Families Dorset Issue 5 May-June 2013

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Issue 5: May/June 2013

Dorset

Justin Fletcher aka Mr Tumble talks to us about Camp Bestival PLUS! Win a family weekend at Camp Bestival

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May - June 2013 www.familiesdorset.co.uk The really useful magazine for parents with children 0 to 12 years in Dorset

Families Dorset

In this issue 02

News & Information

04

How to garden with the kids

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Book Corner

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It’s Party Time

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Getting Girls Back On Track

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Benefits of Baby Swimming Classes

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Justin Fletcher talks about Camp Bestival

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News 4 6

Walk to school week Yes, it’s that time of year again. 2013’s Walk To School Week runs from 20 - 24 May, bringing together nearly one million schoolchildren, teachers and parents and promising to be the biggest and best yet! As part of National Walking Month, the campaign aims to teach children about the benefits of walking, with each day focussing on a different aspect of walking including safety, discovery, healthy, eco-friendly and social time. Take part in Strider’s 5-Day Walking Challenge and reinforce the benefits of walking, plus download puzzles, pledges and challenges at www.livingstreets.org.uk

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What’s On Guide

If you have news to tell our readers we would love to hear from you, send it to editor@familiesdorset.co.uk

Museums at Night in Dorchester Museums at Night – the national festival of museums and heritage – happens on Saturday 18th May this year.

Dorchester’s six magnificent museums – The Dinosaur Museum, The Tutankhamun Exhibition, The Dorset County Museum, The Teddy Bear Museum, The Keep Military Museum, and The Terracotta Warriors Museum – have again joined together to offer a wonderful evening out. They are again joined by the Roman Town House and for the first time Max Gate.

Front cover image - Mr Tumble Families Dorset Editor: Sarah Carr Tel : 07876 761 623 Email: editor@familiesdorset.co.uk www.familiesdorset.co.uk

Dorchester is probably unique as a town in having so many museums. With the other heritage attractions they make a superb offer of 8 visits for just £8, and that price includes a family of up to 2 adults and four children. It’s outstanding value and great fun. Museums at Night is on the evening of Saturday 18th May from 5pm to 9pm when all six of Dorchester’s museums and the Roman Town House will be open specially to visit. This year a new attraction has been added to the Museums at Night package. As a special preview event Max Gate will be open between 3.30pm and 5.30pm.

Next issue: July/August 2013 Booking deadline: 3 June 2013 Copy deadline: 7 June 2013 24,000 readers per issue

@familiesdorset www.facebook.com/FamiliesDorset Copyright: Families Dorset, May/June 2013 Data Protection: if you send us your name and address in order to win a prize in a competition, we may supply your details to the company offering the prize. If you would prefer us not to do this please state this on your entry.

Disclaimer: Colour transparencies and any other original materials submitted for publication are sent at the owners risk and whilst every care is taken, neither Families Dorset not its agents accept liability for loss or damage. We take care preparing this magazine but the publishers and distributors cannot be held responsible for the claims of advertisers nor for the accuracy of the contents nor for consequence.

Families Dorset is part of a group established in 1990 headed by Families South West London. All

Museums at Night really does offer something for everyone whatever your interest. So whether its Tutankhamun or Romans, Thomas Hardy or teddy bears, dinosaurs or Dorchester’s local history, the Dorsetshire Regiment or terracotta warriors of a much earlier age, it’s there to be explored. On Museums at Night you can visit some or all of these for an extraordinary low price.

The Museums at Night ticket is just £8 and admits a family to all 8 heritage attractions on the evening of Saturday 18th May. This great price entitles up to a family of 2 adults and 4 children to visit when purchased in advance. Tickets can also be bought on the night at £12. www.thedinosaurmuseum.com

magazines are independently owned and operated under licence.

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May - June 2013

Summer-born children at a disadvantage It’s the same old concern from parents with children with summer birthdays – and now another study proves that it is true. Researchers at London University's Institute of Education have found that children who are young for their year are at a disadvantage in most primary schools, and are also likely to be put in the lowest sets, if their classes are streamed, than children born in the autumn. In fact, children born in August are more than twice as likely to be in the lowest set as those born in September. The study reveals that by the age of seven, some 30% of summer-born children were in the lowest set compared with just 10% of those with September birthdays. Researchers also claimed that grouping children into lower sets at a young age can damage their self-confidence, harm their development and restrict academic opportunities, adding that the use of streaming early on in primary school was “hasty and potentially premature”, suggesting the practice should be left for secondary school. "Evidence suggests that if a pupil is informed (explicitly or implicitly) through their academic placement that they are more or less able, this will influence their subsequent behaviours,” said Tammy Campbell, the report’s author, “and they will enact the role assigned, performing at a relatively higher or relatively lower level."

The study comes after the Institute of Fiscal Studies last year published research showing that children with summer birthdays are more likely to underachieve at school and miss out on places at top universities.

Have you written your will?

Research by Macmillan Cancer Support reveals that the single biggest trigger for people to first write their will is having children, yet despite this over half of adults in the UK today have yet to put pen to paper.

The research marks the launch of Macmillan Cancer Support’s new Discounted WillWriting Service which helps people find a legal professional they can trust to write their will at a discounted cost. The service is available online with telephone support, meeting a trained financial professional face-to-face or liaising directly with a solicitor on the phone or in a local branch. Simply get in touch and quote the Macmillan Cancer Support code to receive a discount on the cost of writing your will. “Everyone should have an up to date, professionally written will, to ensure their loved ones and favourite causes are taken care of when they’re gone,” said Helen Eddleston of Macmillan Cancer Support. “Our Discounted Will-Writing Service provides access to trustworthy, professional will writing services at a reduced cost, meaning it has never been easier to write your will.” www.macmillan.org.uk/willwriting

Your child’s dream job with Paultons Park Paultons Park is looking to recruit one lucky child to become its official ride tester.

Paultons Park has more than 60 rides and attractions, has announced it is seeking applicants for a new in-house ride tester to join its team for a day’s internship.

The lucky recruit will spend an exclusive morning testing the rides before it officially opens to the public, gain behind the scenes access to the Park and then join their family for an afternoon’s guided tour with the opportunity to enjoy the rides again. According to the theme park, candidates should “not be afraid of heights, have a strong stomach and to top it off, be a committed thrill-seeker."

Interested children, aged between eight and 14, are to visit the Paultons Park website www.paultonspark.co.uk and click the ‘Dream Job’ link where they will be asked to submit a letter in no more than 300 words stating why they deserve the position.

Andy Chapman, Paultons Park groups and education officer, said: “This is a dream job for one lucky child who’ll get to escape their normal day-to-day routine and instead spend their day with hours of fun and play rating the Parks rides and attractions.”

The deadline for applications is Friday June 7. www.paultonspark.co.uk

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News

The Good Play Cafe celebrates it’s 1 year anniversary

The Good Play Café in Southbourne celebrated its 1st Birthday in April.

The bright soft play café with a 4 metre high soft play area and a separate play area for younger children has recently been enhanced with a new padded slide and a basement room the ‘Underwater Garden’ – an ideal party room and venue for local weekly classes such as Tinytalk, Minky Moos, Baby Massage, Debutots, Hartbeeps and more!

The Good Play Café continues to please and excite its young visitors. The café offers an interactive and enjoyable soft play experience for the Under 5’s and welcomes Under 8’s at weekends, after school and throughout the holidays. May half term activities include street dance and painting pottery which include of the option of ‘stay and play for a £1’ afterwards. A child who attended the pottery class and then the soft play frame during the Easter holidays said his day at the café was ‘pretty perfect actually.’

For further information visit www.thegoodplaycafe.co.uk

WIN! A CORD LOCK AWAY CHILD SAFETY WAND Many parents don’t realise the risks posed to toddlers and mobile babies by looped blind cords. Unfortunately, 12 young children have died in UK homes in the last two years alone, from blind cord strangulation. Families Dorset has 10 Cord Lock Away child safety wands to give away.

Cord Lock Away is the only safety device that doesn’t need screwing into the wall and raises the cord out of harm’s way, without affecting operation of the blind. It is universal for all continuous looped cords and beaded chains and is recommended for every window blind in the home, not just a child’s room.

Available from John Lewis, it comes in two sizes, one for windows and one for patio doors.

Families Dorset has 10 Cord Lock Away child safety wands to give away. Simply email editor@familiesdorset.co.uk inserting Cord Lock Away in the subject box with your full name and postal address.

May - June 2013

How to garden with the kids

by Elisabeth Dolton As we reach for the back door, or open a window for the first time in several months, we may spot a daffodil emerging through the cold hard ground, and just maybe the first sight of blue sky overhead - what better time to encourage your children to explore their environment and discover the world of gardening. Involving children in gardening can be a great and fun experience for everyone regardless of age.

Children can really get engrossed in planting and caring for flowers – even those with shorter attention spans! Most kids can’t get enough of the anticipation and excitement of waiting for a seed to sprout or a plant to grow, even making mud pies, as all children find pleasure in a patch of soil they can call their own. Imagine sparking the green fingers of little children, as you point out the wonder of the natural environment around them. And what better way to learn about photosynthesis, by watching it happen in front of your eyes! Show your child the magic of Mother Nature.

Getting Started Gardening doesn’t require a huge garden or allotment; in fact, it can actually be beneficial to start out with smaller spaces such as a window box or a restricted area. Just ensure that the allocated area gets enough sunlight and start with a small, manageable project. It needn’t cost a lot of money either – you don’t need to buy anything special or fancy, and if you grow your own fruit and veg then you’ll ultimately be making a saving!

Start with margarine tubs, yoghurt pots, and any other small containers you might find lying around the house. Instead of fancy trays with separate sections, you’ll find just as much use in empty egg cartons. A lollypop stick can make a great plant label

and can be used when dipping out seedlings.

And what about a water pistol instead of a watering can. Who would have thoughts watering the plants could be so much fun. (hum good idea this?)

Opportunity to learn There is so much for children to learn.

Explain to younger children that the seeds have popped underground and covered up to sleep, helping them understand that they need to be gentle with them and treat them with care. Make sure they know to water regularly and then sit back and watch it grow.

You don’t have to be green fingered yourself, gardening opens up a whole host of great experiments and different ways of looking at things, almost like having your own laboratory in your kitchen. A good idea to show how plants need time to grow, lots of sunshine and water is to grow three separate pots of cress. Place one in sunlight with plenty of water, one in a dark cupboard with plenty of water, and one in sunlight with no water. The difference will be there to see.

Inspire their senses

We all have a particular fondness for plants which stimulate our senses and children are no different; point out plants with soft leaves and bright flowers, aromatic herbs, scented flowers, grasses and leaves that rustle when blown, etc. These can be particularly beneficial for children with special needs and requirements.

Plants attract wildlife, which can be hugely exciting. Wildflowers attract bees and butterflies, and watch out for the insects.

All of them have a purpose in the garden, for example hedgehogs and toads eat the slugs and snails, and worms create holes in the soil.

Kids will eat anything they have grown themselves, just try with peas, cabbage

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and lettuce. Sheer pride will lend a flavour never to be forgotten. They will realise that whenever they eat yummy fruit and vegetables that someone had to grow them and that we can all grow our own fresh foods.

Prepare for mess!

Gardening isn’t a clean business but its lots of fun and easy enough for children to get to grips with. So peel your children away from the TV and explore the garden - touch the flowers, feel the leaves, and look for bugs.

Once they get in the garden and explore, in time they will want to take care of the plants they have learned to love and really gain pleasure along the way.

Good to grow Inspirational ideas that will make gardening fun for kids this summer!

Sunflowers Tiny seed with a big impact. See who grows the tallest?

Cress egg heads Damp cotton wool with cress seeds, in an eggshell Quick, edible lettuce Let kids plant their own small lettuce garden. Let them choose which types and plant them in different shapes Fun with Peas They don’t need a lot of space, and once they start growing, grow voraciously.

Create a theme - grow a tomato, courgette, basil and oregano plant, everything to top your pizza!

May - June 2013

Book Corner

Annabel Karmel launches new recipe book to tickle tots’ taste buds To make mealtimes more manageable for busy mums and dads, the UK’s number one parenting author and expert on baby and child nutrition Annabel Karmel MBE launches the first in her ‘Quick and Easy’ series: Quick and Easy Toddler Recipes.

With over 100 delicious, nutritious, timesaving recipes packed full of natural flavour.

Combining everyday kitchen ingredients with simple-to-follow instructions, Annabel’s recipes can be whipped up for the whole family too.

Breakfast, healthy snacks, lunch and dinner all feature in this beautifully designed new book along with plenty of time-saving tips and tricks to encourage children to eat well and experiment with different sweet and savoury flavours.

Quick and Easy Toddler Recipes (RRP £9.99) will be published by Ebury Press on 20 June 2013.

For more information visit: www.eburypublishing.co.uk

Ed’s Reading Room is an exciting free online book and story club for primary children in homes and schools.

Each month, recently published books are selected as Ed’s Books of the Month for Owlets (age 5-7) and Owls (over 7s). On the website, there are fun literacy activities to accompany each book, including wordsearches, quizzes, poetry and reviews, and there are new original stories in Edtime Stories. There are also lots of other fun online activities, complementary to the curriculum. For further information visit www.edontheweb.com.

FOR AGES 5-7 YEARS My Hamster is an Astronaut

by Dave Lowe (Templar £5.99)

ED SAYS:

‘When Ben Jinks announces that he’s going to build a rocket for the school science competition, his mega-brainy hamster is more than a little surprised. Stinky realises he will have to do most of the hard work – and be very involved in the launch! But there’s a cunning plan afoot to upset their ambitious competition entry. Will Ben and Stinky get their rocket off the ground?

‘This is a very funny story in the fantastic Stinky and Jinks series.

Laugh your socks off as Ben and Stinky aim for the stars.’

Penny Dreadful is a Record Breaker

by Joanna Nadin (Usborne £4.99)

Carrot, Courgette and Sweetcorn Fritters 1 egg 50g self-raising flour 1 tbsp milk 1 tbsp sweet chilli sauce 100g courgette, grated 50g carrot, grated 4 spring onions, sliced 2 tbsp canned sweetcorn, drained 50g mature Cheddar, grated A little oil, for frying Beat the egg in a mixing bowl then bear in the flour and milk until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and season.

Heat the oil in a frying pan. Spoon the mixture and fry them for 2-3 minutes each side until lightly golden, turning halfway through. You may have to do this in batches, so keep the cooked fritters warm while you cook the rest.

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ED SAYS:

‘Penny Dreadful is back with more of her madcap adventures. Penny’s latest brilliant ideas, with the help of her best-friend Cosmo, are tracking down a vampire to take to school for show-andtell, giving Grandma Overall a surprise sparkly makeover and breaking the world record for something that has never been in the record books before.

However dreadful things become, Penny always seems to bounce back to look on the bright side!

‘The three stories about these super characters are absolutely hilarious with fantastic illustrations to complement them.’

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FOR AGES 7 YEARS PLUS The Naming of Tishkin Silk

by Glenda Millard (Phoenix Yard Books £5.99)

ED SAYS: ‘Griffin Silk is a very unusual boy who finds the children at school rather mean. He lives with his loving family though sadly without his mother and baby sister. Griffin holds a secret in his heart and it is only when he meets Layla and he knows he has found a true friend that he starts to deal with his secret. Will he have the courage of his mythical namesake? And will Griffin and Layla together find a way to bring peace to this young boy?

‘This is a beautifully written and extraordinary story that will move as well as entertain its readers.’

Adrenaline Rush

by Allan Jones (Orion £5.99)

ED SAYS:

‘Zak Archer is a spy working for a secret government agency. In this latest adventure in the Codename Quicksilver series, Zak is working undercover as a stunt double for a Hollywood movie. He and his colleague Wildcat are investigating a link between the producer Elton Dean and a suspected terrorist attack. Zak is aware of the dangers surrounding him but if his cover is blown will he be able to complete his mission?

‘This brilliant story is full of action and is exciting from start to finish. It is a real page-turner of a book.’

May - June 2013

It’s Party Time!

by Joanna Moorhead

A birthday party is the highpoint of the year for most kids - so the pressure is on to get it right. The secret, as ever, is in the planning. But how do you find out which party is right for your child? We guide you through the options.

The traditional party What is it? An at-home for the birthday child and friends, with traditional games like pass the parcel (always a winner), pin the tail on the donkey, and musical bumps.

Who’s it suitable for? Great for nursery and reception age children, but don’t neglect its values for older kids, especially girls of eight or nine who often enjoy nothing more than inviting their friends back to their house and having a girly time.

The pros: It’s cheap (or at least, it certainly can be); other parents often stay to help you out, keep you company, especially if you promise a glass of prosecco to help everyone through The cons: You may need to redecorate afterwards; you’ll certainly need to do a major tidy up. It can be difficult to keep your birthday child’s siblings out of the way, which could lead to conflict.

Top tips to make it work: 1. Agree ground rules with the birthday child beforehand about which rooms are in and out of bounds 2. Have a timetable for what’s happening when 3. Think about a project, eg build a bear kits, jewellery-making, pirate games 4. Give them chance to let off steam in the garden 5. For tea, spread a huge paper tablecloth on the floor and get them to sit around the edges of it. At the end, simply fold it up with all the rubbish inside and bin.

The action party What is it? Paintballing, go-karting, swimming, Go Ape etc Who’s it suitable for? Older children (seven plus); kids with lots of energy who enjoy racing around The pros: Your house remains intact; the kids have something to focus on, and lots of opportunities to let off steam; many children end up covered in bruises from paintballing (though they don’t seem to mind!)

The cons: It can be very expensive; although

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some options, eg a swimming pool party, trip to an adventure playground, can be good value Top tips to make it work 1. If the activity is long and energetic it might be best to postpone a winter birthday party to the spring (the kids might get wet and cold as they’ll be outside for ages).

2. Take plenty of water, squash, snacks including fruit - they’ll need plenty of energy for all that running around.

3. Make ABSOLUTELY sure you’ve checked all restrictions, eg height restrictions, beforehand - there’s nothing worse than finding out on the day that one of your guests is too small to participate.

4. Make sure you get parental consent forms signed well in advance - the venue will require you to do this before they allow you in.

5. Ensure the kids wear any safety equipment at all times.

The church hall party What is it? An indoor party in a hired venue.

Who’s it suitable for? Children of five plus, who are confident about being left somewhere they don’t know.

The pros: A lot more space than they’d have if you were at home.

The cons: You’ll have to leave the place spotless afterwards, and pay for any damage.

Top tips to make it work 1. Try to find somewhere with outdoor space as well in case it’s a lovely day.

2. Ask if you can borrow/use playgroup play equipment.

3. Have lots of help, and have tea reasonably early in the afternoon so you can get it tidied away before the end.

4. If you’ve got the budget, consider hiring an entertainer - the extra space will make it a lot more fun.

5. Musical games, dancing, discos etc are great fun in church halls.

The restaurant party What is it? A meal-based party in eg a pizza restaurant, where the kids are allowed to

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help or watch in the food preparation.

Who’s it suitable for? Older kids of eight-12; children who enjoy the chance to meet and chat more than the chance to run around.

The pros: At its best, it’s very civilised; you can even have a second table in the restaurant and invite some other parents along, so it’s a meal out for you as well. Children enjoy sense of being ‘grown up’ and eating out with friends.

The cons: It’s expensive; raucous behaviour will upset other diners.

Top tips to make it work 1. Make sure you’re booked for a time when the restaurant won’t be busy 2. A restaurant near a park, where kids can run off a bit of energy afterwards, is a good idea 3. Don’t rely on the pizza-making/ chef-watching for absolutely all the entertainment. Bring eg colouring packs or check the restaurant will provide them, and think of some easy games to play round the table, eg I-Spy, in case things flag 4. Make sure you sort out the cake arrangements beforehand; most restaurants allow you to bring your own (don’t forget the candles and matches) 5. Don’t limit yourself to chain restaurants - your local eaterie may well be prepared to accommodate your party, and may be more flexible than bigger establishments And finally...whatever sort of party you’re having don’t neglect the party bags! Every kid, at every party, is secretly (or not so secretly!) longing for a party bag - and part of the excitement for your child is helping to put the bags together. Have a budget and stick to it - party bags can add hugely to the cost of a party - but try and limit the wasteful plastic toys that get thrown away immediately.

See our online Children’s Parties Section for more, including: 8 low cost party bags ideas: www. familiesonline.co.uk/lowcostpartybags Our editorial team top tips: www. familiesonline.co.uk/ourbestpartytips May - June 2013

Parties

Let’s Party! - Local Party Providers ACTIVE PARTIES

New Forest Activities 01590 612377 www.newforestactivities.co.uk Little Kickers Football training birthday parties.

01489 871916 gary@littlekickers.co.uk Snowtrax 01202 499155 www.snowtrax.eu

COOKERY PARTIES

Little Munchkins 07971 443085 www.littlemunchkins.info Red Cherry Catering 01202 476461 www.redcherrycatering.com

CREATIVE PARTIES

Crafts & Giggles 07824396645 www.craftsandgiggles.com Lilly in Lemon 07826 148908 www.lillyinlemon.co.uk Nature’s Way for Kids 01202 748930 www.natureswayforkids.co.uk

FACE PAINTING

Jamie Jigsaw 01202 722149 www.jamiejigsaw.co.uk

Party In Style 01202 764821 www.party-in-style.co.uk

Jules the Entertainer 01202 510013

Peeks Party Store 01202 489489 www.peeks.co.uk

MUSIC PARTIES

Jo Jingles 01202 739444 www.jojingles.com/poole

Hollywood 01202 532262 www.hollywood.uk.com

Music Bugs 0844 5781042 www.musicbugs.co.uk

PARTY CAKES

Cake Expectations 07834 837698 www.mycakeexpectations.co.uk

Monkey Music 01202 461943 www.monkeymusic.co.uk

Lulubelle’s Of Dorset 01202 707429 www.lulubellescakes.com

Pop Idol For A Day 01202 746049 www.popidolforaday.co.uk

SOFTPLAY PARTIES Bee a Bug Play Café 01202 766710 wwwbeeabug.co.uk

PARTY VENUES

Adventure Wonderland 01202 483444 www.adventurewonderland.co.uk Farmer Palmer’s Farm Park 01202 622022 www.farmerpalmers.co.uk

Serendipity Sam’s 0845 450 7200 www.serendipitysams.co.uk

Honeybrook Farm 01202 881120 www.honeybrook.org

The Good Play Café 01202 425577 www.thegoodplaycafe.co.uk

Caked in Paint 07791 608412 cakedinpaint@hotmail.co.uk

The Toy Barn 01935 815040 www.toy-barn.co.uk

Head Turners 01202 397153 www.headturnersfacepainting.co.uk

Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park 01202 824040 www.dorset-heavy-horse-centre.co.uk

ENTERTAINERS

PARTY SUPPLIES

Hula-Hula 07808 232522 www.hulahula.co.uk

Lemur Landings 01202 740500 www.lemurlandings.co.uk

Pop Up Parties Dorset 07956 848925 www.popuppartiesdorset.co.uk

Win! A Voucher for The Good Play Café!

Families Dorset has 3 gift vouchers each worth £10 up for grabs!

Simply email editor@familiesdorset.co.uk inserting The Good Play Cafe in the subject box with your full name and postal address.

Mon to Thurs from 0930-1730 Exclusive weekday evening parties from 1730-1930. Fri 1600-1800, Sat 1600-1800 and Sunday all day.

4 Children FREE when you book a party! * Min number of 10 children booked * Must be booked by the 30-04-13 and taken by 30-09-13. Quote 'Families Dorset' 128/130 Seabourne Road, Southbourne Bournemouth BH5 2HZ hello@thegoodplaycafe.co.uk www.facebook.com/TheGoodPlayCafe

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May - June 2013

Family Matters

Getting girls back on track A few years ago, psychologist Steve Biddulph was advising parents of boys on how to raise them to avoid a battery of difficulties. Now he’s back with a formula for how to raise girls. Joanna Moorhead, a mother of four daughters, asked him what matters most.

The day after I gave birth to our fourth daughter, my husband was involved in a puzzling exchange with our neighbour. The baby had been born at home overnight, so the neighbour was keen to hear the news over the garden fence. “It’s another girl,” announced my husband excitedly. “Oh,” said the neighbour, looking downcast. “And are you very disappointed?”

Gary and I enjoyed telling the story, and we enjoy telling it to this day, because disappointment was truly the very last emotion we felt when our lovely little Catriona arrived to join her big sisters Rosie, Elinor and Miranda. Raising boys may, for all I know, be every bit as exciting and fun-filled as raising girls; but the truth is, I know nothing about it. I’m sure it’s similar, but I’m sure there are also ways in which it’s different: and the point is that, by the time Catriona was born, I was already quite certain that bringing up girls was a fabulous task to be taking centre-stage in my life. So, from the moment the line went blue on my pregnancy test, I was secretly hoping for

another daughter. And when she finally landed, Gary and I couldn’t have been more thrilled.

Fast-forward ten years, and it’s still every bit as wonderful now as it was back then. But the last few years have brought a few scary moments – and, explains psychologist Steve Biddulph, I’m certainly not the only parent of daughters to have discovered that. Fifteen years ago, Biddulph leapt to fame when his ground-breaking book ‘Raising Boys’ tackled the difficulties that were making life tough for parents of boys – rising rates of ADHD, aggressive behaviour, teenage drinking. Back then, he says, “girls were doing just fine”.

But no longer. “It all started to change about five years ago. We began to see a sudden and marked plunge in girls’ mental health.

Problems such as eating disorders and selfharm, which once had been extremely rare, were now happening in every classroom and every street. And more than this, the average girl was stressed and depressed in a way she hadn’t been before.”

So now Biddulph is back with a new book aimed at parents with girls. And the message he wants to give us is that, from their earliest times, we need to bomb-proof them from what he calls “a world that seems bent on poisoning their confidence and trashing their lives”.

What the onslaught is all about, says Biddulph, is the fact that advertisers have fixed their beady eyes on our pre-teen daughters: they’ve realised that little girls are extremely malleable from a marketing point of view, and they’ve gone all-out to sell them not only pink-clad dolls and sex-typed toys, but also sexualised clothes (long, long before any little girl should be thinking about looking attractive to the opposite sex) and pre-adolescent make-up.

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Biddulph’s advice is simple

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Avoid all sex-stereotyped toys and products like the plague. From her earliest days, Families Dorset

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think not about what material possessions you are giving your daughter: instead, concentrate on how you’re making her feel.

From birth to two, he explains, all that really matters to a baby girl is that she feels safe and loved. In a world where the arrival of a little girl is often seen as an invitation to start showering her with possessions – cute outfits, a pretty bedroom – he advocates forgetting all about what she has (especially if it’s of the ‘girly’ variety) and concentrating entirely on how welcome, and wanted, and loved she is in your life. The deep-rooted confidence that brings will, he promises, be something she carries with her right through her life.

From two to five, a little girl starts feeling interested in the world around her: now, she needs to be introduced to the world as an exciting and fascinating place, a place full of adventures. From five to ten it’s all about people skills – what she most needs to discover, says Biddulph, is that while her feelings are very important indeed, other people’s feelings matter too.

With the coming of puberty, a girl’s thoughts shift towards what Biddulph calls ‘finding her soul’: if she is helped and encouraged to find what he calls her ‘spark’, some passion or interest that she cares deeply about and is willing to invest her time in, that will help her to find fulfilment through her entire life.

It’s an empowering message: best of all, for parents like me, is Biddulph’s conviction that the family and the adults surrounding a girl are the most important elements in helping light the fire that will burn through all her days. If girlhood has sometimes seemed scary, Biddulph reminds us that it’s exciting and enriching – and guides us through the skills that will help us help our daughters, time after time.

Steve Biddulph’s Raising Girls is published by HarperCollins, £12.99

May - June 2013

Clubs & Classes

www.capturedbysamira.co.uk

The Benefits of Baby Swimming Classes

by Joanne Dewberry

It finally happened. After a long old 9 months you get to bring home a bundle of joy. BUT if you’re anything like me, after a month or so you AND baby are in need of some stimulation. This is suddenly the hard part as there is soooo much choice - baby massage, toddler groups, Musical Steps – argh where do you start?

Having 3 children, let’s say we have tried a few. I have always been a believer in going with my child and my gut instinct. Charlie enjoyed a year or so at Sing and Sign and he loved it. Megan on the other hand preferred more independent play without structure so toddler groups suited us much better. With my 3rd child Olive, we had the opportunity to try out some baby swimming lessons with Turtle Tots Dorset and 6 months later we haven’t looked back! We LOVE it!

Once you look past the FUN factor and just the sheer enjoyment of spending 1:1 time with your baby, there are some fundamental key benefits for your child’s development.

In comparison to other classes you might attend with your child, you are teaching them a life skill AND there’s the instant gratification. Every week Olive learns and is able to do something new.

The benefits of baby swimming include:Water is a natural environment for babies, they feel safe and secure. You can start swimming with your child from birth. Olive was 16 months old when she started but took to it straight away, so don’t be deterred if your child is nearing toddler age as there are always classes which can accommodate each age.

Physically swimming is the perfect exercise, allowing babies’ muscles to move freely in a gravity free environment. Water helps improve co-ordination and balance and the lack of gravity means muscles are exercised effectively. Swimming also improves your baby’s cardio-vascular system strengthening their heart, lungs and respiratory system, in turn aiding development of the brain.

Caroline Kelly – Turtle Tots Dorset describes Baby Swimming as “a great class to do with your baby/toddler. The 1-1 bonding time that is promoted throughout the classes in the holds, the songs and the positions that we use is fantastic.” Olive is a very independent and determined baby, so the close physical contact, cuddles, smiles and

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eye contact is my guilty mummy secret. I love it!

Starting to swim at an early age familiarises children with water and gives them the confidence to swim above and below the water level. An early introduction will avoid them having a fear of water that can develop later in childhood. Safety skills are taught right from the start meaning that their awareness of the water starts from the word go.

“In the 30 minute classes we are teaching you to teach your baby to swim, above and below the surface. All the moves that we introduce are explained fully and the reasons behind why we do it the way we do and the benefits that your baby will gain from it” says Caroline. Swimming classes are structured to ensure babies are constantly and continuously stimulated. Make no mistake of this! Most weeks as we drive home, Olive is falling asleep and once home, I’m not far behind her!

Language development – the babies are constantly interacting with you and other children throughout the classes. There are so many verbal cues that Olive repeats many of them at home .. not always quite in the right context!

There are so many benefits to baby swimming – the list above only touches the surface. I really wish this was something I had undertaken with my elder 2 children.

As I said before I’m a great believer in allowing your children, no matter how young, express their likes and dislikes. Check out the local baby swim providers many of them offer free taster sessions.

Joanne Dewberry - mummy to Charlie 5, Megan 4 and Olive 1 Dorset Business Mum of the Year 2010 www.charliemoos.co.uk and www.joannedewberry.co.uk

www.familiesdorset.co.uk

Local Swimming Classes Aqua-babe 0770 7617634 www.aqua-babe.co.uk

Baby Splashers 07970 513919 www.babysplashers.co.uk

Baby Swim Bournemouth 07985 755567 www.babyswimbournemouth.co.uk Coral Swim School 01202 723310 www.coralswimschool.com

Individuality Swimming & Fitness 07900 058395 www.individualityswimmingandfitness. co.uk JCS Swim School 07824 381701 jcsswimschool@yahoo.co.uk Puddle Ducks 01202 674676 www.puddleducks.com

Splashdown Swimming Academy 01202 716123 www.poole.splashdownwaterparks.co.uk SOS Swim School 01202 331950 www.sosswimschool.co.uk Turtle Tots 01202 802670 www.turtletots.com

Virgin Active - Parent and Baby and PreSchool Swimming Lessons 01202 658188 www.virginactive.co.uk Water Babies 01258 458520 www.waterbabies.co.uk

May - June 2013

Justin Fletcher (aka Mr Tumble) talks about Camp Bestival with Families Dorset

Mr Tumble has become something of a legend at Camp Bestival - did you think that he would become a hit at festivals?

Camp Bestival is such a wonderful festival for the whole family and Mr Tumble seems to fit right in. He always receives such a warm welcome when he comes on-stage and it’s great to see the audience reaching right back to Lulworth Castle joining in with the “Hello Song”.

Something Special!

The crowd reaction is always huge when Mr. Tumble appears at Lulworth Castle - does the adoration surprise you?

Yes, I am always blown away by the response. It’s so heartwarming to see a crowd of people – young and old - all up singing and dancing together but also signing with Makaton. Mr Tumble seems to bring people together.

What’s your favourite part of performing at Camp Bestival?

It’s great fun to be up on-stage, out in the open air in such a beautiful setting. But again it’s interacting with the crowd and seeing people’s smiling faces that really make it a special event for me.

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though he is most at home wherever his friends are – that could be at the park, at the seaside or just at home in the garden!

Will you be performing any of your new songs from the Justin Fletcher album ‘Hands Up’ at Camp Bestival?

You’re celebrating 10 years of Something Special are you proud of the impact it’s had?

Yes definitely. “Hands Up” is a great song to get everybody up and dancing and there will be plenty of others from the new album “Best Of Friends”.

I’m immensely proud of Something Special. It really has helped thousands of children to communicate – many for the first time – with their friends and family.

It’s such an inclusive programme that all children can enjoy.

If you could teach everyone one thing to be able to sign in Makaton, what would it be?

“Hello” would be a good place to start. It means the same thing all over the world and encourages communication.

If Mr Tumble could choose any band performing at a festival, which band would he like to join?

That’s a tricky one. I think Mr Tumble would have to have his own band.

Maybe they could call themselves “The Tumbletastics!”

What is it about Dorset that sees you return to play Camp Bestival every summer? Apart from Lulworth Castle, is there anywhere else in Dorset that you particularly like to spend time?

Dorset is such a beautiful county with wonderful countryside and beaches. I have family in the Piddle Valley so enjoy spending time there and I also like exploring new parts. I love to sit at the top of the cliffs at Lulworth Cove too.

Does Mr Tumble like camping?

He certainly does like camping but he’s not very good at putting up tents. They usually end up falling down on him. He sometimes needs a little help!

Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo is coming to Camp Bestival this year, what’s Mr Tumble’s favourite dinosaur?

The theme for Camp Bestival this year is Around The World, where in the world is Mr Tumble most at home?

Mr Tumble likes friendly dinosaurs – so he’d probably choose a gentle giant like a diplodocus as his favourite. I think he might hide if he saw a Tyrannosaurus Rex though!

Mr Tumble is quite an explorer and enjoys going out and about. I think

You look a lot like Mr Tumble, do you ever get mistaken for him?

Families Dorset

www.familiesdorset.co.uk

May - June 2013

Yes I believe we do look quite similar, except I don’t have such a red nose……

Unless it is very cold!!

You’re very active with your charity work, which charities do you support?

I try to support as many charities as I can. I feel very privileged to be able to help and work with so many amazing people and organisations.

You can see Mr Tumble live at Camp Bestival from 1 - 4th August 2013.

You can also read an interview with Josie and Rob da Bank, curators of Camp Bestival on our website: www.familiesdorset.co.uk

Kids are king at Camp Bestival

Kids are king at Camp Bestival. There is an avalanche of activities for children of all ages; 2 to 62!

A large section of the festival site is devoted to the little-uns with the Upper Kid’s Garden on the lawn behind the castle particularly suited to giving them a bit of freedom to cavort and explore.

Activities here include BigTopMania where you can learn a circus skill, kids theatre workshop, a bouncy castle, bikes and go-carts, a separate toddler area and our pioneering Breastival mother and baby chill out.

The Lower Kids Garden is packed full of entertainment for slightly older children including the new dance space tent where you can learn some contemporary dance, Insect Circus and Museum, Art Town where paint and glitter is the order of the day, the kids catwalk, fairground rides, facepainting and a soft play tent and sandpit (for under 5’s). And amoungst all this are plenty of food markets, cafes,

bars, talks and music stages to ensure the slightly older clientele don’t get bored.

Kids entertainment certainly isn’t restricted to the Kids Gardens either, with fun and games spread throughout the site. Take a stroll in the woodland arena and discover how to make fires in the wilderness, how to carve a wand or how to identify the trees or even have a close encounter with some owls or falcons! You’ll find live performances by Horrible Histories, Mr Tumble, Dick & Dom and more happening on our Castle Stage and Big Top amongst all our live music acts, and the Freestyle Sports Park and Rob da Bank’s Music Club for older kids are over in the Upper Meadow.

Tickets are now on sale, call 0844 888 4410 or visit: www.campbestival.net

WIN a family weekend break at Camp Bestival Families Dorset has teamed up with Camp Bestival to offer a family ticket to their festi-holiday jamboree this summer.

Festi-holiday paradise Camp Bestival is a multi-award winning four-day festival taking place from Thursday August 1st -Sunday 4th 2013 at Lulworth Castle, Dorset. It’s the ultimate family festival, with something for everyone, including this year’s all-encompassing Around The World theme, musical treats like Labrinth, Richard Hawley, Billy Bragg, Ash, Gabrielle Aplin, DJ Yoda and Beardyman and one of the best DJ line-ups anywhere in the world with Grandmaster Flash, Sasha, Fabio and Grooverider and Andrew Weatherall and Sean Johnston’s A Love From Outer Space.

There’s high-octane eighties pop action with live shows from Heaven 17, Nik Kershaw and Kid Creole and the Coconuts, plus The Cuban Brothers will be rolling out the good times from across the decades... You’re guaranteed to be dancing round your handbags long into the night.

And we haven’t even touched on our festival exclusive Horrible Histories show, comedy headliner Alan Davies, kids’ discos every day in Bollywood, kids faves Mr Tumble and Dick N Dom, our brand new Dance Space, Art Town, 100s Of Things For Kids To Do, the redesigned Dingly Dell, The Guardian Literary Tent, TATE workshops, BFI Film Club, delicious food with Young British Foodies and amazing campsites.

There are also lots of brand new magical attractions for 2013, and so much more to keep you and your family smiling all weekend long.

To be in with a chance of winning a Camp Bestival 2013 Family Ticket. Simply go to our website to register your entry: www.familiesdorset.co.uk/competitions. The closing date for entries is Saturday 20 July.

For more information and to book tickets go to www.campbestival.net or call 0844 888 4410 Terms and conditions apply. Only one entry per household. A family ticket is 2 adult tickets plus 4 children up to the age of 17 years all with Thursday - Sunday weekend camping included. All entries must be received by midnight on Saturday 20 July 2013. The winner will be notified by Monday 22 July 2013. No cash alternative is offered. Full terms and conditions can be found on our website.

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May - June 2013

Out & About

What’s On

We aim to be as accurate as possible but the listings are compiled several weeks beforehand and may be subject to change. Please contact venues in advance to check details and prices.

DAYS OUT ABBOTSBURY SWANNERY www.abbotsbury-tourism.co.uk 13 May-30 June BABY SWANS HATCHING Abbotsbury Swannery is the only place in the world where you are able to walk through the heart of a colony of nesting Mute Swans and from mid-May to late June, hundreds of fluffy cygnets hatch from eggs in nests on or near the pathways.

ADVENTURE WONDERLAND www.adventurewonderland.co.uk

6 May MIKE THE KNIGHT Mike the Knight will be at the park to meet and greet his fans this Bank Holiday Monday! He is visiting Adventure Wonderland on his quest to “Be a knight and do it right” and will be making personal appearances at intervals throughout the day!

29 May ZINGZILLAS Last year we were visited by 2 of the zany TV stars from ZingZillas. This year it’s the turn of the other 2 band members to come and join us. So come along and give a very warm welcome to the hugely talented Tang and Drum from this famous supergroup! They will be here at various intervals throughout the day to meet and greet their many fans.

9 June DORSET TROOPERS Adventure Wonderland plays host to the ever popular and quite brilliant Dorset Troopers charity group. They will all be here from the scariest biggest meanie of them all, Darth Vader to the delightful Ewoks and many other characters in between such as Princess Leia, Dengar, a Tusken Raider and of course the Stormtroopers themselves.

BOURNEMOUTH 7s FESTIVAL www.bournemouth7s.com 24-26 May As the largest rugby, netball and music festival in the world the Bournemouth 7s Festival

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is a must attend event in 2013.

With over 300 rugby, netball and dodgeball teams competing in a range of competitive and social competitions, the festival is an action packed weekend of sport, music and entertainment.

DORSET HEAVY HORSE FARM PARK

www.dorset-heavy-horse-centre. co.uk

Enjoy interesting tours, talks and displays, FREE Heavy Horse Wagon Rides, Tractor and Trailer rides and even the chance to Drive a real Farm tractor!!

There’s a busy timetable of hands on interaction with the friendly farm animals including over 20 rescued heavy horses, donkeys, miniature ponies, kunie kunie pigs, goats, sheep, alpacas, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, ducks, snow dogs and many more!

FARMER PALMERS www.farmerpalmers.co.uk 16 June HALF PRICE ENTRY FOR DADS! Farmer Palmer’s is an award winning, family run, attraction just outside Poole, Dorset. They offer free parking, easy access and a great value family day out. See website for further details.

HONEYBROOK FARM www.honeybrook.org Attractive farm and riverside park MONKEY WORLD www.monkeyworld.org 25-27 May BANANA BONANZA Each year on Saturday, Sunday and Monday of the Spring and Summer Bank Holiday weekends, every child that enters the park bringing a banana for the primates receives a FREE Monkey World badge!

OCEANARIUM: THE BOURNEMOUTH AQUARIUM www.oceanarium.co.uk Take an underwater adventure and come face-to- face with hundreds of awesome creatures.

SANDWORLD www.sandworld.co.uk Our aim is to bring the best sand artists from around the world to your doorstep, so that you can see what we have seen on our travels, and share the universal joy that is sand sculpting!

SHERBORNE CASTLE COUNTRY FAIR www.sherbornecountryfair.com 27 May Held in the grounds of Sherborne Castle this spectacular lakeside event highlights traditional rural skills, as well as those more modern.

The Fair is open from 10am to 6pm and car parking is free.

SNOWTRAX: THE ALPINE ACTIVITY CENTRE www.snowtrax.eu Open everyday from 10am until it gets dark.

Set in the attractive woodland area at the bottom of the ski slope, the Alpine Adventure Park offers an area for parents to relax whilst the kids play.

Children £3, Adults £1.50 SWANAGE RAILWAY www.swanagerailway.co.uk Visitors can experience a unique journey through six miles of beautiful scenery passing the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle.

THE CHRISTCHURCH ROTARY KIDS’ KITCHEN 11-12 May Come along and enjoy cooking.

Learn to develop new recipes and techniques with our expert chefs. Something for everyone from aged 3-14!. All food and equipment will be provided, just bring your own apron. At the Priory School, Wick Lane, Christchurch BH23 1HX

www.familiesdorset.co.uk

WEYMOUTH SEA LIFE PARK www.visitsealife.com 11-24 May TURTLE FEST Learn about the plight of the Green Sea Turtle through fun family activities and interesting talks.

25 May-29 Sept OCTONAUTS At the Weymouth SEA LIFE Adventure Park, visitors will dive into action with the Octonauts, the team of undersea adventure heroes from CBeebies. Young fans of the TV show will embark on an exciting new mission of extra activities and fun-filled events 27 June CONSERVATION EVENT Come and join us for an evening of fun and learning! Meet some of our Animal Care team and find out more about what they get up to everyday. Learn more about SEA LIFE’s own conservation activities and meet some wildlife charities we support. Fun for the whole family!

DRAMA AND DANCE PAVILION DANCE SOUTH WEST www.paviliondance.org.uk 9 June VARMINTS BY TRAVELLING LIGHT THEATRE COMPANY an East London Dance, Sadler’s Wells and Stratford Circus Production Suitable for ages 8+ Based on the award-winning book Varmints by Helen Ward and Marc Craste, Varmints tells the poignant tale of one small creature’s struggle to preserve a world in danger of being lost forever.

Tickets: £5, babes in arms free 30 June IF THE SHOE FITS

by CScape Dance Suitable for ages 3+ When Emily pays a visit to Nicefits Shoe Emporium, she soon realises it is no ordinary shop. Hidden inside every box is a shoe with a story to tell, from May - June 2013

Out & About slippers that speed up time to the cowboy boots of Dustbowl Bill. But the question is, which shoes should Emily choose?

The performers bring the shoes and their stories to life using physical theatre, dance, storytelling and music, creating a delightful visual world that engages children in tales of new shoes, old shoes, shoes with laces and velcro, and even a re-telling of the Emperors new … shoes!

Tickets: £5, babes in arms free.

LIGHTHOUSE, POOLE’S CENTRE FOR THE ARTS www.lighthousepoole.co.uk 1 June CIRCLES IN THE SAND An intimate, imaginative and captivating show for under 3’s exploring sand in new ways.

Join us in a world of play with buckets and castle building, spinning and tumbling, delighting in the feel of sand as it trickles between your toes and fingers. After the performance everyone is invited to explore, discover and play in the sand themselves Suitable for under 3’s 15, 29 May & 12, 26 June STORYTELLING Michele O’ Brien, storyteller, actor and educator will be co-creating and co-exploring traditional and modern stories that allow pre-school children to initiate story sessions.

Listen to the story, then have fun acting out your favourite character, through drama, dance and music. Not your ordinary storytelling session! £5 18 May THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER Following their sell-out shows,

The Enormous Turnip, Little Red Hen and Three Little Pigs, the inescapably eccentric Stuff and Nonsense Theatre Company return with an up-to-date, size 13 1⁄2 re- telling of everyone’s favourite story featuring puppets, music and surprises aplenty.

INDOOR PLAY BEE A BUG PLAY CAFÉ www.beeabug.co.uk 01202 766710 Under 5’s play centre in the heart of Westbourne.

GUS GORILLA’S JUNGLE PLAYGROUND www.gusgorillas.co.uk Poole Park, Poole BH15 2SF 01202 717197 A great all weather attraction with free parking, open 7 days a week.

LEMUR LANDINGS www.lemurlandings.co.uk 01202 740500 Children’s soft play centre located at Tower Park in Poole.

SERENDIPITY SAM’S www.serendipitysams.co.uk 01202 481015 Children’s indoor play, party and activity centre in Christchurch.

THE GOOD PLAY CAFÉ www.thegoodplaycafe.co.uk 01202 425577 Music, Drama, Art, Yoga, Baby Massage, and Baby Ballet classes take place on a weekly basis-all of which offer ‘Stay and Play for £1 pound’ afterwards. A variety of classes are also offered during the school holidays for the Under 8’s.

WILD THING! ADVENTURE WONDERLAND www.adventurewonderland. co.uk 01202 483444 Indoor Aztec Adventure Play Centre with a range of exciting jungle themed rides and restaurant facilities, offering guaranteed fun, whatever the weather.

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES PRIEST’S HOUSE MUSEUM & GARDEN www.priest-house.co.uk Open Mon-Sat, 10am-4.30pm The Priest›s House Museum & Garden is located in the heart of the beautiful market town of Wimborne Minster. Using collections rich in archaeology and costume, and childhood and local history material, the museum tells the story of East Dorset.

THE DINOSAUR MUSEUM www.thedinosaurmuseum.com 18 May, 5pm-9pm MUSEUMS AT NIGHT IN DORCHESTER Dorchester¹s six magnificent museums ­The Dinosaur Museum, The Tutankhamun Exhibition, The Dorset County Museum, The Teddy Bear Museum, The Keep

Military Museum, and The Terracotta Warriors Museum ­ have again joined together to offer a wonderful evening out.

THE TANK MUSEUM, Bovington, Wool 25 May–2 June THE CAMOUFLAGE EXPERIENCE Join us for a week of fun family activities exploring the varieties, uses and history of camouflage, with Tank Action Displays (weekdays only) and Tracked Vehicle rides!

PLUS: Kids who dress in camo visit FREE!* 29-30 June TANKFEST Experience the best display of historic moving armour in the world at The Tank Museum – bringing the story of tanks, tank crew and soldiers to life...

9am-5pm

SHOWS & EVENTS FOODIE SHOW DORSET www.foodieshowdorset.co.uk 10-12 May Food, drink, crafts and entertainment festival at Dorchester Town FC stadium CHRISTCHURCH FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL www.christchurchfoodfest.co.uk 10-19 May Now seen as one of the best Food Festivals in the UK, it has attracted a number of celebrity chefs over the years including Anton Edelman, James Martin, Gary Rhodes, Jean-Christophe Novelli, Paul Rankin, Brian Turner and Nick Nairn, to name just a few. Well-known TV chef, Lesley Waters, is a regular at the event and has now become the patron of the Festival.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN THE

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

2013

OVER 80 OFSTED REGISTERED VENUES WITH CRB CLEARED STAFF

40+ ACTIVITIES SPORTS, ARTS AND CRAFT

OPEN 8AM-6PM MON-FRI

WE ACCEPT CHILDCARE VOUCHERS AS PAYMENT

WWW.SUPERCAMPS.CO.UK 01235 832222 13

Families Dorset

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May - June 2013

Out & About SOUTH COAST BABY AND TODDLER SHOW Littledown Centre, Bournemouth www.littlepicklesmarkets.co.uk 12 May, 10am-3.30pm Showcasing everything a family could need plus a whole load of demonstrations, taster sessions and some very special guests.

BH LIVE FAMILY ADVENTURE FESTIVAL www.familyadventurefest.co.uk 31 May – 2 June, Bournemouth International Centre The festival will feature a wide range of indoors and outdoors pursuits along with expert advice and the opportunity to purchase clothing and accessories. The event promises to be a fun family experience!

SOUTH WEST BABY SHOW The Pavilion, Westover Road www.southwestbabyshow.com 1 & 2 June The show is designed to cater for the whole family with plenty

to keep all ages entertained.

Children will find lots of activities to participate in as well as entertainment on the showcase stage. Mums and Dads will be able to hear local and national speakers, meet healthcare professionals for valuable one to one advice and see a whole range of services and products specifically aimed at parents-to-be and parents of babies and children up to 6 years.

NATIONAL TRUST

www.nationaltrust.org.uk 01202 707744 BROWNSEA ISLAND 10 May, 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm WAR WALK Come and join this free guided walk that explores the island’s wartime history.

11 May & 25 May, 7.30am9.30am EARLY MORNING BIRDSONG WALK An early morning wildlife

experience. Come and experience the island at its most peaceful.

This is your opportunity to take a boat over to the island long before the public arrive.

A member of the ranger team will talk you through the sights and sounds of wildlife in this natural habitat. Enjoy a spring morning at Brownsea Island and a breakfast bap in the Villano Café. All tickets £15.

18-19 May, 10am-4pm, 50TH ANNIVERSARY FAMILY FUN WEEKEND Discover everything there is to enjoy on this beautiful island with trails, exhibitions and a new Dorset map of 50 things to do before you are 11 3/4.

25 May–2 June, 10am-4pm PIRATE ADVENTURE Dress up as a pirate to enter our competition. Also have a go at our pirate training camp, take the treasure trail, design your own eye patch and much more.

15-16 June 10am-4pm FAMILY CAMP This is a rare chance to spend the night on Brownsea Island.

Come along and take part in camping, a bbq and a night time sing-song!

CORFE CASTLE 11 May–26 May (Saturday & Sundays) SAXON & VIKING ACADEMY Join the ranks as a Saxon or Viking warrior, learn the skills, see the weapons, feel the armour, and hear the stories at this new event for 2013.

Throughout June MEDIEVAL FALCONRY: BIRDS OF PREY Jonathan Marshall presents falcons, eagles and hawks demonstrating their spectacular aerial manoeuvres. Falcons dive from thousands of feet at speeds of over 100mph while eagles and hawks skim the top of your head.

1,8,15,22,29 June, 6.30pm – 8.30pm HORSEBACK FALCONRY & MEDIEVAL JOUSTING The falcons and horses work together accompanied by beautiful music. The show also includes a jousting tournament with knights in shining armour,

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squires, ladies and even a medieval jester. Tickets only available on the night.

STUDLAND BEACH 25 May–2 June, 10am-3pm SEASHORE FUN Good old fashioned seaside fun with sand sculptures, treasure trail, kite flying and beach safaris.

OUT OF TOWN Exbury Gardens www.exbury.co.uk Throughout May Four Seasons Artists Exhibition 10am – 5.30pm Distinguished artists concerned with all aspects of the natural world are mounting a major show at Exbury Gardens.

Until 6 June WATERCRESS LINE www.watercressline.co.uk 27 May-2 June PEPPA PIG Catch the big steam trains to Alresford where Peppa Pig will be making appearances at various intervals on each day! It’s going to be a really exciting day out.

There will be colouring, DVD shows and face painting available at Alresford station in the Old Goods Shed. Standard fares apply offering unlimited travel along the full length of the 10 mile railway on the day of your visit! Find out more and book your tickets in advance on the website or pay on the day. Fares: Adult £14, Child (2-16 yrs) £7, under 2 FREE, Family (2 Adults and 2 Children) £35. Advance tickets include all booking fees and tickets cost the same on the day.

MARWELL ZOO www.marwell.org.uk 7 June PARTY IN THE PARK Party in the park after hours and prepare yourself for a wild night to remember!

The Spinnaker Tower www.spinnakertower.co.uk PIRATES AHOY! May - June 2013

Out & About Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3TT, open daily from 10.00am to 6.00pm Adult: £8.55, Concession: £7.55, Child: £6.75 Gather your shipmates and climb aboard the Spinnaker Tower this May half term for pirate themed family fun set 100 metres above Portsmouth Harbour. Visitors can explore the harbour with the High Spy ship finder, experience the open-air Sky Deck and dare to walk on air across the glass floor plank!

The successful Boots sponsored South Coast ladies lifestyle show is returning The Portsmouth Mountbatten Leisure Centre With up to 80 exhibitors, visitors can be pampered with a makeover from Boots cosmetic brands, create a new look with the latest fashion accessories, speak with wellbeing experts, receive recipe ideas and enjoy demonstrations on stage throughout the day.

Tickets, which include a Boots Goody Bag, cost £3 and can be purchased in advance from www. allwomanshow.com or telephone 023 9262 6500 (concessions for over 60s and under 16s).

26-27 June Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom Theatre Royal Winchester theatre-royal-winchester.co.uk

ZSL LONDON ZOO 18-19 May SPECIAL CHILDREN’S DAY Special Children’s Day caters for families of children with disabilities, with extra features like British Sign Language interpreters at the Zoo’s talks, and guided ‘Touch Tours’ for visually-impaired children.

To book tickets for Special Children’s Day, or to find out more please visit www.zsl.org/ specialchildrensday.

23 June The All Woman Show www.allwomanshow.co.uk The Mountbatten Leisure Centre, Portsmouth

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From the makers of Peppa Pig comes the BAFTA awardwinning television animation Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom live on stage. With actors, masks and colourful costumes this beautiful story of elves, princesses and childhood innocence will delight the whole family.

NEARLY NEW SALES BABY & CHILDREN’S MARKET www.babyandchildrensmarket.co.uk

12 May, 2pm-4pm The Crown Hotel, West Street, Blandford Forum DT11 7AJ 19 May, 2.30pm – 4.30pm Heatherlands Centre, Barns Road, Ferndown 25 May, 10am-12pm Purbeck Sports Centre, Worgret Road, Wareham, BH20 4PH 22 June, 10am-12pm The Exchange, Stour Hall, Sturminster Newton TWICE AS NICE, BOURNEMOUTH www.2asnice.co.uk 5 May 1pm-2.30pm Beaufort Community Centre, Beaufort Road, BH6 5LB 11 May 10-11.30am Southbourne Children’s centre, Stourvale Road, BH6 5JB 2 June 1pm-2.30pm Beaufort community centre, Beaufort Road, BH6 5LB 8 June 10-11.30am

Southbourne Children’s centre, Stourvale Road, BH6 5JB 15 June 10-11.30am The St. Swithuns Centre, Gervis Road, BH1 3ED KINDERMARKET www.kindermarket.co.uk 15 June 10am-11.30am St Aldhelm’s Church Hall BH12 1AD

4 May pippabelles www.pippabelles.co.uk 4 Braeside Road, West Moors, BH22 0JS Nearly new designer children’s clothes and accessories from birth to 10 years. Come along and celebrate our first year anniversary on 4th May. Tea, coffee and cakes along with discounts on the day.

To include your event in our What's On guide, send your event details to: editor@familiesdorset.co.uk

DIARY DATES & EVENTS 2 June MOORDOWN VILLAGE FETE Redhill Park www.moordownvillagefete.co.uk A team of us from the Moordown business community have got together to organise the biggest and the best Moordown Village Fete you will ever have seen! There is lots planned to entertain and delight 12pm-5pm 29 June WINTON CARNIVAL www.wintonforum.co.uk Now grown into one of the area’s biggest annual events, Winton Carnival attracts thousands of people for a day of family fun.

It starts with a grand parade through Winton and moves on to Winton Recreation Ground for a funfair, wide range of attractions and non-stop live music and dance on stage.

Confidence grows NumberWorks'nWords Maths and English Tutoring Free Assessment Phone 01202 433673 Email: bournemouth@numberworks.com

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107/109 Belle Vue Road Bournemouth BH6 3DJ

May - June 2013

SUNDAY

BEST

PRESENTS

1 *2 *3 *4 AUGUST 2013

Lulworth Castle, Dorset CURATED BY JOSIE & ROB DA BANK

– Multi Award Winning 4 Day Festi–Holiday… At A Castle Campsite By The Sea – – A V E RI TA BL E F E AST OF L I V E MU S IC & S I NG - A LONG S –

RICHARD HAWLEY * LABRINTH * LEVELLERS * DJ FRESH/LIVE WE LOVE THE 80'S: THE PROCLAIMERS * HEAVEN 17 * NIK KERSHAW

MUSICAL YOUTH * KID CREOLE & THE COCONUTS * THE CUBAN BROTHERS ASH * TOOTS & THE MAYTALS * GABRIELLE APLIN * I AM KLOOT THE POLYPHONIC SPREE (INC ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW SET) * BILLY BRAGG JOHN COOPER CLARKE * DJ YODA (LIVE AV SHOW) * LISSIE * THE FARM * BEARDYMAN & MANY MORE …

– F A M I L Y F UN… CO M E D Y, T HE AT R E , FO O D & S I D E S HO W S –

HORRIBLE HISTORIES, BARMY BRITAIN * MR TUMBLE

SON ET LUMIERE FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR * ERTH’S DINOSAUR ZOO

DICK N DOM * ALAN DAVIES * LET IT BE * ROYAL ALBERT HALL * BRIT SCHOOL YOUNG BRITISH FOODIES MARKET * DINGLY DELL NIGHTTIME FIRE TRAIL JOUSTING * INSECT CIRCUS * SHADOW PUPPETS * BOUTIQUE MARKETS & SO MUCH MORE …

– ON T HE WH E E L S O F STE E L –

– D AN C E HA L L S & D I S C O S –

GRANDMASTER FLASH * SASHA

BOLLYWOOD COCKTAIL BAR

A LOVE FROM OUTER SPACE (ANDREW WEATHERALL & SEAN JOHNSTON) * FABIO & GROOVERIDER & MORE …

INFLATABLE CHURCH * DISCO SHED WONDERLAND INN ALE BAR & MORE …

DAVID RODIGAN PRES. RAM JAM

PIGS BIG BALLROOM

– A WH O L E WOR L D O F D I S C O V E R Y FO R KI D S –

FREESTYLE SPORTS PARK * ART TOWN * TATE WORKSHOPS * BFI FILM CLUB DANCE SPACE WITH MATTHEW BOURNE’S NEW ADVENTURES & MORE * SCIENCE TENT

SOFT PLAY * GIANT SANDPIT * BIG TOP MANIA * NATURE TRAILS & BUSHCRAFT * FALCONRY SHOWS & MORE …

– THE GUARDIAN LITERARY INSTITUTE –

– S O U L P AR K –

SPOKEN WORD FROM SCROOBIUS PIP & FRIENDS ‘HOW TO’ SESSIONS * AUTHOR READINGS RSA DISCUSSIONS * QUIZZES & MORE …

PAMPER LOUNGE * RELAXATION GARDEN TAROT * YOGA * MASSAGE * REIKI REFLEXOLOGY * ORGANIC CAFE & MORE …

–BOUTIQUE CAMPSITE BY THE SEA FEATURING –

CAMPING PLUS VIP PITCHES * GYPSY CARAVANS * AIRSTREAMS * TIPIS * YURTS & LOTS MORE …

TICKETS & INFO CAMPBESTIVAL.NET / TEL: 0844 888 4410 / FACEBOOK.COM/CAMPBESTIVAL

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Families Dorset

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May - June 2013