and be there for it throughout the summer months when you are elsewhere trying to earn some money to pay for this blasted degree?” When she discovered that the plot she’d been given was probably the least arable of the lot (they didn’t see you, the gullible student, coming then, eh love?), she decided to forgo the adoption afterall and try some grow-bags in the mouldy backyard her landlord calls a garden instead. Tapping into the trend for upcycling and re-making, this book has plenty of help in the vertical growing, irrigation dept and, importantly, with stuff that costs nowt. If there was ever a title to tempt a slightly green-fingered, impoverished student, surely GROW YOUR OWN CAKE, Holly Farrell & Jason Ingram, Frances Lincoln rrp £16.99 takes top prize at the village show. With a veritable harvest of hints on buying, growing and basic technical stuff like pruning, it also boasts many economical recipes for delicious bakes, both sweet and savoury. It strikes me that it is handy not only for mopping up gluts from the veg patch, but also fridge leftovers, though strangely, no recipe that incorporates Pot Noodles. DEN BUILDING by Jane Hewitt & Cathy Cross - Crown House rrp £9.99. Hmm. I’m not sure how I feel about this business. Yes, I agree that constructing dens is a tremendous way to keep the kids occupied, that it is challenging and creative and (with a rictus grin) a whole shed full of fun. I also concur that making a giant indoor bird’s nest out of shredded paper and an empty - derrr paddling pool is an ingenious antidote to cabin fever on foul weather days, and these ideas for using readily available structures like rotary airers and trampolines, tables and umbrellas, all slung over with duvets and rugs are a superb ruse to get them playing outside when the wind drops. But, my house already resembles something out of a favela, do I really want Woodstock in the back garden too? But, as Wavy Gravy once commented from that famous stage, “It’s your trip, so be my guest.” THE CHILDREN’S GARDEN by Matthew Appleby - Frances Lincoln rrp £14.99. Not all of us have enough acres for our very own festival. At a dinner party with a postcode I can only dream of, chatting to a very refined lady about growing flowers to cut for the house (don’t we all?), I admitted that my garden was only “20 by 20” and therefore not terribly fit for anything other than storing bikes. She rolled her well-bred eyes: “Oh for heaven’s sakes, even I could do something with twenty square metres.” “That’s feet,” I replied. No doubt she has planters bigger than that. But here size doesn’t matter, with tips on getting the tiddlers to nurture edible crops in pots, make homemade seed-bombs, explore mini-beast habitats and create balcony gardens, it also has plenty on larger projects that involve lawns and jousting. Yes, you read that correctly, and I’m sure my refined dinner party companion would approve. OUTSIDE, A GUIDE TO DISCOVERING NATURE by Maria Ana Peixe Dias et al - Frances Lincoln rrp £18.99. My, the air is fresh on this month’s page, eh? This is a rather picturesque guide to the

world beyond the living room and has much to say on everything from snail trails on the ground to the trails of the stars above. CHALK ON THE WILD SIDE by Lorie King Kaehler & Donna Starry - Walter Foster rrp £12.99. I love chalk. Not only is it cheap, versatile and washable but it is absolutely useless for drawing on a tablet, mobile phone or laptop and therefore, like gardening and den-building, gets everybody off the ruddy sofa. Perhaps your chalk art repertoire however, like mine, is rusty and therefore confined to rubbish hop-scotch pitches and outlines that leave the patio looking like a crime scene? Fear not. These people have devised chalk volcanoes and fluorescent chalk and scented chalk so that you don’t have to. But if you prefer your creations to remain on the paving slab, there are also some old-fashioned analogue ideas to ensure your street scrawling thoroughly annoys the neighbours. And there isn’t a thing they can do about it, except hope for rain. 3,2,1... DRAW! by Serge Bloch - Wide-eyed rrp £9.99. Oooh, this is one heckuva classy activity book that provides photographed images of things like pretzels and teddy bears and light-bulbs and loo-roll (told you it was classy) for fledgling artists to customise themselves. TO THE MOON, illustrated by Sarah Yoon - Laurence King rrp £9.95. Is there anything more to add to the colouring book genre? On my recent trip to New York (can I just say that LOUDLY in case you didn’t hear) at least a hectare of shelf space in Barnes & Noble was given over to the “coloring” books craze and I had to avert my gaze, as if the ubiquitous mis-spelling alone wasn’t enough to induce a migraine, let alone the bombardment of wobbly black and white lines. Billed as the tallest “in the world” at 15 feet high, here it does indeed seem as if there is a lot further to go with those frayed felt-tips. And how pleasing for the author to have a name that rhymes with her towering creation. HEATHER HAS TWO MUMMIES by Lesléa Newman & Laura Cornell - Walker rrp £6.99. A new edition of an infamous classic talk about the palaver it caused when it was first published and astonishing to think that it is old enough to need updating. Sensational in 1989 when Thatcher was on the throne and busty birds wearing bikinis chasing Benny Hill around was considered suitable family viewing, it now seems like an extremely sensibly story, pedestrian even, that reflects just another version of family life. THROUGH MY WINDOW by Tony Bradman & Eileen Browne, FL, rrp £6.99 has also been reissued, in honour of its 30th birthday. Ground-breaking in its day for being a picture book that features a normal child who is a touch poorly and watches the world go by outside whilst waiting for her mum to come home with a surprise, it was considered unusual because it challenged genders - dad being the stay-at-home carer – plus, shock horror, the imaginative little patient wasn’t the standard industry shade of pink. Along with BOY AND THE GLOBE, as mentioned last month by the same Tony Bradman above, it won’t have escaped you that Shakespeare has a big birthday/ deathday anniversary in April and there are an awful lot of publishers clambering onto ye olde bande-wagonne, but WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT SHAKESPEARE? by Michael Rosen, Walker rrp £5.99, is a reissue worth a revisit for 7s and onwards. I call First Born wondering if she has been to the garden centre yet. “Oh no,” as if I’ve asked the most dated question ever, gushing: “I’ve been to the university Burlesque Society - we’re working on a show!” I take a side-glance at the gardening book I’ve earmarked to post to her, ditch it and wrap up a copy of the latest by Laura ‘Everyday Sexism’ Bates instead. GIRL UP, Simon & Schuster, rrp £12.99 reminds us all, eloquently and passionately, that the Benny Hill days are over. Mindyou, those gold lamé elbow length gloves ARE extremely useful for wearing when clearing stinging nettles.

The Bookseller Crow, 50 Westow St. Crystal Palace, London SE19 3AF Telephone: 020 8771 8831 email: info@booksellercrow.co.uk www.booksellercrow.co.uk 10

families south east april fam i l i e2016 s s e/ december . c o . u k 2015 - november

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ZIPPO’S CIRCUS

LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY

What’sOn Diary Dates for Grownups CUTTY SARK

YOGA AT THE SHARD

CUTTY SARK, King William Walk, Greenwich SE10 9HT, 020 8858 2698, www.rmg.co.uk/cuttysark JAMES ACASTER: RESET, 3 April. See one of the most brilliant and distinctive young comedians of a generation flex his comedic muscles on board Cutty Sark in this ‘work in progress’. 7.45pm, £12.50. AUSTENTATIOUS - AN IMPROVISED JANE AUSTEN NOVEL, 8 April. Performed in period costume with live musical accompaniment, Austentatious is an entirely improvised comedy play in the style of the wondrous and witty Jane Austen. Based on nothing more than a title from the audience, a seasoned cast presents an eloquent, irreverent, 100% improvised take on the works of Britain’s best-loved novelist. 7.45pm start, £17.50. SILENT DISCO, 22 April. Time Out’s legendary silent disco is sailing down the river to Greenwich once again. Get ready to climb on board Cutty Sark for a nose around the world-famous ship before donning a pair of headphones and dancing the night away. 8.30pm midnight, £29.99.

Saturdays, THE VIEW FROM THE SHARD, Joiner Street, , London Bridge, London, SE1 9RN, 0844 4997111, www.yogasphere.eu While yogis of past have tried to levitate to higher spheres, Yogasphere are literally bringing the highest weekly yoga classes in the world to the top of The Shard at London Bridge. 8.30am start, £40, book first.

FLYING SOLO

Term time Thursdays (closed 31 March and 7 April), Open House at 60 Kirkdale, Sydenham SE26 4BJ, www.fancybetty.com Fancy Betty's nearly new sales specialise in women's clothing and accessories that are in excellent pre-loved condition. Think great quality second hand, think barely worn, think 'posh' jumble. If you love great quality clothing and want to breathe life back into pre-loved fashion - or sell yours - you've found the right place. 9.30am-11am.

21 April, CANADA WATER CULTURE SPACE, Canada Water Library, 21 Surrey Quays Road, Rotherhithe, London, SE16 7AR, 020 7525 2931, www.canadawaterculturespace.org.uk Join Amber as she races against the clock, herself and a man with a fridge on his back. This heart-warming, extraordinary one-woman show is a ferociously urgent and honest story about family, survival, guilt and self-delusion. 7.30pm, tickets £12, concessions £10.

FIRST AID FOR BABIES AND TODDLERS Various dates in BALHAM and WESTMINSTER, www.firstaidforlife.org.uk A three-hour course covering care of the unconscious baby and child as well as most commonly occurring injuries and illnesses such as choking, bleeding, breaks, bleeds, burns, head injury and febrile convulsions. 9.30am-12.30pm, from £45 per person.

FANCY BETTY NEARLY NEW WOMENSWEAR SALES

Theatre, Shows and Music FAMILY MAGIC SHOWS

LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY

28 March, THE IVY HOUSE, 40 Stuart Road, Nunhead SE15 3BE, www.magicmindreadingandmayhem.co.uk A show featuring two magical acts from Klassy & Amigo’s Magic, where live animals will be plucked from thin air and one lucky person will be cut in half. Plenty of audience participation; a chance to meet Fluffy the Rabbit and a Free Bunny Copter to take home. 1pm and 4pm starts, tickets £6 children, £7.50 adults, £20 family of four.

21-24 April, PEACOCK THEATRE, Portugal Street, Holborn WC2A 2HT, 020 7863 8222, www.sadlerswells.com London Children’s Ballet is a leader in producing beautiful, entertaining ballets for a family audience. This is the world premiere of Little Lord Fauntleroy, a ballet based on Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic tale about a poor American boy who discovers he is heir to an English title and fortune. Through this little boy’s courage, quirky charm and eternal optimism, he softens the heart of his fearsome old grandfather and restores his broken family. The production is performed by a cast of 60 talented young dancers, aged 9-16. Composer Richard Norriss and choreographer Jenna Lee have teamed up to create their second ballet after the sell-out success of LCB’s Snow White in April 2015. Tickets from £14.

ALBANY THEATRE ALBANY THEATRE, Douglas Way, Deptford SE8 4AG, 020 8692 4446, www.thealbany.org.uk CIRCUS FAMILY WORKSHOP, 17 April. Tumble, fly, swing and spin with your child as you learn circus skills together. 12noon, 1.30pm + 3pm, £14 for two. HANDA’S HEN, 10 April. Handa and Akeyo are back, and this time they are searching for Grandma’s black hen, Mondi. During their search they find two fluttery butterflies, three stripy mice, four little lizards behind the pots... But where is Mondi? 11am, 1pm + 3pm, £7, £24 family ticket. THE INSECT CIRCUS, 5-8 April. The Bug Show is in Town. Stroll Up, Stroll Up for the epitome of Entomological Entertainment as the Insect Circus comes to the Albany. 11am and 2pm, £10, £32 family ticket. THREE KEEPERS, 24 April. Welcome to Flounder Rock Lighthouse, where three men live and work, with only each other and the seagulls for company. When the storm of the century threatens Flounder Rock, will the lamp shine true? Will disaster strike? 1pm and 3pm, £7, £24 family ticket.

ZIPPO’S CIRCUS - MEGA DOME 24 March - 5 April, BLACKHEATH COMMON, Shooter’s Hill Road SE3 0UA, 6-12 April, BROCKWELL PARK, Herne Hill SE24 9AA, www.zippos.co.uk Zippo’s sparkling new touring show is an action-packed treat of ceiling-walking, flying trapeze, jugglers on horseback, a contortioniste archer, human pyramid acrobats, a knife-thrower, comic performers, and the incredible wheel of death - all introduced by the supreme ringmaster Norman Barrett MBE, along with his performing budgies.

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EGGcellent Easter Adventure

Free admission

29 March–8 April 10:00am–4.30pm

Follow the trail to find the chicks and egg hidden in the museum. You can then colour in an Easter animal mask of your choice to take home. There is a chocolate egg for every child. 10:00am–5:00pm Share your experience @boemuseum Monday to Friday. @boemuseum Closed weekends and Bank Holidays. Entrance T: 020 7601 5545 in Bartholomew Lane, London EC2R 8AH www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum april 2016 - families south east

THE HANDA’S HEN AT THE ALBANY THEATRE

AN ICY MAN AT CANADA WATER

KLASSY & AMIGO’S MAGIC

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THE FAIRFIELD

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CANADA WATER CULTURE SPACE

JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH

CANADA WATER LIBRARY, 21 Surrey Quays Road, Rotherhithe SE16 7AR, 020 7525 2931, www.canadawaterculturespace.org.uk THE BOY WHO NEVER GREW UP, 2 April. Welcome to a world where you never grow up. Inspired by J.M. Barrie’s classic tale Peter Pan with music, puppetry and fun, this isn’t just the story you’ve seen on screen or read in the book - there are adventures of your own to be had. 1pm + 3pm, £7, family ticket £24. AN ICY MAN, 6 April. On a winter’s night, a woman goes out walking in the snow and encounters a stranger in a frozen field. The next morning she wakes up and finds that everything has changed. An Icy Man draws on Northern folklore, myths and legends as part of an intimate storytelling experience which gathers audiences around a miniature model of a snowbound village. 6pm + 8pm, tickets from £8. NEED A LITTLE HELP, 8+9 April. Based on the experiences of young carers, Need a Little Help is a deeply moving and joyfully uplifting piece of interactive and physical theatre. 11am, 1pm + 3pm, family ticket £24. FLAT PACK, 16 April. A pair of hapless newlyweds are given a flat pack first home as a wedding gift, the instructions for which get muddled as they attempt to build it with hilarious results. Told without words and accompanied by live music in true silent movie style, this is a charming show for the whole family. 1pm + 3pm, £7, family ticket £24. MONSTERSAURUS, 30 April. This brand new show from the creators of Aliens Love Underpants is monstrously good. Follow young inventor Monty as he creates a whole world of whacky inventions and incredible monsters. Full of thrills, spills, magic and mayhem, this show will delight the whole family - with original music and plenty of audience participation. 1pm + 3pm, £7, families £24.

21-24 April, GREENWICH THEATRE, Crooms Hill, Greenwich SE10 8ES, 020 8858 7755, www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk. Roald Dahl’s classic James and the Giant Peach, produced by Sell A Door Theatre Company, sets out on a worldwide adventure this summer touring the UK, Middle East and Asia - and opens at the Greenwich Theatre in April. The plot centres on an English orphan boy called James Henry Trotter who enters a gigantic, magical peach and has a wild, surreal cross-world adventure with seven magically-altered garden bugs he meets along the way. James and the Giant Peach is adapted by David Wood. David began writing as a student at Oxford University in the sixties. He wrote his first play for children in 1967 and has since written over sixty more. They are performed all over the world and include The Gingerbread Man, The Owl and the Pussycat Went to See, The Selfish Shelfish, The See Saw Tree, Save the Human and The Plotters of Cabbage Patch Corner. This is a show about an ordinary boy on one extraordinary adventure, and is perfect for all the family. Morning, afternoon and evening performances available, tickets from £15. WIN TICKETS: For your chance to win a family ticket for four, click ‘competitions’ on our website www.familiesse.co.uk before the 31 March dealine - good luck!

GREENWICH THEATRE GREENWICH THEATRE, Crooms Hill, Greenwich SE10 8ES, 020 8858 7755, www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk THE MARVELLOUS IMAGINARY MENAGERIE, 25 March. Have you ever wanted to count a Decapus’s legs? Or wondered what a Whistling Pank eats? Would you like to catch a glimpse of the fabled ‘Massive Paw’, or lick a Tresillian Toad? Or perhaps see a cow that looks like Brian May? Then you’ve come to the right place! 2pm / £11 children, £13.50 adults, £40 families. COMEDY CLUB 4 KIDS, 31 March. The best stand-ups and sketch acts from the international circuit do their thing for a family audience. It’s just like a normal comedy club - but without the rude bits, and it’s on in the day. 2pm, parent tickets £11, children £8.50. A POCKETFUL OF GRIMMS, 2 April. A new show presenting an exciting and high-energy collection of some of the most loved and less well known stories collected by the Brothers Grimm, featuring Hansel and Gretel, the original Beauty and the Beast, Rumpelstiltskin and more. AT THE END OF EVERYTHING ELSE, 4+5 April. When her best friend, a little yellow bird named Tito, goes missing, Icka puts her inventive mind to the test and sets off on a mission over land and sea to save him... FAIRYTALES GONE BAD, 6 April. Grannylocks & The Monstrous Duckling for ages 3+ (at 11am), Zombie-rella & Blood Red Hound for ages 6+ (at 2pm) THE GIRL AND THE GIRAFFE, 9 April. One day whilst Girl is playing in her garden, she spots something peculiar on the other side of the fence. Climbing up as high as she can to get a better view, she is surprised when she comes face to face with...Giraffe!

NOYE’S FLUDDE 7+8 April, BLACKHEATH HALLS, Lee Road, , Blackheath, London, SE13 9RQ, 020 8318 9758, www.trinitylaban.ac.uk For the fourth year running Blackheath Halls will be staging the children’s opera. Britten’s Noye’s Fludde was written with children performers in mind. 6pm, £10 adults, £5 children.

POP FACTOR, THE CONCERT! 2016 6 April, BROADWAY THEATRE, Catford Broadway, London, SE6 4RU, 020 8690 0002, www.broadwaytheatre.org.uk A celebration of the biggest popstars and current chart hits. From Taylor Swift to Ed Sheeran, Katy Perry to Olly Murs, professional performers bring fully live vocals and energetic choreography, plus dance competitions with prize giveaways, providing a non-stop, high energy ride for the whole family. 2.30pm. Tickets 13 adults, £11 children.

families south east - april 2016

FAIRFIELD HALLS, Park Lane, Croydon CR9 1DG, 020 8688 9291, www.fairfield.co.uk THE RAILWAY CHILDREN, 23-26 March. Join Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis on the adventure of a lifetime as they tell the story of how they became The Railway Children, in this new musical adaptation by Stephen Kingsbury and Ben Sleep. Tickets from £17. HERE BE MONSTERS, 29 March. Join the villainous Captain Cut-Throat and his fearsome crew in a sea-faring adventure packed full of magical story-telling, original music and thrills galore! Adults £12.50, children £10.50, family ticket £44. THE WIZARD OF OZ, 30+31 March. Dorothy and her cute dog Toto enter the wonderful Land of Oz. During their travels down the yellow brick road they meet some lovely friends including a Scarecrow, a Tin Man and even a Lion who really wants some courage. The four new friends travel to see the great and powerful Wizard of Oz, but won’t be easy as the Wicked Witch of the West is determined to stop them by any means necessary! £19.50, concessions £17.50, family ticket £71. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, 1+2 April. Beauty lives a provincial life with her father. Her world is shaken when a terrifying Beast takes her captive and the evil Enchantress holds her kingdom to ransom. This production stars Keith Chegwin, Anne Hegerty from ITV’s The Chase and the legendary Basil Brush. Tickets £15.50 children, £18.50 adults, £60 families. ANNIE, 2-7 May. The world’s favourite family musical comes to Croydon, starring Birds of a Feather star Lesley Joseph as the tyrannical Miss Hannigan, and the unforgettable songs Hard Knock Life, Easy Street, I Don’t Need Anything But You, and Tomorrow. Tickets from £30.

POLKA THEATRE UNICORN THEATRE UNICORN THEATRE, 147 Tooley Street SE1 2HZ, 020 7645 0560, www.unicorntheatre.com MINOTAUR, Until 2 April. In Crete, in an impossible labyrinth, lives a fearsome and lonely beast with the head of a bull and the body of a man. Only his sister Ariadne cares for him, and she dreams of setting them both free from the rule of their selfish father, the King. This playful, clever retelling of the well known Greek myth is an action-packed treat. Ages 8+, tickets from £10. UP CLUB, Saturdays. Join the Unicorn play club every Saturday. Take part in free activities from rocket building to portrait painting, giant Jenga tournaments, cake decorating and lots more. 12noon-1.30pm. MY FATHER, ODYSSEUS, 13 March - 10 April. Telemachus’ father left long ago to fight a war. He doesn’t remember him. Now the man of the house, he must step up to defend his father’s legacy and protect his mother from the suitors that lounge around the court. Meanwhile, the great Odysseus has been trapped by the goddess Kalypso for ten long years. Lost in his memories of past glories he longs to return home. Ages 11+, tickets from £8. THE POLAR BEARS GO UP, 17 April - 1 May. There aren’t many balloons in the Arctic. So when you find one, it’s precious. And if it gets lost, you have to go and find it. The Polar Bears must step up and explore unknown territory: the sky above their heads. They climb trees, jump on clouds and reach for the stars as they race each other all the way into space (and stop for a sandwich along the way, of course). Ages 2-5, tickets from £10.

SOUTHBANK SOUTHBANK CENTRE, Belvedere Road SE1 8PX, 0844 847 9944, www.southbankcentre.co.uk THE WONDERCRUMP WORLD OF ROALD DAHL, until 3 July. Did you know that Roald Dahl used to be a spy? And also a fighter pilot, inventor and historian of chocolate? Learn about Roald Dahl’s extraordinary life and the surprising inspiration for his most famous characters and stories. The tour features unique items from the Roald Dahl Museum & Story Centre archives. Ages 8-12, £10 adult, £8 child.

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL Until 9 April, VICTORIA PALACE THEATRE, Victoria Street SW1E 5EA, 0844 248 5000, www.billyelliotthemusical.com Set against the background of the 1984/85 miners’ strike, Billy Elliot the Musical is the inspirational story of one boy’s struggle to realise his dream to dance against the odds. Featuring a timeless score by Elton John, sensational dance and a powerful story, Billy Elliot is an uplifting and spectacular theatrical experience that will stay with you forever. Tickets from £29.50, family tickets from £105.

POLKA THEATRE, 240 Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB, 020 8543 4888, www.polkatheatre.com THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES, 16+17 April. Illusions of grandeur are burst like soap bubbles as the well-known story of vanity is recounted with a washing machine, a clothes line, puppets and song. A welcome return from skilful puppeteer, Martin Bridle, who rummages in the washing basket to create this funny and imaginative version of The Emperor’s New Clothes. Tickets £12, concessions £9. RUMPELSTILTSKIN, 22-24 April. A fairytale favourite spun before your eyes in this woolly wonderland of a show with weaving, puppetry and music. Auntie spins as hard as she can to make the King’s special jumper, but the royals are out of cash and the Prince just wants to be a shepherd. Everyone gets their threads in a twist and then Rumpel you-know-who steps in... Tickets £12, concessions. SNOW WHITE, 23 March - 10 April. With endless meals to prepare, a never ending pile of dishes to wash - not to mention the huge mirror that needs polishing morning, noon and night - life’s never easy for the royal servants downstairs at the palace. And why does the Queen keep asking for more apples? Tickets £13/50, concessions £10. BED TIME, 27 April - 1 May. It’s bed time, but it’s not quite time to go to sleep... Celebrate this very special time of day with songs, storytelling, silliness and maybe even a pillow fight! Put on your PJs and come join us, just before it’s time to switch off the light and say goodnight. Tickets £12, concessions £9.

CHURCHILL THEATRE BROMLEY CHURCHILL THEATRE, High Street, Bromley BR1 1HA, 0844 871 7620, www.churchilltheatre.co.uk MISTER MAKER & THE SHAPES, 10 April. Mister Maker’s first ever live theatre tour is packed full of arty adventures, a big ‘make’ to take part in, super songs to join in with, and a fabulous supporting cast not forgetting Mister Maker’s colourful all-dancing friends The Shapes. 12noon and 3pm, tickets from £11. STIG OF THE DUMP, 18 April. This timeless children’s classic, in a clever new stage version, remains as charming and entertaining as ever. It all starts when Barney falls over the edge of an old chalk pit and tumbles through the roof of a hidden den. When he looks round he sees Stig, a caveman, with shaggy black hair and bright black eyes. 1.30 and 5pm, tickets from £10.

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY THEATRE ROYAL, Drury Lane, Covent Garden WC2B 5JF, 020 7850 8790, www.reallyuseful.com/theatres/theatre-royal-drury-lane Roald Dahl’s deliciously dark tale of young Charlie Bucket and the mysterious confectioner Willy Wonka comes to life in an action packed West End musical directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes. Tickets from £16.50.

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FLAT PACK AT CANADA WATER

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE, Bow Street, London WC2E 9D, 07304 4000, www.roh.org.uk FAMILY SUNDAYS, Last Sunday of each month. Explore the Royal Opera House, its artists and the world of opera and ballet. Sundays are packed full of creative and practical activities for all the family including informal performances from Royal Ballet dancers, plus interactive singing and dance activities. Ages 6+, 12-4pm, £5 adults, £3 children.

THE GIRL AND THE GIRAFFE

FIRST OPERA: WELCOME PERFORMANCES. Welcome performances are for families who have never been to a ballet or opera at the Royal Opera House before. You don’t need to know anything about either - just come along and give it a try. Tickets £5-£20. BACKSTAGE TOURS. Each tour is a unique experience, and may include opportunities to see The Royal Ballet in class, or the magnificent backstage technology in operation. Suitable for ages 8+, book first. JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH

The Great Outdoors LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM HYDE PARK

WOODLANDS FARM TRUST

Royal Parks Education Centre, HYDE PARK, London W2 2UH, 020 7036 8056, www.supporttheroyalparks.org/experiences The Royal Parks Foundation Education Centre in Hyde Park is perfectly placed to host a range of outdoor activities exploring nature in the Park. It is a unique eco-friendly building, set in an acre of enclosed grounds, and the perfect base for outdoor learning. Facilities include state-of-theart equipment and web cams in nest boxes and underwater. With a wide variety of habitats to study, from log piles to meadows and ponds, there’s no end to discovery. ANIMAL MAGIC, 30+31 March. A drop-in day where you can go pond dipping to uncover a secret underwater world, explore hidden garden habitats, follow a discovery trail and join in with nature inspired arts and crafts workshops. 11am-3pm, free for the whole family, (suggested £1 donation for the ‘habitat in a box’ workshop). SPRING HATCHLINGS, 5 April. An action packed day of fun for 8-11 year-olds in the Education Centre. Includes pond dipping, exploring the wilder parts of Hyde Park where baby birds live, with a Nature Explorers Club badge and passport to take home. 10am-3pm, £15, book first online. FLOWER POWER, 6+7 April. A host of activities including flower crafting, bookmark making, a discovery trail, a visit to a sensory wildlife garden and a peek in a mini beast hotel. Make a paper pot and plant a seed to take home. 11am-3pm, free (suggested £1 donation for the plant workshop).

THE WOODLANDS FARM TRUST, 331 Shooters Hill, Welling, Kent DA16 3RP, 020 8319 8900, www.thewoodlandsfarmtrust.org EARLY SPRING BIRD WALK, 3 April. A bird walk where what you see will depend not only on the weather but on how spring has advanced, so both winter and summer visitors are possible. Wear sturdy footwear and suitable outdoor clothing. Walks include climbing a small stile. In the event of bad weather the walk will be cancelled. Meet in farmyard by second building on the left at 10am. £2 per person; £1 children under 18 (not suitable for very young children). LAMBING DAY, 10 April. Take the family to see new-born lambs and stock up on quality local preserves, cakes, honey and more. A treasure hunt, craft activities and cafe add to the day out, with all stall proceeds going towards keeping Woodlands Farm running as a conservation project and valuable resource for the community. Open 11am-4:30pm, admission free - donations welcome.

SEVERNDROOG WOODLAND TRAIL Thursdays and Fridays from 31 March - 8 April, SEVERNDROOG CASTLE, Castle Wood, Shooters Hill, SE18 3RT, www.severndroogcastle.org.uk Explore the Oxleas Woodlands Trail from the castle to the secret garden.

BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM

Events and Attractions THE HORNIMAN MUSEUM

STORYSTOCK: CIRCUS OF STORIES

HORNIMAN MUSEUM and gardens, 100 London Road, Forest Hill SE23, 020 8699 1872, www.horniman.ac.uk Museum open 10.30am-5.30pm daily, general admission free, charges apply for special exhibitions and the aquarium. The museum’s music gallery and hands-on base, regular weekend and holiday drop-ins and workshops allow family visitors to explore the collection through arts and crafts, music, stories and hands-on sessions. All this within 16 acres of beautiful green space which has the oldest nature trail in London, an animal corner and a Farmers’ Market every Saturday. For Easter events, see page 7.

6-8 April, OMNIBUS CLAPHAM, 1 Clapham Common Northside, SW4 0QW, 020 7498 4699, www.omnibus-clapham.org If you’re a Wimpy Kid, you like to Potter or are as mad as a Hatter, like Tigers for Tea, doodle your days away or have a Midas touch, Storystock is for you. Bookish acts will bring stories to life through live shows, storytelling, creative workshops, parties and story treasure hunts. The event is hosted by the fabulous Storymaster with an all-day creative doodling cafe, pop—up author signings, competitions, Tales on Moon Lane bookshop, quizzes and games for young readers, aged from 2-11 years. 10am - 5pm, event tickets from £4, bookable online.

LONDON SEALIFE AQUARIUM SEA LIFE London Aquarium, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road SE1 7PB, 0871 663 1678, www.visitsealife.com/london See thousands of sea creatures in over two million litres of water, living in over 65 displays over three floors. Brave the Shark Reef Encounter, join in with public feeding sessions and watch the diving displays. There are real penguins too! Open from 10am daily, admission from £19.98 adults, £14.41 children.

LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM, 39 Wellington Street, Covent Garden WC2E 7BB, 020 7379 6433, www.ltmuseum.co.uk Let your children’s imaginations run wild as they are transported back in time at the historical and interactive London Transport Museum. Filled with buses, trains, and taxis they can take the wheel, try their hand as a tube conductor or bump around with the other passengers in the back, as they explore the vehicles of London’s past and present. Museum open 10am-6pm Mondays to Thursdays and weekends, from 11am Fridays. Admission free for under 17s, £16 adults. Tickets are valid for 12 months’ unlimited admission. ALL ABOARD. In the museum’s playzone, under 7s can get into the driver’s seat of a real bus, repair a mini Tube train and play in the ‘Lost Property’ office. They can also enjoy ‘sailing’ the Thames Nipper, serve passengers in the Nipper Cafe, fly the Emirates Air Line cable car, make driver announcements and help customers at the mini information desk using a magnetic message board, maps and clocks. THE FAMILY STATION. Visit the Family Station, pick up a coin bag and choose some activities to do as you explore the museum. Whether you fold your own bus and drive it between the vehicles, design your own poster-postcards or take photos through flickr frames, there is something here for families with children of all ages. Open weekends and school holidays, suitable for families with 3-12 year-olds.

TREASURES OF THE FAN MUSEUM Until 5 June, THE FAN MUSEUM, 12 Crooms Hill, Greenwich SE10 8ER, 020 8305 1441, www.thefanmuseum.org.uk The UK’s only museum dedicated to the history of fans and craft of fan making celebrates its twentieth fifth anniversary in 2016, and is celebrating with a curators’ hand-picked collection of eye-poppingly beautiful carved, painted, lacquered, gilt and feather fans dating back hundreds of years. Open 11am-5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, noon-5pm Sundays, Admission £4 adults, £3 children.

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BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM, Threadneedle Street, London EC2R, 020 7601 5545, www.bankofengland.co.uk/museum The Bank of England Museum tells the story of the Bank of England from its foundation in 1694 to its role today as the UK’s central bank. Examine intricately-designed banknotes, feel the weight of a genuine gold bar and see the pikes and muskets that were once used to defend the Bank. Children’s activity sheets provide fun for younger visitors. Open 10am5pm Mondays to Fridays, admission free.

SCIENCE MUSEUM SCIENCE MUSEUM, Exhibition Road SW7 2DD, 0870 870 4868, www.sciencemuseum.org.uk Aiming to be the best place in the world for people to enjoy science, the Science Museum makes sense of the science that shapes our lives, sparking curiosity, releasing creativity and changing the future by engaging people of all generations and backgrounds in science, engineering, medicine, technology, design and enterprise. Open daily 10am-6pm except 24-26 December. LAUNCHPAD SCIENCE SHOWS. The largest free interactive science gallery in the UK is packed with exhibits which allow visitors to launch a rocket, turn their head into a sound box and control a magnetic cloud. Ages 8-14, free. THE MECHANICS OF GENIUS. Predominantly recognised as one of history’s greatest painters, Leonardo da Vinci was also a uniquely gifted scientist and engineer. This major interactive exhibition brings to life the intricate mechanical concepts of this restless and curious mind. Entry £10.

april 2016 - families south east

TREASURES OF THE FAN MUSEUM

POP FACTOR AT CATFORD BROADWAY

ANNIE AT THE FAIRFIELD

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THE FOUNDLING MUSEUM

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

40 Brunswick Square, Camden Town WC1N 1AZ, 020 7841 3600, www.foundlingmuseum.org.uk Britain’s first home for abandoned children and London’s first public art gallery, The Foundling Museum reveals the stories of the Foundling Hospital’s founder Thomas Coram, the artist William Hogarth and composer George Frideric Handel. It houses significant collections of eighteenth-century art, interiors, social history and music. Open 10am5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays and from 11am Sundays. Admission free for under 16s, £8.25 adults. SHH! WE HAVE A PLAN, 5 April. Illustrator Chris Haughton leads a very special family workshop inspired by his hilarious children’s book Shh! We Have a Plan. Join the fun adventure to capture a beautiful bird perched high in a tree, using puppets and collage. Sessions from 10.30am, 1 and 3pm, free for children and up to two accompanying adults. BACH TO BABY, 14 April. A classical concert for babies and their families, performed by mother and pianist Miaomiao Yu along with other internationally renowned musicians. Inspired by Handel’s involvement with the Foundling Hospital, and performed in the Museum’s Picture Gallery, Bach to Baby brings the past alive through music and song, for little ones and their families. 10.30am-11.30am, adults £10 on the door, children free. SPINNING TALES, 23 April. Led by artist Jan Cullen, explore characters in the exhibition Drawing on Childhood and create an optical toy that brings the story of these child heroes to life. Ages 5+, sessions from 10.30am, 1 and 3pm, free for children and up to two accompanying adults. DRAWING ON CHILDHOOD, until 1 May. Drawing on Childhood brings together the work of major illustrators from the eighteenth century to the present day with powerful images of characters in fiction who are orphaned, adopted, fostered or found. Original drawings, first editions and special illustrated editions feature characters as diverse as James Trotter (James and the Giant Peach), Hetty Feather, Rapunzel and Cinderella, by artists including Quentin Blake, George Cruikshank, David Hockney, Mabel Lucie Atwell, Phiz (Hablot K. Browne), Arthur Rackham, Thomas Rowlandson, Nick Sharratt and Stref.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, Cromwell Road SW7 5BD, 020 7942 5000, www.nhm.ac.uk Dinosaurs, volcanoes, precious gems and creepy crawlies - discover the diversity of the natural world through the nation’s finest collection of natural history specimens. Fascinating exhibitions display up to 70 million plants, animals, fossils, rocks and minerals, with a hands-on education centre where you can meet real scientists at work. Museum open 10am-5.50pm, admission free. DINO SNORES, once a month on Saturdays. Discover what really happens at the museum when the staff and visitors have gone home. Children aged 7-11 years, from 7pm to 9.50am the following day. Tickets £60. SENSATIONAL BUTTERFLIES, 24 March - 11 September. Follow chomping caterpillars turning into beautiful butterflies and discover fascinating facts about one of our planet’s most amazing life cycles. Get a close-up view of butterfly specimens through a magnifier, and see the secrets of butterfly wings revealed through a stunning scanning electron microscope image. The tropical butterfly house is a spring and summer favourite for children, as well as adults escaping the bustle of the city. Family ticket £22.

CHURCHILL WAR ROOMS CHURCHILL WAR ROOMS, Clive Steps, King Charles Street SW1A, www.iwm.org.uk The Churchill War Rooms were originally the Cabinet War Rooms, created in 1938 as underground storage areas for the Office of Works Building in Whitehall. They were soon converted to house the central core of government and to become a temporary military information centre serving the Prime Minister and the Chiefs of Staff of the air, naval and land forces. Visitors can hear the first-hand personal accounts of those who worked in the Cabinet War Rooms during the war. Learn what life and conditions were like underground and experiencing the authenticity and emotional resonance of walking through the corridors where Churchill made history. Open 9.30am-6pm, admission free for under 16s, £15.95 adults.

HMS BELFAST On the THAMES at The Queen’s Walk by Morgans Lane, Tooley Street SE1 2JH, www.iwm.org.uk Discover the exciting stories of those who served HMS Belfast; exploring the nine decks where sailors once hurried up and down its ladders, or take a look at the mess desk where her 950-strong crew ate and slept. Open 10am-5pm, admission £16 adults, children £8, family tickets from £28. GUN TURRET EXPERIENCE. Immerse yourself in the Gun Turret Experience, a chance to see what fighting at sea would have really been like. Overlooking the front of the ship, or Fo’c’sle, is the forward most of HMS Belfast’s Triple Gun Turrets. Lights, audio, videos and projections will recreate the experience, highlighting the hectic and cramped conditions that would have seen twenty-six men in this confined space at any one time. Entry included in general admission price. TATTOO T-SHIRTS, 25 March - 10 April. Impress your friends and family by designing your very own t-shirt, inspired by traditional Navy tattoos, and the sailor legend of Davy Jones’s Locker. 11am 12.30pm and 2pm - 4pm.

families south east - april 2016

BRITISH MUSEUM

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM

V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD Cambridge Heath Road, Bethnal Green E2 9PA, 020 8983 5200, www.museumofchildhood.org.uk This gem of a museum houses dolls, dolls’ houses, puppets, teddy bears, games, childcare, clothing, furniture and art and photography. Everyday drop-in activities include storytelling, arts and crafts, and trails. There’s dressing-up, role play and an under 3’s area, an indoor sandpit, and regular special events. Open 10am-5.45pm daily, admission free. SHORT FILMS MARATHON, 25-27 March. See back-to-back screenings of Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate’s animated classics including the Clangers, Bagpuss, Noggin the Nog and Ivor the Engine. 2-4pm, free drop-in for all ages. EASTER HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES, 25 March - 8 April. Drop-in activities for all ages, including the small films marathon, puppet workshop, cosmic shoebox workshop, and drawing workshops. ST GEORGE’S DAY, 23 April. Discover the delights of English folk music and dance traditions with rousing song, dance and instrumental performances by the Trad Academy. Enjoy the quintessentially English sound of the Becontree Brass band and take part in arts and craft activities. 11.30am-4.30pm, free drop in for all ages. IT’S A HARD WORLD FOR LITTLE THINGS, until 17 July. Children Carrying Heavy Objects is a series of six large-scale drawings that depict children and the burdens that they carry. The graphite drawings by C A Halpin show children carrying physical, societal and political loads such as: water; a blackboard; each other; in grief and love, or in the loneliness of a runaway boy. The images explore children’s absolute will to survive in a sometimes-hostile adult world and reflects the plight of children on a global and domestic scale; the show features local children and others from around the world.

CHILDREN AT THE V&A V&A MUSEUM, Cromwell Road SW7 2RL, 020 7942 2000, www.vam.ac.uk/families Pick up a family trail from the Information Desk and explore the museum through puzzles, drawing and observation. Suitable for 7-12 year-olds. There are also hundreds of exciting hands-on exhibits containing plenty to touch and try out. Museum open 10am-5.45pm daily, admission free. BACK-PACKS, Saturdays. Pick up a back pack and explore the museum with fantastic jigsaws, stories, puzzles and games. 10.30am-5pm.

MUSEUM OF LONDON MUSEUM OF LONDON DOCKLANDS, West India Quay E14, 020 7001 9844, www.museumoflondon.org.uk/docklands, and MUSEUM OF LONDON, London Wall EC2Y 5HN, 020 7001 9844, www.museumoflondon.org.uk Open daily 10am-6pm, admission free. Regular programmes of weekend and holiday events and workshops help visitors find out more about London’s history, covering events such as the Great Plague, Londoners’ jobs and occupations, and Roman life. On Sundays, museum hosts help visitors explore the galleries through fun, hands-on activities at 11am and 2pm.

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM, Lambeth Road, London SE1, 020 7416 5000, www.iwm.org.uk IWM London tells the story of wars through the recollection of people who lived through them, both fighting the cause and at home. Familyfriendly attractions a recreated Family in Wartime house, and creative and object discovery sessions for families on Sundays. Open 10am-6pm daily except 24-26 December, admission free. MOVING ANIMATION, 25-10 April. Create your own spinning drawing, based on a popular 19th century toy called a Thaumatrope. Mark 100 years since the introduction of the iconic British Brodie helmet during the First World War and come up with your own hat and helmet drawings, and find out how to make them move like an animation. 11am-4pm SECRET WAR. From the development of MI5 and MI6 before the First World War, to Cold War intelligence-gathering and the contemporary use of highly-trained elite forces, the exhibition examines the facts behind the secrecy and why the need for secret agencies remains a subject of continued debate today.

ROYAL MUSEUMS GREENWICH National Maritime Museum, Queen’s House, Royal Observatory and Cutty Sark, Greenwich SE10, 020 8858 4422, www.rmg.co.uk Royal Museums Greenwich holds the world’s largest maritime collection. It is housed in historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site and incorporates the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the 17th-century Queen’s House, and Cutty Sark. The Museums work to illustrate for everyone the importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with people, and is also a major centre of education and research. On Saturdays and Sundays free performances and workshops entertain family visitors, while on Tuesdays preschoolers can make music and play with parents and carers. Open 10am-5pm daily. General admission is free; some buildings, special exhibitions and events have an admission fee. SAMUEL PEPYS, PLAGUE, FIRE, REVOLUTION, until 28 March 2016. Pepys, one of the most colourful characters of the 17th-century, witnessed many of the great events that shaped Stuart Britain, bringing them brilliantly to life in his famous and candid diary. The exhibition has 200 objects from museums, galleries and private collections. 10am5pm, tickets £12 adults, £6 children.

CUTTY SARK CUTTY SARK, King William Walk, Greenwich SE10 9HT, 020 8858 2698, www.rmg.co.uk/cuttysark The world famous 19th century tea clipper offers visitors four levels to explore. Take in the views from the main deck and steer at the ship’s wheel, meet the crew who worked on board, explore the various cargoes from wool to whiskey, and see how tea was loaded on board through interactive displays, props, information boards and animations. Family friendly events run at weekends and during school holidays. Open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Sundays, admission £7 children, £13.50 adults, from £24 families. Bundled tickets are available with the other Royal Museum Greenwich attractions. NANNIE THE WITCH, 27 March. Dance, sing and set sail on an adventure with Nannie, Cutty Sark’s figurehead. 11am, 12, 1.30 and 2.30pm. EASTER EGG HUNT, 25-28 March. Cutty Sark’s chickens have been laying their eggs in some strange places, how many can you spot around the ship? Join in the hunt for a chance to win a family ticket to Camp Bestival!

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OUTDOOR DISCOVERY IN HYDE PARK

LAND YACHTS, 29-31 March. Make your own amazing land yacht powered by the wind, just like Cutty Sark, and take part in some fun science demos to find out about ships and sailing. 11.30 and 2pm. CUTTY SARK COMICS, 5-7 April. Take inspiration from the ship’s many characters and stories to design your own comic strip. 11.30am and 2pm, suitable for all ages.

THE BRITISH MUSEUM BRITISH MUSEUM, Great Russell Street WC1B 3DG, 020 7323 8181, www.britishmuseum.org The British Museum was founded in 1753, the first national public museum in the world. Each year nearly 6 million visitors pour through the doors to see the museum’s collection of ancient and historical artefacts including the ever-popular Egyptian mummies, or to take in the latest block-buster exhibition. Open 10am-5.30pm daily, admission free, charge for some exhibitions. SHOE MANIA, 4-8 April. Family activities about amazing shoes including shoe stories, designing shoes, trying on and shining up shoes - all inspired by the exhibition ‘Life and Sole: footwear from the Islamic world’. DIGITAL DISCOVERY CENTRE, weekends. Learn, discover and create in the Museum’s digital centre. Free activities and workshops using the latest Samsung digital equipment, enabling children to bring the world’s history and cultures to life through advanced technology.

FIREPOWER - THE ROYAL ARTILLERY MUSEUM ROYAL ARSENAL, Woolwich SE18 6ST, 020 8855 7755, www.firepower.org.uk Firepower, the Royal Artillery Museum in Woolwich tells the powerful and dramatic story of artillery, scientific discoveries made through warfare and human stories of courage and endeavour. The ‘ground shaking’ Field of Fire audio-visual show puts you in the midst of battle as shells whizz overhead and guns roar. Open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays. Admission £2.50 children, £5.30 adults, £12.50 families.

GEFFRYE MUSEUM GEFFRYE MUSEUM, Kingsland Road E2 8EA, 020 7739 9893, www.geffrye-museum.org.uk

DRAWING ON CHILDHOOD AT THE FOUNDLING MUSEUM

Special workshops and quizzes inspire creativity and provide amusement for accompanied 5-11 year-olds on the first Saturday of each month and during school holidays. Places allocated 30 minutes in advance of each workshop. Museum open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays, from noon Sundays. SPRING HAS SPRUNG, 5-8 April. Celebrate the new season by decorating plant pots, making scented herb bags and creating garden animals from clay. 10.30am-12.30pm and 2-4pm. Ages 5-16, free. SWEPT UNDER THE CARPET, until 4 September. A new exhibition which explores domestic service and the experiences of servants living and working in middle-class homes over the last four hundred years, giving a glimpse into a world often overlooked by historians.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

IGHTHAM MOTE TOWER BRIDGE EXHIBITION TOWER BRIDGE, Tower Bridge Road SE1 2UP, 020 7403 3761, www.towerbridge.org.uk Tower Bridge houses four unique venues; the award-winning high level Walkways, the small luxurious North Tower Lounge, the majestic Victorian Engine Rooms and the charming Bridge Master’s Dining Room. Enjoy stunning London views from over the Thames and continue to the Victorian Engine Rooms to learn about the inner workings of the most famous bridge in the World. Tower Bridge still lifts to enable large ships to pass through - check the website before your visit to add to the excitement. There’s a free app, where you can play games and learn more about the iconic landmark before your visit. Open 10am-6pm April September, 9.30am-5.30pm October - March. Admission £3.40 children, £8 adults, family tickets from £12.50.

IGHTHAM MOTE, Mote Road, , Ivy Hatch, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0NT, 01732 810378, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ightham-mote Step into history at Ightham's medieval moated manor house, garden and estate. Highlights include the picturesque courtyard, Great Hall, crypt, Tudor painted ceiling, Grade I listed dog kennel and private apartments.

FULHAM PALACE FULHAM PALACE, Bishop’s Avenue, Fulham SW6 6EA, 020 7736 3233, www.fulhampalace.org The Museum of Fulham Palace charts the long history of the palace site, from Prehistoric times and Roman settlement, through Medieval, Tudor, Georgian and Victorian bishops to the present day. The museum collection includes paintings, archaeology and artefacts. Open noon-4pm Sundays, 12.30-3.30pm Mondays to Thursdays, admission free.

Art Activities DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

SOMERSET HOUSE FAMILY EVENTS

DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY, Gallery Road, Dulwich Village SE21 7AD, 020 8693 5254, www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk Museum open 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Fridays, from 11am weekends and bank holidays. Admission free for accompanied children, £6 adults. Listed activities free for families with a gallery ticket or £3 per child. I AM VAN DYCK, until 24 April. Van Dyck’s final self-portrait of c.1640, newly acquired by the National Portrait Gallery, will hang beside self-portraits by renowned contemporary artist Mark Wallinger, to explore different notions of self-portraiture. The display will also reveal new information on the Gallery’s best-known Van Dycks through X-Ray technology. ARTPLAY, first and last Sunday of each month. Creative drop-in workshops for adults and children, with a different activity each session. Make anything and everything from bunting to block printing and all things in between. 2-3.45pm. FREE FAMILY TRAIL. Ask a gallery assistant or stop by at the Gallery Friends desk for a free trail; updated frequently and available for the permanent and temporary exhibitions.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, St Martin’s Place WC2H 0HE, 020 7306 0055, www.npg.org.uk The gallery features thousands of portraits of the most famous people in British history, from the 16th century to the present day. Open 10am-6pm daily. DROP IN FAMILY SUNDAYS. On the third Sunday of every month, families are invited to drop-in with children aged 3+ to take part in portrait-related events.

SOMERSET HOUSE, Strand WC2, 020 7845 4600, www.somersethouse.org.uk Free family workshops run on Saturdays from 2-3.30pm. Tickets available from 1pm from the information desk. Children aged 6-12 years must be accompanied by an adult.

MARVELLOUS MOSAIC MAKING 30 March - 8 April, CROFTON ROMAN VILLA, Crofton Road, Orpington, Kent BR6 8AF, 01689 860939 Discover all there is to know about Roman mosaics and make your own mosaic to take home. For up to 11 year olds, children to be accompanied. 10.30am and 2pm, £4 per child, adult carer free.

THE CONSERVATOIRE THE CONSERVATOIRE, 19-21 Lee Road, Blackheath SE3 9RQ, 020 8852 0234, www.conservatoire.org.uk The Conservatoire is Blackheath’s local independent arts centre, offering a broad mix of music, art, drama and cultural classes for all ages. EASTER HOLIDAY COURSES, 28 March - 8 April. Every day will offer a different activity around a space theme, such making rockets and marble galaxies, painting lunar landscapes and creating story books.

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THE WALLACE COLLECTION THE WALLACE COLLECTION, Hertford House, Manchester Square W1U 3BN, 020 7563 9500, www.wallacecollection.org The Wallace Collection displays wonderful works of art collected in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries by the first four Marquesses of Hertford and Sir Richard Wallace, the son of the 4th Marquess, in their main London townhouse. Family multi-media tours and trails bring the exhibits to life for younger visitors. Open 10am-5pm daily, admission free. PAINTING PORTRAITS, 31 March. Learn how to paint a portrait using acrylic paints with artist Alison Kusner. 10.30am-3.30pm, £12 per child. THE LITTLE DRAW, 3 April. A drop-in workshop for all ages and abilities. 1.30-4.30pm.

ART AT SIR JOHN SOANE’S HOUSE SIR JOHN SOANE’S MUSEUM, 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields WC2A 3PB, 020 7440 4263, www.soane.org Sir John Soane filled every nook and cranny of his beautiful home with items that fascinated him. From fossils to classical fragments from Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome and from contemporary paintings to architectural models, drawings and literature, both his house and its extraordinary contents serve to educate and inspire. Free drop-in activities run on the third Saturday of every month, with activities for all ages and families can take part together from 1.30-4.40pm.

THE NATIONAL GALLERY TRAFALGAR SQUARE WC2N 5DN, 020 7747 2885, www.nationalgallery.org.uk Open daily 10am-6pm, Fridays to 9pm, admission free. With over 2,300 paintings in the collection, there are hundreds of reasons to visit the gallery, along with free hands-on art workshops for families at weekends and during school holidays. No need to book, but places are limited and allocated on arrival up to one hour before the start.

FAMILIES AT THE TATE TATE BRITAIN, Millbank SW1, 020 7887 8888, www.tate.org.uk/britain Open daily 10am-5.50pm, and until 10pm the first Friday of the month. Family trails are available daily from the Information Desks and are free for 5yrs and under. Go on a journey around Tate Britain and post your discoveries into your ‘Post it’ box as you go. When you get home, open up the box and show your friends what you found. Or you could follow the ‘Join up’ trail: play the listening game, search for shapes, patterns and talking hands, and make your own sculptures. Every weekend the free Art Trolley encourages children to imagine and create, make colourful collages, style a wonderful sculpture or perhaps make a sketchbook and fill it with great ideas.

TATE MODERN BANKSIDE, London SE1 9TG, www.tate.org.uk Visit at weekends when gallery artists lead family workshops inspired by current exhibitions. Drop-in every weekend plus Thursdays and Fridays during school holidays, 11am-4pm.

april 2016 - families south east

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