Families SE London January 2016

ESTABLISHED 1996

EE

ISSUE NO. 174

FR

NEW YEAR 2016

®

familiesse.co.uk

southeast london

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU Steps to success with The Vale Practice CREATING CONFIDENT CHILDREN Expert tips for parents WHAT’S ON Family events and half term workshops

online edition

with working website links

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ARE YOU feeling like our front cover girl? Her big sister gave her that lovely beanie hat for Christmas and she has vowed not to take it off until the very first hint of spring.

While we can sympathise, there’s school to go to, life to be lived and hey - February half term to look forward to.

Aha! - that’s caught her attention!

We’re running pell-mell into 2016 with gusto and a magazine full of things to do, think about and enjoy Happy New Year readers!

Robina Cowan, editor

IN THIS ISSUE 2-3 Local News and Views Outdoor challenges in Battersea Park; London theatre for less, Funky Monkey’s new look; nursery open days; birdwatching for beginners and Alpine holidays en famille

l l l l 4-7 Education News

Local schools’ news, raising standards and expectations, and independent school open days in Spring

LocalNews email your news to editor@familiesse.co.uk

Funky Monkey’s new look - and new offer!

Funky Monkey Keyboard Classes, founded in 2003 by oboist and pianist Ali Edwards, keep going from strength to strength and start 2016 with the launch of a cheeky new logo and shiny, easy-to-use website.

The group based electronic keyboard lessons are a perfect introduction for 4-11 year old beginners to reading, writing and playing music to first grade, in such a way that children just want to keep coming back for more!

To celebrate the makeover, there are free trials and free lessons on offer during January 2016.

Find a centre, read more and book your free trial, at www.funkymonkey.info, or call 0800 107 7949.

As well as term time classes, Funky Monkey run ‘One Hit Wonder’ workshops during school holidays, with the next from 15-19 February in Beckenham, Herne Hill and Sydenham - see page 14 for details and bookings.

8-9 New Year, New You

The Vale Practice can help you stick to those resolutions; a financial makeover; and new skills for your new year

10 Family Life

Family law expert Mandeep Clair on the need to be open and honest during divorce court proceedings

11 Creating Confident Children

Parenting expert Liat Hughes Joshi helps parents instil confidence in children - particularly if it doesn’t come naturally to them

12 The Book Page

Part blog, part book review - Justine Crow greets the new year through the pages of new titles for children and grown ups

13 What’s New

The first doll in space, a GP on your smartphone, swapping skills with other ‘helpful peeps’, and retro mittens

14-18 What’s On

Family events, shows, workshops and half term holiday clubs to kickstart the new year

19 It Takes Two... Families

Are you looking for a nursery?

Providing naturally inspiring and exceptional care and education for over 20 years, Bright Horizons Day Nursery and Preschool company is holding an open week from Monday 25 to Friday 29 January at their nurseries across the country.

Bright Horizons understand that selecting a nursery for your child is one of the most important decisions you will ever make, and is committed to continually meeting the needs of individual families. They told Families: “We invest our time, focus and resources into creating specially designed nurseries that provide rich learning and play environments, empowering children to be happy and confident with a love of learning and ready for school. It is Bright Horizons’ mission to continue to make a positive difference to children, families and employers, and to provide the highest quality care and early education for each child entrusted to our care.”

Visit www.brighthorizons.co.uk to locate your nearest nursery, then experience first-hand how they make a difference to children and families every day.

Go Ape comes to south London Set among Battersea Park’s tallest trees, Go Ape is an exciting, wobbly, high wire treetop obstacle course that is great fun for adventurers who love an outdoor challenge.

Go Ape has 28 sites across the UK with Battersea Park the newest and highest, offering great views across London. Ages six plus, admission £18 - £33, bookable online at www.goape.co.uk/battersea-park.

READER OFFER: Families readers can save 10% per person on pre-booked tickets until 30 April (restrictions apply). Book online or call 0845 519 8739, and quote ‘FamBat’.

Should you share a holiday with another family this year?

Front cover: Girl wears Lala & Bea super-soft merino wool beanie hat. £24 from Lala and Bea, www.lalaandbea.com

Next issue March issue out 25 February, deadline 5 February

Families South East PO Box 11591, London SE26 6WB 020 8699 7240, www.familiesse.co.uk, editor@familiesse.co.uk Families South East is part of Families Magazines Ltd a franchise company. All franchised magazines in the group are independently owned and operated under licence. Families® is a registered trademark of Families Magazines Ltd, Remenham House, Regatta Place, Marlow Road, Bourne End, Bucks SL8 5TD. The contents of Families South East are fully protected by copyright and none of the editorial or photographic matter may be reproduced in any form without prior consent of the publisher. We take every 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 any consequence.

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families south east - january / february 2016

!"#$%&'(!)*$+',-$'./$-/&+'01.$ 2-3."2$'+,122$41./1.5 Caring for babies from 3 months to children up to 5 years of age.

0333 920 0411 brighthorizons.co.uk parentenquiry@brighthorizons.com

familiesse.co.uk

The Voewood in Blackheath

Treasures of the Fan Museum

A lovely new shop has opened at 13 Old Dover Road, Blackheath Standard.

The Voewood stocks womenswear, gifts and homeware, and as owner Nicola Hibon Jackson told Families: “we also have a toy corner for children to play in so mums and dads with young children are most definitely welcome to come and browse.”

The UK’s only museum dedicated to the history of fans and craft of fan making - right here in southeast London - celebrates its twentieth fifth anniversary in 2016.

To mark the occasion, the curators have delved deep into the collections, handpicking a remarkable array of fans, featuring richly painted mythological subjects, elaborately carved and gilt rococo confections, ostrich and bird of paradise feature fans, and many more.

Treasures of the Fan Museum will run from 16 January to 5 June, at 12 Crooms Hill in Greenwich, www.thefanmuseum.org.uk.

Wear a hat for BTR

London theatre - for less Get Into London Theatre returns with incredible new year offers on more than 40 top shows.

Participating productions ranging from plays and musicals to ballet and opera offer tickets from as little as £10 for performances from 1 January to 12 February, giving everyone the chance to experience the magic of London theatre. Families can also take advantage of the promotion with offers for Matilda The Musical, Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, The Gruffalo and The Tiger Who Came To Tea. For the full list and bookings, visit www.getintolondontheatre.co.uk.

Wear A Hat Day is a fun-filled, annual brain tumour awareness event helping support research. The Brain Tumour Research charity is asking families and children and schools across the UK to sign up, don a hat and support the cause in March.

Involving families and school children in the campaign is poignant, given that brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under the age of 40. Children have lost parents, family members and teachers, and in many classrooms there remains a tragic reminder of a child whose life has been lost or damaged by this cruel cancer.

Fundraising materials including posters, leaflets, fridge magnets, pin badges, wristbands quizzes and hat making instructions are available now to everyone who registers, and taking part is simple. To sign up, go to www.braintumourresearch.org/registration-form-hat

Big Garden Birdwatch Last year over half a million people took part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, spotting more than 8.5 million birds across the UK, and the organisers are hoping this year’s watch will be a record-breaking event.

The survey will take part on 30 and 31 January. To join in, simply spend one hour counting the birds in your garden or local park, and record the highest number of each bird species seen at any one time. Mornings are best, when the birds are out and about feeding after a cold winter night. Sign up for your free Big Garden Birdwatch 2016 pack at www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch.

familiesse.co.uk

Just an average school day...

The average British mother leaps out of bed by 06:38am in a bid to get ahead of the daily tasks before the rest of the family wakes, and carries out up to 59 different tasks every single school day, according to a new study.

Mums will nip quietly downstairs to empty the dishwasher, make the first drinks of the day, pack the children's lunches for school and fill the water bottles. Then they'll make and serve breakfast, pack the school and work bags, remind the children to wash, put on their uniform, brush their hair and teeth, go to the lavatory and leave the house NOW! Not to mention starting a load of washing, a spot of ironing, making the beds, tidying the house and putting out the rubbish. Following the afternoon school run, there's homework to contend with while planning and serving up a nutritious meal for the whole family.

A spokeswoman for Simply Beef and Lamb, which conducted the poll said: “The results show the huge amount of work mothers put in to making sure family life runs smoothly, and the sheer number of things they get done every day will make familiar reading for many.”

Phew, when you break it all down, it's impressive, eh? For family meal recipes, go to www.SimplyBeefandLamb.co.uk.

january / february 2016 - families south east

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l l l l l l l l education news Oakfield Preparatory School Educating Boys & Girls aged 2-11 for over 125 years

Oakfield: Where children are encouraged to be the best they can be.

Register now for 2+ & 3+ 2016 entry

Bishop Challoner School Shortlands A Catholic Independent School for Girls & Boys 3 -18 Years

Welcoming All Faiths

“Children in the EYFS setting receive an outstanding start to their school careers and the provision of children’s well-being is outstanding” ISI Report May 2014 Contact us for 2+ & 3+ September 2016 entry: DL: 0208 655 7691 admissions@oakfield.dulwich.sch.uk

Nursery Open Morning Wednesday 13th January 2016 9.30am - 11.30am admissions@bishopchallonerschool.com www.bishopchallonerschool.com to pre-register

www.oakfield.dulwich.sch.uk/admissions

Award-winning tuition Maths & English ag a ges es 5 -14

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Brixton

020 3713 9722

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New Cross Gate

020 3714 1229

Sydenham

020 3700 2611

www.explorelearning.co.uk 4

families south east - january / february 2016

familiesse.co.uk

l l l l l l l l Charter School East Dulwich has temporary home The Charter School East Dulwich (TCSED) has secured the use of the former Lewisham and Southwark College campus close to the redeveloped areas of Burgess Park, as a temporary building when the new school opens in September.

A significant portion of the Silverthorne Building and grounds on the Southampton Way site will be TCSED’s temporary home until September 2018, when the school moves into its permanent home on the site currently occupied by Dulwich Community Hospital.

Headteacher Alex Crossman said: “This is a change from our plan to develop temporary school facilities on the hospital site. We were confident we could build a great temporary school on the hospital site.

However, we acknowledged families’ understandable concerns regarding the challenges imposed by temporary buildings and proximity to two major construction projects. We are very fortunate that a large fit-for-purpose site has now become available, addressing these concerns head-on.”

The temporary site will offer more classrooms, a library, art room, assembly hall and dining spaces, outdoor space for play and for outdoor learning.

The Charter School East Dulwich will be a co-educational, non-selective, inclusive secondary school serving all communities near the school. Read more at www.chartereastdulwich.org.uk.

Streatham student selected for the National Youth Orchestra Streatham & Clapham High School GDST (SCHS) lower-sixth music student Holly Jackson has been offered a full place in the National Youth Orchestra (NYO), one of only sixteen cellists selected from throughout the UK. The NYO tutors were impressed

by Holly’s playing and ensemble skills during her auditions, and to be chosen for the finest youth orchestra in the country is an outstanding achievement.

As an NYO musician, Holly will become part of a tradition which has included many of Britain’s greatest instrumentalists, conductors and composers.

For more Streatham & Clapham High School (GDST) news, and to register for open days, go to www.schs.gdst.net.

Addey and Stanhope sixth formers take over

From Bromley High to the East End A recent Bromley High School (GDST) student has been cast in a starring role in EastEnders.

Accomplished actor Tilly Keeper (U6 2015), returned to her school in December to watch ‘High School Musical’ with news of her leading role still embargoed. Tilly will play Michelle Mitchell, daughter of Phil Mitchell and Lisa Fowler, and is set to make a huge impact on the BBC’s most successful soap.

Read more at www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/eastenders.

For Bromley High School news, including taster day dates and admissions criteria, go to www.bromleyhigh.gdst.net/fse1.

familiesse.co.uk

Sixth form business studies students at Addey and Stanhope School in Deptford recently took time out of the classroom to run a two-day conference for their contemporaries. The first focused on careers in sport, arts and media, with leading actors from the National Theatre and an up-and-coming DJ/ presenter exploring the joys and tribulations of their careers. Day two saw guest speakers address a number of life skills issues ranging from careers to personal finance.

“Inspiration for our event grew out of an infamous statement by former Fifa president Sebb Blatter back in 2004, that women’s football would be more popular if players wore tighter shorts,” explained 17 year-old pupil Danielle Blake. “Such attitudes persist and continue to undermine young women’s interest in sport and its being taken seriously.”

Joining her in fronting lively Q&A workshops were actors Madeleine Worrall and Laura Elphinstone, and Shahlaa Tahira, a freelance presenter, producer and DJ known for work on the BBC, 4Music and Reprezent Radio.

“What students were left in no doubt about was the hard work and persistence required to achieve some success in these professions,” said Addey and Stanhope headteacher Jan Shapiro. “And the speakers were responsible in pointing out that success does not equate with making fortunes but having the chance to do something about which you are passionate.”

On the second day, speakers from the CBI and Goldsmiths University visited the school to provide talks about careers, CV writing and personal finance. Aimed at year 12 and 13 students in a lecture format, it was again sixth-formers who conceived and organised the conference, and 100 pupils attended the presentation.

Addey and Stanhope school is celebrating three hundred years of quality education in Deptford for Deptford. For more school news and admissions criteria, see www.as.lewisham.sch.uk.

january / february 2016 - families south east

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l l l l l l l l education news Inspiring English and maths tuition

Find a local school online

Explore Learning centres provide maths and English tuition for 5 to 14 year olds of all abilities.

The centres are open seven days a week to fit into busy family lives.

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 in England and the Curriculum for Excellence in Scotland.

Find out how your child can benefit from Explore Learning membership today by booking a free trial at www.explorelearning.co.uk.

For parents yet to make the pivotal decision of which primary schools to apply to for September, this year’s admissions deadline is 15 January.

Data collected by FindASchool shows that in 2014, 46% of schools in England were oversubscribed (44% secondary schools, 47% primaries) rising to 66% in London. The average cut-off distance for all oversubscribed schools in England is 2.3km for primary schools and 4.8km for secondary schools, while in London there are catchment areas as small as 100 metres.

FindASchool is a comprehensive guide to 95% of all state schools in the UK, showing admissions criteria, Ofsted ratings, exam results, class sizes, pupil make up, whether or not they are oversubscribed; and more. Search by area, address or postcode for an overview of all your local schools, including those you are more likely to be able to get into. To start your search, go to www.192.com/schools.

Independent school Spring open days For more school contacts and open day updates, click ‘education’ at www.familiesse.co.uk Bishop Challoner School Nursery open morning 13 January, 11+ Taster Days 26 January and 24 February, 228 Bromley Road, Shortlands, Kent BR2 0BS, 020 8460 3546, www.bishopchallonerschool.com Blackheath Preparatory School Regular term time open mornings, 4 St Germans Place, Blackheath SE3 0NJ, 020 8858 0692, www.blackheathprepschool.com Bromley High School GDST Regular Taster Days for ages 4+, 7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+, Blackbrook Lane BR1, 020 8781 7000, www.bromleyhigh.gdst.net/fse1 Dulwich College Tours by appointment, Dulwich Common SE21 7LD, 020 8693 3601, www.dulwich.org.uk Herne Hill School Tours by appointment, The Old Vicarage, 127 Herne Hill SE24 9LY, 020 7274 6336, www.hernehillschool.co.uk

More ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ schools...

Figures published by Ofsted in December showed a record 1.4 million more pupils getting the best possible start in ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’ schools compared to 2010.

The overall proportion of schools rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ has risen by 16 percentage points since 2010, with 84% of schools now achieving top Ofsted ratings.

Education secretary Nicky Morgan said: “The landscape of English education has been transformed over the past five years through raising both standards and expectations. Thanks to the hard work of teachers across the country and our ambitious programme of reforms, there are now 1.4 million more pupils being taught in ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ schools compared to 2010.”

Oakfield Preparatory School 7 and 19 January, 10 March, plus group tours once a month on Tuesdays, 125-128 Thurlow Park Road SE21 8HP, 020 8670 4206, www.oakfield.dulwich.sch.uk

... But tougher measures for ‘inadequate’ academies

Most UK secondary schools are academies, with more than 5000 in total. Academies are state-funded and independent schools; however they receive their funding from the government which is different from local authority funded state schools.

Recently the government has assessed what actions are taken when academies aren’t meeting the national standards.

Education secretary Nicky www.thameschristiancollege.org.uk Morgan has announced that the coasting schools programme will be extended to academies. As a result, when academies receive an inadequate rating from Ofsted they could be taken over by another academy chain in the bid to improve results across the board.

Ofsted found that 99 academies had dropped from an ‘outstanding’ to ‘good’ report meaning that Personal attention. intervention is needed. With Great results. underperformance deemed Affordable. unacceptable, academies will Scholarships available have to show that they have the possibility to improve; or th OPEN MORNING TUESDAY 8 MARCH 11.00-13.00 they will be moved over to another sponsor. The new For full list of open mornings, enrolment and fee details contact 020 7228 3933 tougher measures aim to Thames Christian College, London SW11 2HB. improve standards in Five minutes’ walk from Clapham Junction. schools.

Smaller school.

Bigger opportunities.

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families south east - january / february 2016

Pointer’s Preparatory School Visits by appointment, Stratheden Road, Blackheath SE3 7TH, 020 8293 1331, www.pointers-school.co.uk Riverston School Tours on Tuesday mornings by appointment, Eltham Road SE12 8UF, 020 8318 4327, www.riverstonschool.co.uk Rosemead Preparatory School 28 January and 8 March, plus Tuesday morning tours by appointment, Pre prep Elmcourt Road SE27, Prep department 70 Thurlow Park Road SE21, 020 8670 5865, www.rosemeadprepschool.org.uk Streatham + Clapham High School GDST 1 March and 3 May, Prep school, Wavertree Road SW2 3SR, 020 8674 6912.

Senior School, 42 Abbotswood Road SW16, 020 8677 8400, www.schs.gdst.net Sydenham High School GDST 16 March, Junior school 15 Westow Hill SE26 6BL, 020 8557 7000, 10 March, Senior school 19 Westow Hill SE26, 020 8557 7000, www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net Thames Christian College 8 March, Wye Street SW11 2HB, 020 7228 3933, www.thameschristiancollege.org.uk.

familiesse.co.uk

l l l l l l l l Independent Co-educational 3-11 years. Founded 1942. ISA & IAPS

What makes us different is the difference we make

School bus service from the Dulwich/Herne Hill & Streatham/ Clapham areas

Open Mornings for 2017 entry Pre-Prep & Prep Wednesday 16 March 9.30 - 11am

Senior & Sixth Form Thursday 10 March 9.30 - 11am Wednesday 29 June 6.30 - 8pm (including D’Art exhibition)

Please see our website for details of further Open Events and Taster Sessions.

15 & 19 Westwood Hill, London SE26 6BL www.sydenhamhighschool.gdst.net

020 8557 7004 admissions@syd.gdst.net

Inspiring Brilliant Futures

Open Mornings Thursday 28th January 9.30 - 11.00 Tuesday 8th March 9.30 - 11.00 Tours of the school are held on Tuesday mornings Bursaries available

020-8670 5865 email: admissions@rosemeadprepschool.org.uk www.rosemeadprepschool.org.uk

Developing independent thinkers and learners Prep School Open Days Tuesday Tuesday

1 March 3 May

9 am - 10.45 am 9 am - 10.45 am

Register for Open Days www.schs.gdst.net

Streatham & Clapham Preparatory School Nursery and Prep School (girls 3-11) Wavertree Road, SW2 3SR 020 8674 6912 prep@schs.gdst.net

familiesse.co.uk

january / february 2016 - families south east

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New year – “Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever” Keri Russel

Do you want a fresh start this New Year? Families asked The Vale Practice to share their wisdom, practical tips and suggestions to help those resolutions stick this time

Tips to make change stick The New Year brings on a sudden urge to change our lives, based solely on a date on the calendar.

We jump headlong into a new lifestyle, swearing to be healthier, fitter, eat only soups, and never go near chocolate/ alcohol/ cigarettes again. Or perhaps we desire a better work life balance, or to spend more time with the family. Sadly, a couple months down the line those resolutions are usually a distant memory and we begin to slide back into old patterns and habits.

So what goes wrong? Change “requires deciding how you no longer want to be” [1] and trying to force yourself to change before you are ready isn’t likely to work. Psychologists Carlo DiClemente and James O. Prochaska discovered that there are actually five stages of change [2], and the more gratifying ‘ACTION’ and ‘MAINTENANCE’ stages, which we often jump straight into, are in fact the final two.

What should come first are the ‘PRECONTEMPLATION’, ‘CONTEMPLATION’ and ‘PREPARATION’ phases, which are key to the process. Without the proper planning and preparation, leaping head first into the ‘Action’ phase is likely to end in failure. So this year, if you’re contemplating a change, try following this advice from the team at The Vale Practice to help turn your resolutions into reality.

Begin at the beginning ‘Change is about breaking the habit of your old self and reinventing a new self’ - Dr Joe Dispenza[1].

According to Lyndall Cowie, hypnotherapist at The Vale Practice, it’s our beliefs and thinking which usually keep us stuck in old patterns and habits, and so that is where she starts with her clients. By discussing their core beliefs around an issue and helping them change the focus of their thoughts she helps clients understand how deeply unconscious behaviour patterns have become. She states that ‘if one is conscious about their behaviour, they usually

Bumps,Babies & Beyond

Effective, safe treatment and care for you and your child, from pregnancy to early years and onwards through life.

The Vale Practice

Osteopathy, Cranial Osteopathy, Acupuncture, Nutrition, Massage, Counselling and much more...

64 Grove Vale, London SE22 8DT

T. 020 8299 9798

www.thevalepractice.co.uk E. info@thevalepractice.co.uk

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would not choose it.’ By changing behaviour from an unconscious action to a conscious one, people can make better choices and choose a different outcome.

It’s not easy to unlearn old habits of a lifetime, and they’re not going to change overnight. So recognise that what you’re undertaking may at times be difficult, and that you may experience setbacks or come across obstacles along your way. But with increased awareness you can choose how best to deal with these, in order to overcome them and continue to make positives changes to your life.

Preparation is key Devote plenty of time and energy to creating a good plan that will set you up for success. Acknowledge barriers that may hinder you in the future, such as time, expense, bother and fear, and create strategies which you can implement, should these begin to impact on your aims. Talking to a therapist or counsellor may help you recognise past stumbling blocks, and find solutions to avoid them this time around. If underlying aches and pains are holding you back from tackling a physical challenge, an osteopath may be able to offer advice and help with these, and a nutritionist can advise and tailor a diet to integrate healthy food into your lifestyle, not only to lose weight (if that is your goal), but in order to give you more energy and mental clarity for the tasks ahead.

Value yourself and acknowledge why you want to make the change, prepare properly, and you’re more likely to find success and make lasting changes.

Tell someone Involving friends and family in your resolution, either to join in your activities or to provide encouragement and support, is a great source of motivation, which is essential for lasting success. Making a commitment to improve your lifestyle along with someone else will make you more likely to stick with it. If you’d prefer to not involve those close to you, you may find counsellors or GPs are not only a source of encouragement, but can offer advice and help along the way.

Be positive Many of our resolutions state the negative, such as “I will give up junk food.” Instead, try to be more positive and focus on the benefits you’ll gain, by stating “I’ll eat more healthily so that I have more energy and feel healthier.” Don’t think about what you’re about to lose, but rather all that you’ll be gaining. And if you can include someone else into your goal, so that it benefits them as well, you’ll be more likely to keep to your resolutions. So, state “I’ll eat more healthily so that I’ll have more energy and feel healthier so I can play football with my son” and you’ll be even more likely to succeed.

families south east - january / february 2016

Adapt and change Always be willing to revisit your goals and adjust them if needed. This is very different from giving up on them. If your original enthusiasm to change your life lead to biting off more than you can chew, for example by resolving to run the London marathon when you haven’t run since you were a teenager, you may be setting yourself up for defeat. But by breaking your goal down to the smallest possible pieces, choosing to tackle more manageable tasks, you’ll create a habit that sticks.

Amberin Fur, osteopath and founder of The Vale Practice, suggests a staggered approach to building up a new exercise routine, which allows your body time to start conditioning without straining your muscles. As you begin to feel fitter and healthier you’ll look forward to achieving your next level of fitness.

Reward yourself Motivation is a key factor in successful behaviour change and sometimes staying motivated requires a bit of a helping hand. Signing up to daily blogs and newsletters can keep you focused and encourage you to continue making positive changes to your life. But if you find your energy levels waning or you’re feeling a bit worn out, acupuncture and reflexology have been shown to combat feelings of exhaustion, and an Indian head massage helps to release tension and restore energy levels.

When you achieve one of your goals, reward yourself! A well-deserved relaxing or rejuvenating massage, a new fitness accessory or an evening out with the family is chance not only to celebrate your progress, but will also motivate you to keep working towards your resolution.

Happy New Year from all the team at The Vale Practice, we wish you a wonderful 2016, and the best of luck with all your resolutions!

Find help The Vale Practice therapy team includes counsellors, osteopaths, acupuncturists, homeopaths, NLP practitioners, hypnotherapists, maternity specialists, chiropodists, and more.

Open 9am-10pm Mondays to Fridays and 9am-6pm Saturdays at 64 Grove Vale, East Dulwich SE22 8DT. For a health MOT or to book an appointment, call 020 8299 9798 or go to www.thevalepractice.co.uk.

References 1. Dr Joe Dispenza. (2009) The Art of Change.

[Online] Available from: http://drjoedispenza.com/ index.php?page_id=The-Art-of-Change.

[Accessed 23rd November 2015].

2. DiClemente, C.C., Prochaska, J.O., 1982.

Self-change and therapy change of smoking behaviour: a comparison of processes of change in cessation and maintenance. Addictive Behaviors, 7(2): 133-42.

familiesse.co.uk

– New you

Babysitting and Flexible Childcare

Improve your financial condition

S 100% DB D CHECKE RS ARE CHILDC

By Michelle Debono When considering new year resolutions, have you considered your financial health?

Do you have excess disposable income gathering in your low interest rate bank account or, even worse, are you frittering it all away each month? There are easy steps you can take to overhaul your finances and create a notable lump sum over the medium to long term.

1. Become reacquainted with your finances. Understanding what you have and what you owe is crucial to identifying your financial priorities.

2. Pay off debts and build an emergency fund. If your investment makes you 9% a year but your debt is costing you 19%, the debt should clearly take priority.

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3. Set a specific goal. When we decide to ‘save’ without a goal it is easy to become sidetracked. Instead of “save more money,” your goal should be aligned with something you are trying to achieve and should have specific actions aligned to it.

4. Determine how you will invest for each goal. What is the time frame you are investing over? Are you able to utilise tax allowances? How will you ensure your investments keep pace with inflation?

5. Calculate how much you can afford to assign to each goal on a monthly basis. Regular reviews with a Wealth Manager can help to decide when to increase or decrease contributions.

6. Automate important payments. This will ensure you do not incur late payment penalties or, even worse, damage your credit rating. Secondly it will ensure you are actually doing what you set out to do.

Michelle is offering Families readers a complimentary and confidential financial review.

Email: Michelle.debono@sjpp.co.uk or telephone: 0795 762 3762 to arrange.

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Learn a new skill, from home Have you ever wished you could act or write for stage or screen, take amazing photographs, perform a pop song live, be a stand up comic or set up a successful eBay business?

Pingbeam College offers experienced professionals who teach their craft on a one to one basis through live online tutorials, backed up with handpicked resource materials.

You can learn at your own pace at home with your own mentor, saving time and money, and finish with new confidence and a certificate of achievement to add to your CV. Courses cover music, performing arts, photography, business and beauty treatments, and are aimed at beginners, improvers or advanced students, with taster lessons available. Read more at www.pingbeamcollege.com or see the Pingbeam College Facebook page.

First aid for life Make this the year you learn first aid and you could make a real difference in a case of emergency.

Balham-based First Aid for Life is an award winning and fully regulated first aid training provider and the leading supplier of exemplary first aid training in Greater London.

The organisation offers approved EFAW full day courses and short courses for Emergency First Aid and babies and children; intensive one day Paediatric First Aid training to meet Ofsted requirements; as well as specific courses for schools, nurseries, sports organisations and carers of adults and teenagers. The courses use varied and practical teaching, illustrated with real-life examples to equip participants with the skills and confidence to know what to do should the unexpected happen. See more at www.firstaidforlife.org.uk.

Streatham & Clapham OTSchool TJunior S ON TUESDAY

at Streatham & Clapham Prep School

s a great place to meet other parents and carers s a fun time for babies and toddlers (up to 4 years) s an opportunity to socialise and share ideas and support s a stimulating and safe environment s stay and play while enjoying a coffee (or tea!)

Tots on Tuesday takes place at 10 am until 12 noon every Tuesday morning during term time.

Prep School 7AVERTREE 2D SW2 3SR 020 8674 6912 www.schs.gdst.net

familiesse.co.uk

january / february 2016 - families south east

9

l l l l l l l l family life When to

unravel the web of deceit in divorce

By Mandeep Clair

Unhappy ex-spouses hoping to get their divorce settlements reviewed following a landmark judgement last month are being urged to check their facts first.

It was predicted that the Supreme Court rulings in the cases of Alison Sharland and Varsha Gohil would open the floodgates to thousands of couples wanting to revisit agreements made under a financial consent order, where one party had deliberately concealed their true financial worth during divorce proceedings.

In both cases - Sharland v Sharland and Gohil v Gohil - the Supreme Court gave the former wives the right to re-open their divorce settlements on the grounds of fraud, which the two women claimed had led them to accept far lower financial settlements than they otherwise would have done.

Explained family law expert Mandeep Clair of Grant Saw solicitors: “The message from the Sharland and Gohil judgements is the fundamental principle that ‘fraud unravels all’, but before anyone rushes to take their former spouse back to court, they need to be sure as to whether they have just a grumbling dissatisfaction or legitimate grounds.”

Critical to proving misrepresentation will be showing that the ex-spouse lied or deliberately distorted their position when they made the original financial disclosure. This statement will have set out

10

what each declared to be a full and accurate list of their assets and liabilities at that point, and will be the basis for seeing whether either party has tried to make themselves appear less well off. It won’t be enough for an unhappy ex-spouse to point to an improved financial position without evidence.

She added: “An example could be where the value of property or a company has increased significantly. In many cases, it can be very hard to pinpoint whether this was due to deliberate misrepresentation or is simply the result of an unexpectedly good performance on the part of the asset. Demonstrating fraudulent intent will be clearer cut if someone denied owning a particular asset at the time, or had received an inheritance which they didn’t declare.

“Whether or not Mrs Sharland and Mrs Gohil reach a different financial settlement is difficult to predict, but what is clear is that in cases of fraud such as this, an agreed financial settlement will be set aside. Full financial disclosure is a duty to the Court and the message to anyone currently facing divorce is to recognise that you must be open and honest. You otherwise risk having the case reopened in future and if that were to happen, you would be the one bearing the costs.”

In the case of Alison Sharland, she agreed a divorce settlement with her husband but later

families south east - january / february 2016

discovered that he intended to float his company, making his shares much more valuable. For Varsha Gohil, she had thought her husband was concealing his assets, but lacking the necessary evidence agreed a divorce settlement. When he was later convicted of money laundering, the true picture came to light, and although some of the material obtained in the criminal case was ruled inadmissible evidence in the divorce, there was sufficient enough to support the finding of non-disclosure.

In terms of procedure, both judgements strongly suggest that applications to reopen divorce settlements on grounds of fraud should be made to the family court, which has power to set aside its own financial orders - and not by appeal, or by commencing a new action.

There is no substitute for good quality legal advice at all stages of a marriage break-up.

For advice and help with any family law matter, contact Mandeep on 020 8305 4235 or email her: mclair@grantsaw.co.uk.

Grant Saw Solicitors offer a first fixed fee appointment of up to one hour for £100 + VAT to all clients in respect of relationship breakdown and/ or issues concerning children. Read more at www.grantsaw.com.

familiesse.co.uk

l l l l l l l l

Creating confident children

By Liat Hughes Joshi

Don’t force them into situations they aren’t comfortable with In most scenarios, one of the worst things you can do for a young child who’s unsure is to push them in at the deep end with something when they aren’t ready. They need to trust you when taking on new experiences and doing this damages that trust.

Confidence is just as important in life - if not more so - than a brace of A grades or endless extra-curricular skills. It’s vital to emotional wellbeing and something most of us hope our children will develop.

Confidence is about being comfortable with who you are, willing to give things a go - even if you’re not sure you’ll succeed - and trusting your own abilities and judgement.

But how can we instil this feeling in our children, particularly if it doesn’t come naturally to them?

Accept your child’s starting point Not all children - or adults - are confident by nature (wouldn’t life be boring if we were all the same?) and whilst we can encourage self-belief, transforming a shy or anxious child into a ‘life and soul of the party’ type, is probably an unrealistic aim.

Try to avoid making comments to your child such as how you wish they were more confident, or less shy because, in effect, you’re saying you don’t value them as they are - a real confidence crusher.

Accept your child’s personality and ‘starting point’; it might be different from yours, their sibling’s, friends’ or classmates’ and that’s absolutely fine.

breathing. But if you tell them everything they do is wonderful all the time, positivity loses power. Keep praise for when it’s truly warranted and focus on effort rather than just results. This way, when they do do something amazing, your comments will have more impact.

Find their forte and allow it to flourish If your child doesn’t do so well in academic work, or the usual extra-curricular activities at school, this can make their self-esteem fragile. Seek opportunities for them to try other, more unusual activities out of school and highlight positive personality traits such as being especially kind or a good organiser.

Take small steps to encourage confidence Find opportunities to stretch just a bit beyond what your son or daughter is comfortable with at a time.

So that could be going to their friend’s house with them initially, then you just staying for a little while at the start, then next time, they might be happy to go alone.

Step back sometimes and let them ‘have a go’ - land that helicopter!

Work out what their fear is Often a child will have niggling worries holding them back in a specific situation. So perhaps “If I put my hand up in class, I might get the answer wrong and the other children will laugh at me.” Pin down their concern - although preschool children might struggle to articulate their fear.

Address their concern and provide plenty of reassurance that they will be okay, that what others think doesn’t really matter and that you’re there for them.

Talk about similar situations you experienced as a child, when you were afraid of something, and how it worked out for you.

Keep praise special These days, there’s a tendency to be super-positive and heap on the “fabulous, you’re the best child ever!” comments every other second - sometimes it feels like we should be praising our kids simply for

Helicopter parenting - hovering over your child, stepping in to resolve the slightest issue or preventing them from failing - is a barrier to building confidence. Children need to find their own solutions, attempt things their way sometimes and take sensible risks. Sure, you can guide and advise but try not to jump in and take over too quickly.

Whether it’s allowing your three-year-old to choose her own outfit or your ten-year-old to walk to the post box alone, letting go is a crucial confidence builder.

About the author 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). Liat is on Twitter @liathughesjoshi.

South East London BOOK A FREE TRIAL CLASS TODAY! 020 3793 6843 www.freedomacademy.co.uk info@freedomacademy.co.uk

Ages 3 yrs - 19 yrs

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january / february 2016 - families south east

11

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.

Congratulations everyone, we made it to the other side and now find ourselves looking down one end of a shiny new year and all that implies - insert resolutions here, here and here. Thank heck cheques are a rarity these days because for me, the date change takes a bit of bedding in. It won’t be until about April that I fully believe in 2016 - like freshly bought shoes, it won’t feel comfortable until I’ve had a couple of months walking around, getting used to the squeaks and my heels have stopped rubbing. As for the world of books, well like an elderly dormouse, the publishing world takes a bit of prodding before it opens its eyes to spring but here are a few choice items you should expect to see in the shops once our beloved industry has found its feet again.

HOW TO FIND GOLD by Viviane Schwarz - Walker rrp £11.99.

From the immensely talented author and illustrator of There Are Cats in This Book and its follow up - er - There Are No Cats in This Book, this time the action takes place on a voyage when a small girl and a crocodile practise their secret-keeping faces before setting off to find treasure. And there’s nothing quite like a quest to start the year off, eh? In my case, it isn’t so much as seeking a cache of gold as tracking down my best grey cardi. How sad is that.

STANLEY THE AMAZING KNITTING CAT by Emily McKenzie - Bloomsbury rrp £6.99. Maybe I could get Stanley to knit me another one. No, seriously. All knitting is alchemy to me and my cack-hands being what they are, you will definitely get a better result from a pair of number 10s if you give them to the family mouser. My late mum was an ace knitter and my little sister Crustie, like the eponymous pet here, can knock up mittens, scarves, anything at the drop of a bobble-hat. The only problem is, unlike the technicolour magic woven in this yarn (s’cuse the pun), my sister bought a job lot of sludge coloured wool about 20 years ago and uses it for all garments. Recently I dropped one of the gloves she’d made me in a muddy field and I couldn’t find that again either.

BAXTER’S BOOK by Hrefna Bragadottir - Nosy Crow rrp £6.99.

Coming in February, Baxter the big furry, um, blue thing loves tales about scary wolves and cuddly bunny rabbits and would love to star in his own story - wouldn’t we all, darling - but the judges at the audition (do keep up) decide he looks, well, a bit weird and dash his dreams. But hold on, what is that up there on the shelf? Could it be his own story after all? Now, I know I’m a broken record blah blah but just you try transferring the concept of a page-turning story-within-a story to an e-reader or tablet without your brain blurring and your eyes glazing over.

Proper books like this are so important.

HORTON AND THE KWUGGERBUG & MORE LOST STORIES - Harper Collins rrp £12.99. MAJOR PUBLISHING EVENT ALERT KLAXON (that woke ‘em up): newly discovered Dr Seuss - it doesn’t get much better than that, no? With appearances from our favourite hippy elephant (sorry, but he was there in the ‘50s, long before Elmer, the trippy pachyderm from near to Beckenham Tescos) and the dear Grinch, this is a stash of yet more stuff from the good doctor, previously unavailable in standard book form. Apparently the original artwork is kept in the Mandeville Collections Library in San Diego, a building that looks like Seuss built it himself. No really.

You have my permission to google it. Wow! BEAR AND HARE - MINE! by Emily Gravett - Macmillan rrp £5.99. New from the queen of the board book (that’s serious royalty in our trade), a battle ensues between best friends as they go for a stroll and silly Hare has no intention of sharing any of the delights they encounter on the way, including an ice-cream. My two youngest always shared between themselves - thumps, pinches, bites. In equal portions.

ZOO BOY by Sophie Thompson - Faber rrp £5.99. If you get the opportunity to escape the children, put on an unstained frock and go see the stupendous production of Guys & Dolls at the Savoy (surely the most beautiful theatre in London) before it finishes in March because you will come away thrilled and exhausted by the barnstorming (yes, she

wears gingham suspenders and a straw hat) Miss Adelaide in what is already one of the best musical performances of 2016, and the clocks haven’t even gone forward yet. Well somehow, in between learning her lines, gargling the vocals and practising her million costume changes, the brilliant actress who plays her also wrote a cracking debut novel for young readers about a lad who can converse with animals. I’m speechless.

SUPERHERO STREET by Phil Earle - Orion rrp £6.99.

But not for long. Another for February and another for the growing reader, late of this parish (whispers: now residing in the East Dulwich of Yorkshire - aka Hebden Bridge those lucky Northerners), Mister Earl tells a terrific tale of an accidental superhero whose initial acts of imaginative derring-do include suggesting that his new triplet baby brothers - yep, his dad cried so hard at the news that ma was expecting three, they had to sandbag the front step - be named Bat, Spider and Super. But there is something even more terrifying than a treble buggy round the corner of Storey Street...

JUICEMAN by Andrew Cooper - Michael Joseph rrp £16.99.

This sounds like a fictional character from the motley crowd of curious fellow villain catchers in the adventure above and, truth be told, judging by his appearances on breakfast telly, he’d look very good in tights and a lycra leotard, but the man in the title is indeed on a real life mission for the good of mankind. We don’t do new year diets or spiritually bendy things in our house but our best purchases ever was a smoothie maker and with recipes like Green Ninja Juice and the Recovery Shake - as I mentioned before, I got the gin gene not the knitting one there’s something here for all the family.

Annabel Karmel’s BUSY MUM’S COOKBOOK - Ebury rrp £20.

Due late Feb, at this price, you better hope it does what it says on the packet - “fuss free” cooking for “time-strapped” mothers. When I look at images of our Annabel, she looks so perfect, so finished, I can’t quite imagine her grating carrots with a foot of newborn posset down her back whilst simultaneously preventing murder between toddler siblings at the table and kicking the cat out of the clean laundry basket before rushing off to pick up the car from its MOT but, ho hum, I’m sure she does it all the time...

THE CALM AND HAPPY TODDLER by Dr Rebecca Chicot Vermilion rrp £12.99. There’s a whole section here on sharing and how to encourage turn-taking and also stuff on fibbing, aggression and risk-taking but, importantly, it passes one significant test for this erstwhile owner of toddlers - the bite test. You’d be amazed how few so-called ‘complete’ guides to parenting actually include any advice whatsoever on what to do when your smallest gnome consistently communicates with his chompers. I was forever apologising at nursery pick-up after being shown still fresh indentations in a tiny arm. Meanwhile, my son had decided that the ‘thinking chair,’ where he was exiled to each time he got his teeth out at ‘carpet time,’ was a fabulous place to sit and much more comfy than a bony old rug on the floor with the others.

That same child does all his thinking on the sofa now, a set of headphones jammed on his loaf and an X-Box controller to hand. He doesn’t bite people any more, not unless they support Man Utd. Meanwhile, Trasha has a significant birthday to celebrate this spring and she has chosen her bestest mum to share it with her so I must have done something correct in the parenting dept. Yep, rather than cause an argument between her and her sister and brother, I alone will accompany Trasha in the footsteps of the original hoofing Miss Adelaide, as previously mentioned, as we head off to Noo Yoik. I’m not one for rocking the boat, me! Hey, suddenly I’m getting used to the idea of 2016 pretty quickly afterall.

The Bookseller Crow, 50 Westow St. Crystal Palace, London SE19 3AF Telephone: 020 8771 8831 email: info@booksellercrow.co.uk www.booksellercrow.co.uk 12

families south east - january fam i l i e s /sfebruary e/ december . c o .2016 u k 2015 november

fami-

october 2015 - families south east

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What’sNew Doctor on call Working parents lose an average of three hours a month taking children to medical appointments or staying at home to look after a sick child.

Sixty seven per cent of parents have taken a day off work in the last 12 months, with the burden still falling mainly on women 72% were most likely to take time off work to look after ill offspring, and 59% of parents struggled to make last minute childcare arrangements when an illness occurred.

The research was carried out by PushDoctor.co.uk, Europe’s leading on-demand video GP appointment service. CEO and founder Eren Ozagir said: “Concerned parents often lose a proportion of their working week trying to meet inconvenient daytime doctor’s appointments, or taking time off to look after them. The last thing parents need when a child falls ill is the worry and stress of work commitments and keeping up appearances.”

PushDoctor is an NHS-commissioned online service connecting patients with friendly and highly skilled, GMC-registered UK General Practitioners wherever they are. Via secure video consultations, GPs are able to conduct examinations and provide medical expertise on a wide range of health concerns.

For more information and to book an online consultation, visit www.PushDoctor.co.uk or visit the App Store.

The first doll in space Stargazer Lottie is very special - she is the first doll to visit the International Space Station, joining British astronaut Tim Peake when he took off in December.

Lottie was designed by six year-old Abigail, a space-loving Canadian who had the idea of an astronomy themed doll to help other children learn about space. Created as a special edition by London-based toy company Arklu in collaboration with the European Space Agency, the doll was winner of the space.com ‘Little Scientist’ Space Age Award at the New York Toy Fair 2015.

Charming! You can see Abigail and Lottie’s story by typing ‘Stargazer Lottie Doll in Space’ into Youtube, and buy your own, rrp £19.99 from independent toy stores, Debenhams, Ocado and Amazon.

£1 0

Knitted mitts Oh these take us back - perfect knitted mittens, just like nanna used to make, complete with detachable ‘through the sleeves’ ribbon so they don’t get lost!

These are fleece lined as well to keep tiny fingers cosy in winter, and have contrasting thumbs, just for fun. Multi stripe knitted mittens in sizes small to extra large, £12.99 from Toby Tiger, 01903 766 777, www.tobytiger.co.uk.

SE PE SS R IO N

RUGBY PLAY SESSIONS FOR KIDS AGE 2 - 7 YRS OLD IN DULWICH

Helpful peeps Helpfulpeeps is a new social network that connects people from all walks of life who are in need of support with potential helpers - for free.

Founded in Bristol by Simon Hills and Saf Nazeer, helpfulpeeps was developed to facilitate any call for help, whether it be looking for assistance with gardening, proofreading a CV or tech support. Users create a profile and are able to post requests for help or respond to offer it, and acquire ‘karma points’ after helping a fellow user. The service is also building a large following in the charity sector, with organisations finding the site to be a particularly effective method of finding volunteers.

Helpfulpeeps is young but already proving to be a great success, with a fast-growing following in Bristol and London, and users in 45 countries worldwide. To sign up or read more, go to www.helpfulpeeps.com.

DEVELOPING BOOK A FREE TRIAL TODAY! CALL US: 01252 794150 EMAIL US: sales@trytimekidsrugby.com

www.trytimekidsrugby.com

Patchwork floors Are you planning a house makeover this spring? If so, how about turning your floor into a talking piece.

Alhambra Tiles imports niche decorative tiles and marble from Spain, including encaustic tiles, patterned porcelain tiles, handpainted terracotta tiles, and other wonderful options. Choose from pastel patchworks, black and white options (geometric or floral), pinky patchworks and yellow ones. They make lovely kitchen splashbacks, or singly as coasters, too.

Alhambra Home & Garden has a shop at 148 High Street Buildings, Kirkdale, Sydenham SE26, and is also online at www.alhambrahome.co.uk.

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

familiesse.co.uk

january / february 2016 - families south east

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THE BABY SHOW

SPARK4KIDS CODING WORKSHOPS

YOGA AT THE SHARD

THE HORNIMAN MUSEUM

What’sOn Diary Dates for Grownups THE BABY SHOW

FIRST AID FOR LIFE

19-21 February, EXCEL LONDON, Royal Victoria Dock, 1 Western Gateway E16 1XL, 0871 231 0844, www.thebabyshow.co.uk The UK’s leading parenting event for bump, baby and beyond will be home to over 200 exhibitors showcasing the very best baby and infant essentials, with show discounts and free Emma’s Diary Shop & Drop services. Parenting experts will share their tips on all aspects of life after baby, there’ll be fashion shows, demonstrations and entertainment for all the family. Open 9.30am-5.30pm daily, admission £20 on the day, or less when booked ahead. Babies and under 12s go free.

15, 23 and 27 January, 13 + 26 February 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, £60.

YOGA AT THE SHARD Saturdays, THE VIEW FROM THE SHARD, Joiner Street, London Bridge, London, SE1 9RN, 0844 4997111, www.yogasphere.eu

VALENTINE’S DAY 14 February, your house Rekindle the romance with a candlelit supper once the children have gone to bed and remind each other where it all started. (Just don’t forget there’s a school run the next morning...)

BANK OF ENGL

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.

BANK OF ENGLAND MUSEUM

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.

The Small Ads

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.

Events and Attractions 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.

THE BATTLE FOR TOAD HALL, 15-19 February. Mr Toad and his friends Ratty, Mole and Badger, crept slowly through the secret tunnel into Toad Hall, ready to commence battle and claim back Toad’s home from those pesky weasels - will they be triumphant? A costumed storyteller will bring to life the classic stories from ‘The Wind in the Willows’ in these interactive and fun sessions.

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.

DINOSAURS: MONSTER FAMILIES, from 13 February. A captivating experience for all the family, this new exhibition examines how dinosaurs cared for their eggs, nests and babies. Step back in time and meet “Baby Louie”, the near-complete skeleton of a dinosaur embryo; dig in the discovery pit; touch a real dinosaur leg bone; view an amazing collection of fossils including the longest dinosaur eggs ever discovered; and come face-to-face with T-Rex’s relative - a life-size Tarbosaurus skeleton cast. Dinosaurs will ‘fill’ the exhibition in vivid illustrations by artist Luis V Rey, and stunning photographs show some of the world’s renowned dinosaur hunters and their discoveries.

ANIMAL KINGDOM, until 6 March. Natural History images by artist Jim Naughten are brought to three-dimensional life through stereoscopic photography. The display features 11 pairs of striking photographs of mounted skeletons and wet specimens including a Great Indian Hornbill, an Atlantic White Spotted Octopus, a Red Faced Spider Monkey and a Transparent Chameleon.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 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, 8 January, 19 February, 19 March. 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.

WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR, from 7 January. Visit the museum’s world-renowned annual exhibition to see the best wildlife photographs on the planet. 10am to 5.30pm, admission from £6.75.

Half Term Workshops Adult & Children’s Entertainer Magic, Plate Spinning Balloon Modelling Interactive Games Karaoke, Mini Disco

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

Tel: 020 8480 8176 www.amigosmagic.co.uk

PAINTING & DECORATING Interior / Exterior Experienced, Reliable, Clean Fully Guaranteed / Insured FREE ADVICE AND QUOTE John:- James & Lamont

020 8462 4646 - 07802 535695

France with the Family

Handyman

Justine’s family friendly house in rural Normandy is available to rent.

Sleeps 6+, fully equipped, beautiful location

For all your household repairs and odd jobs.

I offer a professional and courteous service

www.shaunthehandyman.co.uk 020 8249 3264 or 07913 656 502

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Contact Justine@Justinecrow.co.uk thenormandienest.wordpress.com

families south east - january / february 2016

15-19 February in BECKENHAM, HERNE HILL & SYDENHAM, 0800 107 7949, www.funkymonkey.info Learn how to write and play notes C-G 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-2pm for complete beginners 4-8 years or very basic music knowledge. £40 per pupil, £5 sibling discount. Price includes all equipment and mid morning snack bring your own packed lunch.

SPARK4KIDS CODING WORKSHOPS February Half-Term & Easter Holiday coding workshops in DULWICH, 020 8090 1444, www.spark4kids.com Spark4Kids February half-term and Easter holiday workshops are designed to teach robotics, coding, electronics, games development, touch-typing as well as Minecraft in a fun, engaging environment.

Ages 8+. Term-time classes are also available see website for details.

NIMBLE ARTS HOLIDAY CLUBS 15-19 February in EAST DULWICH SE22, www.nimblearts.co.uk Start the week working in the Nimble TV studio, fill your brand new artist’s sketchbook working with professional artists, set sail on a Viking Voyage, meet the eccentric owner of the Toy Factory to design your own toys, and finally sign up for Sleuth School and solve the crime of the century!

Workshops for 5-11 year-olds run from 9.30am4pm with free wrap-around childcare available from 8am - 5pm and an option to extend to 6pm. For 4 year-olds choose from two slots 9am-1pm or 1-5pm. As an Ofsted Registered organisation Nimble Arts accept childcare vouchers and are staffed by very experience DBS checked childcare experts, teachers and teaching assistants and working arts professionals. From £40 a day, plus sibling discounts available.

familiesse.co.uk

d idd i d a nce

®

classes ool dance funky presch boys for girls and

parties classes

LAND MUSEUM

THE HORNIMAN MUSEUM

THE FAN MUSEUM, GREENWICH

LONDON TRANSPORT MUSEUM

SCIENCE MUSEUM

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 10am6pm 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.

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.

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.

COSMONAUTS, BIRTH OF THE SPACE AGE, until 13 March. In 1957 Russia launched the world’s first artificial satellite, Sputnik, into space and just four years later sent the first ever human - Yuri Gagarin. Discover the dramatic story of how Russia turned the dream of space travel into a reality and became the first nation to explore space in this once-in-a-lifetime exhibition. Tickets £14, concessions available.

THE MECHANICS OF GENIUS, From 10 February. 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.

GAMBADO PLAYCENTRE NATWEST SPORTS GROUND, Copers Cope Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 1NZ, 020 8662 6910, www.gambado.com/clubs/beckenham Gambado Beckenham boasts one of the largest indoor play frames in greater London, plus special dodgems and a carousel. Children can play, learn, explore and party in a healthy, fun and safe environment while parents can kick back in the cafe bar. Open 9.30am-6.30pm daily, admission from £6.60 children, £2.95 adults plus a registration fee of £5.50 on your first visit.

TREASURES OF THE FAN MUSEUM 16 January - 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.

THE FOUNDLING 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 10am-5pm Tuesdays to Saturdays and from 11am Sundays. Admission free for under 16s, £8.25 adults.

TANGLEFIELDS CIRCUS, 23 January. Inspired by Nick Sharratt’s illustrations for Hetty Feather in the museum’s exhibition Drawing on Childhood, artist Shelly Wain leads this hands-on family workshop to create Tanglefields circus featuring Hetty, Diamond, Madame Adeline, Elijah and friends. 10.30am - 4.30pm.

TREASURE BOXES, 16 February. Led by artist Isobel Manning, explore the tokens left by mothers when their babies were admitted to the Foundling Hospital. Create your own special token to share with a loved one, and make a keepsake treasure box in which to hide it. 11am-4pm.

PETER PAN SHADOW PUPPET THEATRE, 27 February. Make your own shadow puppet theatre to take home in this family workshop led by artist Davina Drummond. Explore Peter Pan’s theatrical beginnings, and help Peter and the Lost Boys find their shadows. 10.30am, 1 and 2.30pm.

nurseries

fun and relaxed

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16 dance styles

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

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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.

CRACKING CODES, 9+10 January. Intercept messages, map hazards on a sea chart and make up your own secret code. Learn about the skills intelligence officers had to have as well as some of the dangers that surrounded HMS Belfast at sea. 11am-12.30pm and 2-4pm.

DARNING AND YARNING, 13-21 February, All sailors past and present have needed to know how to sew, from repairing sails to their own socks.

Climb aboard HMS Belfast to create a new sailors’ cross stitch work and find out more about the Royal Navy and life on board ship.

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM 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. Family-friendly 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.

PROTEST & SURVIVE, 13-21 February. Join celebrated political artist Peter Kennard and develop your own Unofficial War Art collages and drawings on the subject of protest, linked to the current retrospective of his work at IWM London. Peter Kennard will be on hand to talk about his work and provide tips on creating collages and drawings during this free, drop-in family workshop. 2-4pm.

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.

MICROSPORT -real sport for under 5 s CELEBRATING 24 YEARS! A fun & educational introduction to ball sports: soccer, tennis, hockey, cricket, rugby & more.

Trained adult coaches & lots of classes.

AGES 2,3 & 4 (& up to 7yrs in our Beckenham After School Sportsclub) For classes in Bromley, Beckenham & BigginHill: angela@micro-sport.co.uk 01689 600992 For classes in Sevenoaks, Pembury, Orpington, Dunton Green, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells: jnoble@micro-sport.co.uk 07863 330200

www.micro-sport.co.uk

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.

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

january / february 2016 - families south east

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V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD

THE BRITISH MUSEUM

ROYAL OPERA HOUSE

ROYAL ALBERT HALL

MoreWhat’sOn Find even more activities: www.familiesse.co.uk then click What's On

FULHAM PALACE

V&A MUSEUM OF CHILDHOOD

THE BRITISH MUSEUM

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.

IT’S A HARD WORLD FOR LITTLE THINGS, 9 January - 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.

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.

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.

DESIGN YOUR OWN CARD GAME, 31 January. Learn about card games from around the world, and work with a professional games designer to create your own personalised Top Trumps-style cards to take home. Ages 7+, 11am-1pm and 2-4pm.

SHADOW PUPPET WORKSHOP, 7 February. Discover the ancient tradition of shadow-puppetry in Java and then decorate your own beautiful puppets. Use voice recording software and video cameras to then bring your characters to life through film. Ages 7+, 11am-4pm.

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 works 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.

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. 10am-5pm, tickets £12 adults, £6 children.

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.

LONDON CHILDREN’S BOOK SWAP, 13 February. Once again Firepower and The Heritage Centre will be a host site for the London Children’s Book Swap. Come along with your old books and swap them for some you have not read yet. It’s great fun and you do your bit for the environment. 10am-4pm, free.

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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.

STONE AGE DROP-IN, 31 January. Try on period costume, handle artefacts and learn about the history of Fulham Palace. 2-3.30pm, free.

WINTER AT IGHTHAM MOTE IGHTHAM MOTE, Mote Road, Ivy Hatch, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN15 0NT, 01732 810378, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ightham-mote Enjoy a gentle stroll around the hard path gardens or take in a longer walk on the ancient estate and enjoy the beauty of the Kent countryside.

HALF TERM, 13-21 February. A chance for the children to have fun outside with a winter activity pack and then some craft activities inside to warm up.

Theatre, Shows and Music

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.

TEA TASTING, 6 February. Sample some of Twining’s finest blends of tea and discover the story of the ancient Chinese drink underneath Cutty Sark’s beautiful hull. 11am-1pm and 2-4pm, free with admission price.

THE MAGIC PAINTBRUSH, 7 February. Delivered in partnership with Story Spinner, join Sailor Sam on a journey across the seas with a precious cargo of tea and an exotic tale of magic. 11am, 12noon, 1.30 and 2.30pm, free with admission price.

MISCHIEVOUS MONKEYS, 6+7 February. Which Chinese zodiac animal are you? To celebrate Chinese New Year, make an animal mask or a mischievous paper monkey and see if you can spot any monkeys on board the ship. 11.30am-1.30pm and 2-4pm, free with admission price.

SEA SIGNS, 13 February. A day of programmed events for deaf and hearing families, including crafts and storytelling. Events are led by deaf presenters using BSL and accompanied by voice-over interpreters, or delivered by spoken facilitators and supported by BSL interpreters.

11am-3.30pm, free with admission price.

FOLD IT! 15, 16 and 19 February. Put your origami skills to the test and make a mini ship to sail home with you. 11.30am-1.30pm and 2-4pm, free with admission price.

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.

MACBETH

ALADDIN

27 January - 21 February, BROADWAY THEATRE, Catford Broadway, London, SE6 4RU, 020 8690 0002, www.broadwaytheatre.org.uk

Weekends from 7-24 January, THE COLOUR HOUSE THEATRE, Watermill Way, London, SW19 2RD, 020 8542 5511, www.colourhousetheatre.co.uk Poor Aladdin is tricked by his evil ‘uncle’ to enter a dangerous cave and look for a magic lamp. Soon he is trapped inside. Will Aladdin find what he needs to escape, find love and make his fortune? Find out in this hilarious musical pantomime, starring CBBC and Blue Peter’s Barney Harwood in an interactive film performance. Tickets £12 adults, £10 children.

One of his darkest and most powerful tragedies, Shakespeare dramatises the psychological and political impact of when evil is chosen to satisfy the ambition for power.

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.

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.

AT THE END OF EVERYTHING ELSE 18-20 February, BATTERSEA ARTS CENTRE, Lavender Hill SW11 5TN, www.bac.org.uk When her best friend goes missing, Icka puts her inventive mind to the test and sets off to save him. Ages 6+, tickets from £9.

families south east - january / february 2016

ANNIE 25-30 January, ORCHARD THEATRE, Home Gardens, Dartford, Kent, DA1 1ED, 01322 220000, www.orchardtheatre.co.uk The world’s favourite family musical comes to Dartford for one week only, 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 £22.

STORY DAYS AT THE GLOBE Sackler Studios, SHAKESPEARE’S GLOBE, 21 New Globe Walk SE1 9DT, 020 7401 9919, www.shakespearesglobe.com/education Dynamic and unforgettable retellings of Shakespeare’s stories by Globe Education story tellers, suitable for the whole family. Ages 6+. 11am and 2pm start. Tickets £15 for one adult and one child.

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THE BOY WHO NEVER GREW UP

THE CURIOUS ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO

GOODNIGHT MR TOM

HANDA'S HEN

MINOTAUR

ALBANY THEATRE

SOUTHBANK

ROYAL ALBERT HALL

ALBANY THEATRE, Douglas Way, Deptford SE8 4AG, 020 8692 4446, www.thealbany.org.uk DISCO KIDS: DINO DANCE PARTY, 7 February. A prehistoric boogie-fest awaits your little ones as the Albany becomes a terrific T-rex adventure playground. A wraparound experience for tiny pterodactyls with video, music, dancers and more. Under 7 year-olds, 2-5pm, family ticket £10.

THE BOY WHO NEVER GREW UP, 14 February. Inspired by J.M. Barrie’s classic tale, welcome to a world where happy thoughts take you flying high, where pirates roam the seas and where magic and adventure is impossible to hide from. Ages 4+, 1pm and 3pm family tickets £24.

PLAY DOUGH, 16+17 February. Join Unlimited Theatre for the game show where you can play with 10,000 real pound coins. Queenie and TooMuch will lead your team through a series of high-energy games while telling you their story, and everything they know about how money really works. Ages 7+, 11am and 2pm, tickets £10, families £32.

ORION AND THE DARK, 21 February. Orion is scared of everything.

He’s terrified of wasps and monsters, afraid of sheds and storms, panicked by spiders and heights but there is one thing that scares him more than anything else - the dark! Join Orion in a heart-warming tale of friendship, adventure and overcoming your fears. Ages 3+, 1pm and 3pm, tickets £7, families £24.

THE CURIOUS ADVENTURES OF PINOCCHIO, 28 February.

Crickets, cats, foxes and, of course, the world-famous puppet will spring out of dusty, old, magic books to bring you the true story of Pinocchio, told by Cbeebies’ Patrick Lynch. Ages 4+, 1pm and 3pm, tickets £7, family tickets £24.

THE PARTY, 6 March. A circus show for all the family that humorously explores difficult topics such as sharing, social exclusion and not always getting what you want. Ages 3+, 1pm and 3pm, tickets £7, families £24.

SOUTHBANK CENTRE, Belvedere Road SE1 8PX, 0844 847 9944, www.southbankcentre.co.uk IMAGINE CHILDREN’S FESTIVAL, 10-21 February. A packed programme of events spans theatre, dance, music and installations alongside readings and workshops with some of the UK’s top children’s authors. Over half of the Imagine festival programme is free and there is a huge range of activities for children of all ages and their families.

Children are at the heart of Imagine and this year’s festival will see the first year of the Mini Festival Makers, a group of fifty primary schoolchildren who have helped to programme, promote and produce key events throughout the festival. For full details, see www.southbankcentre.co.uk/imagine.

THE WONDERCRUMP WORLD OF ROALD DAHL, 10 February 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.

DRAGON BABIES, 12-19 February. It’s time to shake, rattle and gong!

Introduce the beautiful sound of gamelan to your 3-5 year-old. 11am start, £5 for one adult + child.

JUDITH KERR, 13 February. Judith Kerr is the author of The Tiger Who Came to Tea and Mog. Mister Cleghorn’s Seal is her new book. Written and illustrated to Judith’s customarily exquisite standards, it is set to delight readers young and old. Judith Kerr joins Ian Craig in conversation, followed by a Q&A. Adults £10, children £5.

FAMILY GAMELAN TASTER SESSION, 13-20 February. Regarded as one instrument played by lots of people, the gamelan generates rich, sonorous and mesmerising sounds. Learn to play music and out about the stories attached to it. Ages 6+, £10 adults, £5 child.

THE GIANT STORYTELLING BED, 13-21 February. Listen to a story on an enormous bed. Get comfy and lie back as a storyteller fills your imagination with magical tales. Ages 5-8, tickets £5.

FUNHARMONICS: THE BFG, 20 February. Are you ready to take on the ghastly Fleshlumpeater and his terrible giant friends to stop them guzzling human beans? Join the BFG and his sidekick Sophie as they concoct a marvellous plan to stop the giants from galloping all over the world to gobble up humans as they sleep. 10am-2pm, tickets from £10 adults, £5 children.

The ROYAL ALBERT HALL, Kensington Gore SW7 2AP, 0845 401 5045, www.royalalberthall.com AMALUNA, from 16 January. Cirque du Soleil returns to the Hall with one of its newest touring shows. Amaluna has never been seen in the UK and will mark Cirque du Soleil’s 20th year at the stunning, world-famous venue.

NICK COPE’S FAMILY SONGBOOK, 17 February. Professional singer and songwriter Nick Cope made the international charts as The Candyskins’ lead singer in the 1990s. Now he writes, records and performs music for children and has established a strong following of little and not-so-little people all over the world. 11am and 2pm, tickets £7.75.

GANGSTA GRANNY 7-24 January, BLOOMSBURY THEATRE, 15 Gordon Street WC1H 0AH, 020 7388 8822, www.thebloomsbury.com The world premiere of David Walliams’ Gangsta Granny is coming to the stage in a national tour running throughout 2016. It is being staged by the Birmingham Stage Company, the acclaimed producers of Horrible Histories.

GREENWICH THEATRE GREENWICH THEATRE, Crooms Hill, Greenwich SE10 8ES, 020 8858 7755, www.greenwichtheatre.org.uk HANDA’S HEN, 16 January. When Handa and her friend Akeyo go looking for Grandma’s black hen Mondi, they find two fluttery butterflies round the hen house, three stripy mice under the grain store, four little lizards behind the pots - but where is Mondi? Ages 2-5, tickets £10 adults, children £7.50.

THE LOST THINGS, 13+14 February. A boy falls and finds himself in a dark and terrifying new world. It’s a world of lost things: car keys, wedding rings, dads, and a mysterious girl who is building an amazing machine. The Lost Things is about losing things and finding things you didn’t even know you were looking for: a dark fairytale set in a fantastical world, where nothing is quite as it seems. Tickets £11.

RAPUNZEL, 18-21 February. A familiar tale with a fantastic new spin, this has all the charm you’d expect from the minds that have been making the world laugh non-stop for more than two decades - the Emmy Award-winning team behind the mega-hit television series Friends.

Adults £13, children £8.50.

UNICORN THEATRE UNICORN THEATRE, 147 Tooley Street SE1 2HZ, 020 7645 0560, www.unicorntheatre.com MINOTAUR, 24 January - 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.

JERAMEE, HARTLEBY AND OOOGLEMORE, 6 February - 20 March.

Where is Jeramee? Who is making that noise? What is under the sheet and why does it keep moving? Delivered with wit, impeccable timing and plenty of clowning around, this show is a surprising and surreal encounter with three people who have a lot to say - and only three words with which to say it. Ages 3+, tickets £10 children, £16 adults.

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.

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LYRIC HAMMERSMITH LYRIC HAMMERSMITH, Lyric Square, Kings Street, London, W6 0QL 020 8741 6850, www.lyric.co.uk GEORGE AND THE DRAGON, 23 January. Beware! In a cave under the castle lurks a fiery dragon waiting to devour monks, knights, sheep, and princesses! Will George be bold enough to challenge it - or will he run away? Ages 5+, 11am and 1pm, tickets £8.

FREYA - A VIKING SAGE, 30 January. Viking Freya is about to become a giant’s dinner. She must use all her wits to escape and prove human friendship is stronger than the strength of a giant and more powerful than the magic of the gods. Ages 4-8, 11am and 1pm, tickets £8.

TADPOLES, 6 February. A tadpole-catching competition challenges a superhero duo to overcome rivalry and harness their strengths. Working as team, can they save the world together? Ages 5+, 11am and 1pm.

RUMPLESTILTSKIN, 13 February. Auntie spins as hard as she can to make the wool for the King’s special jumper. But the royals are out of cash, the girl who is helping is useless at spinning and the Prince just wants to be a shepherd. Everyone gets their threads in a twist and then Rumpel-you-know-who steps in. Spinning, weaving, lively puppetry, music and storytelling for ages 3-8. 11am and 1pm.

SORCERER’S APPRENTICE, 16-20 February. Magic comes to life for February half term in Sorcerer’s Apprentice in a production created by the acclaimed company behind Dotty the Dragon and My Pet Monster and Me. 11am and 1pm, tickets £8.

BARBICAN CENTRE BARBICAN CENTRE, Silk Street EC2Y 8DS, 0845 120 7511, www.barbican.org.uk LONDON INTERNATIONAL MIME FESTIVAL, 9 January - 6 February.

A celebration of epic, physical and visual theatre, films, workshops and discussions, featuring productions from Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden and the UK. A NIGHT WITH BOY BLUE, 27+28 February. One of the UK’s most sought-after hip-hop dance companies presents an energy-fuelled showcase of astonishing moves and urban music.

GOODNIGHT MR TOM Until 20 February, DUKE OF YORK’S THEATRE, St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4BG, 0844 871 7623, www.atgtickets.com Michelle Magorian’s wonderfully uplifting tale is brought gloriously to life in this magical stage adaptation by David Wood. Set during the dangerous build up to the Second World War, Goodnight Mister Tom follows young William Beech, who is evacuated to the idyllic English countryside and forges a remarkable and heart-warming friendship with the elderly recluse, Tom Oakley, played by David Troughton. All is perfect until William is suddenly summoned by his mother back to London.

Tickets from £15.

BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL 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.

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.

THE FAIRFIELD FAIRFIELD HALLS, Park Lane, Croydon CR9 1DG, 020 8688 9291, www.fairfield.co.uk THE GRUFFALO’S CHILD, 29-31 January. One wild and windy night the Gruffalo’s child ignores her father’s warning and tiptoes out into the snow. After all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really exist... does he? Tall Stories Theatre Company returns, bringing Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s award-winning sequel to life in this magical, musical adaptation. Tickets £13.50.

HORRIBLE HISTORIES: GROOVY GREEKS, 16-21 February. From savage Sparta to angry Athens, discover the truth about growing up in Greece. Take on the Trojans and pummel the Persians! Compete in the first ever Olympic Games and appear in the very first play. Meet your match with the Minotaur and be zapped by Zeus! Ages 7+, tickets from £12.

HORRIBLE HISTORIES: INCREDIBLE INVADERS, 17-21 February.

The Celts are crunched when the Ruthless Romans invade Britain. Can crazy Caractacus save the nation? Hide behind Hadrian’s Wall. See the Savage Saxons smash their way in. Find out who’s at Sutton Hoo. Will you survive the Vicious Vikings as they sail into the audience? Stop King Alfred burning his buns! Ages 7+, tickets from £12.

DR. SEUSS’S THE LORAX Until 16 January, THE OLD VIC, The Cut, London SE1 8NB, 0844 871 7628, www.oldvictheatre.com “I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees!” Inspired by Dr. Seuss’s classic tale, The Lorax tells of a moustachioed and cantankerous critter who’s on a mission to protect the earth from the greedy, tree-chopping, Thneed-knitting businessman known only as The Once-ler.

Adapted by David Greig and brought to the stage by acclaimed director Max Webster (James And The Giant Peach, To Kill A Mockingbird, Twelfth Night), The Lorax blends theatrical invention, songs and zany humour in a vibrant show with a message for all the family. Ages 6+, tickets from £12, with 50% off some tickets for ages 14 and under.

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GANGSTA GRANNY

ANNIE

BILLY ELLIOT

CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

MoreWhat’sOn Find even more activities: www.familiesse.co.uk then click What's On

POLKA THEATRE

CHURCHILL THEATRE BROMLEY

POLKA THEATRE, 240 Broadway, Wimbledon SW19 1SB, 020 8543 4888, www.polkatheatre.com BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, until 7 February. Brimming with magic, music and mystery, join Belle on a courageous journey to the Beast’s mysterious castle where she must overcome her fears and discover the true meaning of beauty. But can a single kiss set her prince free? Ages 612, tickets £18, concessions £11.50.

THE PAPER DOLLS, 8 January - 13 March. When a little girl makes a string of paper dolls, she takes them by the hand on a fantastical adventure. Whirling through their home and garden they fly through the air, dodging the clutches of a toy dinosaur, a snapping oven-glove crocodile and a very real pair of scissors. A lyrical tale from the award-winning author of The Gruffalo. Tickets £12.

NOT NOW, BERNARD, 12-21 February. David McKee’s much-loved Not Now, Bernard is joined by two of his other wonderfully funny (and not too scary) monster stories, The Two Monsters and The Monster and The Teddy Bear, in this fast-paced show about growing up and learning how to deal with change. Ages 3-8, tickets £13.50.

THE TIGER’S BONES, 25-28 February. From a cautionary tale about eating the wrong person’s stew to a wild retelling of the nativity, these imaginative and funny stories by Ted Hughes take you to a timeless world of folklore, fable, mischief and mayhem. Ages 7-11, tickets £13.50.

DOGS DON’T DO BALLET, 2-6 March. Join Ballet Black for a magical performance based on the best-selling book by Anna Kemp and choreographed by Christopher Marney, full of fun, magic and one very special dog! Tickets £13.50.

CHURCHILL THEATRE, High Street, Bromley BR1 1HA, 0844 871 7620, www.atgtickets.com THE SNOW MAIDEN, 13 January. Based on a traditional folk-tale, this sparkler from the Russian State Ballet of Siberia follows the Snow Maiden as she dances into the human world. Captivated by the colourful village and the people who live there, she ventures too far and is swept up by feelings of love, temptation and betrayal. When finally she surrenders herself completely and warms to love, her heart melts in a tragic embrace. Tickets from £19.40.

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOUR DREAMCOAT, 1-5 March. Retelling the Biblical story of Joseph, Joe McElderry dons the coat of many colours in a magical musical full of unforgettable songs including Those Canaan Days, Any Dream Will Do and Close Every Door To Me. Tickets from £12.

THE GRUFFALO’S CHILD

DR. SEUSS’S THE LORAX

Art Activities DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY

THE WALLACE COLLECTION

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.

THE AMAZING WORLD OF M.C. ESCHER, until 17 January. Escher was one of the most popular artists of the 20th century, renowned for his woodcuts, lithographs, drawings and mezzotints. This exhibition showcases nearly 100 works from the collection of the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag in the Netherlands. £14 adults, children free, concessions available.

I AM VAN DYCK, 12 January - 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.

THE WALLACE COLLECTION, Hertford House, Manchester Square W1U 3BN, 020 7563 9500, www.wallacecollection.org

SOMERSET HOUSE FAMILY EVENTS

SIR JOHN SOANE’S MUSEUM, 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields WC2A 3PB, 020 7440 4263, www.soane.org

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.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY 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.

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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.

AMAZING WORLD OF M.C. ESCHER

THE NATIONAL GALLERY

THE LITTLE DRAW, 7 February. Meet Millie Nice - an artist and illustrator with a playful approach to history of art and an interest in museum spaces. 1.30-4.30pm.

SNAKES GALORE, 15 February. Visit the three bronze snakes that have just come out of hiding. Scour the collection for slippery serpents. On your way sketch patterns to use when you help create a giant 3D snake.

Make a mini one to take home too. Free drop-in for age 5+, 11am-1pm.

POP OUT FURNITURE! 19 February. Join artist Jenny Parker on a journey through different styles of furniture. Draw your favourite patterns and designs before decorating your own suite of miniature pop-out laser cut furniture.

ART AT SIR JOHN SOANE’S HOUSE

Tucked away in Lincoln’s Inn Fields at the heart of London, this magical, mysterious museum encourages young visitors to explore Soane’s treasures and develop new skills with specialist guidance. Sir John Soane (1753- 1737) was an inveterate collector, filling 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, he intended that after his death both his house and its extraordinary contents should be used 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.

families south east - january / february 2016

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.

THE TONE ZONE, 17 January. Explore National Gallery paintings as inspiration for your art. Discover how tonal drawings help artists to paint their wonderful paintings. 11am-12.20pm and 2-3.20pm.

CHINESE NEW YEAR FAMILY FESTIVAL DAY, 6 February. Events include a printed trail, stories and sound workshops, magic monkey carpet, nursery rhymes in Mandarin, and mask making. Most events taking place between 10am-12noon.

ARTIST APPRENTICE WORKSHOP, 16+17 February. Create a replica of the National Gallery with marble columns, domes and patterned floors. Ages 7-12, 11am - 3.30pm, £10.

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.

familiesse.co.uk

‘Home from home’ with Chilly Powder Are you dreaming ahead to your next winter holiday? Chilly Powder is worth a look. Francesca, Paul and their three children - Ben, Eloise & Jamie Eyre - live in Morzine in France all year round and have a good knowledge of Alpine traditions and the Morzine people. Having adapted their chalet holiday style over the years to suit the tastes of their regular guests, they offer the perfect ski holiday for families, couples or mixed groups in relaxing luxury, with fantastic food and outstanding facilities.

Chilly Powder have been operating catered chalet ski holidays since 1996. The genuine ski to the door location of their three luxury catered ski chalets with unrivalled in-house childcare facilities sets them apart from other ski chalets in Morzine, France.

All bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms, there is an outdoor hot tub, sauna and massage room and in-house childcare is provided in their own crèche.

Their ski chalets are unique in Morzine for small or large groups or for individual

families with children or babies. With excellent food, friendly staff and relaxing atmosphere of their chalets make it the perfect winter holiday destination. For many returning guests Chilly Powder it is considered a real home from home. Read more at www.chillypowder.com.

Us-time

It takes two... families

As there are other grown-ups with you, this would be an ideal opportunity to have some time alone with your partner. Suggest that you take it in turns to look after all the children, for an afternoon or an evening, so that each couple can have some personal space.

- should you share a holiday with another family?

A room of one’s own

By Sally J Hall It seems like a great idea when you and a friend are sharing a coffee, daydreaming about your next holiday and it turns out you both want to hire a gite in France, a cottage in Cornwall or a villa in Tuscany. So you decide that it might be fun to go away with both your families and share the cost of the holiday. We’ve come up with some tips to make this a holiday to remember - not a nightmare.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing...

The first thing to consider is how well you know the other family. Whilst it might seem that you have lots in common with another person when you first meet them, you may find that actually, the things you enjoy are superficial and there are areas of their life you find difficult to cope with. Have you been to each others’ houses? If you’re a neat freak and they are the kind to ignore mould on the milk bottle - or the other way around - you’re probably not going to get along with each others’ standards of housekeeping. Do you know what their politics are? This can be very devisive if you find each others’ opinions difficult to swallow. And do your children get along? It would be terrible if all they do is argue while you’re away and you’ll end up taking sides and possibly falling out with the other parents.

Set the rules Before embarking on the trip, decide on some ground rules. You will need to set a budget and decide how you are going to share the price of the house but you will also have to decide on how to share costs once you are away. If you are self catering, it’s best to share everything equally (easy if your families are the same size, otherwise work it out proportionately). If one person wants something more expensive, however, that only they will use or eat - for example some special wine or food suggest that they pay for that themselves. Talk this all through before you go, as the last thing you want is an argument at the supermarket check-out!

Doing the housework

Speaking of space, when choosing a holiday house, make sure there is enough room for you all to have some personal space. Even the best of friends can end up getting on each others’ nerves at times, so if there is room for you all to find a corner, either in your bedroom or a living room, tensions should be averted. Letting the kids all sleep in the same room may backfire too, as they will be so excited that they may not get to sleep before the small hours.

So while there may be some things to consider before you embark on a holiday with friends, there are many advantages. You can afford somewhere much nicer than you might otherwise have done, you can share chores and babysitting and you can forge lifelong friendships between both the adults and the children. With a little forethought, this will truly be a holiday to remember!

The chores will also have to be shared equally, so that nobody has to do all the cooking or all the washing up. It’s probably best if you decide to take it in turns and perhaps eat out a couple of times during the holiday so that you all get a break.

All good friends Another very important thing is that your partners need to get on. And you need to get on as a foursome too, especially if it comes down to a dispute when the children are falling out or want to do different things. You’ll all, as grown-ups, need to be united and not cause more difficulties when deciding how to arrange your time. So decide to spend some time together in the run-up to the holiday - perhaps a whole day on a Saturday or a Sunday - and have the children on a sleepover at each others’ houses to iron out problems before you go.

familiesse.co.uk

january / february 2016 - families south east

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The Battle for Toad Hall 15–19 February 10:30am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 2:00pm, 3:00pm and 4:00pm

Mr Toad and his friends Ratty, Mole and Badger, crept slowly through the secret tunnel into Toad Hall, ready to commence battle and claim back Toad’s home from those pesky weasels…but will they be triumphant? A costumed storyteller will bring to life the classic stories from ‘The Wind in the Willows’ in these interactive and fun sessions.

10:00am–5:00pm Share your experience 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

ses s a l C ow n ing book

Call your local Stagecoach: Dulwich 020 8949 4116 Blackheath 020 7112 8242 Beckenham 020 8541 0833 Sydenham 020 7228 0981 Upper Norwood 020 8672 6066 www.stagecoach.co.uk

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families south east - january / february 2016

familiesse.co.uk

Families South East Tel: 020 8699 7240 Email: info@familiesse.co.uk Contact: Robina Cowan MAGAZINE DESIGN: Lancasters 020 8658 9975 www.lancasters.co.uk Printed on paper from sustainable forests. www.russellpress.com

Free admission